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The Lost Girls of Paris

 The Lost Girl of Paris

By Pam Jenoff


Published 29 January 2019 HQ


I've read Pam Jenoff's books before but some time ago so when I came across this one and read the blurb I bought it.

This one is set in the middle of World War Two and is about the SOE (Special Operations Executive). As you may know, I love to read hist fic so dove right in to this easy, pacy read of spies and resistance.

The story begins in 1946 New York City where Gracie questionably discovers some photographs of women. On the back are their first names and some of the women are wearing uniform. The same day, an English woman is hit by a car and killed - the owner of the photographs. Something about those women, their faces, makes Gracie hold on to them and try and find out more about who they were and why this woman had them.

The dual narrative takes the reader from 1946 to England 1943 where Eleanor Trigg has been put in charge of creating a very special unit for the SOE. Very hush hush. Over in France, the SOE agents are being picked off very quickly by the Germans - they are all young-ish men who, if French, would already be at the front fighting. Eleanor suggested they send women in to occupied France as they would be far less conspicuous. She carefully recruits and has them trained in Scotland. This project must be a success.

Marie is sitting in a cafe reading when she is first approached. Following a gruelling training she arrives in France and prepares to send and receive vital radio transmissions to and from London and the Resistance. The smallest mistake could cost lives, hers - the Resistance members - and the rest of her ring.

While I did enjoy this book, it left me wanting more. More body, more scene setting and character development. Some parts seemed to move too fast and left me with questions. I think it's a great introductory read to the female SOE role and plan to read more set at this time, including A Life in Secrets: Vera Atkins and the Missing Agents of World War Two by Sarah Helm which is recommended by the author.

For those of you in a book club, this copy helpfully includes a set of discussion questions and an excerpt from Pam's other novel The Orphan's Tale.


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