Night Train to Marrakech (Dinah Jefferies)

Night Train to Marrakech is the third and last part of the Daughters of War trilogy. Vicky, the daughter of Elise and Victor travels to Morocco in the hope to meet her grandmother Clemence and learn more about her past. She studied to be a fashion designer and she hopes to meet Yves Saint Laurent, who spends some of his time in Marrakech. She succeeds in meeting both of them but unleashes a complicated series of events which will bring back the past and shape her future.
Clemence is an intriguing central character and, slowly, we discover why she is so guarded and mysterious. Her past is painful and tragic. Her story is distilled in little touches and the stories of Florence, Helene and Elise are brought back in the same way until it all comes together. And Theo, a former boyfriend of Clemence, turns out as a major character too. It is complex and the reader must be patient because a story of pain can only be told in that way. And we really feel for all these women who have in common to have been so deeply hurt in their lives.
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.
I really enjoyed this novel and for me it was a page turner, slowly bringing all three novels together in a capstone for all the characters. And at a time where Morocco is suffering the consequences of the recent major earthquake, this book is also the reminder that pain and hardship can be overcome and life can return, different but also full of hope for the future.