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Miss Lily's Lovely Ladies #5
Legends of the Lost Lilies
The final and thrilling conclusion to the popular and bestselling Miss Lily series
A mysterious telegram: 'Lily needs you' is received just before a plane from war-wracked England lands in one of Sophie Greenman's paddocks.
Sophie, Countess of Shillings, has been living a quiet life on her property in Australia, until love and loyalty draws her back to Shillings Hall where she trained to become one of Miss Lily's 'Lovely Ladies'. Now, in 1942, Shillings Hall is training women to become espionage agents.
Sophie's mission? To seek out disaffected German officers prepared to kill Hitler.
Across Europe women like Sophie, or Parisian couturier Violette, or Hannelore, German Prinzessin and spy, must determine where their deepest loyalty lies. And as Europe slowly disintegrates, Miss Lily must also decide her final fate.
Based on real-life events, this is the story of the women men didn't see. And in this fifth and final book in the Miss Lily series, Jackie French tells the story of the remarkable women who have been carefully left out of our war histories: those lost lilies of allied espionage.
A mysterious telegram: 'Lily needs you' is received just before a plane from war-wracked England lands in one of Sophie Greenman's paddocks.
Sophie, Countess of Shillings, has been living a quiet life on her property in Australia, until love and loyalty draws her back to Shillings Hall where she trained to become one of Miss Lily's 'Lovely Ladies'. Now, in 1942, Shillings Hall is training women to become espionage agents.
Sophie's mission? To seek out disaffected German officers prepared to kill Hitler.
Across Europe women like Sophie, or Parisian couturier Violette, or Hannelore, German Prinzessin and spy, must determine where their deepest loyalty lies. And as Europe slowly disintegrates, Miss Lily must also decide her final fate.
Based on real-life events, this is the story of the women men didn't see. And in this fifth and final book in the Miss Lily series, Jackie French tells the story of the remarkable women who have been carefully left out of our war histories: those lost lilies of allied espionage.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
19 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Jackie French
320 books866 followersJackie is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres - from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction. In her capacity as Australian Children’s Laureate, ‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 4, 2021
3.5
French can really write. I do SO appreciate that this project was intended to tell the untold stories of the women of both wars, in the context of fiction yet absolutely informed by fact. This is something I can champion! And this, she does so well.
At this point, it does feel like we have spent more time being told about the intensity of Sophie and Lily's bond than actually seeing it.
I do feel like this book was a bit confused? Like she had to walk back where she had taken Lily's character for some reason? And I was incredibly disturbed at the implication that Sophie would have and should have married Lily instead of Nigel, because Lily is so clearly a sister/mother figure for her (this is also stated in-text). I do not at all agree with the concept that all types of love are essentially the same — the love a parent feels for a child and vice versa is not, and SHOULD NOT be, Eros. You may recall that I was uncomfortable in the earlier books with this dynamic, but thought French had done a good job of resolving it, only to walk this back in the last book? I was always far more comfortable with Sophie's relationship with Daniel, again not because of who Nigel/Lily was, but because of the relationship dynamics. Daniel felt like a much better match. He and Sophie grew into de-idolised versions of each other but Nigel/Lily and Sophie were infatuated/blinded by mythic versions of each other. The 'feeling' component of love doesn't make a relationship healthy. Both Nigel/Lily and Sophie make incredibly poor decisions based on this blinded relationship and I felt so uncomfortable reading this book because of it.
Essentially, this ENTIRE book should not have happened. Sophie should not have left Daniel. Her children, even as capable as they both were, needed her. Her business (which is VITAL to feed not just Australia but the British empire) needed her. Yes, Rose steps in, but Sophie gives it so little thought! She's lucky (as is Britain!) that Rose CAN step in. It was out of line for Bob/Lily, James, etc. to manipulate Sophie into flying to England without telling her why, then manipulate her into playing this role. I absolutely cannot believe that the English intelligence could not find someone equally suitable ALREADY IN EUROPE. Basically my suspense of disbelief was really, really done.
Look I understand the need for the plot device to get Sophie into where the action is, to then write about those things. But then you've got Hannelore and Violette to do that as needed. I don't know, I absolutely was not sold on any of it. I put more stock in Violette's turn to nunhood than any of Sophie's tale.
Again, I really appreciate what the series is trying to do. And is largely successful in doing. And I'm happy for Sophie in the wrap up. There's just a lot I was not on board with.
French can really write. I do SO appreciate that this project was intended to tell the untold stories of the women of both wars, in the context of fiction yet absolutely informed by fact. This is something I can champion! And this, she does so well.
At this point, it does feel like we have spent more time being told about the intensity of Sophie and Lily's bond than actually seeing it.
I do feel like this book was a bit confused? Like she had to walk back where she had taken Lily's character for some reason? And I was incredibly disturbed at the implication that Sophie would have and should have married Lily instead of Nigel, because Lily is so clearly a sister/mother figure for her (this is also stated in-text). I do not at all agree with the concept that all types of love are essentially the same — the love a parent feels for a child and vice versa is not, and SHOULD NOT be, Eros. You may recall that I was uncomfortable in the earlier books with this dynamic, but thought French had done a good job of resolving it, only to walk this back in the last book? I was always far more comfortable with Sophie's relationship with Daniel, again not because of who Nigel/Lily was, but because of the relationship dynamics. Daniel felt like a much better match. He and Sophie grew into de-idolised versions of each other but Nigel/Lily and Sophie were infatuated/blinded by mythic versions of each other. The 'feeling' component of love doesn't make a relationship healthy. Both Nigel/Lily and Sophie make incredibly poor decisions based on this blinded relationship and I felt so uncomfortable reading this book because of it.
Essentially, this ENTIRE book should not have happened. Sophie should not have left Daniel. Her children, even as capable as they both were, needed her. Her business (which is VITAL to feed not just Australia but the British empire) needed her. Yes, Rose steps in, but Sophie gives it so little thought! She's lucky (as is Britain!) that Rose CAN step in. It was out of line for Bob/Lily, James, etc. to manipulate Sophie into flying to England without telling her why, then manipulate her into playing this role. I absolutely cannot believe that the English intelligence could not find someone equally suitable ALREADY IN EUROPE. Basically my suspense of disbelief was really, really done.
Look I understand the need for the plot device to get Sophie into where the action is, to then write about those things. But then you've got Hannelore and Violette to do that as needed. I don't know, I absolutely was not sold on any of it. I put more stock in Violette's turn to nunhood than any of Sophie's tale.
Again, I really appreciate what the series is trying to do. And is largely successful in doing. And I'm happy for Sophie in the wrap up. There's just a lot I was not on board with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2021
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. This was a fitting end to it. I did find the jump to 1976 at the end,a bit confusing at first as there was a dump of new characters, but it did tie all the threads together well. I have liked the characters and admired the cleverness and kindness of the women. I also liked the depths of friendship in these books.
August 31, 2024
This one was much darker than the previous books. Still preposterous as there’s no way Sophie needed to be in that situation, so getting her there felt contrived. But once she was there, the story was captivating and terrifying.
May 9, 2021
I nearly gave up on this one, French does have a bit of a sledge hammer style, but then it improved, and I got hooked. Increasingly improbable as this is the fifth book in the series, but still a great story.
April 13, 2022
This was the least favourite book of the series for me, which was a letdown as the series was so good!
October 5, 2021
This final book of the Miss Lily series also leaves behind the innovative war ingredients for recipes that commence many of the chapters and make for a bonus to this read. The book picks up with Sophie flying over the English Channel back to the "Shillings" estate which, unknown to her as yet, has been taken over by the government for the war effort. She is acutely aware that this decision to just pack up and leave on such short notice from one of Britain's most secret agents without asking for any explanation will impact greatly on husband Daniel, daughter Rose and son Danny (Earl of Shillings) soon old enough to enlist in the army for duty in New Guinea fighting the Japanese. On the flight however, she learns that Miss Lily is dead.
On arrival at the estate and still in shock, secret agent James takes Sophie to one of the estate's cottages where Bob Green lives and when introduced to him she promptly faints on recognition of the transgender Lily/Nigel now with the third identity of Bob Green. It's here that Sophie is informed that her mission after SOE training as a spy will take over the persona of a recently deceased recluse Contessa and be flown to France. Sophie is warned there has not been any contact with Violette (who had rescued her from her abductors in the previous book). James feels she is unreliable with selfish motives. She is now a rich and famous Parisian dress designer beyond that of Sophie's money that had established her in the first instance.
While Sophie is training in England, Daniel her husband in Australia is finding it difficult dealing with her absence and having to lie to Rose and Danny with the excuse she is attending to business in northern Queensland where there is no communication. It all becomes too much for him, his PTSD alter ego John begins to take over and he returns to his hermit life. This leaves the teenagers to deal with the Thuringa property, Danny with his head stockman while Rose puts on her high heels and enters the Boardroom of the Higgs business.
Sophie finishes her training and is flown to France where she almost immediately makes an error in judgement in contacting Violette at her Salon for which on returning to the apartment she is arrested under her own name, imprisoned, interrogated and tortured. Fortunately her arrest becomes known to Dolphie, a long time pre war German admirer now a Sicherheidsteinst intelligence agent of the SS. He has her padded with bullet proof padding, she is shot for effect during her rescue and eventually she is taken to his distant country estate where she remains as prisoner along with Hannelore, a family member but English spy. Sophie knows that reports of her death will soon be known in England. Desperate to get information to James, help comes by way of two carrier pigeons that fly home to Holland; the coded message attached is delivered to British intelligence.
The failed attempts on Hitler's life leave Dolphie as one of the conspirators given two choices either suicide or be executed. He chooses to return to the estate where he commits suicide. The estate is taken over by a new Nazi commander, Hannelore is taken to Dachau while Sophie acts as a cook. As the Germans face the loss of the war and start retreating Sophie faces her biggest threat of being shot by the commander but after managing to turn the tables on him she heads for the secret cellar until rescued by the Allies.
Meanwhile back in England disaster strikes at Shillings which brings to an end the life of the characters, Lily/Nigel/Bob.
On arrival at the estate and still in shock, secret agent James takes Sophie to one of the estate's cottages where Bob Green lives and when introduced to him she promptly faints on recognition of the transgender Lily/Nigel now with the third identity of Bob Green. It's here that Sophie is informed that her mission after SOE training as a spy will take over the persona of a recently deceased recluse Contessa and be flown to France. Sophie is warned there has not been any contact with Violette (who had rescued her from her abductors in the previous book). James feels she is unreliable with selfish motives. She is now a rich and famous Parisian dress designer beyond that of Sophie's money that had established her in the first instance.
While Sophie is training in England, Daniel her husband in Australia is finding it difficult dealing with her absence and having to lie to Rose and Danny with the excuse she is attending to business in northern Queensland where there is no communication. It all becomes too much for him, his PTSD alter ego John begins to take over and he returns to his hermit life. This leaves the teenagers to deal with the Thuringa property, Danny with his head stockman while Rose puts on her high heels and enters the Boardroom of the Higgs business.
Sophie finishes her training and is flown to France where she almost immediately makes an error in judgement in contacting Violette at her Salon for which on returning to the apartment she is arrested under her own name, imprisoned, interrogated and tortured. Fortunately her arrest becomes known to Dolphie, a long time pre war German admirer now a Sicherheidsteinst intelligence agent of the SS. He has her padded with bullet proof padding, she is shot for effect during her rescue and eventually she is taken to his distant country estate where she remains as prisoner along with Hannelore, a family member but English spy. Sophie knows that reports of her death will soon be known in England. Desperate to get information to James, help comes by way of two carrier pigeons that fly home to Holland; the coded message attached is delivered to British intelligence.
The failed attempts on Hitler's life leave Dolphie as one of the conspirators given two choices either suicide or be executed. He chooses to return to the estate where he commits suicide. The estate is taken over by a new Nazi commander, Hannelore is taken to Dachau while Sophie acts as a cook. As the Germans face the loss of the war and start retreating Sophie faces her biggest threat of being shot by the commander but after managing to turn the tables on him she heads for the secret cellar until rescued by the Allies.
Meanwhile back in England disaster strikes at Shillings which brings to an end the life of the characters, Lily/Nigel/Bob.
March 28, 2021
https://denisenewtonwrites.com/?p=2678
In amongst the drama, the intelligence activities, the horror of wartime, the losses, pain and grief, this is the shining thread that runs through the Miss Lily narrative: women and their networks, friendships, strengths. The series will be enjoyed by historical fiction fans who love reading about the heroic women of our collective past.
Legends of the Lost Lilies
Jackie French
In amongst the drama, the intelligence activities, the horror of wartime, the losses, pain and grief, this is the shining thread that runs through the Miss Lily narrative: women and their networks, friendships, strengths. The series will be enjoyed by historical fiction fans who love reading about the heroic women of our collective past.
Legends of the Lost Lilies
Jackie French
April 18, 2021
So sad to know that this is the last book in the Miss Lily series – I've loved every one of them.
And yet Jackie French is such an accomplished author that it feels right for the saga to draw to an end here.
People ask who my favourite character is, but there are too many I love to be able to name just one.
This series brings so much history alive and has such a rich sense of place, wherever it travels.
I wouldn't change a thing.
Bravo, Jackie French! You've done it again!
And yet Jackie French is such an accomplished author that it feels right for the saga to draw to an end here.
People ask who my favourite character is, but there are too many I love to be able to name just one.
This series brings so much history alive and has such a rich sense of place, wherever it travels.
I wouldn't change a thing.
Bravo, Jackie French! You've done it again!
September 7, 2021
The finale of this very readable series of 5 books following Sophie Higgs. Lists of real history mixed into an adventurous story winding up many of the threads of this saga. Lots of great cast with just a few caricatures but overall well done. Set primarily between Germany, England and Australia with Paris as an added bit of war torn joy.
February 17, 2022
This final book really brought everything together and rounds out the story. Amazing that it's been written by actual events in such a way that it's exciting and keeps you in suspense. I was able to be transported back in time and felt often that every little detail had intrigue and been written with passion. Thank you Jackie French
April 26, 2021
After reading the first four books, I was waiting for this one. Such a great series I have loved and book 5 has lived up to expectation. What a series and what an ending! I highly recommend this series to other readers.
May 21, 2021
Such an amazing series of books. Beautifully written and fascinating in the research. Thought provoking in terms of the part women played in the wars and how that led to changes in the role of women in today’s society. I am sad to say goodbye to Sophie and Miss Lily.
May 24, 2021
Only skimmed this book. Stopped when Lily was training. Annoyed that she would drop everything and fly across the world without a question.
Set in the early 1940s, this is Sophie and her friends dealing with WWII.
Set in the early 1940s, this is Sophie and her friends dealing with WWII.
August 20, 2021
The final instalment in the Miss Lily’s Lovely Ladies series, why do they have to end?
Such a remarkable story of the love and loyalty that overcomes war. A small selection of women, once Miss Lily Ladies, working across Europe to end Hitler’s hold on everything that is dear to them.
Such a remarkable story of the love and loyalty that overcomes war. A small selection of women, once Miss Lily Ladies, working across Europe to end Hitler’s hold on everything that is dear to them.
November 24, 2021
Well I don’t think it is possible for Jackie French to write a book that isn’t a masterpiece. However, I can’t say I’m completely sold on this storyline and some of the characters irked me a little. I still adored it.
January 7, 2022
3.7
Definitely the toughest read subject matter wise of this wonderful series. This book could be a bit hard to follow at times and the pacing was not always on point, but I was moved and in suspense.
Definitely the toughest read subject matter wise of this wonderful series. This book could be a bit hard to follow at times and the pacing was not always on point, but I was moved and in suspense.
July 22, 2023
This was a magnificent series of books to read.
The Matilda Saga series is still my ultimate favourite writing by Jackie French, but this series was also so absorbing at times that I simply could not put the book down.
The Matilda Saga series is still my ultimate favourite writing by Jackie French, but this series was also so absorbing at times that I simply could not put the book down.
October 22, 2023
I have never read anything I didn't love by Ms French, but this series has been a favourite among favourites. I love how respectful she is when portraying the complexities of the trans experience, and the may forms of love. She doesn't simplify things but makes them accessible. Love love LOVE
April 26, 2021
The final in the Miss Lily's Lovely Ladies. Am I satisfied or happy about this one? I'm honestly not sure about it yet! Ask me again in the future.
May 16, 2021
A fitting end to the story. It ends with tears, inspiration, knowledge and hope. I enjoyed the whole series.
May 18, 2021
An excellent conclusion to this most impressive Jackie French series. Tied up all the loose ends and still maintained strong narrative tension throughout.
June 23, 2021
A great finish to the series. Some really tough times for the women.
December 19, 2022
Great read for young adult with fluid sexuality concerns. Love wonderfully handled.
July 29, 2023
The final book in quite an involved series. I was a little sad about the deaths of some characters. But overall a good series.
October 11, 2023
A wonderful series. I cried my way through the final chapter.
January 19, 2025
Jackie French excellent author. These books will definitely read again. Very inspiring.
June 13, 2021
The final book in this series follows Sophie as she dashes off to Shillings after receiving a note from Lily, amidst the growing tensions of World War Two.
Jackie French is immensely talented, which is evident as she showcases both character growth over time, her characters ageing and interweaves characters from all the previous books to tie them into this one. You can see just how far Sophie has come from a girl who thought she would marry her first love and live a simple life, to Sophie who runs Higgs Industries and has expanded it to be about so much more than just corned beef. Other characters like Daniel, Nigel, Danny and Rose are also given time to grow and it makes for a very enjoyable reading experience.
I enjoyed the multiple POVs that I got to experience, and it acted as a clever way to reunite with characters that flew in and out of the last four books. The plot was also quite interesting, and I liked the recipes at the start of the chapters in this book as I felt it effectively showcased the conditions brought about by the war.
However, like the fourth book, I found it a little hard to believe that Sophie was the only person fit for the role Lily required. Again, it just felt like a way to get Sophie involved in the story, though, it would not be out of character for Sophie to act as she did, given the events of the last book.
Overall, this was a very sound conclusion to a series that I am going to miss dearly.
Jackie French is immensely talented, which is evident as she showcases both character growth over time, her characters ageing and interweaves characters from all the previous books to tie them into this one. You can see just how far Sophie has come from a girl who thought she would marry her first love and live a simple life, to Sophie who runs Higgs Industries and has expanded it to be about so much more than just corned beef. Other characters like Daniel, Nigel, Danny and Rose are also given time to grow and it makes for a very enjoyable reading experience.
I enjoyed the multiple POVs that I got to experience, and it acted as a clever way to reunite with characters that flew in and out of the last four books. The plot was also quite interesting, and I liked the recipes at the start of the chapters in this book as I felt it effectively showcased the conditions brought about by the war.
However, like the fourth book, I found it a little hard to believe that Sophie was the only person fit for the role Lily required. Again, it just felt like a way to get Sophie involved in the story, though, it would not be out of character for Sophie to act as she did, given the events of the last book.
Overall, this was a very sound conclusion to a series that I am going to miss dearly.
December 5, 2023
I have lived in & loved this series. I learnt so much about the role women played in the & around the wars.
September 13, 2021
You can read my review here at:
https://readingtime.com.au/legends-of...
https://readingtime.com.au/legends-of...
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