The Secret Dressmaker

Threads of Resistance #2

by Jenny O'Brien

Shelves of sequins in a kaleidoscope of colours. Bolts of silk and tulle against the back wall. The sewing room was the last place anyone had seen her daughter alive.

Manchester, 1942. Flora Toussaint packs parachutes for the RAF, haunted by the twin daughters she was forced to give up eighteen years ago. When British intelligence shows her photographs of her girls – now young women in occupied Paris – her world shifts. One is safe. One has vanished. And their father, the celebrated couturier Lucien Lumineau, is suspected of collaborating with the Nazis.

Flora agrees to a dangerous parachute into France, pose as a seamstress at the Moulin Rouge, and uncover the truth. Lodging above a brothel where Edith Piaf sings after hours and where Pablo Picasso still holds court, she mends costumes between shows, searches for any trace of her missing daughter between curfews, and circles closer to Lucien.

But Lucien isn’t the man she remembers. Neither is their history. And what Flora discovers will unravel everything she thought she knew – about Lucien, about her daughters, and about the night she gave them away.

A sweeping tale of wartime Paris, family secrets and impossible choices. Fans of Kate Quinn, Pam Jenoff and Kristin Hannah will be mesmerised by The Secret Dressmaker .

Readers love Jenny O’Brien’s historical

‘If I could give this book a billion stars, I would. Impossible to put down... filled with surprising twists... It leaves you with a feeling of unity, compassion, and the warmth of a forever love.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Heart wrenching and captivating that turns into the most remarkable story. Grab your tissues keep them close, this is a true feminist heroine playing a vital part that will have you absolutely sobbing your heart out.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Just a warning... don’t think that you will just read a couple of chapters... Five hours later, I had missed dinner, but I’d finished the book... a spectacular read.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh wow, this is a super addictive read. I’m not a knitter but I was fascinated by the concept of using various stitches to encode information. O’Brien manages to seamlessly entwine fact and fiction in this wonderful story of love and heroism... I’m betting this will end up being a movie!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘For fans of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, this book is for you!... the reader will discover a heroic woman who sacrifices so much to help the ones that she loves. A terrific read!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A compelling and fast-moving story with a few twists. The way that knitting is used as code is intriguing and the characters are really thought provoking. Once I started, I could not stop reading.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A beautifully written, engaging historical fiction story that completely won me over... If you enjoy books like The Nightingale or The Alice Network, this one fits right alongside them. A truly lovely read and an easy 5 stars for me.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An absolutely brilliant, five-star read!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This WW2 fiction book was amazing, I loved it. Wow it was such a rollercoaster of a read – heartbreaking, sad, uplifting, courageous... Highly recommend.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow, this is a must read. It’s fascinating, who knew knitting could be so interesting!... I really enjoyed this book, it has to be my new favourite.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Historical Fiction

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

Hi and thanks for stopping by.

I took up writing about twenty years ago when I first came up with a plot for a book, and I haven't stopped since. When I’m not writing, I’m ferrying around 3 teenagers or working as a nurse. I’m also an all-year-round sea swimmer.
I write what I love to read, which is romance and thrillers.

My next release, out February, 2026, is The Resistance Knitting Club, a World War 2 historical novel set in Guernsey, the UK and France. I am currently working on my third WW2 novel.

If you like my writing please get in touch - my social media links are below (I’m rarely on Goodreads so it’s best not to drop me a message here). I also have a newsletter, which you can sign up to via my website.

Jenny O

Facebook: Jenny O'Brien Guernsey Writer
Twitter: scribblerjb
Instagram: scribblerjb

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally reached for this story because of the Northern Ireland setting. I’d never read wartime fiction set in my homeland and was excited to read the second book in O’Brien’s ‘Threads of Resistance’ series. It was the storytelling, though, that kept me turning pages.

This is powerful historical fiction showcasing wartime resilience. The author expertly balances historical intrigue with the world of haute couture, bravery and suspense. As readers get swept up in Flora’s search, they’ll rub shoulders with Edith Piaf and Pablo Picasso and become engaged in the emotional pull of lives transformed by the challenges of war.

If you enjoy historical fiction focused on impossible choices, family secrets and wartime Paris, don’t miss this one.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Cindy Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a magnificent novel. It held me in its powerful and emotional grip from start to finish! This is book two of the Resistance Threads series and although I had not reviewed the first one, sadly due to time constraints, I don’t think it hurt my reading experience. But after completing The Secret Dressmaker, I am now keen to go back and complete Book one. It is truly a captivating and heart wrenching human story and the author is not afraid to make some serious judgement calls with her characters. It has been inspired by true events and it clearly comes across realistic. And just as in real life, things don’t always go as planned.

The Secret Dressmaker is a World War Two novel and mainly set in France where the fight against Hitler’s regime is very real. Nazis Germany occupied Paris from June 1940 -1944 and this story is set during its midpoint of 1942. The atmosphere, descriptions and tone definitely come across exceptionally well. I felt transported to the location and walked beside the characters who were both engaging and authentic. The majority of the story is told through Flora the seamstress- spy with a few others sharing a glimpse.

Heroine Flora Toussaint is a courageous woman who has endured some pretty horrific experiences in her life. As we learn about them, it tugs on our heart strings and gives us an even greater appreciation for who she is and what she is about to do for the love of her daughters. She is a talented seamstress and able to utilise those skills when a certain man named Tomas comes to ask her help in finding Lucien, a dress designer, who once employed her and with whom she had a relationship. She got pregnant and delivered their daughters but was forced by circumstance to give them up. Not to strangers but to Lucien and the woman he decided to marry for her wealth. Now many years later ,she is asked to reunite with him to get information. For it is believed he is working for the enemy and this mission is to find out just what his plans are.

Flora leaves Carrickfergus and a terrible cheating husband behind and embarks on a war mission to help Tomas and the resistance. As she gets to know Tomas, something else happens inside her. They work together and slowly she begins to appreciate who he is and that she feels safe with him. But he initially holds back some information until she discovers what has been hidden. And when she is reunited with her past love and the father of her children, the danger begins. But what she is not counting on is who Lucien really is: a man who loves his daughters and will do anything to protect them.

There are some incredible plot twists as the mystery unfolds about her daughters, the church, Lucien and Sabine. But while she hides in the community of The Moulin Rouge, Flora feels something she hasn’t felt in a very long time - “the particular warmth of women who had decided to trust each other.” And while she is with them, she comes up with a clever plan of creating a code in a quilt to help the resistance.

This is such a moving, riveting, well-written story set against a dangerous backdrop of WW2. It is filled with sacrifice, spies, betrayal, mystery, romance, family secrets, shocking revelations and heart racing danger that kept me teetering on the edge of my seat. But one emotion and moral strength quality I felt flooding this book over and over was love and courage exhibited by this woman whose children had been torn from her by circumstance. Then she was deceived by those she trusted. It is clear to see that Lucien also had a deep love for his daughters but he made some terrible mistakes years ago. And he admitted he was a coward. I appreciated the growth in his character that transpired over time and we get to see that.

And as for the daughters, we get a short session with one but there is so much more to learn. These girls, which we have been told, are quite beautiful and gifted in abilities. I gather from the way the story ended there will be more shared about them, hopefully in the next book! I truly loved The Secret Dressmaker. It threaded its way into my heart and created unforgettable images and feelings. This is one story I won’t forget. Its tapestry is rich and rare like the epic love it demonstrates, while framing mesmerising courage. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.

[martyn benny]

The Secret Dressmaker is a beautifully woven World War II novel that combines espionage, family secrets, sacrifice, and enduring love into an unforgettable historical drama. Jenny O'Brien once again demonstrates her remarkable talent for blending meticulously researched history with emotionally rich storytelling that lingers long after the final page.

At the heart of the novel is Flora Toussaint, a heroine whose courage is matched only by the emotional burden she carries. Haunted by the daughters she was forced to surrender years earlier, Flora's dangerous mission into occupied Paris becomes far more than an intelligence operation it becomes a desperate search for family, truth, and redemption. Her journey is both gripping and deeply moving.

The Parisian setting is wonderfully immersive. From the glamour and hidden dangers of the Moulin Rouge to the quiet tension of occupied streets, every scene captures the beauty and fear of wartime France. The world feels vividly alive, where fashion, music, art, resistance, and betrayal coexist beneath the constant shadow of Nazi occupation.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its emotional complexity. Jenny O'Brien explores motherhood, forgiveness, identity, loyalty, and impossible choices with remarkable sensitivity. Every revelation deepens the emotional stakes, and the carefully layered family secrets ensure that the story remains compelling until its powerful conclusion.

The fashion element adds a unique and elegant dimension to the narrative. The couture world becomes far more than a backdrop it symbolizes beauty, survival, deception, and resilience in a time when appearances could determine life or death. This distinctive setting helps the novel stand apart within the historical fiction genre.

The pacing is excellent, balancing espionage, romance, mystery, and emotional drama without ever sacrificing historical authenticity. Twists emerge naturally, keeping readers constantly invested while allowing the relationships to develop with genuine depth.

The Secret Dressmaker is a moving tribute to the extraordinary courage of ordinary women whose quiet acts of bravery changed lives during one of history's darkest periods. Rich with atmosphere, unforgettable characters, and heartfelt emotion, this is historical fiction at its very best and will undoubtedly resonate with fans of Kate Quinn, Kristin Hannah, and Pam Jenoff.

[Linda Higdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story synopsis:
Northern Ireland, 1942. Flora Toussaint packs parachutes for the RAF, haunted by the twin daughters she was forced to give up eighteen years ago. British intelligence shows her photographs of her girls, and uses the photos to coerce Flora into working for them. The assigned mission is to help determine if the twins' father, the celebrated couturier Lucien Lumineau, is a Nazi collaborator. But her personal mission is to find and reunite with her daughters. Flora is quickly trained and parachutes into France where she works as a seamstress at the Moulin Rouge, while acting as an agent to gather intelligence on her former boss and lover.. Lodging above a brothel, she mends costumes, searches for any trace of her missing daughter between curfews, and circles closer to Lucien. But Flora discovers shocking facts that will change her life.

I didn't read closely enough when I requested this ARC, and did not realize it was the second in a series. In fact, I didn't even realize that until I started to read some other reviews. It was not at all necessary to read the previous book for me to become totally absorbed in this story; however I am now anxious for the next book because the end of the story left me saying, "Wait! What?" There were so many things unresolved. I can only hope the sequel helps unravel some of the remaining mysteries.

The book is very well written and immediately captured my complete attention. The character development is excellent, the story line is exciting, and the constant twists and turns keep the reader on edge. One revelation about 2/3 of the way through the book was totally unexpected and a wonderful plot twist. The book leans more toward the fiction than the historical, but there are some good depictions of the things people had to endure during wartime in France.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book as an exciting and thought-provoking read.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved both of Jenny O'Brien's previous books set in World War II, so I've been looking forward to reading this one. It was worth the wait. The Secret Dressmaker wastes no time with lengthy backstories or character studies before the plot takes off like a rocket. Instead, the personal details of the main character, Flora, are slowly revealed as the story unfolds, and what a story it is. If you've read other books about SOE agents, you know that there is a lengthy training process involved before they are dropped into occupied France. Nope, not this time. Flora Toussaint only requires parachute training because she is going back to France as herself. She goes from being recruited in rural Northern Ireland to being dropped into France in only two weeks! As always, the author's deep research and attention to detail make you feel as though you're in occupied Paris with Flora, sharing lodging with Edith Piaf and befriending Pablo Picasso. And, there was a plot twist well into the story that was so shocking it left me stunned. I never saw it coming, and I pride myself on rarely being surprised like that. (Kudos to Jenny O'Brien.) Because this is a series, all of the loose ends are not tied up by the end of the book, and that's a good thing because that means there are more books to come. I hope the wait isn't too long.

My thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC. The review and all opinions are entirely my own.

[Marcia]

Even though this is listed as book 2 in a series, there are only minor references to book 1 and in no way affect the reader, so it can easily be read as a stand-alone. That said, my only con with this book was reads (pun intended) that I felt were left dangling and can only assume will be picked up in the next book.
Flora is packing parachutes for the RAF in the fall of 1942 when she learns a bit about the twin daughters left in Paris 18 years earlier. She believed their father and his wife were raising them. She learned otherwise and was persuaded to return to France to help determine if their father was a Nazi collaborator. She went to find and reconcile with the girls, Violette and Marguerite. Events do not play out as expected.
This was a heart-pounding, heart-warming, heart-wrenching story that kept me turning the pages and hoping against hope that Flora would survive her exploits and find her daughters as she learns one shocking thing after another.
As I read my heart bounced between soaring and aching as I hope yours does. Definitely a book to read with a glass of wine by your side!
My thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Donna Satterlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is second in a series, it can be read as a stand-alone.

The main character, Flora, is a seamstress who gave up twin girls eighteen years ago in France after an affair with her older boss, a talented, well-known designer. As a young girl at the time she felt she could not give the girls the life they deserved but never forgot about them. Fast-forward to current day (1940's) and she is living in England and an SOE agent. She is recruited to return to France and re-connect with her former lover to determine what his relationship is with the Nazi's in Paris. Also, she is anxious to see how her daughters life has turned out. There are numerous backstories and you learn what happened to her daughters, her former lover as well as a new love.

I enjoyed the speed of the story development and all of the characters. Although there is not a lot of actual interaction with the Nazi occupying Paris, there is a very fast-moving story filled with rich characters. The author definitely hooked you with the ending that left several loose ends and awaiting the next book in the series.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Dressmaker by Jenny O’Brien is book 2 in the Threads of Resistance series. Flora is parachuted into France in 1942 to be a seamstress in the Moulin Rouge. Her mission is to clarify whether Lucien Lumineau, the father of her twins Violette and Marguerette, is collaborating with the Nazis. She also wants to find out what has happened to Marguerette, who has disappeared. She had to give the twins up at birth, 18 years ago. She is also determined to find a way to work out how to incorporate a code into a patchwork quilt to help the Resistance. This was a fascinating look at a part of history I love reading about. It was a gripping story, with so many emotions as I read it, and a few surprises along the way. I loved the inclusion of Edith Piaf and Pablo Picasso. Such a riveting story and I’m really looking forward to what the author comes up with next. The books are so well researched and so easy to read.

[Patricia Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenny O'Brien writes beautiful historical fiction that takes you straight to the stories of the ordinary people and The Secret Dressmaker is no exception. This WW2 story of loss, separation and reunion will capture your heart and have you grabbing for the tissues. An awful lot happens in the two and a half months from Flora meeting Tomas in Ireland until the end of the book but it is war time! The ending also seemed a bit rushed to me. Possibly setting the scene for more books? I don't know hopefully, there's definitely scope there. All in all a very enjoyable read and if there are more books to follow I'll certainly buy them.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Coco · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret Dressmaker is easy to read and contains extraordinary detail, clearly much time was spent on research.

Set in war torn France during the end of 1942, this is more about Flora's search for her daughters, who were adopted 18 years ago, and less about the Nazi occupation.

For those who enjoyed this book, there's another following. However you choose to read it, as a stand-alone or part of a series, it's very good.

I read this at an unfortunate time, my attention span was reduced due to the extreme heat, struggling to absorb anything, I really couldn't do it justice.

4* for the author's fine details and immense research.

With thanks to Storm Publishing and the author for the ARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I hadn't read the first book in the series I soon understood what was going on and enjoyed the story. The story was easy to follow and well written and had a great cast of characters. I loved that the story is historical fiction and it's obvious that the author has done their research for the story as the attention to detail was spot on and made for an interesting read. I also loved the author's writing style and the pacing was just right. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
🩵 Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, the author Jenny O'Brien for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two threads of resistance.
Northern Ireland 1942.
Flora Toussaint and eighteen years ago was force to give up her twin daughters Violette and Marguerette both now young women in occupied Paris, and one is safe and one has vanished..
With the chance and help to parachute into France, acting as a seamstress she go seeking for them both.
Oh my goodness this book is one truly remarkable story of courage and heroism, making me shed so many tears.
Flora has so much to give and make up for her two daughters.
This is special and inspiring to read.
Excellent.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is more about romance and family secrets than resistance work. I haven't found it as entertaining as the author's previous novels. The suspense was more about the info about Flora's girls than her "resistance" work. For me a bit of a disappointment as I expected much more focus on the spying side. The conclusion was predictable. However, this book will appeal to readers of romance and family secrets. Too light for me.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read another of Jenny's books, I was really excited to start this one, and it didn't disappoint. I was captivated from the very beginning. As a stitcher myself, I was especially drawn to the textile elements of the story, which were so cleverly woven in—particularly the resistance quilt. I did feel the ending was a little rushed and left a few loose ends, but that didn't take away from how much I enjoyed the book. I'd definitely recommend it.