What do you think?
Rate this book
How Angels Die
In the darkest days of World War II, when France found itself at the mercy of a brutal dictator, the frontlines of resistance may just have been in the grasp of a few good women. How Angels Die, the epic work of historical fiction by author David-Michael Harding, delivers a highly inventive and uncommon take on the French Resistance that is certain to appeal to anyone who relishes a blood-pumping drama, which also sheds searing new light on the astounding bravery, profound passion, and razor-sharp cunning of the fairer sex during the most trying times. In four fateful days, two remarkable sisters, Monique and Claire McCleash, battle the German occupation of their coastal French town in the early days of June 1944. While their mission is the same, their methods of upending the occupation are irreconcilably at odds. The strikingly beautiful Monique puts her body and wit to work for the Resistance by dating and sleeping with German officers; her younger sister Claire elects instead to serve as an active combat guerilla fighter for the cause. Brimming with high drama that is punctuated by family humor, How Angels Die lifts the veil on a lesser-known side of the French Resistance. Through the prism of two intrepid women, the novel illuminates how these women employ their formidable assets and fierce love of country to face down a vicious enemy. With page-turning action, unstoppable passion, and historical accuracy, this heart-racing novel is a must-read for sisters, history buffs, and action enthusiasts alike.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2011
31 people are currently reading
1118 people want to read
About the author
David-Michael Harding
11 books116 followersDavid-Michael Harding is a life-long writer whose novel, How Angels Die, received critical acclaim. A former semi-professional football player, his writing is hard hitting and passionate. He holds a master’s degree in education and is a former adjunct professor of writing. Most of his days are spent writing from the cockpit of his sailboat, Pegasus, somewhere off the Nature Coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 7, 2012
War is brutal. War is unfair. War is soul-wrenching. David-Michael Harding's How Angels Die is a thought-provoking portrayal of the French Resistance during WWII. What makes this piece of historical fiction different is that it is from the women's perspective. By reading this novel you will find that women freedom fighters played a huge role in the Resistance and sacrificed so much for France.
The story revolves around two sisters, Monique and Claire. Both are fighting the same war but in different ways. The pain and judgment both sisters put upon one another tears them apart. Mr. Harding lays out beautifully the dynamic between the sisters. The love is so apparent but it is caught up in this brutal and bloody war.
Family plays a huge role. War wrecks havoc on a once close and loving family. Everything is literally torn apart. You feel every brutal word that each person lashes out. Sides are chosen there is very little forgiveness. Only something extreme can bring this family together again. And something extreme does happen. I have to say that a few tears were shed while reading. Your heart breaks for this family.
Love runs throughout this book, whether it's from family or a lover. In the Resistance, you are expected to fight and possibly die for the cause, getting rid of the Nazis. However, most most sacrifices are for the people who you love. For the sisters, it's family. For others, it's a lover. My favorite line from this novel is that "Years as a sister gave way to the wants of a lover only to return to ties of blood." It says so much.
All of this makes for a beautiful but heart-breaking story. It is well-written and the characters are nicely developed. I really enjoyed this read.
The story revolves around two sisters, Monique and Claire. Both are fighting the same war but in different ways. The pain and judgment both sisters put upon one another tears them apart. Mr. Harding lays out beautifully the dynamic between the sisters. The love is so apparent but it is caught up in this brutal and bloody war.
Family plays a huge role. War wrecks havoc on a once close and loving family. Everything is literally torn apart. You feel every brutal word that each person lashes out. Sides are chosen there is very little forgiveness. Only something extreme can bring this family together again. And something extreme does happen. I have to say that a few tears were shed while reading. Your heart breaks for this family.
Love runs throughout this book, whether it's from family or a lover. In the Resistance, you are expected to fight and possibly die for the cause, getting rid of the Nazis. However, most most sacrifices are for the people who you love. For the sisters, it's family. For others, it's a lover. My favorite line from this novel is that "Years as a sister gave way to the wants of a lover only to return to ties of blood." It says so much.
All of this makes for a beautiful but heart-breaking story. It is well-written and the characters are nicely developed. I really enjoyed this read.
October 21, 2012
I reviewed this book for www.luxuryreading.com.
Whenever I think about war I tend to envision men lined up in uniforms, attacking the enemy across a relatively distinct line. How Angels Die takes a unique approach to war that completely sets this stereotype on edge, showing at its core the brave and determined women who fought against the German occupation of France for the French Resistance during WWII. It is a violent yet tender, heartbreakingly vivid story of two sisters, fighting for the same side yet often divided, and the harsh realities they learn fighting for a peace that refuses to come easily.
Claire and Monique McCleash have grown up in their small French coastal town surrounded by war. The noose around their country has continued to tighten as the WWII Nazi soldiers invaded and then occupied their country. Now in June 1944, each sister will decide to fight against these invaders but in very different, opposing ways.
As both of their worlds begin to unravel many secrets – some complete shocks and others hinted at but never elaborated on – are revealed and their very lives are put in danger. Both will have to decide what matters most to them in life and what they are willing to risk for it.
Coming away from reading How Angels Die, my first thought is that this is a beautifully written book. The clear, descriptive writing allows you to journey along with the characters and see and feel what they do as they experience the various heartbreaks of war. It is gritty and graphic when it needs to be but also has the ability to back away and reveal the more delicate and touching moments and relationships as well. Alternating between varying points of view, the reader gets a well rounded look at the many different ways French citizens helped the Resistance and the varying types of love one can experience in a lifetime. Even Pieter, the German soldier Monique falls in love with, offers his own influence to the reading experience as he forces you to see that not every German was incapable of love and compassion.
My second thought would have to be that there is a lot going on in this story. While they all have a place in the overall experience some aspects seemed to draw my attention away from the main story of Monique and Claire’s relationship. One aside in particular, a bittersweet love story focusing on two Resistance fighters, Paul and Valerie, who make a devastating decision right before they are to be attacked by some German solders, was actually my favorite part of the book but would have been better served as its own story. This would have allowed for more character and story development on their part as well as served to consolidate and focus this long book. The dialogue is also more modern then I would imagine would have been used in this time period and locale which, while it did not bother me at all during the reading, I know is annoying to some historical fiction fans.
At the end I think this book was exceedingly enjoyable. While it is dense and packed full of story lines and plot points that sometimes make for a slow read, its incredibly descriptive writing and pitch perfect display of just about every emotion available made for a thoroughly satisfying read. It is in no way a happy-go-lucky romp of a story but what it is is an exploration of how far someone will go for love and the redemption that can be found even during the darkest of days. I would recommend it to history lovers, people who enjoy sister stories or tales of love in all its forms.
Whenever I think about war I tend to envision men lined up in uniforms, attacking the enemy across a relatively distinct line. How Angels Die takes a unique approach to war that completely sets this stereotype on edge, showing at its core the brave and determined women who fought against the German occupation of France for the French Resistance during WWII. It is a violent yet tender, heartbreakingly vivid story of two sisters, fighting for the same side yet often divided, and the harsh realities they learn fighting for a peace that refuses to come easily.
Claire and Monique McCleash have grown up in their small French coastal town surrounded by war. The noose around their country has continued to tighten as the WWII Nazi soldiers invaded and then occupied their country. Now in June 1944, each sister will decide to fight against these invaders but in very different, opposing ways.
As both of their worlds begin to unravel many secrets – some complete shocks and others hinted at but never elaborated on – are revealed and their very lives are put in danger. Both will have to decide what matters most to them in life and what they are willing to risk for it.
Coming away from reading How Angels Die, my first thought is that this is a beautifully written book. The clear, descriptive writing allows you to journey along with the characters and see and feel what they do as they experience the various heartbreaks of war. It is gritty and graphic when it needs to be but also has the ability to back away and reveal the more delicate and touching moments and relationships as well. Alternating between varying points of view, the reader gets a well rounded look at the many different ways French citizens helped the Resistance and the varying types of love one can experience in a lifetime. Even Pieter, the German soldier Monique falls in love with, offers his own influence to the reading experience as he forces you to see that not every German was incapable of love and compassion.
My second thought would have to be that there is a lot going on in this story. While they all have a place in the overall experience some aspects seemed to draw my attention away from the main story of Monique and Claire’s relationship. One aside in particular, a bittersweet love story focusing on two Resistance fighters, Paul and Valerie, who make a devastating decision right before they are to be attacked by some German solders, was actually my favorite part of the book but would have been better served as its own story. This would have allowed for more character and story development on their part as well as served to consolidate and focus this long book. The dialogue is also more modern then I would imagine would have been used in this time period and locale which, while it did not bother me at all during the reading, I know is annoying to some historical fiction fans.
At the end I think this book was exceedingly enjoyable. While it is dense and packed full of story lines and plot points that sometimes make for a slow read, its incredibly descriptive writing and pitch perfect display of just about every emotion available made for a thoroughly satisfying read. It is in no way a happy-go-lucky romp of a story but what it is is an exploration of how far someone will go for love and the redemption that can be found even during the darkest of days. I would recommend it to history lovers, people who enjoy sister stories or tales of love in all its forms.
Read
September 4, 2018“How Angels Die” by David-Michael Harding is a book focusing on some strong and sexy girls who work to defeat the Nazis. What could be better than that?
“How Angels Die” is a novel about two strong sisters who are part of the French Resistance Movement that works to stop the Nazis who have invaded their country. Claire is the younger sister and is very rebellious. Her way of stopping the Nazis is by going on raids and murdering them. Monique, the older sister, seduces the high-ranking Nazis in order to loosen their lips with pillow talk, and then passes on pertinent information to the Resistance.
Both girls set about the same purpose, but the varied ways in which they resist tears apart the family and their friendship. Claire and her father believe that Monique is as good as a prostitute, and that she is not doing the resistance any favors by sleeping with Nazis. Monique and her mother believe that Claire is too brazen and will be killed in battle that is unnecessary.
When Monique meets a German soldier named Pieter, both individuals, and the Resistance, get more than they bargained for.
The book was phenomenal. I liked that the main characters were two strong women who fought for what they believed in, and while they argued as sisters will (I know from experience, right Deborah?), they maintained the familial bond until the end.
I’m not a romantic, nor do I like to read romance novels, but the romance between Monique and Pieter was a plot twist that was a little reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, without being too much. However, I do think that Harding could have chosen a synonym for the word “lovers,” which permeated the beginning of the book a little too much for my taste.
The ending shocked me beyond belief. Some of the ending I saw coming, but most of it took me by surprise, and had me crying with both sadness, and then happiness.
Harding was witty at times, with stinging lines such as: “As often happens to those who find themselves astride a fence, they would eventually take a hard hit to the groin” (p. 33).
I loved how many connections there were amongst the characters. Even the smallest character had a significant purpose in the story, many times had multiple purposes. The story was cyclical as well in many aspects (although I can’t share them with you or I would be giving away some spoilers)!
I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest opinion. However, when I say that “How Angels Die” was one of the most compelling books I have read in a while, I mean it. The book does contain instances of blatant sex, murder, and rape. If you can handle that, then I believe this historical fiction book is a read many would enjoy.
Thanks for reading,
Rebecca @ Love at First Book
“How Angels Die” is a novel about two strong sisters who are part of the French Resistance Movement that works to stop the Nazis who have invaded their country. Claire is the younger sister and is very rebellious. Her way of stopping the Nazis is by going on raids and murdering them. Monique, the older sister, seduces the high-ranking Nazis in order to loosen their lips with pillow talk, and then passes on pertinent information to the Resistance.
Both girls set about the same purpose, but the varied ways in which they resist tears apart the family and their friendship. Claire and her father believe that Monique is as good as a prostitute, and that she is not doing the resistance any favors by sleeping with Nazis. Monique and her mother believe that Claire is too brazen and will be killed in battle that is unnecessary.
When Monique meets a German soldier named Pieter, both individuals, and the Resistance, get more than they bargained for.
The book was phenomenal. I liked that the main characters were two strong women who fought for what they believed in, and while they argued as sisters will (I know from experience, right Deborah?), they maintained the familial bond until the end.
I’m not a romantic, nor do I like to read romance novels, but the romance between Monique and Pieter was a plot twist that was a little reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, without being too much. However, I do think that Harding could have chosen a synonym for the word “lovers,” which permeated the beginning of the book a little too much for my taste.
The ending shocked me beyond belief. Some of the ending I saw coming, but most of it took me by surprise, and had me crying with both sadness, and then happiness.
Harding was witty at times, with stinging lines such as: “As often happens to those who find themselves astride a fence, they would eventually take a hard hit to the groin” (p. 33).
I loved how many connections there were amongst the characters. Even the smallest character had a significant purpose in the story, many times had multiple purposes. The story was cyclical as well in many aspects (although I can’t share them with you or I would be giving away some spoilers)!
I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest opinion. However, when I say that “How Angels Die” was one of the most compelling books I have read in a while, I mean it. The book does contain instances of blatant sex, murder, and rape. If you can handle that, then I believe this historical fiction book is a read many would enjoy.
Thanks for reading,
Rebecca @ Love at First Book
August 9, 2012
This book is definitely the first book I read that has a historical twist in it, except Alexander Dumas' books (The Three Musketeers, The Count of Mount Cristo, etc...). It was different but still very much enjoyable.
Two sister, Monique and Claire, live with their parents in the time when the Germans are conquering France. The people in the Resistance are fighting everyday against the Germans, trying to win their country back.With only their hate for Germans in common, Claire and Monique are very different.
The way they deal with the situation is different too. While Claire grabs a gun and kills as many Germans as she could, Monique uses her body to gain as many information as she could from German majors and colonels.
But when Monique meets the German Major, Pieter, their lives are changed forever. With Germans knocking on every door (literally), will Claire and Monique be able to bring the love they share, back alive? In this captivating novel, you will explore the depths of emotions, and the true heart-breaking power of love.
I liked this book very very much. The voice of the author is truly unique, he captures the reader's attention like an owl in the night. Your attention will never stray away from the book, the story will compel you to finish this book.
The characters are all realistic and relate-able, Monique and Claire are lovable. Monique is soft-hearted, lovely, and feminine. Claire is the bad-ass, strong-willed, and stubborn. Their relationship is very realistic, the definite relationship between sisters that everyone with siblings can relate to.
The only complain that I have, which isn't exactly a complain is: The sexual content in the book, there is a lot of reference to rape, sex, etc... But I guess that was the issue back then, since the Germans took advantage of every French girl they found, it was heart-breaking. I wanted to grab a gun and kill every freaking German!
A reminder, don't forget to bring a WHOLE box of tissues when you read this book. I cried my eyes out, they were so red and swollen. This book is recommended to every history-fanatic, every romance lover and everyone who wants to read something different and tearful, which is almost every female out there (including me, of course)...
Two sister, Monique and Claire, live with their parents in the time when the Germans are conquering France. The people in the Resistance are fighting everyday against the Germans, trying to win their country back.With only their hate for Germans in common, Claire and Monique are very different.
The way they deal with the situation is different too. While Claire grabs a gun and kills as many Germans as she could, Monique uses her body to gain as many information as she could from German majors and colonels.
But when Monique meets the German Major, Pieter, their lives are changed forever. With Germans knocking on every door (literally), will Claire and Monique be able to bring the love they share, back alive? In this captivating novel, you will explore the depths of emotions, and the true heart-breaking power of love.
I liked this book very very much. The voice of the author is truly unique, he captures the reader's attention like an owl in the night. Your attention will never stray away from the book, the story will compel you to finish this book.
The characters are all realistic and relate-able, Monique and Claire are lovable. Monique is soft-hearted, lovely, and feminine. Claire is the bad-ass, strong-willed, and stubborn. Their relationship is very realistic, the definite relationship between sisters that everyone with siblings can relate to.
The only complain that I have, which isn't exactly a complain is: The sexual content in the book, there is a lot of reference to rape, sex, etc... But I guess that was the issue back then, since the Germans took advantage of every French girl they found, it was heart-breaking. I wanted to grab a gun and kill every freaking German!
A reminder, don't forget to bring a WHOLE box of tissues when you read this book. I cried my eyes out, they were so red and swollen. This book is recommended to every history-fanatic, every romance lover and everyone who wants to read something different and tearful, which is almost every female out there (including me, of course)...
June 10, 2012
Monique and Claire, as well as her parents Sean and Estelle, are living in France during the Nazi occupancy of WWII. They appear to be a very divided family at the beginning of this story that depicts a side of the Resistance Movement that is almost never fully explained. Monique cares for the abandoned orphans of the war and meets German soldiers in the evening to dine and dance and more, the more enabling her to gather secret information unavailable by any other means, a job drawing extreme criticism from her sister and father. Claire, however, has her own job to do, one that shows her to be as brave as any soldier, one which she embraces with so much fervor that the reader wonders from where this ferocity arises.
Another family gives a different point of view of countless thousands who loved and died at the hands of the Nazi rapers and killers, but the question is who died and who lived? Anyone associated with Nazi targets is doomed. The risk or stakes are enormous beyond one's comprehension, yet the hatred of those blighting France with their presence takes on many forms of expression, some out of fear, some from revenge, and some out of tragedy-induced realization of one's undying patriotism!
To say more would ruin a phenomenal story very much on par with a Ken Follett, Frederick Forsythe, and other masters of espionage fiction. The tension hypes up to a fever pitch when Monique falls in love with one of her German "friends" and discovers details twice about pivotal German movements and shipment of arms. However, Pieter suspects her awareness and resistance role; these realizations build the plot to a crescendo with devastating but eventually healing consequences. Many more amazing secrets are yet to be revealed!
How Angels Die is not just another WWII story; it's about how individuals and united groups will give all they are to a common cause out of pure love. It isn't a fantasy tale or contrived story at all; it's a well-research realistic viewpoint celebrating the cost of ensuring evil will NOT prevail in history's unfortunately too frequent travesties of justice and fair treatment! Awesome, amazing, and deserving of best-seller status!!!
Another family gives a different point of view of countless thousands who loved and died at the hands of the Nazi rapers and killers, but the question is who died and who lived? Anyone associated with Nazi targets is doomed. The risk or stakes are enormous beyond one's comprehension, yet the hatred of those blighting France with their presence takes on many forms of expression, some out of fear, some from revenge, and some out of tragedy-induced realization of one's undying patriotism!
To say more would ruin a phenomenal story very much on par with a Ken Follett, Frederick Forsythe, and other masters of espionage fiction. The tension hypes up to a fever pitch when Monique falls in love with one of her German "friends" and discovers details twice about pivotal German movements and shipment of arms. However, Pieter suspects her awareness and resistance role; these realizations build the plot to a crescendo with devastating but eventually healing consequences. Many more amazing secrets are yet to be revealed!
How Angels Die is not just another WWII story; it's about how individuals and united groups will give all they are to a common cause out of pure love. It isn't a fantasy tale or contrived story at all; it's a well-research realistic viewpoint celebrating the cost of ensuring evil will NOT prevail in history's unfortunately too frequent travesties of justice and fair treatment! Awesome, amazing, and deserving of best-seller status!!!
March 23, 2013
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review. Historical fiction, French Resistance, female spies. What’s not to like?
In a word, WOW. This was a Made-Me-Miss-My-Metro-Stop kind of book. Although at first I thought the relationship between the sisters felt a little forced. One’s a sexy seductress, one’s a tough-as-nails soldier. They seem to have had the same argument for years – is it better to kill people in the name of war or is it better to sleep with them for information?
The surprise is that Harding brings some subtlety into this story of extremes. Whose activities are worth more to the Resistance? Who has the most to lose? Claire puts her life at risk every day but so does Monique -- only Claire earns respect from her father and conspirators while Monique is labeled a whore (the implication being that she really enjoys what she’s doing). Where are the moral lines, and who is most likely to lose herself in the part that she’s playing?
If the book goes over the top a few too many times (is Monique a whore or a saint -- you decide) it’s got a story that will keep you riveted. I don’t want to say more. Harding introduces a cast of fascinating, at times disturbing characters that you don’t know whether to love or hate, but you won’t forget them. It starts out a little slow, but at some point in this book I felt like I walked right into Monique and Claire’s lives, it felt that real to me.
I can’t tell you whether the book is historically accurate, but I can tell you I couldn’t put it down.
In a word, WOW. This was a Made-Me-Miss-My-Metro-Stop kind of book. Although at first I thought the relationship between the sisters felt a little forced. One’s a sexy seductress, one’s a tough-as-nails soldier. They seem to have had the same argument for years – is it better to kill people in the name of war or is it better to sleep with them for information?
The surprise is that Harding brings some subtlety into this story of extremes. Whose activities are worth more to the Resistance? Who has the most to lose? Claire puts her life at risk every day but so does Monique -- only Claire earns respect from her father and conspirators while Monique is labeled a whore (the implication being that she really enjoys what she’s doing). Where are the moral lines, and who is most likely to lose herself in the part that she’s playing?
If the book goes over the top a few too many times (is Monique a whore or a saint -- you decide) it’s got a story that will keep you riveted. I don’t want to say more. Harding introduces a cast of fascinating, at times disturbing characters that you don’t know whether to love or hate, but you won’t forget them. It starts out a little slow, but at some point in this book I felt like I walked right into Monique and Claire’s lives, it felt that real to me.
I can’t tell you whether the book is historically accurate, but I can tell you I couldn’t put it down.
July 3, 2014
After reading the synopsis above it is hard to add much about the book without giving too much information away. Again I was back in France during World War II, this book takes place over a 4 day period and what an intense 4 days that was.
This was an emotional book! Two sisters, each part of the French Resistance, but with very different roles. Sean & Estelle are the parents, this is a family divided by the distinct roles they each play. This book isn't just about the war, it's also about trust, commitment, feelings, loyalty, revenge, family dynamics, romance and so much more. But it also isn't just about Claire and Monique, there is Paul and Valerie, Sophie and even Claudine each dealing with their own private pain.
There is a large cast of characters here, each showing the effects that this war had on them. Yea it is violent at times, but it was a violent war. I don't really know my French history that well and can't say if there was actually a French Resistance Group, but the author has written a very original story that was not just emotional but a believable and vivid look at German occupied France. He painted pictures with his words that were authentic and shows his knowledge of the time period.
It started out a little slow for me, but at the 20% mark (on my kindle) it became 'unputdownable'. I have no finger nails left and even resorted to drinking strong coffee at 9pm just so I would be able to stay up late.
A big thank you to the author for connecting with me and providing a copy of this book. Most definitely will be reading more by David-Michael Harding.
This was an emotional book! Two sisters, each part of the French Resistance, but with very different roles. Sean & Estelle are the parents, this is a family divided by the distinct roles they each play. This book isn't just about the war, it's also about trust, commitment, feelings, loyalty, revenge, family dynamics, romance and so much more. But it also isn't just about Claire and Monique, there is Paul and Valerie, Sophie and even Claudine each dealing with their own private pain.
There is a large cast of characters here, each showing the effects that this war had on them. Yea it is violent at times, but it was a violent war. I don't really know my French history that well and can't say if there was actually a French Resistance Group, but the author has written a very original story that was not just emotional but a believable and vivid look at German occupied France. He painted pictures with his words that were authentic and shows his knowledge of the time period.
It started out a little slow for me, but at the 20% mark (on my kindle) it became 'unputdownable'. I have no finger nails left and even resorted to drinking strong coffee at 9pm just so I would be able to stay up late.
A big thank you to the author for connecting with me and providing a copy of this book. Most definitely will be reading more by David-Michael Harding.
April 2, 2017
David-Michael Harding’s dramatic and fast-paced novel of historical fiction introduces readers to the inside workings of German forces and the French resistance during World War II in occupied France. It is 1944, just prior to the Allied invasion of France on June 6. Two beautiful sisters resist the Germans, but in different ways. The older sister, age 21, secures vital information from German officers after sex with them as part of pillow talk. Her younger sister, age 18, is part of the more respectable resistance that combats the Germans with guns.
Despite the help she is giving France, the older sister is shunned by many fellow French people; even her father, an Irishman who married a French woman, is disappointed in her. One problem that the older sister confronts is that affection goes both ways; while she plays on the affection of Nazi officers, she falls in love with one. Curiously, while she says that she hates Germans, unlike her younger sister, she has great sympathy for and helps the children of German fathers who raped French women. Yet, despite markedly different approaches, the two sisters get along.
Harding shows readers incidences of Nazi brutality and French heroism generally and how the resistance functions. There are many exiting episodes and readers will enjoy reading this book.
July 7, 2012
Historical fiction: WW2 German Occupation of France.
Fans of books by Allan Folsom and/or Tom Clancey are sure to enjoy "How Angels Die." David-Michael Harding is a great story teller. This is fast-paced, well-written fiction that will grab your attention.
Harding has a particular knack for capturing the nuances and realties of interpersonal relationships and his characters become very real. He captures the pent-up rage and emotion, the "going along to get along" mood, and the impact the mere existence of Nazis in France had on the souls, minds and families of this occupied country.
Yes, it is good that the courageous Monique died just before the Germans left Paris, and yes, there are a few historical details that are not quite perfect, but as a history instructor who had relatives in France during this time period, I would give this book an "A."
Find a good chunk of time when you can just sit and read. You will not want to stop turning the pages and will probably sprint through this book. There are a number of fascinating twists and turns in the story and it has a satisfying ending.
Kim Burdick
Stanton, Delaware
Fans of books by Allan Folsom and/or Tom Clancey are sure to enjoy "How Angels Die." David-Michael Harding is a great story teller. This is fast-paced, well-written fiction that will grab your attention.
Harding has a particular knack for capturing the nuances and realties of interpersonal relationships and his characters become very real. He captures the pent-up rage and emotion, the "going along to get along" mood, and the impact the mere existence of Nazis in France had on the souls, minds and families of this occupied country.
Yes, it is good that the courageous Monique died just before the Germans left Paris, and yes, there are a few historical details that are not quite perfect, but as a history instructor who had relatives in France during this time period, I would give this book an "A."
Find a good chunk of time when you can just sit and read. You will not want to stop turning the pages and will probably sprint through this book. There are a number of fascinating twists and turns in the story and it has a satisfying ending.
Kim Burdick
Stanton, Delaware
September 1, 2012
"How Angels Die" by David-Michael Harding was a great read! The action leaps off the page from the start and the plot moves along at a great clip. Historically accurate, with a theme of how women, specifically two sisters, aided the French Resistance, the reader is pulled into the dark world of WWII, Nazis and French Resistance fighters. Although the central plot is the story of Monique and Claire and their different techniques to thwart the Germans, the subplots provide details and characters to make the story one of the best you will read about this time period. Looking forward to reading Harding's next blockbuster!
February 5, 2012
This is a fantastic story and very well writen. Once you begin this book you won't want to put it down. Full of suspense from cover to cover. I highly recommend it and can't wait to read more books from this author.
October 18, 2012
Read my complete review of this excellent historical fiction novel at http://darleneelizabethwilliamsauthor...
November 20, 2012
I loved the characters and the historical aspects of this novel...a great read!
June 17, 2013
I would put 4,5.
Review in English
Reseña en español
I have read several books set in the Second World War – and I will read more, because I like these stories – and all of them offer a different point of view because there were such an amount of subjects, countries and people involved that you always get to know a new side of that war.
In How angels die the main characters are two sisters who work for the French Resistance against the Germans. Claire is the youngest sister and she is a brave fighter: she works at night preparing ambushes in the forests and killing as many Germans as she is capable of with many of the Resistance men. Monique also works at night, but she puts her best dresses on and goes to the best clubs, where she meets and dates Germans in order to extract information from them in a sometimes too intimate atmosphere.
Monique does her best because she knows she would never be able to hold a weapon, and anyway, her job is also dangerous since she can be accused of espionage; but both Claire and their father don’t understand she is also contributing to the cause so they argue very often and this makes Monique feel so lonely. Their mother instead supports Monique but doesn’t like Claire’s assignments: she is afraid every time Claire leaves home at night because she doesn’t know whether or not she will come back.
The story takes place in 1944 but it only lasts a few days from the night when Monique meets Pieter, a German officer who seems to be kind, educated and tender to her, and finishes the night of the Normandy landings. In the meantime, Monique will fall in love with Pieter but nevertheless, she will betray him to give the information about the next movements of the German army to her people, so the Gestapo officers will become suspicious of him. On the other hand, Claire will put herself in too much danger and her family is about to break down.
I enjoyed every single page of the book. The story is very descriptive so you feel as if you are going with the girls through the streets of their village, always in the dark, back and forth from Monique to Claire, who are always in different places as their jobs require. The characters are so realistic, and they reminded me of my own sister and me: we couldn’t be more different but it doesn’t mean we don’t get on well with each other. I also liked other characters and secondary plots about other people of the Resistance, even though I would have liked to know more about some of them, especially about the men of the story: Pieter, Claire’s boyfriend and the father of the two main characters.
All the scenes are well described and I felt I was watching a movie instead of reading a book. It is full of action and has some surprising twists at the end so you can’t stop reading and suffering for the girls when they are in too much danger; Monique and Claire are engaging characters who will make readers laugh and cry. I loved the book.
***************
Conocí las dos novelas del autor, Cherokee talisman y How angels die, gracias a los blogs americanos que sigo, y hace unos meses me escribieron de parte del autor para preguntarme si quería leerlos y reseñarlos. Les dije que sí porque las reseñas habían sido muy buenas, y no me arrepiento en absoluto, porque este libro me ha emocionado mucho.
Las protagonistas son dos hermanas francesas que viven en un pueblecito cerca de la costa y trabajan para la resistencia durante la ocupación nazi. La más pequeña es Claire y se considera a sí misma un soldado, y es por ello por lo que toma un papel muy activo en la resistencia y se dedica a preparar emboscadas y matar a todos los alemanes que puede casi cada noche; es fuerte y decidida y realmemente siente tanto odio hacia los alemanes, todos ellos, que a veces le cuesta controlarse. En cambio Monique, la hermana mayor, sabe que jamás será capaz de empuñar un arma, así que se se engalana y sale a ligar con los soldados alemanes, a mayor rango mejor, para sonsacarles información sobre los movimientos de sus tropas y recopilarla para la resistencia. Ambas se la juegan cada noche, pero el caso es que tanto Claire como el padre de las chicas acusan a Monique de acostarse con los alemanes, así que se siente rechazada por su propia familia.
La historia transcurre en apenas 3 días, desde la noche en que Monique conoce a Pieter, un oficial alemán encantador con el que, por primera vez, no tiene que fingir interés, hasta la llegada de los aliados tras el desembarco de Normandía. Monique se enamora de Pieter, pero aún así le traiciona y sigue pasando mensajes a la resistencia para que Claire y los demás tomen cartas en el asunto, mientras la Gestapo sospecha del pobre Pieter. Además conoceremos el desenlace de una historia de amor protagonizada por unos personajes secundarios, Paul y Valerie, que me encantó: en una redada a una de las casas refugio de la resistencia, años atrás, estos chicos se quedan en un callejón sin salida y, cuando llega el momento de que les descubran los alemanes, Val le dice a Paul que, por favor, acabara con ella antes de que lo hicieran los nazis, y él así lo hizo…
La narración es muy descriptiva de principio a fin; nos va contando los acontecimientos según se producen en diferentes puntos de la ciudad, pues Claire y Monique casi siempre están separadas, y el lector se ve involucrado en la historia desde las primeras páginas. Hacia el final, además, tiene varios giros que te dejan boquiabierta, sobre todo relacionados con la familia de las chicas; y las últimas páginas son un no parar de leer, y de dejar escapar alguna lagrimilla, también. Es una historia dramática y emotiva; de guerra, de amor y de sueños por cumplir de dos chicas jóvenes que prácticamente han pasado toda su vida adulta bajo la guerra y la ocupación y que a pesar de luchar por los mismos ideales, apenas se comprenden la una a la otra.
He de decir que el nivel de inglés es bastante alto y me ha costado un poquito leerlo, pero ya veis que el esfuerzo me ha merecido muchísimo la pena porque la novela me ha encantado. Le pondría un 4,5, pero ya sabéis que no tenemos aquí medias tintas. Si os atrevéis, de verdad que es un libro muy recomendable.
Review in English
Reseña en español
I have read several books set in the Second World War – and I will read more, because I like these stories – and all of them offer a different point of view because there were such an amount of subjects, countries and people involved that you always get to know a new side of that war.
In How angels die the main characters are two sisters who work for the French Resistance against the Germans. Claire is the youngest sister and she is a brave fighter: she works at night preparing ambushes in the forests and killing as many Germans as she is capable of with many of the Resistance men. Monique also works at night, but she puts her best dresses on and goes to the best clubs, where she meets and dates Germans in order to extract information from them in a sometimes too intimate atmosphere.
Monique does her best because she knows she would never be able to hold a weapon, and anyway, her job is also dangerous since she can be accused of espionage; but both Claire and their father don’t understand she is also contributing to the cause so they argue very often and this makes Monique feel so lonely. Their mother instead supports Monique but doesn’t like Claire’s assignments: she is afraid every time Claire leaves home at night because she doesn’t know whether or not she will come back.
The story takes place in 1944 but it only lasts a few days from the night when Monique meets Pieter, a German officer who seems to be kind, educated and tender to her, and finishes the night of the Normandy landings. In the meantime, Monique will fall in love with Pieter but nevertheless, she will betray him to give the information about the next movements of the German army to her people, so the Gestapo officers will become suspicious of him. On the other hand, Claire will put herself in too much danger and her family is about to break down.
I enjoyed every single page of the book. The story is very descriptive so you feel as if you are going with the girls through the streets of their village, always in the dark, back and forth from Monique to Claire, who are always in different places as their jobs require. The characters are so realistic, and they reminded me of my own sister and me: we couldn’t be more different but it doesn’t mean we don’t get on well with each other. I also liked other characters and secondary plots about other people of the Resistance, even though I would have liked to know more about some of them, especially about the men of the story: Pieter, Claire’s boyfriend and the father of the two main characters.
All the scenes are well described and I felt I was watching a movie instead of reading a book. It is full of action and has some surprising twists at the end so you can’t stop reading and suffering for the girls when they are in too much danger; Monique and Claire are engaging characters who will make readers laugh and cry. I loved the book.
***************
Conocí las dos novelas del autor, Cherokee talisman y How angels die, gracias a los blogs americanos que sigo, y hace unos meses me escribieron de parte del autor para preguntarme si quería leerlos y reseñarlos. Les dije que sí porque las reseñas habían sido muy buenas, y no me arrepiento en absoluto, porque este libro me ha emocionado mucho.
Las protagonistas son dos hermanas francesas que viven en un pueblecito cerca de la costa y trabajan para la resistencia durante la ocupación nazi. La más pequeña es Claire y se considera a sí misma un soldado, y es por ello por lo que toma un papel muy activo en la resistencia y se dedica a preparar emboscadas y matar a todos los alemanes que puede casi cada noche; es fuerte y decidida y realmemente siente tanto odio hacia los alemanes, todos ellos, que a veces le cuesta controlarse. En cambio Monique, la hermana mayor, sabe que jamás será capaz de empuñar un arma, así que se se engalana y sale a ligar con los soldados alemanes, a mayor rango mejor, para sonsacarles información sobre los movimientos de sus tropas y recopilarla para la resistencia. Ambas se la juegan cada noche, pero el caso es que tanto Claire como el padre de las chicas acusan a Monique de acostarse con los alemanes, así que se siente rechazada por su propia familia.
La historia transcurre en apenas 3 días, desde la noche en que Monique conoce a Pieter, un oficial alemán encantador con el que, por primera vez, no tiene que fingir interés, hasta la llegada de los aliados tras el desembarco de Normandía. Monique se enamora de Pieter, pero aún así le traiciona y sigue pasando mensajes a la resistencia para que Claire y los demás tomen cartas en el asunto, mientras la Gestapo sospecha del pobre Pieter. Además conoceremos el desenlace de una historia de amor protagonizada por unos personajes secundarios, Paul y Valerie, que me encantó: en una redada a una de las casas refugio de la resistencia, años atrás, estos chicos se quedan en un callejón sin salida y, cuando llega el momento de que les descubran los alemanes, Val le dice a Paul que, por favor, acabara con ella antes de que lo hicieran los nazis, y él así lo hizo…
La narración es muy descriptiva de principio a fin; nos va contando los acontecimientos según se producen en diferentes puntos de la ciudad, pues Claire y Monique casi siempre están separadas, y el lector se ve involucrado en la historia desde las primeras páginas. Hacia el final, además, tiene varios giros que te dejan boquiabierta, sobre todo relacionados con la familia de las chicas; y las últimas páginas son un no parar de leer, y de dejar escapar alguna lagrimilla, también. Es una historia dramática y emotiva; de guerra, de amor y de sueños por cumplir de dos chicas jóvenes que prácticamente han pasado toda su vida adulta bajo la guerra y la ocupación y que a pesar de luchar por los mismos ideales, apenas se comprenden la una a la otra.
He de decir que el nivel de inglés es bastante alto y me ha costado un poquito leerlo, pero ya veis que el esfuerzo me ha merecido muchísimo la pena porque la novela me ha encantado. Le pondría un 4,5, pero ya sabéis que no tenemos aquí medias tintas. Si os atrevéis, de verdad que es un libro muy recomendable.
March 16, 2018
Stunning!
This is such a great book, a real page turner. I was engrossed from page one and right up to the very last page. Can only imagine what life would've been like for these two young women. Such brave girls, heart wrenching at times. I'm so pleased that the family found some peace in little Essy. The book was very well written and I would highly recommend this book.
This is such a great book, a real page turner. I was engrossed from page one and right up to the very last page. Can only imagine what life would've been like for these two young women. Such brave girls, heart wrenching at times. I'm so pleased that the family found some peace in little Essy. The book was very well written and I would highly recommend this book.
May 16, 2017
Just ok
I could see this being made into a movie, where the actions and sentiment could be physically portrayed, rather than in words. The author's telling of the story bordered on a romance novel, at times. I get the feeling in several novels lately, that the authors have been told to spice it up with some sex so that it will sell. Somehow the unnecessary sexual scenes in this book seemed annoyingly protracted, to the point of seeming gratuitous and almost lurid. In addition, knowing the portrayed ages of the girls, seemed out of sync with what their actions were shown to be, especially the younger sister. The language was drawn out and repetitive, in many instances. I suppose, with the editing I would suggest, the book would probably be too short and there would be something missing.
If one is looking for an excellent book about France during its occupation, I would recommend "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah instead. It is almost unbearably real, the characters are much more believable, and the story line regarding two equally different sisters, is much more true to what I believe was the truth of the time. The first words that came to mind when I finished this better book, were: "Wow! What a book!" I couldn't wait to suggest "The Nightingale" to my reading friends. I would tell them to skip "How Angels Die" and read "The Nightingale" for a lesson in history and to get a much better feel for the time of the occupation of France in WWII.
I could see this being made into a movie, where the actions and sentiment could be physically portrayed, rather than in words. The author's telling of the story bordered on a romance novel, at times. I get the feeling in several novels lately, that the authors have been told to spice it up with some sex so that it will sell. Somehow the unnecessary sexual scenes in this book seemed annoyingly protracted, to the point of seeming gratuitous and almost lurid. In addition, knowing the portrayed ages of the girls, seemed out of sync with what their actions were shown to be, especially the younger sister. The language was drawn out and repetitive, in many instances. I suppose, with the editing I would suggest, the book would probably be too short and there would be something missing.
If one is looking for an excellent book about France during its occupation, I would recommend "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah instead. It is almost unbearably real, the characters are much more believable, and the story line regarding two equally different sisters, is much more true to what I believe was the truth of the time. The first words that came to mind when I finished this better book, were: "Wow! What a book!" I couldn't wait to suggest "The Nightingale" to my reading friends. I would tell them to skip "How Angels Die" and read "The Nightingale" for a lesson in history and to get a much better feel for the time of the occupation of France in WWII.
October 25, 2012
**This book was received as a free advanced reader's copy**
I bounced back and forth between liking this book and not liking it. There were several elements I appreciated, excitement, adventure, strong female characters. But I had some difficulties with some of the characters, and with the pace of the book as well. After mulling it around in my head for a little bit, I came down right in the middle on this book, enjoying it, but not being overly thrilled.
Claire and Monique are two sisters that have come of age during the French resistance against the Germans. Both work for the Resistance, a small band of rebels intent on making life difficult for the Germans in their city. But they do it in very different ways. Monique gets the Intel; which means dancing and charming the German officers in the city and giving them what they want. Claire however will have none of that, she would rather have a gun in her hands and bullets flashing around her to do her part for the Resistance. And they clash quite frequently as a result of their different approaches. But things are changing, the Germans are getting harder to allude and Monique finds herself more than just attracted to her latest mark. With no end to the war in sight, it's very hard for the sisters to keep doing what they believe in.
I like Monique. In fact, she was my favorite character. I thought she had charm, did what she had to do, and was actually quite believable in the way she handled herself. Her sister Claire on the other hand I just couldn't relate to. I know some people have an obsession that takes over them, but Claire's hate for all things German was so strong that it was somewhat unbelievable at times. I even thought her a bit dense when she was supposedly being presented as a brilliant young fighter. I'm sure we can blame much on youth, but her overall activities and thoughts made me not care for her at all and I really didn't care what happened to her in the book. Monique's German officer was written quite well at least. Even though he was supposed to be a bad guy in this book, he was made real and did a good job of showing that in war there are several shades of gray. The other side characters were ok but we're never really given more than glimpses of them to form attachments. They're mentioned, and some even have back-stories, but they are very much secondary to the sisters and we aren't given enough to be overly concerned about their fates.
The plot was reasonably good. I liked the idea of the two sisters each fighting the war in their own way. And while I found Monique's story more compelling than Claire's, hers definitely served a purpose in the book overall. I can't comment much on the history because I've never really learned about the French or their resistance during the war, but it didn't go into too much detail on certain events so it seemed plausible to me at least. I wouldn't read this book for a history lesson, but it does give an overall theme for the time. The book started out at a great pace, I was drew in wondering what was going to happen with the sisters. But then, about halfway through the book it suddenly sped up, all sorts of things started happening, and it became a little implausible. In fact, for a book that was so gritty in detail and believable, the ending is downright sappy. I thought I had stumbled into a book where another writer had finished the last couple chapters because it was so unlike everything else in the book. But that's all I'll say on the matter as to not spoil it for someone who wants to read the book. And when I say the writing is gritty I mean it. There is violence, murder, rape, cussing and a myriad of other unsavory things in this book so if you are a reader of gentle disposition, you have been warned. I appreciated it though as war isn't pretty, and this reflected that sentiment.
It was an entertaining read and while I thought there was much that could be improved on in the book, it won't cause me to shy away from any more of Harding's works. If I see another book out there by him I would pick it up and read it.
How Angels Die
Copyright 2011
410 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2012
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
I bounced back and forth between liking this book and not liking it. There were several elements I appreciated, excitement, adventure, strong female characters. But I had some difficulties with some of the characters, and with the pace of the book as well. After mulling it around in my head for a little bit, I came down right in the middle on this book, enjoying it, but not being overly thrilled.
Claire and Monique are two sisters that have come of age during the French resistance against the Germans. Both work for the Resistance, a small band of rebels intent on making life difficult for the Germans in their city. But they do it in very different ways. Monique gets the Intel; which means dancing and charming the German officers in the city and giving them what they want. Claire however will have none of that, she would rather have a gun in her hands and bullets flashing around her to do her part for the Resistance. And they clash quite frequently as a result of their different approaches. But things are changing, the Germans are getting harder to allude and Monique finds herself more than just attracted to her latest mark. With no end to the war in sight, it's very hard for the sisters to keep doing what they believe in.
I like Monique. In fact, she was my favorite character. I thought she had charm, did what she had to do, and was actually quite believable in the way she handled herself. Her sister Claire on the other hand I just couldn't relate to. I know some people have an obsession that takes over them, but Claire's hate for all things German was so strong that it was somewhat unbelievable at times. I even thought her a bit dense when she was supposedly being presented as a brilliant young fighter. I'm sure we can blame much on youth, but her overall activities and thoughts made me not care for her at all and I really didn't care what happened to her in the book. Monique's German officer was written quite well at least. Even though he was supposed to be a bad guy in this book, he was made real and did a good job of showing that in war there are several shades of gray. The other side characters were ok but we're never really given more than glimpses of them to form attachments. They're mentioned, and some even have back-stories, but they are very much secondary to the sisters and we aren't given enough to be overly concerned about their fates.
The plot was reasonably good. I liked the idea of the two sisters each fighting the war in their own way. And while I found Monique's story more compelling than Claire's, hers definitely served a purpose in the book overall. I can't comment much on the history because I've never really learned about the French or their resistance during the war, but it didn't go into too much detail on certain events so it seemed plausible to me at least. I wouldn't read this book for a history lesson, but it does give an overall theme for the time. The book started out at a great pace, I was drew in wondering what was going to happen with the sisters. But then, about halfway through the book it suddenly sped up, all sorts of things started happening, and it became a little implausible. In fact, for a book that was so gritty in detail and believable, the ending is downright sappy. I thought I had stumbled into a book where another writer had finished the last couple chapters because it was so unlike everything else in the book. But that's all I'll say on the matter as to not spoil it for someone who wants to read the book. And when I say the writing is gritty I mean it. There is violence, murder, rape, cussing and a myriad of other unsavory things in this book so if you are a reader of gentle disposition, you have been warned. I appreciated it though as war isn't pretty, and this reflected that sentiment.
It was an entertaining read and while I thought there was much that could be improved on in the book, it won't cause me to shy away from any more of Harding's works. If I see another book out there by him I would pick it up and read it.
How Angels Die
Copyright 2011
410 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2012
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
September 4, 2012
There are many novels and non-fiction works describing the French Resistance during WWII and this tale does not encompass the French collaborators, who after the war accused by the Resistance fighters, almost tore France apart. In this story, those who might be seen to be collaborators were actually Resistance fighters, but not as military units, which is the crux of this novel.
After the surrender of France to Germany and occupation by the German military and Gestapo, all young men and able bodied older ones who had not died nor been maimed fighting for France, were picked up and sent to Germany as slave labor. The McLeash family are the main protagonists in this tale. Sean, the father, is Irish, although living in France, having married Estelle, a French woman. They had two daughters, Claire, who was fifteen when France was first occupied. She with other teenagers harassed the Germans and by the time she was eighteen, was an active Resistance fighter, trained in shooting and demolition. Her older sister, beautiful Monique, age twenty-one, known only to the top echelon of the local Resistance fighters as one of them, flirted with German officers. They were the only ones with knowledge of important German military activities. She would allow them to take her to bed, knowing that because of their heavy drinking and bragging as soldiers, during pillow talk would often reveal their actions and maneuvers. This information was valuable to the Resistance in their fight. Only German officers who wore gray were fraternized with since they were regular military. The black uniformed Gestapo were feared by everyone, even German soldiers, and left alone. This is important to this story.
Monique never made any emotional attachments until she met Major Pieter von Straussen and there was an instant attraction and love between them. The Major, however, after spending several hours with her, mentioned that he had a large transport of ammunition and supplies moving out the next day and where it was going. She memorized this, wrote it down on a piece of paper. While the Major was walking her home, she paused before a house to straighten her stockings and slipped the paper into an air vent. This was a safe house for Resistance fighters and the members inside quickly planned a demolition of this transport group. Pieter saw her push something in the vent and immediately became suspicious.
From then on the story, made up of many subplots, encompasses the fighter Claire and her sexually active sister, Monique, in their trials, their loves and their hates. There are several important actors in this story besides this family and the author does an excellent job of character building plus weaving these subplots back and forth throughout the tale, which makes the story a mystery in some aspects. I read this on Kindle so do not know the number of pages, but it is long and a page turner. There are emotional scenes that I cried through because the author has the ability to visualize and express emotions that become alive for the reader.
I truly enjoyed this story and recommend it to those who like WWII war dramas.
After the surrender of France to Germany and occupation by the German military and Gestapo, all young men and able bodied older ones who had not died nor been maimed fighting for France, were picked up and sent to Germany as slave labor. The McLeash family are the main protagonists in this tale. Sean, the father, is Irish, although living in France, having married Estelle, a French woman. They had two daughters, Claire, who was fifteen when France was first occupied. She with other teenagers harassed the Germans and by the time she was eighteen, was an active Resistance fighter, trained in shooting and demolition. Her older sister, beautiful Monique, age twenty-one, known only to the top echelon of the local Resistance fighters as one of them, flirted with German officers. They were the only ones with knowledge of important German military activities. She would allow them to take her to bed, knowing that because of their heavy drinking and bragging as soldiers, during pillow talk would often reveal their actions and maneuvers. This information was valuable to the Resistance in their fight. Only German officers who wore gray were fraternized with since they were regular military. The black uniformed Gestapo were feared by everyone, even German soldiers, and left alone. This is important to this story.
Monique never made any emotional attachments until she met Major Pieter von Straussen and there was an instant attraction and love between them. The Major, however, after spending several hours with her, mentioned that he had a large transport of ammunition and supplies moving out the next day and where it was going. She memorized this, wrote it down on a piece of paper. While the Major was walking her home, she paused before a house to straighten her stockings and slipped the paper into an air vent. This was a safe house for Resistance fighters and the members inside quickly planned a demolition of this transport group. Pieter saw her push something in the vent and immediately became suspicious.
From then on the story, made up of many subplots, encompasses the fighter Claire and her sexually active sister, Monique, in their trials, their loves and their hates. There are several important actors in this story besides this family and the author does an excellent job of character building plus weaving these subplots back and forth throughout the tale, which makes the story a mystery in some aspects. I read this on Kindle so do not know the number of pages, but it is long and a page turner. There are emotional scenes that I cried through because the author has the ability to visualize and express emotions that become alive for the reader.
I truly enjoyed this story and recommend it to those who like WWII war dramas.
April 25, 2017
War, History, Romance,Family and Faith, It's All Here.
This is my first reading of a David_Michael Harding book. As a History nut, I especially like WWII era novels, with the French Resistance Fighters being an area that's rich with Heroic stories, both true and fictional, and this is such a book. The fact that the Heros in this tale are Female, makes it even more compelling, (at least to me). I strongly recommend this Book.
This is my first reading of a David_Michael Harding book. As a History nut, I especially like WWII era novels, with the French Resistance Fighters being an area that's rich with Heroic stories, both true and fictional, and this is such a book. The fact that the Heros in this tale are Female, makes it even more compelling, (at least to me). I strongly recommend this Book.
January 18, 2013
A new and highly successful twist on the French Resistance of WW II
A big hand for the little ladies! David-Michael Harding has taken a famous period in the history of WW II and transformed it into a fresh novel that is as entertaining as it is enlightening. Instead of making the men of France the chief characters he instead places those roles in the form of two women - sisters who use their own wiles to fight the Nazi occupation. One sister, Monique, is the dream French beauty and plays on her looks and body to infiltrate the Nazi regime by bedding all the appropriate Nazi officers (and has conflicted responses to her role, actually falling for one of her bed mates). The other sister, Claire, is more resilient and shuns Monique's methods in favor of hitting the enemy straight on as a guerilla fighter.
Where Harding makes the biggest impression in his technique of writing is the fact that is able to construct characters who while dedicated to the same cause - the French Resistance - face different moral issues and must suffer the appearances of the lives they have chosen - lives dedicated to their country but hampered by the responses of their own people. This book is among the best in defining the total picture of both the French side and the German side of the conflict. In the end it makes his message about resistance in the face of war far more impressive: these characters are credible people and we cope with their anxieties and their emotional responses to the war and all that occupation and patriotism means. Grady Harp, November 12
A big hand for the little ladies! David-Michael Harding has taken a famous period in the history of WW II and transformed it into a fresh novel that is as entertaining as it is enlightening. Instead of making the men of France the chief characters he instead places those roles in the form of two women - sisters who use their own wiles to fight the Nazi occupation. One sister, Monique, is the dream French beauty and plays on her looks and body to infiltrate the Nazi regime by bedding all the appropriate Nazi officers (and has conflicted responses to her role, actually falling for one of her bed mates). The other sister, Claire, is more resilient and shuns Monique's methods in favor of hitting the enemy straight on as a guerilla fighter.
Where Harding makes the biggest impression in his technique of writing is the fact that is able to construct characters who while dedicated to the same cause - the French Resistance - face different moral issues and must suffer the appearances of the lives they have chosen - lives dedicated to their country but hampered by the responses of their own people. This book is among the best in defining the total picture of both the French side and the German side of the conflict. In the end it makes his message about resistance in the face of war far more impressive: these characters are credible people and we cope with their anxieties and their emotional responses to the war and all that occupation and patriotism means. Grady Harp, November 12
May 5, 2017
I got into reading How Angels Die while looking for some outside reading during a World War Unit in history class (I'm in junior high). My father-- he is a fan of WWII history-- recommended the book to me because he enjoyed reading it and he thought it would please my interests. He was a bit worried about how I would take the adult concepts in the book, but I was too busy enjoying the story to care.
I am really excited about the two female protagonists. They are easy to relate to, and they demonstrate that you don't have to be on the battle field to protect your country. Harding has firsthand knowledge of the female psyche, which is how he executes this so perfectly. I think the story is well written and the imagery is fantastic also. The plot, itself, was riveting too. I've never read a historical novel about Nazi occupied France. I feel that I've gained a whole new perceptive after reading this book.
It is an easy read and I quickly dived into it. The fast moving plot and non extensive dialogue is just enough to keep a distracted thirteen year old's attention. I highly recommend this book to all other history fanatics who are itching for a good book to curl up with and read the night away, which is exactly what I did!
I am really excited about the two female protagonists. They are easy to relate to, and they demonstrate that you don't have to be on the battle field to protect your country. Harding has firsthand knowledge of the female psyche, which is how he executes this so perfectly. I think the story is well written and the imagery is fantastic also. The plot, itself, was riveting too. I've never read a historical novel about Nazi occupied France. I feel that I've gained a whole new perceptive after reading this book.
It is an easy read and I quickly dived into it. The fast moving plot and non extensive dialogue is just enough to keep a distracted thirteen year old's attention. I highly recommend this book to all other history fanatics who are itching for a good book to curl up with and read the night away, which is exactly what I did!
August 9, 2014
I received this book for review and my hubby actually got to it before I did and he kept telling me how he really liked the story. I love historical fiction but usually prefer the medieval periods. I have recently been reading more stories that take place after or during WWII. How Angels Die takes place in occupied France and revolves around two sisters who both fight in the Resistance but in different ways. One sister does her part by dancing and sleeping, if necessary, with German officers, to gain information and the other sister fights with guns and missions to rid France of the hated Nazi's.
There are other characters within the story, the sisters family and other resistance fighters which all together make for a very tense and thrilling novel. There is love, loss and family dynamics and the travesty that is war that makes this book a real page turner. I loved it from beginning to end and I highly recommend it to all the history buffs out there. I actually learned quite a bit about the French Resistance.
There are other characters within the story, the sisters family and other resistance fighters which all together make for a very tense and thrilling novel. There is love, loss and family dynamics and the travesty that is war that makes this book a real page turner. I loved it from beginning to end and I highly recommend it to all the history buffs out there. I actually learned quite a bit about the French Resistance.
August 9, 2012
Can a book tug at your heart-strings and slap you in the face at the same time? This one did! Wow! The author gave you just enough time to breath during transitions then, BAM! – you were believably being chased down a dark back road by the Nazi SS in German occupied France during World War 2. Much like other reviewers, I loved the sister protagonists component of this book. Spot on sibling dialogue! This is so much more than I thought it would be. I read constantly and when you find a book that makes you think of the principals long after you close the back cover, you know you’ve just finished a real keeper. I plan on pulling How Angels Die off the shelf next year for another tremendous read – there are that many layers. I recommend a few great reads – but VERY few ones worth a re-read. It’s just that good! Jot ‘Harding’ down somewhere. Let’s hope we hear much more from this up and comer.
July 21, 2013
Wow, what a book!
I always swear I have read enough about WWII, but once again I could not resist accepting this book when the author contacted me.
How Angels Die is not for the faint of heart, and I was tempted several times to quit because of its tough content. But the quality of the writing itself and the suspense had be go to the end!
We have all heard stories about French women prostituting themselves with Nazi soldiers during the German occupation of France, but this is set here at the very heart of the Resistance movement and....
please go here to read my full review:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/08/14/h...
I always swear I have read enough about WWII, but once again I could not resist accepting this book when the author contacted me.
How Angels Die is not for the faint of heart, and I was tempted several times to quit because of its tough content. But the quality of the writing itself and the suspense had be go to the end!
We have all heard stories about French women prostituting themselves with Nazi soldiers during the German occupation of France, but this is set here at the very heart of the Resistance movement and....
please go here to read my full review:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/08/14/h...
February 16, 2014
Touching and tragically wonderful
Touching and tragically wonderful
War has two faces in this story of love, choices and outcomes. Two sisters wage war in very different ways...same horrible results. This is a story of courage, loss and the human heart. There is nothing stronger than love of family and of country in this tale of the Resistance in France, during World War II. Enjoyed the character development but was brought to tears at what they went through during this story. Not a sugar coated view of the war or the struggles of those who lived during this time in history. Great read.
Touching and tragically wonderful
War has two faces in this story of love, choices and outcomes. Two sisters wage war in very different ways...same horrible results. This is a story of courage, loss and the human heart. There is nothing stronger than love of family and of country in this tale of the Resistance in France, during World War II. Enjoyed the character development but was brought to tears at what they went through during this story. Not a sugar coated view of the war or the struggles of those who lived during this time in history. Great read.
January 12, 2016
How Angels Die is a riveting and passionate tale that didn’t disappoint. The way the author describes the characters and events in this book, it was inevitable that I would find myself somehow being emotionally bound to the characters while reading this novel.
In the end you learn, yet again, that sometimes we do get a second chance for redemption.
I really liked this book, if you want to read more about my thoughts on this book, check out my full review: http://thebookmusings.wordpress.com/2...
In the end you learn, yet again, that sometimes we do get a second chance for redemption.
I really liked this book, if you want to read more about my thoughts on this book, check out my full review: http://thebookmusings.wordpress.com/2...
September 6, 2014
While this is a really fun book to read, I ended up comparing this to a B movie. The first half was really good, really suspenseful, in fact it was worth reading it just for the first half of the book, then I was disappointed with the unlikely actions in the name of romance and fierce loyalty. Lots of Rambo type violence. It started great, then deteriorated.
February 28, 2016
I liked this book for the historical period/detail (WWII in northern France), the characters and the plotting. I felt there were occasional bits of overwriting, but it was not particularly annoying because the plot was so good. I especially liked the latter part of the book, which held a few surprises.
September 4, 2015
I won this book from Goodreads. This book is historical fiction. It is about The French Resistence against Nazi Germany. The book mainly focuses on two sisters that work behind the scenes to defeat the Nazis.
September 6, 2016
The terrible oppression of the French people in WEll and a very detailed description of how ordinary people fought back
A family caught up in the Resistance, each caught up in their own desires and love for their country and countrymen
A family caught up in the Resistance, each caught up in their own desires and love for their country and countrymen
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews