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The Seventh Room
WW2 fiction, 2024
A heartbreaking and healing story of love, trust, honour, treason, resistance, and a deadly, killing anger, set in the simmering pressure cooker that was Colditz Castle in World War 2.
When Germany voted a tyrant into power, resistance came too late
The SOE - The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare - is recruiting for spies and saboteurs to set Europe ablaze. Haunted by dreams of the Burning Times, Tomasin West signs up. She’s a midwife and a nurse; a healer, but inside her a dangerous anger is clamoring. The Nazis have launched a latter-day witch-hunt across Europe, and now she’s a saboteur, so something is going to burn.
The Welsh-born son of a dead German war hero, Peter Brandt is an officer in the German army, just like his father before him – except that Peter is spying for Michael Hendry, a maverick British Intelligence chief. Billeted in the infamous allied officers’ POW camp at Colditz Castle, Peter becomes involved with the ill-fated resistance, and finds himself captivated by their lost Germany. The complications pile up when he learns that the new prisoner, an odd little woman, is another of Hendry’s agents, thrown into the castle as bait in a trap for the officers.
As the war boils around them, the stone-cold castle turns into a crucible. Prejudice and hate are burned away or tempered, and new forms emerge; enemy, friend, traitor… witch and witch-finder. But who gets to define ‘traitor’, and how do you define a witch? When those Tommie has come to love are threatened, she must define herself; is she really a healer, or… something else entirely?
Emotional, gripping, heartbreaking and healing, The Seventh Room will be loved by fans of The Nightingale, Beneath a Scarlet Sky, Code Name Sapphire, The Rose Code and All the Light We Cannot See.
A heartbreaking and healing story of love, trust, honour, treason, resistance, and a deadly, killing anger, set in the simmering pressure cooker that was Colditz Castle in World War 2.
When Germany voted a tyrant into power, resistance came too late
The SOE - The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare - is recruiting for spies and saboteurs to set Europe ablaze. Haunted by dreams of the Burning Times, Tomasin West signs up. She’s a midwife and a nurse; a healer, but inside her a dangerous anger is clamoring. The Nazis have launched a latter-day witch-hunt across Europe, and now she’s a saboteur, so something is going to burn.
The Welsh-born son of a dead German war hero, Peter Brandt is an officer in the German army, just like his father before him – except that Peter is spying for Michael Hendry, a maverick British Intelligence chief. Billeted in the infamous allied officers’ POW camp at Colditz Castle, Peter becomes involved with the ill-fated resistance, and finds himself captivated by their lost Germany. The complications pile up when he learns that the new prisoner, an odd little woman, is another of Hendry’s agents, thrown into the castle as bait in a trap for the officers.
As the war boils around them, the stone-cold castle turns into a crucible. Prejudice and hate are burned away or tempered, and new forms emerge; enemy, friend, traitor… witch and witch-finder. But who gets to define ‘traitor’, and how do you define a witch? When those Tommie has come to love are threatened, she must define herself; is she really a healer, or… something else entirely?
Emotional, gripping, heartbreaking and healing, The Seventh Room will be loved by fans of The Nightingale, Beneath a Scarlet Sky, Code Name Sapphire, The Rose Code and All the Light We Cannot See.
420 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2025
1 person is currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Belluomo
3 books6 followersI have been an archivist, a nurse, an au-pair, an editor and a teacher. As a child – the daughter of an RAF officer, and uprooted every few years – the place I called home and hearth was my grandparents’ village in South Wales, which inspired the lane, the hill and the churchyard featured in The Seventh Room. Night-swimming from a row-boat off Corfu, and standing in the magical realism of the Scottish mountain winds are also biographical. I earned a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Drama at Loughborough University. After living in New York City for many years, I now live on the border of Devon and Somerset in the UK with my husband and cats.
So, that’s the author bio; my eggshell, my snail shell. If the shell were to crack, I would be revealed as an undisciplined beachcomber on the strand between life and literature, foraging in the tidal wealth of human ideas and experience, and picking treasures from the flotsam; an odd little woman. I see stories – worlds of stories – in the crease of a stranger’s eyelid, but crafting something substantial which can give breath to those fleeting flashes of story; something that resonates with the fullness of human ideas and experience … well, that can be the work of a lifetime.
So, that’s the author bio; my eggshell, my snail shell. If the shell were to crack, I would be revealed as an undisciplined beachcomber on the strand between life and literature, foraging in the tidal wealth of human ideas and experience, and picking treasures from the flotsam; an odd little woman. I see stories – worlds of stories – in the crease of a stranger’s eyelid, but crafting something substantial which can give breath to those fleeting flashes of story; something that resonates with the fullness of human ideas and experience … well, that can be the work of a lifetime.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 26, 2024
In the 1930s, as the inevitability of war slowly dawns, Captain Michael Hendry, DSM, recruits two very different young people to work undercover. Tomasin West, a midwife with a thing about witches, is sent to be a courier in occupied Paris, supporting the French Resistance. But Peter Brandt, half-Welsh and half-German, has already stepped into the higher echelons of German society on the shoulders of his dead German war hero father. When war comes he is a well-placed officer.
The two wind up in Colditz. Tomasin is put there by an SS officer, in the hope that she will be raped by the officers detained there, causing dissension and an excuse to execute them. Instead, she turns herself into 'Tommie' dressing as a man and makes herself as invisible as possible. Peter is based in the castle for the work he is doing which involves Russians. We follow Tommie's struggles to navigate life in an all-male environment, and Peter being drawn into the German anti-Hitler resistance movement, with all the risks that entails.
This a deep and involved book with many characters who stand out from the pages as well-crafted individuals. It has a smorgasbord of everything a good book should have, intrigue, adventure, tension, philosophy, romance, friendship... I enjoyed the read and was disappointed when it stopped. And it did stop rather than end as this is the first book in a series of the kind that tells a single story across several volumes. Above all, it is wonderfully written and stands out for the quality of its prose.
I am no expert on the period, it feels convincing to its era in many ways. My only gripe is it does make a very obvious nod to modern issues and sensibilities. For example, seeing the line 'Hitler promises to make Germany great again' (though for all I know he said that) was a bit jarring. But then every book is the product of its era no matter if it delves into the past or the future for creative inspiration.
All in all, this is an excellent book and recommended reading.
The two wind up in Colditz. Tomasin is put there by an SS officer, in the hope that she will be raped by the officers detained there, causing dissension and an excuse to execute them. Instead, she turns herself into 'Tommie' dressing as a man and makes herself as invisible as possible. Peter is based in the castle for the work he is doing which involves Russians. We follow Tommie's struggles to navigate life in an all-male environment, and Peter being drawn into the German anti-Hitler resistance movement, with all the risks that entails.
This a deep and involved book with many characters who stand out from the pages as well-crafted individuals. It has a smorgasbord of everything a good book should have, intrigue, adventure, tension, philosophy, romance, friendship... I enjoyed the read and was disappointed when it stopped. And it did stop rather than end as this is the first book in a series of the kind that tells a single story across several volumes. Above all, it is wonderfully written and stands out for the quality of its prose.
I am no expert on the period, it feels convincing to its era in many ways. My only gripe is it does make a very obvious nod to modern issues and sensibilities. For example, seeing the line 'Hitler promises to make Germany great again' (though for all I know he said that) was a bit jarring. But then every book is the product of its era no matter if it delves into the past or the future for creative inspiration.
All in all, this is an excellent book and recommended reading.
December 17, 2024
I’ve read many WW2 books that fail to deliver on the promise of their opening pages, but The Seventh Room shines beyond most of them.
The compelling narrative begins in the 1930s with “an odd little woman” called Tomasin West (Tommie), an English nurse turned spy, who is arrested in France and imprisoned at Colditz Castle in Germany. As the only female prisoner among a colorful and dynamic cast of characters, Tommie endures heartbreaking hardships in her fight for survival, and her resilience fuels a tension-filled story that pulls in the reader.
At Colditz, Tomasin encounters our second lead, Peter Brandt, a German officer whose conflicted background adds depth to the story. Peter grapples with the legacy of his estranged father, a German war hero who abandoned Peter and his Welsh mother in England. I found Peter’s internal struggle fascinating, especially as he is drawn into espionage by Hendry, tasked with a unique mission aimed at post-war outcomes with an eye on Russia.
But Peter’s journey takes a sharp turn when he befriends Conrad and becomes entangled in assassination attempts against Hitler. This complication spirals into a cleverly woven web of tension, creating a strange yet gripping romantic connection between Peter and Tomasin. Their bond culminates in the mysterious Seventh Room—a place within the castle rumored to have healing properties—which becomes both a literal and symbolic refuge in the chaos of war.
Although the narrative drags at different points and I didn’t like the abrupt ending, Belluomo’s polished prose and well-developed themes give this novel a fresh spin on the WW2 backdrop. The story shines in its exploration of identity, loyalty, and survival as prisoners navigate a world turned upside down. The Seventh Room is a fascinating and layered read through the lives of two individuals caught in the crucible of war.
The compelling narrative begins in the 1930s with “an odd little woman” called Tomasin West (Tommie), an English nurse turned spy, who is arrested in France and imprisoned at Colditz Castle in Germany. As the only female prisoner among a colorful and dynamic cast of characters, Tommie endures heartbreaking hardships in her fight for survival, and her resilience fuels a tension-filled story that pulls in the reader.
At Colditz, Tomasin encounters our second lead, Peter Brandt, a German officer whose conflicted background adds depth to the story. Peter grapples with the legacy of his estranged father, a German war hero who abandoned Peter and his Welsh mother in England. I found Peter’s internal struggle fascinating, especially as he is drawn into espionage by Hendry, tasked with a unique mission aimed at post-war outcomes with an eye on Russia.
But Peter’s journey takes a sharp turn when he befriends Conrad and becomes entangled in assassination attempts against Hitler. This complication spirals into a cleverly woven web of tension, creating a strange yet gripping romantic connection between Peter and Tomasin. Their bond culminates in the mysterious Seventh Room—a place within the castle rumored to have healing properties—which becomes both a literal and symbolic refuge in the chaos of war.
Although the narrative drags at different points and I didn’t like the abrupt ending, Belluomo’s polished prose and well-developed themes give this novel a fresh spin on the WW2 backdrop. The story shines in its exploration of identity, loyalty, and survival as prisoners navigate a world turned upside down. The Seventh Room is a fascinating and layered read through the lives of two individuals caught in the crucible of war.
November 28, 2024
The Seventh Room by Nicolo Belluomo is a compelling exploration of human resilience, historical tension, and the haunting impact of personal and collective pasts. Set against the backdrop of pre-World War II Europe, the narrative follows protagonists grappling with internal and external conflicts that delve into the depths of identity, loyalty, and moral dilemmas.
The book excels in its vivid, atmospheric prose. Nicolo Belluomo’s ability to intertwine personal trauma with the political unrest of 1938 London is remarkable. Through Tommie’s exploration of witchcraft and propaganda, the story raises poignant questions about the cyclical nature of human persecution and fear-driven mass hysteria.
The dual narrative structure introduces Peter Brandt, a man shaped by a complex heritage and the shadows of his father's legacy. His interaction with the enigmatic Captain Hendry provides a stark commentary on the duplicity of espionage and the sacrifices demanded by wartime allegiances. These characters, with their richly textured backstories, draw the reader into a world of subterfuge, secrets, and the moral ambiguity of survival.
The book is beautifully written, and the author's deep love for world history, as well as her concern for contemporary events that symbolically echo the 21st century, is palpable. The opening chapters might feel a bit tedious, with some gaps between events that one might wish were explored in greater detail. However, overall, this is an excellent book for any history enthusiast, particularly those interested in the themes of World War II.
The book excels in its vivid, atmospheric prose. Nicolo Belluomo’s ability to intertwine personal trauma with the political unrest of 1938 London is remarkable. Through Tommie’s exploration of witchcraft and propaganda, the story raises poignant questions about the cyclical nature of human persecution and fear-driven mass hysteria.
The dual narrative structure introduces Peter Brandt, a man shaped by a complex heritage and the shadows of his father's legacy. His interaction with the enigmatic Captain Hendry provides a stark commentary on the duplicity of espionage and the sacrifices demanded by wartime allegiances. These characters, with their richly textured backstories, draw the reader into a world of subterfuge, secrets, and the moral ambiguity of survival.
The book is beautifully written, and the author's deep love for world history, as well as her concern for contemporary events that symbolically echo the 21st century, is palpable. The opening chapters might feel a bit tedious, with some gaps between events that one might wish were explored in greater detail. However, overall, this is an excellent book for any history enthusiast, particularly those interested in the themes of World War II.
December 8, 2024
The Seventh Room by Nicolo Belluomo is a dense and well-written novel, set in the bleakest days of early World War II, weaving together themes of love, loyalty, and treason. To the author's credit, she's upfront about which (minor) historical details she's fudging for the sake of drama and narrative clarity. The novel centers on Colditz Castle, the site of a prisoner-of-war camp for "incorrigible" Allied officers who, per wiki, "had repeatedly attempted to escape from other camps."
The narrative splits between two leads: Tomasin "Tommie" West, a nurse who transforms into a saboteur, and Peter Brandt, a German officer with conflicting allegiances. Tomasin is enlisted by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) to operate covertly as a messenger for the French Resistance. Peter meanwhile becomes entangled in an espionage game, conflicted by his father's legacy as a war hero and his own shifting views on the Nazi regime. The book's dual narratives allow readers to delve deeply into the characters' heads, as the threads become intertwined within the halls of Colditz Castle.
Belluomo is a skilled prose stylist, although a few snippets of text are excessively "current year," which took me out of the story. The book's appeal isn't limited to WWII afficionados, thanks to some nuanced characterizations, and overall, it's an enjoyable read that's paving the way for more stories in the future.
The narrative splits between two leads: Tomasin "Tommie" West, a nurse who transforms into a saboteur, and Peter Brandt, a German officer with conflicting allegiances. Tomasin is enlisted by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) to operate covertly as a messenger for the French Resistance. Peter meanwhile becomes entangled in an espionage game, conflicted by his father's legacy as a war hero and his own shifting views on the Nazi regime. The book's dual narratives allow readers to delve deeply into the characters' heads, as the threads become intertwined within the halls of Colditz Castle.
Belluomo is a skilled prose stylist, although a few snippets of text are excessively "current year," which took me out of the story. The book's appeal isn't limited to WWII afficionados, thanks to some nuanced characterizations, and overall, it's an enjoyable read that's paving the way for more stories in the future.
January 26, 2026
The Seventh Room is an absorbing and well-written World War II espionage tale that follows two British agents: Tomasin “Tommie” West, a midwife who dabbles in witchcraft, and the half-Welsh/half-German son of a German war hero, Peter Brandt. Recruited into clandestine operations by the enigmatic Major Hendry, both of them eventually end up in the infamous German POW prison at Colditz Castle, Tommie as the only female prisoner among five hundred men, and Peter as a major in the German army.
The prose is vivid, the characters deep, and the book is chock-full of inscrutable intrigue, unrelenting tension, and tender romance that requires the characters to make hard choices. A strong portrayal of historical stakes reflects unsettling images of current events. However, the narrative is repetitive in places and the prose somewhat overwritten, making the book a good bit longer than it should be.
The prose is vivid, the characters deep, and the book is chock-full of inscrutable intrigue, unrelenting tension, and tender romance that requires the characters to make hard choices. A strong portrayal of historical stakes reflects unsettling images of current events. However, the narrative is repetitive in places and the prose somewhat overwritten, making the book a good bit longer than it should be.
February 16, 2026
Tales from Colditz
The Seventh Room is the first book in the Ishtar’s Gate series, a World War II espionage following two British agents: Tomasin “Tommie” and Peter Brandt. Both end up in the infamous German POW camp at Colditz Castle. Tommie is the only female prisoner there among 500 men, and Peter is operating as an undercover officer in the German army.
Nicola Bellumo, through her skilful writing and meticulous research, successfully revealed the hardships and bravery people endured during this turbulent era of history. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the author skilfully captured the atmosphere of the times with engaging prose. At times, the pacing feels a bit long and drawn-out; however, it remains an immersive read.
Recommended to enthusiasts of World War II history.
The Seventh Room is the first book in the Ishtar’s Gate series, a World War II espionage following two British agents: Tomasin “Tommie” and Peter Brandt. Both end up in the infamous German POW camp at Colditz Castle. Tommie is the only female prisoner there among 500 men, and Peter is operating as an undercover officer in the German army.
Nicola Bellumo, through her skilful writing and meticulous research, successfully revealed the hardships and bravery people endured during this turbulent era of history. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the author skilfully captured the atmosphere of the times with engaging prose. At times, the pacing feels a bit long and drawn-out; however, it remains an immersive read.
Recommended to enthusiasts of World War II history.
January 19, 2026
This was an engrossing and amazingly written story, taking place just before and during WWII. Tommie (Tomasin) and Peter were fascinating characters, Peter's character having to deal with moral dilemmas and divided loyalties that made his character compelling and complex. Tommie was an admirable character as well, considering everything she went through as a prisoner. Fans of World War Two would enjoy this book, I think, though parents should consider reading it before deciding if they want their children to do so, as language would make it inappropriate for kiddos, in my opinion. For adults who don't mind strong language and enjoy stories that take place during World War II, this would be a captivating and enjoyable book.
February 16, 2026
This novel favors moral strain over battlefield drama. Set largely within Colditz Castle, The Seventh Room explores resistance as something fragile and costly.
Tomasin must erase herself to stay alive, navigating danger through invisibility. Peter moves in plain sight, risking exposure with every decision. Around them, prejudice hardens, alliances shift, while ideology corrodes trust. Belluomo paints a cast that is broad but distinct and an atmosphere that turns steadily claustrophobic. I appreciated the subtle modern echoes; I thought they enriched the story and deepened its impact without pulling it out of its historical setting.
This novel is a thoughtful, emotionally weighted opening to a larger story, one that values character, consequence, and unanswered questions over easy resolution. A gem. Highly recommended.
Tomasin must erase herself to stay alive, navigating danger through invisibility. Peter moves in plain sight, risking exposure with every decision. Around them, prejudice hardens, alliances shift, while ideology corrodes trust. Belluomo paints a cast that is broad but distinct and an atmosphere that turns steadily claustrophobic. I appreciated the subtle modern echoes; I thought they enriched the story and deepened its impact without pulling it out of its historical setting.
This novel is a thoughtful, emotionally weighted opening to a larger story, one that values character, consequence, and unanswered questions over easy resolution. A gem. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews