The Lost Song of Paris

By Sarah Steele

Published by Hachette

ISBN 9871472294296

Set in 1941 and 1997 and inspired by true events this is a heart wrenching story as one might expect that incudes WWII.

One of the characters is a beautiful young French pianist who most people think is a Nazi collaborator, but in reality she is a key spy for French resistance and British Intelligence who’s information helps prevents more catastrophic damage to London.

It is a story of lost loves, lives, danger, adventure and extraordinary bravery. Whilst I have read several books set in France during WWII this offers a different perspective.

Beginning in 1941 in blitz torn London as an elegantly dressed women staying in an hotel in Baker Street grips a ledge after the buildings around her have been bombed, She summons up the courage to jump out of the hotel window.

Dressed in her beautiful red Molyneaux suit she jumps to the rescuers amongst the rubble below; She suddenly realises that she must go back inside to find the hidden suitcase in which she has important secret documents but given the current state around her that is impossible.

Meanwhile, in 1997 we meet Amy Novak and her young daughter, who has recently lost her loving husband shortly after a heated argument over what he thaught would be an ideal birthday present.

She has also lost her love of music, a high price to pay for a talented pianist. Amy is also an historian and now an archivist who discovers intriguing information about Agent Colette which leads her to meet Verity Cooper who was a “godmother” with MI5.

Verity has her own deeply buried secrets. Not even her husband and family know of the vital work she did during WWII helping to prevent further catastrophes.

When her daughter receives a letter from this archivisit for her now elderly mother not revealing why she wants to get in touch, her daughter replies not to bother her mother who is in the midst of getting to grips of having to move home after sixty years.

However, Verity reads the letter and is somewhat intrigued. They meet, briefly, with a guarded discussion.

Days later Verity contacts Amy and so ensues the story as the two develop a relationship. They discover that the three key people in the story are a lot closer than they realise, one of these is Verity’s twin brother and heroic fighter pilot, Alec.

Another interesting character is Daphne, the young twenty year old who failed almost every test for becoming a British spy behind enemy lines in France. Despite this she was assigned to a pivotal role. Daphne surprised every one including Agent Collette, not revealing a whisper of intelligence even under intense, cruel and life altering interrogation.

The author’s writing style is a pleasure to read as she masterfully tells the story, smoothly crossing from 1941 to 1997 weaving in the characters, their relative’s prejudices, a look into how the Resistance worked, and descriptions of Paris and several other regions in France. It also deals with various relationships that are not quite as they seem with a surprising reveal at the end.

The Lost Song of Paris is a thoroughly enjoyable, gripping read. A real page turner with some intense, almost nail biting parts and with loving moments.

This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review, Buy me a coffee