OVERVIEW
This was a dense, well-researched, and relatively unknown story about two female friends in pre-WWII Paris to post-WWII. This tells the story of these women rescuing Allied soldiers for four months until they were caught by the Nazis, most specifically, the Gestapo. They are both tried, convicted, imprisoned, and sentenced to death under German military law.
I recommend this book to history nerds who like the footnotes, citations, references, historical researchers, and interviews with the families. Note that about a 1/4 or more of the book is all of the reference materials for this book including the Allied military that were saved.
Yes, I said no more WWII books, but the premise of this book was intriguing to me!!!
TRIGGER WARNING: Warfare, military invasion, medical diseases, starvation, rape, physical and mental abuse i.e. torture, incarceration, death by suicide, and just the overall horribleness of WWII.
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
The writing was incredible. It was sarcastic at times, graphic yet appropriate, and incredibly researched.
The story behind the story (I don't want to give too much away) is fascinating, yet sad. There are so many individuals like these two women living in Paris who saved so many Allied lives. Heroines!
Character development: 5.0 stars
The two main characters are Kitty/Kate (British-born with French citizenship) and Etta (American Jew living in Paris). These two characters are completely developed from their early lives until their deaths. Amazingly well done!
The secondary characters are the Allied military saved through an escape, the co-conspirators, WWII, and Paris. So much is learned about these characters and how devastating the war was for them so they fought back.
The tertiary characters are the German military, prisons, the Russian military, and the military assistance centers after the war.
As is true for most novels, this historical had many characters to round out the storyline.
Storyline: 5.0 stars
This story is about two women who help Allied soldiers escape into Unoccupied France and then to safety. One of the women spends almost four years in brutal German prisons, is horribly mistreated, and finds out her friend's betrayal after her release. The second woman spends a few bad months in German prisons, receives an early release, goes home, and then "writes" a fictionalized story with ghostwriters about the events.
The main location was Paris, France with various German prisons around Occupied Germany.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
This will stay with me for a very long time as this historical novel was about older women who try to do their part to help Allied soldiers escape death, and incarceration in POW camps.
The great contributions of women in history are horribly underreported, underrepresented, or even written about. This was so inspiring and meaningful to read.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
So perfect!!
Book title: 5.0 stars
The full, long title says it all!
HIGHLY recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
NetGalley ARC (eARC/ebook)
Paris Undercover by Matthew Goodman
428 pages
Ballantine Books
FUTURE release date of 2/4/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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