Night Train to Marrakech: the spellbinding escapist historical Richard & Judy Book Club pick from the No.1 Sunday Times bestseller (The Daughters of War, Book 3)

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Viel mehr zum Inhalt will ich gar nicht verraten; wer Ms Jefferies Bücher kennt, weiß, sie schreibt spannend, bildhaft, mitreißend, super emotional und voller Mitgefühl für ihre Protagonisten, und vor allem sind ihre historischen Romane immer sehr genau recherchiert. Und zwar sowohl im zeitgeschichtlichen Kontext als auch im landestypischen Setting. Genau das habe ich erwartet und bekommen 😊. Ein spannender Krimi in den 60er Jahren in Marokko; garniert mit einem Familiendrama und einer Lovestory – perfekt! A mouthwatering read, intense and emotional. I loved it. Its characters hooked me irresistibly and stole my heart . . . a wonderful, heart-wrenching tale of love, danger and bone-chilling secrets.”—KATE FURNIVALL, bestselling author of The Survivors Sin da principio si intuisce che la donna nasconde un doloroso passato, segreti inconfessabili che sono ancora capaci di toglierle il sonno ma che tiene rigidamente a bada nel suo nido d’aquila. It’s an epic journey that’ll take her to the edge of Atlas Mountains – and closer to the answers she’s been craving all her life. I was excited to get my hands on an advance copy of Night Train to Marrakech. I love to share historical fiction and I’m a big fan of Dinah Jefferies. It was a while since I had read the first two books in the trilogy and in a way that was good, because this book can be read on its own.

An exciting thriller set against the exoticness of Marrakech and the cooling foothills of the Atlas Mountains where Clemence resides at the Kasbah du Paradis, as the past comes to meet the present. The interaction between grandmother and granddaughter, both of whom want a relationship but don’t quite know how to achieve it, is intriguing, and the supporting cast of characters are all interesting (especially to readers who have read the previous books in the trilogy). The twists in the tale aren’t particularly surprising, but the pacing is good and it is an interesting end to the “Daughters of War” series. Gare de Marrakech (Marrakech Station) is about 2 miles from the medina. The area around the train station is nothing like the old quarter. It is spacious, clean and modern.Dinah Jefferies always researches well the locations of her novels and this one is another immersive experience. Morocco is brought to life with its colours, scents, flowers, culinary experiences, its markets and sceneries. We enjoy the way of life in the kasbha of Clemence, far from the noise and bustle of Marrakech. A world of stunning beauty and extreme danger . . . Dinah Jefferies is at the top of her game.” —GILL PAUL, bestselling author of The Manhattan Girls Marrakech and Tangier are the two most popular destinations for tourists in Morocco. Millions of foreigners visit these cities each year. Many of those tourists reach Tangier by ferry from Spain, as it is only a few miles across the Strait of Gibraltar from Europe. Those traveling to Marrakech typically fly, as it is hundreds of miles farther to the south. In questa atmosfera di grande tensione seguiamo la storia di Clemence Petier, una settantenne che vive alle pendici dell’Atlante, in una Kasbah isolata in compagnia della madre Madeleine affetta da demenza senile e due fidati servitori. I admired Clemence as a character, particularly her dedication to caring for her mother, Madeleine, whose mental decline is not only a result of age but of the cruelty she suffered at the hands of Clemence's father, the full details of which gradually emerge. I felt happy for Clemence when it appears she may have a second chance of happiness, something she had lost hope of many years before.

The same goes for Gare Tanger Ville. The station is in a nice area away from the medina, and the interior looks more like it belongs in Abu Dhabi than Morocco. There are other options to take the night train in Morocco. All of the night trains in Morocco involve Casablanca. There are trains from Casablanca to Tangier, Oujda and Nador. The routes to/from Oujda and Nador are less commonly used by tourists. Dinah Jeffries has the ability to paint a picture with words, I could smell the lemons and the jasmine, I could smell the spices in the souks, I could see the rich colours of the silks in the market place, I could see the beautiful sunrises and sunsets on the terracotta walls of the Kasbah. The author has obviously researched her subject well and it shows. Traveling between the two cities, and around Morocco, is not as simple. Much of Morocco is covered in rugged landscape, and transportation is a challenge. That is why the night train from Marrakech to Tangier is popular with tourists, and the train stations of these respective cities are bright spots in the transportation system of Morocco. Tangier train station This author doesn’t shy away from the rawness of what humans are capable of doing to each other. And she doesn’t gloss over the impact on lives either. I had tears (of course I did!) but also a sense of everything playing out exactly as it should.

4-person couchette (bunk beds)

Mein Fazit: das war ein wunderschönes Buch, eine tolle Mischung aus Thriller, Familiensaga und Lovestory, und das vor dem faszinierenden exotischen Hintergrund des Marrakeschs der 60er Jahre. Ich fand es toll, und empfehle es gerne weiter! Night trains arrive in Tangier and Marrakech fairly early, around 6 AM or 7 AM, respectively. This is on the early side in Morocco, especially when trains arrive ahead of schedule. Prepare yourself for early-morning haggling with taxi drivers. Other Night Trains in Morocco If travelers have no intended stops between Marrakech and Tangier, the night train is the most practical option. A bus is certainly cheaper, but it will take longer than the train. The bus will also be uncomfortable, and the night bus will be a particularly miserable experience. Taking the bus during the daytime is the worst choice, as travelers will lose an entire day of exploring to transportation.