My name is Sylvie Duchene and I am a dancer. There is no network. I am just a dancer. I know nothing. Please…I swear it… dancers at the nightclub Mirabelle, Sylvie’s mission is to entertain the club’s German clientele and learn their secrets. In a world of deception and lies, she can trust no one. Not even Mirabelle’s enigmatic piano player Felix… a part of the resistance or a collaborator?
But despite her SOE training, nothing can prepare Sylvie for the horrors she is about to face – or the pain of losing those she grows closer to undercover…
This is a pageturning and gripping romance set in occupied France during WW2 for fans of Pam Jenoff !
Readers are absolutely loving The Secret Agent:
‘Captivated my heart…5 out of 5 stars for me’ Megan
‘A beautiful historical novel describing the plight of a brave young woman willing to put her own life at risk for the sake of saving others’ Julia
‘A wonderful novel with exciting twists and a satisfying ending’ Emily
‘I sat up through the night reading this book and I would definitely recommend it’ Julie
‘Perfect for a flight or a night curled up with a cup of tea or wine’ Sarah
‘A heartbreaking story of the sacrifices made by the young women of the S.O.E’ Anne
‘I would give this a higher rating than 5 it was that good’ Patricia
‘There is romance, drama and tension … an enjoyable read’ Karyn
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Well, well, well…I am blown away by this book, I have always known that Elizabeth Hobbes is a damn fine author, but this one is outstanding, I honestly don’t have the appropriate words for just how haunting this book is, it’s breath-taking!
There is so much to love about this book, that’s before you even open the first page….
Firstly, it’s written by one of the finest authors of the time and who happens to be one of my favourite’s.
Secondly, that cover…well, that beauty speaks for its self. I love it, I love the striking simplicity of the woman wearing the red coat on a dark and gloomy background, it’s a powerful image that grasps your full attention. It sort of reminds me of certain scenes in one of my favourite films; Schindlers List (for those who have seen it, will know what I mean).
Thirdly, even if I hadn’t seen the cover, or know the writer you had me by the back blurb. I love anything to do with resistance and the SOE agent’s, those incredibly brave men and women risking their lives in occupied France. Again this book reminds me of one of my favourite TV series’ Wish me luck, which is an oldie but easily one of the best, so if if you’ve seen it then you’ll love this book.
Plus the last line of the blurb ‘fans of Pam Jenoff‘ who just happens to be one of my whole time favourite WW2 fiction authors, and who has just been replaced at the top with this hugely talented lady.
Set in Nantes, France which is so beautifully captured, I’ve never been there but Elisabeth’s picture-perfect, evocative descriptions and stunning attention to detail had me transported from my little Yorkshire armchair to be standing side by side with Sylvie as she manoeuvred her way threw occupied France. It’s as clear as a bell that Elisabeth Hobbes knows this part of France and she has done an inordinate amount of research not just into the overall area, but into the history of the SOE and the Resistance.
The story follows Sylvie Duchene as she returns to her native France as a British SOE agent, she grew up within a dance troupe as her French mother was an accomplished dancer. They moved with the tour and as she grew she became an adept dancer in her own right, but on the death of her beloved mother Sylvie was sent to join her English father, a man she had never met and had to learn to be ‘proper’, deep down she resented it and this new life she wanted to go back to home and then the opportunity arises.
She joins the, now famous SOE a select group people who are sent to France undercover to help the French Resistance and the allies, with her history and her ability to speak French Sylvie is the perfect person to take on the role as a dancer in the Mirabelle club, right in the centre of German-occupied France. Her duty is to gain the trust and acceptance of the Germans to wheedle out as much information as possible to pass onto her superiors through her network, she must keep her wits about her as she is in the centre of the spider’s web and there are enemies everywhere; German and French, for it’s the collaborators she must watch out for most, what she doesn’t plan on is falling in love with charismatic, charming, handsome; pianist Felix.
Can she trust this enigmatic man who sends thrills through her veins, a man who could be her link to the resistance? Or is he one of the very people she has been warned about, a collaborator?
I really liked Sylvie, I liked her loyalty and patriotism to her native land. She is a tough cookie when needed to be incredibly brave, but there is a naivety, almost little girl innocence about her that makes you warm to her. It’s so sweet when she blushes every time Felix looks her way, I like how Felix’s cheeky smiles and dancing eyes make her come to life.
This is a fast-paced, exciting, inspiring and compelling story, I loved that there is romance entwined so intricately with the darker more perilous story which is all about good overcoming bad, fighting for survival and at the forefront of the entire story is the courage and bravery that a select group of people showed in the face of such adversity.
The Secret Agent is a timeless, emotional, poignant, heartbreaking and mesmerising story of fighting for what is good while trying to hold on to love. I have been swept away on a vivid and atmospheric journey, one that buried itself deep into my heart, this is easily Elisabeth Hobbes’ best writing to date, she has excelled herself and I do hope there will be more books like this in the future
The Secret Agent: An emotional and totally gripping WW2 historical novel
Elizabeth Hobbes
https://www.facebook.com/ElisabethHobbes/
Release date 11/27/2020
Publisher One More Chapter
My name is Sylvie Duchene and I am a dancer. There is no network. I am just a dancer. I know nothing. Please…I swear it…
An unknown location, occupied France, 1944
Dropping silently behind enemy lines, Sylvia Crichton, codename Monique, is determined to fight for the country of her birth and save it from its Nazi stranglehold.
As one of the dancers at the nightclub Mirabelle, Sylvie’s mission is to entertain the club’s German clientele and learn their secrets. In a world of deception and lies, she can trust no one. Not even Mirabelle’s enigmatic piano player Felix… a part of the resistance or a collaborator?
But despite her SOE training, nothing can prepare Sylvie for the horrors she is about to face – or the pain of losing those she grows closer to undercover…
What if she finds more than she expected…
I was thinking when did I read a WWII story, outside Anne Franck diary, read a long time ago, the only other story was The Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series.
As a French woman, it is not my favorite historical period, it was such an awful period, demonstrating all the ugliness of humankind.
This story narrates the romance between Sylvie and Felix while in parallel they both play their own game in the fight against the German invader. As it is told from Sylvie’s point of view, the author explores her past with flashbacks which drop her at major turns in her life, when her journey was altered to a new path, until the present when she collides her two identities together to built a new one.
She is a complex character having to leave one life behind to endorse a completely different suit, so very opposite of the carefree and lively one she had prior to the death of her mother.
Until an other heartbreak alters once again her path.
This is a coming of age tale, one which sees the heroine seek her inner strength and discover who she was meant to be.
For her birth roots, she will risk her life and leaves everything behind, to discover love was not what she thought it to be.
Thankfully it was not a dark tale, not also a full of glitters’ one, as it shows the tiny acts that one by one were set to defeat from the shadows the intruder.
I was remarkably surprised by this story as I know the author’s previous work. It is a very different tale not only for its historical period but also the narrative style.
A welcome surprise.
4.25 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/754121935176980/?d=n
Honestly, I’ve got tears running down my face. I just finished this wonderful book. I’m a big fan of pre, during and post WWII movies and the history of the world during this period of time. Would I have the courage to do what these agents did? It’s something to think about.
I thought this book was well researched and told an engaging story with an intertwined romance. I’m glad to see more romance books being published during this time period and will no doubt be as emotional as this one. How could they not be?
Recommended read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book gifted by the author
An excellent read of little know, courageous females spies who helped win the war against Hitler and often sacrificing their lives to do so.
Loved learning about the use of British citizens to help the French Resistance.
Very well written, kept one’s interest.
The Secret Agent is a brilliant story – realistic, suspenseful, and in places heartrending. It must have taken astonishing courage to be part of the French Resistance during WW2.
The best compliment I can give to a book is that the characters live on in my mind after I finish reading it—and the characters in this one surely do. I can’t help but imagine their lives afterwards and hope for the best for all concerned – even the parents of a German soldier. It also made me want to visit Nantes so I can see the setting for myself. Highly recommended.
The Secret Agent by Elisabeth Hobbes is a marvellous historical novel that will have you gripped from the start.
The novel is set mainly in occupied France during 1944 as we follow the exploits of the resistance and S.O.E as they operate under the nose of the Nazis. They are brave and daring as they plan and carry out acts of sabotage.
Not all Germans were Nazis. The reader witnesses flashes of humanity behind the uniform. We must remember that on every side soldiers had families who would mourn their passing. In contrast to this we view cruel attitudes towards others as evil reigns within.
The brave men and women of the resistance had to be adaptable and think on their feet as not everything went according to plan.
All the characters were well drawn eliciting a variety of responses from the reader.
We see the background story to a character as the novel alternates backwards from 1944. Life events produce choices, choices that eventually lead to where and why a character ends up in 1944.
The Secret Agent was a thrilling read. It was impossible to relax as danger lurked close by. I loved it and hope to read more by Elisabeth Hobbes.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
4 stars
An Unknown Location 1944: ‘My name is Sylvie Duchene, and I am a dancer.’
‘Liar.’ These first two lines of The Secret Agent by Elisabeth Hobbes grabbed me. The first chapter was so intense, Istayed up reading a couple of nights as I could not stop. Sylvie is the name for our main character, The Secret Agent. Sylvie/Sylvia was brought up in France by her mother who was a dancer. She was the product of an affair her mother had with an English soldier at the end of WW I. She was sent to live with her father and step-mother in England. Dissatisfied with a boyfriend and her secretarial existence and not wanting to be a WREN or WAAF during the war, she sees her Uncle Max to see if she would qualify for an undercover agent.
Sylvie travels undercover to France and settles into her position as a dancer in a nightclub. The author has loaded this book with interesting characters, a German soldier who falls in love with her, and a romance with a piano player at the club as well as the other dancers…. There were some tense moments and a few chapters that I felt werea bit boring where I struggled. I am so glad I did! The last fourth of the book was so well written and emotional. Several tears were shed both sad and happy. My thanks to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for an ARC. This is my honest review.
The Dancer
Sylvie grew up with her mother and traveling with the dance troupe through France. When her mother passed she went to live with her father and stepmother in England. When her father died she decided to work for the war effort. She joined the S.O.E. British Special Ops and traveled to France. Her cover was a dancer in a nightclub, her mission was to gain the trust of the German officers in the nightclub and pass information on to the British network.
The story is exciting as her life is often in danger from her activities with the French Resistance. She becomes a valued member and her job becomes more and more important as it becomes more dangerous. As her value grows as an agent so does her romance with fellow resistance member Felix.
I loved the characters and the closeness family type feeling of the members of the club and the dancers. The romance with Felix was a bit more graphic than what I like, but no more so than many romances I have encountered in other WWII books I have read. It seems that in time of danger and trouble everyone needs someone to cling to and to forger the ugliness of war.
I liked the ending and especially with Marcel and Louise as well as Felix and Sylvie. It was a good story, moved at a fast pace and kept me reading. I would recommend it .
Thanks to Elisabeth Hobbes, Harper Collins, U.K., One More Chapter, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy for an honest review.
The Secret Agent by Elisabeth Hobbes’ historical fiction is set in World War II occupied France and exciting from the first pages. Horrifying scenes and fast paced thrills are the norm in this story. As expected there are many sorrows in this war story with a few happy moments. The main character Sylvie seemed more focused on romance rather than on the war effort. I thought this book at times lacked some details, depth and feeling. However overall it was an enjoyable story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 4 Stars
I enjoyed this book, somewhat realistic and intresting.
Well done. A book you do not want to put down until you are finished. Not as detailed as most historical fictions, but it was refreshing to read a book that stayed focus on the main character. Would have enjoyed more character development in several other characters to understand what happened to them.