The Enemy’s Wife

by Deborah Swift

'I was absolutely gripped… I did not want to put it down. When I did, I felt it calling me to get back to it… I can't highly recommend this book enough' NetGalley review, ★★★★★

'A fast-paced, beautifully written, and moving story. Refreshing to read a book set in a different theatre of war. Wartime Shanghai jumped off the page' CLARE FLYNN

1941. Polish émigré Zofia is stranded in Japanese-occupied Shanghai, far from home and everything she once knew. Surrounded by a country at war, she finds unexpected solace in Hilly, a spirited young refugee fleeing Nazi-occupied Austria. Their bond deepens as violence closes in and survival grows more uncertain by the day.

Then news comes that Zofia’s beloved husband, Haru, has been conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army. As his absence stretches on, Zofia and Hilly take refuge with her American employer while the brutal realities of war begin to reshape not only her world, but her heart.

Can she still love someone who has become the enemy?

A poignant story of the impossible choices we make in the shadow of war, for fans of Daisy Wood and Marius Gabriel.

Readers love The Enemy's Wife: 'A gorgeous novel that will truly pull at your heartstrings' CARLY SCHABOWSKI

'One of this year’s most powerful and affecting reads' SHEFFIELD STAR

'I loved The Enemy’s Wife – a gripping, fast-paced and evocative story about the Japanese occupation of Shanghai during WW2 – and really rooted for the brave and selfless central character, Zofia. Highly recommended' ANN BENNETT

'Such an emotional and moving read, grounded in immaculate research that never overshadows the heart of the story' SUZANNE FORTIN

'A side of WW2 that isn't often written about. Great characters, high stakes and a satisfying love story' KATHLEEN MCGURL

'A unique insight into the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love' CANDIS

'Deborah Swift delivers another beautifully written World War II novel that is impossible to put down. The Enemy's Wife is a poignant and powerful story' LANA KORTCHIK

'The Enemy’s Wife is an absorbing, compassionate novel with emotional depth and ethical complexity. Highly recommended' TONY RICHES

'I seldom give books of this type five stars, but this one fully deserves it for bringing something new and refreshing to the genre' ★★★★★

'What a fantastic read this was' ★★★★★

'Another stunning achievement in historical fiction from Deborah Swift' ★★★★★

'Grips you from the beginning and does not let go until the end' ★★★★★

Audible Audio

Published April 9, 2026

About the author

I am a novelist living in the Lake District in England. I write historical fiction but read widely - contemporary and classic fiction. I choose my books carefully, so I don't read many duds. If I do, they are not reviewed here, as a gesture of respect to other writers.

I blog at my website
www.deborahswift.com

Reviews

[Linnea Tanner]

The Enemy’s Wife by Deborah Swift is the continuing story about Zofia— a Jewish woman newly married to a conscripted Japanese husband, Haru. In the previous book (Train to Freedom) of the series, she barely escaped the German invasion of Lithuania with the aid of a Japanese diplomat and Haru. The first book ends with the promise of “Time for love to grow. Time for kindness, that most underrated of virtues.” However, the dream is shattered when Zofia seeks refuge at Shanghai’s “Restricted Sector for Stateless Refugees,” where she is stranded from her husband. The line between good vs. evil and enemy vs. friend blurs when war breaks out between Japan and the USA. Zofia and a teen Austrian Jewish refugee, Hillary, shelter with her American employer, Theo, when violence escalates in the city. Zofia questions her loyalty to Haru as her love for Theo grows.

The Japanese brutally occupy the city and confiscate Theo’s business, promising to repatriate him to the USA. However, he is imprisoned in a war camp reputed for its unsanitary conditions and torture. Meanwhile, Haru risks losing his soul with horrific acts he must do as a Japanese commander and escapes his reality with heroin addiction. Zofia risks everything to help Theo escape. Plans for escape go array and she can no longer depend on her husband for help. The unexpected climax will leave your heart in your throat.

Author Deborah Swift has crafted an action-packed but poignant WWII suspense/thriller set in Japanese-occupied China. Although The Enemy’s Wife can be read as a standalone, the powerful emotional impact of this book is heightened after reading the first book. Similar to the first book, heart-wrenching twists leave you on the edge of your seat when well-laid plans unravel.

The stakes are even higher for Zofia, facing the conundrum that her husband might be as inhumane as the Japanese conquerors whose moral code is undying devotion to their nation. Zofia comes across as a fearless young woman who will risk everything for those she loves. Theo is a devoted husband and father but must wrestle with his conscious about his growing attraction for Zofia. The story realistically depicts the horror of war, but the theme of unconditional love and sacrifice fulfills the hope for love and kindness promised in the first book.

The Enemy’s Wife is a riveting but poignant WWII historical suspense/ thriller about ordinary people finding the courage and determination to overcome what seems like insurmountable devastation and discovering the humanity in each of us. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year that continues to resonate with me.