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Please Note: I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Three women. One mission. Enemies everywhere.
May 1944. When spy Elisabeth de Mornay, code name Cécile, notices a coded transmission from an agent in the field does not bear his usual signature, she suspects his cover has been blown– something that is happening with increasing frequency. With the situation in Occupied France worsening and growing fears that the Resistance has been compromised, Cécile is ordered behind enemy lines.
Having rendezvoused with her fellow agents, Léonie and Dominique, together they have one mission: help the Resistance destabilise German operations to pave the way for the Normandy landings.
But the life of a spy is never straightforward, and the in-fighting within the Resistance makes knowing who to trust ever more difficult. With their lives on the line, all three women will have to make decisions that could cost them everything - for not all their enemies are German.
Review:
I read author Mara Timon's previous novel, City of Spies, last year. Although it doesn't advertise it as such, Resistance, her latest book, is a sequel to that WWII spy thriller. And I couldn't be more pleased! Elisabeth de Mornay's first adventure takes her to Portugal, where she met (and married) a German officer. She gets sent back to England, leaving her new husband behind. Now she's back in the thick of the action in France. Pretending to be a German, she is actually working with the Resistance. But will someone recognize her from Portugal? And where has her husband gone to?
This novel was filled with action, and heart-stopping suspense. The story follows Elisabeth, and two other women who must each pretend to be helping the Germans. But how far does one go for the cause? There are no right or wrong answers, but each woman's ethics are constantly challenged. If you love spy thrillers, you are sure to enjoy this book!
What I Liked:
Historical Details:
All the details about the Resistance, from how the group operated, to what precautions they took to keep themselves from discovery were fascinating. There were codes used to check each other's identities (how else can a wireless operator authenticate the information they are receiving?), and backstories to fool the Germans and locals alike.
The author also doesn't shy away from how challenging these situations were. Just parachuting in to France, Elisabeth nearly breaks her ankle. She then must devise a plausible explanation for her injury. There are also wounds that must be dealt with (often without a doctor), diseases to avoid, and the constant lack of food that made performing at one's best difficult.
Characters:
Elisabeth is a practical person. She has a mission and will do almost anything to see it through. But, inside, she is not pleased to be pretending to be a German. She knows how much she is hated by the local French people. But she knows that her skills as a wireless operator are invaluable to preparing the Allies to invade France. I loved how strong she was, but she wasn't a perfect super spy! She takes a lot of chances that puts the mission in jeopardy when she meets someone from her past. Her hatred of Germans is also strong enough to cloud her judgement at times.
Léonie and Dominique, her fellow spies, are also working hard for the Resistance. Each has strong motivations for hating the Nazis. And both are even more ruthless than Elisabeth when it comes to getting the job done. Léone, in particular, is hell bent on revenge. She is so lost in her hate that she has no plans for the future, other than stopping the war. When your that driven, you have nothing to lose.
Although this is a female driven novel, this is not a heart-warming story of female friendship. I believe this is due to each of the women having their own private agendas for being spies. But what I did like about their interactions was that, like good co-workers should, they kept each other accountable. They each questioned one another when someone was taking too many risks.
Story:
The story takes place in France just before the Allied invasion in 1944. As a reader, you know what they don't know: the invasion will commence soon. It's critical that the Allies get information on what the Nazis are doing prior to the attack. I loved the suspense of knowing that time is not on their side.
Two of the three women (Elisabeth and Léonie) are pretending to be German. Dominique is posing as a collaborator. It's fine that they are actually helping the French and English. But who is going to know this when the bullets start flying? There is a real possibility that the locals, who are unaware of their true allegiances, will kill the women for helping the Nazis. So while the invasion is wonderful and exciting, it is the most dangerous time for these spies.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release Date: September 2nd, 2021
Author: Mara Timon
Publisher: Zaffre
Genre: WWII Historical Fiction/Spy novel
Page Length: 432 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: This book was exciting, fun, and made me stay up very late on a week night because I couldn't put it down. If spy thrillers are your thing, you are going to love this book.
