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Clara Vine #5
Solitaire
June 1940: Nightly blackouts suffocate Berlin. Then France falls and a shadow descends across Western Europe now under German occupation.
A shadow has fallen over Clara Vine’s own life, too. She is an Anglo-German woman in a country that hates Britain. Virulent anti-British propaganda is everywhere.
Then she is summoned to meet the Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels who has decided that Clara should adopt a new role – as his spy — and that she must go to Paris on a mission.
Much as she dislikes the idea, Clara realises this might be the chance to find an escape route to Britain. But Goebbels has other ideas and soon Clara is drawn into a web that threatens to destroy her. As everything she holds dear is taken as ransom, she must fight to protect her family – and to survive…
A shadow has fallen over Clara Vine’s own life, too. She is an Anglo-German woman in a country that hates Britain. Virulent anti-British propaganda is everywhere.
Then she is summoned to meet the Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels who has decided that Clara should adopt a new role – as his spy — and that she must go to Paris on a mission.
Much as she dislikes the idea, Clara realises this might be the chance to find an escape route to Britain. But Goebbels has other ideas and soon Clara is drawn into a web that threatens to destroy her. As everything she holds dear is taken as ransom, she must fight to protect her family – and to survive…
451 pages, Paperback
First published November 17, 2016
29 people are currently reading
792 people want to read
About the author
Jane Thynne
24 books487 followersJane Thynne was born in Venezuela and educated in London. She graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English and joined the BBC as a journalist. She has also worked at The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Independent, as well as for numerous British magazines. She appears as a broadcaster on Radio 4 and Sky TV. She has also written WIDOWLAND under the pen name C.J. Carey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
December 15, 2017
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Although this book is the fifth book in the Clara Vine series, it was the first book that I had read. Now, judging by the fact that I didn’t even realise that it was book five, that should let you know that it works perfectly well as a standalone.
The book opens with the prologue – Lisbon 1940 and Clara being arrested. We then jump back in time to chapter one and Berlin, 1940. Clara is living in Germany and working as an actress. As World War II is in its infancy, Clara feels very vulnerable. Not only was she a spy, although now she tries to keep her head down, she is also half English, half German, and Jewish by descendant.
Clara is an exceptional woman. She is grieving for her lover Leo, whom she had been told was shot and killed trying to flee the country, a lover than no-one knew about. She wants to leave Germany for the safety of England and her family, but that door has been shut tight. She has now found herself in a difficult situation, having to spy for the Germans.
Whilst I’m not a great lover of historical novels, there is something about the World Wars that intrigues me. Most books that I have read, barring one earlier this year, have all been set in the UK during the war, so it was nice to be able to see the life of those outside the UK.
The main story interweaves itself with numerous secondary plots, the main one being that of Katerina, a young girl living in a children’s home, with a crippled leg. Unless her sister Sonja can be found, Katerina is in serious danger of being killed by the Nazis. I love how these two plots fused with one another.
The prologue did its job perfectly and had me hooked. I wanted to know how Clara found herself in the situation she did in Lisbon. I wasn’t disappointed with the answer.
Ms. Thynne has done her research meticulously. She brings together all the elements of what the war was like with her vivid descriptions and scenery. She then injects the harsh life of a woman, but one who is most certainly headstrong and brave, to create this wonderful, mesmerising book.
Although this book is the fifth book in the Clara Vine series, it was the first book that I had read. Now, judging by the fact that I didn’t even realise that it was book five, that should let you know that it works perfectly well as a standalone.
The book opens with the prologue – Lisbon 1940 and Clara being arrested. We then jump back in time to chapter one and Berlin, 1940. Clara is living in Germany and working as an actress. As World War II is in its infancy, Clara feels very vulnerable. Not only was she a spy, although now she tries to keep her head down, she is also half English, half German, and Jewish by descendant.
Clara is an exceptional woman. She is grieving for her lover Leo, whom she had been told was shot and killed trying to flee the country, a lover than no-one knew about. She wants to leave Germany for the safety of England and her family, but that door has been shut tight. She has now found herself in a difficult situation, having to spy for the Germans.
Whilst I’m not a great lover of historical novels, there is something about the World Wars that intrigues me. Most books that I have read, barring one earlier this year, have all been set in the UK during the war, so it was nice to be able to see the life of those outside the UK.
The main story interweaves itself with numerous secondary plots, the main one being that of Katerina, a young girl living in a children’s home, with a crippled leg. Unless her sister Sonja can be found, Katerina is in serious danger of being killed by the Nazis. I love how these two plots fused with one another.
The prologue did its job perfectly and had me hooked. I wanted to know how Clara found herself in the situation she did in Lisbon. I wasn’t disappointed with the answer.
Ms. Thynne has done her research meticulously. She brings together all the elements of what the war was like with her vivid descriptions and scenery. She then injects the harsh life of a woman, but one who is most certainly headstrong and brave, to create this wonderful, mesmerising book.
December 19, 2017
Solitaire is the fifth book in the Clara Vine series. Not having read any of the previous ones, I was slightly worried I wouldn’t be able to follow but I feel the author has done a great job filling in the background for those who are new to the series and I didn’t feel lost at all. I did however have a hard time connecting to Clara and didn’t particularly like her very much, which made me wonder if that would have been different if I’d gotten to know her better beforehand.
For those unfamiliar with the series, set in the World War II era, Clara Vine is an English/German actress who’s been living in Berlin for the past seven years. Due to her background and heritage, she never feels quite safe despite having German citizenship. Not only does Germany not look kindly upon the British but Clara is also desperately trying to hide her Jewish heritage. Especially as she often finds herself moving around in the circles of the higher Nazi party members and their wives, which gives an incredible insight into their lives.
I must admit it took me a while to get into this story. It was a bit of a slow-burner and needed a bit more oomph to really grab me. I did however thoroughly enjoy Katerina’s chapters and found them highly addictive. Katerina is a young girl who finds herself in a children’s home when her father dies, where she’s being raised by Brown Sisters. A lot of it is more brainwashing than anything else and some of it beggars belief. Katerina suffers from a leg problem and her life may be in danger and I quickly found myself rooting for her.
This story is certainly incredibly atmospheric and I immediately felt myself transported to the streets of Berlin, Paris and Lisbon. It’s clear the author has done a lot of research and I learned quite a lot about how the war affected the German population, for instance. As someone who regularly reads stories about the second World War, a lot of it is set in England so it was fascinating to see the other side for a change which isn’t something that’s often talked about but it should be noted that the average German suffered too.
Despite never warming to Clara, I enjoyed this historical setting and the various characters that make an appearance, like Ian Fleming and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. There’s also a subtle threatening level throughout the story and I have nothing but admiration for those who put their lives on the line during the war to make sure the right side won. Jane Thynne effortlessly manages to combine fact with fiction and a healthy dose of intrigue with some romance. The ending seems to imply there’s much more to come for fans of Clara Vine so keep an eye out for that!
For those unfamiliar with the series, set in the World War II era, Clara Vine is an English/German actress who’s been living in Berlin for the past seven years. Due to her background and heritage, she never feels quite safe despite having German citizenship. Not only does Germany not look kindly upon the British but Clara is also desperately trying to hide her Jewish heritage. Especially as she often finds herself moving around in the circles of the higher Nazi party members and their wives, which gives an incredible insight into their lives.
I must admit it took me a while to get into this story. It was a bit of a slow-burner and needed a bit more oomph to really grab me. I did however thoroughly enjoy Katerina’s chapters and found them highly addictive. Katerina is a young girl who finds herself in a children’s home when her father dies, where she’s being raised by Brown Sisters. A lot of it is more brainwashing than anything else and some of it beggars belief. Katerina suffers from a leg problem and her life may be in danger and I quickly found myself rooting for her.
This story is certainly incredibly atmospheric and I immediately felt myself transported to the streets of Berlin, Paris and Lisbon. It’s clear the author has done a lot of research and I learned quite a lot about how the war affected the German population, for instance. As someone who regularly reads stories about the second World War, a lot of it is set in England so it was fascinating to see the other side for a change which isn’t something that’s often talked about but it should be noted that the average German suffered too.
Despite never warming to Clara, I enjoyed this historical setting and the various characters that make an appearance, like Ian Fleming and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. There’s also a subtle threatening level throughout the story and I have nothing but admiration for those who put their lives on the line during the war to make sure the right side won. Jane Thynne effortlessly manages to combine fact with fiction and a healthy dose of intrigue with some romance. The ending seems to imply there’s much more to come for fans of Clara Vine so keep an eye out for that!
February 10, 2017
This is the fifth book in Jane Thynne's series about Clara Vine, an Anglo-German actress living in Nazi Berlin who spies for the British. Annoyingly, almost every book in the series has been published under different titles for the UK and US markets, so for the record they are:
1. Black Roses (UK and US)
2. The Winter Garden (UK) = Woman in the Shadows (US)
3. A War of Flowers (UK) = The Scent of Secrets (US)
4. Faith and Beauty (UK) = The Pursuit of Pearls (US)
Solitaire is set in the summer of 1940. WW2 has begun and life in Berlin is becoming more difficult. The book opens in Lisbon where a woman is hovering outside the casino hoping to make contact with someone inside. It then backtracks to Berlin a month earlier, where Clara Vine is commandeered by Goebbels to travel to Paris and conduct an assignment for him. As always Thynne integrates real people and events into Clara's storyline: high ranking Nazi officials feature heavily but other characters who either appear or are referred to include the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Noel Coward and Ian Fleming.
I've enjoyed other books in this series but I found Solitaire slow going and overly reliant on coincidences. Whenever books start with a prologue hinting at action down the track, I suspect that the editor has been at work, trying to introduce some pace and momentum. The story seems to take ages to get going and isn't nearly as interesting as it should be, given the events around which it is based. Part of the problem is that I just don't care sufficiently about Clara: her romances are devoid of chemistry and her adored godson is hard to warm to. The ending makes it clear that the series will continue and I hope that the next instalment is livelier than this one was.
1. Black Roses (UK and US)
2. The Winter Garden (UK) = Woman in the Shadows (US)
3. A War of Flowers (UK) = The Scent of Secrets (US)
4. Faith and Beauty (UK) = The Pursuit of Pearls (US)
Solitaire is set in the summer of 1940. WW2 has begun and life in Berlin is becoming more difficult. The book opens in Lisbon where a woman is hovering outside the casino hoping to make contact with someone inside. It then backtracks to Berlin a month earlier, where Clara Vine is commandeered by Goebbels to travel to Paris and conduct an assignment for him. As always Thynne integrates real people and events into Clara's storyline: high ranking Nazi officials feature heavily but other characters who either appear or are referred to include the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Noel Coward and Ian Fleming.
I've enjoyed other books in this series but I found Solitaire slow going and overly reliant on coincidences. Whenever books start with a prologue hinting at action down the track, I suspect that the editor has been at work, trying to introduce some pace and momentum. The story seems to take ages to get going and isn't nearly as interesting as it should be, given the events around which it is based. Part of the problem is that I just don't care sufficiently about Clara: her romances are devoid of chemistry and her adored godson is hard to warm to. The ending makes it clear that the series will continue and I hope that the next instalment is livelier than this one was.
January 4, 2018
I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I was very impressed to say the least.
The narration was absolutely superb and held my interest till the end.
Set in Nazi Germany the story is about Clara Vine half German, half British with Jewish ancestry who through the hand that fate dealt became a spy for Britain.
Very well written this book held my interest till the end and although book five in the series works really well as a standalone. Highly recommended. Really enjoyed.
The narration was absolutely superb and held my interest till the end.
Set in Nazi Germany the story is about Clara Vine half German, half British with Jewish ancestry who through the hand that fate dealt became a spy for Britain.
Very well written this book held my interest till the end and although book five in the series works really well as a standalone. Highly recommended. Really enjoyed.
December 10, 2017
Absolutely fantastic historical fiction! Review to come hopefully as part of blog tour but depending on Internet and snow!
December 11, 2017
I only discovered this wonderful series a couple of months ago, through another blogger, and it’s become a real favourite in that short space of time. I do like to read books set in this era and have found this series particularly fascinating. I loved all the wonderful descriptions of Berlin, the people and the places, and I felt as though I’d been transported back to 1930s Germany. I’ve learnt so much about the rise of the Nazi party and in particular the lives of the top men and their families.
In Solitaire, Clara has to visit Paris and Lisbon. I love the way both cities are described, making me feel as though I had visited along with Clara, experiencing everything she did.
Once again, as in the previous books, there are lots of twists and turns, full of tense situations for Clara. I particularly enjoyed the evocative descriptions of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and the brief appearance of Ian Fleming.
If, like me, you enjoy historical fiction that has been wonderfully researched, you’ll definitely enjoy this series. I’ve already started recommending them to anyone and everyone and can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Thank you so much to Jane Thynne for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review, and to Sian Devine for the invitation to join in this tour.
In Solitaire, Clara has to visit Paris and Lisbon. I love the way both cities are described, making me feel as though I had visited along with Clara, experiencing everything she did.
Once again, as in the previous books, there are lots of twists and turns, full of tense situations for Clara. I particularly enjoyed the evocative descriptions of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and the brief appearance of Ian Fleming.
If, like me, you enjoy historical fiction that has been wonderfully researched, you’ll definitely enjoy this series. I’ve already started recommending them to anyone and everyone and can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Thank you so much to Jane Thynne for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review, and to Sian Devine for the invitation to join in this tour.
August 15, 2017
The Name is Vine, Clara Vine....
Solitaire: A Captivating Novel of intrigue and survival in wartime France was written by Jane Thynne and once again the author has created another wonderful read based on my favourite "spy". This is the fifth book in this series and once again we are brought into the life of Clara and as she lives by the Nazi law, obeying them in every way she makes it plain that her allegiance still remains with the British government though with each day the fear she lives with is multiplying as she knows some day her past will be found out.
As we watch her being dragged into the Nazi way of life her courage remains, as she follows the path they lay out her actions will always be ones of pure bravery.
Why I loved this series so much was mainly because the author used historical facts which she laced with fiction and created a wonderful book which I would happily recommend.
As always with Jane Thynne she introduces new characters and as their story develops I can honestly still be thankful that Germany was defeated as their way of life was lead by evil and the Nazi regime. The other main character was a child named Katerina and her story was as addictive as Clara's own but for Katerina, her bravery was shown in the most unexpected of ways.
Solitaire written by Jane Thynne is one book I would happily recommend as the storyline had me gripped throughout as Clara's life spun out of control when the Nazi's held all that she held dear to her hostage to keep her under their control. Clara did not realise when she made Berlin her home, she had actually signed a contract with the devil in the shape of Nazi Germany and all those who ruled it.
I would also recommend the audio version which was narrated once again by Julie Teal who narrated the previous books in this wonderful series.
An excellent book which was full of characters which brought history alive in so many ways.
Highly Addictive.
Solitaire: A Captivating Novel of intrigue and survival in wartime France was written by Jane Thynne and once again the author has created another wonderful read based on my favourite "spy". This is the fifth book in this series and once again we are brought into the life of Clara and as she lives by the Nazi law, obeying them in every way she makes it plain that her allegiance still remains with the British government though with each day the fear she lives with is multiplying as she knows some day her past will be found out.
As we watch her being dragged into the Nazi way of life her courage remains, as she follows the path they lay out her actions will always be ones of pure bravery.
Why I loved this series so much was mainly because the author used historical facts which she laced with fiction and created a wonderful book which I would happily recommend.
As always with Jane Thynne she introduces new characters and as their story develops I can honestly still be thankful that Germany was defeated as their way of life was lead by evil and the Nazi regime. The other main character was a child named Katerina and her story was as addictive as Clara's own but for Katerina, her bravery was shown in the most unexpected of ways.
Solitaire written by Jane Thynne is one book I would happily recommend as the storyline had me gripped throughout as Clara's life spun out of control when the Nazi's held all that she held dear to her hostage to keep her under their control. Clara did not realise when she made Berlin her home, she had actually signed a contract with the devil in the shape of Nazi Germany and all those who ruled it.
I would also recommend the audio version which was narrated once again by Julie Teal who narrated the previous books in this wonderful series.
An excellent book which was full of characters which brought history alive in so many ways.
Highly Addictive.
January 5, 2017
June 1940: the first summer of the war. Berlin is being bombed and nightly blackouts suffocate the city. Then France falls and a shadow descends.
A shadow has fallen over Clara Vine’s own life, too. She is an Anglo-German woman in a country that hates England. Virulent anti-British propaganda is everywhere.
Then she is summoned to meet the Propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels who has decided that Clara should adopt a new role – as his spy — and that she must go to Paris on a mission.
I love this series of books-in this one Clara crosses the path of Ian Fleming and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor which made the book even more interesting.
I liked the Bond feel in Portugal and Clara' code name. Also that the book makes mention of the serial killer stalking Berlin at the time and was there an ode to Hans Fallada -alone in Berlin ? The postcards left on the train?
Wonderful series,love the descriptions of Berlin,France,Portugal,the fashion etc of the time. Highly recommend this series of books and look forward to the next one.
A shadow has fallen over Clara Vine’s own life, too. She is an Anglo-German woman in a country that hates England. Virulent anti-British propaganda is everywhere.
Then she is summoned to meet the Propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels who has decided that Clara should adopt a new role – as his spy — and that she must go to Paris on a mission.
I love this series of books-in this one Clara crosses the path of Ian Fleming and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor which made the book even more interesting.
I liked the Bond feel in Portugal and Clara' code name. Also that the book makes mention of the serial killer stalking Berlin at the time and was there an ode to Hans Fallada -alone in Berlin ? The postcards left on the train?
Wonderful series,love the descriptions of Berlin,France,Portugal,the fashion etc of the time. Highly recommend this series of books and look forward to the next one.
January 27, 2017
Another wonderful installment in the Clara Vine series. The book is only available on kindle and in the UK at this time, but well worth the snail mail wait. Many storylines are beginning to overlap in this novel, and Clara encounters such famous English expats as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Ian Fleming. At the same time, new, threatening Germans are introduced, and Clara takes on life altering responsibilities while dodging the Nazi radar looking for suspected spies.
June 26, 2019
This is the 5th book in a series, about Anglo German Clara Vine, who is living in Germany just as the Germans have invaded France and things are beginning to look a bit dicey. Summoned to see Josef Goebbels, she is worried that she might have been caught out, because of course our lady hero has a sneaky radio which could get her into trouble.
While I enjoyed most of this novel, I would have been more informed had I read the earlier books, and I felt it was a little forced that she would meet up with Ian Fleming and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and have so much influence on them. It would seem being an actress that she would stand out and would be being watched wherever she went, so her ability to sneak around seemed a bit doubtful to me.
While I enjoyed most of this novel, I would have been more informed had I read the earlier books, and I felt it was a little forced that she would meet up with Ian Fleming and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and have so much influence on them. It would seem being an actress that she would stand out and would be being watched wherever she went, so her ability to sneak around seemed a bit doubtful to me.
December 11, 2017
WW2 - novel set mainly in Berlin. On this link the author also talks to us about her research and the city: https://www.tripfiction.com/novel-set...
This is the first book I have read by Jane, and it won’t be the last. The meticulous research and extremely polished writing skills combine to make this a very readable novel. Set at the heart of the Nazi elite, actress Clara Vine has infiltrated the high echelons of German command. She is part German, part British and as a spy for the British over the past 7 years, she has had a very fine line to tread.
Now, however, she has the ear of Goebbels and ironically he sends her to other European cities – Paris and Lisbon – to work as a spy for the Nazis. She would love to return to England but she is caring for a child and it seems that that relationship is being used leverage, she has no choice but to comply with his wishes.
The author weaves several strands into a well rounded narrative, taking her readers from the world of orphanages of the time (all part of the Lebensborn project) to a series of terrifying and random attacks on the Berlin Underground – U Bahn. It is possible that Clara inadvertently stumbled upon the attacker in the early part of the book!
‘Normality’ of the period is really quite shocking for people who know little about the era and the author really brings the reality of the time, the ways of thinking, the little details to sobering life. The Babelsberg Studios, where Clara works, are still a powerhouse of film production – after all, the movies are a good way to disseminate the Nazi creed with a touch of glamour, something all too absent in everyday life for the average German..
“Berlin was a city full of fear”
Clara lives in Winterfeldtstrasse, near Nollendorfplatz, which actually exists in the city today. When one visits Berlin, one can really feel history permeating the fabric of the buildings one still sees. There are real echoes of footsteps past.
Well researched detail conjures up a colourful history – who knew the Nazis wore phosphorescent lapel badges to show their allegiance in the dark; or that Goering kept lion cubs at home; or that Himmler suggested men take two wives. And particularly relevant for this time of year is that at Hitler’s Obersalzburg residence in the Alps, branches would be left in the salt mines below and extracted at Christmas when they would be covered with a glittering deposit of crystals, making a festive and impressive display.
I read this novel whilst in Berlin and it really got me thinking about the history, the people and how there is still such resonance from the war years built into the fabric of the present day city. Highly recommended.
This is the first book I have read by Jane, and it won’t be the last. The meticulous research and extremely polished writing skills combine to make this a very readable novel. Set at the heart of the Nazi elite, actress Clara Vine has infiltrated the high echelons of German command. She is part German, part British and as a spy for the British over the past 7 years, she has had a very fine line to tread.
Now, however, she has the ear of Goebbels and ironically he sends her to other European cities – Paris and Lisbon – to work as a spy for the Nazis. She would love to return to England but she is caring for a child and it seems that that relationship is being used leverage, she has no choice but to comply with his wishes.
The author weaves several strands into a well rounded narrative, taking her readers from the world of orphanages of the time (all part of the Lebensborn project) to a series of terrifying and random attacks on the Berlin Underground – U Bahn. It is possible that Clara inadvertently stumbled upon the attacker in the early part of the book!
‘Normality’ of the period is really quite shocking for people who know little about the era and the author really brings the reality of the time, the ways of thinking, the little details to sobering life. The Babelsberg Studios, where Clara works, are still a powerhouse of film production – after all, the movies are a good way to disseminate the Nazi creed with a touch of glamour, something all too absent in everyday life for the average German..
“Berlin was a city full of fear”
Clara lives in Winterfeldtstrasse, near Nollendorfplatz, which actually exists in the city today. When one visits Berlin, one can really feel history permeating the fabric of the buildings one still sees. There are real echoes of footsteps past.
Well researched detail conjures up a colourful history – who knew the Nazis wore phosphorescent lapel badges to show their allegiance in the dark; or that Goering kept lion cubs at home; or that Himmler suggested men take two wives. And particularly relevant for this time of year is that at Hitler’s Obersalzburg residence in the Alps, branches would be left in the salt mines below and extracted at Christmas when they would be covered with a glittering deposit of crystals, making a festive and impressive display.
I read this novel whilst in Berlin and it really got me thinking about the history, the people and how there is still such resonance from the war years built into the fabric of the present day city. Highly recommended.
April 25, 2022
This, the 5th book in the Clara Vine series, is a bit of a letdown for me. There are gaping holes in the plot and I just can’t imagine two British agents openly discussing their true identities in a bar in Lisbon, a city that was crawling with Gestapo agents and spies during WWII. As for a supposedly top German interrogator leaving a safe with top-secret files unlocked and vacating the room in the middle of questioning Clara! And Clara loses her identity papers in Paris yet manages to travel normally around Berlin for two weeks without any ID? Nope, that just beggars belief. JTs research is impeccable as always. .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2020
The 5th book from Clara Vine series and the first one I read. The storyline was quite heavy for me but I do enjoy it. I didn't expect the plot twist in the end!
December 10, 2017
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This is the fifth book in the series but the first that I have read and I think it is fine to read as a stand alone as the author makes sure you catch up on everything needed to fully enjoy the book.
I really enjoyed the story and I am in the middle of a phase reading historical fiction set in World War II so this fell in nicely for me with my other reads. Whilst this is the first book that I have read by this author and it certainly won't be the last, I really loved the writing style and the characters were great - the whole story flowed really well. It was gripping in places and I was hooked.
I really enjoyed it and have given the book 4.5 stars and rounded this up to 5 for Goodreads and Amazon and will definitely be looking to read the previous books in the series now!!
This is the fifth book in Jane Thynne's series, the previous books are as follows (UK titles):
1. Black Roses
2. The Winter Garden
3. A War of Flowers
4. Faith and Beauty
This is the fifth book in the series but the first that I have read and I think it is fine to read as a stand alone as the author makes sure you catch up on everything needed to fully enjoy the book.
I really enjoyed the story and I am in the middle of a phase reading historical fiction set in World War II so this fell in nicely for me with my other reads. Whilst this is the first book that I have read by this author and it certainly won't be the last, I really loved the writing style and the characters were great - the whole story flowed really well. It was gripping in places and I was hooked.
I really enjoyed it and have given the book 4.5 stars and rounded this up to 5 for Goodreads and Amazon and will definitely be looking to read the previous books in the series now!!
This is the fifth book in Jane Thynne's series, the previous books are as follows (UK titles):
1. Black Roses
2. The Winter Garden
3. A War of Flowers
4. Faith and Beauty
December 14, 2017
great story, looking forward to her next one
April 8, 2018
Oh I couldn't put this book down, I was lucky enough to have a lot of time on public transport this week with this book and I have rarely been happier to have an excuse to keep reading. I knew the author would not disappoint and I was right. Two five star books in a row, I have been seriously spoilt on that front.
Clara's world is so vivid and she as a character feels so real. You can almost feel her tiredness when having to constantly deal with these people again and again. Not able to start a family of her own because of it. She is no superspy, but all the same she has excellent instincts and training to survive in this world. Even if it is reluctantly. What I especially like is that Clara at this point does not make beginners mistakes for the sake of the plot. Nor is she as I mentioned before, superhuman. She, like the other characters, feels very real and authentic.
I am also always intrigued by the organisations Jane Thynne has chosen to write about. Some of these I have never heard off and so reading this series is not just entertainment, but also an education. I am looking forward to Clara's return to Britain and SOE training(if there is to be a return in the next book that is, I know there is a sixth book, but sadly I haven't seen the blurb of it yet). If she joins the network she might finally have some dependable collegues and someone to count on. I have a feeling she really needs that and looking at her situation who can blame her?
And lastly, I was so happy about the resolution to Katherina's storyline, I will not give you any details, you'll have to find out for yourself (and please do, if you love realistic WWII fiction this is a must read) it was just so fitting.
I'll really have to stop here though before I reveal too much of the story. That is how much I love this series.
Clara's world is so vivid and she as a character feels so real. You can almost feel her tiredness when having to constantly deal with these people again and again. Not able to start a family of her own because of it. She is no superspy, but all the same she has excellent instincts and training to survive in this world. Even if it is reluctantly. What I especially like is that Clara at this point does not make beginners mistakes for the sake of the plot. Nor is she as I mentioned before, superhuman. She, like the other characters, feels very real and authentic.
I am also always intrigued by the organisations Jane Thynne has chosen to write about. Some of these I have never heard off and so reading this series is not just entertainment, but also an education. I am looking forward to Clara's return to Britain and SOE training(if there is to be a return in the next book that is, I know there is a sixth book, but sadly I haven't seen the blurb of it yet). If she joins the network she might finally have some dependable collegues and someone to count on. I have a feeling she really needs that and looking at her situation who can blame her?
And lastly, I was so happy about the resolution to Katherina's storyline, I will not give you any details, you'll have to find out for yourself (and please do, if you love realistic WWII fiction this is a must read) it was just so fitting.
I'll really have to stop here though before I reveal too much of the story. That is how much I love this series.
November 6, 2017
Picked this up at the airport, based my purchase on the book blurb. Turns out it's #5 of what's so far a series of 5 books about Clara Vine, a half-British, half-German actress living in Berlin during WWII who's secretly spying for the Allies. It's fun and she's an interesting enough character.
Though the writing isn't brilliant, what made this book so interesting (and this seems to be true for the rest of the series, though I still haven't read all the books) is that Vine, because of her public status as a relatively well-known actress in Germany and her father's pro-Fascist reputation in the UK (he's some sort of low level British nobility and thus high profile), has access to the highest level of Nazi society. As such, she meets, works with and or otherwise socializes with Nazi nobility including Josef and Magda Goebbels, Emmy and Hermann Goering, even Eva Braun on occasion. The author's upclose and personal descriptions of these people, the lives they led and the rivalries they engaged in make the book.
So here I am, getting in at the end of the series. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the book.
Though the writing isn't brilliant, what made this book so interesting (and this seems to be true for the rest of the series, though I still haven't read all the books) is that Vine, because of her public status as a relatively well-known actress in Germany and her father's pro-Fascist reputation in the UK (he's some sort of low level British nobility and thus high profile), has access to the highest level of Nazi society. As such, she meets, works with and or otherwise socializes with Nazi nobility including Josef and Magda Goebbels, Emmy and Hermann Goering, even Eva Braun on occasion. The author's upclose and personal descriptions of these people, the lives they led and the rivalries they engaged in make the book.
So here I am, getting in at the end of the series. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the book.
November 21, 2017
I loved this book-Wonderful story. True to history. The further I got into the book, the faster I was flipping the pages and the less patient I was to know what was going to happen next with the various characters. Definitely a nail-biter.
March 29, 2025
This is the final book is the series and I was curious how it would end. Overall I was fairly satisfied with the - the reader can imagine Clara (and her new love interest) surviving and having a happy ending after the war is over.
As usual there is a secondary mystery story in addition to the regular spying. A teenage girl named Katerina is alone after her father died unexpectedly. She is sent to a Nazi group home. Katerina has a half sister, Sonje, a cabaret singer, but she has disappeared.
Throughout the series, the author has interwoven real historical persons and events into the fictional plots. In this one I was delighted that Clara meets Ian Fleming when she is sent to Lisbon.
My only problem is that with finishing this book I have no idea what I’m going to read next! I’ve really enjoyed my extended visit to the WW2 era; I can’t decide whether to stay here or move on.
As usual there is a secondary mystery story in addition to the regular spying. A teenage girl named Katerina is alone after her father died unexpectedly. She is sent to a Nazi group home. Katerina has a half sister, Sonje, a cabaret singer, but she has disappeared.
Throughout the series, the author has interwoven real historical persons and events into the fictional plots. In this one I was delighted that Clara meets Ian Fleming when she is sent to Lisbon.
My only problem is that with finishing this book I have no idea what I’m going to read next! I’ve really enjoyed my extended visit to the WW2 era; I can’t decide whether to stay here or move on.
January 9, 2017
Jane Thynne skilfully interweaves historical facts with fiction to tell great stories and Solitaire is no exception. It is now 1940, Germany is at war with Britain and France is under occupation. Clara Vine is experiencing food shortages, blackouts and the possibility of air raids in Berlin. However, she is still working at the Ufa film studios, is still mixing with the Nazi elite and it appears that Goebbels still trusts her. In this novel, Clara encounters Walter Schellenberg of the SD, Ian Fleming and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, visiting both Paris and Lisbon. Greater focus on espionage rather than crime in this book, the series goes from strength to strength and I can't wait to see what Jane Thynne had planned for Clara next.
June 12, 2017
In Clara Vine's 5th outing, Germany invaded France a month ago. Although Clara had laid low for the past few months, Goebbels sends her on unwanted errands to France and Portugal that summer. She isn't sure if her connections to the British spy network have been found out or if Goebbels is testing her loyalty to Germany. As Clara struggles to keep both herself and her godson, Erich, safe, she also wonders whose web she's been caught in. All the Clare Vine novels present a fascinating look at Nazi life from the viewpoints and experiences of its women and children. This outing gives you a glimpse of life for orphans, the kinderreich culture, and a paranoid population.
February 26, 2017
June 1940 and now Clara Vine is invited to spy for the Germans, by no less a figure than Goebbels himself. Of course she's already a British spy. And an actress. She has a lot to pack in to her days. She meets the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and becomes ever further embroiled in the business of the Third Reich. She is sent to Lisbon on a mission.
Don't want to spoil this for you, but urge you to read all Jane Thynne's Clara Vine novels. Starting with "Black Roses".
The writing is brilliant and the plots are fascinating.
Five stars.
Don't want to spoil this for you, but urge you to read all Jane Thynne's Clara Vine novels. Starting with "Black Roses".
The writing is brilliant and the plots are fascinating.
Five stars.
June 21, 2017
A spy/thriller set during the second world war as Clara Vine, half German and half English is working in Berlin as an actress. She is trapped in a web of German intrigue between different members of the hierarchy and hopes at each point that she may be able to escape to Britain.
I hadn't realised when I started this it was part of a series. It reads as a stand alone novel although there are many references to events prior to this book. It was a gripping read with a huge amount of historical details and research. Very enjoyable.
I hadn't realised when I started this it was part of a series. It reads as a stand alone novel although there are many references to events prior to this book. It was a gripping read with a huge amount of historical details and research. Very enjoyable.
September 12, 2017
It is the 5th book in the series and and I think that it improves with every book. I enjoy and appreciate the vivid description of Berlin (and in Paris, and in Lisbon) in the years before the war and in this book after the war started. Jane Thyne highlights aspects of everyday life, that I was not familiar with and are very interesting and vivid.
Not always the story line and Clara's life and adventures seem plausible to me, giving the circumstances, - but it is engaging and make for a fluent story. Looking forward for the next book.
Not always the story line and Clara's life and adventures seem plausible to me, giving the circumstances, - but it is engaging and make for a fluent story. Looking forward for the next book.
February 19, 2022
After finishing the fifth book of the series, i still have an overall positive opinion of it. I enjoy the spy atmosphere and all the small details of life in Nazi Germany. I appreciate how much research the author did and how hard it must be to bring it to life and join it.
Yet, I am increasingly puzzled at how trusting Clara - and other spies - are with each other. It is borderline alarming to see these people in great danger, sharing their identities, lives and mission with absolute strangers. Except Leo, I often find her romantic interest quite unconvincing and over the top. It is the case on that book too.
The bit with Ian Fleming was a bit too much. I’m very surprised at how he is portrayed a very handsome and so when the pictures online aren’t very flattering. I’m also uncomfortable with how rapey he is depicted. Was his behaviour probably common at the time? Certainly, but in a post metoo era, I would expect some acknowledgement that this behaviour is unacceptable, a call out of sort and there is none of it. I don’t know much about him, but I would have appreciated a note saying that he behaves in such a way. The way it is, sounds like slander about a historical figure for absolutely no reason.
Despite that, I’m looking forward to the next instalment - call me overly romantic but I don’t believe that Leo is really dead.
Originally gave 4 stars and then I remembered that in the depiction of the Dunkirk retreat, ms Thynne mentioned solely the bravery of Englishmen coming to help their soldiers and save them from Germans, completely removing from the narrative the french troupes that actually fought the German army to allow British to escape. In a context of Brexit and rise of nationalism, it is playing well in the national narrative of England saving itself, and is quite concerning coming from an international author.
Yet, I am increasingly puzzled at how trusting Clara - and other spies - are with each other. It is borderline alarming to see these people in great danger, sharing their identities, lives and mission with absolute strangers. Except Leo, I often find her romantic interest quite unconvincing and over the top. It is the case on that book too.
The bit with Ian Fleming was a bit too much. I’m very surprised at how he is portrayed a very handsome and so when the pictures online aren’t very flattering. I’m also uncomfortable with how rapey he is depicted. Was his behaviour probably common at the time? Certainly, but in a post metoo era, I would expect some acknowledgement that this behaviour is unacceptable, a call out of sort and there is none of it. I don’t know much about him, but I would have appreciated a note saying that he behaves in such a way. The way it is, sounds like slander about a historical figure for absolutely no reason.
Despite that, I’m looking forward to the next instalment - call me overly romantic but I don’t believe that Leo is really dead.
Originally gave 4 stars and then I remembered that in the depiction of the Dunkirk retreat, ms Thynne mentioned solely the bravery of Englishmen coming to help their soldiers and save them from Germans, completely removing from the narrative the french troupes that actually fought the German army to allow British to escape. In a context of Brexit and rise of nationalism, it is playing well in the national narrative of England saving itself, and is quite concerning coming from an international author.
October 5, 2024
It is June 1940 in Berlin, the first summer of the war. Nightly bombings have been happenings. It is not the place where Clara Vine wants to be.
Clara is half English, half German. She is officially working as an actress for the German film department. Unofficially she has done spy work for Britain. She would dearly like to get out of Germany and back to Britain.
Then she is called in by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels and told she needs to travel to Paris to spy for the Nazis. She fulfills the job there as well as helping to smuggle industrial diamonds out of Paris for Britain. The Germans are desperate to get these diamonds for their war effort.
At the same time, we meet Katerina, a young girl who has a disabled leg. She is an orphan and is placed in an orphanage although she has a sister Sonja. Sophia is a singer but we find out later she has been doing some diamond smuggling for Britain.
Then Clara gets sent to Lisbon to meet with Walter Schellenberg, a highup Nazi official who is known for getting information out of people.
Also in Lisbon she comes across the cache of diamonds that Sonja was trying to smuggle. Clara meets the Duke and Duchess of Windsor also in Lisbon. She manages to hand over the diamonds to the Duke as well as getting them to take a ship to the Bahamas before they are kidnapped by the Germans.
Clara finds out Katerina is about to be sent to a school where handicapped children are eventually going to be disposed off. She is able to adopt her, knowing Sonja is going to take over.
At the very end, Clara is being asked to go to Britain to undergo extensive spy schooling. She is still considering that move, as she has her godson Erich to be considered.
This book had a lot of adventure. I sure hope there is a book # 6 coming out.
Clara is half English, half German. She is officially working as an actress for the German film department. Unofficially she has done spy work for Britain. She would dearly like to get out of Germany and back to Britain.
Then she is called in by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels and told she needs to travel to Paris to spy for the Nazis. She fulfills the job there as well as helping to smuggle industrial diamonds out of Paris for Britain. The Germans are desperate to get these diamonds for their war effort.
At the same time, we meet Katerina, a young girl who has a disabled leg. She is an orphan and is placed in an orphanage although she has a sister Sonja. Sophia is a singer but we find out later she has been doing some diamond smuggling for Britain.
Then Clara gets sent to Lisbon to meet with Walter Schellenberg, a highup Nazi official who is known for getting information out of people.
Also in Lisbon she comes across the cache of diamonds that Sonja was trying to smuggle. Clara meets the Duke and Duchess of Windsor also in Lisbon. She manages to hand over the diamonds to the Duke as well as getting them to take a ship to the Bahamas before they are kidnapped by the Germans.
Clara finds out Katerina is about to be sent to a school where handicapped children are eventually going to be disposed off. She is able to adopt her, knowing Sonja is going to take over.
At the very end, Clara is being asked to go to Britain to undergo extensive spy schooling. She is still considering that move, as she has her godson Erich to be considered.
This book had a lot of adventure. I sure hope there is a book # 6 coming out.
June 7, 2017
I do love the Clara Vine books, but this one felt weaker than the others, I think because it ended so abruptly - there were a few things that felt like plot holes, and I'm not sure if they will be addressed in the next book as part of a wider plan or if they really were just left there hanging. Why is Clara so sure Sonja is coming back? Is it based on her conversation with Schellenberg, and if it is then why is she so sure this will happen even after she has figured out he was playing her all along? Were the diamonds really supposed to go to the Duke? To be honest, I was expecting the conveniently open safe with top secret plans to be a trap to implicate Clara - it is a rather large mistake for a top spycatcher and puppetmaster as Schellenberg is described as to make. The book is on a larger scale than previous books, but that also led to some chance meetings and coincidences seeming just too convenient. Introducing Ian Fleming also seriously jolted me out of the narrative, in a way having other real characters didn't.
Having said all that, I read the book in one sitting and found it a very satisfying read, as reflected in my rating - just not quite as excellent as previous books in the series.
Having said all that, I read the book in one sitting and found it a very satisfying read, as reflected in my rating - just not quite as excellent as previous books in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2025
(4.5 stars) This is the 5th book in the series. Clara has renounced her spy activities while grieving. She is acting and trying to take care of her godson who is eager to enlist in the Luftwaffe. Clara is very concerned when she is summoned by Goebbels to complete a spy mission for him in France, testing the loyalty of a performer. She looks at this as a potential opportunity to find a way out of Germany, but fears over her godson keep her in check. Later she is summoned to Lisbon to meet the head of foreign intelligence, Walter Schellenberg, and she is fearful for her life. While there, she meets several interesting characters, including the spy, Ian Fleming, along with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. There is a plot afoot regarding the Windsors and Clara may be key to finding out the information. There is an intriguing subplot involving a girl who has been put in an orphanage and her missing sister which weaves in both the Nazi plan to eliminate children with defects and a smuggling plot. The story is full of suspense and intrigue as Clara’s life is on the line.
March 19, 2018
I have read the previous 4 Clara Vine books and found this one just as interesting. Jane Thynne gives us background to the Nazi Germany already highlighted through many famous books and films covering that period. Her research draws in some excellent detail through her fictional character, Clara. This book, set in 1940, has an underlying story of a disabled and orphaned young teenager, Katerina, desperately looking for her sister before the Nazi regime dispatch her on to unknown horrors.
Meanwhile Clara herself, an actress, still working undercover, comes into contact with a variety of real-life characters of the period who are involved in war-time activities. During her time in Berlin, Paris and Portugal there is always the possibility that her cover has been blown. If so she knows she will certainly be killed.
Meanwhile Clara herself, an actress, still working undercover, comes into contact with a variety of real-life characters of the period who are involved in war-time activities. During her time in Berlin, Paris and Portugal there is always the possibility that her cover has been blown. If so she knows she will certainly be killed.
September 12, 2018
Clara Vine is still living in Berlin in 1940. She continues to work as the actress she is in the German film industry. But she also is continuing her role as a spy for British Intelligence. Her lover, Leo Quinn and another man, a German soldier have been reported killed in an auto accident. This news is devastating to Clara. But Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels has decided to send her to Paris to be a spy for the Nazis and she realizes that this could be her chance to get out of Germany and back to England and safety. The description of German life and troubles the people have just to survive is told very well by the author as in the prior novels about Clara. I thought this might be the last one about her but it looks like there are many unanswered questions to be taken care of yet.
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