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The Secret Shore
As one of the Navy's most skilled mapmakers, Merry knows that lives depend on her work in the War Office. But when a family crisis draws her back to her beloved Cornwall, she finds herself working alongside Jake, an enigmatic American officer, on secret operations spanning the rugged coasts of Cornwall and Brittany which she knows so well.
As rumours and suspicion swirl around her family, Merry is increasingly drawn to Jake, despite the defences she's built around her heart. It's a dangerous time to fall in love; the tides of war are rising and there is everything to lose…
As rumours and suspicion swirl around her family, Merry is increasingly drawn to Jake, despite the defences she's built around her heart. It's a dangerous time to fall in love; the tides of war are rising and there is everything to lose…
480 pages, Paperback
Published July 9, 2024
97 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
About the author
Liz Fenwick
25 books578 followersAward winning author of ten novels and two novellas. The latest is The Secrets of Harbour House out in the UK in July 2025. There are translated editions of my novels available in Dutch, German, Portuguese, French, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Estonian, Latvian, Turkish, Serbian, Czech, Hungarian, Italian, and Finnish.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
May 11, 2023
I really enjoyed this novel from Fenwick. I thought it was markedly different to the novel I read by this author a couple of years ago so it did initially take some getting used to. On the other hand, the extensive research that Fenwick has clearly carried out really feeds into this narrative and I felt like I learnt even more about this turbulent and tragic period of history.
The protagonist, Merry, is an interesting representation of the role of women during the Second World War. Social values were rapidly changing as a result of the conflict, but there were still some traditions that could not be broken. And Merry experiences this frequently. Known in her world as Doctor Meredith Tremayne, when she meets new people, they are always taken aback that Doctor Tremayne is not a doddery old man, but a young, beautiful woman who is incredibly knowledgeable. I loved Merry’s character because of how much she had achieved as a female yet, still sympathised with everything she had had to sacrifice for it – including love.
Merry’s role as a map-maker opened my eyes to another element of the war. Beyond the known intelligence gathering, I had little understand of other required research in order to help teams fight in France. This story explores Merry’s job of interpreting aerial photographs, updating maps and providing useful geographical information to Commanders about an ever-changing landscape. When news reaches her that her mother has gone missing, Merry finds herself returning to her home in Cornwall. Still working with plotting the area, she also tries to find out where her mother has gone. Except, the knowledge that Merry’s mother is French, can speak multiple languages and is a bit of an outsider has left the gossips speculating that she is working for the enemy.
Surprisingly, this aspect of the story became a minor sub-plot as Merry is more involved in her work on the Cornish coast. I was fascinated by the training involved and how Merry’s role supported the work of soldiers who were doing equally important tasks, even if they were not fighting on the Front Line. Sailing from Cornwall to France and ensuring communication lines were open during the Occupation was a part of the conflict that I had never considered before. I think Fenwick has done an amazing job at bringing this aspect of the war to life.
The developing relationship between Merry and Jake was sweet. I admired Merry’s mantra of following her head over her heart, but recognised that this would ultimately not lead to her happiness. The symbolism of map-making was interesting to explore, as Merry uses it as a method beyond her work. As a way of making sense of her life, making plans and tracing her mother, for Merry, maps are a way of living, not just for information purposes. I understood her need for order but liked watching Merry alter over the story as a consequence of the effects of the war.
A beautifully written story about a woman’s role in a male-dominated war, Fenwick shows how important all the “behind-the-scenes” roles in ensuring eventual success. The Cornish landscape is portrayed vividly and I felt like I was also feeling the sea breeze on my face as I read this tale of love, strength and dedication in uncertain times.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The protagonist, Merry, is an interesting representation of the role of women during the Second World War. Social values were rapidly changing as a result of the conflict, but there were still some traditions that could not be broken. And Merry experiences this frequently. Known in her world as Doctor Meredith Tremayne, when she meets new people, they are always taken aback that Doctor Tremayne is not a doddery old man, but a young, beautiful woman who is incredibly knowledgeable. I loved Merry’s character because of how much she had achieved as a female yet, still sympathised with everything she had had to sacrifice for it – including love.
Merry’s role as a map-maker opened my eyes to another element of the war. Beyond the known intelligence gathering, I had little understand of other required research in order to help teams fight in France. This story explores Merry’s job of interpreting aerial photographs, updating maps and providing useful geographical information to Commanders about an ever-changing landscape. When news reaches her that her mother has gone missing, Merry finds herself returning to her home in Cornwall. Still working with plotting the area, she also tries to find out where her mother has gone. Except, the knowledge that Merry’s mother is French, can speak multiple languages and is a bit of an outsider has left the gossips speculating that she is working for the enemy.
Surprisingly, this aspect of the story became a minor sub-plot as Merry is more involved in her work on the Cornish coast. I was fascinated by the training involved and how Merry’s role supported the work of soldiers who were doing equally important tasks, even if they were not fighting on the Front Line. Sailing from Cornwall to France and ensuring communication lines were open during the Occupation was a part of the conflict that I had never considered before. I think Fenwick has done an amazing job at bringing this aspect of the war to life.
The developing relationship between Merry and Jake was sweet. I admired Merry’s mantra of following her head over her heart, but recognised that this would ultimately not lead to her happiness. The symbolism of map-making was interesting to explore, as Merry uses it as a method beyond her work. As a way of making sense of her life, making plans and tracing her mother, for Merry, maps are a way of living, not just for information purposes. I understood her need for order but liked watching Merry alter over the story as a consequence of the effects of the war.
A beautifully written story about a woman’s role in a male-dominated war, Fenwick shows how important all the “behind-the-scenes” roles in ensuring eventual success. The Cornish landscape is portrayed vividly and I felt like I was also feeling the sea breeze on my face as I read this tale of love, strength and dedication in uncertain times.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2023
It seems like an age since Liz Fenwick’s last book, The River Between Us. It is, in fact, almost exactly two years – and it has been a l-o-n-g two years!
Fortunately, she is back with a knock-out blow with The Secret Shore. She is also returning to her favourite location- Cornwall, specifically the Helford River. She takes us back to the period of the Second World War and how the war impinged on the residents, both local and incomers.
Speaking personally, this book had extra appeal for me as it dealt with both an area I know, South-west Cornwall) and my own milieu – as a man whose entire career as a ship’s officer has depended on the work of the mapmaker and those who made sure that we on board ship had access to the latest information and updated charts.
Merry, or Dr Meredith Tremayne, is a career geographer who has chosen a career path rather than marriage and a family. She is happily ensconced in Oxford in her late twenties until the war breaks out and everyone’s world changes.
Her particular skills see her posted to London and then to her home area of Helford and her working with the special units preparing for a distant invasion of France. The teams she must work with are drawn from several nations and departments. It is part of Merry’s duties to help weld those different parts into a single functioning team. The teams themselves are engaged in long-range supply to forces in Brittany and the landing and evacuation of specialist personnel.
She is also working under the enigmatic Lieut. Commander Ian Fleming; the picture Liz Fenwick paints of him is finely drawn and brings his character to light. Apart from Ian Fleming, she includes several real participants and locations and several characters from her earlier novels.
Among those she is working with is an American, Jack Russell. One of those who crossed the border to Canada to take Canadian nationality so he could fight in the war. While Merry is determined to avoid any romantic entanglements, they realise that to be true to themselves, they should “seize the day” This would be Merry’s mother’s advice - however, her mother has mysteriously disappeared. Was she a spy? Who are they really working for?
This is a really well-crafted, pacy and absorbing read. I loved it and would unhesitatingly recommend it to readers of any age or gender.
So “Carpe Diem” and “Fill to me the Parting Glass!”
Fortunately, she is back with a knock-out blow with The Secret Shore. She is also returning to her favourite location- Cornwall, specifically the Helford River. She takes us back to the period of the Second World War and how the war impinged on the residents, both local and incomers.
Speaking personally, this book had extra appeal for me as it dealt with both an area I know, South-west Cornwall) and my own milieu – as a man whose entire career as a ship’s officer has depended on the work of the mapmaker and those who made sure that we on board ship had access to the latest information and updated charts.
Merry, or Dr Meredith Tremayne, is a career geographer who has chosen a career path rather than marriage and a family. She is happily ensconced in Oxford in her late twenties until the war breaks out and everyone’s world changes.
Her particular skills see her posted to London and then to her home area of Helford and her working with the special units preparing for a distant invasion of France. The teams she must work with are drawn from several nations and departments. It is part of Merry’s duties to help weld those different parts into a single functioning team. The teams themselves are engaged in long-range supply to forces in Brittany and the landing and evacuation of specialist personnel.
She is also working under the enigmatic Lieut. Commander Ian Fleming; the picture Liz Fenwick paints of him is finely drawn and brings his character to light. Apart from Ian Fleming, she includes several real participants and locations and several characters from her earlier novels.
Among those she is working with is an American, Jack Russell. One of those who crossed the border to Canada to take Canadian nationality so he could fight in the war. While Merry is determined to avoid any romantic entanglements, they realise that to be true to themselves, they should “seize the day” This would be Merry’s mother’s advice - however, her mother has mysteriously disappeared. Was she a spy? Who are they really working for?
This is a really well-crafted, pacy and absorbing read. I loved it and would unhesitatingly recommend it to readers of any age or gender.
So “Carpe Diem” and “Fill to me the Parting Glass!”
February 20, 2024
*Egentliga betyget 1.5 stjärnor*
Jag vet inte riktigt varför jag inte tyckte bättre om denna bok.
Romansen kändes omotiverad och sidokaraktärerna var många, men ingen - huvudkaraktärerna inkluderade - av dem riktigt fastnade. Kändes som läsaren fick mycket information om allt och alla, men att det inte riktigt ledde till något, även om boken försökte få en att tro det. Jag förstod valet av att låta berättelsen hoppa i tiden, men tror att boken hade tjänat på att överlag bara hålla sig till en tätare tidsperiod.
Utspelade sig i en trevlig miljö under en mindre trevlig tid.
Jag vet inte riktigt varför jag inte tyckte bättre om denna bok.
Romansen kändes omotiverad och sidokaraktärerna var många, men ingen - huvudkaraktärerna inkluderade - av dem riktigt fastnade. Kändes som läsaren fick mycket information om allt och alla, men att det inte riktigt ledde till något, även om boken försökte få en att tro det. Jag förstod valet av att låta berättelsen hoppa i tiden, men tror att boken hade tjänat på att överlag bara hålla sig till en tätare tidsperiod.
Utspelade sig i en trevlig miljö under en mindre trevlig tid.
May 12, 2023
Wow! What a fascinating and heartfelt story of love, sacrifice, courage and survival! Intelligent Merry Tremayne is a brilliant mapmaker who craves field experience and temporarily leaves her teaching post at Oxford when summoned to play her part in the war. It is 1942 and the world is caught in the grips of a ruthless enemy. Her sought-after skills and daring interest will lead her down some dangerous paths, not only to help bring victory on the war front but also force her to make difficult personal decisions and face heart wrenching loss. Dealing with the archaic views of 1940’s British society, when women cannot have both love and a career, she faces a fierce internal battle. Although she has worked hard at the university to gain her high position and it has taken priority in her life, her determination to stick to the plan is tested after meeting a certain American officer. As she learns of the differences between their countries and, although, the US has been slow to enter the war scene, she realises it is a country ahead in the area of women’s rights and positions. This new wave of freedom on the horizon could prove useful to a heart that dares to have both.
Merry is a complex character and this made her even more appealing. She is deemed initially too valuable and too beautiful to be an agent but her mapmaking skills and fluid command of French, German and Breton are in great need. Commander Fleming notes that with a change of clothing and hairstyle, she could truly pass as a French woman (as a valuable agent). But there’s a fly in the ointment. Although there are no real gaps in her skills, it is her physical attractiveness that he states lets her down. Fleming makes this very clear when she asks to be sent on a mission. He reluctantly affirms that ‘beauty is always noted and remembered.’ So, covers can be easily blown. As you would expect, Merry does not let this opinion slow her down. And when a personal crisis occurs? All stops are pulled out.
The secret service needs her skills. It is a twofold mission. And she embarks on a journey that will draw upon her skills like never before. Especially when it is discovered her widowed French mother is missing from her Cornwall home. There are whispers she might be a spy. But Merry cannot believe this of her artist-mother. This query puts her on a path of investigation. Fleming sends her to the coast to uncover the truth and assist some of his men in their missions who are transporting people and goods to and from Brittany and Cornwall. With her knowledge of the coastline, mapping skills and gift of languages she is a valuable asset to the team.
Through the investigation process, Merry takes us on a journey of memories through her childhood and home experiences spent with her brother and parents, while she explores her mother’s correspondence, favourite locations and belongings. Discoveries are made that lead to more questions. It is a breadcrumb trail that keeps us all (including Merry) wondering the whereabouts of Elise. Sifting through her mother’s belongings is tough: especially knowing she may never see her again. But Merry clings to hope and many happy memories when ‘everything was certain and love came in the form of a steaming bowl of soup.’ We learn a lot about Elise: where she is from, her use of floriography, her work in World War I as a nurse, how she met Merry’s father and how she saved his life. Merry consistently uses her mapping terms while describing her relationship with her mother. In one beautiful analogy she shares that her mother is her ‘legend’ on a map, the key to her life and she does not want to think about navigating this world without her.
The Secret Shore is brimming with exceptional descriptions that whisked me away to the daisy heads peering through fields of long grass and the well-hidden smugglers’ path overgrown—all the beauty of the Cornish coastline. We are reminded of the tales of the boats hiding in the creek and how it may have inspired Du Maurier’s Frenchman’s Creek. There are other lovely literary references, too. And the Cornish people’s spirituality ‘that don’t require works or rituals but actions and belief’. Liz delivers not only unforgettable characters and a riveting plot, but the magic sprinkle of picturesque settings in stunning detail set my senses on high alert. I was drawn into the story and completely immersed to the point I forgot everything around me.
The study of mapmaking is a fascinating profession and this story explores it in great detail. Merry represents all the ‘map girls’ who used their geographical skills and training for vital war work. Many did this under university teaching positions and contributed to the Naval Intelligence Handbook, hydrographic and meteorological charts. Others helped train military personnel in geographical skills, secret land surveying and land modelling. Some were in overseas service and the armed forces. All important positions that contributed to winning the war. Liz gives us a close up view of what it would have been like for these women back in the 1940’s and how difficult it would have been—not in ability to do the job but the prejudices woman faced. Women did so much in the war but did not receive the recognition for their hard work and dedication. Merry is a good representative of all those women who finally get to tell their story. Through the uncovering of historical documents and novels such as Liz’s, women can now be given the credit they deserve for their important efforts. Women were expected to make sacrifices (not asked of men) to succeed in the Academic world. Marriage was unacceptable. They were told they could not have both.
But Merry is the sum of two strong parents with ‘one foot on the land and one on the sea.’ Her father said she was a strange mix of them, loving land as he did and the sea as her mother had. Merry learned a lot from her parents, particularly to never give up. The influence of family is evident in The Secret Shore including from a devoted sibling relationship. Merry and her brother, Ollie, are very close. It was he who inspired her to take up mapmaking. This bright and cheery airman has so much to offer but like others, becomes caught in the battle—doing his part in the war. Heartache will visit Merry again. And her moving statement will forever haunt my heart. ‘I already knew what it was like to love what death touched.’
Besides family and a mystery, Liz’s stories always have a fiery romance and this one is no exception. Merry meets Jake, a journalist American officer, working in secret operations. He is also a romantic and son of a fisherman. While Merry works along-side of him, a relationship blooms—even though she often denies it and fights hard against the attraction. But events will alter her and even break her heart. Has she been right all along to remain single, unattached and love-free? I loved these few lines where Merry explains the importance of maps to her—even in the domain of love.
Merry: ‘Maps tell stories…about who made them…It tells how it was used.’
Jake: ‘Why do you make maps?’
Merry: ‘To make sense of my world.’
Jake: ‘What story does our map tell?’
Merry: ‘I haven’t drawn it yet.’
Merry thinks to herself: ‘Any map of us would involve an ocean and that never made for happy endings.’
They were from opposite sides of the sea (England and United States) and with that came many reasons a transatlantic relationship could easily fail or at least have multiple obstacles to overcome. Who would be making the sacrifices? But love is a powerful motivator and source of hope to achieve the seemingly impossible. This couple certainly are given their fair share of high mountains to climb or wide oceans to cross to grasp the elusive, fragile wonders of love. The surrender of oneself to another for intimacy, passion and commitment comes with a high price, as they soon discover.
The novel begins on mapping and ends on it, too, with the bookends of love holding it all together. This is a powerful story that clings to my mind as images, phrases and descriptions keep surfacing. I will never forget The Secret Shore, its touching characters and moving messages. For it has inspired my imagination, melted my heart and educated my mind on mapping and the women who carried out this valuable task—including the academics. They made great sacrifices, gave their best and were still forced to choose between love or a profession. Five cheers to Liz for her exceptional delivery of such a fascinating story that showcases an important war activity championed by women who deserve to be remembered. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to Liz and her publisher for my review copy.
Merry is a complex character and this made her even more appealing. She is deemed initially too valuable and too beautiful to be an agent but her mapmaking skills and fluid command of French, German and Breton are in great need. Commander Fleming notes that with a change of clothing and hairstyle, she could truly pass as a French woman (as a valuable agent). But there’s a fly in the ointment. Although there are no real gaps in her skills, it is her physical attractiveness that he states lets her down. Fleming makes this very clear when she asks to be sent on a mission. He reluctantly affirms that ‘beauty is always noted and remembered.’ So, covers can be easily blown. As you would expect, Merry does not let this opinion slow her down. And when a personal crisis occurs? All stops are pulled out.
The secret service needs her skills. It is a twofold mission. And she embarks on a journey that will draw upon her skills like never before. Especially when it is discovered her widowed French mother is missing from her Cornwall home. There are whispers she might be a spy. But Merry cannot believe this of her artist-mother. This query puts her on a path of investigation. Fleming sends her to the coast to uncover the truth and assist some of his men in their missions who are transporting people and goods to and from Brittany and Cornwall. With her knowledge of the coastline, mapping skills and gift of languages she is a valuable asset to the team.
Through the investigation process, Merry takes us on a journey of memories through her childhood and home experiences spent with her brother and parents, while she explores her mother’s correspondence, favourite locations and belongings. Discoveries are made that lead to more questions. It is a breadcrumb trail that keeps us all (including Merry) wondering the whereabouts of Elise. Sifting through her mother’s belongings is tough: especially knowing she may never see her again. But Merry clings to hope and many happy memories when ‘everything was certain and love came in the form of a steaming bowl of soup.’ We learn a lot about Elise: where she is from, her use of floriography, her work in World War I as a nurse, how she met Merry’s father and how she saved his life. Merry consistently uses her mapping terms while describing her relationship with her mother. In one beautiful analogy she shares that her mother is her ‘legend’ on a map, the key to her life and she does not want to think about navigating this world without her.
The Secret Shore is brimming with exceptional descriptions that whisked me away to the daisy heads peering through fields of long grass and the well-hidden smugglers’ path overgrown—all the beauty of the Cornish coastline. We are reminded of the tales of the boats hiding in the creek and how it may have inspired Du Maurier’s Frenchman’s Creek. There are other lovely literary references, too. And the Cornish people’s spirituality ‘that don’t require works or rituals but actions and belief’. Liz delivers not only unforgettable characters and a riveting plot, but the magic sprinkle of picturesque settings in stunning detail set my senses on high alert. I was drawn into the story and completely immersed to the point I forgot everything around me.
The study of mapmaking is a fascinating profession and this story explores it in great detail. Merry represents all the ‘map girls’ who used their geographical skills and training for vital war work. Many did this under university teaching positions and contributed to the Naval Intelligence Handbook, hydrographic and meteorological charts. Others helped train military personnel in geographical skills, secret land surveying and land modelling. Some were in overseas service and the armed forces. All important positions that contributed to winning the war. Liz gives us a close up view of what it would have been like for these women back in the 1940’s and how difficult it would have been—not in ability to do the job but the prejudices woman faced. Women did so much in the war but did not receive the recognition for their hard work and dedication. Merry is a good representative of all those women who finally get to tell their story. Through the uncovering of historical documents and novels such as Liz’s, women can now be given the credit they deserve for their important efforts. Women were expected to make sacrifices (not asked of men) to succeed in the Academic world. Marriage was unacceptable. They were told they could not have both.
But Merry is the sum of two strong parents with ‘one foot on the land and one on the sea.’ Her father said she was a strange mix of them, loving land as he did and the sea as her mother had. Merry learned a lot from her parents, particularly to never give up. The influence of family is evident in The Secret Shore including from a devoted sibling relationship. Merry and her brother, Ollie, are very close. It was he who inspired her to take up mapmaking. This bright and cheery airman has so much to offer but like others, becomes caught in the battle—doing his part in the war. Heartache will visit Merry again. And her moving statement will forever haunt my heart. ‘I already knew what it was like to love what death touched.’
Besides family and a mystery, Liz’s stories always have a fiery romance and this one is no exception. Merry meets Jake, a journalist American officer, working in secret operations. He is also a romantic and son of a fisherman. While Merry works along-side of him, a relationship blooms—even though she often denies it and fights hard against the attraction. But events will alter her and even break her heart. Has she been right all along to remain single, unattached and love-free? I loved these few lines where Merry explains the importance of maps to her—even in the domain of love.
Merry: ‘Maps tell stories…about who made them…It tells how it was used.’
Jake: ‘Why do you make maps?’
Merry: ‘To make sense of my world.’
Jake: ‘What story does our map tell?’
Merry: ‘I haven’t drawn it yet.’
Merry thinks to herself: ‘Any map of us would involve an ocean and that never made for happy endings.’
They were from opposite sides of the sea (England and United States) and with that came many reasons a transatlantic relationship could easily fail or at least have multiple obstacles to overcome. Who would be making the sacrifices? But love is a powerful motivator and source of hope to achieve the seemingly impossible. This couple certainly are given their fair share of high mountains to climb or wide oceans to cross to grasp the elusive, fragile wonders of love. The surrender of oneself to another for intimacy, passion and commitment comes with a high price, as they soon discover.
The novel begins on mapping and ends on it, too, with the bookends of love holding it all together. This is a powerful story that clings to my mind as images, phrases and descriptions keep surfacing. I will never forget The Secret Shore, its touching characters and moving messages. For it has inspired my imagination, melted my heart and educated my mind on mapping and the women who carried out this valuable task—including the academics. They made great sacrifices, gave their best and were still forced to choose between love or a profession. Five cheers to Liz for her exceptional delivery of such a fascinating story that showcases an important war activity championed by women who deserve to be remembered. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to Liz and her publisher for my review copy.
July 17, 2023
I have read a few of Liz Fenwick’s previous novels from her debut ‘The Cornish House’ to the more recent ‘ The Returning Tide’ and ‘The River Between Us’, all of which were 5* reads. ‘The Secret Shore’ is no exception as it is a captivating read and cleverly based on real life people and events that took place during WWII.
The female protagonist Dr Meredith Tremayne has been obsessed with maps from a young age. It is no surprise therefore that she has chosen a career path, that finds her lecturing at Oxford University. When war breaks out she finds herself posted to London and then Devon working with specialist units. Her job is to update maps from aerial photographs and provide geographical information to the teams working in the field.
In my summing up I am repeating myself somewhat from an earlier review, but my opinion remains the same. Recommend highly this author to those that appreciate well written fiction, with settings and characters that come alive on the page and that will take you through a whole range of human emotions whilst reading.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
The female protagonist Dr Meredith Tremayne has been obsessed with maps from a young age. It is no surprise therefore that she has chosen a career path, that finds her lecturing at Oxford University. When war breaks out she finds herself posted to London and then Devon working with specialist units. Her job is to update maps from aerial photographs and provide geographical information to the teams working in the field.
In my summing up I am repeating myself somewhat from an earlier review, but my opinion remains the same. Recommend highly this author to those that appreciate well written fiction, with settings and characters that come alive on the page and that will take you through a whole range of human emotions whilst reading.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
December 21, 2022
Many thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.
This book was amazing , and as I have read all of Liz Fenwick's books now WWII, Dr Meredith Tremayne has been seconded from her post as a lecturer at Oxford University, to the war office to help with her knowledge to update maps for the military.
Meredith's French widowed mother suddenly goes missing from the family home in Cornwall, just as Meredith is about to be deployed there.
Meredith meets Jake Russell, an American who went to Canada to enable him to join the. war effort. An ex journalist, Meredith is attracted to him.... but is quite hard nosed about the relationship as she is determined to become an Oxford professor ...and marriage and a career in the 1940's don't work in the UK.
Meredith becomes part of the team, and updates maps and the military's knowledge of the Normandy coast.
Meredith's brother is convinced that their mother is dead after her bicycle and artists paint box are found .... and then a few weeks later loses his life when his plane is shot down .
The book keeps you wanting to read more, and several times moves the reader to tears.
This book was amazing , and as I have read all of Liz Fenwick's books now WWII, Dr Meredith Tremayne has been seconded from her post as a lecturer at Oxford University, to the war office to help with her knowledge to update maps for the military.
Meredith's French widowed mother suddenly goes missing from the family home in Cornwall, just as Meredith is about to be deployed there.
Meredith meets Jake Russell, an American who went to Canada to enable him to join the. war effort. An ex journalist, Meredith is attracted to him.... but is quite hard nosed about the relationship as she is determined to become an Oxford professor ...and marriage and a career in the 1940's don't work in the UK.
Meredith becomes part of the team, and updates maps and the military's knowledge of the Normandy coast.
Meredith's brother is convinced that their mother is dead after her bicycle and artists paint box are found .... and then a few weeks later loses his life when his plane is shot down .
The book keeps you wanting to read more, and several times moves the reader to tears.
May 11, 2023
Professor Meredith (Merry) Tremayne was a Cambridge geography professor and map expert until she was drafted by the Admiralty to help with the war effort. When her mother goes missing from their home in Cornwall her enigmatic boss Fleming sends her to Cornwall to look for her, but also to assist two teams of special forces training in the area and to report back to him on why they seem to be a perpetual loggerheads.
Whilst investigating her mother's mysterious disappearance, Merry becomes close to an American called Jake who has voluntarily taken Canadian citizenship in order to fight, leaving behind his former career as a journalist. However, Merry chose her career over love and marriage years ago and she doesn't see herself changing that decision, not matter how attracted she might find herself to the impossibly good-looking man.
Soon Merry realises that the Admiralty is planning an invasion of France, and her map-making skills will be essential to that effort, helping to pinpoint exactly how and when the offensive should begin, what sort of sand is on the beaches, what sort of footwear the soldiers should have, high tides, underwater rock formations etc.
I would have enjoyed this book far more if I hadn't found Merry to be an extremely irritating character. She was both devastatingly beautiful and incredibly talented, with an irritating habit of repeating herself over and over again about how we don't read maps, we read into them - and no, I still have no idea what that means. Also, Merry frequently tells herself and everyone around her that she will never fall in love or get married or have children which is frankly laughable when all she does is moon about Jake.
I feel that the author's detailed descriptions of the Cornish countryside and the many, many, many rowing trips Merry undertook were intended to immerse the reader in her life and embed them in the historical time. Unfortunately it was wasted on me and I felt the plot suffered because of all the extraneous details, I just wanted the prose to hurry up and do something. Also, the great input that Merry had into the invasion of France just seemed to get lost in the wittering about mice and the myriad sub-plots which didn't seem to go anywhere (eg Fleming's love life and Merry's landlady's love life, there's a much bigger one but it's a bit of a spoiler so I won't mention it). Now I get that in real life there are multiple dramas going on which may or may not be relevant to your career or love life but did they really add anything to the story (other than length)?
Overall, I would have preferred the novel to be shorter and tighter and not have all these side issues that went nowhere. I would also have liked to have learned more specifics about exactly what Merry did for all those months in Cornwall, as I didn't get a real feel for her contribution.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Whilst investigating her mother's mysterious disappearance, Merry becomes close to an American called Jake who has voluntarily taken Canadian citizenship in order to fight, leaving behind his former career as a journalist. However, Merry chose her career over love and marriage years ago and she doesn't see herself changing that decision, not matter how attracted she might find herself to the impossibly good-looking man.
Soon Merry realises that the Admiralty is planning an invasion of France, and her map-making skills will be essential to that effort, helping to pinpoint exactly how and when the offensive should begin, what sort of sand is on the beaches, what sort of footwear the soldiers should have, high tides, underwater rock formations etc.
I would have enjoyed this book far more if I hadn't found Merry to be an extremely irritating character. She was both devastatingly beautiful and incredibly talented, with an irritating habit of repeating herself over and over again about how we don't read maps, we read into them - and no, I still have no idea what that means. Also, Merry frequently tells herself and everyone around her that she will never fall in love or get married or have children which is frankly laughable when all she does is moon about Jake.
I feel that the author's detailed descriptions of the Cornish countryside and the many, many, many rowing trips Merry undertook were intended to immerse the reader in her life and embed them in the historical time. Unfortunately it was wasted on me and I felt the plot suffered because of all the extraneous details, I just wanted the prose to hurry up and do something. Also, the great input that Merry had into the invasion of France just seemed to get lost in the wittering about mice and the myriad sub-plots which didn't seem to go anywhere (eg Fleming's love life and Merry's landlady's love life, there's a much bigger one but it's a bit of a spoiler so I won't mention it). Now I get that in real life there are multiple dramas going on which may or may not be relevant to your career or love life but did they really add anything to the story (other than length)?
Overall, I would have preferred the novel to be shorter and tighter and not have all these side issues that went nowhere. I would also have liked to have learned more specifics about exactly what Merry did for all those months in Cornwall, as I didn't get a real feel for her contribution.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
July 16, 2023
A lovely read, a little slow at first and then it picks up. So interesting, things I never knew about maps in the Second World War. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
May 24, 2023
Discover the locations in the novel here
I love a map as you all know, but I have never read a novel about how they were so important during war time. The research the author has put into this is astounding as it reveals and explores a real area of importance and brings maps to a whole new level, even for me.
Meredith is our mapmaker of the novel and I thought she was a great character. There’s an added layer of mystery as she finds her French mother has gone missing and so as well as her work, she is drawn into a whole new way of looking for something she is desperate to find and make sense of. These are troubling times of course but the way Meredith, or Merry, deals with what life throws at her gave me some of my best memories of the book. She is living in war times and her work is vital yet she insists on her red lipstick and keeps her sassy attitude.
It struck me how the world was changing for women then and just how strong Merry had to be.
Then there’s the romance – ah when she meets an American officer, her world opens up even further and this was a lovely part of her journey.
However, let’s get back to the maps. What a fascinating way to show jus how important they were to the work of the time. Merry’s job of interpreting aerial photographs showed just how this work was vital to the war effort as the landscape changed frequently. It reminded me of the code breaking work at Bletchley and the importance and speed with which mapmakers had to give information from he intelligence they gathered. I loved finding out about the way she updated maps, interpreted the and used them to predict vital intelligence decisions. I would have loved a job like that! However, then it becomes clear soe people think she’s a spy given the fact her mum is French and she speaks several languages.
This book showed me a fascinating angle of war – about those working behind the scenes – the people fighting equally as hard as the soldiers just not on the front line. Those whose job it was to ensure communication lines were kept free and open are not often written about so intensely in novels and I for one, was very happy to read about them here.
I have enjoyed all of Liz Fenwick’s novels but this takes her to another level in my eyes. It’s heart-breaking, captivating and insightful and I think the mapmakers of the wars would be very proud indeed to have their story represented and their voices recorded in this way.
July 31, 2023
The Secret Shore is a story about the secret flotillas on the Helford River during WWII. Shining a light on this time in history, Liz Fenwick’s characters breathe life and emotion into an important part of the war that I didn’t know anything about. And at its heart is Merry.
Merry’s a fabulous character and carries the story oh so well. Making a choice to give up on love and marriage to forge her career in academia, her no-nonsense and pragmatic exterior hides a warm-hearted woman. Keeping in mind that this is a time when you couldn’t have both a career and a marriage, this is a huge sacrifice that she hasn’t made lightly. Prejudices are clear to see when she’s introduced to service personnel.
She has diverse skills (there’s much more to Merry than mapmaking) that surprise others. She has to prove herself but does it without even thinking about it – loved how perceptions were turned on their head and led to respect. I thought her actions show the true meaning of courage and bravery (can you tell I’m a little in love with her 🙂 ). She’s a positive role model for our contemporary world.
There’s also the mystery of her missing mother. Another strong woman who puts her beliefs ahead of her safety. In fact, every character is interesting and easy to relate to.
The romance is important too! I didn’t realise how invested I was in Merry and Jake as a couple until I cried.
Liz Fenwick’s writing always draws me straight into the story so I’m experiencing the era and feel like I’m there and this story is no exception. You can tell the settings are something this author has experienced. It’s the little details that make it authentic. And as always, the research is impeccable.
I didn’t want this story to end and could happily have carried on ‘living’ in this world. The Secret Shore is Liz Fenwick’s best yet.
https://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/book-...
Merry’s a fabulous character and carries the story oh so well. Making a choice to give up on love and marriage to forge her career in academia, her no-nonsense and pragmatic exterior hides a warm-hearted woman. Keeping in mind that this is a time when you couldn’t have both a career and a marriage, this is a huge sacrifice that she hasn’t made lightly. Prejudices are clear to see when she’s introduced to service personnel.
She has diverse skills (there’s much more to Merry than mapmaking) that surprise others. She has to prove herself but does it without even thinking about it – loved how perceptions were turned on their head and led to respect. I thought her actions show the true meaning of courage and bravery (can you tell I’m a little in love with her 🙂 ). She’s a positive role model for our contemporary world.
There’s also the mystery of her missing mother. Another strong woman who puts her beliefs ahead of her safety. In fact, every character is interesting and easy to relate to.
The romance is important too! I didn’t realise how invested I was in Merry and Jake as a couple until I cried.
Liz Fenwick’s writing always draws me straight into the story so I’m experiencing the era and feel like I’m there and this story is no exception. You can tell the settings are something this author has experienced. It’s the little details that make it authentic. And as always, the research is impeccable.
I didn’t want this story to end and could happily have carried on ‘living’ in this world. The Secret Shore is Liz Fenwick’s best yet.
https://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/book-...
May 10, 2023
Dr Meredith Tremayne what a strong main female character.
Well researched and well written, highlighting the vital work women were involved in WWII
Loved the descriptive style of the wartime era - Merry making sure she had her gas mask, bright red lipstick and fish paste sandwiches before going to work in Naval Intelligence Base in London and fixing her hat at a jaunty angle when leaving work.
She was seen as the Iron Maiden, or the secret weapon - an excellent geographer, who couldn’t afford to make a mistake, or people would die.
A map is only as good as the intelligence used in the making of it.
The war could be won or lost based on the quality of the maps.
She is called back home to Cornwall when her French mother disappears.
She is called upon to work with a unit running secret flotillas to Northern France.
The story develops romantically when Merry meets the handsome American officer, Jake, and using the Virginia Woolf quote ‘passions are uncharted’
Thank you Liz for such a fabulous read, immersing you in the Cornish wartime era, with relatable, engaging characters.
Can visualise as a film already.
Thanks for @lizfenwick @hqstories & @netgalley for the eARC
Well researched and well written, highlighting the vital work women were involved in WWII
Loved the descriptive style of the wartime era - Merry making sure she had her gas mask, bright red lipstick and fish paste sandwiches before going to work in Naval Intelligence Base in London and fixing her hat at a jaunty angle when leaving work.
She was seen as the Iron Maiden, or the secret weapon - an excellent geographer, who couldn’t afford to make a mistake, or people would die.
A map is only as good as the intelligence used in the making of it.
The war could be won or lost based on the quality of the maps.
She is called back home to Cornwall when her French mother disappears.
She is called upon to work with a unit running secret flotillas to Northern France.
The story develops romantically when Merry meets the handsome American officer, Jake, and using the Virginia Woolf quote ‘passions are uncharted’
Thank you Liz for such a fabulous read, immersing you in the Cornish wartime era, with relatable, engaging characters.
Can visualise as a film already.
Thanks for @lizfenwick @hqstories & @netgalley for the eARC
June 4, 2023
Merry Tremayne a former Oxford lecturer is now working for the war office - mapping the French coast in order to help allied operations. However she gets told to return to her home in Cornwall - partly because her mother is missing and rumours begin that the Frenchwoman was a spy. While merry tries to discover what happens to her mother she is also involved in observing a naval group who complete small secret operations but want to do more. Among these men is an American who intrigues Merry but with her determination to return to her career after the war she doesn't want romantic entanglements.
There are two elements to this novel the romance side is fine. Nice story, interesting characters etc. However if you're interested in the SOE or commander Fleming or some of the history of women's secret war work then this fictional version is really engaging. For readers of Fenwick's other novels there are some recurring characters as well which is always nice.
There are two elements to this novel the romance side is fine. Nice story, interesting characters etc. However if you're interested in the SOE or commander Fleming or some of the history of women's secret war work then this fictional version is really engaging. For readers of Fenwick's other novels there are some recurring characters as well which is always nice.
January 23, 2025
Such a wonderful story of the secret work done by civilians in support of the D day landings in Normanby in WWII, especially women, whose incredible efforts are so often overlooked by predominantly male historians.
The Cornwall setting took the story out of London, to a part of England armchair travellers have come to love.
I would be very happy to read more stories by Liz Fenwick.
The Cornwall setting took the story out of London, to a part of England armchair travellers have come to love.
I would be very happy to read more stories by Liz Fenwick.
October 29, 2024
A lovely read, this was recommended to me by an independent bookshop and not something I would normally choose. It took a little time to get into it but once I did, I couldn’t put it down!
January 18, 2024
A very enjoyable read.
September 8, 2024
Inizio un po' lento, fino ad arrivare ad un punto in cui non ci si staccherebbe più.
La personalità di Merry entra nel cuore.
La storia è basata su fatti realmente accaduti.
Da leggere.
La personalità di Merry entra nel cuore.
La storia è basata su fatti realmente accaduti.
Da leggere.
May 11, 2023
I read an ARC of The Secret Shore over the New Year and early January (I’m a slow reader), and it’s still with me! I still muse over Merry’s story, how artfully the writer crafted it and revealed it. It’s not often you read a book that covers the role of women during WW2, and this book did it elegantly and without any moralising. It was an absolute pleasure to read, and as the summer rolls in I’ve a feeling I’ll be reading it again.
Wonderful.
Thank you to the publishers for the ARC. My review is my own.
I received an early copy of The Secret Shore from the author but my review is my own.
Set in the Second World War, the novel tells the Merry’s story. Merry is a mapmaker, and she also teaches at Oxford University where she hopes to continue teaching after the war. Her map making skills take her to London where she works in secret making and reading maps and aerial surveillance. This kind of work, and the women who performed it, is rarely mentioned in history books, so that alone was interesting. When you tie it in with Merry’s missing mother who happens to be French and thought to have defected, and Merry’s unwillingness to find love because it will ruins her career chances, you have an absolutely unputdownable book.
The author paints a vivid picture of wartime in London and the countryside, for women in a number of roles and situations. It’s so well crafted that you’re swept away from the very start. I highly recommend this book- it’ll keep you enthralled and break your heart only to piece it back together again.
Wonderful.
Thank you to the publishers for the ARC. My review is my own.
I received an early copy of The Secret Shore from the author but my review is my own.
Set in the Second World War, the novel tells the Merry’s story. Merry is a mapmaker, and she also teaches at Oxford University where she hopes to continue teaching after the war. Her map making skills take her to London where she works in secret making and reading maps and aerial surveillance. This kind of work, and the women who performed it, is rarely mentioned in history books, so that alone was interesting. When you tie it in with Merry’s missing mother who happens to be French and thought to have defected, and Merry’s unwillingness to find love because it will ruins her career chances, you have an absolutely unputdownable book.
The author paints a vivid picture of wartime in London and the countryside, for women in a number of roles and situations. It’s so well crafted that you’re swept away from the very start. I highly recommend this book- it’ll keep you enthralled and break your heart only to piece it back together again.
April 22, 2024
Good escapist holiday read, especially if you are in Cornwall. A bit too much romance for my taste.
March 22, 2023
This was my first book by this author but it certainly won’t be my last. It contained everything I like in a novel- romance, a plot set in World War 2 and a strong female protagonist.
Meredith Tremayne is a cartographer with a Phd from Oxford and a wartime job working for Ian Fleming in the secret service using all her mapping skills.
When her widowed French mother goes missing from their Cornwall home, Fleming sends Merry down to the coast to investigate and also to look into a group of his men who are performing missions transporting goods and people to and from Brittany from Cornwall. Merry wants some field experience and this seems the perfect opportunity.
Merry meets Jake Russell, a handsome American Lieutenant, and despite her resolve to put her career first she gradually falls for him.
I found this a very interesting read, and although a slow burner at first it suddenly became a real page turner as I was desperate to find out what would happen between Merry and Jake.
I found it sad that an academic woman living in the 1940s would be forced to choose between her work as a lecturer and her personal life- if a woman married that was the end of her career and Merry was having to choose despite being every bit as intelligent as all the men around her.
I loved the descriptions of Cornwall, obviously a place the author is very well acquainted with and it really made me keen to visit again to see some of the scenery and places described so well..
This is a story which is both heartwarming and tragic as Merry and Jake are living through a terrible war where no one’s future is certain.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for my advance copy.
Meredith Tremayne is a cartographer with a Phd from Oxford and a wartime job working for Ian Fleming in the secret service using all her mapping skills.
When her widowed French mother goes missing from their Cornwall home, Fleming sends Merry down to the coast to investigate and also to look into a group of his men who are performing missions transporting goods and people to and from Brittany from Cornwall. Merry wants some field experience and this seems the perfect opportunity.
Merry meets Jake Russell, a handsome American Lieutenant, and despite her resolve to put her career first she gradually falls for him.
I found this a very interesting read, and although a slow burner at first it suddenly became a real page turner as I was desperate to find out what would happen between Merry and Jake.
I found it sad that an academic woman living in the 1940s would be forced to choose between her work as a lecturer and her personal life- if a woman married that was the end of her career and Merry was having to choose despite being every bit as intelligent as all the men around her.
I loved the descriptions of Cornwall, obviously a place the author is very well acquainted with and it really made me keen to visit again to see some of the scenery and places described so well..
This is a story which is both heartwarming and tragic as Merry and Jake are living through a terrible war where no one’s future is certain.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for my advance copy.
February 3, 2023
A mixed bag for me. Parts I enjoyed and parts I thought dragged on a bit. All in all the storyline is good and the work of the mappers is not something I was aware of. I found it interesting as my Grandfather was a member of the Admiralty during WW2 (Industrial Chemist) and ironically was also a Holdsworth!
I was also unaware that some US Citizens crossed into Canada to take their part in the war sooner.
The authors portrayal of Cornwall and the English Channel were very good and you could really see and feel like you were there.
I found Merry to be a bit wishy washy at times. I'd long sussed before her where her Mother was. I also wondered why the need for the importance of the author and book series at the start of the book as it seemed to fizzle out and not be mentioned again?
I am grateful to have been allowed to read this early copy of the book. Other readers should note the formatting does make the read somewhat harder with the publishers name etc. suddenly popping up in the middle of a paragraph. There also appeared to be some text missing in parts so you had to guess what the author was saying!
I was also unaware that some US Citizens crossed into Canada to take their part in the war sooner.
The authors portrayal of Cornwall and the English Channel were very good and you could really see and feel like you were there.
I found Merry to be a bit wishy washy at times. I'd long sussed before her where her Mother was. I also wondered why the need for the importance of the author and book series at the start of the book as it seemed to fizzle out and not be mentioned again?
I am grateful to have been allowed to read this early copy of the book. Other readers should note the formatting does make the read somewhat harder with the publishers name etc. suddenly popping up in the middle of a paragraph. There also appeared to be some text missing in parts so you had to guess what the author was saying!
December 31, 2022
This book centres around Dr Meredith Tremayne (Merry) who is an geographer and a beautiful young lady in a world of academics.
Meredith’s mother is French and she has great knowledge of the Normandy coast.this is invaluable to the National Intelligence Division and the flotillas which ran from Cornwall to Brittany.
As Meredith is about to be deployed to the war office her mother mysteriously disappears, she returns to her home in Cornwall to see if she can find her. Becoming part of the team in the National Intelligence Division means facing many challenges and she invests most of her life to it., always trying to find out if her mother is still alive
Merry finds herself drawn to an American officer and although she tries to resist the chemistry between them she finds it more difficult than she anticipated.
This book is beautifully written and very informative as well as entertaining. The glimpses into the part mapmakers played in WW11 is not something I had thought about before. Mystery and escapism all rolled up in a romance made this a book I really enjoyed.
Meredith’s mother is French and she has great knowledge of the Normandy coast.this is invaluable to the National Intelligence Division and the flotillas which ran from Cornwall to Brittany.
As Meredith is about to be deployed to the war office her mother mysteriously disappears, she returns to her home in Cornwall to see if she can find her. Becoming part of the team in the National Intelligence Division means facing many challenges and she invests most of her life to it., always trying to find out if her mother is still alive
Merry finds herself drawn to an American officer and although she tries to resist the chemistry between them she finds it more difficult than she anticipated.
This book is beautifully written and very informative as well as entertaining. The glimpses into the part mapmakers played in WW11 is not something I had thought about before. Mystery and escapism all rolled up in a romance made this a book I really enjoyed.
December 24, 2022
Liz Fenwick writes so beautifully, especially about Cornwall. There is so much in "The Secret Shore" which is interesting and then there's a wonderful romance as well. At the start of the book Meredith (Merry) is working for Commander Ian Fleming (future James Bond author) using her skills as a geographer and cartographer. This is one of those wartime roles for women that is kept quiet and not publicised, but was so important. Fleming sends her to Cornwall to work with a team supporting secret agents in France. The team are told that she is there to impart her skills and determine their real needs from a map, but that is not all.
With wonderful characters and a gripping story-line this is another great read from Liz Fenwick. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.
With wonderful characters and a gripping story-line this is another great read from Liz Fenwick. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.
January 7, 2023
Despite started being slow in the beginning, it was quite and engaging read. I loved the writing style it seemed to have made me live vicariously through the characters. But more than that, I really loved the heroine. Overall, it’s a 4.75 stars read for me
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October 29, 2023Författarens bästa bok! Gillar att det är en helt och hållet historisk roman. De tidigare växlar mellan nutid och dåtid och är också bra böcker. De är mer åt feelgood-hållet medan den här är en historisk roman om krig och kärlek. Fick mig att vilja åka till Cornwall igen!
May 15, 2023
1942. Dr Merry Tremayne has been drafted from Oxford to work at the War Office. Her skills make her one of the Navy's most skilled map makers, but as an attractive woman, it is a constant battle for her to convince her male colleagues that she is so much more than just a pretty face. However, Merry knows she can make a difference to the lives of the men fighting far away, and she is no shrinking violet. She is fortunate to be working for Commander Fleming, a man who knows only too well how brilliant and fierce she can be, and how to make the most of her skills.
When a family emergency calls Merry back to her beloved Cornwall, Fleming arranges for her to be seconded to a project undertaking secret operations between Helford and Brittany. His reasons are murky, but working on the ground helps Merry to understand exactly how she can make her maps more useful to the men putting their lives on the line. Her local knowledge, determination, and intelligence make her a valuable asset to the team too. Her new mission brings her in to contact with American Officer Jake Russell, a man like no one she has met before. Although she feels herself drawn to him, she is unwilling to swap the future she has fought so hard to carve out for herself for marriage and motherhood.
War is a dangerous time to fall in love, and Merry is sure that the defences she has built up around her will hold strong, but in these perilous times, there is also a lot to be said for making the most fleeting moments. Merry is determined that her head will rule her heart...
The Secret Shore is a gorgeous and sweeping novel that flips between wartime London, Cornwall, and Brittany, bringing in everything that marks Liz Fenwick out as the accomplished writer she is. Every setting in this book thrums with deliciously evocative vibes that bring time and place alive - especially when it comes to her beloved Cornwall.
Inspired by tales of the bravery of the small teams of men who risked their lives in night operations between the Cornish coast and France during World War II, keeping lines of communication alive, dropping agents in French territory, and bringing air crew back home to take to the skies once more, Fenwick spins her magic to craft a spellbinding novel.
Amid the storylines that shine a light on the secret operations that made so much difference to the course of the war, Fenwick waves the banner for the women who also toiled tirelessly, and sacrificed much, in support of the war effort - only for their contribution to never be acknowledged, or for the rewards of their hard work to be brutally taken from them. Merry accurately represents the face of many women whose efforts went unrewarded, but she also portrays the hard choices women who wanted to follow a career were forced to make at this time. In a double whammy of inequality for the women who made such an important contribution on the home front, Fenwick examines the effect of the bitter pill they were forced to swallow war was over too.
Everything weaves together seamlessly to make a story that carries you on a tide of emotion, especially when it comes to the love story of stolen moments of passion that lies at its heart. The whole novel resonates with the awareness that lives must be lived to the full in precious fleeting moments between the horrors of war, and that taking a chance on love holds its rewards even when happiness can be snatched away at any time. And Fenwick beautifully conveys how the forced intimacy of people thrown together forges bonds that last a lifetime. My heart both soared and bled for many of the characters that appear in these pages. It makes the situations that Fenwick describes so much more powerful by knowing that so many of their stories are based upon real people too.
I cannot tell you how much I loved this book and the characters within it. It enthralled me from start to glorious finish with Merry and Jakes' story; sent me down multiple rabbit holes about secret missions on both sides of the Channel, and the painstaking preparations for D-Day; and taught me about the importance of maps and the stories they can tell. Superb!
When a family emergency calls Merry back to her beloved Cornwall, Fleming arranges for her to be seconded to a project undertaking secret operations between Helford and Brittany. His reasons are murky, but working on the ground helps Merry to understand exactly how she can make her maps more useful to the men putting their lives on the line. Her local knowledge, determination, and intelligence make her a valuable asset to the team too. Her new mission brings her in to contact with American Officer Jake Russell, a man like no one she has met before. Although she feels herself drawn to him, she is unwilling to swap the future she has fought so hard to carve out for herself for marriage and motherhood.
War is a dangerous time to fall in love, and Merry is sure that the defences she has built up around her will hold strong, but in these perilous times, there is also a lot to be said for making the most fleeting moments. Merry is determined that her head will rule her heart...
The Secret Shore is a gorgeous and sweeping novel that flips between wartime London, Cornwall, and Brittany, bringing in everything that marks Liz Fenwick out as the accomplished writer she is. Every setting in this book thrums with deliciously evocative vibes that bring time and place alive - especially when it comes to her beloved Cornwall.
Inspired by tales of the bravery of the small teams of men who risked their lives in night operations between the Cornish coast and France during World War II, keeping lines of communication alive, dropping agents in French territory, and bringing air crew back home to take to the skies once more, Fenwick spins her magic to craft a spellbinding novel.
Amid the storylines that shine a light on the secret operations that made so much difference to the course of the war, Fenwick waves the banner for the women who also toiled tirelessly, and sacrificed much, in support of the war effort - only for their contribution to never be acknowledged, or for the rewards of their hard work to be brutally taken from them. Merry accurately represents the face of many women whose efforts went unrewarded, but she also portrays the hard choices women who wanted to follow a career were forced to make at this time. In a double whammy of inequality for the women who made such an important contribution on the home front, Fenwick examines the effect of the bitter pill they were forced to swallow war was over too.
Everything weaves together seamlessly to make a story that carries you on a tide of emotion, especially when it comes to the love story of stolen moments of passion that lies at its heart. The whole novel resonates with the awareness that lives must be lived to the full in precious fleeting moments between the horrors of war, and that taking a chance on love holds its rewards even when happiness can be snatched away at any time. And Fenwick beautifully conveys how the forced intimacy of people thrown together forges bonds that last a lifetime. My heart both soared and bled for many of the characters that appear in these pages. It makes the situations that Fenwick describes so much more powerful by knowing that so many of their stories are based upon real people too.
I cannot tell you how much I loved this book and the characters within it. It enthralled me from start to glorious finish with Merry and Jakes' story; sent me down multiple rabbit holes about secret missions on both sides of the Channel, and the painstaking preparations for D-Day; and taught me about the importance of maps and the stories they can tell. Superb!
May 9, 2024
It was only when I finished reading ‘The Secret Shore’ by Liz Fenwick that I read the Author’s Note at the back and discovered it is based on real people and events in the Second World War from 1942-1945. What a cracking wartime romance this is, shedding light on the rarely mentioned mapmakers who enabled the military to plan and execute operations.
Merry, Dr Meredith Tremayne, was a geography lecturer at Oxford University before becoming a mapmaker in the War Office in London. In the first chapter there is a rather nice ‘meet cute’ with an American officer, involving a dropped copy of ‘Gaudy Night’ by Dorothy L Sayers. This romantic suspense story parallels Merry’s experiences as a woman in a man’s world when even the course of wartime flirtation doesn’t run smoothly.
When Elise, Merry’s widowed French mother goes missing, she returns home to Cornwall, to Kestle, the family home on the Helford estuary. Her boss Commander Fleming has transferred her temporarily to a small seaborne unit operating out of a house called Ridifarne, on the opposite side of the Helford river to Kestle. She will train with them to learn what they require from maps when in enemy territory, experience she hopes to use when making maps later in the war. Still confident her artist mother has simply gone on an impromptu painting trip, Merry is disturbed to hear local gossip that Elise is a spy. Maps, as always for Merry, provide clues, answers and solace. ‘When things didn’t add up, I turned to maps. From the age of eight, I’d been mapping my life day by day since my father first taught me how to draw one.’ Like Sayers’ heroine Harriet Vane, Merry has a mystery to solve.
As a member of a university rowing crew, Merry fits easily into the male banter of the flotilla crew at Ridifarne who recover quickly from their mistaken expectation that Dr Tremayne would be male. Amongst the officers is an American, Jake Russell, the man Merry met over the dropped copy of ‘Gaudy Night.’ Once they understand Merry’s knowledge of Helford, competence in a boat, fluency in French, Breton and reading maps, she is accepted. Flirtation with Jake is a light relief from the horror of war and the plight of her mother.
Merry is a strong woman who knows what she wants from life, even if at the beginning of the novel she doesn’t truly understand what she will be giving up. When that becomes apparent to her, the war has darkened and she has seen danger and death. She’s a great character – both Merry and Jake are fictional – her no-nonsense exterior drives the plot from training to active duty, from Cornwall to London and back again. Although surrounded by secrecy it becomes clear to Merry that the crew is sailing to Brittany with supplies for the Resistance, returning with men. This new knowledge makes her flirtation with Jake seem irresponsible in wartime so, in what seems quite a ‘male’ decision, she decides to live in the day, have fun and not worry about the future. But all the time a shadow is cast by the mysterious disappearance of her mother.
The cast of characters is rather long and at times I would have appreciated a list of names, ditto a map of the Helford River. I enjoyed the description of Cornwall, its nature, people and traditions, and the Sayers references. I expect to spot more of these on a second reading.
Atmospheric, full of tension and period detail, I really enjoyed ‘The Secret Shore.’ It’s the first book I’ve read by this author, and will now explore the others.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...
Merry, Dr Meredith Tremayne, was a geography lecturer at Oxford University before becoming a mapmaker in the War Office in London. In the first chapter there is a rather nice ‘meet cute’ with an American officer, involving a dropped copy of ‘Gaudy Night’ by Dorothy L Sayers. This romantic suspense story parallels Merry’s experiences as a woman in a man’s world when even the course of wartime flirtation doesn’t run smoothly.
When Elise, Merry’s widowed French mother goes missing, she returns home to Cornwall, to Kestle, the family home on the Helford estuary. Her boss Commander Fleming has transferred her temporarily to a small seaborne unit operating out of a house called Ridifarne, on the opposite side of the Helford river to Kestle. She will train with them to learn what they require from maps when in enemy territory, experience she hopes to use when making maps later in the war. Still confident her artist mother has simply gone on an impromptu painting trip, Merry is disturbed to hear local gossip that Elise is a spy. Maps, as always for Merry, provide clues, answers and solace. ‘When things didn’t add up, I turned to maps. From the age of eight, I’d been mapping my life day by day since my father first taught me how to draw one.’ Like Sayers’ heroine Harriet Vane, Merry has a mystery to solve.
As a member of a university rowing crew, Merry fits easily into the male banter of the flotilla crew at Ridifarne who recover quickly from their mistaken expectation that Dr Tremayne would be male. Amongst the officers is an American, Jake Russell, the man Merry met over the dropped copy of ‘Gaudy Night.’ Once they understand Merry’s knowledge of Helford, competence in a boat, fluency in French, Breton and reading maps, she is accepted. Flirtation with Jake is a light relief from the horror of war and the plight of her mother.
Merry is a strong woman who knows what she wants from life, even if at the beginning of the novel she doesn’t truly understand what she will be giving up. When that becomes apparent to her, the war has darkened and she has seen danger and death. She’s a great character – both Merry and Jake are fictional – her no-nonsense exterior drives the plot from training to active duty, from Cornwall to London and back again. Although surrounded by secrecy it becomes clear to Merry that the crew is sailing to Brittany with supplies for the Resistance, returning with men. This new knowledge makes her flirtation with Jake seem irresponsible in wartime so, in what seems quite a ‘male’ decision, she decides to live in the day, have fun and not worry about the future. But all the time a shadow is cast by the mysterious disappearance of her mother.
The cast of characters is rather long and at times I would have appreciated a list of names, ditto a map of the Helford River. I enjoyed the description of Cornwall, its nature, people and traditions, and the Sayers references. I expect to spot more of these on a second reading.
Atmospheric, full of tension and period detail, I really enjoyed ‘The Secret Shore.’ It’s the first book I’ve read by this author, and will now explore the others.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...
July 2, 2024
This one was frustrating. All of the ingredients are there for a great story - interesting setting, lots of action, a wide array of characters...but this does not seem to be the right storyteller.
World War II romances (in written and filmed form, not commenting on actual humans' feelings for one another in the real world) have a strong tendency toward the schmaltzy and melodramatic under the best of circumstances. And no reader could possibly miss the hammered-home point of this one that is repeated every few minutes, that romantic love should be everyone's priority under any circumstances. I know there is an audience out there who loves books with that as the driving theme...but it's not a great fit for a war story, particularly one with such specific parameters as this one. Hint: If you run into your mother, who many believed was dead, in the middle of the night amidst a top secret rescue mission while running from the Nazis and she is fighting for the French Resistance, what would be your first question for her? If your answer is "how can I know if I'm really in love?", then this might be the story for you. You might also want to take a long look at the relationships in your life and consider family counseling once things have calmed down.
We hear throughout the book about Mary's lifelong love of maps - but aside from a few passing moments of using mapmaking in her personal life, we never actually see her at work. So the book's central conflict of her having to choose between the career she loves and pursuing a relationship with Jake rings false, because it's a completely one-sided presentation. And Jake himself is such a complete anachronism that I truly spent most of the book expecting the "big reveal" to be that he was a time traveler from the 21st century. I understand the difficulty in writing historical characters who do not offend modern sensibilities, but the language Jake uses when talking about gender roles, relationships, etc. does not make even the slightest attempt to sound like something that would be said by someone in 1943. The use of a narrator for Jake's dispatches who is the embodiment of modern vocal fry further pulls him out of the book's setting. There were absolutely men in the 1940's who advocated for women's professional roles to be expanded and acknowledged - but I'm pretty sure none of them would have apologized for using "belittling" language...since that wasn't a term in use in that context at the time.
You may now be wondering why I gave this book three stars. There are two reasons:
First, the narrator. Despite the inconsistencies in Mary's written voice, Laura Kirman embodies her so completely that you never for a moment doubt that you're hearing Mary's internal monologue. She absolutely nails the tone across a wide variety of scenes from romance to fear to exasperation and more. If you're a sucker for a good narrator, I'd recommend this one just for her.
Second - despite the many problems with the storytelling, I enjoyed Liz Fenwick's writing. While that may seem contradictory, I finished this with a desire to read a different book by her in the hope that her descriptions and dialogue could be applied in a more helpful way elsewhere.
So thank you to NetGalley for introducing me to an excellent narrator and intriguing author even if this one didn't completely pan out.
World War II romances (in written and filmed form, not commenting on actual humans' feelings for one another in the real world) have a strong tendency toward the schmaltzy and melodramatic under the best of circumstances. And no reader could possibly miss the hammered-home point of this one that is repeated every few minutes, that romantic love should be everyone's priority under any circumstances. I know there is an audience out there who loves books with that as the driving theme...but it's not a great fit for a war story, particularly one with such specific parameters as this one. Hint: If you run into your mother, who many believed was dead, in the middle of the night amidst a top secret rescue mission while running from the Nazis and she is fighting for the French Resistance, what would be your first question for her? If your answer is "how can I know if I'm really in love?", then this might be the story for you. You might also want to take a long look at the relationships in your life and consider family counseling once things have calmed down.
We hear throughout the book about Mary's lifelong love of maps - but aside from a few passing moments of using mapmaking in her personal life, we never actually see her at work. So the book's central conflict of her having to choose between the career she loves and pursuing a relationship with Jake rings false, because it's a completely one-sided presentation. And Jake himself is such a complete anachronism that I truly spent most of the book expecting the "big reveal" to be that he was a time traveler from the 21st century. I understand the difficulty in writing historical characters who do not offend modern sensibilities, but the language Jake uses when talking about gender roles, relationships, etc. does not make even the slightest attempt to sound like something that would be said by someone in 1943. The use of a narrator for Jake's dispatches who is the embodiment of modern vocal fry further pulls him out of the book's setting. There were absolutely men in the 1940's who advocated for women's professional roles to be expanded and acknowledged - but I'm pretty sure none of them would have apologized for using "belittling" language...since that wasn't a term in use in that context at the time.
You may now be wondering why I gave this book three stars. There are two reasons:
First, the narrator. Despite the inconsistencies in Mary's written voice, Laura Kirman embodies her so completely that you never for a moment doubt that you're hearing Mary's internal monologue. She absolutely nails the tone across a wide variety of scenes from romance to fear to exasperation and more. If you're a sucker for a good narrator, I'd recommend this one just for her.
Second - despite the many problems with the storytelling, I enjoyed Liz Fenwick's writing. While that may seem contradictory, I finished this with a desire to read a different book by her in the hope that her descriptions and dialogue could be applied in a more helpful way elsewhere.
So thank you to NetGalley for introducing me to an excellent narrator and intriguing author even if this one didn't completely pan out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2023
The Secret Shore made me aware of an aspect of World War Two I hadn’t known about before before. As a cartographer, a mapmaker, Merry is attuned to every little detail of what might be important in her work and how the smallest of mistakes can have huge consequences for the military personnel using her maps. That attention to detail is reflected in Liz Fenwick’s writing. This book is full of historical detail, impeccably researched and incorporated naturally in the flow of the story. It was so interesting to read about the challenges faced by Merry, and other women like her, in being accepted as just as intelligent and capable of carrying out important war work as men were. The role of women was changing but some aspects were so entrenched that women often had to choose between a career and love.
As well as following Merry’s war work, there is a mystery in the book about what happened to her mother who disappeared. Mapping, facts and details are important to Merry and she takes this approach when to trying to find out what happened to her mother. I liked that through Merry’s recollections we got glimpses of what her mother was like.
As I’ve come to expect, Liz Fenwick’s descriptions of the physical landscape and nature are just wonderful. She brings the natural world vividly to life on the page whether that’s describing the woodlands, the riverside or the animals making their homes there. This gave a sense of life going on as usual for nature, unaffected by the war, a sign that life would one day return to normal. Although, of course, for many people who suffered loss or injury life would never be entirely normal again and this aspect of war is also covered rather poignantly in the novel.
I’ve been immersed in this novel for the past few days. I was totally caught up in the story of Merry’s life and completely lost myself in the pages of the book. The Secret Shore is an epic story of danger, courage and love in times of uncertainty. I adored it!
As well as following Merry’s war work, there is a mystery in the book about what happened to her mother who disappeared. Mapping, facts and details are important to Merry and she takes this approach when to trying to find out what happened to her mother. I liked that through Merry’s recollections we got glimpses of what her mother was like.
As I’ve come to expect, Liz Fenwick’s descriptions of the physical landscape and nature are just wonderful. She brings the natural world vividly to life on the page whether that’s describing the woodlands, the riverside or the animals making their homes there. This gave a sense of life going on as usual for nature, unaffected by the war, a sign that life would one day return to normal. Although, of course, for many people who suffered loss or injury life would never be entirely normal again and this aspect of war is also covered rather poignantly in the novel.
I’ve been immersed in this novel for the past few days. I was totally caught up in the story of Merry’s life and completely lost myself in the pages of the book. The Secret Shore is an epic story of danger, courage and love in times of uncertainty. I adored it!
May 9, 2023
The Secret Shore by Liz Fenwick is an absolutely marvellous historical tale. It will educate you as you read as the novel is grounded in fact.
Liz Fenwick has woven an epic tale with true life figures from World War II. Readers will instantly recognize the name Ian Flemming but many other characters were real too.
The tale is spun around Merry, a skilled cartographer who is remarkable at her craft. Special operatives relied on her eye for detail to make sorties into occupied France.
We see how difficult life was for women, having to choose between love or career. Women had opportunities in war to excel but were returned to the lesser positions in peacetime.
Life was difficult for homosexuals. We follow a couple of ladies who have to behave very differently outside their home. They have to deny who they really are.
The women in the novel are incredibly brave and very clever. They have huge hearts that help others in need.
Special operations were made by small groups. Here, bonds were made for life. When bad news must be given, it is best that it comes from a friend, with love.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and likable. The reader cares about their plights.
Liz Fenwick has written comprehensive descriptions of the landscape. The Cornish coast comes alive for the reader.
The novel has the theme of home. Home is not just bricks and mortar. Home is where your heart is and it is where people love you.
The Secret Shore was an incredible read. It awakened all my senses. It was a celebration of the women in war who were so very brave, whether on the home front or working. I am sad that it is now ended.
I received a free copy via the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
Liz Fenwick has woven an epic tale with true life figures from World War II. Readers will instantly recognize the name Ian Flemming but many other characters were real too.
The tale is spun around Merry, a skilled cartographer who is remarkable at her craft. Special operatives relied on her eye for detail to make sorties into occupied France.
We see how difficult life was for women, having to choose between love or career. Women had opportunities in war to excel but were returned to the lesser positions in peacetime.
Life was difficult for homosexuals. We follow a couple of ladies who have to behave very differently outside their home. They have to deny who they really are.
The women in the novel are incredibly brave and very clever. They have huge hearts that help others in need.
Special operations were made by small groups. Here, bonds were made for life. When bad news must be given, it is best that it comes from a friend, with love.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and likable. The reader cares about their plights.
Liz Fenwick has written comprehensive descriptions of the landscape. The Cornish coast comes alive for the reader.
The novel has the theme of home. Home is not just bricks and mortar. Home is where your heart is and it is where people love you.
The Secret Shore was an incredible read. It awakened all my senses. It was a celebration of the women in war who were so very brave, whether on the home front or working. I am sad that it is now ended.
I received a free copy via the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
May 18, 2023
4.6 out of 5 stars
The Secret Shore by Liz Fenwick is an absorbing and charming novel of two lovers and their journey as they navigate World War Two.
I found Merry’s job as a mapmaker fascinating. I’ve never read a book with a mapmaker as a protagonist, and I thought it added an entire extra element to the already brilliant story. I love how Merry was presented as a strong female character, but also had flaws which made her relatable even as a historic character. Her views on the world were sometimes a little conflicting with her personality, but most of the time I admired her as a character.
There were several little subplots in addition, but it wasn’t too complex, and it was easy to keep up with (even if I sometimes got the soldiers names mixed up). I thought that the disappearance of Merry’s mother would be a major part of the plot, and whilst it did have some impact on the plot it was more of a side story and wasn’t the main focus as I thought it would be starting it.
Set in Cornwall, this book also offers great escapism whilst also having a compelling plot. A winning combo really.
Whilst it’s just over 450 pages, I actually felt it went quite quickly. It wasn’t too heavy to read, in fact it was such a joy to read I almost didn’t want it to end. It started off a little slow, but I soon became gripped and flew through it.
The only thing I wasn’t so keen on was that the rowing trips got a little repetitive. Perhaps there was just a couple too many.
Overall, I got completely whisked away in this heart-warming and charming novel.
Thank you, Sarah Lundy (HQ Stories), for my copy.
The Secret Shore by Liz Fenwick is an absorbing and charming novel of two lovers and their journey as they navigate World War Two.
I found Merry’s job as a mapmaker fascinating. I’ve never read a book with a mapmaker as a protagonist, and I thought it added an entire extra element to the already brilliant story. I love how Merry was presented as a strong female character, but also had flaws which made her relatable even as a historic character. Her views on the world were sometimes a little conflicting with her personality, but most of the time I admired her as a character.
There were several little subplots in addition, but it wasn’t too complex, and it was easy to keep up with (even if I sometimes got the soldiers names mixed up). I thought that the disappearance of Merry’s mother would be a major part of the plot, and whilst it did have some impact on the plot it was more of a side story and wasn’t the main focus as I thought it would be starting it.
Set in Cornwall, this book also offers great escapism whilst also having a compelling plot. A winning combo really.
Whilst it’s just over 450 pages, I actually felt it went quite quickly. It wasn’t too heavy to read, in fact it was such a joy to read I almost didn’t want it to end. It started off a little slow, but I soon became gripped and flew through it.
The only thing I wasn’t so keen on was that the rowing trips got a little repetitive. Perhaps there was just a couple too many.
Overall, I got completely whisked away in this heart-warming and charming novel.
Thank you, Sarah Lundy (HQ Stories), for my copy.
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