The Lines We Leave Behind

by Eliza Graham

England, 1947: A young woman finds herself under close observation in an insane asylum, charged with a violent crime she has no memory of committing. As she tries to make sense of her recent past, she recalls very little.

But she still remembers wartime in Yugoslavia. There she and her lover risked everything to carry out dangerous work resisting the Germans—a heroic campaign in which many brave comrades were lost. After that, the trail disappears into confusion. How did she come to be trapped in a living nightmare?

As she struggles to piece together the missing years of her life, she will have to confront the harrowing experiences of her special-operations work and peacetime marriage. Only then can she hope to regain the vital memories that will uncover the truth: is she really a violent criminal…or was she betrayed?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, Historical, War, Mystery, British Literature

319 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2018

About the author

Eliza Graham is an Oxfordshire-based UK author whose adult novels reflect her fascination with how historical events affect families..

Reviews

[Katie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is no shortage of World War 2 historical fiction on the market, however there are a few things that make this book stand out among the others. First, some of the story takes place in Yugoslavia which isn't a setting that is normally featured in this genre. The other thing that makes this story a bit unusual is the main character is a patient in an insane asylum a few years after the war. Looking for something different is what made made me choose this book for my free Amazon First Reads pick of the month.

The year is 1947 and Maud is a patient in an insane asylum in England but she is struggling to figure out how she ended up there. With the help of her doctor she slowly regains her memory and remembers her time during the war as a secret agent working in Yugoslavia. How is it all connected?

The main issue I had with this book is for about 3/4 of the story I just did not feel a connection with the main character which is weird because you would think the combination of someone in dangerous situations because of the war and being in an insane asylum would get me to feel something. But the writing just left me with this empty feeling, as if something was missing. Thankfully, things start to come together by the last part of the book. I just wish it hadn't taken so long to get to that point.

There were a few instances in which I thought the author waited too long to explain something or glossed over completely. To be honest, I think the premise of the book was unique but the execution wasn't the best. If I'm comparing it to other World War 2 historical fiction, it's not the most compelling. However, if you are looking for something a ittle bit different especially one that gives you a bit of a history lesson on what was going on in Yugoslavia during that time period, this is a decent pick.

[Mel (Epic Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars overall.
There are a number of things to know about The Lines We Leave Behind in advance of reading it that might help you determine if it's for you:
1) Flashbacks.
Most of the book is told in a series of flashbacks. Our narrator can only tell the parts of the story she knows (and so it may not be fulsome at times)
2) Action then nothing.
The first 60% of this book is very quick, action-packed excitement. The last 40% is poignant, about relationships and our characters. It mellows right out. If you want a fast paced book for the whole time this is likely not for you.
3) Historical Context Lacking.
I was really hoping for some good insight into WWII and how it played out in the complex and politically unstable country of Yugoslavia at the time. Unfortunately Eliza Graham barely scratches the surface of what could have been a very informative book. While we learn about some of the rival groups and how many families were divided on either side of the conflict; the reality is that reading a Wiki page would give you more context and facts than we receive here. I was very disappointed by the lack of depth to this part of the story (and that in the afterward Graham even admits to the story being almost 100% fictional).

Still Pretty Good
Now all that to say this is actually a well written book. It wasn't necessarily what I was hoping for; but that didn't stop me from loving our characters and feeling for them by the bittersweet ending. I was very invested with our leading lady, her combat friends and spy handler (for lack of a better description).
Graham handles the idea of going from a covert high-adrenaline mission to average everyday life where no one knows how amazing you might have been at one moment in your life. This is a common experience for military, police, firefighters and EMS. Plus you also add in the PTSD aspects that invade at random times and it makes "normal" life feel very unsatisfying.

Publication
The biggest disappointment I have with The Lines We Leave Behind has nothing to do with writing, characters, plot, etc. I hate that publishers today (ahem, Amazon) have 'exclusive' agreements to only have some books on their devices. I know many indie authors say that Amazon makes them the most money; but for those outside of the USA (the only country where Kindle is the top e-reader) it limits our options. I read this entirely on my iPhone because I have a Kobo, not a Kindle. But I did want to read it badly enough to suck it up. I do however worry that this limits the audience significantly.
If I can give one piece of advice to indie authors; if you must start with Amazon for your first 6 months or a year do so. But then open up your book to all platforms and stores! There's (literally) hundreds of millions of people who may want to read your book but don't have Kindle capability.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

[Mary J Starry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The relationship between the protagonist and her eventual husband never seemed real to me, which was a problem. Probably my main issue with the book was the very unsatisfying ending, however. When I read actual history I know fairness is not often the result. However in fiction I'm looking for an ending that justifies the battle against evil with the good guys winning out. This book was so depressing at end that I wish I had never read it.

[Wendy Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and the development of the characters. Felt completely immersed in the story. A heart-rending story from start to finish.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story totally captivated me from start to finish. The author managed to have me see it happen from the perspective of the young woman who is totally confused about what has happened to her and whether or not she is sane. At the same time I had no problem following along with the story, because it was very clearly told. The author switched from first person telling to third person in what I felt was very effective in moving the focus from the woman being in the institution to the time that she was recalling in the past. The movement in time often happened quickly, but I always knew where the story was.

This is not an easy story in that it deals with the hard times in a war zone. There is some insight into the very complex history of former Yugoslavia. It is not a book for everyone, but I did feel that the material was covered sensitively while still giving a sense of the trauma endured by all involved in such a struggle.

The story itself was what kept me interested, not just the desire to know what actually happened. I found the characters, their values, and their decisions to be very good reading.

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This took awhile to get going, and it took me a few days to really get into the story. It did help after I speed up the playback to 1.3X, the fastest I've had to listen a narrator.

We meet Maude while she's being treated in a mental institution after the end of WWII. We don't know why she's there, and neither does she, so we follow along with her as she recovers her memories and figures out what happened to her - and it is messed up, yo.

There's also some interesting details about Yugoslavia/Croatia/Bosnia during the last years of WWII and how the political landscape there eventually led to the Yugoslav/Croatian war in the 90s as we learn more about what Maude did during her war mission.

I can't really say more than that without giving away things. I do like that not everything gets answered, because they wouldn't be, given Maude's circumstances. We're given just enough to paste things together in a way that makes sense, but we'll never know some things for certain, but that's all right. This isn't a mystery where the details are essential to the whole, but a tale of the human spirit to prevail over great adversity.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

its a very engaging story about a brutal time in europe's history. The story of her deployment seems very realistic and plausible. I suffered with the characters but thats expected in a good book. I don't know why she would train so much for a 4 month deployment... that doesn't make sense. She wasn't removed because the war was over. If she was doing such good work she would have stayed.

But what I don't like is that the last part of the book just isn't true to the character. Robert... maybe, but not Maud. Maud is a fighter. She does the right thing. Even though she may have PTSD, she keeps herself together. Even with the emotional trauma at the hands of Robert, she would not languish 50 years in a mental institution. Thats just lame.

I read for enlightment and enjoyment. This book did have very interesting historical fiction content and I would have given it 4 or 5 stars with a better ending.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read numerous novels set during WWII and have thoroughly enjoyed most of them, but I never really connected with The Lines We Leave Behind. Having the main protagonist a patient in a mental asylum a few years after the war made for an interesting plot, but it never delivered. Much of the book was slow and I didn't trust Robert from the start. I felt that the author glossed over Maud/Amber's training before her deployment to Yugoslavia as well as the danger she faced once there. I also didn't fully understand why no one questioned Maud's subsequent internment, especially her parents.

For me, The Lines We Leave Behind was never a compelling read and the fact that Maud languished in a hospital for 50 years didn't ring true to the character who risked her life during WWII. Amber was a fighter, courageous and unafraid to do the right thing, but Maud was a defeatist and gave up too willingly. A disappointing read.

[Cayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possible spoilers ahead*

This was an interesting read! I was worried at first because the pace was slow until I got about a quarter of the way in.

Once Amber’s mission really began and the action started I finally got hooked. I HAD to know what circumstances led to Maud’s current predicament.

This was our book club pick and the theme for this month was mental health. Maud spends the majority of the story and her life in an asylum. She’s not crazy though. She was manipulated, she suffered from untreated ptsd, she experienced traumatizing events and didn’t have anyone to talk to about them..but she wasn’t crazy. After certain events occurred (doves) Maud checked out for awhile, but at that point who wouldn’t have?

TLWLB left me feeling depressed. The bad guy(s) basically won. The story does end with a silver lining, but it wasn’t enough to make up for all the things Maud lost.

p.s. Robert was a twat from the beginning.

[Brenda Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book extremely hard to read.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can this woman survive?

Maud, young and impressionable, but also quite intuitive and talented is recruited, groomed & psychologically manipulated into participating in war by an older, manipulative, devious spy. As she falls in love with him, he uses her, mentally destroys her and discards her in an utterly despicable way. Can she survive this most devious man who is the father of her son? Is she strong enough to survive and move on with life? How strong is this woman...

[Goth Gone Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well crafted psychological puzzle

This book is a large jigsaw puzzle, jumbled together in a bag, with no clues as to the total image fully revealed once all pieces are out together. It's sad, shocking, and lovely all at once, a lush descriptive read that I couldn't put down.

Shell shock, battle fatigue, PTSD - a disorder by any other name, so to speak, would be as brutal. The lead character, Maud/Amber has been through so much that the book opens in a mental hospital. She switches from first person present to third person past to tell her tale, a strongly effective dissociative tool. She shares her story as she remembers it, with pieces gradually filling in to reveal her truth, and others weighing in to verify her accuracy.

There's romance, longing, war, violence, suspense, family affection, and so much more barely contained in the pages. It's a slow, descriptive build of a book, but I found the style entrancing despite the often dark subject matter. An example of the writing:

‘If you were a man there’d be bars you could go to, people drinking there who’d know the kind of thing you’d done. But you’re a woman. Stuck in the country,’ he went on. ‘Working with girls who spent the whole war in Shropshire, worrying about getting hold of nylons and wetting themselves about a dance in the village hall. How could they understand what it was like over there?’

[Renae Hinchey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read numerous novels set during WWII, but none that took place in Yugoslavia. As a historical fiction, “The Lines We Leave Behind” provided some history of the former Yugoslavia. The story begins with the main character, Maud, living in an insane asylum in London a few years after WWII. There she tries to recall her past during the war and regain her memory. The story goes back and forth from the present to the beginning of her training as a special agent for the Allies during WWII. During her training, she takes on the persona of Amber to become a well-trained spy on a dangerous intelligence mission to rescue allied soldiers.

I liked this book, but didn’t love it. Although I did learn about the conflict between the Serbs and the Croats, I found that parts of the story were slow. It was convoluted in parts of the book, as well as having several incidents that never seem to connect to the story. The book was both tragic and sad, and for me, the ending was a bit disappointing. Many found this book engaging and intriguing, but I didn’t find it to be one of those books that I would think about for weeks after reading it.

[Sarah 🌺 Books in Their Natural Habitat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maud is in an institution – for what, she doesn’t remember. Her doctor is helping her work through her experiences as a secret agent during WWII and the events that led to her being institutionalized after starting life as a civilian. As Maud peels away the layers of her mind, what will the truth uncover?

It has taken me a few days to calm down after finishing this book. While the first quarter of the book dragged to the point I almost gave up, it picked up rapidly and became one that messes with your head by the end. There were points of confusion – you’ll notice that sometimes she’s referred to as Maud and sometimes as Amber, and it took a while to get that clear delineation that they’re both the same person and when each name was used.

Without spoiling the book too much, the depth of trauma and betrayal uncovered toward the end of the book will hit readers hard. It’s a lot to take in, especially if you’ve experienced highly skilled manipulators and abuse.

If you’re looking for a WWII-era book that explores the mental health of someone who has experienced traumas and is institutionalized, give this book a read!

[Christine Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting Story, Great Characters

The writing of Eliza Graham is a wonderful statement of her love for these characters. Maud was an intelligent but shy young woman in England who was recruited and trained by Robert to be part of a group parachuting into Yugoslavia during World War II. The training was rigorous and required her to assume a new identity. When she came home, she could not believe how lucky she was when the handsome and charming Robert began spending time with her. Maud knew there were times when she felt like Amber, her wartime identity, but she hid her symptoms thinking it would go away. Was Robert the man she thought he was?

This well written story was interesting with enough plot shifts to keep my attention. This is not your average WW 'll espionage/thriller/romance. It earned the 5 star rating by its excellence.

[Jph12 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pathetic woman with loose morals is seduced by her boss, a giant douchebag with no morals. Even though he's obviously a giant douchebag, she thinks he's the most wonderfulest man in the whole wide world. After a brief diversion to Yugoslavia during WWII, we find out that the giant douchebag has douchebaggery inside of him the depths of which we have barely begun to plumb.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up until 2:30 in the morning to finish this novel. I want to cry for Maud/Amber for her lost years. The writing is beautiful and lyrical, with wonderful characterization. Most importantly, the novel shows the power and resilience of women who live with trauma inflicted on them especially during times of war.

[Tara♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was certainly interesting and well researched. The insights into Yugoslavia and what was happening there during WWII were eye opening and I feel I’ll need to do a deep dive into that history.

This is really a 3.5 star rating for me and with the amount of research obviously put into it I should probably give it a little higher but I just didn’t connect with the characters and because of that I’m leaving it at 3.5!

Worth a read for sure though.

[Joanne Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

First half a bit slow. But then gets yo be a page turner

[Good Book Fairy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Sarah Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this down, the twist and turns make this book one you will want to keep reading.

[Rebecca]

Kindle First Reads - October 2018

[Judi Easley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lines We Leave Behind

Eliza Graham

Lake Union Publishing, Nov 2018

308 pages, Kindle, hardcover, paperback, audiobook, MP3 CD

General Fiction, Women’s Lit

✮✮✮✮✮

The cover is appropriate and somber. Not so much an eye-catcher, but totally the woman with the beret going off on her mission. The title, I kept wanting to change it to “lives left behind”. Once you read this book, you will understand why I say that. So many left behind, so many sacrificed for someone’s cause.

The story itself starts out in an asylum for the insane. It has two sides separated by a green baize door. On one side are kept the patients who can be trusted to behave to a certain degree and live in some degree of luxury. On the other side are those who cannot be trusted with sharp objects or open doors or around other patients and are given nothing like luxuries, only the basic necessities. This complex story starts out with Maud, who lives in luxury, reminiscing about her story and working through the memories that seem a bit muddled. Some things she remembers clearly and others seem like they were done by another person. Amber, she was Amber. Her wartime memories become clearer and sharper and much more real to her until she knows the truth. But can she be allowed to remember the truth? Will she need to make that trip to the other side of the green baize door?

Finally, the past comes alive in the form of the one man who knew everything, her ex-husband and trainer, Robert. Once more he disrupts her world and disappears. Over time, Amber fades to the back of her mind and she accepts what life has dealt her until she finally has a chance to contact the young man her estranged son has become. She finally has the chance to tell her story and get to know him. And hers is a remarkable story to tell. A female agent back and forth behind the lines during the war, captured, tortured, escaping, working with various rebel groups, seeing friends get killed, passing secret information, capturing important prisoners, helping prisoners escape, and finally betrayal and lies from those closest to her.

The pace and tension build and spiral up and down and back and forth through this magnificent story until you feel like you will burst if you don’t find out the truth. How can this woman stand what she has been through over and over again?

A fabulous combination of description and action, secrets and revelations. The author has created a book that will go on your “to read again” shelf for sure. This is not just a one-time read. Highly recommended for those who enjoy wartime stories, thrillers with strong women. Definitely going on my “To be read again” shelf.

[Kymm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book where the story is going along and it's good, but you feel as though the author is leading you somewhere, that the pieces he/she is giving you belong to a bigger puzzle? Then BAM the author starts to fill you in and it's now become a great book. Well this was one of those books. The first half of this book was really good, but I knew there had to be more, the author kept leaving little hints of information that didn't make much sense at the time, but later were instrumental in what really went on in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading every page and lately I've been into this whole mental health and asylum story line and this book takes place in a mental institution, well part of it does. A woman finds herself committed to a mental institution and is working out her memory lapses with her doctor. Through this analysis is how you find out about this woman's most interesting and dangerous life. The second half of the book was like sliding down a water slide, the author started piecing everything together and answering all my unanswered questions I'd had before and what a ride it was. The characters were easy to like and following them was like following a distant relative in your family. The story goes into the behind the scenes action of WWII on the Yugoslavian and Slovenian borders and the spies who were dropped in there to rescue downed airman and other patriots. Although this isn't the main theme of the book, it was extremely interesting, as I haven't read anything about this area during the war. It's more about the challenges this woman is trying to overcome after she comes home. I found this on Kindle Unlimited and it's another great book for free. I would recommend any historical fiction fans read this one, it's a definite must read for this genre. I love finding these unheard of books and finding them this good, like finding a pearl in an oyster!

[Corinne Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we meet the young woman in the asylum, World War II has been over for two years. What the war has to do with her mental illness, what her brain is keeping from her, that's what she's trying to find out. With the help of her therapist, she slowly starts to unravel the past, from her childhood in the Balkans to even more recent events, events that might help her understand why she is locked away. With the backdrop of both post-war London and a foreign battlezone, her memories are the threads that will put her story together.

I got this one for free from Kindle First Reads and by the time I got to it, I had no memory of what it was about so I went into it blind. I actually really liked it - I liked that it was set in a different World War II world than I usually read about, I liked the strong female protagonist, I thought even the first-person perspective of a person with trauma-induced mental illness was really well done. It's sad and it's mostly slow moving, but it kept me really interested. Some of the psychological stuff was creepy and while I wouldn't call it a thriller, it was definitely suspenseful in a few parts. Glad I tried it.

[Renata Riva · Rating 4 out of 5]

During WWII, Maud, a young woman, is recruited as a secret agent to support the resistance against the Germans in Yugoslavia. Her mission will encounter difficulties, but she manages to come back to England alive. Maud resumes a normal life as best she can after the traumatic experience, but she will soon realise that she is still part of a game she didn’t know she was playing.

"The Lines We Leave Behind" is a historical novel which takes place partly in the 40s, during and after WWII, and partly in more recent times, during the Yugoslav Wars of the 90s. Maud is initially a woman who doesn’t fit very well in her society. To work as a secret agent gives her an opportunity to do something she believes to be meaningful, but she will soon realise that, in war, the line between right and wrong can be very blurred.

It is quite a touching story with some unexpected twists. Maud seems a bit distant at times, but, by the end of the book, it is impossible not to sympathize with her. My only complaint is that the book should have been longer. There is quite a lot happening in about 300 pages. But it reads very well and I’ve enjoyed the unusual setting in the Balkans.

[Linda Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing story

Maud Knight, an ordinary young woman living in London during World War Hi, finds herself recruited to be trained as Amber, an undercover operative who is sent into Yugoslavia. Having fallen in love with her trainer, she is thrilled when he asks to marry her after the war. But their marriage takes a sudden turn after she learns of some of his wartime activities, and she gets institutionalized in a mental facility. Years later she is finally able to reconstruct everything & find closure in her life. This all sounds duller than the book but I don't want to give away too much plot. This is a well-constructed story with an intriguing plot & I highly recommend it.

[David L Kight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Understated epic

The background is a war, the action/ adventure is a spy thriller, the true battle is mental and personal. Yet it is all presented in a true life fashion, the day to day traps us as much as it does the protagonist. Schwarzenegger never jumps out of a helicopter bare- chested with guns blazing, but we don't need him. Reality is so much more amazing. Eliza gives us a sense of the people, their time, and their struggle. History tends to simplify a World War, but it's what happens to individuals, the unseen forces, that creates the waves that make history.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story backed by skilful writing.

I was immediately drawn into this story and couldn't let go until the last word. Each character is introduced according to their relationship with Maud/Amber the main character(s). Sometimes I feel like a story drawn out to give a satisfying ending can be clumsy and overwritten but this is not the case here. I will definitely add Ms Graham to my favoured author list.

[Richard D. Barr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feeling

I never wanted to abandon the book completely, yet found it hard at times to resume reading. Not knowing much about the Balkans during WW II, I had hoped to learn more. Unfortunately, I found the story rather confusing and fictionalized. There were intriguing aspects to the plot, but also huge holes in the story line which covered about a fifty year period.