From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London comes a moving new novel inspired by the true history of America’s library spies of World War II.
Ava thought her job as a librarian at the Library of Congress would mean a quiet, routine existence. But an unexpected offer from the US military has brought her to Lisbon with a new mission: posing as a librarian while working undercover as a spy gathering intelligence.
Meanwhile, in occupied France, Elaine has begun an apprenticeship at a printing press run by members of the Resistance. It’s a job usually reserved for men, but in the war, those rules have been forgotten. Yet she knows that the Nazis are searching for the press and its printer in order to silence them.
As the battle in Europe rages, Ava and Elaine find themselves connecting through coded messages and discovering hope in the face of war.
This is my first book of the year and oh my goodness, it's fantastic. It languished in my TBR stack for far too long and I am so glad I finally picked it up. Libraries, books, and espionage. How can you resist that?
Ava is a librarian at the Library of Congress and is offered a chance to work in Lisbon with the military, gathering intelligence, which comes in the form of newspapers. The papers are read for information the allies can glean about the Germans.
Elaine is a member of the French Resistance, publishing forbidden resistance news. When her paper comes into Ava's possession, these two brave women ultimately connect through coded messages and a young Jewish family.
The dual stories in the same timeline worked well and I kept anticipating when they would merge. In the meantime, their individual stories were captivating.
The author does not shy away from the atrocities of war and what happened to those who resisted. I can't even imagine what it was like to have to live it. I also had no idea that Portugal was considered a neutral territory and that so many refugees found themselves there, waiting for transport to Britain and America.
The story is well written with beautifully descriptive prose. It features strong, resilient women who understand what is at stake with this war and lives that are affected. These women see a need and are driven to take action. The female resistance fighters working with Elaine are amazing. Nicole, Denise and Manon have their own reasons for resisting and they give no inch. Truly, the men and women who survived in Europe during the war were stellar and brave.
The author's note taught me so much about the librarians who worked in Portugal and the history there. Her research was meticulous and it shows in the writing.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Madeline Martin on her website or Instagram.
Read 3/23
* * * * *
5/5 Stars
Comments
Post a Comment