MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW
France, 1942. "I forced myself to hold his gaze. My heart thrashed inside my chest like a bird battering its wings. They knew who I was. They knew what I’d done." These chilling lines set the stage for Ellie Midwood's emotionally charged World War Two novel, "The Undercover Secretary," a tale of courage, sacrifice, and indomitable spirit.
The protagonist, Dora Schaul, has suffered immeasurable losses at the hands of the Nazis. Her loved ones have been torn away from her, leaving her in a world consumed by chaos and despair. Yet, in the face of unimaginable adversity, Dora refuses to succumb to the tyranny of Hitler's regime. The Nazis may have shattered her world, but they will not crush her spirit.
Midwood's storytelling weaves a compelling narrative around Dora, who becomes a beacon of resistance. Working in secret for the underground network in France, Dora undertakes an extraordinary mission – infiltrating the very heart of the enemy as the secretary to the Head of Gestapo, a figure synonymous with brutality and cold-bloodedness.
The tension rises as Dora daily navigates the treacherous waters of her undercover life, constantly at risk of exposure. She rubs shoulders with those she despises, serving coffee to the perpetrators of her family's demise, all the while working towards a mission that could alter the course of history – leaking the names of SS officers to the British press.
Midwood's portrayal of Dora's internal struggles and external challenges is both heart-wrenching and gripping. The juxtaposition of her daily interactions with the enemy and her clandestine mission creates a narrative that is rich in suspense and emotion. The author skillfully captures the essence of the time, the palpable fear, and the unwavering determination of those who fought against an oppressive regime.
The question of survival permeates the story, not only for Dora but for the countless lives she seeks to save. As readers, we are drawn into a world where every moment is fraught with danger, and the consequences of failure are catastrophic.
"The Undercover Secretary" stands out in the genre of World War Two fiction, offering a fresh perspective on the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable atrocities. Fans of "The Tattooist of Auschwitz," "The Alice Network," and "The Lilac Girls" will find themselves utterly swept away by this poignant and enthralling novel, a testament to one woman's courage in the darkest hours of history. Ellie Midwood has crafted a tale that lingers long after the last page is turned, reminding us of the power of hope even in the bleakest of times.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Publisher for an advance digital copy for my advance review.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
France, 1942. “I forced myself to hold his gaze. My heart thrashed inside my chest like a bird battering its wings. They knew who I was. They knew what I’d done.” This heartbreaking and unputdownable World War Two novel tells the incredible true story Dora Schaul, who risked her life by coming face-to-face with enemy—the monsters who killed her loved ones.
Dora has lost everything to the Nazis. Her dearest friends have disappeared into thin air. Her parents have been imprisoned in concentration camps and murdered for the crime of simply existing. She has no idea if her darling husband, the devoted and brave Alfred, is still alive.
Though her world is crashing and burning around her, Dora refuses to give in to Hitler’s tyranny. The Nazis may have broken her heart, but they will not break her spirit.
Secretly working for the underground network in France, Dora risks her life on the most dangerous mission in the history of the local resistance. She goes undercover as the secretary of the Head of Gestapo; a soldier with a brutal reputation. A cold-blooded killer.
She is tasked with leaking the names of the SS to the British press. Every day, she rubs shoulders with the enemy. She makes coffee for the people she despises. She types letters for the monsters who killed her family. At any second, she could be found out…
Can she survive, turning the tide of the war and saving thousands of lives? Or will those she loved the most in the world, and millions of other innocent people, have died in vain?
Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Alice Network, and The Lilac Girls will be utterly swept away by this heart-wrenching and totally gripping novel about one of history’s most courageous women.
- Published
January 19, 2023 by Bookouture
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