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Emma Keene’s Diary
EMMA KEENE’S DIARY
The island of Jersey, 1960:
After the death of her uncle, movie star Margo Keene returns to the island of Jersey to sell her family’s cottage. While an eight-year-old child during WWII, she had been evacuated to London with most of the island’s children just before the Germans invaded. As the war raged and she was raised by adoptive parents, her mother and father were both killed during the enemy occupation. Her mother Emma was a traitor who betrayed her husband and many others—killed by someone she wronged while colluding with the enemy. Her father Percy was a war hero who served in the island’s government while clandestinely fighting the Nazis—but was eventually caught and executed. It was an embarrassing history for a movie star, kept secret from her adoring fans by her employer, London Studios. But it was a story she had been told repeatedly. She had never doubted it. She had no reason to.
Until she finds her mother’s diary…
The island of Jersey, 1960:
After the death of her uncle, movie star Margo Keene returns to the island of Jersey to sell her family’s cottage. While an eight-year-old child during WWII, she had been evacuated to London with most of the island’s children just before the Germans invaded. As the war raged and she was raised by adoptive parents, her mother and father were both killed during the enemy occupation. Her mother Emma was a traitor who betrayed her husband and many others—killed by someone she wronged while colluding with the enemy. Her father Percy was a war hero who served in the island’s government while clandestinely fighting the Nazis—but was eventually caught and executed. It was an embarrassing history for a movie star, kept secret from her adoring fans by her employer, London Studios. But it was a story she had been told repeatedly. She had never doubted it. She had no reason to.
Until she finds her mother’s diary…
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2024
12 people are currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
John Anthony Miller
19 books344 followersJohn Anthony Miller writes all things historical—thrillers, mysteries, and romance. He sets his novels in exotic locations spanning all eras of space and time, with complex characters forced to face inner conflicts—fighting demons both real and imagined. Each of his novels is unique: a Medieval epic, five historical mysteries, two Cold-War thrillers, two 1970’s cozy mysteries, a Revolutionary War spy novel, seven WWII thrillers, and The Castle on the Cliff. He lives in southern New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 29, 2024
What if your entire life was based on a lie? Even the truth has many faces and film star Margo Keene is about to learn that the hard way.
All her life she has hated the mother she adored as a child for being a traitor during World War II and going against her, war hero husband and helping the Germans.
Margo has hid her sordid past from her fans but when she goes to Jersey to sell her parents house after her uncle’s death she stumbles on her mother's diary about the Nazi occupation and she learns that the truth might not be quite what she thought it was.
This is a beautiful book expertly crafted by John Anthony Miller with painstaking attention to detail whether it's the smallest of things like rationing and confiscating of radios, worn out bicycle tires or the bigger things like ill treatment of prisoners of war and prosecution of people of Jewish descent.
The author puts himself in Emma's shoes ( Margo's mother) and expresses with great finesse her emotions ranging from pain at being separated from her child to her momentary joy at being in her lover's arms . He ably portrays a woman who is tender hearted at the same time brave and resilient ready to take great risks to protect the ones she cares about, even if she barely knows them.
As the book moves between the past and the present we see the similarities between mother and daughter as Margo struggles to understand that what she believed to be the truth all her life might have been flawed after all.
In the end will Margo also find herself as she understands her mother and unveil the truth that remained hidden? What will she do about it?
A truly well written book by Author John Miller that's captivating, unputdownable, and will keep you guessing as to how it all will end ! He won't disappoint you.
All her life she has hated the mother she adored as a child for being a traitor during World War II and going against her, war hero husband and helping the Germans.
Margo has hid her sordid past from her fans but when she goes to Jersey to sell her parents house after her uncle’s death she stumbles on her mother's diary about the Nazi occupation and she learns that the truth might not be quite what she thought it was.
This is a beautiful book expertly crafted by John Anthony Miller with painstaking attention to detail whether it's the smallest of things like rationing and confiscating of radios, worn out bicycle tires or the bigger things like ill treatment of prisoners of war and prosecution of people of Jewish descent.
The author puts himself in Emma's shoes ( Margo's mother) and expresses with great finesse her emotions ranging from pain at being separated from her child to her momentary joy at being in her lover's arms . He ably portrays a woman who is tender hearted at the same time brave and resilient ready to take great risks to protect the ones she cares about, even if she barely knows them.
As the book moves between the past and the present we see the similarities between mother and daughter as Margo struggles to understand that what she believed to be the truth all her life might have been flawed after all.
In the end will Margo also find herself as she understands her mother and unveil the truth that remained hidden? What will she do about it?
A truly well written book by Author John Miller that's captivating, unputdownable, and will keep you guessing as to how it all will end ! He won't disappoint you.
January 21, 2025
I have read all of Mr Miller's novels set in World War 2 and enjoyed everyone and so when I saw this one was set in Jersey, in the Channel Islands, I decided to give it a try. I've visited Jersey and also read about the Island's experiences during the period the novel is set in and it soon became clear that Mr Miller had done his research well.
The novel tells the story of Margo Keene, a famous movie star and the daughter of Emma Keene. Margo has always been led to believe that her mother was a traitor, who betrayed her father to the Nazis, who executed him for hiding a slave labourer. Margo had been evacuated to England with the Island's other children before the Germans had invaded and with her mother dead too, apparently murdered by an unknown killer, she was adopted by the childless couple who had fostered her in England.
Margo had never returned to Jersey, her family home being looked after by her Uncle, her father's brother. Her uncle has now died however and so Margo has to return to the island to settle her family affairs. Margo is not enjoying the task, but whilst sorting through things in the house, she comes across a diary her mother had written and with great trepidation, she eventually decides to read it. As she does she learns that what she has always believed isn't the true story and her mother's account of events, entirely different.
I won't say any more about the storyline as I don't want to spoil it for readers, but it is a well written, unputdownable book that will keep you guessing to the very last page. The dual timelines work very well and I can highly recommend it.
The novel tells the story of Margo Keene, a famous movie star and the daughter of Emma Keene. Margo has always been led to believe that her mother was a traitor, who betrayed her father to the Nazis, who executed him for hiding a slave labourer. Margo had been evacuated to England with the Island's other children before the Germans had invaded and with her mother dead too, apparently murdered by an unknown killer, she was adopted by the childless couple who had fostered her in England.
Margo had never returned to Jersey, her family home being looked after by her Uncle, her father's brother. Her uncle has now died however and so Margo has to return to the island to settle her family affairs. Margo is not enjoying the task, but whilst sorting through things in the house, she comes across a diary her mother had written and with great trepidation, she eventually decides to read it. As she does she learns that what she has always believed isn't the true story and her mother's account of events, entirely different.
I won't say any more about the storyline as I don't want to spoil it for readers, but it is a well written, unputdownable book that will keep you guessing to the very last page. The dual timelines work very well and I can highly recommend it.
January 7, 2025
If you are a World War II historical fiction fan, put this one on your TBR list. I loved the Jersey setting and learned so much about its Nazi Occupation. The story grabbed me from the beginning and I read it in a few hours, unwilling to put it down. As Margot reads her mother's wartime diary, she uncovers secrets, uncomfortable truths, and hidden heroes. This book is excellent and I highly recommend it!
October 31, 2024
Tears Tissues & Teasers
One of those stories that you follow with great interest and become emotionally invested in the characters. You hope for a positive outcome for all involved, but unfortunately, not everyone's wishes may be fulfilled.
One of those stories that you follow with great interest and become emotionally invested in the characters. You hope for a positive outcome for all involved, but unfortunately, not everyone's wishes may be fulfilled.
April 25, 2025
What a great story. Thoroughly captivating and enjoyable to read. If you have read the Guernsay Potato Literacy Society you will enjoy this. Good characters and a real page turner. Enjoy
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews