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The French Gift
A World War II story of female friendship, longing and sacrifice through war and loss, bringing together the present and the past.
'Kirsty Manning has delivered yet again with this epic novel about women, love and heartbreak. With passion and sensitivity, Manning takes the reader on a journey that is near-impossible to tear yourself away from. Without a doubt her finest work. A triumph!' Sally Hepworth, author of The Good Sister
A forgotten manuscript that threatens to unravel the past…
Fresne Prison, 1940: A former maid at a luxury villa on the Riviera, Margot Bisset finds herself in a prison cell with writer and French Resistance fighter Joséphine Murant. Together, they are transferred to a work camp in Germany for four years, where the secrets they share will bind them for generations to come.
Paris, around about now: Evie Black lives in Paris with her teenage son, Hugo, above her botanical bookshop, La Maison Rustique. Life would be so sweet if only Evie were not mourning the great love of her life.
When a letter arrives regarding the legacy of her husband’s great-aunt, Joséphine Murant, Evie clutches at an opportunity to spend one last magical summer with her son. They travel together to Joséphine’s house, now theirs, on the Côte d’Azur. Here, Evie unravels the official story of this famous novelist, and the truth of a murder a lifetime ago. Along the way, she will discover the little-known true story of the women who were enslaved by German forces in WWII.
Bringing together the present and the past, The French Gift is a tender and heartbreaking story of female friendship, sacrifice and loss, and the promise of new love.
'Kirsty Manning has delivered yet again with this epic novel about women, love and heartbreak. With passion and sensitivity, Manning takes the reader on a journey that is near-impossible to tear yourself away from. Without a doubt her finest work. A triumph!' Sally Hepworth, author of The Good Sister
A forgotten manuscript that threatens to unravel the past…
Fresne Prison, 1940: A former maid at a luxury villa on the Riviera, Margot Bisset finds herself in a prison cell with writer and French Resistance fighter Joséphine Murant. Together, they are transferred to a work camp in Germany for four years, where the secrets they share will bind them for generations to come.
Paris, around about now: Evie Black lives in Paris with her teenage son, Hugo, above her botanical bookshop, La Maison Rustique. Life would be so sweet if only Evie were not mourning the great love of her life.
When a letter arrives regarding the legacy of her husband’s great-aunt, Joséphine Murant, Evie clutches at an opportunity to spend one last magical summer with her son. They travel together to Joséphine’s house, now theirs, on the Côte d’Azur. Here, Evie unravels the official story of this famous novelist, and the truth of a murder a lifetime ago. Along the way, she will discover the little-known true story of the women who were enslaved by German forces in WWII.
Bringing together the present and the past, The French Gift is a tender and heartbreaking story of female friendship, sacrifice and loss, and the promise of new love.
328 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2021
307 people are currently reading
7821 people want to read
About the author
Kirsty Manning
10 books701 followersKirsty Manning grew up in northern New South Wales. She has degrees in literature and communications and worked as an editor and publishing manager in book publishing for over a decade. A country girl with wanderlust, her travels and studies have taken her through most of Europe, the east and west coasts of the United States and pockets of Asia. Kirsty’s journalism specialising in lifestyle and travel regularly appear in magazines, newspapers and online.
With husband Alex Wilcox, Kirsty is a partner in the award-winning Melbourne wine bar Bellota, and the Prince Wine Store in Sydney and Melbourne.
With husband Alex Wilcox, Kirsty is a partner in the award-winning Melbourne wine bar Bellota, and the Prince Wine Store in Sydney and Melbourne.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 409 reviews
July 1, 2023
The French Gift by Kirsty Manning is a Mystery and Historical Fiction Story with a Touch of Romance!
In 1940 France, a maid, Margot Bisset and a French Resistance fighter and writer, Joséphine Murant share a prison cell at Fresne Prison. They are transferred to a work camp in Germany where they spend four years sharing secrets that link them together for years to come.
In current-day Paris, Evie Black receives a letter about her late husband's inheritance from his great-aunt, Joséphine Murant. With a chance to spend a summer with her son, Hugo before he heads off to college, they travel to Joséphine’s house, now their new home, on the Côte d’Azur.
During Evie's time at their Côte d’Azur home, she will attempt to solve several mysteries from long ago, as well as locate Joséphine Murant's last manuscript that has mysteriously disappeared...
The French Gift is an ARC I won in a 2021 Goodreads giveaway that I held off reading for a few years knowing I'd find the perfect time to meet and spend time with these three strong, resilient women. These main characters are fully developed and their backstories build as the story progresses, which I love.
The chapters alternate between the historical timeline with Margo and Josephine and the current-day timeline with Evie. There's a bit of a romance budding around Evie which creates a welcome distraction from the historical and heavier side of the story.
The French Gift isn't a WWII HF novel that's dark and bleak. Yes, there are parts about the tragedies of life and brutalities of war but it's mostly filled with friendship, kindness, hope, and even love.
Along with the physical ARC from the publisher, I also listened to the audiobook narrated by Deidre Rubenstein whose narration and gender voicing skills are top notch.
I'm slowly beginning to enjoy WWII HF again, especially when the writing is as rich and the story has the depth of this one. I highly recommend The French Gift to those who enjoy a blend of Mystery and Historical Fiction with a touch of Romance on the side. Bonne lecture!
4⭐
Thank you to William Morrow and Kirsty Manning for the physical ARC of this book through Goodreads Giveaways. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
In 1940 France, a maid, Margot Bisset and a French Resistance fighter and writer, Joséphine Murant share a prison cell at Fresne Prison. They are transferred to a work camp in Germany where they spend four years sharing secrets that link them together for years to come.
In current-day Paris, Evie Black receives a letter about her late husband's inheritance from his great-aunt, Joséphine Murant. With a chance to spend a summer with her son, Hugo before he heads off to college, they travel to Joséphine’s house, now their new home, on the Côte d’Azur.
During Evie's time at their Côte d’Azur home, she will attempt to solve several mysteries from long ago, as well as locate Joséphine Murant's last manuscript that has mysteriously disappeared...
The French Gift is an ARC I won in a 2021 Goodreads giveaway that I held off reading for a few years knowing I'd find the perfect time to meet and spend time with these three strong, resilient women. These main characters are fully developed and their backstories build as the story progresses, which I love.
The chapters alternate between the historical timeline with Margo and Josephine and the current-day timeline with Evie. There's a bit of a romance budding around Evie which creates a welcome distraction from the historical and heavier side of the story.
The French Gift isn't a WWII HF novel that's dark and bleak. Yes, there are parts about the tragedies of life and brutalities of war but it's mostly filled with friendship, kindness, hope, and even love.
Along with the physical ARC from the publisher, I also listened to the audiobook narrated by Deidre Rubenstein whose narration and gender voicing skills are top notch.
I'm slowly beginning to enjoy WWII HF again, especially when the writing is as rich and the story has the depth of this one. I highly recommend The French Gift to those who enjoy a blend of Mystery and Historical Fiction with a touch of Romance on the side. Bonne lecture!
4⭐
Thank you to William Morrow and Kirsty Manning for the physical ARC of this book through Goodreads Giveaways. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
January 18, 2022
I really enjoyed The Song of the Jade Lily, Kirsty Manning’s US debut novel, which is about Jewish refugees who fled to Shanghai during WWII. The French Gift is her newest book and also centers on WWII.
About the book: “A World War II story of female friendship, longing and sacrifice through war and loss, bringing together the present and the past.
'Kirsty Manning has delivered yet again with this epic novel about women, love and heartbreak. With passion and sensitivity, Manning takes the reader on a journey that is near-impossible to tear yourself away from. Without a doubt her finest work. A triumph!' Sally Hepworth, author of The Good Sister”
Told in two timelines, The French Gift is a story of friendship during even the worst of times. It’s also a hopeful love story. In the past, Margot Bisset is imprisoned with French Resistance fighter, Josephine Murant. They are later moved to a work camp where they stay for over four years.
In the present, Evie and her son, Hugo, are related to Josephine Murant; she is Hugo’s paternal great aunt. They visit her house they’ve inherited on the Côte d’Azur (beautiful!). Little by little the storylines mesh as Evie uncovers the truth of what happened to Josephine and Margot.
Oh, how I loved this book! It’s richly told with multiple layers. I loved how it prominently features strong, resilient women. I was completely swept up and swept away. If you are a historical fiction fan or a fan of multidimensional storytelling, you should give Kirsty Manning’s books a try. I’m looking forward to her next.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
About the book: “A World War II story of female friendship, longing and sacrifice through war and loss, bringing together the present and the past.
'Kirsty Manning has delivered yet again with this epic novel about women, love and heartbreak. With passion and sensitivity, Manning takes the reader on a journey that is near-impossible to tear yourself away from. Without a doubt her finest work. A triumph!' Sally Hepworth, author of The Good Sister”
Told in two timelines, The French Gift is a story of friendship during even the worst of times. It’s also a hopeful love story. In the past, Margot Bisset is imprisoned with French Resistance fighter, Josephine Murant. They are later moved to a work camp where they stay for over four years.
In the present, Evie and her son, Hugo, are related to Josephine Murant; she is Hugo’s paternal great aunt. They visit her house they’ve inherited on the Côte d’Azur (beautiful!). Little by little the storylines mesh as Evie uncovers the truth of what happened to Josephine and Margot.
Oh, how I loved this book! It’s richly told with multiple layers. I loved how it prominently features strong, resilient women. I was completely swept up and swept away. If you are a historical fiction fan or a fan of multidimensional storytelling, you should give Kirsty Manning’s books a try. I’m looking forward to her next.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
April 9, 2021
It was 1940 and Margot Bisset, a maid for the rich and famous in the Riviera, had just been incarcerated in Fresnes Prison. Her cellmate was Josephine Murant, Resistance fighter and woman of great strength and spirit. The two soon became firm friends and when they were transferred to Germany to work in the dreaded Phrix Rayon Factory, they did twelve hour shifts among the viscose acid which caused burns and welts, difficulty breathing and raw throats. Many of the women died while the cruelty of the Nazis kept them mostly silent.
When Margot and Josephine were together, they discussed the mystery which was at the centre of Margot’s incarceration. Josephine believed she was innocent; Margot knew she was set up – but solving the mystery from prison was impossible.
Current day Paris and Evie Black and her seventeen-year-old son Hugo lived in a small apartment above their bookshop. Evie and Hugo were grieving the loss of Raph, her husband and Hugo’s father who had recently died, as well as Raph’s great-aunt Josephine Murant. Josephine had become a well-loved crime writer after the war, and now that she had passed away, the rumours of a manuscript which had been rejected at the beginning of her career, were rife. When Evie and Hugo travelled to Josephine’s home, the Villa Sanary on the Côte d’Azur, Evie’s determination to uncover the truth about her great-aunt and the life she’d lived in WWII under the cruel domination of the Nazis, as well as solve the mystery of that long ago time, found her both fascinated and horrified.
The French Gift is another enthralling and captivating historical novel by Aussie author Kirsty Manning which I thoroughly enjoyed. The friendship of the two women – Margot and Josephine – during their horror time in prison was well described, while the research and investigation by Evie and Clement in the current day was intriguing and poignant. The French Gift is one I highly recommend.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When Margot and Josephine were together, they discussed the mystery which was at the centre of Margot’s incarceration. Josephine believed she was innocent; Margot knew she was set up – but solving the mystery from prison was impossible.
Current day Paris and Evie Black and her seventeen-year-old son Hugo lived in a small apartment above their bookshop. Evie and Hugo were grieving the loss of Raph, her husband and Hugo’s father who had recently died, as well as Raph’s great-aunt Josephine Murant. Josephine had become a well-loved crime writer after the war, and now that she had passed away, the rumours of a manuscript which had been rejected at the beginning of her career, were rife. When Evie and Hugo travelled to Josephine’s home, the Villa Sanary on the Côte d’Azur, Evie’s determination to uncover the truth about her great-aunt and the life she’d lived in WWII under the cruel domination of the Nazis, as well as solve the mystery of that long ago time, found her both fascinated and horrified.
The French Gift is another enthralling and captivating historical novel by Aussie author Kirsty Manning which I thoroughly enjoyed. The friendship of the two women – Margot and Josephine – during their horror time in prison was well described, while the research and investigation by Evie and Clement in the current day was intriguing and poignant. The French Gift is one I highly recommend.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2021
This was quite a story! I didn’t think the author was going to pull all the ends together and might even leave one mystery hanging but she did a great job of bringing it all together and the ending is very satisfying.
This is both an historical novel and also a murder mystery told through two timelines. It begins in the French Riviera in 1940 an extravagant party thrown by Nazi sympathisers(even the Windsors are in attendance!). Margot Bisset is a young maid who is told by Tilly Munro, the hostess, that she is going to have a (fake)murder game at the party and Margot is given a gun to shoot in the air at a particular time. But the victim, an American woman is really killed and Margot is arrested. In prison she meets Josephine Murant who has been arrested for being part of the resistance. They are moved to a camp in Germany where they are forced to work at the Phrix Rayon factory. These scenes are horrific.
In the modern timeline Josephine Murant has become a successful crime writer, no children of her own , she leaves everything to her nephew Raph, who has an Australian wife Evie and teenage son Hugo. When Raph also die, Evie is the one to sort through Josephines papers looking for a manuscript of her first novel that was rejected. It seems complicated and early there were some timeline jumps that seemed weird but I found it well written and everything was done for a reason to make the story impossible to put down. Some of the key characters aren’t fleshed out at all (eg Gabriel) and I would’ve liked to know more about him. Some of the modern timeline characters, eg Evie’s girlfriends are just annoying and not really necessary to me.
An enjoyable read about women, their friendships and resistance during the war.
This is both an historical novel and also a murder mystery told through two timelines. It begins in the French Riviera in 1940 an extravagant party thrown by Nazi sympathisers(even the Windsors are in attendance!). Margot Bisset is a young maid who is told by Tilly Munro, the hostess, that she is going to have a (fake)murder game at the party and Margot is given a gun to shoot in the air at a particular time. But the victim, an American woman is really killed and Margot is arrested. In prison she meets Josephine Murant who has been arrested for being part of the resistance. They are moved to a camp in Germany where they are forced to work at the Phrix Rayon factory. These scenes are horrific.
In the modern timeline Josephine Murant has become a successful crime writer, no children of her own , she leaves everything to her nephew Raph, who has an Australian wife Evie and teenage son Hugo. When Raph also die, Evie is the one to sort through Josephines papers looking for a manuscript of her first novel that was rejected. It seems complicated and early there were some timeline jumps that seemed weird but I found it well written and everything was done for a reason to make the story impossible to put down. Some of the key characters aren’t fleshed out at all (eg Gabriel) and I would’ve liked to know more about him. Some of the modern timeline characters, eg Evie’s girlfriends are just annoying and not really necessary to me.
An enjoyable read about women, their friendships and resistance during the war.
December 28, 2021
The French Gift is a beautifully written story set in 1940. Australian author Kirsty Manning has done a brilliant job in combining dual timeline, historical fiction and murder mystery. This is one book that needs to be read to appreciate the well-researched history.
Compelling, page-turner and engaging are just a few words that come to mind when I think about this wonderful book. Friendships, secrets, love, loss and heartbreak all make for an unputdownable read. Highly recommended.
Compelling, page-turner and engaging are just a few words that come to mind when I think about this wonderful book. Friendships, secrets, love, loss and heartbreak all make for an unputdownable read. Highly recommended.
October 15, 2021
Don't ever allow the fire that surrounds you burn brighter than the flames that burn within you.
Kirsty Manning presents quite the read here. We follow in the lives of three remarkable women whose lives took root at different points. Manning is a pro at featuring lead female characters as she has in her previous books. I enjoyed The Lost Jewels which emphasizes darkened beginnings to open-ended possibilities.
Manning begins in 1941 with Margot Bisset, a young woman employed as a maid within a lavish household in France. The night of an opulent soiree will seal the fate of this naive individual. She's to become part of a deadly scheme for entertainment that evening. Little did Margot know that she would be arrested for murder and unfairly imprisoned. The impact of war will change everything.
The scene shifts and we meet modern day Evie Black and her teenage son, Hugo. Evie has been recently widowed and the loss has been devastating. She owns a botanical bookshop in Paris which has taken a second tier to her present situation. She and Hugo must travel outside of Paris to the home of her late husband's great aunt, Josephine Murant. Josephine has passed away and this famous novelist's estate must be dealt with. Although Josephine wrote mostly mysteries, part of her fame was connected to the French Freedom movement during WW II. Josephine denied ever being associated with them. History states otherwise.
Kirsty Manning opens the prison cell door and we find both Margot and Josephine residing within its decaying walls during WW II in a German work camp. Their lives and the intense element of survival grabs this storyline and runs with it. Why was Josephine so covetous of the details of the French Resistence movement in which her imprint aligns with its efforts? And what will Evie uncover in her search for a missing manuscript of Josephine's that never saw the light of day?
The French Gift is a remarkable read. Manning layers her story with the three separate avenues of these three woman with an eventual crossing over of their lives. The telling is intense and the revealing locks us in dramatically. If you've not had the pleasure of reading Manning before, this would be one to check out......or any of her previous books for that matter. Superb writing just waiting for you to partake.
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways. My thanks to William Morrow (HarperCollins Publishers) and to Kirsty Manning for the opportunity.
Kirsty Manning presents quite the read here. We follow in the lives of three remarkable women whose lives took root at different points. Manning is a pro at featuring lead female characters as she has in her previous books. I enjoyed The Lost Jewels which emphasizes darkened beginnings to open-ended possibilities.
Manning begins in 1941 with Margot Bisset, a young woman employed as a maid within a lavish household in France. The night of an opulent soiree will seal the fate of this naive individual. She's to become part of a deadly scheme for entertainment that evening. Little did Margot know that she would be arrested for murder and unfairly imprisoned. The impact of war will change everything.
The scene shifts and we meet modern day Evie Black and her teenage son, Hugo. Evie has been recently widowed and the loss has been devastating. She owns a botanical bookshop in Paris which has taken a second tier to her present situation. She and Hugo must travel outside of Paris to the home of her late husband's great aunt, Josephine Murant. Josephine has passed away and this famous novelist's estate must be dealt with. Although Josephine wrote mostly mysteries, part of her fame was connected to the French Freedom movement during WW II. Josephine denied ever being associated with them. History states otherwise.
Kirsty Manning opens the prison cell door and we find both Margot and Josephine residing within its decaying walls during WW II in a German work camp. Their lives and the intense element of survival grabs this storyline and runs with it. Why was Josephine so covetous of the details of the French Resistence movement in which her imprint aligns with its efforts? And what will Evie uncover in her search for a missing manuscript of Josephine's that never saw the light of day?
The French Gift is a remarkable read. Manning layers her story with the three separate avenues of these three woman with an eventual crossing over of their lives. The telling is intense and the revealing locks us in dramatically. If you've not had the pleasure of reading Manning before, this would be one to check out......or any of her previous books for that matter. Superb writing just waiting for you to partake.
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways. My thanks to William Morrow (HarperCollins Publishers) and to Kirsty Manning for the opportunity.
April 20, 2021
⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
Told beautifully in timelines of 1940 and present day I found The French Gift to be compelling reading.
From Kirsty Manning comes this captivating World War II story during the Paris Occupation, the horror of a Rayon Factory and two strong and inspiring women.
Former housemaid Margot Bisset is accused of murder during a decadent party on the Riviera and finds herself in Fresne Prison, France, here she meets French Resistance fighter Josephine Murant who she is to share a cell with. The women become firm friends and together they're transferred to a work camp in Germany where they are forced to endure atrocious and brutal conditions.
Present-day Paris: Evie Black lives with her teenage son Hugo, her heart is broken with the loss of her husband Ralph. Ralph died six months after his great-aunt Josephine Murant who became a famous novelist and somewhat of a literary phenomenon. Evie and her son both travel to Josephine’s villa, now their’s by inheritance, located on the Cote d’Azur. It’s here Evie discovers Josephine’s forgotten manuscript, the truth about a murder from the past and also where she meets up with Clement a historian.
Asutely researched and inspired by true snippets of history! Murder, secrets, survival, courage, friendships and intrigue will make you not want to put this book down and just look at the gorgeous book cover!
I wish to thank Allen & Unwin for generously sending me an advanced copy of the book to review
Told beautifully in timelines of 1940 and present day I found The French Gift to be compelling reading.
From Kirsty Manning comes this captivating World War II story during the Paris Occupation, the horror of a Rayon Factory and two strong and inspiring women.
Former housemaid Margot Bisset is accused of murder during a decadent party on the Riviera and finds herself in Fresne Prison, France, here she meets French Resistance fighter Josephine Murant who she is to share a cell with. The women become firm friends and together they're transferred to a work camp in Germany where they are forced to endure atrocious and brutal conditions.
Present-day Paris: Evie Black lives with her teenage son Hugo, her heart is broken with the loss of her husband Ralph. Ralph died six months after his great-aunt Josephine Murant who became a famous novelist and somewhat of a literary phenomenon. Evie and her son both travel to Josephine’s villa, now their’s by inheritance, located on the Cote d’Azur. It’s here Evie discovers Josephine’s forgotten manuscript, the truth about a murder from the past and also where she meets up with Clement a historian.
Asutely researched and inspired by true snippets of history! Murder, secrets, survival, courage, friendships and intrigue will make you not want to put this book down and just look at the gorgeous book cover!
I wish to thank Allen & Unwin for generously sending me an advanced copy of the book to review
April 8, 2021
The French Gift is the fourth novel by Australian author, Kirsty Manning. On the Cote d’Azur in 1939, assistant housekeeper Margot Bisset is arrested for the murder of American heiress Margaret Schramsburg at a Bastille Day party at Villa Sanary. Despite protestations of innocence, she is found guilty and is to be executed, but ends up in Fresnes prison, where she meets young Parisian journalist, Josephine Murant.
They both end up in Anrath Prison in Germany, working at the Phrix Rayon factory until an horrific accident takes the maid’s life. Years later, when Josephine is an acclaimed crime novelist, she always denies having been part of the Resistance, and also claims that Margot Bisset was not guilty of the murder.
Eighteen months widowed, Evie Black and her teenaged son, Hugo Allard return to Villa Sanary to sort through the papers that form part of Josephine’s estate. The novelist was the great aunt of her late husband, Raphael, so she has to take time from her Paris business selling botanical books and illustrating plants to deal with probate for both estates.
Clement Tazi, head curator at the Marseilles Museum, is preparing an exhibition of the Josephine’s work, for which profits will go to the Josephine Murant Foundation, renowned for its good works for schools and for women’s refuges. He would especially like to display Josephine’s rumoured unpublished manuscript, and Evie has offered to search the Villa’s library.
Their thorough search yields no manuscript, but they do find a copy of a Leroux novel in which the margins are filled with diary entries from the time Josephine and Margot were incarcerated together. Could this give them a definitive answer about the murder?
Manning sets the scene in the first pages with a murder then proceeds at a glacial pace to unravel the mystery, much of which will be guessed well ahead of the reveal by astute readers. The narrative, carried by three voices over multiple time lines, and supplemented by press articles, letters and an exhibition catalogue, is a little disjointed, and the characters not sufficiently engaging to compensate.
Manning does highlight an important and heretofore ignored aspect of the war, the forced factory labour of political prisoners and others inconvenient for the Vichy regime and the occupying forces, and her Author’s Note reveals that much of the historical aspect is based on real events, as supported by her sources. An interesting read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen & Unwin.
They both end up in Anrath Prison in Germany, working at the Phrix Rayon factory until an horrific accident takes the maid’s life. Years later, when Josephine is an acclaimed crime novelist, she always denies having been part of the Resistance, and also claims that Margot Bisset was not guilty of the murder.
Eighteen months widowed, Evie Black and her teenaged son, Hugo Allard return to Villa Sanary to sort through the papers that form part of Josephine’s estate. The novelist was the great aunt of her late husband, Raphael, so she has to take time from her Paris business selling botanical books and illustrating plants to deal with probate for both estates.
Clement Tazi, head curator at the Marseilles Museum, is preparing an exhibition of the Josephine’s work, for which profits will go to the Josephine Murant Foundation, renowned for its good works for schools and for women’s refuges. He would especially like to display Josephine’s rumoured unpublished manuscript, and Evie has offered to search the Villa’s library.
Their thorough search yields no manuscript, but they do find a copy of a Leroux novel in which the margins are filled with diary entries from the time Josephine and Margot were incarcerated together. Could this give them a definitive answer about the murder?
Manning sets the scene in the first pages with a murder then proceeds at a glacial pace to unravel the mystery, much of which will be guessed well ahead of the reveal by astute readers. The narrative, carried by three voices over multiple time lines, and supplemented by press articles, letters and an exhibition catalogue, is a little disjointed, and the characters not sufficiently engaging to compensate.
Manning does highlight an important and heretofore ignored aspect of the war, the forced factory labour of political prisoners and others inconvenient for the Vichy regime and the occupying forces, and her Author’s Note reveals that much of the historical aspect is based on real events, as supported by her sources. An interesting read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen & Unwin.
December 20, 2021
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The French Gift by Kirsty Manning. (2021).
Fresnes Prison, 1940: Margot, a former maid from the Riveria is in prison with writer/French Resistance fighter Josephine. They are transferred to a work camp in Germany where the secrets they share will bind them forever. Present-day Paris: Evie lives above her botanical bookshop with her teenage son Hugo. When the grieving Evie receives an unexpected letter, she jumps at the opportunity to spend a summer on the Côte d'Azur. The past envelops them and Evie attempts to unravel the official story of a famous novelist, find a missing manuscript and if she succeeds then a murder from the past may be solved.
I have been really excited to read this after loving the author's previous novel (The Lost Jewels). I can happily confirm that this one is also a great read. Combining contemporary and historical fiction timelines, both make for emotional and gripping reading. Evie is a widow with a teenage son, both still grieving the loss of husband/father. By the end there is hope on the horizon for the two and they are able to see a future with happiness which was lovely. Margot and Josephine's stories are powerful and fascinating. It is clear to the reader that Margot is innocent but she cannot prove it which is incredibly frustrating. The two suffer greatly in the prison they are in and the work they are forced to do is horrible, as is their living conditions - it was confronting to read.
Overall: this is a well-written novel that I'd happily recommend to those that enjoy dual timelines with a mystery to solve.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
The French Gift by Kirsty Manning. (2021).
Fresnes Prison, 1940: Margot, a former maid from the Riveria is in prison with writer/French Resistance fighter Josephine. They are transferred to a work camp in Germany where the secrets they share will bind them forever. Present-day Paris: Evie lives above her botanical bookshop with her teenage son Hugo. When the grieving Evie receives an unexpected letter, she jumps at the opportunity to spend a summer on the Côte d'Azur. The past envelops them and Evie attempts to unravel the official story of a famous novelist, find a missing manuscript and if she succeeds then a murder from the past may be solved.
I have been really excited to read this after loving the author's previous novel (The Lost Jewels). I can happily confirm that this one is also a great read. Combining contemporary and historical fiction timelines, both make for emotional and gripping reading. Evie is a widow with a teenage son, both still grieving the loss of husband/father. By the end there is hope on the horizon for the two and they are able to see a future with happiness which was lovely. Margot and Josephine's stories are powerful and fascinating. It is clear to the reader that Margot is innocent but she cannot prove it which is incredibly frustrating. The two suffer greatly in the prison they are in and the work they are forced to do is horrible, as is their living conditions - it was confronting to read.
Overall: this is a well-written novel that I'd happily recommend to those that enjoy dual timelines with a mystery to solve.
May 7, 2022
A dual time line taking place in Fresne Prison, 1940 and Paris, modern time
Josephine Murant, a journalist and Resistance fighter is in prison while there she meets and befriends Margot Bisset a French maid framed by the rich family she worked for for murder.
With such different backgrounds we wouldn't expect a friendship to spring up but it does. Being sent to a work camp in Germany they endure terrible conditions.
In present day Evie Black lives in Paris with her teenage son, Hugo, above her botanical bookshop, La Maison Rustique. Mourning the loss of her husband she is surprised to get a letter regarding the legacy of her husband’s great-aunt, Joséphine Murant. Spending time with her son thy go through her aunt's things and uncover secrets hidden for decades. The book shows such strong character development in the women. The book brings together past and present through courage and strength.
Publish date 09 Nov 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Josephine Murant, a journalist and Resistance fighter is in prison while there she meets and befriends Margot Bisset a French maid framed by the rich family she worked for for murder.
With such different backgrounds we wouldn't expect a friendship to spring up but it does. Being sent to a work camp in Germany they endure terrible conditions.
In present day Evie Black lives in Paris with her teenage son, Hugo, above her botanical bookshop, La Maison Rustique. Mourning the loss of her husband she is surprised to get a letter regarding the legacy of her husband’s great-aunt, Joséphine Murant. Spending time with her son thy go through her aunt's things and uncover secrets hidden for decades. The book shows such strong character development in the women. The book brings together past and present through courage and strength.
Publish date 09 Nov 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
November 23, 2021
In the French Riviera, members of high-society are getting ready to celebrate Bastille Day 1939 at Villa Sanary. Housekeeper Margot Bisset is asked to be a part of the evening’s entertainment by helping stage a fake murder. Her employer said it would be oh so much fun for the guests, which was to include the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Coco Chanel. But when the pretend victim is actually murdered, Margot is convicted and sent to prison, clearly set up to take the fall for a real and intended crime. At Fresnes Prison she meets Joséphine Murant, a member of the Resistance, convicted for working for a clandestine newsletter Liberté in Nazi occupied France. Josephine believes Margot's claim that she was wrongly convicted and vows to help her new friend once they are released. In 1942 they are sent to Germany to serve as forced labor at the notorious Phrix Rayon Factory where the conditions are deadly. Josephine documents her experiences while imprisioned.
The story shifts to present times. Joséphine, a celebrated crime/thriller writer, has recently passed away. When a retrospective exhibit of her life is planned, Joséphine’s great-nephew’s widow Evie Black becomes part of the planning. Along with historian Clément Tazi, they find a diary Joséphine kept while in prison. They also search for a manuscript of Joséphine’s first novel, which had been rejected and never published. Evie and Clément are intrigued by Margot’s story and Josephine’s belief in her innocence. They soon piece together surprising revelations.
The French Gift is a well-written, captivating story that brings the reader into the beautiful world of the Côte d’Azur and the horrors of captivity during the Nazi occupation. I enjoy author Kirsty Manning’s style of storytelling which provides a compelling mystery from the past that is uncovered in the present day. While she includes the grim realities of wartime, there is also a look into the world of the wealthy as well as a burgeoning love story. Inspired by the story of Agnes Humbert, this fast-paced book clearly required a great deal of research but it doesn't make you feel like you’re getting a history lesson. It delivers an excellent combination of heartbreak and hopefulness.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
The story shifts to present times. Joséphine, a celebrated crime/thriller writer, has recently passed away. When a retrospective exhibit of her life is planned, Joséphine’s great-nephew’s widow Evie Black becomes part of the planning. Along with historian Clément Tazi, they find a diary Joséphine kept while in prison. They also search for a manuscript of Joséphine’s first novel, which had been rejected and never published. Evie and Clément are intrigued by Margot’s story and Josephine’s belief in her innocence. They soon piece together surprising revelations.
The French Gift is a well-written, captivating story that brings the reader into the beautiful world of the Côte d’Azur and the horrors of captivity during the Nazi occupation. I enjoy author Kirsty Manning’s style of storytelling which provides a compelling mystery from the past that is uncovered in the present day. While she includes the grim realities of wartime, there is also a look into the world of the wealthy as well as a burgeoning love story. Inspired by the story of Agnes Humbert, this fast-paced book clearly required a great deal of research but it doesn't make you feel like you’re getting a history lesson. It delivers an excellent combination of heartbreak and hopefulness.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
April 28, 2021
The French Gift pays homage to the women who were imprisoned in labour camps during WWII and sheds light on the little known ‘work’ they were forced to do in the most dangerous of working conditions. However, before you scroll on, thinking that you don’t need to read another WWII novel, there is a lot more to this story. It’s above all about friendship, of the life altering sort, that rare kind that is forged through shared circumstances and stoked by the embers of survival.
I really enjoyed this novel, it was structured with multiple timelines and three different female perspectives, but the author spent time nurturing each era and developing each character. She didn’t chop and change with each chapter, which I appreciated, because it allowed me to sink into each viewpoint without the constant pulling from one to the other. I was consequently able to bond with each character instead of having a preference for one over the other.
Stories about the Resistance will always interest me, I have direct family links to the French Resistance. I am also always interested in stories about writers, and The French Gift is about both of these topics. Win for me! I read this novel rapidly, it was so engrossing, even during what should have been the more difficult parts to read; the author wrote with such sensitivity and respect for the history and I have nothing but admiration for that.
The French Gift is a novel I can highly recommend. I think it would be a terrific book club choice too, particularly discussing the reveal that came towards the end. I actually began to have an inkling about it earlier on, but it would be fun to discuss with others what they thought, not just about the reveal, but also about the notion of truth with regards to revealing the past. What parts of the past need to be revealed and what parts should remain exactly where they are? A question worthy of bookish debate, certainly.
Thanks is extended to Allen & Unwin for providing me with a copy of The French Gift for review.
I really enjoyed this novel, it was structured with multiple timelines and three different female perspectives, but the author spent time nurturing each era and developing each character. She didn’t chop and change with each chapter, which I appreciated, because it allowed me to sink into each viewpoint without the constant pulling from one to the other. I was consequently able to bond with each character instead of having a preference for one over the other.
Stories about the Resistance will always interest me, I have direct family links to the French Resistance. I am also always interested in stories about writers, and The French Gift is about both of these topics. Win for me! I read this novel rapidly, it was so engrossing, even during what should have been the more difficult parts to read; the author wrote with such sensitivity and respect for the history and I have nothing but admiration for that.
The French Gift is a novel I can highly recommend. I think it would be a terrific book club choice too, particularly discussing the reveal that came towards the end. I actually began to have an inkling about it earlier on, but it would be fun to discuss with others what they thought, not just about the reveal, but also about the notion of truth with regards to revealing the past. What parts of the past need to be revealed and what parts should remain exactly where they are? A question worthy of bookish debate, certainly.
Thanks is extended to Allen & Unwin for providing me with a copy of The French Gift for review.
September 12, 2021
The French Gift is an interesting historical fiction narrated over multiple time lines.
1940's Paris: a friendship is formed when Margot Bisset, a maid, accused of murder and Josephine Murant, trialed as a Resistance fighter, share a cell in a French prison.
When Paris falls to the Germans the women are sent to a German work camp and are forced to work endless hours in a factory with horrific conditions. Josephine is charming, witty and defiant and she infuses Margot with her fire and determination.
Present day Paris: Evie Black and her teenaged son Hugo, mourning the death of their beloved husband and father, agree to assist in the collection of information and artifacts to go into an exhibition to honour the legacy of Josephine Murant, her husband's great aunt, who had become an accomplished crime writer. There are also rumours of an unpublished manuscript which has Evie searching the villa.
Kirsty Manning has written a compelling story of friendship, perseverance and acts of kindness. The chapters on the German rayon factory were heartbreaking and were written with great reverence for the women that endured these horrific conditions.
I enjoyed the added mysteries of the false murder charge, the search for the manuscript and the added information and secrets that were unearthed during the assembly of the exhibition.
The multiple time line format didn't quite work for me with the dates continually jumping around. I would have preferred two straight time lines.
I did like that Kirsty Manning has come up with a fresh idea for a novel set during WWII and I was completely engrossed in the narrative. The mention of French cuisine and wines helped to give an overarching sense of place.
The French Gift with its clever twists is sure to please historical fiction fans.
*I received my copy from the publisher
1940's Paris: a friendship is formed when Margot Bisset, a maid, accused of murder and Josephine Murant, trialed as a Resistance fighter, share a cell in a French prison.
When Paris falls to the Germans the women are sent to a German work camp and are forced to work endless hours in a factory with horrific conditions. Josephine is charming, witty and defiant and she infuses Margot with her fire and determination.
Present day Paris: Evie Black and her teenaged son Hugo, mourning the death of their beloved husband and father, agree to assist in the collection of information and artifacts to go into an exhibition to honour the legacy of Josephine Murant, her husband's great aunt, who had become an accomplished crime writer. There are also rumours of an unpublished manuscript which has Evie searching the villa.
Kirsty Manning has written a compelling story of friendship, perseverance and acts of kindness. The chapters on the German rayon factory were heartbreaking and were written with great reverence for the women that endured these horrific conditions.
I enjoyed the added mysteries of the false murder charge, the search for the manuscript and the added information and secrets that were unearthed during the assembly of the exhibition.
The multiple time line format didn't quite work for me with the dates continually jumping around. I would have preferred two straight time lines.
I did like that Kirsty Manning has come up with a fresh idea for a novel set during WWII and I was completely engrossed in the narrative. The mention of French cuisine and wines helped to give an overarching sense of place.
The French Gift with its clever twists is sure to please historical fiction fans.
*I received my copy from the publisher
March 7, 2021
On the shimmering Cote D’Azur the glitterati are about to celebrate 1939’s Bastille Day at the Villa Sanary. To enliven the lavish party, attended by no less than Coco Chanel and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the frivolous hostess enlists her maid Margot Bisset to commit a faux Agatha Christie inspired murder. Tragically a young American socialite dies, and Margot is left holding the smoking gun. She is arrested, nobody backs up her story and the pawn in the game is incarcerated for life at Fresnes prison.
In the present, the villa has been inherited by Evie Black, widow of the nephew of celebrated crime fiction author Josephine Murant who lived her last days reclusively at Sanary. Evie is approached by a disarming museum curator of World War II history keen to showcase Mlle Murant and her work as a journalist, Resistance fighter and survivor of Nazi atrocities. And to hopefully discover the whereabouts of an unpublished manuscript. And so the quest to find more truths begins.
The Nazi’s have invaded France and in December 1941 during the removal of dissidents program codenamed Nacht und Nebel, Josephine has been imprisoned for possession of prohibited items and production and distribution of Gaullist tracts. Awaiting trial at Fresnes prison her mother brings her a copy of Le Fantome de L’Opera into the margins of which Josephine records her account of her internment, including sharing a cell with the ill-fated Margot. Both women are transferred to a German labour camp and forced to work under horrendous circumstances at the Phrix Rayon Factory. Hazardous chemicals, defective machinery, and frequent acid burns ensure the survival rate is low. Despite the abhorrent conditions, a kind guard provides murder mystery novels to Margot. The Allies finally liberate the camp, but of the two friends only Josephine survives. She follows a new path and writes whodunnits, some characters named after her executed Resistance compatriots.
But what is The French Gift? Is it Josephine, the national treasure and recipient of the Legion of Honour award? Is it the legacy of those who fought for liberte, egalite and fraternite? The keeping of secrets in times of war and after? The power of transformation? And what of the rejected manuscript?
Kirsty Manning has an engrossing writing style able to evoke the senses whether she’s describing a Gatsby-esque Riviera party or the desolation of a solitary confinement labour camp cell. She’s taken snippets of history and conjured another luscious multi-layered novel that will have fans of defiant women protagonists with a will to survive and find justice thrilled to devour.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for an advanced reading copy.
In the present, the villa has been inherited by Evie Black, widow of the nephew of celebrated crime fiction author Josephine Murant who lived her last days reclusively at Sanary. Evie is approached by a disarming museum curator of World War II history keen to showcase Mlle Murant and her work as a journalist, Resistance fighter and survivor of Nazi atrocities. And to hopefully discover the whereabouts of an unpublished manuscript. And so the quest to find more truths begins.
The Nazi’s have invaded France and in December 1941 during the removal of dissidents program codenamed Nacht und Nebel, Josephine has been imprisoned for possession of prohibited items and production and distribution of Gaullist tracts. Awaiting trial at Fresnes prison her mother brings her a copy of Le Fantome de L’Opera into the margins of which Josephine records her account of her internment, including sharing a cell with the ill-fated Margot. Both women are transferred to a German labour camp and forced to work under horrendous circumstances at the Phrix Rayon Factory. Hazardous chemicals, defective machinery, and frequent acid burns ensure the survival rate is low. Despite the abhorrent conditions, a kind guard provides murder mystery novels to Margot. The Allies finally liberate the camp, but of the two friends only Josephine survives. She follows a new path and writes whodunnits, some characters named after her executed Resistance compatriots.
But what is The French Gift? Is it Josephine, the national treasure and recipient of the Legion of Honour award? Is it the legacy of those who fought for liberte, egalite and fraternite? The keeping of secrets in times of war and after? The power of transformation? And what of the rejected manuscript?
Kirsty Manning has an engrossing writing style able to evoke the senses whether she’s describing a Gatsby-esque Riviera party or the desolation of a solitary confinement labour camp cell. She’s taken snippets of history and conjured another luscious multi-layered novel that will have fans of defiant women protagonists with a will to survive and find justice thrilled to devour.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for an advanced reading copy.
November 28, 2021
A missing, unpublished manuscript by the infamous Josephine Murant who was a resistance fighter and imprisoned, a maid at a party who is tricked into carrying out a real murder and meets Josephine in Fresnes Prison, and a woman who hosted parties with grand events that got Margot arrested.
The event at one of her parties which was faking a murder that turned out to become a real murder had her maid, Margot Bisset, arrested.
We then meet and follow Josephine's niece and a museum curator, Clement, as they try to find the missing manuscript in hopes that it will give information about Josephine's life during the war and insight about her books for his exhibition.
They also are on a quest to find out who really murdered Peggy Schramsburg at the notorious woman, Tilly Munro’s, party.
We get to enjoy the French villa as they look for the book and go back and forth between present day and the days Josephine was in the war, her friendship with Margot, and her writing career.
We also learn of the Phrix Rayon Factory where the women had horrible working conditions with chemicals that caused blindness and burned their skin.
THE FRENCH GIFT is another marvelous book by Ms. Manning with a mystery within.
This book is for fans of WWII, those who enjoy discovering hidden facts about someone’s life, those who love rare books, as well as for those readers who enjoy seeing friendships blossom even in times of war.
Excellent!! Enjoy when you read it. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The event at one of her parties which was faking a murder that turned out to become a real murder had her maid, Margot Bisset, arrested.
We then meet and follow Josephine's niece and a museum curator, Clement, as they try to find the missing manuscript in hopes that it will give information about Josephine's life during the war and insight about her books for his exhibition.
They also are on a quest to find out who really murdered Peggy Schramsburg at the notorious woman, Tilly Munro’s, party.
We get to enjoy the French villa as they look for the book and go back and forth between present day and the days Josephine was in the war, her friendship with Margot, and her writing career.
We also learn of the Phrix Rayon Factory where the women had horrible working conditions with chemicals that caused blindness and burned their skin.
THE FRENCH GIFT is another marvelous book by Ms. Manning with a mystery within.
This book is for fans of WWII, those who enjoy discovering hidden facts about someone’s life, those who love rare books, as well as for those readers who enjoy seeing friendships blossom even in times of war.
Excellent!! Enjoy when you read it. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2021
The French Gift was the second book by Australian author Kirsty Manning that I have read and I loved it. Devouring this heart breaking story of courage and will, of friendship and war in less than 24 hours. It is based on true events of WWII and it is a story that will inspire you, it did me.
Told over 2 time periods the story is based around Josephine Murrant. In the past we learn about her time as a prisoner first in France and then in Germany during the war. Her cellmate was a woman called Margot Bisset, a maid who has been accused of a murder that she did not commit. The 2 women endure harsh conditions during the years and they form strong friendship. Years later after Josephine's death, her niece by marriage is assisting with an exhibition honoring the life of the great French author. The hunt for an unfinished manuscript reveals a whole lot more than anybody bargained for.
It is a beautiful novel, set against the backdrop of wartime Europe and the present day Cote D'Azure. Once again, historical fiction is teaching me about these lesser known war heroes and I love it. I cried as I went on this journey with Josephine.
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for my advanced copy of this book to read. Released in Australia March 30th.
Told over 2 time periods the story is based around Josephine Murrant. In the past we learn about her time as a prisoner first in France and then in Germany during the war. Her cellmate was a woman called Margot Bisset, a maid who has been accused of a murder that she did not commit. The 2 women endure harsh conditions during the years and they form strong friendship. Years later after Josephine's death, her niece by marriage is assisting with an exhibition honoring the life of the great French author. The hunt for an unfinished manuscript reveals a whole lot more than anybody bargained for.
It is a beautiful novel, set against the backdrop of wartime Europe and the present day Cote D'Azure. Once again, historical fiction is teaching me about these lesser known war heroes and I love it. I cried as I went on this journey with Josephine.
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for my advanced copy of this book to read. Released in Australia March 30th.
March 30, 2021
WOW what a fabulous story, this one had me turning the pages I wanted to get to then end, but I didn’t want it to end, I savoured every word, Kirsty Manning started with a thought about a faux murder at a social party and the story of a French Resistance Fighter and beautifully put a story together about strength, courage and the friendships that are made and kept, this is a must read story.
It is 1940 in Paris war is raging and the Germans are taking over, Josephine Murrant is a journalist and is doing what she can to help the resistance, when she is taken in by the gestapo, around the same time former maid Margot Bisset from The Riviera is charged with murder and they find themselves in the same prison cell, they form a close bond and are soon transferred to Germany to work in a labour factory at the notorious rayon factory. They share secrets and become the best of friends through the cruel and heartbreaking days spent there, time that will always link them.
Present day Paris and Evie Black is widowed and living with her teenage son Hugo, she owns a botanical bookshop and paints plants, when a surprising letter arrives from museum curator Clement Tazi asking about an exhibition that he would like to present about her husband’s late Great Aunt the famous thriller author and Resistance Fighter Josephine Murrant.
It is summer and visiting Villa Sanary on the Cote d’Azur, Josephine’s home and the place were Margot had worked will be the perfect meeting place for her and Clement Tazi to discuss the exhibition, but as they search all of her manuscripts and items of interest they discover secrets that have been kept for many years, it opens up the life of Josephine and her friend Margot and what they went through in Germany, the heartbreak and bleakness, but it shows the depth of courage shown by these woman and how they moved forward after the war.
The secrets and mystery that Evie and Clement uncover while putting together this exhibition will turn things upside down and decisions will have to be made about how they will present it all. MS Manning has bought to life characters on the pages of this story and easily taken me from the past to the present in a story that was so very hard to put down, truly I loved this one from page one and cannot highly recommend it enough, it is moving and emotional and just so fabulous, thank you MS Manning for a story that is sure to stay with me for a long time to come.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my copy to read and review
It is 1940 in Paris war is raging and the Germans are taking over, Josephine Murrant is a journalist and is doing what she can to help the resistance, when she is taken in by the gestapo, around the same time former maid Margot Bisset from The Riviera is charged with murder and they find themselves in the same prison cell, they form a close bond and are soon transferred to Germany to work in a labour factory at the notorious rayon factory. They share secrets and become the best of friends through the cruel and heartbreaking days spent there, time that will always link them.
Present day Paris and Evie Black is widowed and living with her teenage son Hugo, she owns a botanical bookshop and paints plants, when a surprising letter arrives from museum curator Clement Tazi asking about an exhibition that he would like to present about her husband’s late Great Aunt the famous thriller author and Resistance Fighter Josephine Murrant.
It is summer and visiting Villa Sanary on the Cote d’Azur, Josephine’s home and the place were Margot had worked will be the perfect meeting place for her and Clement Tazi to discuss the exhibition, but as they search all of her manuscripts and items of interest they discover secrets that have been kept for many years, it opens up the life of Josephine and her friend Margot and what they went through in Germany, the heartbreak and bleakness, but it shows the depth of courage shown by these woman and how they moved forward after the war.
The secrets and mystery that Evie and Clement uncover while putting together this exhibition will turn things upside down and decisions will have to be made about how they will present it all. MS Manning has bought to life characters on the pages of this story and easily taken me from the past to the present in a story that was so very hard to put down, truly I loved this one from page one and cannot highly recommend it enough, it is moving and emotional and just so fabulous, thank you MS Manning for a story that is sure to stay with me for a long time to come.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my copy to read and review
July 20, 2021
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
So divine. The French Gift by Kirsty Manning sings perfection. A chronicle of friendship, unforgettable bonds, survival, determination, endurance and desire in a time of great hardship, The French Gift is nothing short of magnificent. If you have never picked up a Kirsty Manning book, let now be your time!
The story of a secret manuscript that links the present to the past, The French Gift travels effortlessly between 1940 and the present day. The past narrative of The French Gift takes readers to a prison in France, where an unbreakable friendship transpires between a maid and a writer. Both women are tested to their very limits under the harsh conditions of a prison and then a work camp in Germany. The events that occur during this time haunts both women for decades after. The French Gift also takes the audience to the present day as a heartbroken mother named Evie Black receives a life changing opportunity to embark on a travel adventure to the Cote d’Azur region. As the exotic allure of the French Riviera engulfs Evie, she becomes directly involved in a puzzling mystery surrounding a well-known novelist. Evie’s attempts to solve this perplexing mystery consumes her as the hidden history of a famous Resistance fighter comes to light via the discovery of a secret journal. Will Evie help put the ghosts of this wartime mystery to rest?
A new Kirsty Manning is always a cause for celebration. I admit to having my review copy of The French Gift languishing on my shelves for far too long. I have been saving this one for the upcoming holiday break, so that I could enjoy The French Gift in a more relaxing space, as I do love to indulge completely in Kirsty Manning’s sumptuous writing. And that I did! There are all good things to be said about this one.
Manning is a skilled writer, who seems to take herself just that one step further with her writing each time she releases a new novel. In The French Gift, we are presented with different timelines and three alternating female viewpoints as this story gradually unfurls. I think a dual timeline and multiple perspective narrative format is very ambitious, but yet again Manning shows us that she is a unafraid of taking on such a bold form of storytelling. The end result of this fearless narrative approach is a story that presents as evenly balanced, insightful, sensitive and graceful.
Manning has the touch in terms of conveying her sense of place. We have a wonderful and vivid presentation of the French Riviera, the Cote d’Azur and the past setting which exposes the horrors of a prison and a labour camp. Manning maintains a strong sense of plausibility, authenticity and historical fact when she enters her various locations. The historical landscape featured in this novel is heavily researched by this dedicated author, despite any issues Manning may have encountered due to the travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19. Manning’s wartime-based mystery is relayed with fascinating detail and period specific information that helped me to better understand the lives of the incredible characters of this tale. I must also mention that Manning has a fine eye for food, so her cuisine descriptions were a joy to read as The French Gift made its way into my heart.
If murder mysteries and intriguing writer-based tales appeal, The French Gift will bring you plenty of satisfaction and valuable reading time. I loved getting to the bottom of this perplexing wartime-based puzzle. Manning places a few shocks, surprising revelations and final twists, which allows the reader to ponder on the eventualities of this remarkable tale. For me, it is always about the hidden histories that Manning so passionately reveals through her sensational narratives. The French Gift is a superb example of a story that works to illuminate both the harshest moments in our history books and the most spellbinding pockets of the war, where a great deal of faith was needed to overcome this dark time.
Hats off and bravo yet again to Kirsty Manning, The French Gift is a tremendous novel. Five stars from me!
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The French Gift is book #67 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
So divine. The French Gift by Kirsty Manning sings perfection. A chronicle of friendship, unforgettable bonds, survival, determination, endurance and desire in a time of great hardship, The French Gift is nothing short of magnificent. If you have never picked up a Kirsty Manning book, let now be your time!
The story of a secret manuscript that links the present to the past, The French Gift travels effortlessly between 1940 and the present day. The past narrative of The French Gift takes readers to a prison in France, where an unbreakable friendship transpires between a maid and a writer. Both women are tested to their very limits under the harsh conditions of a prison and then a work camp in Germany. The events that occur during this time haunts both women for decades after. The French Gift also takes the audience to the present day as a heartbroken mother named Evie Black receives a life changing opportunity to embark on a travel adventure to the Cote d’Azur region. As the exotic allure of the French Riviera engulfs Evie, she becomes directly involved in a puzzling mystery surrounding a well-known novelist. Evie’s attempts to solve this perplexing mystery consumes her as the hidden history of a famous Resistance fighter comes to light via the discovery of a secret journal. Will Evie help put the ghosts of this wartime mystery to rest?
A new Kirsty Manning is always a cause for celebration. I admit to having my review copy of The French Gift languishing on my shelves for far too long. I have been saving this one for the upcoming holiday break, so that I could enjoy The French Gift in a more relaxing space, as I do love to indulge completely in Kirsty Manning’s sumptuous writing. And that I did! There are all good things to be said about this one.
Manning is a skilled writer, who seems to take herself just that one step further with her writing each time she releases a new novel. In The French Gift, we are presented with different timelines and three alternating female viewpoints as this story gradually unfurls. I think a dual timeline and multiple perspective narrative format is very ambitious, but yet again Manning shows us that she is a unafraid of taking on such a bold form of storytelling. The end result of this fearless narrative approach is a story that presents as evenly balanced, insightful, sensitive and graceful.
Manning has the touch in terms of conveying her sense of place. We have a wonderful and vivid presentation of the French Riviera, the Cote d’Azur and the past setting which exposes the horrors of a prison and a labour camp. Manning maintains a strong sense of plausibility, authenticity and historical fact when she enters her various locations. The historical landscape featured in this novel is heavily researched by this dedicated author, despite any issues Manning may have encountered due to the travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19. Manning’s wartime-based mystery is relayed with fascinating detail and period specific information that helped me to better understand the lives of the incredible characters of this tale. I must also mention that Manning has a fine eye for food, so her cuisine descriptions were a joy to read as The French Gift made its way into my heart.
If murder mysteries and intriguing writer-based tales appeal, The French Gift will bring you plenty of satisfaction and valuable reading time. I loved getting to the bottom of this perplexing wartime-based puzzle. Manning places a few shocks, surprising revelations and final twists, which allows the reader to ponder on the eventualities of this remarkable tale. For me, it is always about the hidden histories that Manning so passionately reveals through her sensational narratives. The French Gift is a superb example of a story that works to illuminate both the harshest moments in our history books and the most spellbinding pockets of the war, where a great deal of faith was needed to overcome this dark time.
Hats off and bravo yet again to Kirsty Manning, The French Gift is a tremendous novel. Five stars from me!
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The French Gift is book #67 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
May 6, 2021
Hi Kirsty,
Long time between books!
I have to say, I have almost read allll your books but one... your debut, but never fear I have it on my tbr. Anyhow, I'm not here to talk about that, so forgive me.... I am here for your brand new baby 'The French Gift'.
I loved it. Josephine and Margot's story line during World War II working in labour camps ..arrrghh that hit hard, not because I was unawares of this, but the reminder that there have been some really dark spots marked by humans and yet Josephine's perspective made me smile, even laugh at times with her resolve to not be broken by those men, there one diary entry that you just had to giggle and like shake your head in disbelief a little with the way Josephine described a particular incident that was to help their ruined hands.
Your descriptions of Paris, makes me want to go there so bad and feel and experience it all myself, hopefully one day I will get that chance. But I thank you in the mean time for taking me there, in a cheesy way I can call this my own French gift...aye...aye?! There was another description which had me very reflective, that was the scene at the war memorial with Evie, Hugo and Clement, that was something that I didn't know, but sadly not surprised by it... it brought some tears to my eyes that scene.
In a nutshell, this is another stellar body of work, I immensely enjoyed it, and I will make sure any and all get their hands on it and lastly, as always cannot wait until your next book.
In the mean time I will get to your debut...
Natty
P.S. a big thanks to Allen & Unwin for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2021
This book is both uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time. Told in two different time frames we learn about the story of Margot Bisset and Josephine Murant in war torn France in the 1940's. In the present times we learn about Evie and her son and their quest to immortalise their beloved Aunt Josephine.
The real story here is Margot and Josephine's harrowing time spent at Fresnes Prison the harrowing treatment that I have no idea how anyone survived. There were times reading this novel that I could actually smell and hear the sounds that Manning was describing. Manning has a wonderful way with words and time and space.
This novel is about love and friendship, it is about the things that we do for each other and the things we do to other people. It is about the power that lies in having someone believe in you when the rest of the world does not.
There are times that this book is really difficult to read, be sure to have some tissues handy, but is also beautiful to read at the time. This is a beautifully written novel against the backdrop of world war two and present day France. We should all be so lucky to have a Margot or Josephine in our lives.
Many thanks to the author and the publisher for the chance to read and ARC of this novel.
The real story here is Margot and Josephine's harrowing time spent at Fresnes Prison the harrowing treatment that I have no idea how anyone survived. There were times reading this novel that I could actually smell and hear the sounds that Manning was describing. Manning has a wonderful way with words and time and space.
This novel is about love and friendship, it is about the things that we do for each other and the things we do to other people. It is about the power that lies in having someone believe in you when the rest of the world does not.
There are times that this book is really difficult to read, be sure to have some tissues handy, but is also beautiful to read at the time. This is a beautifully written novel against the backdrop of world war two and present day France. We should all be so lucky to have a Margot or Josephine in our lives.
Many thanks to the author and the publisher for the chance to read and ARC of this novel.
August 13, 2021
Kirsty Manning writes such beautiful but heartbreaking stories so, of course The French Gift is no exception! Set during WWII in France and Germany the story focuses on Josephine Murant and Margot Bisset, two women who forge a friendship in a notorious work camp. In the present day, Genevieve (Evie) Black and her son Hugo are the only remaining descendants of Josephine. After the loss of her husband, Evie returns to Josephine's villa to sort through her manuscripts and documents related to her published novels. Along the way she discovers a secret about Josephine that stems from her time in Germany. Thanks to Allen & Unwin for my ARC copy.
December 8, 2021
A dual-time line between present day and 1940s. This book is everything I usually love and I’ve seen so many rave reviews about it, so apparently it’s just me, but I’ll say it: The French Gift is extremely dull and the twist was apparent from the beginning.
March 30, 2021
Thank you Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Inspired by a true story this magnificent tale will have you bursting at the seems with pure joy.
In present day Paris, Evie Black is rebuilding her life after a broken heart.
She runs a specialist book shop and lives above it with her son Hugo.
When an invitation to spend the summer on the Riviera, it’s here that Evie begins to take an interest in a past mystery.
1940 in the dark and gloomy prison walls, successful writer Josephine Murant and previous maid Margot Bisset strike up a friendship.
A strong bond is formed and together they are eventually transferred to a German work camp, where they share a lifetime of secrets.
Can Evie resolve and decipher the puzzle before her and unveil the truth?
I was totally sucked in from the very first set of pages, gripped and intrigued, I couldn’t put it down and that’s why 24 hours later, I closed the book with deep satisfaction.
A dual timeline narrative that’s beautifully written, atmospherically stunning and an original and breathtaking storyline.
Whilst I loved both time period plots, my heart did beat that little bit faster when the 1940 story chapters begun.
A novel that’s mesmerising and completely imperative.
With strong and resilient female characters and the historical content and research, it had all my senses working overtime.
A book sparking emotions, that’s evocative and has very vivid imagery.
Inspired by a true story this magnificent tale will have you bursting at the seems with pure joy.
In present day Paris, Evie Black is rebuilding her life after a broken heart.
She runs a specialist book shop and lives above it with her son Hugo.
When an invitation to spend the summer on the Riviera, it’s here that Evie begins to take an interest in a past mystery.
1940 in the dark and gloomy prison walls, successful writer Josephine Murant and previous maid Margot Bisset strike up a friendship.
A strong bond is formed and together they are eventually transferred to a German work camp, where they share a lifetime of secrets.
Can Evie resolve and decipher the puzzle before her and unveil the truth?
I was totally sucked in from the very first set of pages, gripped and intrigued, I couldn’t put it down and that’s why 24 hours later, I closed the book with deep satisfaction.
A dual timeline narrative that’s beautifully written, atmospherically stunning and an original and breathtaking storyline.
Whilst I loved both time period plots, my heart did beat that little bit faster when the 1940 story chapters begun.
A novel that’s mesmerising and completely imperative.
With strong and resilient female characters and the historical content and research, it had all my senses working overtime.
A book sparking emotions, that’s evocative and has very vivid imagery.
July 27, 2021
Pretty good, but I could have used one less storyline. (The romance of Evie & Clement did not seem to be particularly relevant in any way.)
And I did not understand how Josephine's sister's grandson Raph and his family became close to Josephine, since I thought Josephine and her sister were estranged. Perhaps I missed that or did not make the connection.
And I did not understand how Josephine's sister's grandson Raph and his family became close to Josephine, since I thought Josephine and her sister were estranged. Perhaps I missed that or did not make the connection.
July 16, 2022
A beautifully constructed mystery with a delightfully French set of characters. This novel was both moving and intriguing. I became quickly immersed in this world and soon discovered there were many more secrets to be revealed in order to answer the overarching question: who framed Margot Bisset for murder? I enjoyed the sublet undertones of class and the importance of resistance to oppression in even the smallest acts.
February 17, 2023
As I say so often, I love historical fiction because I love to learn about the past. This book taught me the horrors of the Phrix Rayon Factory in Germany that I had never heard of. I also enjoyed this book because it didn’t drag on in all kinds of little details that I sometimes have to skim. This book kept on moving with the storyline which I found so refreshing!
October 13, 2021
*I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.*
At times, this novel feels like a murder mystery and, in part, it is. Yet, the murder mystery plays a secondary role to that of exploring the story of two women caught up in forces beyond their control in the 1940s and how elements of their story still played out decades later. Plenty of the usual suspects for WWII-era historical fiction make appearances in this novel - the French Resistance, bad Nazis, conflicted Nazis, Coco Chanel, and the Gestapo. I was not surprised, but still horrified, to learn about the Phrix Rayon Factory and its use of forced labor. Overall, I very much enjoyed this novel and it's an excellent work of fiction which I would recommend to fans of WWII-themed historical fiction.
At times, this novel feels like a murder mystery and, in part, it is. Yet, the murder mystery plays a secondary role to that of exploring the story of two women caught up in forces beyond their control in the 1940s and how elements of their story still played out decades later. Plenty of the usual suspects for WWII-era historical fiction make appearances in this novel - the French Resistance, bad Nazis, conflicted Nazis, Coco Chanel, and the Gestapo. I was not surprised, but still horrified, to learn about the Phrix Rayon Factory and its use of forced labor. Overall, I very much enjoyed this novel and it's an excellent work of fiction which I would recommend to fans of WWII-themed historical fiction.
September 9, 2021
A special thanks to A&U for this copy to read and review.
I loved this book and couldn't put it down. Kirsty Manning writes a story that covers so many important subjects, wartime, murder, the horrible way people were treated in the war camps/ prisons but also positive topics, love, friendships and family connections.
Every page covers important information as the story unfolds. It goes from the present day to the 1940's throughout the chapters but it is very easy to follow.
I thought the characters were very likable and I got attached to Josephine, Margot and Evie.
I would recommend this book highly and hope Kirsty writes more like this!
I loved this book and couldn't put it down. Kirsty Manning writes a story that covers so many important subjects, wartime, murder, the horrible way people were treated in the war camps/ prisons but also positive topics, love, friendships and family connections.
Every page covers important information as the story unfolds. It goes from the present day to the 1940's throughout the chapters but it is very easy to follow.
I thought the characters were very likable and I got attached to Josephine, Margot and Evie.
I would recommend this book highly and hope Kirsty writes more like this!
March 20, 2021
What can I say. Five Stars and I loved this book.
A story in two parts, a story of discovery and war, a story of hardships, family and secrets uncovered.
The characters from the past, Margot Bisset, a maid and the scapegoat for the rich which found her in prison where she met Josephine Murant, a writer and French Resistance Fighter who also found herself in the same prison cell!
Then the main character from the present, Evie Black who lost her French husband Raph (great nephew to Josephine Murant) inherits secrets and stories from the past. With the help of Dr Clement Tazi they endeavour to unravel the past lives of Josephine Murant and Margot Bisset.
So as you can see these main characters are all entwined in a story that seamlessly goes from past to present unravelling the story of the lives and hardships of two women who ended up in a work camp in Germany where you can feel the sadness, camaraderie and heartbreak of life and war. The discovery of information about what these two amazing women endured throughout their time in these horrendous conditions is quite astounding.
This was a perfectly written story, well research and not at all predictable in its outcome. I loved it and would recommend it to everyone.
Thank you Allen & Unwin Australia Pty. Ltd.
The French Gift
Kirsty Manning
A story in two parts, a story of discovery and war, a story of hardships, family and secrets uncovered.
The characters from the past, Margot Bisset, a maid and the scapegoat for the rich which found her in prison where she met Josephine Murant, a writer and French Resistance Fighter who also found herself in the same prison cell!
Then the main character from the present, Evie Black who lost her French husband Raph (great nephew to Josephine Murant) inherits secrets and stories from the past. With the help of Dr Clement Tazi they endeavour to unravel the past lives of Josephine Murant and Margot Bisset.
So as you can see these main characters are all entwined in a story that seamlessly goes from past to present unravelling the story of the lives and hardships of two women who ended up in a work camp in Germany where you can feel the sadness, camaraderie and heartbreak of life and war. The discovery of information about what these two amazing women endured throughout their time in these horrendous conditions is quite astounding.
This was a perfectly written story, well research and not at all predictable in its outcome. I loved it and would recommend it to everyone.
Thank you Allen & Unwin Australia Pty. Ltd.
The French Gift
Kirsty Manning
April 14, 2022
Josephine Murant is a renowned Mystery Author in the South of France. But her story is much more involved than this…she was also a Resistance Fighter in WWII and a journalist for the Resistance paper Liberte. She was a prisoner of war, imprisoned as a factory worker by the Nazis in the Phrix Rayon Factory in Andruth where horrific atrocities occurred against the all female prison staff. A French Gift is the fictional story of Josephine’s life and her incredible friendship with accused murderess Margot Bisset, another prisoner in the Factory. The two become best friends and Margot proclaims her innocence in the murder of an American heiress, while Josephine promises to help her clear her name if they make it through the War alive.
Fast forward to the present day after Josephine has passed and her relatives have inherited her properties and possessions. A young historian wants to chronicle Josephine’s life for the Marseille Museum and her niece Evie becomes involved in solving the mystery of her missing first manuscript and her diary from her time in prison.
Toggling between the War years and present day, solving multiple layers of mystery involving three strong, vibrant and amazing women, Kirsty Manning spins a tale of love, loss and heroism. This was a new take on the WWII novels that have come out over the past year or so in that it covers the experiences of women who were imprisoned by Vichy France and the Nazis from France as well as from other countries like Poland and Russia, in the Phrix Rayon Factory, a place I had never heard of and had no idea was just as bad if not worse in some ways than a concentration camp. These factories were run throughout the entire War and so many lives were lost.
I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the novel, which had a bit of Agatha Christie flair and the present day story was very sweet and held my interest. This was a great find on my library shelf! I’m glad I picked it up!
Fast forward to the present day after Josephine has passed and her relatives have inherited her properties and possessions. A young historian wants to chronicle Josephine’s life for the Marseille Museum and her niece Evie becomes involved in solving the mystery of her missing first manuscript and her diary from her time in prison.
Toggling between the War years and present day, solving multiple layers of mystery involving three strong, vibrant and amazing women, Kirsty Manning spins a tale of love, loss and heroism. This was a new take on the WWII novels that have come out over the past year or so in that it covers the experiences of women who were imprisoned by Vichy France and the Nazis from France as well as from other countries like Poland and Russia, in the Phrix Rayon Factory, a place I had never heard of and had no idea was just as bad if not worse in some ways than a concentration camp. These factories were run throughout the entire War and so many lives were lost.
I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the novel, which had a bit of Agatha Christie flair and the present day story was very sweet and held my interest. This was a great find on my library shelf! I’m glad I picked it up!
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