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In Darkness, Look for Stars
Paris, 1941: The city is growing more dangerous by the day. Signs proclaiming ‘No Jews’ are posted everywhere in the maze-like streets, and people are dragged away in handcuffs.
Maggie Brouillard devotes herself to the Resistance, helping Jews escape. Though her life is a whirlwind of forged passports and midnight runs, she cannot stop thinking about her fiancé, who was forced to flee. She prays that the love of her life is safe, and sends coded, handwritten letters to her dear sister, Cécilia.
England, 1949: Harriet Conway arrives at grand, grey-stoned Chaffingham House to start her job as secretary. Home to the Brouillard family since they escaped Paris after the war, Chaffingham’s opulence has all but disappeared – its curtains faded, its carpets worn, tragedy hanging in the air…
Harriet is soon consumed by the mystery surrounding the family. The daughter, Cécilia, is confined to a wheelchair due to an accident they refuse to discuss and when a strange man turns up asking for Maggie, the door is slammed shut on him. Why won’t Cécilia look her son in the eye? Why will no one utter Maggie’s name?
It’s clear that Chaffingham is shrouded in secrecy, the family haunted by a past too shocking to speak of. And when Harriet stumbles upon a crumpled letter she uncovers something that will either repair a lifetime of heartbreak, or rip the family apart.
An evocative, riveting and stirring tale about the tragic realities of war, the fine line between loyalty and lies, and the power of love, even in the darkest of times. Fans of The Nightingale, The Letter and All the Light We Cannot See will be spellbound by this magnificent historical novel.
Maggie Brouillard devotes herself to the Resistance, helping Jews escape. Though her life is a whirlwind of forged passports and midnight runs, she cannot stop thinking about her fiancé, who was forced to flee. She prays that the love of her life is safe, and sends coded, handwritten letters to her dear sister, Cécilia.
England, 1949: Harriet Conway arrives at grand, grey-stoned Chaffingham House to start her job as secretary. Home to the Brouillard family since they escaped Paris after the war, Chaffingham’s opulence has all but disappeared – its curtains faded, its carpets worn, tragedy hanging in the air…
Harriet is soon consumed by the mystery surrounding the family. The daughter, Cécilia, is confined to a wheelchair due to an accident they refuse to discuss and when a strange man turns up asking for Maggie, the door is slammed shut on him. Why won’t Cécilia look her son in the eye? Why will no one utter Maggie’s name?
It’s clear that Chaffingham is shrouded in secrecy, the family haunted by a past too shocking to speak of. And when Harriet stumbles upon a crumpled letter she uncovers something that will either repair a lifetime of heartbreak, or rip the family apart.
An evocative, riveting and stirring tale about the tragic realities of war, the fine line between loyalty and lies, and the power of love, even in the darkest of times. Fans of The Nightingale, The Letter and All the Light We Cannot See will be spellbound by this magnificent historical novel.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2020
848 people are currently reading
1640 people want to read
About the author
Clara Benson
29 books349 followersClara Benson is the author of the Angela Marchmont Mysteries and Freddy Pilkington-Soames Adventures - traditional English whodunits in authentic style set in the 1920s and 30s. One day she would like to drink cocktails and solve mysteries in a sequinned dress and evening gloves. In the meantime she lives in the north of England with her family and doesn't do any of those things.
If you want to be the first to hear about new releases, and to receive a free, exclusive short story, sign up to her mailing list at clarabenson.com/newsletter.
If you want to be the first to hear about new releases, and to receive a free, exclusive short story, sign up to her mailing list at clarabenson.com/newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
August 2, 2021
I was drawn in by the title and the cover but it wasn't really a book for me, too much drama and too much romance. But if that is what you're interested in, this is a nice book, easy to read.
November 18, 2022
Maggie Brouillard is a member of the French resistance, she’s helping Jewish people escape Paris and her fiancé Emil is forced to leave. Her sister Cecilia won a scholarship to study music in Nice at the Prix de Rome and Maggie sends her coded messages. She assumes Emil made it to Nice safely, due to the war she hasn’t heard from Cecilia or Emil and she hopes for the best.
Harriet Conway applies to be Rose Brouillard’s secretary, the family of the famous composure now live in England and at the rundown Chaffingham House. They fled Paris towards the end of the war, Harriet has no idea what happened to them during the German occupation and she knows Jean-Jacques Brouillard collapsed during a performance.
Harriet discovers Rose Brouillard is a very difficult woman, she’s obsessed with her husband’s music and continuing his legacy. Her troubled son Sebastien is forced to practice and play the violin, her daughter Cecilia is confined to a wheelchair, she never leaves her room and her young son Rex is lonely. A man arrives at the house looking for Maggie Brouillard, Rose tells him to leave and Harriet is confused. She discovers Maggie was Cecilia’s older sister, something happened to her during the war, Harriet has no idea what has been covered up and the secrets members of the family are keeping from each other.
I received a copy of In Darkness, Look for Stars from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. It’s a poignant story about a complicated family, torn apart by a war and greed, tragedy, death, jealousy, hatred, secrets and revenge. Harriet, Cecilia, Rex and pilot Alec McLeod are my favourite characters in the narrative, four stars from me and I’m keen to read other books by author Clara Benson.
Harriet Conway applies to be Rose Brouillard’s secretary, the family of the famous composure now live in England and at the rundown Chaffingham House. They fled Paris towards the end of the war, Harriet has no idea what happened to them during the German occupation and she knows Jean-Jacques Brouillard collapsed during a performance.
Harriet discovers Rose Brouillard is a very difficult woman, she’s obsessed with her husband’s music and continuing his legacy. Her troubled son Sebastien is forced to practice and play the violin, her daughter Cecilia is confined to a wheelchair, she never leaves her room and her young son Rex is lonely. A man arrives at the house looking for Maggie Brouillard, Rose tells him to leave and Harriet is confused. She discovers Maggie was Cecilia’s older sister, something happened to her during the war, Harriet has no idea what has been covered up and the secrets members of the family are keeping from each other.
I received a copy of In Darkness, Look for Stars from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. It’s a poignant story about a complicated family, torn apart by a war and greed, tragedy, death, jealousy, hatred, secrets and revenge. Harriet, Cecilia, Rex and pilot Alec McLeod are my favourite characters in the narrative, four stars from me and I’m keen to read other books by author Clara Benson.
April 17, 2020
In Darkness Look for Stars is an impressive read from an author new to me, Clara Benson. On further research it appears that Clara has previously written historical mysteries but this is one of the first books that she has written featuring a World War two setting. I was completely engaged with this book from the opening chapter until the very last page. You are instantly drawn into the story from the brief introduction which sets the scene for what is to come. Flight Lieutenant Alec McLeod, crashes into the French countryside when he is forced to bail from his plane. His mission is abandoned and as he lies injured he wonders will he be captured and sent to a prisoner of war camp?
But fate has other plans in store as Marguerite, or Maggie, rescues him and brings him to a safe house. She is working for the French resistance and is doing her bit in the overall fight to win the war and see the Germans defeated. As Maggie leaves him he contemplates whether he will see her again and be given the opportunity to say thank you for what this woman did for him? This was the perfect introduction to the story and I did think it would go on to feature Alec heavily. Instead the focus shifts to Maggie and her family and the story that unfolds is one of heartbreak, love, loss and sacrifice.
The book switches effortlessly back and forth between Maggie and her sister Cecilia's experiences during the war years and the late 1940's/1950's based on the family now living in England. The author slips effortlessly between the two time periods and as there is not a significant gap between the two timelines, events are fresh in peoples minds and the memories are having a lasting effect on those that remain. There is plenty of mystery and secrets throughout the book and one can only guess as to the true extent as to what actually happened to leave a family in limbo, deeply hurting and unable to move forward.
Harriet Conway arrives in Hertfordshire to start a new job as an assistant to Rose Brouillard, the mother of Maggie, Cecila and Sebastien. Another brother was killed during the war and their genius musician father collapsed and died whilst conducting a performance of a piece he had written. The shadow of their talented and famous father lingers heavily over the family as Rose clings to the notoriety of a piece which achieved fame and fortune for the family. But this is not a happy family set up which Harriet soon comes to learn and as she delves deeper into the recent past she begins to uncover some startling truths which have been kept under wraps for quite some time.
Harriet was the catalyst that attempted to bring unity to the family in small baby steps at first. Harriet herself has suffered trauma and is only now attempting to glue the pieces of herself back together. She hopes that by working for the family she can return to some sort of normality but little does she realise what awaits her at Chaffingham House as Rose clings to a past that can never be regained and Cecilia has cut herself off from the world and is drowning in despair at what has befallen her. Cecilia never expected her life to turn out the way it has and as for her young son Rex she wants nothing to do with him.
The chapters based at the family home were stifling and oppressive. There is a fearful, mysterious atmosphere lingering over the house almost Gothic like in its portrayal. There is inner despair and a feeling of being completely and utterly broken. The family continue as if things are normal but Harriet feels like she is tip-toeing around on eggshells afraid to say or do the wrong thing. Sebastien is also under immense pressure to fulfil his mothers wishes to perform his fathers most famous piece. But the reader can sense that he is volatile and being to crumble under the intense strain. Rex is like a toy that once brought great happiness but is now left broken and unnoticed. Harriet knows that things need to change but she is fearful that if a can of worms is opened it will be very difficult to return its contents if what spills forth is what people want to hear or act upon.
I loved the tension built up around this aspect of the storyline and my sense of intrigue just grew and grew. It was like everyone was sitting on a ticking time bomb and as the minutes counted down the urgency in uncovering the truth became ever more prevalent. When Alex, now a flying instructor, arrives at the house looking for Maggie, Harriet's interest is piqued even further but to discover just exactly what is going on, one must look to the past and to uncover just exactly what happened during the war years to leave a family in such limbo where all the reader feels is that misery abounds and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. All Harriet wanted was a nice, quiet job with people who wouldn't do anything to crack the delicate shell she had formed around her. But Rose has a biting cruel, manner about her and she seems eaten up with spite, grief and hardship and as does Sebastian but what led them to feeling like this?
During the war Cecilia is a music scholar sent to Nice from the family home in Paris to continue her studies. Her sister Maggie sends letters with secret messages and soon she sends some precious cargo, her beloved Emil. Emil is involved in the resistance as is Maggie and to keep him safe he must lay low in Nice. Up until this point Cecilia has had her head stuck in the sand truly unaware of the dangers of war and what is going on around her. She needs to come into the real world having kept her eyes shut for too long. She finally begins to understand that many people are putting their lives in danger to help others and that Emil and Maggie are part of this. Soon Cecilia is thrown into the world of the resistance and we are shown how those who enjoyed the good life in Nice used this as a cover for their secret operations all part of a wider circle of opposition to the Germans. It was great to see Cecilia waking up and becoming more conscious of what was going around her and in turn playing an active although dangerous role in the overall plot. But soon Cecilia's head is turned but when the heart comes calling she feels no other option but to give in to it. Here her loyalties are tested and what ensues really sets us up for several sub-plots to develop and all the time you are wondering how does this connect back to the Cecilia in 1949. What happens to somebody to make them change so drastically?
When Cecilia finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place and she is forced to return to Paris, the story really took off to another level. She knows she has done wrong and the shame eats away at her but as they are living in turbulent times sacrifices have to be made and personal feelings have to be pushed aside as there are greater forces at work. These forces/plans led to some terrific nail-biting scenes both in 1950 and 1943 and my heart was in my mouth at all times. The story was brilliantly paced in the latter half especially as I raced towards the end to uncover the mystery that permeated the entire story. All the layers were being methodically dissected and the little clues and hints that had been dropped throughout the story began to make sense. The actions and opinions of characters became clearer although I wouldn't have agreed with them all. Those characters I didn’t really like for the majority of the book my opinions of those people began to change and I realised that Clara Benson had really written a fantastic story with memorable characters who believed at all times that they were doing their best. But perhaps some of them were misguided in that belief?
In Darkness Look For Stars is an excellent read and one that I enjoyed very much. The author is skilled at giving strong voices to all of her characters but whether you want to hear what they have to stay or indeed believe everything they say or stand for, well that is another matter. War, music, betrayal, forgiveness, understanding, love, grief and loyalties all play major roles in this book that I would definitely recommend you pick up and read especially if you enjoy historical fiction set in and around World War Two.
August 20, 2020
Not your usual WW2 historical fiction, IN DARKNESS, LOOK FOR STARS by Clara Benson is a tale of love, loss, hope, danger, resistance, betrayal, fear and jealousy. Spanning a decade from 1941 to 1950, the story is poignant, heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. Once I started this captivating read, I could not put it down...and wouldn't have if real life didn't have a habit of getting in the way.
Paris, 1941: Defying her high society mother's expectations and ambitions, Maggie Brouillard dedicates her life to the French Resistance helping Jews escape capture and certain death. In the process she has met and fallen in love with Emil, a Jewish Resistance fighter, who is so far removed from what her mother considers a suitable match. But Maggie doesn't care a jot. She loves Emil and would do anything for him, as well as helping as many people as she can, working beside the man she loves. But the Germans are gaining ground and getting closer and Maggie knows she must move Emil somewhere safer.
Nice, 1941: Cecilia Brouillard lives a quiet uncomplicated life in the south of France, which has so far escaped the horrors of war, studying and composing music at the Academie. But that is about to be disrupted with the arrival of Emil, at the behest of her sister Maggie to shelter him and keep him safe from the Nazis. However, his arrival plunges Cecilia's life into complete disarray and ultimately danger as he introduces her to the world of the Resistance and freedom fighters. But trusting her sister with Emil's safety would cost Maggie dearly...when Cecilia and Emil fall desperately in love and unable to live without the other. Cecilia lives in fear and shame of Maggie discovering their secret but finds she cannot give Emil up. Then the police raid one of their meetings and they are arrested. Cecilia is released soon after but Emil is sent to a Jewish camp in Poland.
Soon after her release Cecilia discovers she is pregnant and quits the Academie and returns to Paris to her family. But if she thought her mother would welcome her with open arms and take care of her, she was sadly mistaken. Rose was livid to discover Cecilia's condition and immediately sought to rectify it...by any means necessary! As soon as Cecilia discovered her mother's deception, she moved in with her older sister Maggie, continuing her involvement with the Resistance alongside her, with Maggie was still oblivious to her sister's betrayal. Leaving Rose to focus all her energies on young Sebastien, a music protege at 11, and throwing soirees for German officers - an arrangement that was mutually beneficial for both parties. And the promise that Sebastien will outshine his sister Cecilia and rise to the ranks she so far has failed to achieve.
But soon the future becomes frightening and uncertain for all involved, as Maggie and Cecilia must decide where their loyalties lie and how far they would go to protect themselves and each other.
Hertfershire, 1949: Arriving at the neglected yet grand home of Chaffington House, Harriet Conway has come to take her place as Rose Brouillard's secretary. Home to the Brouillard family since escaping Paris after the war, Chaffington's extravagance has all but disappeared with faded memories to match its decor and tragedy in the air. Rose is aloof, abrupt and extremely self-assured. Her purpose in life is to ensure Sebastien rises to the musical heights to which he aspires following in his father's footsteps and to preserve her late husband, Jean-Jacque Brouillard's, memory with scrapbooks of newspaper clippings and photos spanning the decades of his career right up to his untimely death. The fact that she has one surviving daughter and a grandson is of no consequence real to her.
The years, it appears, have not been kind to Cecilia. She is now confined to a wheelchair due to an accident anyone refuses to discuss, but for Sebastien's vague snide comments. She lives in an extended part of the house in her own apartment with everything she needs and yet she is utterly bereft with a sadness that consumes her that she refuses to leave the house. Even her 9 year old son Rex cannot inspire any happiness, and the boy is consistently disappointed that his mother hardly acknowledges him.
When a man knocks at the door one day searching for Maggie, Rose slams the door shut on him claiming there is no one there by that name, Harriet begins to suspect something is amiss. She soon learns that Maggie is the eldest sister of Cecilia and Sebastian but why won't no one speak her name? What could she have possibly done to be wiped from the family's memories? And what has happened to Cecilia to inspire such desolation?
Chaffingham is clearly shrouded in secrecy with the family so haunted by a past too shocking to speak of. But when Harriet stumbles across a letter, she uncovers a secret that could destroy the family even further. What is she to do? Ignore it and pretend she never uncovered its contents? Or expose the secret and rewrite history?
What a captivating read this book was! Although a little slow to start, it soon picked up pace as become privy to the Brouillard family's tragedies and secrets. The unexpected death of the patriarch. The extravagant expectations of their mother Rose. The instability of young son Sebastien and his failure to meet her demands. Cecilia's disgrace. Maggie's heartbreak. Rose's collaboration with the Germans. Maggie and Cecilia's resistance activities. The betrayal of siblings. The dysfunctionality of one family.
IN DARKNESS, LOOK FOR STARS is a beautifully told yet heartbreaking tale told in dual timelines - during the war and post-war - as the story unfolds between the past and present. It is easy to feel compassion for some family members and utter disdain for others as you are encapsulated within their stories. There is an element of mystery that will keep you turning the pages until the secrets are revealed leading to the shocking final act that will leave you breathless.
I do have one critique regarding the title - I cannot see how it fits the story. But that aside, it is an outstanding story that is so beautifully told.
I thoroughly enjoyed IN DARKNESS, LOOK FOR STARS and have no hesitation in recommending it to fans of historical fiction, particularly WW2, although it is not your typical wartime fiction.
I would like to thank #ClaraBenson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #InDarknessLookForStars in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Paris, 1941: Defying her high society mother's expectations and ambitions, Maggie Brouillard dedicates her life to the French Resistance helping Jews escape capture and certain death. In the process she has met and fallen in love with Emil, a Jewish Resistance fighter, who is so far removed from what her mother considers a suitable match. But Maggie doesn't care a jot. She loves Emil and would do anything for him, as well as helping as many people as she can, working beside the man she loves. But the Germans are gaining ground and getting closer and Maggie knows she must move Emil somewhere safer.
Nice, 1941: Cecilia Brouillard lives a quiet uncomplicated life in the south of France, which has so far escaped the horrors of war, studying and composing music at the Academie. But that is about to be disrupted with the arrival of Emil, at the behest of her sister Maggie to shelter him and keep him safe from the Nazis. However, his arrival plunges Cecilia's life into complete disarray and ultimately danger as he introduces her to the world of the Resistance and freedom fighters. But trusting her sister with Emil's safety would cost Maggie dearly...when Cecilia and Emil fall desperately in love and unable to live without the other. Cecilia lives in fear and shame of Maggie discovering their secret but finds she cannot give Emil up. Then the police raid one of their meetings and they are arrested. Cecilia is released soon after but Emil is sent to a Jewish camp in Poland.
Soon after her release Cecilia discovers she is pregnant and quits the Academie and returns to Paris to her family. But if she thought her mother would welcome her with open arms and take care of her, she was sadly mistaken. Rose was livid to discover Cecilia's condition and immediately sought to rectify it...by any means necessary! As soon as Cecilia discovered her mother's deception, she moved in with her older sister Maggie, continuing her involvement with the Resistance alongside her, with Maggie was still oblivious to her sister's betrayal. Leaving Rose to focus all her energies on young Sebastien, a music protege at 11, and throwing soirees for German officers - an arrangement that was mutually beneficial for both parties. And the promise that Sebastien will outshine his sister Cecilia and rise to the ranks she so far has failed to achieve.
But soon the future becomes frightening and uncertain for all involved, as Maggie and Cecilia must decide where their loyalties lie and how far they would go to protect themselves and each other.
Hertfershire, 1949: Arriving at the neglected yet grand home of Chaffington House, Harriet Conway has come to take her place as Rose Brouillard's secretary. Home to the Brouillard family since escaping Paris after the war, Chaffington's extravagance has all but disappeared with faded memories to match its decor and tragedy in the air. Rose is aloof, abrupt and extremely self-assured. Her purpose in life is to ensure Sebastien rises to the musical heights to which he aspires following in his father's footsteps and to preserve her late husband, Jean-Jacque Brouillard's, memory with scrapbooks of newspaper clippings and photos spanning the decades of his career right up to his untimely death. The fact that she has one surviving daughter and a grandson is of no consequence real to her.
The years, it appears, have not been kind to Cecilia. She is now confined to a wheelchair due to an accident anyone refuses to discuss, but for Sebastien's vague snide comments. She lives in an extended part of the house in her own apartment with everything she needs and yet she is utterly bereft with a sadness that consumes her that she refuses to leave the house. Even her 9 year old son Rex cannot inspire any happiness, and the boy is consistently disappointed that his mother hardly acknowledges him.
When a man knocks at the door one day searching for Maggie, Rose slams the door shut on him claiming there is no one there by that name, Harriet begins to suspect something is amiss. She soon learns that Maggie is the eldest sister of Cecilia and Sebastian but why won't no one speak her name? What could she have possibly done to be wiped from the family's memories? And what has happened to Cecilia to inspire such desolation?
Chaffingham is clearly shrouded in secrecy with the family so haunted by a past too shocking to speak of. But when Harriet stumbles across a letter, she uncovers a secret that could destroy the family even further. What is she to do? Ignore it and pretend she never uncovered its contents? Or expose the secret and rewrite history?
What a captivating read this book was! Although a little slow to start, it soon picked up pace as become privy to the Brouillard family's tragedies and secrets. The unexpected death of the patriarch. The extravagant expectations of their mother Rose. The instability of young son Sebastien and his failure to meet her demands. Cecilia's disgrace. Maggie's heartbreak. Rose's collaboration with the Germans. Maggie and Cecilia's resistance activities. The betrayal of siblings. The dysfunctionality of one family.
IN DARKNESS, LOOK FOR STARS is a beautifully told yet heartbreaking tale told in dual timelines - during the war and post-war - as the story unfolds between the past and present. It is easy to feel compassion for some family members and utter disdain for others as you are encapsulated within their stories. There is an element of mystery that will keep you turning the pages until the secrets are revealed leading to the shocking final act that will leave you breathless.
I do have one critique regarding the title - I cannot see how it fits the story. But that aside, it is an outstanding story that is so beautifully told.
I thoroughly enjoyed IN DARKNESS, LOOK FOR STARS and have no hesitation in recommending it to fans of historical fiction, particularly WW2, although it is not your typical wartime fiction.
I would like to thank #ClaraBenson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #InDarknessLookForStars in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
April 17, 2020
In Darkness, Look for the Stars by Clara Benson
Conflict, resistance, love, betrayal, ambition...and so much loss. This story was one that did have some happy moments but with war there is tension, fear and ultimately more loss than many can bear. The fight to survive and do what one perceives to be right is not easy and always takes a toll.
This story is set in the years of 1940, 1942 and 1949 moving seamlessly from one period to the other in a well scripted story that had me on the edge of my seat. I worried about the pilot dropped behind enemy lines and then about the girl who helped me to safety. I then wondered what would happen to Alec and Maggie and others as they were introduced. I hoped that the people I cared about would make it out unscathed or at least alive but not all of them did.
This book really made me think and feel and wonder what I would have done if I found myself in the shoes of Maggie, Cecilia, Harriet or even Rose. I was sad at times and wished the some of the characters had an easier time of it. Having been through a few wars I know it is never easy, people suffer and difficult decisions do not always provide the outcome desired. Life is hard and the characters in this book did not have it easy.
What I liked:
* Maggie: strong, resilient, focused on doing what she believed to be right.
* Harriet: intelligent, caring, moving on with her life as she took on a job that was not easy
* Cecilia: suffering losses that broke her in more ways than one – enjoyed seeing her transformation
* Rex: a delightful boy who deserved more than he had in those first years of his life
* Alec: a good man who made it through the war and found his HEA
* Emil: a man of principle
* The portions that described music in colors
* The plot, writing, characters and story
* That it moved me, made me feel and care and as if I was in the story
* Thinking about my parents during their romance of the same time period
* That the characters faced tough choices in real life situations
* The real feel of the story
* Meeting a new author and loving the story she told
What I did not like:
* War – I hate it and wish there was a way around it and this book made me realize this once again
* Sensing something was going to happen, wanting to caution the characters and knowing I couldn’t save them from what was coming.
Did I like this book? Definitely
Would I read more books by this author? Without a doubt
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Conflict, resistance, love, betrayal, ambition...and so much loss. This story was one that did have some happy moments but with war there is tension, fear and ultimately more loss than many can bear. The fight to survive and do what one perceives to be right is not easy and always takes a toll.
This story is set in the years of 1940, 1942 and 1949 moving seamlessly from one period to the other in a well scripted story that had me on the edge of my seat. I worried about the pilot dropped behind enemy lines and then about the girl who helped me to safety. I then wondered what would happen to Alec and Maggie and others as they were introduced. I hoped that the people I cared about would make it out unscathed or at least alive but not all of them did.
This book really made me think and feel and wonder what I would have done if I found myself in the shoes of Maggie, Cecilia, Harriet or even Rose. I was sad at times and wished the some of the characters had an easier time of it. Having been through a few wars I know it is never easy, people suffer and difficult decisions do not always provide the outcome desired. Life is hard and the characters in this book did not have it easy.
What I liked:
* Maggie: strong, resilient, focused on doing what she believed to be right.
* Harriet: intelligent, caring, moving on with her life as she took on a job that was not easy
* Cecilia: suffering losses that broke her in more ways than one – enjoyed seeing her transformation
* Rex: a delightful boy who deserved more than he had in those first years of his life
* Alec: a good man who made it through the war and found his HEA
* Emil: a man of principle
* The portions that described music in colors
* The plot, writing, characters and story
* That it moved me, made me feel and care and as if I was in the story
* Thinking about my parents during their romance of the same time period
* That the characters faced tough choices in real life situations
* The real feel of the story
* Meeting a new author and loving the story she told
What I did not like:
* War – I hate it and wish there was a way around it and this book made me realize this once again
* Sensing something was going to happen, wanting to caution the characters and knowing I couldn’t save them from what was coming.
Did I like this book? Definitely
Would I read more books by this author? Without a doubt
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
May 24, 2020
Beautiful story, beautifully told.
This is a really accomplished novel that sucks you right in and doesn't let you go. Harriet uncovers Cecilia and her family's mysterious past - and it really is full of bombshells - in this dual timeline set in occupied France and 1950s England. The pace is leisurely but the plot is fantastically twisty, the dialogue all plausible and the characters and their relationships with each other are all very real. Its a really impressive book and would recommend it to anyone especially lovers of wartime fiction.
This is a really accomplished novel that sucks you right in and doesn't let you go. Harriet uncovers Cecilia and her family's mysterious past - and it really is full of bombshells - in this dual timeline set in occupied France and 1950s England. The pace is leisurely but the plot is fantastically twisty, the dialogue all plausible and the characters and their relationships with each other are all very real. Its a really impressive book and would recommend it to anyone especially lovers of wartime fiction.
April 21, 2020
First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Clara Benson for allowing me to read this a little early. I hate to admit that I got a bit caught up in all that’s happening in the world and set it aside for a little bit. So for that, I offer my apologies because usually i can read through a book in a few days time.
This is a story of a musical family set against the backdrop of a German occupied France in the 1940’s. The patriarch of the family was a well known composer who died suddenly and the matriarch was determined to live off of his name and ensure that their son follow in his fathers footsteps. She hobnobbed with the Germans to get her son recognized...all the while one of her two daughters was active in the French resistance. Her other daughter living in another city on a music scholarship was slowly finding her footing in the resistance as well. The family was full of secrets and lies and it wasn’t until a young secretary showing up several years later uncovers everything and changed the course of the family’s future.
A little slow to start, this book picks up intensity about about half way through and then it’s a can’t put down; read until your kindle battery dies book. One of my main reasons for reading this book was my curiosity bout the French resistance. Yes, it was based on history but the story itself is fictional. It does, however, give you enough information to pick your interest and make you seek out more details...which I love about historical fiction.
This is a story of a musical family set against the backdrop of a German occupied France in the 1940’s. The patriarch of the family was a well known composer who died suddenly and the matriarch was determined to live off of his name and ensure that their son follow in his fathers footsteps. She hobnobbed with the Germans to get her son recognized...all the while one of her two daughters was active in the French resistance. Her other daughter living in another city on a music scholarship was slowly finding her footing in the resistance as well. The family was full of secrets and lies and it wasn’t until a young secretary showing up several years later uncovers everything and changed the course of the family’s future.
A little slow to start, this book picks up intensity about about half way through and then it’s a can’t put down; read until your kindle battery dies book. One of my main reasons for reading this book was my curiosity bout the French resistance. Yes, it was based on history but the story itself is fictional. It does, however, give you enough information to pick your interest and make you seek out more details...which I love about historical fiction.
April 17, 2020
This story is really wonderful! It has a dual timeline, but instead of the typical approach of one taking place during WWII and the second during present-day, the second timeline is set in 1949. Both timelines involve events surrounding the Brouillard family, with the 1949 timeline also introducing the perspective of Harriet, a live-in secretary to Rose, the matriarch of the Brouillard family. The family members must reflect on the events of the war and the implications of the wartime choices they each made. As Harriet gets to know the family, certain parallels emerge between her own life and the Brouillards, making her own character arc quite gripping as well.
This novel has an intriguing plot, interesting characters that are well-developed, and settings that really draw the reader into the story. I felt so much compassion for some of the family members, and utter disdain for others. The prose, while not breathtaking, is still excellent. I admit, I don't give 5-star ratings often. But this novel comes incredibly close and I highly recommend it for fans of historical fiction!
My main critique is actually in regard to the marketing of the book. I don't feel the title quite fits the story. The blurb on the back cover leaves the second timeline and the character of Harriet out entirely. And the cover, although quite beautiful, also fails to capture the story appropriately. This novel is marketed as a WWII novel akin to those by Pam Jenoff or Kristin Harmel, but the closer comparison in my mind is Kate Morton. Yes, one of the timelines takes place during the war, but the heart of the story takes place in 1949. It isn't a "typical" wartime novel; the focus is on family secrets and there is a gothic feel to the story that is a notable departure from most books of this genre.
This novel has an intriguing plot, interesting characters that are well-developed, and settings that really draw the reader into the story. I felt so much compassion for some of the family members, and utter disdain for others. The prose, while not breathtaking, is still excellent. I admit, I don't give 5-star ratings often. But this novel comes incredibly close and I highly recommend it for fans of historical fiction!
My main critique is actually in regard to the marketing of the book. I don't feel the title quite fits the story. The blurb on the back cover leaves the second timeline and the character of Harriet out entirely. And the cover, although quite beautiful, also fails to capture the story appropriately. This novel is marketed as a WWII novel akin to those by Pam Jenoff or Kristin Harmel, but the closer comparison in my mind is Kate Morton. Yes, one of the timelines takes place during the war, but the heart of the story takes place in 1949. It isn't a "typical" wartime novel; the focus is on family secrets and there is a gothic feel to the story that is a notable departure from most books of this genre.
March 22, 2020
A family in turmoil
In Darkness, Look for Stars was an engaging book from page one. A famous musical family and their trials during and after the war. The over the top expectations of the mother, Rose. The inability of youngest son Sebastian to meet her demands. The disgrace of Cecilia. The heartbreak of Maggie. The death of the father and the eldest son. Rose’s collaboration with the Germans, and the resistance activities of Maggie and Cecelia. The betrayal by Sebastian.
Fast forward to after the war is over. Maggie Is dead, Cecelia in a wheelchair, and Sebastian still trying to please his mother and become a famous musician. Enter Harriet the new secretary for Rose. How they all interact, the secrets that finally come out, and the shocking final act by Sebastian, is the story remaining.
The book is about the war, it is about resistance, betrayal, forgiveness, and life. Most of all it is about humans and their relationships with each other. It is about some that cannot recover from hurt and some that start new lives and find forgiveness.
I enjoyed reading the book, and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Clara Benson, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of the book.
In Darkness, Look for Stars was an engaging book from page one. A famous musical family and their trials during and after the war. The over the top expectations of the mother, Rose. The inability of youngest son Sebastian to meet her demands. The disgrace of Cecilia. The heartbreak of Maggie. The death of the father and the eldest son. Rose’s collaboration with the Germans, and the resistance activities of Maggie and Cecelia. The betrayal by Sebastian.
Fast forward to after the war is over. Maggie Is dead, Cecelia in a wheelchair, and Sebastian still trying to please his mother and become a famous musician. Enter Harriet the new secretary for Rose. How they all interact, the secrets that finally come out, and the shocking final act by Sebastian, is the story remaining.
The book is about the war, it is about resistance, betrayal, forgiveness, and life. Most of all it is about humans and their relationships with each other. It is about some that cannot recover from hurt and some that start new lives and find forgiveness.
I enjoyed reading the book, and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Clara Benson, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of the book.
April 25, 2020
Not your usual WWII historical fiction, this one only spans around a decade instead of the 60+ years you often find. It works nicely mainly because the characters continue to bear the burdens of the war. I thought the follow-through from one timeline to another was smooth, and that there was real growth in some characters, especially Cecilia. It was an interesting story of family loyalty and the lasting repercussions of choices made in haste. For more thoughts, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.
May 12, 2020
This was an excellent written book. The story line was outstanding. Having lived though the WWII and experienced some of the things that are touched on in this story, made only more real for me. It was truthful, accurate and had great depth of characters.
June 6, 2020
Overall really enjoyed this book.
4 Stars because it took me a while to get into it. Took time to have any thoughts/ feelings on the characters but it did develop and if you enjoy this genre's, it is worth a read.
4 Stars because it took me a while to get into it. Took time to have any thoughts/ feelings on the characters but it did develop and if you enjoy this genre's, it is worth a read.
August 4, 2021
I didn't find much substance within the pages. I find this to be more of a 'beach read'.
January 28, 2021
Hard going at times to keep focused on the story. Not as passionately written as other WW2 fiction I have read, but I still felt compelled to finish it
February 3, 2022
Every single character in this book sucked. A LOT. I gave it two stars for the little boy Rex and the dog because they were the only likeable ones.
March 13, 2021
I wouldn't list this as a favourite WWII novel. I neither liked it or disliked it. It took me some time to get into the story but then I felt I had to finish. It was definitely not a book that I couldn't put down!
I couldn't warm to any of the characters but I felt sorry for the child Rex. It is really the saga of a dysfunctional family and most of the story is played out post war with occasional flashbacks to the occupation of France and the affect it had on the family.
I couldn't warm to any of the characters but I felt sorry for the child Rex. It is really the saga of a dysfunctional family and most of the story is played out post war with occasional flashbacks to the occupation of France and the affect it had on the family.
May 18, 2020
It's been a few months since I read historical fiction. In Darkness, Look for Stars was just what I needed to dip my toes back into the genre. I loved the setting of post WWII England, but I've got to be honest, I'm drawn more towards stories set during WWII as opposed to after. In this book particularly, I absolutely LOVED the prologue. However, I felt like it was such a tease because after the initial glimpse of Maggie, the book isn't about her. While I really enjoyed this book, I was drawn most to Maggie's story and the fact that this book was not her story was a huge let down for me. Truthfully, I think I've read so much wonderful historical fiction that the bar for a great historical fiction novel is very, very high in my opinion. While I did enjoy this one, it does not come close to The Alice Network, All The Light We Cannot See, or even The Huntress. I truly think the genre has spoiled me with some great previous historical fiction reads, but I think this one could be enjoyable for those who have not read much of the genre and just want to give it a try. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for my free copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 7, 2020
A rather juvenile portrayal
This story of a young woman who takes a position as secretary in the home of a professional musical family in post-WWII England. Her new employment puts her directly into a very dysfunctional family and, at times, told in flashbacks of the war period in France. Members of this family were active in the resistance during German occupation.
The writing is full and juvenile. I felt like it was more for a middle school reader but for much of the subject matter dealt with here. The characters all think and speak like teenagers and the serious nature of the resistance movement is written without research in my opinion. It is too casual.
Not very impressive. Poorly done.
This story of a young woman who takes a position as secretary in the home of a professional musical family in post-WWII England. Her new employment puts her directly into a very dysfunctional family and, at times, told in flashbacks of the war period in France. Members of this family were active in the resistance during German occupation.
The writing is full and juvenile. I felt like it was more for a middle school reader but for much of the subject matter dealt with here. The characters all think and speak like teenagers and the serious nature of the resistance movement is written without research in my opinion. It is too casual.
Not very impressive. Poorly done.
January 21, 2022
I love historical fiction books set during WWII. I loved the prologue and how it started the book with a peak into a family’s involvement with the French Resistance. This is a dual timeline book, but the timeframe is closer in years. To be honest, I felt that the dialogue was trite and not deeply engaging. It seemed to be more of a young adult book if it weren’t for the subject matter. I did not care for any of the characters in the story except for Maggie. And she did not play that significant of a role. It’s not a horrible book to read, but also not one of my favorites in this genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
August 19, 2020
This was a struggle to read. The only character that had any depth was Maggie. I could not warm to Harriet on any level and the other characters as well.
August 22, 2021
2 Zussen in oorlogstijd, ze maken beide keuzes die bepalend zullen zijn voor hun hele familie. Ze willen allebei dat de oorlog ten einde komt maar durven ze in het verzet te gaan?
In de tegenhanger is het 5 jaar na de oorlog, de familie Brouillard is naar Engeland gevlucht en ieder familielid gaat anders om met wat er toen in Frankrijk is gebeurd….Totdat er een nieuwe secretaresse komt die verder kijkt dan de bedoeling is…….
“Door u moet ik nu aan dingen denken waar ik helemaal niet aan wil denken.”
Sterren in de duisternis is het schrijversdebuut van Clara Benson. Zij heeft in het nawoord geschreven dat ze dit boek, dat geheel fictief is, geschreven heeft omdat ze geïnspireerd werd door de helden en heldinnen van het verzet tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
Het boek had geen betere titel kunnen hebben; De zussen en de jonge vrouw waar dit verhaal over gaat waren als Sterren in een duistere wereld. Zowel tijdens als na de oorlog.
Clara Benson weet de verschillen in karakters van de personages heel mooi weer te geven; ze neemt de lezer mee in beide leefwerelden en laat heel goed zien dat keuzes niet altijd uit vrije wil komen maar dat de omstandigheden mensen ook tot een keuze kunnen dwingen. Dat doet ze door het gebruik van mooie zinnen die de kern en de sfeer van het verhaal goed weergeven.
“Ik had nooit gedacht dat iemand haar daarom zou vermoorden, grappig he?”
Ook heeft ze de sfeer in beide tijden goed aangeduid, het dreigende gevoel van een land dat in oorlog is of dat herstelt van een oorlog, met wie mag en kan je wel omgaan, wanneer doe je het goed of fout?
Ze laat zien dat de scheidslijn daartussen niet altijd zichtbaar is
De zichtbare en niet zichtbare gevolgen van de oorlog kun je letterlijk zien aan de rolstoel van Cecilia maar ook aan de staat van het huis. Een moeder die vast wil houden aan wat was en daardoor iedereen letterlijk in gevaar brengt.
De nieuweling in het verhaal, Harriët, merkt gelijk dat er meer aan de hand is dan dat er speelt. Clara Benson heeft erg goed haar best gedaan om de lezer en Harriet de benauwende sfeer van Chaffingham House te laten proeven. En door de lezer langere tijd nieuwsgierig te maken naar wát er gebeurd is nodigt ze je uit om door te blijven lezen.
Het enige dat mij opviel is dat beide verhalen soms wat lang waren waardoor je als lezer snel weer vergat wat er in het andere verhaal speelde. Ook zijn er al meerdere boeken verschenen die 2 verhalen door elkaar laten spelen maar in dit boek komen ze wel heel mooi bij elkaar waardoor het geheel prettig leest. Het opvallende in dit boek is dat beide tijdslijnen maar 9 jaar van elkaar verschillen. Daardoor is de geschiedenis uit het eerste verhaal nog vrij vers en dat geeft de auteur goed weer als ze de soms letterlijke pijn beschrijft van de mensen uit het verhaal.
Na het lezen blader ik vaak terug in het boek om te kijken of ik misschien een detail gemist heb en dan blijkt een klein detail uit het begin zeer grote gevolgen te hebben op het einde. Het is genieten als alles gewoon lijkt te kloppen.
Sterren in de duisternis is een sterrendebuut, voor de lezers en liefhebbers van fictieve oorlogsroman. Het zou zomaar iemands verhaal kunnen zijn…..
In de tegenhanger is het 5 jaar na de oorlog, de familie Brouillard is naar Engeland gevlucht en ieder familielid gaat anders om met wat er toen in Frankrijk is gebeurd….Totdat er een nieuwe secretaresse komt die verder kijkt dan de bedoeling is…….
“Door u moet ik nu aan dingen denken waar ik helemaal niet aan wil denken.”
Sterren in de duisternis is het schrijversdebuut van Clara Benson. Zij heeft in het nawoord geschreven dat ze dit boek, dat geheel fictief is, geschreven heeft omdat ze geïnspireerd werd door de helden en heldinnen van het verzet tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
Het boek had geen betere titel kunnen hebben; De zussen en de jonge vrouw waar dit verhaal over gaat waren als Sterren in een duistere wereld. Zowel tijdens als na de oorlog.
Clara Benson weet de verschillen in karakters van de personages heel mooi weer te geven; ze neemt de lezer mee in beide leefwerelden en laat heel goed zien dat keuzes niet altijd uit vrije wil komen maar dat de omstandigheden mensen ook tot een keuze kunnen dwingen. Dat doet ze door het gebruik van mooie zinnen die de kern en de sfeer van het verhaal goed weergeven.
“Ik had nooit gedacht dat iemand haar daarom zou vermoorden, grappig he?”
Ook heeft ze de sfeer in beide tijden goed aangeduid, het dreigende gevoel van een land dat in oorlog is of dat herstelt van een oorlog, met wie mag en kan je wel omgaan, wanneer doe je het goed of fout?
Ze laat zien dat de scheidslijn daartussen niet altijd zichtbaar is
De zichtbare en niet zichtbare gevolgen van de oorlog kun je letterlijk zien aan de rolstoel van Cecilia maar ook aan de staat van het huis. Een moeder die vast wil houden aan wat was en daardoor iedereen letterlijk in gevaar brengt.
De nieuweling in het verhaal, Harriët, merkt gelijk dat er meer aan de hand is dan dat er speelt. Clara Benson heeft erg goed haar best gedaan om de lezer en Harriet de benauwende sfeer van Chaffingham House te laten proeven. En door de lezer langere tijd nieuwsgierig te maken naar wát er gebeurd is nodigt ze je uit om door te blijven lezen.
Het enige dat mij opviel is dat beide verhalen soms wat lang waren waardoor je als lezer snel weer vergat wat er in het andere verhaal speelde. Ook zijn er al meerdere boeken verschenen die 2 verhalen door elkaar laten spelen maar in dit boek komen ze wel heel mooi bij elkaar waardoor het geheel prettig leest. Het opvallende in dit boek is dat beide tijdslijnen maar 9 jaar van elkaar verschillen. Daardoor is de geschiedenis uit het eerste verhaal nog vrij vers en dat geeft de auteur goed weer als ze de soms letterlijke pijn beschrijft van de mensen uit het verhaal.
Na het lezen blader ik vaak terug in het boek om te kijken of ik misschien een detail gemist heb en dan blijkt een klein detail uit het begin zeer grote gevolgen te hebben op het einde. Het is genieten als alles gewoon lijkt te kloppen.
Sterren in de duisternis is een sterrendebuut, voor de lezers en liefhebbers van fictieve oorlogsroman. Het zou zomaar iemands verhaal kunnen zijn…..
May 15, 2020
In Darkness, Look for Stars begins in 1941 with Maggie Brouillard saving the life of RAF officer Alec McLeod after he crashes his plane in war-torn France. We then skip forward to England in 1949 when secretary Harriet Conway arrives at the Brouillard home to work as a secretary. She discovers a family both torn apart and held together by music with no sign of Maggie. Then Alec comes searching for his rescuer...
The narrative is split between the two time periods: we see the events of the war in contrast to the situation afterwards. Cecelia Brouillard, Maggie's sister hides Maggie's Jewish lover from the Germans and they fall in love. Emil is captured and Cecelia returns to her family in Paris, pregnant and full of guilt at her betrayal of her sister. Meanwhile in 1949, we see Cecilia as a figure of sadness. She is unable to walk after being shot in the back, refusing to show any love towards her son.
I was completely hooked by the plot. The action sets off straight away and doesn't lose momentum at any point. The personal tragedy as well as the national horrors are heartbreaking to read, even more so when you understand the factual basis of the Jewish deportations.
The characters are so well developed that I really found myself caring about the outcomes for them. Even Rose and Sebastien, who were not at all likeable, prompted some sympathy at the end of the book as their actions have terrible consequences.
In Darkness, Look For Stars is a beautifully devastating book. Highly emotional and utterly captivating from the first page to the last. The terrible events of the war and its aftermath for the French people whether collaborators or Resistance are evoked with passion and pathos in this story. Yet the hope and lightness of music and love are never far away from the plot and make parts of this book uplifting and joyous.
The narrative is split between the two time periods: we see the events of the war in contrast to the situation afterwards. Cecelia Brouillard, Maggie's sister hides Maggie's Jewish lover from the Germans and they fall in love. Emil is captured and Cecelia returns to her family in Paris, pregnant and full of guilt at her betrayal of her sister. Meanwhile in 1949, we see Cecilia as a figure of sadness. She is unable to walk after being shot in the back, refusing to show any love towards her son.
I was completely hooked by the plot. The action sets off straight away and doesn't lose momentum at any point. The personal tragedy as well as the national horrors are heartbreaking to read, even more so when you understand the factual basis of the Jewish deportations.
The characters are so well developed that I really found myself caring about the outcomes for them. Even Rose and Sebastien, who were not at all likeable, prompted some sympathy at the end of the book as their actions have terrible consequences.
In Darkness, Look For Stars is a beautifully devastating book. Highly emotional and utterly captivating from the first page to the last. The terrible events of the war and its aftermath for the French people whether collaborators or Resistance are evoked with passion and pathos in this story. Yet the hope and lightness of music and love are never far away from the plot and make parts of this book uplifting and joyous.
May 4, 2020
Rather addictive, but nicely imperfect, too
It was interesting to see how Ms Benson would treat WWII fiction and she did a really good job of it. I learnt something new about the resistance movement in France that I had not known about. There were also some original details which made the characters a little different. It was also fast paced and very well put together.
The only recurring weakness I see in Ms Benson's writing is the sometimes overly romanticized characterisation of some events and the implausability of some of the characters' reactions and motives, such as the occasional outbursts of the main character Harriet. It just didn't always ring true; I've seen the same occasional immaturity in character psychology and plausability (a certain romantic naivete perhaps) in her other books. Nevertheless, there are so many nuggets of enjoyment in her writing, including this one, that I would recommend it as a satisfying read. Perhaps Ms Benson just needs a little more life experience and that of human motivations and the human heart to improve on the evident value of her story-telling art.
It was interesting to see how Ms Benson would treat WWII fiction and she did a really good job of it. I learnt something new about the resistance movement in France that I had not known about. There were also some original details which made the characters a little different. It was also fast paced and very well put together.
The only recurring weakness I see in Ms Benson's writing is the sometimes overly romanticized characterisation of some events and the implausability of some of the characters' reactions and motives, such as the occasional outbursts of the main character Harriet. It just didn't always ring true; I've seen the same occasional immaturity in character psychology and plausability (a certain romantic naivete perhaps) in her other books. Nevertheless, there are so many nuggets of enjoyment in her writing, including this one, that I would recommend it as a satisfying read. Perhaps Ms Benson just needs a little more life experience and that of human motivations and the human heart to improve on the evident value of her story-telling art.
March 16, 2021
Book 10
In Darkness, Look for Stars by Clara Benson
💫
Set in WWII, coupled with a time about seven years later, this story is largely one of family and lots of heartbreak. I loved the very beginning of the book so much - when we meet Maggie, a resisteur and brave young woman who is formidable and creative in her acts of defiance. She rescues downed airmen in occupied France, and those evading the Nazis. Then we meet the rest of her family and are swept up into the lives of Rose, the steely matriarch, and her relentless obsession with fame. She bullies everyone around her, including her own children, to get what she believes she’s entitled to. She’s awful and exhausting. So are her other two kids, though one almost redeems herself in the end.
I enjoyed this book, but at times it felt a little long and repetitive. The family dramas are intriguing though, as is the way the family members each convince themselves why what they did or didn’t do is forgivable. A pretty selfish mob, all in all!
7.5/10
@audible #bookreview #worldwar2books #historicalfiction #indarknesslookforstars #clarabenson
In Darkness, Look for Stars by Clara Benson
💫
Set in WWII, coupled with a time about seven years later, this story is largely one of family and lots of heartbreak. I loved the very beginning of the book so much - when we meet Maggie, a resisteur and brave young woman who is formidable and creative in her acts of defiance. She rescues downed airmen in occupied France, and those evading the Nazis. Then we meet the rest of her family and are swept up into the lives of Rose, the steely matriarch, and her relentless obsession with fame. She bullies everyone around her, including her own children, to get what she believes she’s entitled to. She’s awful and exhausting. So are her other two kids, though one almost redeems herself in the end.
I enjoyed this book, but at times it felt a little long and repetitive. The family dramas are intriguing though, as is the way the family members each convince themselves why what they did or didn’t do is forgivable. A pretty selfish mob, all in all!
7.5/10
@audible #bookreview #worldwar2books #historicalfiction #indarknesslookforstars #clarabenson
May 11, 2022
This novel was not what I expected.
First, the title of book has absolutely nothing to do with, nor does it make any sense in regard to the story. Same goes for the picture on the front. What a strange choice by the author.
Second, the story is of the Brouillard family, not of WWII. Yes there are ties to the war throughout the story but really you must be more invested in the characters than the time period.
Which brings me to my third point in this review, the characters. The only characters I liked were minor characters (Rex, Maggie, and Alec).
Every major character was either a basket case or just plain awful in my opinion. (Maybe not Harriet but she was uninteresting to me)
I enjoyed very much the two timelines. At the beginning of the story you find out the origin and the ending. The rest of the book is spent filling in the middle which was very unique and clearly took a lot of effort to write. It was enjoyable to read and kept me reading.
And I did enjoy the story although I don’t think I’d recommend this to many people.
All in all, 3.5 stars.
First, the title of book has absolutely nothing to do with, nor does it make any sense in regard to the story. Same goes for the picture on the front. What a strange choice by the author.
Second, the story is of the Brouillard family, not of WWII. Yes there are ties to the war throughout the story but really you must be more invested in the characters than the time period.
Which brings me to my third point in this review, the characters. The only characters I liked were minor characters (Rex, Maggie, and Alec).
Every major character was either a basket case or just plain awful in my opinion. (Maybe not Harriet but she was uninteresting to me)
I enjoyed very much the two timelines. At the beginning of the story you find out the origin and the ending. The rest of the book is spent filling in the middle which was very unique and clearly took a lot of effort to write. It was enjoyable to read and kept me reading.
And I did enjoy the story although I don’t think I’d recommend this to many people.
All in all, 3.5 stars.
April 26, 2020
The Horrors of War
I am used to other books by this author, mostly her Marchmont series. But lately I have been reading books set during wartime Europe. This book moves back and forth between wartime France during the German occupation and an English country home a few years later. The same family is shattered during the occupation. Some members work for the French resistance while others come perilously close to collaboration. Their experience is tragic. The truth of their story unfolds when a young woman, reeling from her own losses, joins the household as a secretary. The narrative hurtles to its conclusion. I found myself caught in the story and read until two in the morning to finish their heartbreaking story.
I am used to other books by this author, mostly her Marchmont series. But lately I have been reading books set during wartime Europe. This book moves back and forth between wartime France during the German occupation and an English country home a few years later. The same family is shattered during the occupation. Some members work for the French resistance while others come perilously close to collaboration. Their experience is tragic. The truth of their story unfolds when a young woman, reeling from her own losses, joins the household as a secretary. The narrative hurtles to its conclusion. I found myself caught in the story and read until two in the morning to finish their heartbreaking story.
August 8, 2020
I enjoy reading historical fiction and this book did not disappoint. A heartbreaking story that interweaves the history of the French resistance to the German Occupation with three love stories, the cold reality of wartime, the human nature surrounding the fear of change, and the power of letting go of the past.
On top of a great narrative and compelling plot, the author creates three amazing yet flawed heroines. You are drawn into each of their stories and the ultimate intersection of their combined lives that occurs.
In addition, although the Germans are the villians to the resistance, the real antagonists shift between two tragic characters.
Highly recommend for any WW2 buffs who enjoy history and great storytelling.
On top of a great narrative and compelling plot, the author creates three amazing yet flawed heroines. You are drawn into each of their stories and the ultimate intersection of their combined lives that occurs.
In addition, although the Germans are the villians to the resistance, the real antagonists shift between two tragic characters.
Highly recommend for any WW2 buffs who enjoy history and great storytelling.
August 11, 2022
The title of Clara Benson's novel first captured my attention but i'll get to that in a bit. It's a story is told from three women's perspectives and is set in both 1940's occupied France and post war England and follows the lives of a family full of secrets and a perpetual sadness that seems to surround them.
In Darkness Look for Stars we first meet Maggie Brouillard, a young woman who aids the resistance in Paris helping Jews and downed pilots escape the Nazis. In an effort to protect her Jewish fiance', Maggie sends him, along with a coded message to her beloved sister Cécilia.
In England, 1949 Harriet Conway arrives at Chaffingham House a large estate where she is to be employed as secretary. Tragedy, bitterness and secrets fill the once grand rooms.
As Harriet lives and works at Chaffingham House she is soon drawn to the mystery that surrounds the Brouillard family.
It wasn't until I finished reading and closed the book did I fully come to a conclusion as to whether I liked this book or not. The writer is certainly talented and writes beautifully. The story is imaginative and the characters each with completely different personalities draw you into the story and has you sympathizing with each of their situations. In Darkness Look for Stars is a story filled with secrets and betrayal. Tragedy seems to loom on every page, however, as Clara Benson's title implies, there is a glimmer of light in every dark moment. Was I heartbroken most of the time? Absolutely. But in the end there was hope. Which made this story well worth the read.
#bookstagram #goodreads #France #paris #worldwar2 #bookblogger #lostinabook #readandreview #readingismagic #readingisanadventure #readmorebooks #booksofinsta #bookworm #bookshelf
In Darkness Look for Stars we first meet Maggie Brouillard, a young woman who aids the resistance in Paris helping Jews and downed pilots escape the Nazis. In an effort to protect her Jewish fiance', Maggie sends him, along with a coded message to her beloved sister Cécilia.
In England, 1949 Harriet Conway arrives at Chaffingham House a large estate where she is to be employed as secretary. Tragedy, bitterness and secrets fill the once grand rooms.
As Harriet lives and works at Chaffingham House she is soon drawn to the mystery that surrounds the Brouillard family.
It wasn't until I finished reading and closed the book did I fully come to a conclusion as to whether I liked this book or not. The writer is certainly talented and writes beautifully. The story is imaginative and the characters each with completely different personalities draw you into the story and has you sympathizing with each of their situations. In Darkness Look for Stars is a story filled with secrets and betrayal. Tragedy seems to loom on every page, however, as Clara Benson's title implies, there is a glimmer of light in every dark moment. Was I heartbroken most of the time? Absolutely. But in the end there was hope. Which made this story well worth the read.
#bookstagram #goodreads #France #paris #worldwar2 #bookblogger #lostinabook #readandreview #readingismagic #readingisanadventure #readmorebooks #booksofinsta #bookworm #bookshelf
March 26, 2021
A picture of war on the personal level
There are many aspects of war that can be made into stories. This novel focuses on one family in particular and how the individual family members dealt with the implications of war. Jumping back and forth between two different time frames, the novel can be a bit difficult to follow, but the author handles the transitions well. This is a novel with much sadness throughout, but then again, war is not a happy time. The story does however end on an upbeat and positive note.
There are many aspects of war that can be made into stories. This novel focuses on one family in particular and how the individual family members dealt with the implications of war. Jumping back and forth between two different time frames, the novel can be a bit difficult to follow, but the author handles the transitions well. This is a novel with much sadness throughout, but then again, war is not a happy time. The story does however end on an upbeat and positive note.
August 4, 2023
This one started out slow, but the dual timeline and the interesting characters kept me reading. It was not the typical WWII historical fiction, although the Resistance is involved; the war and its consequences set everything up for the tragic story in the years after WWII has ended.
Harriet and Maggie were instantly likable. Cecilia was not likable at first because of how introverted she is, but that just made me root for her even more as her inner strength and passion came to the forefront. Rex and Alec are endearing.
Harriet and Maggie were instantly likable. Cecilia was not likable at first because of how introverted she is, but that just made me root for her even more as her inner strength and passion came to the forefront. Rex and Alec are endearing.
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