A New York Times Bestseller“Fraught with danger, filled with mystery, and meticulously researched, The Lost Girls of Paris is a fascinating tale of the hidden women who helped to win the war.” —Lisa Wingate, New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were YoursFrom the author of the runaway bestseller The Orphan’s Tale comes a remarkable story of friendship and courage centered around three … Before We Were Yours
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 secret agents during World War II.
1946, Manhattan
One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal on her way to work, Grace Healey 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 network 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.
A Cosmopolitan Best Book Club Book, PopSugar Must-Read, and Glamour Best of 2019
“An intriguing mystery and a captivating heroine make The Lost Girls of Paris a read to savor!” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network
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This was a truly amazing book from a historical perspective as well as a great piece of fiction with wonderful characters. A really great read!
Based on the true story, though the characters were fictitious, of the women who risked and lost their lives to fight the Nazis in France. They were a courageous group of women, who ultimately were betrayed by their own government. If the holocaust is interesting to you, you will like this story.
Very good book!
What a great book to read especially so close to the anniversary of VE Day. Great to read about the role of women during WW II. Recommend highly.
Wonderfully written based on historical events. I highly recommend.
I enjoyed the two tiered timeline as they came together at the conclusion. Kept me interested until the very end
Great book about a part of WWII I was not familiar. Jenoff does a terrific job in telling a story of what some very brave women did during WWII and the importance of their work that was somewhat hidden in history.
I love Second World War women spies, which is why I write about them myself, and this tale gave me a wonderful experience of what it might have been like to be there, to be among them. Before the Second World War, espionage was a man’s job, which is why the Allies began using them to infiltrate Nazi organizations and occupied territories: no one would suspect a woman. They were deemed too nervous and not devious enough to make good spies.
How wrong they were!
Inspired by true events, The Lost Girls of Paris is an insightful look into the role some women played during WWII. I thoroughly enjoyed both the story and the historical accounts woven beautifully into the narrative.
It was such a amazingly haunting book I was swept away!
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff is an excellent WWII era historical fiction novel. This is the first novel that I have read by Ms Jenoff and I was thoroughly impressed.
The dialogue and prose were both smooth, easy, and enjoyable. Sometimes having dual characters and timelines can muck up a good idea, but Ms Jenoff pulled it off nicely.
I enjoyed all of the female characters, actually. It was nice to hear from Grace’s perspective as well as from Eleanor and Marie. (I especially liked Marie.)
I also liked how the author interweaves the plots, and I feel it was all tied up into a very satisfying ending.
I have already added several of Ms Jenoff’s books to my TBR list.
Excellent at 5/5 stars
Informative
This was a quick read. I liked all three characters, especially protective Eleanor. Sometimes I was annoyed with Marie for making dumb choices, though.
The first part of Marie’s story centered on her training. I found that interesting and was looking forward to seeing her apply that training in the field. However, after Marie was deployed, there was very little written about her being a radio operator. Mostly what we saw was the odd jobs she was called upon to do that stretched her beyond her training. I imagine the author chose to focus on those actions for the sake of flow and tension, as this was where the suspense really started, so I can understand that.
There was a development that really bothered me, though. At one point Marie sent a message to London, and the response she got was something I couldn’t imagine even the greenest rookie sending. Yes, it is fiction, and the response moved the action along the way the author needed it to, but unfortunately it felt unbelievable to me.
Overall, however, I found this an interesting read.
This book, through historical fiction, tells of the courageous women of World War 2, who risked their lives serving as spies, transmitters and couriers working for the British government. Pam Jenoff’s captivating story is part thriller, part mystery and part drama.
There will never be enough books written about the atrocities that occurred during this time period and this well written book is worth reading.
A good historical fiction book based on a found suitcase in New York City subway station, with information in it. Who can resist a good mystery. The suitcase belonged to a woman who was instrumental in setting up a clandestine unit of women operatives during World War II. These women were sent into France as undercover operatives and radio operators, to send messages back to England and to set up resistance groups in France.
I selected this book because I was intrigued with the unattended suitcase found at Grand Central Station. When it’s opened, there are photos of twelve women. That begins the story of the search to discover the identities of the women, and learn of their courageously heroic roles in the French resistance during the during the German occupation. You can’t help but admire the strength and sacrifices of these ordinary women doing the extraordinary.
Despite waiting for a long time to read this, I was disappointed. Did the main character run for a bus or hail a cab when she left her lover at the hotel? Did she have lunch on a flat roof or sitting on a sooty window sill? Editing mistakes like this are off putting. I just couldn’t get into the story when little slips kept popping up.
“The Lost Girls Of Paris” started with a mystery that kept me reading. I love World War 2 era stories and this book offered a look at some of the hidden stories that are never mentioned in history class. Each of the three main characters are relatable and I loved the way their stories were woven together.
What a great book. One of the best I’ve read this year
Love Jenoff’s books!