Last Train to Istanbul by Ayşe KulinMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Set in World War War II half of the story taking place in Turkey and the other Half in Southern France. The Nazis have taken over Europe and are about to step down into lower France. The Vichy French are helping the Nazis round up Jews. For Seva and her husband Rafo this is rather problematic. Rafonis a Turkish Jewish man who married a Muslim And Turkish woman. Both left Turkey and their families behind for France as their marriage was taboo. But France is becoming more and more dangerous.
In Turkey both the Allies and the Nazis are pressuring Turkey to enter the war and take action. Sabiha who is Sevanas sister is married to a diplomat. Long hour and pressure have taken. A toll on their marriage. Sabiha has no one to talk to accept Tarik who gets sent to France and a therapist.
In France Tarik meets Muhlis who introduces him to Fateed. Together they formulate a plan to to rescue the Turkish Jews as things get more and more precarious. Finally they get on train to Istanbul but will they make it there.
While not a true story there was considerable research that went into it. Mainly it is culled from the interviews of Turkish diplomats who helped save Jews. More should be written on this subject.
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