The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff is one book that stays with you long after reading it. I don’t read very much historical fiction, however, when I saw that Pam Jenoff’s The Lost Girls of Paris was available for review, I jumped at the chance. Jenoff takes historical fiction to a new level with this novel about female spies during WWII. The characters are well-developed, the writing is bold, and the powerful females are exciting to read about.
Title: The Lost Girls of ParisAuthor: Pam Jenoff
Also by this author: The Orphan's Tale
Publisher: Park Row
Genres: Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication Date: January 29, 2019
Rating:
From the author of the runaway bestseller The Orphan’s Tale comes a remarkable story of friendship and courage centered around three women and a ring of female spies during World War II.
1946, Manhattan
Grace Healey is rebuilding her life after losing her husband during the war. One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal on her way to work, she finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a bench. Unable to resist her own curiosity, Grace opens the suitcase, where she discovers a dozen photographs—each of a different woman. In a moment of impulse, Grace takes the photographs and quickly leaves the station.
Grace soon learns that the suitcase belonged to a woman named Eleanor Trigg, leader of a ring of female secret agents who were deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home, their fates a mystery. Setting out to learn the truth behind the women in the photographs, Grace finds herself drawn to a young mother turned agent named Marie, whose daring mission overseas reveals a remarkable story of friendship, valor and betrayal.
Vividly rendered and inspired by true events, New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff shines a light on the incredible heroics of the brave women of the war, and weaves a mesmerizing tale of courage, sisterhood and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest of circumstances.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
It is hard to choose a favourite aspect of The Lost Girls of Paris to review. Although, I must say that I really loved the fierce female characters in the book. The story is told from the perspectives of 3 different women. There is Grace, who discovers the suitcase and photographs of the missing SOE women. Her actions are daring and determined. Also, Eleanor is a secretary for the SOE (Special Operations Executive in Britain) who becomes the leader of the female agents being trained. I found her to be a bit abrasive, but it fits with her position and title. Lastly, there is Marie, an agent who’s story of perseverance, skill, and hardship is sometimes terrifying to read.
❀ Well-Written
Pam Jenoff’s previous novel, The Orphan’s Tale is an incredible story set during WWII, so I had a pretty good feeling that The Lost Girls of Paris would be just as well-written. Inspired by actual events, the story takes a little while to get going, but once it does, it becomes a really thrilling page turner. The dual-timeline switches between 1943 and 1946 (during and post WWII.) As Grace is uncovering details about who the girls in the pictures are, the story switches to Marie and Eleanor’s story. Everything eventually all comes to a head in a powerful climax.
❀ Coding Aspects are Amazing
It is so enjoyable to read a book about amazing women who are on the front lines during WWII. The intense training and camaraderie that Jenoff describes in the novel are fascinating. Some of the tools that the spies used and the method of using a radio to transmit messages are amazing and admirable. It took so much skill and knowledge for these SOE agents to code and decode messages.
❀ A Well-Crafted Novel
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff is a well-crafted novel that contains some fascinating females. I am really excited to read what Jenoff writes next! If you enjoy a great spy novel, this is one book to try.
About Pam Jenoff
Pam Jenoff is the author of several novels, including the international bestseller The Kommandant's Girl, which also earned her a Quill Award nomination. Pam lives with her husband and three children near Philadelphia where, in addition to writing, she teaches law school.
About Lori
Avid reader. Contributor to The Candid Cover. Educator.
I loved this book too. I highly recommend The Commandants Girl and The Diplomats Wife as well!
Oooh! I will have to check those ones out! 🙂
I’ve read quite a bit about SOE’s role in WWII but never from a female agent’s perspective. Thank you, Olivia!
It is something that I had never heard about. It is such an interesting aspect of WWII. 🙂
This sounds fantastic! I’m a huge fan of the movie Charlotte Gray – the mix of spymaster and real emotion gets me every time!
I love the idea of her travelling around Europe and uncovering these women’s stories bit by bit. Womens’ roles in WW1 / WW2 are often swept under the rug…
Annie recently posted…Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Warrior of the Wild
Right?! I love that there are more and more stories about the roles women played during times of war coming out. 🙂
Wonderful review! And yes reading about women’s roles when WWII was raging is always something I love!
Same! I am wanting to read more now. 🙂
I just skimmed because I’m actually reading this book right now. It’s fantastic so far and I completely agree with you about the amazing characters.
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Discussion: Setting Blogging Goals and Managing Expectations in 2019
I hope that you love it as much as I did, Suzanne! I will keep an eye out for your review. 🙂
This is a bit outside my usual genre but I’m intrigued. And I promised myself I would read more outside the box. Wonderful review!
Laura Thomas recently posted…Girl With All The Pain ~ Blitz and Giveaway
I hear you on that! It is really hard to read a genre that you are not really big on. 😉
I’m so glad to see that you liked this! I have it pre-order on audio. Great review!
Oooh! I would love to know how the audio version is. Enjoy! 🙂
I received a copy off this book from Bookish but haven’t read it yet. Your review has me excited to pick it up!
Yay!! I hope that you love it, Dianna! 🙂
Nice review! I don’t read War Fiction but this really sounds like an incredible read! I’m glad you loved it! 🙂
Raven @ Dreamy Addictions recently posted…To Kill a Kingdom By Alexandra Christo [Review]
It is such an incredible story. 🙂
I do love books set in WWII. I’m glad to hear you really loved this one, especially since you don’t read much historical fiction.
-Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Keep It Together: My 2019 Planner
Cool setting, I like learning about history
I am just listening to the audio version and love it so far! I don’t read a lot of historical fiction, but for some reason, I am addicted to WWII stories especially those set in France. Great review Oliva.
Sue @ Crushingcinders recently posted…Adding to Your TBR – March 2019
I would love to know what you think of the audio version! It is one that I found to be really interesting because it focused on women. I hope that you love it to the end! 🙂
I really like historical fiction and this sounds like a fantastic read.