THE SECRET LOCKET #BOOK ON TOUR #HISTORICAL FICTION #WORLD WAR 2 #BOOK REVIEW #BOOKOUTURE PUBLISHERS #BOOK REVIEW

 

MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW

Set in Nazi Germany in 1941, The Secret Locket tells the heart-wrenching story of Noemi, a Jewish girl, and Pascal, her childhood friend and first love. Growing up together in the Bavarian countryside, their bond is deep and unshakable—until war tears them apart. As Pascal is pressured into joining the Hitler Youth, Noemi’s life is put in danger when her parents are taken to Dachau.

Desperate to save her, Pascal helps Noemi escape, giving her his mother’s silver locket as a symbol of their love and a promise to find her again. As Noemi flees for her life, she faces danger, heartbreak, and the constant fear of discovery, but never loses hope that she might one day reunite with Pascal.

Spanning years of war, separation, and survival, The Secret Locket is a moving tale of forbidden love, courage, and the enduring hope that even in the darkest times, love can survive.

What follows is a journey of survival for Noemi as she escapes into a world of uncertainty, always holding on to the memory of the boy she loved and the locket that symbolizes everything she lost. Hokin does not shy away from depicting the horrors of war and the cruelty of the regime, but she balances this with moments of kindness, humanity, and hope that give the narrative its powerful emotional weight.

The pacing is expertly handled, with the tension rising as Noemi moves from one danger to another. Hokin’s writing is lyrical yet grounded, painting vivid scenes of both brutality and beauty. The emotional impact of the story lingers long after the final page, particularly in its exploration of whether love can survive the trauma of war—and whether forgiveness is possible when the past casts such a long shadow.

The Secret Locket will appeal deeply to fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale, and The Book of Lost Names. Like those novels, it weaves together love and history with devastating effect, leaving readers both heartbroken and inspired. Catherine Hokin has once again proven her gift for historical fiction with a story that is as unforgettable as it is unflinchingly honest.

Rating: 5/5

AUTHOR BIO

I seem to have followed a rather meandering career, including marketing and teaching and politics (don't try and join the dots), to get where I have always wanted to be, which is writing historical fiction. I am a story lover as well as a story writer and nothing fascinates me more than a strong female protagonist and a quest. Hopefully those are what you will encounter when you pick up my books.

I am from the North of England but now live very happily in Glasgow with my American husband. Both my children have left home (one to London and one to Berlin) which may explain why I am finally writing. If I'm not at my desk you'll most probably find me in the cinema, or just follow the sound of very loud music.

I'd love to hear from you and there are lots of ways you can find me, so jump in via my website https://www.catherinehokin.com/ or on my Cat Hokin FB page or on twitter @catherineh66267.

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Buy Link:

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BOOK DESCRIPTION

Germany, 1941. Noemi’s hazel eyes shine with tears as she takes Pascal’s hand. ‘Please don’t go,’ she begs him. ‘If you leave me now, we might never find each other again…’

When Pascal kisses Noemi and presses his mother’s silver locket into her hands, it is a moment she has been longing for her whole life. Growing up they were fearless, exploring the wild mountains in the Bavarian countryside together. But when war is declared, overnight their love becomes forbidden – Noemi is Jewish, while Pascal is being pressured to become a Hitler Youth officer by his father.

When Noemi’s parents are captured and taken to Dachau, she knows her hometown is no longer safe. With time running out, Pascal smuggles her onto a train, praying she will survive until the war is over. Devastated, he watches the train leave, promising himself that one day he will find the girl who took his heart and locket.

Noemi’s life on the run plunges her into new dangers, but she never loses hope that one day she will make her way home to her family again. She tells herself that family can never now include Pascal, but still she remembers the pendant he gave her, and hope flickers in her chest like a flame, that one day somehow they might reunite…

But as the world burns around her, will she have the strength to find and forgive him? And if she does, will their love last – or will the war’s shadows tear them both apart forever?

A heartrendingly emotional page-turner about hope in the darkest of days, and how love must always prevail. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and The Book of Lost Names.

Publication Date: 07 July 2025