I don’t post a lot of
excerpts, but I love getting the opportunity to share books that I am really
excited to read. Seriously, read this
little bit and tell me you aren’t intrigued.
I have posted the summary from Goodreads below, then the excerpt. I hope you guys are as excited about this
book as I am. I will be posting a review
in February, so stay tuned.
excerpts, but I love getting the opportunity to share books that I am really
excited to read. Seriously, read this
little bit and tell me you aren’t intrigued.
I have posted the summary from Goodreads below, then the excerpt. I hope you guys are as excited about this
book as I am. I will be posting a review
in February, so stay tuned.
Goodreads Synopsis
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Lost Girls of Paris
Excerpt:
“How long would I have to be gone?” Marie asked.
“That depends on the mission and a variety of
other circumstances. You can resign at any time.”
other circumstances. You can resign at any time.”
Leave, a voice not her own seemed to say. Marie
was into something much bigger and deeper than she had imagined. But her feet
remained planted, curiosity piqued. “I have a daughter up near Ely with my
aunt. She’s five.”
was into something much bigger and deeper than she had imagined. But her feet
remained planted, curiosity piqued. “I have a daughter up near Ely with my
aunt. She’s five.”
“And your husband?”
“Killed in action,” she lied. In fact, Tess’s
father, Richard, had been an unemployed actor who had gotten by on parts as
extras in West End shows and disappeared shortly after Tess was born. Marie had
come to London when she was eighteen, fleeing her father’s home, and had
promptly fallen for the first bad apple that dropped at her feet. “He went
missing at Dunkirk.” The explanation, a morbid lie, was preferable to the
likely truth: that he was in Buenos Aires, spending what was left of her
mother’s inheritance, which Marie had naïvely moved to a joint account to cover
their household expenses when they had first married.
father, Richard, had been an unemployed actor who had gotten by on parts as
extras in West End shows and disappeared shortly after Tess was born. Marie had
come to London when she was eighteen, fleeing her father’s home, and had
promptly fallen for the first bad apple that dropped at her feet. “He went
missing at Dunkirk.” The explanation, a morbid lie, was preferable to the
likely truth: that he was in Buenos Aires, spending what was left of her
mother’s inheritance, which Marie had naïvely moved to a joint account to cover
their household expenses when they had first married.
“Your daughter is well cared for?” Marie nodded.
“Good. You would not be able to concentrate on training if you were worried
about that.”
“Good. You would not be able to concentrate on training if you were worried
about that.”
She would never stop worrying about Tess, Marie
thought. She knew in that instant that Eleanor did not have children.
thought. She knew in that instant that Eleanor did not have children.
Marie thought about Tess up in the countryside,
the weekend visits that wouldn’t happen if she accepted Eleanor’s proposal.
What kind of mother would do such a thing? The responsible choice would be to
stay here in London, to thank Eleanor and go back to whatever ordinary life was
left during the war. She was the only parent Tess had. If she failed to come
back, Tess would have no one but aging Aunt Hazel, who surely couldn’t look
after her much longer.
the weekend visits that wouldn’t happen if she accepted Eleanor’s proposal.
What kind of mother would do such a thing? The responsible choice would be to
stay here in London, to thank Eleanor and go back to whatever ordinary life was
left during the war. She was the only parent Tess had. If she failed to come
back, Tess would have no one but aging Aunt Hazel, who surely couldn’t look
after her much longer.
“The work pays ten pounds per week,” Eleanor
added.
added.
That was five times what Marie made typing.
She’d found the best work she could in London, but it hadn’t been enough. Even
combined with a second job, the kind that would have kept her from getting up
to see Tess at the weekends, she would not have made what Eleanor was offering.
She did the calculations. She would have enough to keep up the house even after
sending money to Hazel each week to cover Tess’s care and expenses, something
that simply was not possible now. She imagined a new dress for her daughter,
perhaps even a few toys at Christmas. Tess was unspoiled and never complained,
but Marie often wished to give her more of the things she had taken for granted
in her own childhood. It wasn’t like she could be with Tess now while she was
stuck working in London anyway. And, in truth, Marie was curious about the
mysterious adventure Eleanor was dangling in front of her. She felt so useless
sitting here in London, typing endlessly. Might as well do some good, make a
real difference in the war effort—if, as Eleanor had said, she in fact had what
it took.
She’d found the best work she could in London, but it hadn’t been enough. Even
combined with a second job, the kind that would have kept her from getting up
to see Tess at the weekends, she would not have made what Eleanor was offering.
She did the calculations. She would have enough to keep up the house even after
sending money to Hazel each week to cover Tess’s care and expenses, something
that simply was not possible now. She imagined a new dress for her daughter,
perhaps even a few toys at Christmas. Tess was unspoiled and never complained,
but Marie often wished to give her more of the things she had taken for granted
in her own childhood. It wasn’t like she could be with Tess now while she was
stuck working in London anyway. And, in truth, Marie was curious about the
mysterious adventure Eleanor was dangling in front of her. She felt so useless
sitting here in London, typing endlessly. Might as well do some good, make a
real difference in the war effort—if, as Eleanor had said, she in fact had what
it took.
“All right, then. I’m ready. But I have to phone
and let my daughter’s caretaker know that I won’t be coming up.”
and let my daughter’s caretaker know that I won’t be coming up.”
Eleanor shook her head firmly. “Impossible. No
one can know where you are going—or even that you are going. We’ll send a
telegram informing your family that you’ve been called away for work.”
one can know where you are going—or even that you are going. We’ll send a
telegram informing your family that you’ve been called away for work.”
“I can’t simply leave without saying anything.”
“That is exactly what you must do.” Eleanor
stared at her evenly. Though her expression did not change, Marie saw a flicker
of doubt behind her eyes. “If you aren’t prepared to do this, you can just
leave.”
stared at her evenly. Though her expression did not change, Marie saw a flicker
of doubt behind her eyes. “If you aren’t prepared to do this, you can just
leave.”
“I have to speak to my daughter. I won’t go unless
I can hear her voice.”
I can hear her voice.”
“Fine,” Eleanor relented finally. “But you
cannot tell her that you are going. There’s a phone in the next room you can
use. Keep it brief. No more than five minutes.” Eleanor spoke as though she was
in charge of Marie now, owned her. Marie wondered if accepting had been a
mistake. “Say nothing of your departure,” Eleanor reiterated. Marie sensed it
was some sort of test—perhaps the first of many.
cannot tell her that you are going. There’s a phone in the next room you can
use. Keep it brief. No more than five minutes.” Eleanor spoke as though she was
in charge of Marie now, owned her. Marie wondered if accepting had been a
mistake. “Say nothing of your departure,” Eleanor reiterated. Marie sensed it
was some sort of test—perhaps the first of many.
Eleanor started for the door, indicating that
Marie should follow. “Wait,” Marie said. “There’s one thing.” Eleanor turned
back, the start of annoyance creeping onto her face. “I should tell you that my
father’s family is German.” Marie watched Eleanor’s face, half hoping the
information might cause Eleanor to change her mind about accepting Marie for
whatever she was proposing.
Marie should follow. “Wait,” Marie said. “There’s one thing.” Eleanor turned
back, the start of annoyance creeping onto her face. “I should tell you that my
father’s family is German.” Marie watched Eleanor’s face, half hoping the
information might cause Eleanor to change her mind about accepting Marie for
whatever she was proposing.
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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.
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