Dancing with Deception

by Catherine McCullagh

Marisa Carnarvon is an enigma to her family. In 1938 she turns her back on her family’s money and status and leaves her comfortable pre-war Sydney lifestyle to become a nurse in a London city hospital. Against the backdrop of looming conflict, she moves to a Red Cross hospital in Paris in July 1939, totally unprepared for the challenge of life in an occupied city. In June 1940 the Germans invade Paris and the young nurse is soon ppressured by the leader of the local resistance cell to work for the fledgling movement. Her life is further enmeshed by the arrival of a new Gestapo chief who sets out to seduce her. Marisa’s position becomes increasingly precarious as the resistance hunts for a traitor in the organisation. Suspicion falls on one of the hospital’s doctors and he is murdered, throwing Marisa into the resistance firing line.As the war approaches its climax, Marisa’s Gestapo lover flees and the young nurse follows. He is ultimately revealed as a key operator in a resistance escape line that traverses four countries. But he has a secret which threatens to crush him. Marisa finally discovers the truth behind the man who risked his life to save others in a masterpiece of deception.

Genres: World War II

490 pages, Paperback

Published August 17, 2017

Reviews

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars for this overly descriptive and long read. I feel that the editing was lacking and the read became a little boring which is a shame as the context and plot are well conceived.

The read centres on an Australian, Marisa, a highly intelligent blue eyed blonde that everyone falls in love with. Her sister, Isabella simply cannot compete with her but in considering her own rather shallow and limited reach in life understandable, one of being accepted into the high eschellonce of society, of marrying well and living for parties and exclusive shopping blah blah! So, the two are at odds with each other and in order to extricate herself from the drama of her sister's fiancé declaring his love for her, Marisa, ever persuasive where her father is concerned is able to train as a nurse and as fortune has it, with the assistance of a visiting English Aunt she is accepted at an exclusive hospital in London and further with the onset of WW2 moving to a Red Cross hospital in Paris. All this gives Marisa the opportunity to escape the family, her restrictive mother and her difficult sister.

The read continues with a variety of personalities and events with war looming and the German invasion moving to Paris. Marisa is given a senior position at the Red Cross hospital in Paris, comes into contact with a famous Parisian fashion designer who is desperate for models, many having left Paris because of the war. Marisa fits the bill for reasons other than modeling; at the after event soirees she is able to glean any information from loose-lipped German officials and Gestapo attendees. However as fate would have it, an introduction to a good looking German officer seals Marisa's life to one of extreme danger; a dedicated nurse with the pitfalls of war, lover, and resistance spy.

[Allison Paterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written portrayal of WWII. Highly recommended.

[Rena Ong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and i rated 5 stars though this app seems to be only showing three for some reason.
This is a well researched book and not heavy reading. A great way to learn about various organisations involved in paris in its occupational time in WW2’ as well as ordinary people whose life is changed and the unknown risks many took on , lest we forget.
It made me look up Rene Carmille who died to save others, and the many unnamed we must remember

[Maria Augustus-Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written - so descriptive and entertaining. Catherine McCullagh has a way with words. She takes you on a journey through difficult times, but does it oh so well. Can highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in history, particularly nursing during WWII. Loved it!

[Stef O'connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction, one of my favourite genres. I enjoyed the read for a lot of the book but it could have done with some serious editing. I thought there was far too much filling out of the story that was unnecessary, it was very slow going in the first half of the book because of that, and, I must admit to skimming instead of reading some pages/chapters. A very interesting read on occupied France, it was good to see some real historical figures mentioned with René Carmille’s story being touched on - he was a member of the resistance movement of Pierre Sonneville an unsung hero.

[Anthony Irven · Rating 1 out of 5]

What slog this book was.

[Lyn Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading stories relating to ww1 and ww2 but although this had an interesting plot I found it slow going at times