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The Secret History of Audrey James
The #1 bestselling author of Looking for Jane returns with a poignant, gripping novel about a pianist in Berlin on the cusp of WWII and a choice she makes that echoes across generations.
Sometimes the best place to hide is the last place anyone would look.
Northern England, 2010
After a tragic accident upends her life, Kate Mercer leaves London to work at an old guest house near the Scottish border, where she hopes to find a fresh start and heal from her loss. When she arrives, she begins to unravel the truth about her past, but discovers the mysterious elderly proprietor is harbouring her own secrets…
Berlin, 1938
Audrey James is weeks away from graduating from a prestigious music school in Berlin, where she’s been living with her best friend, Ilse Kaplan. As she prepares to finish her piano studies, Audrey dreads the thought of returning to her father in England and leaving Ilse behind. Families like the Kaplans are being targeted as war in Europe threatens.
When Ilse’s parents and brother suddenly disappear, two high-ranking Nazi party members confiscate the Kaplans’ upscale home, believing it to be empty. In a desperate attempt to keep Ilse safe, Audrey becomes housekeeper for the officers while Ilse is forced into hiding in the attic—a prisoner in her own home. Tensions rise in the house and the chance of survival diminishes by the day. When a shocking turn of events pushes Audrey to become embroiled in cell of the anti-Hitler movement - clusters of resisters working to bring down the Nazis from within Germany itself - Audrey must decide what matters most: saving herself, protecting her friend, or sacrificing everything for the greater good.
Inspired by true stories of courageous women and the German resistance during WWII, this is a captivating novel about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the healing that comes from human connection.
Sometimes the best place to hide is the last place anyone would look.
Northern England, 2010
After a tragic accident upends her life, Kate Mercer leaves London to work at an old guest house near the Scottish border, where she hopes to find a fresh start and heal from her loss. When she arrives, she begins to unravel the truth about her past, but discovers the mysterious elderly proprietor is harbouring her own secrets…
Berlin, 1938
Audrey James is weeks away from graduating from a prestigious music school in Berlin, where she’s been living with her best friend, Ilse Kaplan. As she prepares to finish her piano studies, Audrey dreads the thought of returning to her father in England and leaving Ilse behind. Families like the Kaplans are being targeted as war in Europe threatens.
When Ilse’s parents and brother suddenly disappear, two high-ranking Nazi party members confiscate the Kaplans’ upscale home, believing it to be empty. In a desperate attempt to keep Ilse safe, Audrey becomes housekeeper for the officers while Ilse is forced into hiding in the attic—a prisoner in her own home. Tensions rise in the house and the chance of survival diminishes by the day. When a shocking turn of events pushes Audrey to become embroiled in cell of the anti-Hitler movement - clusters of resisters working to bring down the Nazis from within Germany itself - Audrey must decide what matters most: saving herself, protecting her friend, or sacrificing everything for the greater good.
Inspired by true stories of courageous women and the German resistance during WWII, this is a captivating novel about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the healing that comes from human connection.
423 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2024
312 people are currently reading
17716 people want to read
About the author
Heather Marshall
3 books1,323 followersHeather Marshall lives with her family near Toronto. She worked in politics and communications before turning her attention to her true passion: storytelling. Her debut novel Looking for Jane was an instant #1 bestseller. Visit HeatherMarshallAuthor.com or connect on Instagram @heathermarshallauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 795 reviews
November 27, 2024
Berlin, Audrey James is living at her friends Ilse's house while she’s studying music and piano. Her father desperately wants her to return to England, he thinks it’s too dangerous to stay in Germany and he’s worried another war is about to break out and she will be stranded.
Audrey doesn’t want to desert her friend, everyone in the Kaplan household is anxious by the anti-Jewish sentiment sweeping Berlin and rising the power of Adolf Hitler. The Kaplan’s disappear, a group of German officer’s move into their house and employ Audrey to be their housekeeper. The soldiers have no idea that Ilse wasn’t with her family that day, she’s hiding in the attic and Audrey is helping her.
The story has a dual timeline its set in 1938 and in 2010 and told mainly from the two main characters points of view and it’s very easy to follow.
Alnwick, Kate Mercer is trying to get her life back on track, she’s in the middle of a messy divorce and she's recently lost her parents. Kate needs a change, a place to live and gets a new job as an assistant administrator near the Scottish border and at Oakwood Inn. Her boss isn’t what she's expecting, an aloof and elderly lady, she changes her attitude and she wants to share her life story with Kate.
Kate learns about her living in Germany before and during the Second World War, how everything was taken away from Jewish people, not all Germans agreed with Hitler’s ideas and wasn't how it seemed.
I received a copy of The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Wow, this narrative is very different to the author’s previous book, Looking for Jane and it's just as powerful and compelling.
Using the life of a real courageous woman as a bases in her new novel, Ms. Marshall explores the bonds of friendship, love, family, secrets, tragedy, war, risks, the German resistance and who was involved and the Holocaust. Five stars from me, a plot that emphasises love comes in many forms, levels and depths, the nature of luck, fate and chance and it’s never too late to admit you’re human and made mistakes.
Audrey doesn’t want to desert her friend, everyone in the Kaplan household is anxious by the anti-Jewish sentiment sweeping Berlin and rising the power of Adolf Hitler. The Kaplan’s disappear, a group of German officer’s move into their house and employ Audrey to be their housekeeper. The soldiers have no idea that Ilse wasn’t with her family that day, she’s hiding in the attic and Audrey is helping her.
The story has a dual timeline its set in 1938 and in 2010 and told mainly from the two main characters points of view and it’s very easy to follow.
Alnwick, Kate Mercer is trying to get her life back on track, she’s in the middle of a messy divorce and she's recently lost her parents. Kate needs a change, a place to live and gets a new job as an assistant administrator near the Scottish border and at Oakwood Inn. Her boss isn’t what she's expecting, an aloof and elderly lady, she changes her attitude and she wants to share her life story with Kate.
Kate learns about her living in Germany before and during the Second World War, how everything was taken away from Jewish people, not all Germans agreed with Hitler’s ideas and wasn't how it seemed.
I received a copy of The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Wow, this narrative is very different to the author’s previous book, Looking for Jane and it's just as powerful and compelling.
Using the life of a real courageous woman as a bases in her new novel, Ms. Marshall explores the bonds of friendship, love, family, secrets, tragedy, war, risks, the German resistance and who was involved and the Holocaust. Five stars from me, a plot that emphasises love comes in many forms, levels and depths, the nature of luck, fate and chance and it’s never too late to admit you’re human and made mistakes.
January 18, 2025
4 stars for a very readable historical fiction book. It opens with Audrey James being discovered by Canadian soldiers in the Netherlands, near the German border in 1945. Then we learn why Audrey, daughter to an English man and a German woman, was in Germany in the next chapter, set in 1938. She is attending the konservatorium, a famed music school in Berlin. Subsequent chapters alternate between Kate and Audrey.
Kate's chapters are set in 2010. She is seeking a fresh start after her marriage failed. She applies for, and gets hired as an administrator at a B&B in the north of England, near the Scottish border. The owner of the B&B is Audrey James, but it was not Audrey who hired her. It was Sue, Audrey's only employee. Audrey and Kate get off to a bad start, but they grow to like each other. Audrey opens up to Kate about her experiences in Germany during WWII.
The author explains that Audrey is based on a real person, Mona Parsons, arrested by the Germans in WWII for helping allied soldiers and airmen escape. Some parts of the book are fiction.
I liked the surprise ending.
Thank You Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheSecretHistoryofAudreyJames #NetGalley.
Pub Date Feb 25 2025
Kate's chapters are set in 2010. She is seeking a fresh start after her marriage failed. She applies for, and gets hired as an administrator at a B&B in the north of England, near the Scottish border. The owner of the B&B is Audrey James, but it was not Audrey who hired her. It was Sue, Audrey's only employee. Audrey and Kate get off to a bad start, but they grow to like each other. Audrey opens up to Kate about her experiences in Germany during WWII.
The author explains that Audrey is based on a real person, Mona Parsons, arrested by the Germans in WWII for helping allied soldiers and airmen escape. Some parts of the book are fiction.
I liked the surprise ending.
Thank You Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheSecretHistoryofAudreyJames #NetGalley.
Pub Date Feb 25 2025
February 28, 2025
2.5 stars.
Not for me.
Berlin, 1938. Audrey becomes a housekeeper for Nazi officers who confiscate her Jewish friend’s house. Meanwhile, Audrey is hiding her friend in the attic, all while they host important Nazi meetings.
This novel moves to 2010 when a woman who recently left her marriage is searching for meaning in her family history. She becomes acquainted with elderly Audrey who holds answers to many of her questions.
I enjoyed the first third of this book where the main characters are introduced and we learn how each of them are involved in the plot. Both timelines held a separate, unique appeal for me at the start and I liked both main characters.
I enjoyed the Resistance aspects to this plot. I am always fascinated and inspired when I read about the bravery of people who were willing to risk their lives to fight back and deter the Nazi plans.
After the first third, my connection started to dwindle and continued to lessen as the story went on. I was not a fan of the romance elements which became a heavier focus as the story progressed. They distracted my investment in both timelines. Additionally, I felt a “cutesy” tone to the writing which was also a slight issue I had with her previous book, although I did enjoy that one much more overall. I do not enjoy any sort of cute or overly charming tones within the books I read, especially historical fiction. However, I realize this lightens up heavier storylines and makes them more appealing and readable for a wider audience, which is a good thing. Another issue that distracted me was the overuse of “whilst” which I know is a me-issue, but it bothered me every time I read it.
Overall, this started off a lot stronger than it ended. It didn’t work for me, but I can appreciate how this will appeal to many readers who enjoy historical fiction with less grit and heaviness. It is one that has many favourable reviews so please check those out before deciding on this.
Not for me.
Berlin, 1938. Audrey becomes a housekeeper for Nazi officers who confiscate her Jewish friend’s house. Meanwhile, Audrey is hiding her friend in the attic, all while they host important Nazi meetings.
This novel moves to 2010 when a woman who recently left her marriage is searching for meaning in her family history. She becomes acquainted with elderly Audrey who holds answers to many of her questions.
I enjoyed the first third of this book where the main characters are introduced and we learn how each of them are involved in the plot. Both timelines held a separate, unique appeal for me at the start and I liked both main characters.
I enjoyed the Resistance aspects to this plot. I am always fascinated and inspired when I read about the bravery of people who were willing to risk their lives to fight back and deter the Nazi plans.
After the first third, my connection started to dwindle and continued to lessen as the story went on. I was not a fan of the romance elements which became a heavier focus as the story progressed. They distracted my investment in both timelines. Additionally, I felt a “cutesy” tone to the writing which was also a slight issue I had with her previous book, although I did enjoy that one much more overall. I do not enjoy any sort of cute or overly charming tones within the books I read, especially historical fiction. However, I realize this lightens up heavier storylines and makes them more appealing and readable for a wider audience, which is a good thing. Another issue that distracted me was the overuse of “whilst” which I know is a me-issue, but it bothered me every time I read it.
Overall, this started off a lot stronger than it ended. It didn’t work for me, but I can appreciate how this will appeal to many readers who enjoy historical fiction with less grit and heaviness. It is one that has many favourable reviews so please check those out before deciding on this.
June 4, 2024
The Secret History of Audrey James is a gripping novel about a pianist in Berlin on the cusp of WWII and a choice she makes that echoes across generations.
If you enjoyed Looking For Jane or love historical fiction, you’ll want to read this one. It was inspired by two courageous women and the German resistance and set during WWII. Again, Marshall showcases women and causes that have been lost to history and examines the aftermath of tragedy/trauma and how we grow from it and forge a new path ahead.
This dual timeline features Kate Mercer in Northern England, 2010 and Audrey James in Berlin 1938.
I appreciated an examination of:
💜 fresh starts
💜 how love sometimes challenges what we believe
💜 how difficult it is to outrun our bad decisions
💜 the power of a question mark to set in motion events that change EVERYTHING
💜 what it means to be a survivor
💜 the chasm that develops between the people who have and haven’t seen the war
💜 the danger of self-loathing and the difficulty in breaking through it to experience love
A quote that gave me pause:
- “A person could feel the weight of the Third Reich.”
Something I Googled to learn more:
- North Nova Scotia Highlanders
Passage I loved:
- exploring other people’s book collections and what it says about them
This will be another winner for this author! Don’t miss out. Each time I set this book down, I couldn’t wait to pick it up again.
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
If you enjoyed Looking For Jane or love historical fiction, you’ll want to read this one. It was inspired by two courageous women and the German resistance and set during WWII. Again, Marshall showcases women and causes that have been lost to history and examines the aftermath of tragedy/trauma and how we grow from it and forge a new path ahead.
This dual timeline features Kate Mercer in Northern England, 2010 and Audrey James in Berlin 1938.
I appreciated an examination of:
💜 fresh starts
💜 how love sometimes challenges what we believe
💜 how difficult it is to outrun our bad decisions
💜 the power of a question mark to set in motion events that change EVERYTHING
💜 what it means to be a survivor
💜 the chasm that develops between the people who have and haven’t seen the war
💜 the danger of self-loathing and the difficulty in breaking through it to experience love
A quote that gave me pause:
- “A person could feel the weight of the Third Reich.”
Something I Googled to learn more:
- North Nova Scotia Highlanders
Passage I loved:
- exploring other people’s book collections and what it says about them
This will be another winner for this author! Don’t miss out. Each time I set this book down, I couldn’t wait to pick it up again.
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
June 4, 2024
This book is absolutely brilliant and my favourite book of the year so far! I couldn't put it down.
Based on the life of a real woman, I went through a rollercoaster of emotions while reading. I had decided to take a break from books set in WWII when I was offered this ARC but I'm so glad I read it. This is done differently as most of it is before the war actually starts.
Audrey James lives with her friend Ilse and her family, in Berlin, while studying music. Her father lives in England. She loves her life and being with Ilse. But this is 1938 and life in the city is uneasy with the rise of the Nazi party. Jews are starting to suffer in all ways and Ilse's family is no exception. Ira, head of the family, has faith that all will be well but when everything falls apart and the only member left is Ilse, who has to hide in the attic, life falls apart for Audrey too. The house is requisitioned by two Nazis and Audrey works as housekeeper to them to keep Ilse safe.
In 2010 Kate moves to Alnwick for a job after her life collapses. She starts work for Audrey, an old lady, who is very self contained and secretive.
There were many twists and turns and the tension throughout was nerve racking at times. The description of the conditions in Germany and treatment of the Jews by the Nazis was brilliantly written and in one particular chapter I almost held my breath. Audrey was extremely brave and would do anything to protect Ilse.
Kate has her own secrets and eventually, having become close to Audrey, they both start to heal emotionally.
By the end of the book my heart went out to Audrey. Her story was heartbreaking, for many reasons.
There were one or two little niggles in the story but nothing worth dropping a star for. I can't recommend this book highly enough! It's a fantastic read!!
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
Based on the life of a real woman, I went through a rollercoaster of emotions while reading. I had decided to take a break from books set in WWII when I was offered this ARC but I'm so glad I read it. This is done differently as most of it is before the war actually starts.
Audrey James lives with her friend Ilse and her family, in Berlin, while studying music. Her father lives in England. She loves her life and being with Ilse. But this is 1938 and life in the city is uneasy with the rise of the Nazi party. Jews are starting to suffer in all ways and Ilse's family is no exception. Ira, head of the family, has faith that all will be well but when everything falls apart and the only member left is Ilse, who has to hide in the attic, life falls apart for Audrey too. The house is requisitioned by two Nazis and Audrey works as housekeeper to them to keep Ilse safe.
In 2010 Kate moves to Alnwick for a job after her life collapses. She starts work for Audrey, an old lady, who is very self contained and secretive.
There were many twists and turns and the tension throughout was nerve racking at times. The description of the conditions in Germany and treatment of the Jews by the Nazis was brilliantly written and in one particular chapter I almost held my breath. Audrey was extremely brave and would do anything to protect Ilse.
Kate has her own secrets and eventually, having become close to Audrey, they both start to heal emotionally.
By the end of the book my heart went out to Audrey. Her story was heartbreaking, for many reasons.
There were one or two little niggles in the story but nothing worth dropping a star for. I can't recommend this book highly enough! It's a fantastic read!!
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
April 20, 2025
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent - you won’t want to put it down.
We meet Audrey in 1938 and Kate in 2010.
Audrey was a pianist in Berlin, and Kate has just experienced a tragedy in her life.
A long time between those years, but the two women meet, and we hear their stories.
1938 - Audrey is embroiled in the beginnings of Hitler's regime and terror on the Jewish people and has to decide if she wants to stay to protect her friend who lost her family to the roundup or go back to London.
We follow Audrey during her time and when she meets Kate in 2010.
Audrey has a story to tell and decides to tell Kate about her time in Germany and to allow her to document it.
THE SECRET HISTORY OF AUDREY JAMES is a well-written account with beautiful writing, marvelous descriptions that have you feeling as though you are there, and a storyline that will keep you turning the pages.
A story about loyalty, friendship, and doing what you know is right.
Historical fiction and women's fiction fans will adore this book.
You will love both women. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
We meet Audrey in 1938 and Kate in 2010.
Audrey was a pianist in Berlin, and Kate has just experienced a tragedy in her life.
A long time between those years, but the two women meet, and we hear their stories.
1938 - Audrey is embroiled in the beginnings of Hitler's regime and terror on the Jewish people and has to decide if she wants to stay to protect her friend who lost her family to the roundup or go back to London.
We follow Audrey during her time and when she meets Kate in 2010.
Audrey has a story to tell and decides to tell Kate about her time in Germany and to allow her to document it.
THE SECRET HISTORY OF AUDREY JAMES is a well-written account with beautiful writing, marvelous descriptions that have you feeling as though you are there, and a storyline that will keep you turning the pages.
A story about loyalty, friendship, and doing what you know is right.
Historical fiction and women's fiction fans will adore this book.
You will love both women. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
December 21, 2024
After only two novels, Heather Marshall has become a go-to author for me. So proud of this Canadian author. Once again, I'm going to need more stars!
A dual timeline historical fiction novel which takes place in 2010 when Kate Mercer leaves London England to work for Audrey James at an old inn near the Scottish border and in 1938 when Audrey was staying with the Kaplan family in Berlin while studying piano at a prestigious music school. Inspired by true stories of courageous women and the German resistance during WWII, this is a captivating novel about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the healing that comes from human connection.
I was definitely captivated by this novel which I found very easy to read. I liked the main characters and the strong storyline. I was in tears within the first 100 pages but I don't want you to think you'll be crying your way through the book. There are high points and low points and I'm pretty sure you'll experience a wide range of emotions as well as thanking your lucky stars you didn't Iive in Berlin in the late 1930s and early 1940s. There's very little romance and what there is is off the page for which I'm grateful. Highly recommended.
Don't skip the Author's Note at the end. It's soooo interesting. I have a lot of googling to do.
Although totally different from her first book, Looking for Jane, it's every bit as fascinating. I can't wait to see what's next.
My thanks to the London Public Library for the loan of this book.
A dual timeline historical fiction novel which takes place in 2010 when Kate Mercer leaves London England to work for Audrey James at an old inn near the Scottish border and in 1938 when Audrey was staying with the Kaplan family in Berlin while studying piano at a prestigious music school. Inspired by true stories of courageous women and the German resistance during WWII, this is a captivating novel about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the healing that comes from human connection.
I was definitely captivated by this novel which I found very easy to read. I liked the main characters and the strong storyline. I was in tears within the first 100 pages but I don't want you to think you'll be crying your way through the book. There are high points and low points and I'm pretty sure you'll experience a wide range of emotions as well as thanking your lucky stars you didn't Iive in Berlin in the late 1930s and early 1940s. There's very little romance and what there is is off the page for which I'm grateful. Highly recommended.
Don't skip the Author's Note at the end. It's soooo interesting. I have a lot of googling to do.
Although totally different from her first book, Looking for Jane, it's every bit as fascinating. I can't wait to see what's next.
My thanks to the London Public Library for the loan of this book.
March 24, 2025
This is an entertaining, well-written, dual timeline, WWII historical fiction novel. It has likable and engaging female protagonists, tragedy, heartbreak, courage, bravery, friendship, love, resilience, the healing power of music, an unexpected twist, and a satisfying conclusion. The author's notes are interesting and informative and are truly appreciated. Her personal revelation is fascinating. I listened to the audio book, and the narrator, Ms. Karen Cass, has a lovely voice and does an outstanding job voicing the characters.
February 23, 2025
Heather Marshall is steadily becoming a popular author of compelling historical fiction books about remarkable women. Her debut novel, Looking for Jane, garnered numerous five star reviews, and I believe that this one will be well received also. This is a beautifully woven story set in 1938 Germany and 2010 England. It is a story surrounding two female main characters who carry burdens and grief from things that happened in their past. They are both haunted by secrets that they keep hidden but form a bond over sharing their life stories.
Even though this book contains a lot of the same themes that can be found in many WWII historical fiction novels, such as resistance, fear, hiding a Jewish friend, and the loss of loved ones, this story is made fresh by the depth of the characters and accounts of their bravery while danger lurked around every corner every day, as well as demonstrating how hope can keep people alive even in the most dire situations.
This story contains a good deal of suspense, and the author did a fabulous job of building tension into Part 3 of the story. I could feel my heart racing as I read some of the scenes. I ended up caring deeply for some of the characters and cried more than a few tears by the end of the book. Sometimes it is the unassuming people who are unknown to us who are the true heroes of the war and the women who inspired this novel are some of those people.
I highly recommend this book to fans of WWII historical fiction and believe that this would also be a good selection for book clubs. Along with a comprehensive Author's Note, questions and topics for discussion are generously provided by the author at the end of the book. I am looking forward to Ms. Marshall's next novel which will focus on the historic treatment of women's mental health issues in the 1960s in Toronto, Canada.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Amy Jackson and Vanessa Duque at Random House Publishing and Ballantine Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this moving story. All opinions expressed are my own.
Even though this book contains a lot of the same themes that can be found in many WWII historical fiction novels, such as resistance, fear, hiding a Jewish friend, and the loss of loved ones, this story is made fresh by the depth of the characters and accounts of their bravery while danger lurked around every corner every day, as well as demonstrating how hope can keep people alive even in the most dire situations.
This story contains a good deal of suspense, and the author did a fabulous job of building tension into Part 3 of the story. I could feel my heart racing as I read some of the scenes. I ended up caring deeply for some of the characters and cried more than a few tears by the end of the book. Sometimes it is the unassuming people who are unknown to us who are the true heroes of the war and the women who inspired this novel are some of those people.
I highly recommend this book to fans of WWII historical fiction and believe that this would also be a good selection for book clubs. Along with a comprehensive Author's Note, questions and topics for discussion are generously provided by the author at the end of the book. I am looking forward to Ms. Marshall's next novel which will focus on the historic treatment of women's mental health issues in the 1960s in Toronto, Canada.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Amy Jackson and Vanessa Duque at Random House Publishing and Ballantine Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this moving story. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 4, 2024
Another huge, page-turning hit from Canadian author Heather Marshall. Her debut, Looking for Jane was one of my favorite books of 2022 and I was nervous about how her second book could live up to such an incredible first story. I needn't have been concerned however because Audrey was as moving and heartbreaking with some great unexpected twists and fully three-dimensional, strong female characters.
WWII historical fiction lovers and fans of authors like Genevieve Graham, Kristen Harmel and Kate Quinn will not want to miss this new dual timeline story set in late 1930s and 1940s Berlin and early 2010s England.
Unlike many novels set in this period, the story focuses on the life of Germans during the war and the horrific trials endured by the Jewish people - the Kaplan family in particular as well as the various resistance groups who were operating to circumnavigate the Nazi regime.
I loved that there was a strong element of female friendship, courage and bravery in the face of the Nazi horrors and a beautiful unrequited Sapphic love story. This story also has a real-life Canadian connection and personal aspects of the author's own family history woven throughout making it doubly special.
HIGHLY recommended and sure to be another bestseller. I can't recommend this newest book enough. Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for access to an early digital copy and for sending me a beautiful physical ARC copy. Be sure to read the author's note included at the end too!
Fav quote:
"It's strange, she thinks, when we reach adulthood and realize that our parents are just flawed humans like we are; when the veneer wears away, and we find a person who's just doing the best they can with what they have to work with, the trauma they're lugging with them each day."
WWII historical fiction lovers and fans of authors like Genevieve Graham, Kristen Harmel and Kate Quinn will not want to miss this new dual timeline story set in late 1930s and 1940s Berlin and early 2010s England.
Unlike many novels set in this period, the story focuses on the life of Germans during the war and the horrific trials endured by the Jewish people - the Kaplan family in particular as well as the various resistance groups who were operating to circumnavigate the Nazi regime.
I loved that there was a strong element of female friendship, courage and bravery in the face of the Nazi horrors and a beautiful unrequited Sapphic love story. This story also has a real-life Canadian connection and personal aspects of the author's own family history woven throughout making it doubly special.
HIGHLY recommended and sure to be another bestseller. I can't recommend this newest book enough. Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for access to an early digital copy and for sending me a beautiful physical ARC copy. Be sure to read the author's note included at the end too!
Fav quote:
"It's strange, she thinks, when we reach adulthood and realize that our parents are just flawed humans like we are; when the veneer wears away, and we find a person who's just doing the best they can with what they have to work with, the trauma they're lugging with them each day."
May 26, 2024
2024 will go down as the year I truly sank into my (re-discovered) love of historical fiction. I have so much to say about The Secret History Of Audrey James by Heather Marshall, but I'll start with how it is now my favourite book of the year, easily beating out The Women! Be prepared for my heart to bleed into this review.
While mostly taking place during the lead up to WWII, this story is handled properly and with the utmost respect; it's not preachy or political - instead, it is incredibly diplomatic. Admittedly, chapter one took me a minute to work out the characters and the language, but by chapter three, I was beyond invested in Audrey's story. I was already crying at page 36, which was utterly heartbreaking to read. The initial connection of Kate and Audrey's timelines was not withheld, meaning this aspect of the book took a back seat to the main plot, allowing it to shine at center stage. Although I had cried previously and teared up countless times, page 395 broke the levy that was keeping my tears at bay; I felt incredibly seen by the last paragraph on this page.
Marshall's writing is extremely consistent; her convictions are again represented strongly within this book. She is skilled at not being preachy, just matter of fact. Everything Marshall adds is deliberate, thought-out yet subdued, managing to get the point across like a whisper rather than yelling. Her writing wraps you in love while sharing heartbreaking stories.
I was yet again reminded just how much I love historical fiction after finishing this truly special book; with every page I turned, I could tell the countless hours of research that went into creating it. Marshall is clearly SO passionate about the stories she chooses to write; evidently, a labour of love. (I borrowed these words from my review of Looking For Jane, which are equally as well suited here.)
I'll be singing Marshall's praises time and time again, so do yourself a favour and pre-order this incredible book!
Thank you NetGalley, Tandem Collective Global and Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copies to read and review.
While mostly taking place during the lead up to WWII, this story is handled properly and with the utmost respect; it's not preachy or political - instead, it is incredibly diplomatic. Admittedly, chapter one took me a minute to work out the characters and the language, but by chapter three, I was beyond invested in Audrey's story. I was already crying at page 36, which was utterly heartbreaking to read. The initial connection of Kate and Audrey's timelines was not withheld, meaning this aspect of the book took a back seat to the main plot, allowing it to shine at center stage. Although I had cried previously and teared up countless times, page 395 broke the levy that was keeping my tears at bay; I felt incredibly seen by the last paragraph on this page.
Marshall's writing is extremely consistent; her convictions are again represented strongly within this book. She is skilled at not being preachy, just matter of fact. Everything Marshall adds is deliberate, thought-out yet subdued, managing to get the point across like a whisper rather than yelling. Her writing wraps you in love while sharing heartbreaking stories.
I was yet again reminded just how much I love historical fiction after finishing this truly special book; with every page I turned, I could tell the countless hours of research that went into creating it. Marshall is clearly SO passionate about the stories she chooses to write; evidently, a labour of love. (I borrowed these words from my review of Looking For Jane, which are equally as well suited here.)
I'll be singing Marshall's praises time and time again, so do yourself a favour and pre-order this incredible book!
Thank you NetGalley, Tandem Collective Global and Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copies to read and review.
January 25, 2025
A promising plot with characters that did not really impress me. Told in a dual storyline, we meet Kate Mercer in 2010 and Audrey James in 1938. Aside from both being at crossroads after terrible experiences, we’re not given a connection until later. Audrey’s story is mostly during WWII, as she endures loss, heartbreak, and imprisonment. Kate is weighed down by guilt over her parents’ deaths and an impending divorce.
Audrey’s story is much more interesting, but lags and meanders towards the end. Kate and Ian are necessary but boring characters filled with soap operish drama to fill pages. I expected more from this book. It kept my attention until about 30%, but something was off as it continued. The language and Audrey’s relationship with Ilse were especially cringy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy. It releases February 25, 2025.
Audrey’s story is much more interesting, but lags and meanders towards the end. Kate and Ian are necessary but boring characters filled with soap operish drama to fill pages. I expected more from this book. It kept my attention until about 30%, but something was off as it continued. The language and Audrey’s relationship with Ilse were especially cringy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy. It releases February 25, 2025.
October 16, 2025
Ms. Marshall has successfully written a historical novel set during the turbulent years in Nazi Germany.
The novel, though, begins in Northern England in 2010, when Kate Mercer, recently separated from her husband, finds herself in a remote guest house on the Scottish border. Kate befriends the owner of this guest house, Aubrey James. Aubrey, though, is no ordinary guest house owner. She lived through and survived Hitler's Germany.
Kate is ever so curious to learn more about Aubrey James and her colorful life in Germany in the early years and later under Adolph Hitler. As time passes and the two women become more familiar with each other, Aubrey tells Kate her life story.
The Novel weaves in and out from the 1930's and World War Two back to the present, which is in 2010.
It was a fascinated story to read. Each page is suspenseful reading that one cannot wait for a happy ending.
The novel, though, begins in Northern England in 2010, when Kate Mercer, recently separated from her husband, finds herself in a remote guest house on the Scottish border. Kate befriends the owner of this guest house, Aubrey James. Aubrey, though, is no ordinary guest house owner. She lived through and survived Hitler's Germany.
Kate is ever so curious to learn more about Aubrey James and her colorful life in Germany in the early years and later under Adolph Hitler. As time passes and the two women become more familiar with each other, Aubrey tells Kate her life story.
The Novel weaves in and out from the 1930's and World War Two back to the present, which is in 2010.
It was a fascinated story to read. Each page is suspenseful reading that one cannot wait for a happy ending.
December 25, 2024
Wow, this had a huge emotional impact on me. I have read lots of historical fiction fiction set during World War II but I don't think I have ever read one that had several huge twists like this one. There is so much to unpack and I will be thinking about this book for days.
This novel is a dual timeline book with one story about Kate in 2010 and the other about Audrey in the late 1930s. Kate needs to leave London as she tries to escape her failed marriage and tries to deal with her past. She has lost both her parents and she is trying to retrace their steps. This brings her to Oakwood Inn where she meets Audrey. After a rough start, Audrey begins to confide in Kate about her past. Audrey was in Berlin, living with a Jewish family right before WWII began. Her story is heartbreaking but also incredible with what she went through to protect those that she loved and to try and make a difference for those in need.
This is an amazing work of historical fiction. It is thought provoking and even more inspiring is the fact that it was loosely based on real women. If you love books about World War II or just about strong women in general, I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Ballantine Books/Random House and NetGalley for this ARC.
This novel is a dual timeline book with one story about Kate in 2010 and the other about Audrey in the late 1930s. Kate needs to leave London as she tries to escape her failed marriage and tries to deal with her past. She has lost both her parents and she is trying to retrace their steps. This brings her to Oakwood Inn where she meets Audrey. After a rough start, Audrey begins to confide in Kate about her past. Audrey was in Berlin, living with a Jewish family right before WWII began. Her story is heartbreaking but also incredible with what she went through to protect those that she loved and to try and make a difference for those in need.
This is an amazing work of historical fiction. It is thought provoking and even more inspiring is the fact that it was loosely based on real women. If you love books about World War II or just about strong women in general, I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Ballantine Books/Random House and NetGalley for this ARC.
June 19, 2024
Immersive, memorable, and moving!
The Secret History of Audrey James is predominantly set in Berlin and Northern England during 1938, as well as 2010, and is told from two different perspectives; Kate, a young woman who, after a tragic accident that leaves her marriage in tatters and her parents both deceased, decides to make a change and move out of London in order to visit a place her parents once loved and somehow start to heal, and Audrey, an elderly woman who, as her life is quickly coming to an end, finally shares her life story that was full of commitment, passion, heartache, courage, selflessness, pain, horrifying conditions, and unrequited love.
The prose is eloquent and rich. The characters are tenacious, resilient, and determined. And the plot is an exceptionally touching tale about life, loss, family, secrets, separation, desperation, regret, grief, love, tragedy, survival, friendship, the horrors of war, and the power of music.
Overall, The Secret History of Audrey James is an absorbing, poignant, beautifully written novel by Marshall that does a wonderful job of showcasing the hard work, bravery, and danger involved in being a resister in Germany during WWII. It’s now the second novel I’ve had the pleasure to read and absolutely love by Marshall, and I can guarantee that whatever she decides to write next will always hold a top spot on my TBR list.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Secret History of Audrey James is predominantly set in Berlin and Northern England during 1938, as well as 2010, and is told from two different perspectives; Kate, a young woman who, after a tragic accident that leaves her marriage in tatters and her parents both deceased, decides to make a change and move out of London in order to visit a place her parents once loved and somehow start to heal, and Audrey, an elderly woman who, as her life is quickly coming to an end, finally shares her life story that was full of commitment, passion, heartache, courage, selflessness, pain, horrifying conditions, and unrequited love.
The prose is eloquent and rich. The characters are tenacious, resilient, and determined. And the plot is an exceptionally touching tale about life, loss, family, secrets, separation, desperation, regret, grief, love, tragedy, survival, friendship, the horrors of war, and the power of music.
Overall, The Secret History of Audrey James is an absorbing, poignant, beautifully written novel by Marshall that does a wonderful job of showcasing the hard work, bravery, and danger involved in being a resister in Germany during WWII. It’s now the second novel I’ve had the pleasure to read and absolutely love by Marshall, and I can guarantee that whatever she decides to write next will always hold a top spot on my TBR list.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2025
A dual timeline historical fiction tale weaving together the stories of Audrey James, member of the anti-Hitler movement in Berlin in 1938, and Kate Mercer, who comes to work with her in a guest house near Scotland in 2010. Kept me rapt with the intense narrative, well-developed characters, and beautiful prose. Histfic fans will want to put this on their TBRs ASAP!
June 9, 2024
4.5 STARS - Heather Marshall's debut Looking For Jane is one of my all-time favourite books. It is that good. Needless to say, when I heard she had a new book coming out and the publisher sent me an advanced copy, I lost my book nerd mind.
Set in two different timelines, The Secret History of Audrey James takes readers into the lives of two women - Kate in 2010 in the UK who is piecing together her upturned life when she takes a job near the Scottish border and meets her new boss, an elderly woman who has secrets of her own. The other POV is Audrey, a young woman living in pre-WWII Berlin. Audrey's character is based on the real life of Mona Parsons, a Canadian Nazi resistor, and the only Canadian female civilian victim to be imprisoned by the Nazis and one of the very few women who were tried by Nazi military tribunals after the war.
Through Audrey's storyline we witness the building of Nazi power and oppression as Hitler gains strength and rumours of death camps become fact. Hitler's hold on Germany impacts Audrey's best friend, Ilse who is forced to hide in her own attic while Nazi officers take over her home.
The book has some tense scenes as readers are pulled into Audrey's world when she joins the Red Orchestra Resistance. There was a serendipitous connection between the timelines, but I enjoyed that I didn't figure out the twist and how the connection involved a different character. I enjoyed both POVs but as with many dual timeline books, I often prefer the older timeline and that was the case here.
This is a compelling and poignant story of loss and love, resistance and sacrifice, the courage of women in war and a bit of mystery that will keep readers eagerly turning the page. I encourage readers to read the author's note at the back of the book. Marshall leaves a wee tease about the subject of her next book for readers who will, no doubt, be clamoring to grab a copy when it releases.
May 6, 2024
Simply put, WOW 🤯 Heather Marshall is back, and has our hearts in another Kung Fu grip ❤️🩹
You know those purchases that feel too big to make on your phone i.e., a plane ticket, instead feeling it has to be done with a bigger, more formal mechanism, like a laptop or desktop computer? That’s how I feel with writing this review. I don’t think writing in my Notes app while hunched over is sufficient, instead wishing I was elegantly poised at a typewriter.
Inspired by real events and people in history, The Secret History of Audrey James tells the story of so many, bound together by life-shattering experiences of trauma, grief, and resilience. Among the heartache, a light continues to shine on true friendship, true courage, and true sacrifice, with a riveting, inspiring theme of risking everything for those we love.
The story is told in a dual timeline, alternating between Audrey in early WWII in Berlin and Kate in the early 2000s in rural Scotland. The devastatingly emotional underpinnings of how these two characters relate to one another and come together is incredibly moving and profound. While learning how their stories unfold, I felt a suspense and pull at my heartstrings I haven’t experienced in some time. In between gasps and furiously flipping the pages to find out what happens next, I had tears streaming from my bloodshot eyes. This book, quite simply, is an emotional wallop and gut punch that is beautifully written and impeccably researched. Once I finished, I needed some time to emotionally recover and process everything in its entirety, leaving me with an absolutely unforgettable reading experience and total book hangover!
Thrilling, poignant, and breathtaking, this book is a must for all lovers of historical fiction and those who enjoy amplified female voices. Be sure to read the author’s note to learn how her own family history ties into the story.
Thank you @simonschusterca for my gifted copy! The Secret History of Audrey James is published on June 4.
You know those purchases that feel too big to make on your phone i.e., a plane ticket, instead feeling it has to be done with a bigger, more formal mechanism, like a laptop or desktop computer? That’s how I feel with writing this review. I don’t think writing in my Notes app while hunched over is sufficient, instead wishing I was elegantly poised at a typewriter.
Inspired by real events and people in history, The Secret History of Audrey James tells the story of so many, bound together by life-shattering experiences of trauma, grief, and resilience. Among the heartache, a light continues to shine on true friendship, true courage, and true sacrifice, with a riveting, inspiring theme of risking everything for those we love.
The story is told in a dual timeline, alternating between Audrey in early WWII in Berlin and Kate in the early 2000s in rural Scotland. The devastatingly emotional underpinnings of how these two characters relate to one another and come together is incredibly moving and profound. While learning how their stories unfold, I felt a suspense and pull at my heartstrings I haven’t experienced in some time. In between gasps and furiously flipping the pages to find out what happens next, I had tears streaming from my bloodshot eyes. This book, quite simply, is an emotional wallop and gut punch that is beautifully written and impeccably researched. Once I finished, I needed some time to emotionally recover and process everything in its entirety, leaving me with an absolutely unforgettable reading experience and total book hangover!
Thrilling, poignant, and breathtaking, this book is a must for all lovers of historical fiction and those who enjoy amplified female voices. Be sure to read the author’s note to learn how her own family history ties into the story.
Thank you @simonschusterca for my gifted copy! The Secret History of Audrey James is published on June 4.
March 26, 2025
poignant and captivating… this book follows Audrey and Kate, two different women from two vastly different eras. a book about love, loss, friendship, and the hard decisions we must face in light of death, this is a must read. heather marshall continues to write the most stunning accounts of hard topics and deep subjects.
January 20, 2025
I am so drawn to historical fiction and since the majority of that genre seems to center around WW2, I read a lot of that time period. When I come across a WW2 book that appears to have a different plot line, I always get so excited and that’s exactly how I felt when I saw this book on NetGalley.
In 1938 Berlin, Audrey James is living with her best friend’s family while she is finishing up her schooling at a music conservatory. The Kaplans are Jews and while Audrey is not she realizes Berlin isn’t the safest place. When Ilse’s family is attacked by SS Officers, Audrey does what she can to protect Ilse, even joining a German Resistance cell to help stop Hitler before another war breaks out.
In the modern day story line, Kate Mercer’s life has been turned upside down after a tragic car accident and she leaves London to work at a small, run down guesthouse on the Scottish border in an attempt to regroup and find herself. While the elderly proprietor is standoffish at first, she soon begins telling her story to Kate and the two women soon bond.
I really wanted to like this book, and I did for the first 60%. The last 1/3 was so long and there was so much going on I found myself skimming pages just to try to finish. I love how the author tried incorporating many different areas of WW2 especially as I have never heard of any of the topics included- the German Resistance, Mona Parsons, and Elsa Koditschek. While in real life none of these three things happened together and Heather Marshall admits to taking creative liberties to put all three together for this book and while it flows cohesively, it’s a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for an advanced copy of this. The Secret History of Audrey James hits the shelves on February 25th.
In 1938 Berlin, Audrey James is living with her best friend’s family while she is finishing up her schooling at a music conservatory. The Kaplans are Jews and while Audrey is not she realizes Berlin isn’t the safest place. When Ilse’s family is attacked by SS Officers, Audrey does what she can to protect Ilse, even joining a German Resistance cell to help stop Hitler before another war breaks out.
In the modern day story line, Kate Mercer’s life has been turned upside down after a tragic car accident and she leaves London to work at a small, run down guesthouse on the Scottish border in an attempt to regroup and find herself. While the elderly proprietor is standoffish at first, she soon begins telling her story to Kate and the two women soon bond.
I really wanted to like this book, and I did for the first 60%. The last 1/3 was so long and there was so much going on I found myself skimming pages just to try to finish. I love how the author tried incorporating many different areas of WW2 especially as I have never heard of any of the topics included- the German Resistance, Mona Parsons, and Elsa Koditschek. While in real life none of these three things happened together and Heather Marshall admits to taking creative liberties to put all three together for this book and while it flows cohesively, it’s a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for an advanced copy of this. The Secret History of Audrey James hits the shelves on February 25th.
October 25, 2024
I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. I read a lot of historical WWII fiction, but this one was especially well-written and wove a story with an unexpected ending that kept my interest through the entire book. The POV changes between Audrey during WWII and Kate in the 2000s who has been going through a rough patch of her own lately. The relationship between them as they meet and come together has the feeling of coming home just when you thought you'd never feel that way again.
December 3, 2024
In “The Secret History of Audrey James,” the book alternates between 1938-1945 with the title character, Audrey James, and 2010, with Kate Mercer who meets Audrey in Alnwick, England. Audrey James is half-German and half-English. Her German mother died giving birth to her. Her English father remained in Germany until Audrey was a teenager, when he returned to England. Audrey remained behind with her best friend Ilse Kaplan’s family while Audrey pursued a music education in Berlin. After Ilse’s father is killed by the Nazis in 1938 and her mother and brother are taken away, Audrey remains in the house, hiding her best friend, Ilse, in the attic while the house itself is occupied by Nazi officers. It is during this time that Audrey begins her work on behalf of the German resistance movement.
In a parallel storyline set in 2010, Kate Mercer, reeling from the death of her parents in a car accident and the subsequent failure of her marriage and loss of her job, decides to leave London for a job as an assistant at Oakwood Inn in Alnwick, England near the Scottish border after finding a photo of her parents vacationing there in 1968. Here she meets Audrey, an elderly woman who owns the inn, and was unaware that her assistant, Sue, had hired Kate to help her. Kate and Audrey have a rocky start to their relationship; however, they soon form a close bond. Audrey opens up to Kate, relating her life story, which Kate begins to transcribe into a memoir at the suggestion of Ian, a bookstore owner who helps with tasks at the house, and has been close to Audrey since he was a child.
Based on extensive research, the novel sheds light on a little known aspect of World War II history, that of the German resistance movement and the types of people who worked for it. In addition, it focuses on strong women who made unheralded contributions to the war effort. Themes of emotional and physical scarring and how these are overcome form a common thread throughout the book.
The novel should appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction with strong female lead characters. For myself, although the book had all the right elements to make it interesting, I struggled to stay invested in the story, which felt long and drawn out, despite its depiction of interesting struggles and the ever present fear of discovery. I chalk this up to my weariness of World War II books. I’m sure that other readers who haven’t burned out on the subject will find this book engaging.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC of the novel in exchange for my honest review.
In a parallel storyline set in 2010, Kate Mercer, reeling from the death of her parents in a car accident and the subsequent failure of her marriage and loss of her job, decides to leave London for a job as an assistant at Oakwood Inn in Alnwick, England near the Scottish border after finding a photo of her parents vacationing there in 1968. Here she meets Audrey, an elderly woman who owns the inn, and was unaware that her assistant, Sue, had hired Kate to help her. Kate and Audrey have a rocky start to their relationship; however, they soon form a close bond. Audrey opens up to Kate, relating her life story, which Kate begins to transcribe into a memoir at the suggestion of Ian, a bookstore owner who helps with tasks at the house, and has been close to Audrey since he was a child.
Based on extensive research, the novel sheds light on a little known aspect of World War II history, that of the German resistance movement and the types of people who worked for it. In addition, it focuses on strong women who made unheralded contributions to the war effort. Themes of emotional and physical scarring and how these are overcome form a common thread throughout the book.
The novel should appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction with strong female lead characters. For myself, although the book had all the right elements to make it interesting, I struggled to stay invested in the story, which felt long and drawn out, despite its depiction of interesting struggles and the ever present fear of discovery. I chalk this up to my weariness of World War II books. I’m sure that other readers who haven’t burned out on the subject will find this book engaging.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC of the novel in exchange for my honest review.
May 31, 2024
Heather Marshall’s sophomore novel, The Secret History of Audrey James, is equally as excellent as her first, Looking for Jane. It is a must read for historical fiction lovers and it is most definitely one of my favorite reads this year.
This beautiful historical fiction shines a light on a courageous young woman who worked with anti-Nazi resisters in Berlin during WWII. Her story is inspired by the experiences of the real-life Mona Parsons, a Canadian civilian who joined the resistance movement in the Netherlands and who was imprisoned by the Nazis but whose contributions were never acknowledged.
The novel unfolds in dual timelines and from two points of view: Audrey, a pianist living with a Jewish family in 1938 Berlin who protects her friend when her family is murdered by the Nazis, and joins the anti-Hitler resistance, and Kate, a woman in 2010 dealing with trauma and grief in an inn near the rural Scottish/English border run by an elderly woman.
Each timeline is engaging and engrossing with excellent storytelling. There are definite parallels between Audrey’s and Kate’s lives, there are unexpected twists/reveals, and the two women’s life stories expertly come together near the end of the novel. The characters are likeable and their stories full of courage and heartbreak but also hope as both women struggle to deal with the trauma that life threw their way.
I was pulled into this book from the first chapter and could not put it down. I stayed up way too late to finish the novel but it was definitely worth it. There is so much to love about this book. It makes you feel, it makes you think and it informs the reader about the unsung female heroes of WWII.
In her acknowledgments (which I highly recommend you read), the author relates a great anecdote of herself as a child, when during a history lesson on Canada’s past focused on the role of men, she innocently asked, « What were the women doing? ». It is a wonderful question and one that novels such as this one seek to address by shining a light on the significant and under looked contributions of the many women who risked their lives to fight for what they believed in and to save so many lives.
I 100% recommend this novel and am highly anticipating this author’s next novel.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
This beautiful historical fiction shines a light on a courageous young woman who worked with anti-Nazi resisters in Berlin during WWII. Her story is inspired by the experiences of the real-life Mona Parsons, a Canadian civilian who joined the resistance movement in the Netherlands and who was imprisoned by the Nazis but whose contributions were never acknowledged.
The novel unfolds in dual timelines and from two points of view: Audrey, a pianist living with a Jewish family in 1938 Berlin who protects her friend when her family is murdered by the Nazis, and joins the anti-Hitler resistance, and Kate, a woman in 2010 dealing with trauma and grief in an inn near the rural Scottish/English border run by an elderly woman.
Each timeline is engaging and engrossing with excellent storytelling. There are definite parallels between Audrey’s and Kate’s lives, there are unexpected twists/reveals, and the two women’s life stories expertly come together near the end of the novel. The characters are likeable and their stories full of courage and heartbreak but also hope as both women struggle to deal with the trauma that life threw their way.
I was pulled into this book from the first chapter and could not put it down. I stayed up way too late to finish the novel but it was definitely worth it. There is so much to love about this book. It makes you feel, it makes you think and it informs the reader about the unsung female heroes of WWII.
In her acknowledgments (which I highly recommend you read), the author relates a great anecdote of herself as a child, when during a history lesson on Canada’s past focused on the role of men, she innocently asked, « What were the women doing? ». It is a wonderful question and one that novels such as this one seek to address by shining a light on the significant and under looked contributions of the many women who risked their lives to fight for what they believed in and to save so many lives.
I 100% recommend this novel and am highly anticipating this author’s next novel.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
July 8, 2024
A million stars!!! This book completely wrecked me! Loved every second of it. 😭🤍 Heather Marshall's debut, Looking for Jane was my favourite read of 2022 so I was super excited when I heard she had a new novel coming out!
Heather is dedicated to sharing women's untold stories. She is a master storyteller and I was immersed from start to finish.
When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about reading it.
This is a dual timeline story told from the perspectives of Audrey James (Berlin, 1938) and Kate Mercer (Northern England, 2010).
1938: Audrey is looking forward to graduating from a prestigious music school in Berlin. She's been living with her best friend, Ilse Kaplan. Jewish families like the Kaplans are being targeted by Nazis. And when Ilse's brother and mother disappear, Nazis confiscate the Kaplan's home and move in. Audrey becomes housekeeper for the officers while Ilse is forced to hide in the attic.
Audrey gets caught up in a cell of the anti-Hitler movement and the action unfolds.
2010: After a tragic car accident, Kate leaves London to work at an old guesthouse on the Scottish border hoping to start over and heal. Her boss is a mysterious elderly woman named Audrey.
I felt such a deep connection to the characters: Audrey, Ilse, Friedrich, Kate, and Ian. A beautifully-written and emotional read about courageous and resilient women, the German resistance, the Holocaust, friendship, family, love, loss and war. Loved how Marshall explored grief and the complex experience of being a survivor.
Audrey was a pianist and I loved how music was woven throughout the story.
I cried several times and certain scenes had such a huge impact on me. An unforgettable read! The Author's Note is a thing of beauty ❤ Be sure to read it! Highly, highly recommend! 👏
Heather is dedicated to sharing women's untold stories. She is a master storyteller and I was immersed from start to finish.
When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about reading it.
This is a dual timeline story told from the perspectives of Audrey James (Berlin, 1938) and Kate Mercer (Northern England, 2010).
1938: Audrey is looking forward to graduating from a prestigious music school in Berlin. She's been living with her best friend, Ilse Kaplan. Jewish families like the Kaplans are being targeted by Nazis. And when Ilse's brother and mother disappear, Nazis confiscate the Kaplan's home and move in. Audrey becomes housekeeper for the officers while Ilse is forced to hide in the attic.
Audrey gets caught up in a cell of the anti-Hitler movement and the action unfolds.
2010: After a tragic car accident, Kate leaves London to work at an old guesthouse on the Scottish border hoping to start over and heal. Her boss is a mysterious elderly woman named Audrey.
I felt such a deep connection to the characters: Audrey, Ilse, Friedrich, Kate, and Ian. A beautifully-written and emotional read about courageous and resilient women, the German resistance, the Holocaust, friendship, family, love, loss and war. Loved how Marshall explored grief and the complex experience of being a survivor.
Audrey was a pianist and I loved how music was woven throughout the story.
I cried several times and certain scenes had such a huge impact on me. An unforgettable read! The Author's Note is a thing of beauty ❤ Be sure to read it! Highly, highly recommend! 👏
May 29, 2024
Thank you Simon and Schuester Canada for my ARC copy of this novel!
Audrey will go to any length to protect the ones she loves, even if it puts herself in danger. I loved Audrey's story, and how Marshall included true events that happened to make it seem more realistic. The story is harrowing, showing that not everyone is safe from the effects of war - even if they think they are. It additionally shows the lengths that people will go to save the ones they love. The story also weaves in parts of the present, and how ones youth affects them throughout their life and that the people they meet may come back to see them again.
Audrey will go to any length to protect the ones she loves, even if it puts herself in danger. I loved Audrey's story, and how Marshall included true events that happened to make it seem more realistic. The story is harrowing, showing that not everyone is safe from the effects of war - even if they think they are. It additionally shows the lengths that people will go to save the ones they love. The story also weaves in parts of the present, and how ones youth affects them throughout their life and that the people they meet may come back to see them again.
March 22, 2025
I loved this historical fiction novel about life during WWII. Audrey James was a courageous woman who survived the war after many close calls and challenges. After reaching her 90’s, she finally reveals the details of her life during the German atrocities to a young woman who comes to help her operate her small hotel in Northern England. I love how this author writes about strong, courageous women based on true female heroes.
March 12, 2025
Audrey James lives in Berlin with her Jewish best friend Ilse Kaplan and her family while attending conservatory in 1939. In the span of an afternoon, their lives are turned upside down during the Kristallnacht. Audrey uses her acting ability to become the housekeeper for the SS officers who take over the Kaplans' home.
I also enjoyed Kate's parallel story in 2010 at an inn in northern England. I am not so sure about the plausibility of the ending but it was a sweet way to wrap up the stories. It was a nice balance to all the hard and heavy topics that Audrey and Kate endure during their lives.
Please don't skip the author's notes.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.
#TheSecretHistoryofAudreyJames #NetGalley
I also enjoyed Kate's parallel story in 2010 at an inn in northern England. I am not so sure about the plausibility of the ending but it was a sweet way to wrap up the stories. It was a nice balance to all the hard and heavy topics that Audrey and Kate endure during their lives.
Please don't skip the author's notes.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.
#TheSecretHistoryofAudreyJames #NetGalley
May 28, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
I know so many readers say “oh I can’t do another WWII book”, but I’m somehow always pulled back into these stories. Fictionalized or memorialized, they’re pieces of a horrible piece of the world’s history, and each book seems to keep the voices being heard. I do try and find different countries perspectives… but sometimes I’m taking back into Germany but with a new figure. In this book, it was fictionalized account of a woman who did exist. A woman by the name Audrey James (Mona in real life), who was German but whose best friend was Jewish.
What the author tries to do within this novel is unravel the Red Orchestra resistance which was very much true. But also do it with emotional connection to the characters.
The novel is a dual POV between Audrey & Kate (present day in the UK). The resistance pages following Audrey’s story was where I was most captivated. Kate’s story was deep with emotional baggage as well, but I wanted to stay with Audrey more. That said, I loved the area of England that is depicted in the book. My husband and I drove up north and saw many charming villages just like the one described… so it was easy for me to picture the place where Kate finds herself.
I know so many readers say “oh I can’t do another WWII book”, but I’m somehow always pulled back into these stories. Fictionalized or memorialized, they’re pieces of a horrible piece of the world’s history, and each book seems to keep the voices being heard. I do try and find different countries perspectives… but sometimes I’m taking back into Germany but with a new figure. In this book, it was fictionalized account of a woman who did exist. A woman by the name Audrey James (Mona in real life), who was German but whose best friend was Jewish.
What the author tries to do within this novel is unravel the Red Orchestra resistance which was very much true. But also do it with emotional connection to the characters.
The novel is a dual POV between Audrey & Kate (present day in the UK). The resistance pages following Audrey’s story was where I was most captivated. Kate’s story was deep with emotional baggage as well, but I wanted to stay with Audrey more. That said, I loved the area of England that is depicted in the book. My husband and I drove up north and saw many charming villages just like the one described… so it was easy for me to picture the place where Kate finds herself.
May 10, 2024
The Secret History of Audrey James begins just before WWII in Berlin, Germany. Audrey James is living with her best friend's family while she's going to school to be a pianist. Her father lives in England and encourages Audrey to return home, as tension mounts in Germany. Audrey is determined to finish her studies and to stay alongside Ilse as long as possible. The war arrives much sooner than Audrey expects, forcing her into a world that she never imagined would exist. The novel moves back and forth between Audrey's story in 1938 and Kate, who Audrey decides to confide in about her story in 2010.
Heather Marshall has done it again. I loved her debut novel, Looking for Jane, and this novel is just as fantastic. I'm sometimes reluctant to pick up yet another World War II story, but this one is a bit different. Marshall spins together a perfect (and well-researched) story of war, resistance, strong women, friendship, and romance. The romance is much-needed to break up the heartwrenching, accurate details about surviving WWII Berlin. It's an action-packed, atmospheric novel that kept me wanting more. I highly recommend pre-ordering this one! You won't be disappointed.
Heather Marshall has done it again. I loved her debut novel, Looking for Jane, and this novel is just as fantastic. I'm sometimes reluctant to pick up yet another World War II story, but this one is a bit different. Marshall spins together a perfect (and well-researched) story of war, resistance, strong women, friendship, and romance. The romance is much-needed to break up the heartwrenching, accurate details about surviving WWII Berlin. It's an action-packed, atmospheric novel that kept me wanting more. I highly recommend pre-ordering this one! You won't be disappointed.
June 21, 2025
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Secret History of Audrey James was such a good book! It's always interesting to see characters that were alive during a war but not actually participating in it. And by that, I mean they aren't a soldier for either side. So, it's very interesting to get to know Audrey James before, during, and after World War II.
This is a dual timeline book where we see Audrey navigating life during the war and then basically telling the stories to Kate in the present. Unbeknownst to them both, they are tied together, and it kind of feels like fate brought them together. Or maybe it's just a huge coincidence that they met.
No character is shy from taking any kind of risk throughout this book. Whether it's protecting family, friends, or random people off the street. It's about war, risks, resistance, and healing. And it's about having your voice heard and stories being told. It was absolutely fantastic from start to finish and I'm a little sad that it's over.
I will definitely be looking forward to Heather's next book.
“Tell people about them. Tell these stories. When we are the only ones left to remember someone, we have a responsibility to let them live on through our memories, our stories.”
The Secret History of Audrey James was such a good book! It's always interesting to see characters that were alive during a war but not actually participating in it. And by that, I mean they aren't a soldier for either side. So, it's very interesting to get to know Audrey James before, during, and after World War II.
This is a dual timeline book where we see Audrey navigating life during the war and then basically telling the stories to Kate in the present. Unbeknownst to them both, they are tied together, and it kind of feels like fate brought them together. Or maybe it's just a huge coincidence that they met.
No character is shy from taking any kind of risk throughout this book. Whether it's protecting family, friends, or random people off the street. It's about war, risks, resistance, and healing. And it's about having your voice heard and stories being told. It was absolutely fantastic from start to finish and I'm a little sad that it's over.
I will definitely be looking forward to Heather's next book.
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