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City of Spies #2
Resistance
Three women. One mission. Enemies everywhere.
May 1944. When spy Elisabeth de Mornay, code name Cécile, notices a coded transmission from an agent in the field does not bear his usual signature, she suspects his cover has been blown– something that is happening with increasing frequency. With the situation in Occupied France worsening and growing fears that the Resistance has been compromised, Cécile is ordered behind enemy lines.
Having rendezvoused with her fellow agents, Léonie and Dominique, together they have one mission: help the Resistance destabilise German operations to pave the way for the Normandy landings.
But the life of a spy is never straightforward, and the in-fighting within the Resistance makes knowing who to trust ever more difficult. With their lives on the line, all three women will have to make decisions that could cost them everything - for not all their enemies are German.
May 1944. When spy Elisabeth de Mornay, code name Cécile, notices a coded transmission from an agent in the field does not bear his usual signature, she suspects his cover has been blown– something that is happening with increasing frequency. With the situation in Occupied France worsening and growing fears that the Resistance has been compromised, Cécile is ordered behind enemy lines.
Having rendezvoused with her fellow agents, Léonie and Dominique, together they have one mission: help the Resistance destabilise German operations to pave the way for the Normandy landings.
But the life of a spy is never straightforward, and the in-fighting within the Resistance makes knowing who to trust ever more difficult. With their lives on the line, all three women will have to make decisions that could cost them everything - for not all their enemies are German.
434 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2021
62 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 12, 2021
*4.5 stars *
London, May 1944, and Elisabeth de Mornay (code name Cécile) diciphers a transmission from a field agent that doesn’t match his normal way of transmitting. Each agent has their own unique ‘signature’, which becomes very obvious to those familiar with it. She suspects that his cover has been blown, and that he’s very likely dead. With fears that the Resistance has been infiltrated, Cécile is ordered back to France, and behind enemy lines.
After reading Mara Timon’s debut novel ‘City of Spies’, I was excited to read the follow up, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. Elisabeth de Mornay makes a wonderful protagonist, she’s extremely brave, as are her fellow agents Léonie and Dominique - three women who are up against unknown enemies, whilst helping the Resistance destabilise German operations, to smooth the way for the D Day landings. However, even within the Resistance, there is infighting, and it’s difficult to know who to trust.
This is a powerful espionage thriller, totally engrossing, with some great twists and turns, with the tension palpable at times. Though the characters are fictional, it’s a timely reminder of just how brave these men and women of the Resistance were in reality. A truly exciting read!
*I was invited to read ‘Resistance’ by the publisher, and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
London, May 1944, and Elisabeth de Mornay (code name Cécile) diciphers a transmission from a field agent that doesn’t match his normal way of transmitting. Each agent has their own unique ‘signature’, which becomes very obvious to those familiar with it. She suspects that his cover has been blown, and that he’s very likely dead. With fears that the Resistance has been infiltrated, Cécile is ordered back to France, and behind enemy lines.
After reading Mara Timon’s debut novel ‘City of Spies’, I was excited to read the follow up, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. Elisabeth de Mornay makes a wonderful protagonist, she’s extremely brave, as are her fellow agents Léonie and Dominique - three women who are up against unknown enemies, whilst helping the Resistance destabilise German operations, to smooth the way for the D Day landings. However, even within the Resistance, there is infighting, and it’s difficult to know who to trust.
This is a powerful espionage thriller, totally engrossing, with some great twists and turns, with the tension palpable at times. Though the characters are fictional, it’s a timely reminder of just how brave these men and women of the Resistance were in reality. A truly exciting read!
*I was invited to read ‘Resistance’ by the publisher, and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
September 16, 2021
I so wanted to love this… but I was dubious come page three where the main character explains wireless operations to Vera bloody Atkins (literally the real-life woman in charge of female SOE operatives). This is, of course, for the benefit of the reader, but such clunky and obvious exposition really sets the tone for the trends of the novel.
As far as previous incarnations of the fictional female SOE operatives go, Cécile is certainly an improvement. It’s obvious early on that she knows her stuff (hence the explaining to Vera Atkins, I guess) and there’s no interminable focus on her sex appeal – such as other writers have chosen to make the focal point of their protagonist’s prowess, as opposed to courage, cunning etc. But I never had any true sense of her character or her motivations. Some of her reasoning was specious at best, ridiculous at others. She provides constant reminders of her striking height, and the incriminating knife strapped to her thigh, but never really adjusts her behaviour accordingly. On more than one occasion, she dismisses other giveaways and slippages (ie. a cover story not adding up) as something she could ‘just easily explain away’. Her nonchalance and disregard of logistics robs the story of a sense of gravity; nothing ever felt at stake.
The writing for me was anemic. Timon relies heavily on cigarettes to characterize the British or else provide some sense of time or place in a way that just never felt realistic. Similarly, the dialogue was painfully stilted. Once again, I’m reminded of that incident with Vera Atkins.
Sorry to say that I threw in the towel around halfway. Resistance adds little to an already well-trodden time period in fiction and there was nothing that compelled me to continue. With thanks to the publisher for the proof copy.
As far as previous incarnations of the fictional female SOE operatives go, Cécile is certainly an improvement. It’s obvious early on that she knows her stuff (hence the explaining to Vera Atkins, I guess) and there’s no interminable focus on her sex appeal – such as other writers have chosen to make the focal point of their protagonist’s prowess, as opposed to courage, cunning etc. But I never had any true sense of her character or her motivations. Some of her reasoning was specious at best, ridiculous at others. She provides constant reminders of her striking height, and the incriminating knife strapped to her thigh, but never really adjusts her behaviour accordingly. On more than one occasion, she dismisses other giveaways and slippages (ie. a cover story not adding up) as something she could ‘just easily explain away’. Her nonchalance and disregard of logistics robs the story of a sense of gravity; nothing ever felt at stake.
The writing for me was anemic. Timon relies heavily on cigarettes to characterize the British or else provide some sense of time or place in a way that just never felt realistic. Similarly, the dialogue was painfully stilted. Once again, I’m reminded of that incident with Vera Atkins.
Sorry to say that I threw in the towel around halfway. Resistance adds little to an already well-trodden time period in fiction and there was nothing that compelled me to continue. With thanks to the publisher for the proof copy.
October 9, 2021
Having read City of Spies last year, I was thrilled to hear that the follow up to that story was to be released. Resistance continues where the previous book ended, and although I would recommend reading City of Spies first, just because it is excellent, this can be read as a stand-alone.
The historical detail is engrossing but doesn’t bog you down in the storyline at all. The two are combined naturally as the author tells a captivating story filled with danger and sheer terror, then adds the human element of betrayal, friendship and love.
Elisabeth is back in Britain working for the Government, de-coding operatives messages from overseas, but when she finds an anomaly she brings it to her superior’s attention. It isn’t long before she and two more women spies are being dropped into occupied France to help set up the Normandy Landings. They know that if their parachutes are seen, it will be presumed that they are men.
There aren’t any allowances for their gender, they have a job to do. It isn’t long before Elisabeth, now Cécile is caught up with her past. What a tremendous story this is. Heart racing, heart-breaking and butterflies.
I wish to thank the publisher and Net Galley for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.
The historical detail is engrossing but doesn’t bog you down in the storyline at all. The two are combined naturally as the author tells a captivating story filled with danger and sheer terror, then adds the human element of betrayal, friendship and love.
Elisabeth is back in Britain working for the Government, de-coding operatives messages from overseas, but when she finds an anomaly she brings it to her superior’s attention. It isn’t long before she and two more women spies are being dropped into occupied France to help set up the Normandy Landings. They know that if their parachutes are seen, it will be presumed that they are men.
There aren’t any allowances for their gender, they have a job to do. It isn’t long before Elisabeth, now Cécile is caught up with her past. What a tremendous story this is. Heart racing, heart-breaking and butterflies.
I wish to thank the publisher and Net Galley for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.
August 31, 2021
When I was invited to join the blog tour I didn’t even bother to read what it was about as I loved the author’s debut City of Spies and knew I would love this one too!
Elisabeth de Mornay is one of my favourite spies and I was so excited to find out what had happened to her! Well she was just as daring, innovative, and spontaneous as she was in City of Spies. Once again she was not afraid to get involved or stick her neck out for strangers who needed help, in short still a fantastic main character!
Along with Elisabeth there was Dominique and Léonie in this book fighting for the Resistance. They were strong women who weren’t afraid to tackle dangerous tasks, Léonie especially so as she was living right in the lion’s den. I wasn’t too sure about her at first, as she was quite a cool, distant character, but as the book progressed I warmed to her, just as Elisabeth did.
Just like City of Spies there were so many twists and turns in this book, with some brilliant unexpected moments, and so much tension that I kept having to put the book down to catch my breath! I learnt a lot more about the Resistance and about the D-Day Normandy Landings.
A brilliant sequel that I thoroughly recommend, but I do think you should read the first book to truly enjoy this one. I really hope this isn’t the end for Elisabeth de Mornay and can’t wait to see what Mara Timon comes up with next!
Elisabeth de Mornay is one of my favourite spies and I was so excited to find out what had happened to her! Well she was just as daring, innovative, and spontaneous as she was in City of Spies. Once again she was not afraid to get involved or stick her neck out for strangers who needed help, in short still a fantastic main character!
Along with Elisabeth there was Dominique and Léonie in this book fighting for the Resistance. They were strong women who weren’t afraid to tackle dangerous tasks, Léonie especially so as she was living right in the lion’s den. I wasn’t too sure about her at first, as she was quite a cool, distant character, but as the book progressed I warmed to her, just as Elisabeth did.
Just like City of Spies there were so many twists and turns in this book, with some brilliant unexpected moments, and so much tension that I kept having to put the book down to catch my breath! I learnt a lot more about the Resistance and about the D-Day Normandy Landings.
A brilliant sequel that I thoroughly recommend, but I do think you should read the first book to truly enjoy this one. I really hope this isn’t the end for Elisabeth de Mornay and can’t wait to see what Mara Timon comes up with next!
January 31, 2022
52 Bookclub Challenge 2022. Prompt 33, a bilingual character.
I was really torn when it came to rating this book. I started with the audio version and to say I didn't enjoy the narration is an understatement. I found the narration overly dramatic and shouty, regardless of the situation. The tone of every sentence seemed exaggerated and detracted from the points in the story which actually were tense.
Switch to a text version, and things improved dramatically. The plot moved along at a great pace and I quickly became absorbed in the story. I did find a few aspects of Cecile's behaviour rather strange (no spoilers) but realise we wouldn't have a story without those responses. I preferred A City of Spies, especially the setting of Lisbon, as I didn't know anything about life in Lisbon during the war but look forward to the next in this series.
I was really torn when it came to rating this book. I started with the audio version and to say I didn't enjoy the narration is an understatement. I found the narration overly dramatic and shouty, regardless of the situation. The tone of every sentence seemed exaggerated and detracted from the points in the story which actually were tense.
Switch to a text version, and things improved dramatically. The plot moved along at a great pace and I quickly became absorbed in the story. I did find a few aspects of Cecile's behaviour rather strange (no spoilers) but realise we wouldn't have a story without those responses. I preferred A City of Spies, especially the setting of Lisbon, as I didn't know anything about life in Lisbon during the war but look forward to the next in this series.
August 31, 2021
A brilliant follow up to City of Spies. Full of intrigue and such great characters, this picks up Elisabeth’s story again towards the latter stages of WWII. It was great meeting Elisabeth again- she’s such a dynamic, strong and courageous woman - often impulsive but fiercely loyal, she’s definitely someone you’d want on your team. The historical research, as with the first book,is detailed and fascinating and I was gripped from the very beginning.
February 8, 2022
The second in the series didn't disappoint. I've read a lot of female spy novels and the author once again found new ground so the story didn't feel like I'd read it before. Shes also clearly done her research and her writing is so evocative that I genuinely felt what was at stake for them all. Loved it, keeping my fingers crossed for a third (maybe final?) one in the series.
September 9, 2021
Please Note: I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
I read author Mara Timon's previous novel, City of Spies, last year. Although it doesn't advertise it as such, Resistance, her latest book, is a sequel to that WWII spy thriller. And I couldn't be more pleased! Elisabeth de Mornay's first adventure takes her to Portugal, where she met (and married) a German officer. She gets sent back to England, leaving her new husband behind. Now she's back in the thick of the action in France. Pretending to be a German, she is actually working with the Resistance. But will someone recognize her from Portugal? And where has her husband gone to?
This novel was filled with action, and heart-stopping suspense. The story follows Elisabeth, and two other women who must each pretend to be helping the Germans. But how far does one go for the cause? There are no right or wrong answers, but each woman's ethics are constantly challenged. If you love spy thrillers, you are sure to enjoy this book!
Please read my complete review on my blog: www.ponderingtheprose.blogspot.com
I read author Mara Timon's previous novel, City of Spies, last year. Although it doesn't advertise it as such, Resistance, her latest book, is a sequel to that WWII spy thriller. And I couldn't be more pleased! Elisabeth de Mornay's first adventure takes her to Portugal, where she met (and married) a German officer. She gets sent back to England, leaving her new husband behind. Now she's back in the thick of the action in France. Pretending to be a German, she is actually working with the Resistance. But will someone recognize her from Portugal? And where has her husband gone to?
This novel was filled with action, and heart-stopping suspense. The story follows Elisabeth, and two other women who must each pretend to be helping the Germans. But how far does one go for the cause? There are no right or wrong answers, but each woman's ethics are constantly challenged. If you love spy thrillers, you are sure to enjoy this book!
Please read my complete review on my blog: www.ponderingtheprose.blogspot.com
March 17, 2022
Really good read.
September 10, 2021
Mara Timon's follow up to last year's excellent CITY OF SPIES continues the story of Special Operations Executive agent, Elisabeth de Mornay as she is dropped behind enemy lines in Occupied France in the weeks leading up to the D-Day Landings. As part of an all-female team, Elisabeth works with the resistance against the occupying Nazi force, sending coded messages back to London, attempting to disrupt German plans, and spreading disinformation about the anticipated Allied 'invasion' of Normandy. Posing as a German/Alsatian gentlewoman, Elisabeth finds that she is not readily accepted by the Réseau with which she is working, indeed comes to suspect that there may be a traitor in the resistance network.
RESISTANCE is an exciting novel, tense and claustrophobic. Mara Timon captures perfectly the suspicion and fear, the simultaneous 'living on the edge' thrill of WWII spycraft. The plot does not let up, it drives forward with increasing anxiety. The characters, on both sides, are realistic and very well drawn, the dialogue convincingly authentic. While primarily an espionage thriller, the book does not shy away from the horrors of war. I thoroughly enjoyed the book as entertainment and was also inspired to dig a bit deeper into the historical reality against which the story takes place, and the author's notes at the end offer some guidance to those who want to understand the background.
RESISTANCE is superb, even better than CITY OF SPIES, and I look forward to seeing what Mara Timon comes up with next.
RESISTANCE is an exciting novel, tense and claustrophobic. Mara Timon captures perfectly the suspicion and fear, the simultaneous 'living on the edge' thrill of WWII spycraft. The plot does not let up, it drives forward with increasing anxiety. The characters, on both sides, are realistic and very well drawn, the dialogue convincingly authentic. While primarily an espionage thriller, the book does not shy away from the horrors of war. I thoroughly enjoyed the book as entertainment and was also inspired to dig a bit deeper into the historical reality against which the story takes place, and the author's notes at the end offer some guidance to those who want to understand the background.
RESISTANCE is superb, even better than CITY OF SPIES, and I look forward to seeing what Mara Timon comes up with next.
September 1, 2021
It's May 1944, and the top secret plans for D-Day are well underway. Elisabeth de Mornay, code name Cécile, is no stranger to life behind enemy lines as an SOE agent, but since her last mission which took her unexpectedly from Paris to Lisbon, she has been working in London with the team that decodes messages from agents in Occupied-France. When the suspicion arises that one of her agents has been compromised, Cécile is ordered to return to France to discover if there is a mole in the ranks of the Resistance, something that would be disastrous not only for British agents and all those who view their Nazi overlords with unfriendly eyes, but also the plans to destabilise German operations in the run up to D-Day.
Cécile is parachuted back behind enemy lines in the company of her new Operation Jedborough commander Léonie, with plans to establish themselves undercover before meeting up with Cécile's old French compatriot Dominique. This is going to be a tricky mission, not least because of in-fighting within the Resistance, but also because the new personas being taken on by both Cécile and Léonie come with challenges of their own - and Cécile is about to come face to face with someone from her past in a way that might derail the whole operation. Danger lies all around, and not all their enemies are German. Cécile, Léonie and Dominique must learn to trust each other if this mission is going to succeed.
Having adored the first book in this series. Mara Timon's fabulous City of Spies, I was chomping at the bit to catch-up with Elisabeth de Mornay, aka Cécile, in her new espionage thriller Resistance. In the last book, Cécile was mostly based in Lisbon, after she was forced to flee from Paris when her cover was blown. Wartime Lisbon was a glorious revelation, and Cécile's adventures there lead to some intriguing complications in the events in Resistance, with many familiar faces cropping up again (one very significant one in particular), so I highly recommend going back to read City of Spies if you have not done so already - and it's a corker, so why wouldn't you?
Resistance has Cécile returning to more familiar territory to those of us that love a wartime espionage story, as she is back behind enemy lines in Occupied-France and once again taking on the role of radio-operator, or 'pianist' as they are known in the trade. This is a story full of delicious intrigue and danger, where Cécile and her compatriots are never sure who to trust, and the tension is ramped up nicely by the fact that you know there is a mole within the Resistance from the very start. This also brings in a lovely thread of mystery to the proceedings, as Cécile goes about trying to discover who the traitor is among their ranks.
What really makes this story for me is that this is very much a tale about the women involved in wartime espionage, very much like City of Spies, and Mara Timon writes about them so beautifully. They are courageous, intelligent and highly skilled, but they are real women with feelings and vulnerabilities too - which often gives them a different insight into their jobs than their male counterparts, and it really brings them alive off the page. This also allows Timon to explore a little of the glamour of the situation vis-a-vis the costumes, the practicalities required as part of their cover stories, and the heavy toll a life of secrecy can take on the emotions, which happens so rarely in a spy yarn written by a male author. I love it!
There are many things I would like to rave about in this review, especially in terms of who crops up again in Cécile's life, but fear of spoilers refrains me. However, I can say that Timon has a fabulous take on the behind enemy lines tale in terms of the cover stories she chooses for Cécile and Léonie, which leads you to look on the trope in quite a different way; and the relationships and character development between our triad of femme formidable over the course of the story is profoundly moving. She also brings in a wealth of historical fact, which blends perfectly into the threads the characters, and gives you an awareness of what is happening in France and beyond at this stage of WWII. I particularly enjoyed the chaos that ensues when D-Day finally gets underway, as I don't think I have ever read anything about what was happening in Occupied-France itself ahead of the Allied invasion.
I was a bit worried that I would find it difficult to love Resistance quite as much as I did City of Spies, but I really should not have been concerned. There is a different tone to this story, which is not surprising given the change in backdrop, but Mara Timon knows how to weave a spy story at its fierce, female, and spellbinding best and I was gripped from the first page to the last. Mara you made my cry this time too. I cannot wait for book three!
Cécile is parachuted back behind enemy lines in the company of her new Operation Jedborough commander Léonie, with plans to establish themselves undercover before meeting up with Cécile's old French compatriot Dominique. This is going to be a tricky mission, not least because of in-fighting within the Resistance, but also because the new personas being taken on by both Cécile and Léonie come with challenges of their own - and Cécile is about to come face to face with someone from her past in a way that might derail the whole operation. Danger lies all around, and not all their enemies are German. Cécile, Léonie and Dominique must learn to trust each other if this mission is going to succeed.
Having adored the first book in this series. Mara Timon's fabulous City of Spies, I was chomping at the bit to catch-up with Elisabeth de Mornay, aka Cécile, in her new espionage thriller Resistance. In the last book, Cécile was mostly based in Lisbon, after she was forced to flee from Paris when her cover was blown. Wartime Lisbon was a glorious revelation, and Cécile's adventures there lead to some intriguing complications in the events in Resistance, with many familiar faces cropping up again (one very significant one in particular), so I highly recommend going back to read City of Spies if you have not done so already - and it's a corker, so why wouldn't you?
Resistance has Cécile returning to more familiar territory to those of us that love a wartime espionage story, as she is back behind enemy lines in Occupied-France and once again taking on the role of radio-operator, or 'pianist' as they are known in the trade. This is a story full of delicious intrigue and danger, where Cécile and her compatriots are never sure who to trust, and the tension is ramped up nicely by the fact that you know there is a mole within the Resistance from the very start. This also brings in a lovely thread of mystery to the proceedings, as Cécile goes about trying to discover who the traitor is among their ranks.
What really makes this story for me is that this is very much a tale about the women involved in wartime espionage, very much like City of Spies, and Mara Timon writes about them so beautifully. They are courageous, intelligent and highly skilled, but they are real women with feelings and vulnerabilities too - which often gives them a different insight into their jobs than their male counterparts, and it really brings them alive off the page. This also allows Timon to explore a little of the glamour of the situation vis-a-vis the costumes, the practicalities required as part of their cover stories, and the heavy toll a life of secrecy can take on the emotions, which happens so rarely in a spy yarn written by a male author. I love it!
There are many things I would like to rave about in this review, especially in terms of who crops up again in Cécile's life, but fear of spoilers refrains me. However, I can say that Timon has a fabulous take on the behind enemy lines tale in terms of the cover stories she chooses for Cécile and Léonie, which leads you to look on the trope in quite a different way; and the relationships and character development between our triad of femme formidable over the course of the story is profoundly moving. She also brings in a wealth of historical fact, which blends perfectly into the threads the characters, and gives you an awareness of what is happening in France and beyond at this stage of WWII. I particularly enjoyed the chaos that ensues when D-Day finally gets underway, as I don't think I have ever read anything about what was happening in Occupied-France itself ahead of the Allied invasion.
I was a bit worried that I would find it difficult to love Resistance quite as much as I did City of Spies, but I really should not have been concerned. There is a different tone to this story, which is not surprising given the change in backdrop, but Mara Timon knows how to weave a spy story at its fierce, female, and spellbinding best and I was gripped from the first page to the last. Mara you made my cry this time too. I cannot wait for book three!
January 13, 2022
I received a copy of Resistance from Allen & Unwin Australia to review.
Rating of 4.25.
Prepare to dive into the intricacies of World War II espionage with a second fantastic historical thriller from Mara Timon, Resistance.
Timon is a brilliant author who debuted in 2020 with her intriguing novel, City of Spies, which followed a British agent sent to infiltrate neutral Portugal and encounter all manner of dangers and deceit. Timon has now followed up this impressive debut with an intriguing sequel, Resistance, which follows the protagonist of City of Spies as she is sent to German-occupied Normandy days before the Allies invade.
Resistance was an impressive and clever historical spy thriller that proves to be extremely addictive and exciting. Set several months after the events of City of Spies, Resistance sees the protagonist and point-of-view character Elisabeth sent to infiltrate occupied Normandy under a new cover identity to assist the local French Resistance as a wireless operator. Simultaneously gathering intelligence and investigating a potential mole in the French organisation, Elisabeth works with several other female spies in the area and is forced to contend with traitors, radicals and the Gestapo. This story gets even more intense the further it goes, not only because a figure from the protagonist’s past comes into the picture and complicates events, but because the last third of the novel features the D-Day landings at the nearby Normandy beaches. This forces the protagonist and her friends to encounter several attacks and betrayals amid the chaos of invasion and it leads to an incredibly exciting and captivating final section that is honestly impossible to put down. While I did think that a couple of character arcs were a bit underdeveloped and unnecessary to the plot, this was an overall epic story and I really appreciated the complex and powerful narrative that Timon came up with.
I felt that new readers could easily get into Resistance with having read the preceding novel City of Spies. Timon does an excellent job of explaining all the key events of the first novel, and readers are quickly informed of everything that would impact that plot of this sequel. That said, fans of City of Spies will find this to be a pretty good sequel as several intriguing storylines are continued throughout the plot of the book. Not only do key characters make significant reappearances but you also have a continuation of the fantastic romantic arc between Elisabeth and German officer Eduard Graf, who got married in the first novel. Despite being an unusual relationship, this was an excellent storyline to continue and it was great to see the two interesting characters continue their forbidden love in the midst of war and intrigue, especially as both have major secrets (one is a spy, the other is planning to assassinate Hitler; it's complicated) and are trying not to expose each other to their enemies. I will be really intrigued to see where this series goes next, especially if Elisabeth is dropped into Germany either during Operation Valkyrie or the dying days of the war
One of the things that I most liked about Resistance was how this book ended up being a particularly solid and compelling historical thriller that emphasised its gritty and realistic spy elements. Timon strives to strongly emphasise all the historical espionage aspects of the plot, and it was fascinating to see all the cool details about spy craft and being an undercover radio operator. There was also a great focus on the abilities of Britain’s legendary female operatives, and Timon ensured that this book felt as realistic and compelling as possible. Throw in some cool historical characters, such as members of the SOE and key German soldiers, like Erwin Rommel, and you have a particularly good historical thriller that was a lot of fun to explore.
With this cool second book, Timon continues to shine as a bright new figure in the historical thriller genre. Perfectly combining realistic espionage elements with an iconic and dangerous historical setting, Resistance serves as an excellent sequel to Timon’s debut, City of Spies, and proves to be extremely addictive and compelling. An awesome and highly recommended read.
An abridged version of this review ran in the Canberra Weekly on 23 December 2021:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/01/13/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Rating of 4.25.
Prepare to dive into the intricacies of World War II espionage with a second fantastic historical thriller from Mara Timon, Resistance.
Timon is a brilliant author who debuted in 2020 with her intriguing novel, City of Spies, which followed a British agent sent to infiltrate neutral Portugal and encounter all manner of dangers and deceit. Timon has now followed up this impressive debut with an intriguing sequel, Resistance, which follows the protagonist of City of Spies as she is sent to German-occupied Normandy days before the Allies invade.
Resistance was an impressive and clever historical spy thriller that proves to be extremely addictive and exciting. Set several months after the events of City of Spies, Resistance sees the protagonist and point-of-view character Elisabeth sent to infiltrate occupied Normandy under a new cover identity to assist the local French Resistance as a wireless operator. Simultaneously gathering intelligence and investigating a potential mole in the French organisation, Elisabeth works with several other female spies in the area and is forced to contend with traitors, radicals and the Gestapo. This story gets even more intense the further it goes, not only because a figure from the protagonist’s past comes into the picture and complicates events, but because the last third of the novel features the D-Day landings at the nearby Normandy beaches. This forces the protagonist and her friends to encounter several attacks and betrayals amid the chaos of invasion and it leads to an incredibly exciting and captivating final section that is honestly impossible to put down. While I did think that a couple of character arcs were a bit underdeveloped and unnecessary to the plot, this was an overall epic story and I really appreciated the complex and powerful narrative that Timon came up with.
I felt that new readers could easily get into Resistance with having read the preceding novel City of Spies. Timon does an excellent job of explaining all the key events of the first novel, and readers are quickly informed of everything that would impact that plot of this sequel. That said, fans of City of Spies will find this to be a pretty good sequel as several intriguing storylines are continued throughout the plot of the book. Not only do key characters make significant reappearances but you also have a continuation of the fantastic romantic arc between Elisabeth and German officer Eduard Graf, who got married in the first novel. Despite being an unusual relationship, this was an excellent storyline to continue and it was great to see the two interesting characters continue their forbidden love in the midst of war and intrigue, especially as both have major secrets (one is a spy, the other is planning to assassinate Hitler; it's complicated) and are trying not to expose each other to their enemies. I will be really intrigued to see where this series goes next, especially if Elisabeth is dropped into Germany either during Operation Valkyrie or the dying days of the war
One of the things that I most liked about Resistance was how this book ended up being a particularly solid and compelling historical thriller that emphasised its gritty and realistic spy elements. Timon strives to strongly emphasise all the historical espionage aspects of the plot, and it was fascinating to see all the cool details about spy craft and being an undercover radio operator. There was also a great focus on the abilities of Britain’s legendary female operatives, and Timon ensured that this book felt as realistic and compelling as possible. Throw in some cool historical characters, such as members of the SOE and key German soldiers, like Erwin Rommel, and you have a particularly good historical thriller that was a lot of fun to explore.
With this cool second book, Timon continues to shine as a bright new figure in the historical thriller genre. Perfectly combining realistic espionage elements with an iconic and dangerous historical setting, Resistance serves as an excellent sequel to Timon’s debut, City of Spies, and proves to be extremely addictive and compelling. An awesome and highly recommended read.
An abridged version of this review ran in the Canberra Weekly on 23 December 2021:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/01/13/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
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September 13, 2021
Tense, suspenseful and full of pace, this is a novel written with real style and insight into a dramatic time in twentieth century history. In May 1944 the war was at a significant point; but as the German forces were pressured they became more determined to stamp their authority on the people of occupied France. Into this maelstrom of danger and intrigue women are parachuted with a mission to help the existing Resistance forces to destabilise the German operatives. This is not just general sabotage; there is a need to pave the way for the Normandy landings. Three women must work together to combat the oppression of the occupying forces, but apart from their very individual approach to disruption and more, the forces of the Resistance are anything but united.
This is the continuation of the story of Elisabeth de Mornay, spy and warrior working with Special Operations Executive that began with the brilliant thriller “City of Spies”. A fierce fighter with a keen eye to any opportunity, she is a strong character with a past. This book would work well as a standalone as the characters are well presented, the situation is different from the exact circumstances of the first book, and this novel is so well written that it is extremely readable. It is a story of Elisabeth taking on new responsibilities in a unique situation with an unexpected role. There is realism to a frightening degree as this fast paced book keeps up with rapidly changing circumstances, and nothing is predictable for Elisabeth as she narrates her story. From the moment she hears of her assignment, she knows that she must be constantly watchful of absolutely everyone she encounters if she is to survive, let alone pursue her mission. I was extremely pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this thriller which expands on the acknowledged role of the real life female Special Operations Executive agents.
As the novel begins Elisabeth is working in her free time with those receiving secret and vital messages from the Resistance in London. Her colleague, Eileen, has picked up a message of a failed raid and subsequent arrests. Elisabeth, referred to as Cecile in this place, discovers that Virgil, a known radio operator or “pianist” is not actually transmitting despite his name, as the style is completely different. This impresses Vera Atkins, an intelligence officer for Maurice Buckmaster, head of section. Subsequently she is told that she is to be deployed to a dangerous place together with the icily efficient Leonie. They are to form two thirds of an elite Jedburgh unit, but from the first moment of a frightening flight into enemy territory things do not go to plan. Intriguingly, Elisabeth is keen to be sent into France in the hope that she will discover more about a special person, who she has not heard about for several months.
This is the sort of book that I partly wanted to read quickly to discover what happened and why, but also became so involved that I wanted to make it last. Timon’s skill is partly in making even minor characters seem real, with depth and layers which are quickly created and established. As Elisabeth’s situation changes quickly, often with new dangers and risks to face, she must respond quickly and efficiently, sometimes ruthlessly. This is a fast paced thriller which is firmly based in a fluid wartime situation. At the back of the book there are historical notes on the organisations referred to in the book with indications of slight fictional changes for dramatic effect. Timon has created a narrator and central character who tells a story which is sometimes brutal but always written with great compassion, a realistic and fast moving story which is virtually impossible to to put aside, and I accordingly recommend it as a brilliant and remarkable read.
This is the continuation of the story of Elisabeth de Mornay, spy and warrior working with Special Operations Executive that began with the brilliant thriller “City of Spies”. A fierce fighter with a keen eye to any opportunity, she is a strong character with a past. This book would work well as a standalone as the characters are well presented, the situation is different from the exact circumstances of the first book, and this novel is so well written that it is extremely readable. It is a story of Elisabeth taking on new responsibilities in a unique situation with an unexpected role. There is realism to a frightening degree as this fast paced book keeps up with rapidly changing circumstances, and nothing is predictable for Elisabeth as she narrates her story. From the moment she hears of her assignment, she knows that she must be constantly watchful of absolutely everyone she encounters if she is to survive, let alone pursue her mission. I was extremely pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this thriller which expands on the acknowledged role of the real life female Special Operations Executive agents.
As the novel begins Elisabeth is working in her free time with those receiving secret and vital messages from the Resistance in London. Her colleague, Eileen, has picked up a message of a failed raid and subsequent arrests. Elisabeth, referred to as Cecile in this place, discovers that Virgil, a known radio operator or “pianist” is not actually transmitting despite his name, as the style is completely different. This impresses Vera Atkins, an intelligence officer for Maurice Buckmaster, head of section. Subsequently she is told that she is to be deployed to a dangerous place together with the icily efficient Leonie. They are to form two thirds of an elite Jedburgh unit, but from the first moment of a frightening flight into enemy territory things do not go to plan. Intriguingly, Elisabeth is keen to be sent into France in the hope that she will discover more about a special person, who she has not heard about for several months.
This is the sort of book that I partly wanted to read quickly to discover what happened and why, but also became so involved that I wanted to make it last. Timon’s skill is partly in making even minor characters seem real, with depth and layers which are quickly created and established. As Elisabeth’s situation changes quickly, often with new dangers and risks to face, she must respond quickly and efficiently, sometimes ruthlessly. This is a fast paced thriller which is firmly based in a fluid wartime situation. At the back of the book there are historical notes on the organisations referred to in the book with indications of slight fictional changes for dramatic effect. Timon has created a narrator and central character who tells a story which is sometimes brutal but always written with great compassion, a realistic and fast moving story which is virtually impossible to to put aside, and I accordingly recommend it as a brilliant and remarkable read.
September 8, 2021
Resistance is a fictional account of three female spies or if you prefer Special Operation Executives that are sent into Nazi occupied France in May 1944. The book is a follow up to City Of Spies which was shortlisted for the Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award in 2020 which was set earlier in the war in neutral Lisbon. While I have not ready City Of Spies, I did not have many issues starting with Resistance so it can certainly be read as a standalone.
Narrated by Elisabeth de Mornay, code name Cécile, she is parachuted into Normandy with Léonie where she also teams up with the third operative Domanique who has already arrived. There have been concerns that an agent’s cover has been blown and that this could be compromising the efforts of the Resistance within France. Once there they have to meet with local French leaders of the Resistance, German soldiers of various ranks and some other SOE operatives. Fact meets fiction in a well researched story which describes the appearance of the occupied city of Caen, the fear of locals for their occupiers and also the contrasting feelings towards the impending invasion by Allied forces. A large number of characters feature in the story, some of which are based on real people whose names Timon verified from print and online resources.
Our view of the action is through the eyes of Cécile who portrays more than one identity and regularly disguises herself for different operations as the operatives look to destabilise German operations in advance of the landings on the beaches of Normandy. Assuming the identity of Katrin Hügel from Strasbourg in German speaking Alsace, Cécile is able to converse effectively in both French and German. Timon effectively portrays the suspicions felt by many French based in Normandy towards a compatriot whose first language is those of the occupiers. Her commanding officer Léonie meanwhile is playing an even more dangerous game involving herself with Wehrmacht colonel Zeit.
I enjoyed the cloak and dagger movements and the fact that each woman had to learn to trust each other in order to succeed. It also became clear that not everyone in the Resistance shared their aims and that not every German was a Nazi supporter.
Timon does admit to taking some historical liberties to allow Resistance to work which is fine with me and as a espionage novel it is an exciting and fast paced novel with plenty of twists and some good moral dilemmas as well. However I did feel at times that due to the prominence of the action and dialogue that the story did perhaps lose a little of the sense of setting to portray how the events of that era directly impacted non combatants, such as the citizens of Caen. This may be due to my greater preference for social history rather than military history though.
Resistance is a refreshing and engaging war time story with convincing female protagonists not just at the heart but leading the action.
There are extensive historical notes and a short story featuring some of the characters from the story after the end of the story which are also definitely worth your attention. I will be keeping an eye on Timon’s forthcoming publications as well as picking up a copy of City Of Spies in the future.
Narrated by Elisabeth de Mornay, code name Cécile, she is parachuted into Normandy with Léonie where she also teams up with the third operative Domanique who has already arrived. There have been concerns that an agent’s cover has been blown and that this could be compromising the efforts of the Resistance within France. Once there they have to meet with local French leaders of the Resistance, German soldiers of various ranks and some other SOE operatives. Fact meets fiction in a well researched story which describes the appearance of the occupied city of Caen, the fear of locals for their occupiers and also the contrasting feelings towards the impending invasion by Allied forces. A large number of characters feature in the story, some of which are based on real people whose names Timon verified from print and online resources.
Our view of the action is through the eyes of Cécile who portrays more than one identity and regularly disguises herself for different operations as the operatives look to destabilise German operations in advance of the landings on the beaches of Normandy. Assuming the identity of Katrin Hügel from Strasbourg in German speaking Alsace, Cécile is able to converse effectively in both French and German. Timon effectively portrays the suspicions felt by many French based in Normandy towards a compatriot whose first language is those of the occupiers. Her commanding officer Léonie meanwhile is playing an even more dangerous game involving herself with Wehrmacht colonel Zeit.
I enjoyed the cloak and dagger movements and the fact that each woman had to learn to trust each other in order to succeed. It also became clear that not everyone in the Resistance shared their aims and that not every German was a Nazi supporter.
Timon does admit to taking some historical liberties to allow Resistance to work which is fine with me and as a espionage novel it is an exciting and fast paced novel with plenty of twists and some good moral dilemmas as well. However I did feel at times that due to the prominence of the action and dialogue that the story did perhaps lose a little of the sense of setting to portray how the events of that era directly impacted non combatants, such as the citizens of Caen. This may be due to my greater preference for social history rather than military history though.
Resistance is a refreshing and engaging war time story with convincing female protagonists not just at the heart but leading the action.
There are extensive historical notes and a short story featuring some of the characters from the story after the end of the story which are also definitely worth your attention. I will be keeping an eye on Timon’s forthcoming publications as well as picking up a copy of City Of Spies in the future.
August 24, 2021
Thanks to Bonnier books for a review copy.
Mara Timon’s new novel continues the story of SOE operative Elisabeth de Mornay after the tumultuous events of her debut novel ‘City of Spies’. Whilst the first story was excellent the writing in this second volume feels more assured and the story grips from the start and doesn’t let go.
A few months after the conclusion of ‘City of Spies’ we see Elisabeth sent back to France as a radio operator or ‘pianist’. This time the action takes place in and around Caen in Normandy as D-Day comes ever closer. The previous ‘pianist’ has disappeared under mysterious circumstances and Elisabeth, operating under her old code name of Cécile, is tasked with flushing out and eliminating any traitor within the group as well as relaying messages back to London under the noses of the ever-vigilant Gestapo. Just to add to the already tense situation a certain Eduard Graf soon puts in an unexpected appearance.
This story is cinematic in scope and I could easily imagine it adapted for the big screen or as a TV limited series. All the characters leap from the page and come to life vividly in the imagination. I almost felt I was in the thick of the action as the resistance fought their war of wits and nerves with the Gestapo always at their heels. Perhaps an updated (and rather faster moving) version of BBC TVs classic wartime drama ‘Secret Army’ would be the best way to describe it
Historical fact and fiction mingle in the story but they are blended well and the author’s imagination never takes us beyond the realms of what might really have happened in the run up to the Normandy landings. Her painstaking research and love for the period shine through in the prose.
This book could be enjoyed as a standalone story, the reader would be able to follow the action easily enough, but I would strongly recommend reading ‘City of Spies’ first as a lot of the events of that novel are referenced here and also go a long way to explaining the motivations of some of the key characters.
Rarely, in my experience, does a sequel surpass its predecessor, especially when the earlier story is excellent in its own right, but ‘Resistance’ does just that. The action and emotion are turned up to eleven here and the book is all the better for it. The ending suggests that there is more to come and a bonus short story is included which may mean that we are also treated to a spin off series, both of which I highly anticipate.
If you haven’t read ‘City of Spies’ then read that and then read this; if you have enjoyed ‘City of Spies’ then I recommend this without hesitation. Settle down and prepare to be transported back seventy six years into a world of classic wartime espionage where brave men and women risked their lives so that later generations could inherit a better world.
Mara Timon’s new novel continues the story of SOE operative Elisabeth de Mornay after the tumultuous events of her debut novel ‘City of Spies’. Whilst the first story was excellent the writing in this second volume feels more assured and the story grips from the start and doesn’t let go.
A few months after the conclusion of ‘City of Spies’ we see Elisabeth sent back to France as a radio operator or ‘pianist’. This time the action takes place in and around Caen in Normandy as D-Day comes ever closer. The previous ‘pianist’ has disappeared under mysterious circumstances and Elisabeth, operating under her old code name of Cécile, is tasked with flushing out and eliminating any traitor within the group as well as relaying messages back to London under the noses of the ever-vigilant Gestapo. Just to add to the already tense situation a certain Eduard Graf soon puts in an unexpected appearance.
This story is cinematic in scope and I could easily imagine it adapted for the big screen or as a TV limited series. All the characters leap from the page and come to life vividly in the imagination. I almost felt I was in the thick of the action as the resistance fought their war of wits and nerves with the Gestapo always at their heels. Perhaps an updated (and rather faster moving) version of BBC TVs classic wartime drama ‘Secret Army’ would be the best way to describe it
Historical fact and fiction mingle in the story but they are blended well and the author’s imagination never takes us beyond the realms of what might really have happened in the run up to the Normandy landings. Her painstaking research and love for the period shine through in the prose.
This book could be enjoyed as a standalone story, the reader would be able to follow the action easily enough, but I would strongly recommend reading ‘City of Spies’ first as a lot of the events of that novel are referenced here and also go a long way to explaining the motivations of some of the key characters.
Rarely, in my experience, does a sequel surpass its predecessor, especially when the earlier story is excellent in its own right, but ‘Resistance’ does just that. The action and emotion are turned up to eleven here and the book is all the better for it. The ending suggests that there is more to come and a bonus short story is included which may mean that we are also treated to a spin off series, both of which I highly anticipate.
If you haven’t read ‘City of Spies’ then read that and then read this; if you have enjoyed ‘City of Spies’ then I recommend this without hesitation. Settle down and prepare to be transported back seventy six years into a world of classic wartime espionage where brave men and women risked their lives so that later generations could inherit a better world.
August 31, 2021
I received a copy of the book as part of the tour in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
One of the fun things about certain genres, like WW2 spy thrillers, is that there are certain genre conventions that act as short hands. Like in romance, you know the leads will end up together, in this genre, you know the Germans are the baddies and that there are more secretive German units than you can shake a cat at. It means the book doesn't have to spend ages setting up the various factions but can just toss you straight into the action.
Of course, the individuals who are threats (local SS commanders etc) are made clear to bring a personal level to the danger, which only adds to the tension of knowing there are so many eyes watching. You know who the heroine will get taken to if she slips up or is reported, but not who will do the reporting. This is a book that also focuses heavily on the double agents.
It's 1944, so we're in the lead up to the D-day landings, and I loved the tension of not knowing when it was coming. Of course I vaguely knew (in my defence for knowing the exact day, I read this in the hours post-vaccination!), but Mara Timon had cleverly managed to let time move on without giving away the exact date to help simulate the anticipation around when it would start.
And we do get to say D-day, through the chaos of the resistance trying to help from behind the lines. It's the big action-packed sequence that manages to keep the momentum going for almost a quarter of the book - very impressive stuff!
It is such a tense, fast-paced read. I devoured it pretty quickly, on the edge of my seat. It's nice and snappy, with enough danger and potential weak links to make the small town feel even more claustrophobic.
I did not realise this was the second book in the series until I looked up the blurb for the first out of curiosity and interest in reading it. CITY OF SPIES tells the story behind Elisabeth/Cécile's time in Lisbon by the looks of things. I managed perfectly well without it. Some of the references would have made more sense, I have no doubt, but I still really enjoyed this book without it. I probably will look up her debut at some point.
One of the fun things about certain genres, like WW2 spy thrillers, is that there are certain genre conventions that act as short hands. Like in romance, you know the leads will end up together, in this genre, you know the Germans are the baddies and that there are more secretive German units than you can shake a cat at. It means the book doesn't have to spend ages setting up the various factions but can just toss you straight into the action.
Of course, the individuals who are threats (local SS commanders etc) are made clear to bring a personal level to the danger, which only adds to the tension of knowing there are so many eyes watching. You know who the heroine will get taken to if she slips up or is reported, but not who will do the reporting. This is a book that also focuses heavily on the double agents.
It's 1944, so we're in the lead up to the D-day landings, and I loved the tension of not knowing when it was coming. Of course I vaguely knew (in my defence for knowing the exact day, I read this in the hours post-vaccination!), but Mara Timon had cleverly managed to let time move on without giving away the exact date to help simulate the anticipation around when it would start.
And we do get to say D-day, through the chaos of the resistance trying to help from behind the lines. It's the big action-packed sequence that manages to keep the momentum going for almost a quarter of the book - very impressive stuff!
It is such a tense, fast-paced read. I devoured it pretty quickly, on the edge of my seat. It's nice and snappy, with enough danger and potential weak links to make the small town feel even more claustrophobic.
I did not realise this was the second book in the series until I looked up the blurb for the first out of curiosity and interest in reading it. CITY OF SPIES tells the story behind Elisabeth/Cécile's time in Lisbon by the looks of things. I managed perfectly well without it. Some of the references would have made more sense, I have no doubt, but I still really enjoyed this book without it. I probably will look up her debut at some point.
April 20, 2024
Following the first book, I was really excited to read this one but it was a bit of a let down sadly. While it does follow the same gripping style for the beginning of the book (it begins with Cécile and colleagues getting ready for, and then jumping, into German occupied Normandy), it seems to lose focus just like the first book did towards the end.
There were a lot of characters (many from the previous book but also absolutely loads of new ones) with plot lines of various deception, double crossing, or multiple identities, but few of these are tied together nicely - or if they were, a lot is missed among so many different characters and plots or references so far back they've been forgotten.
I just feel like I've been left with so many questions... Why is Dominique so haunted by her German capture in Book 1? What actually happened to Felicien? (There is a separate short story that covers this but even this is left open for potential future books to finish).
Who was the Russian man? Did anything happen with the German soldier who seemed to be suspicious of Frau Hügle? Why were multiple male characters scarred - they all seem to have unexplained back stories? What is Eduard working on? And what's Léonie's story that we almost hear but then don't? Left confused and unsatisfied by the ending and all the loose ends in this book, and it's a shame.
An update that apparently the author is working on a third book (I had assumed there wasn't another one as there's only a 1 year gap between the first 2). Hopefully this will answer all my questions!
There were a lot of characters (many from the previous book but also absolutely loads of new ones) with plot lines of various deception, double crossing, or multiple identities, but few of these are tied together nicely - or if they were, a lot is missed among so many different characters and plots or references so far back they've been forgotten.
I just feel like I've been left with so many questions... Why is Dominique so haunted by her German capture in Book 1? What actually happened to Felicien? (There is a separate short story that covers this but even this is left open for potential future books to finish).
Who was the Russian man? Did anything happen with the German soldier who seemed to be suspicious of Frau Hügle? Why were multiple male characters scarred - they all seem to have unexplained back stories? What is Eduard working on? And what's Léonie's story that we almost hear but then don't? Left confused and unsatisfied by the ending and all the loose ends in this book, and it's a shame.
An update that apparently the author is working on a third book (I had assumed there wasn't another one as there's only a 1 year gap between the first 2). Hopefully this will answer all my questions!
September 5, 2021
Readers may already be familiar with Timon’s debut novel City of Spies and will enjoy returning to Elisabeth de Mornay in Resistance. I’ve not read it so this was my first taste of her work and I really enjoyed it.
This is a captivating novel into the dangerous world of espionage during WWII which is made all the more engrossing and realistic as Timon’s narrative reference real organisations such as the Special Operations Executive (SOE) formed in July 1940 tasked with recruiting field agents to engage in espionage, as well as real agents and commanders during the lead up to the Normandy landings. It’s incredible knowing men and women at this time bravely stepped into these roles to support the Allies and infiltrate the plans of the Nazis.
The spotlight on these 3 fictional women in Resistance is really engaging particularly as they have to trust each other as well as be alert to avoid having their true identities discovered. The cruelty and vigilance of the Gestapo to uncover supporters of the Resistance adds gnawing tension to this read. I was constantly afraid for our 3 spies as the narrative takes on many twists and turns.
This is a captivating novel into the dangerous world of espionage during WWII which is made all the more engrossing and realistic as Timon’s narrative reference real organisations such as the Special Operations Executive (SOE) formed in July 1940 tasked with recruiting field agents to engage in espionage, as well as real agents and commanders during the lead up to the Normandy landings. It’s incredible knowing men and women at this time bravely stepped into these roles to support the Allies and infiltrate the plans of the Nazis.
The spotlight on these 3 fictional women in Resistance is really engaging particularly as they have to trust each other as well as be alert to avoid having their true identities discovered. The cruelty and vigilance of the Gestapo to uncover supporters of the Resistance adds gnawing tension to this read. I was constantly afraid for our 3 spies as the narrative takes on many twists and turns.
November 10, 2021
In “Resistance”, we pick up where the fantastic espionage tale “City of Spies” left off. We meet Elisabeth back in Britain in 1944, where she quickly realises that one of her regular contacts in France may have been compromised. With that, she is sent back undercover, this time in France, to work alongside the resistance in the war effort.
This is another brilliant romp of a book, with all of the charm and excitement of its prequel. The historical details are wonderfully well observed and the characters – a few old friends from the previous instalment as well as a few new characters – are rich and flawed and really bring the setting to life.
I would recommend reading “City of Spies” before reading this one, but its twists and turns would be entertaining even as a standalone book. I very much look forward to reading the next one!
My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.
This is another brilliant romp of a book, with all of the charm and excitement of its prequel. The historical details are wonderfully well observed and the characters – a few old friends from the previous instalment as well as a few new characters – are rich and flawed and really bring the setting to life.
I would recommend reading “City of Spies” before reading this one, but its twists and turns would be entertaining even as a standalone book. I very much look forward to reading the next one!
My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.
August 14, 2021
May 1944. With the situation in occupied France worsening and growing fears that the Resistance has been compromised, spy Elisabeth de Mornay, codename Cecile, is ordered behind enemy lines. Along with fellow agents Leonie and Dominque she must help the Resistance destabilise German operations. But the life of a spy is never straightforward...
I really enjoyed the entire concept of this book - it was a nice change to read a WWII fiction book that covered a different topic, in this case how English spies were sent to help the French Resistance. I loved Cecile and how resilient she was, being scared but still willing to do her job. It did feel a bit repetitive at times as you waited to get to the action packed bit of the invasion of Normandy.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for my copy of this book in return for a review
I really enjoyed the entire concept of this book - it was a nice change to read a WWII fiction book that covered a different topic, in this case how English spies were sent to help the French Resistance. I loved Cecile and how resilient she was, being scared but still willing to do her job. It did feel a bit repetitive at times as you waited to get to the action packed bit of the invasion of Normandy.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for my copy of this book in return for a review
Read
December 16, 2024I admire Mara Timon for bringing the more secretive elements of WW2 to our attention, but I was disappointed with the book.
Sadly, the characters are one-dimensional and provide little chance of getting to "know" them well. Unsurprisingly, given the backdrop of the war, death visits several times, reaching one of the main characters towards the end of the novel. Instead of feeling the loss of these individuals, I felt nothing, simply because they had never come across as thinking, feeling human beings.
Ironically, the glossary of individuals and groups and the real-life stories behind them provided more emotional content than the story.
The plot is well thought out. Following up on "Cecile's" earlier escapades in Portugal, it takes us to northern France and the D-Day Landings. Timon has done her research well, and her melding of fiction with real life is a treat.
Sadly, the characters are one-dimensional and provide little chance of getting to "know" them well. Unsurprisingly, given the backdrop of the war, death visits several times, reaching one of the main characters towards the end of the novel. Instead of feeling the loss of these individuals, I felt nothing, simply because they had never come across as thinking, feeling human beings.
Ironically, the glossary of individuals and groups and the real-life stories behind them provided more emotional content than the story.
The plot is well thought out. Following up on "Cecile's" earlier escapades in Portugal, it takes us to northern France and the D-Day Landings. Timon has done her research well, and her melding of fiction with real life is a treat.
August 12, 2021
A year ago I read City Of Spies, Mara Timon's stunning debut novel. Second novels often disappoint. This one sure doesn't. The writing is wonderfully assured and the plot totally gripping from beginning to end.
The depth of the characterizations makes everything ring true and all the nuances of human nature during a time of war are here. Mara's female heroines are full of empathy and play lead roles - unusual in spy thrillers - but just perfect in this story of British SOE and the French Resistance in the lead up to D-Day.
This is an utterly seamless stand-out read.
The depth of the characterizations makes everything ring true and all the nuances of human nature during a time of war are here. Mara's female heroines are full of empathy and play lead roles - unusual in spy thrillers - but just perfect in this story of British SOE and the French Resistance in the lead up to D-Day.
This is an utterly seamless stand-out read.
September 2, 2021
"City of Spies" was an excellent and gripping debut. This book is the follow up and it's even better than the first.
Mixing facts and fictions the author delivers another great spy thriller that kept me turning pages.
The storytelling is excellent and I was glad to read again about Elisabeth de Mornay, a very clever and fleshed out character.
The plot is fast paced, full of twists and turns and the characters are well written.
It's a riveting, gripping and highly entertaining story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Mixing facts and fictions the author delivers another great spy thriller that kept me turning pages.
The storytelling is excellent and I was glad to read again about Elisabeth de Mornay, a very clever and fleshed out character.
The plot is fast paced, full of twists and turns and the characters are well written.
It's a riveting, gripping and highly entertaining story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
August 23, 2024
I hate when books are advertised as stand alone novels when they’re really part of a series.
You definitely need the first book to fully understand the second, and I didn’t realize this was book 2 until after I had started reading it, but I wasn’t gonna stop and go out to but the first before continuing. (Which is on me I guess)
I was really confused half the time, and then other half was bored. Maybe with the first book read, this second one would be more exciting but overall I just feel “eh…” after having finished this. Nothing about this felt like a thriller, but could just be me
You definitely need the first book to fully understand the second, and I didn’t realize this was book 2 until after I had started reading it, but I wasn’t gonna stop and go out to but the first before continuing. (Which is on me I guess)
I was really confused half the time, and then other half was bored. Maybe with the first book read, this second one would be more exciting but overall I just feel “eh…” after having finished this. Nothing about this felt like a thriller, but could just be me
January 9, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and found it easier reading than book 1. I rarely read first person books but this one again, like the first got me hooked. The characters are so well crafted and the whole storyline works. Yes, it can be complex but worth persevering.
In her author interview Mara states that she writes quickly when she gets excited by what’s happening and that pace and urgency comes through to the reader. It does carry you away and that is a real skill to also keep the detail, plot and consistency.
Overall a great follow on.
Is there a third?
In her author interview Mara states that she writes quickly when she gets excited by what’s happening and that pace and urgency comes through to the reader. It does carry you away and that is a real skill to also keep the detail, plot and consistency.
Overall a great follow on.
Is there a third?
August 28, 2022
3.5 stars
It was only after I finished Resistance that I realised it was the second book in a series but I did not feel disadvantaged for not having read City of Spies first. The author did a great job with the backstory and Resistance turned out to be a good historical espionage novel with convincing female protagonists who had to learn to trust each other with their lives. Narrated by Elisabeth (codename Cecile), the action and tension ramped up the more I read and I admired her resilience, bravery and determination. I also liked how the plot focused on how English spies were sent to help the French Resistance. However, the end was sand. An enjoyable read.
It was only after I finished Resistance that I realised it was the second book in a series but I did not feel disadvantaged for not having read City of Spies first. The author did a great job with the backstory and Resistance turned out to be a good historical espionage novel with convincing female protagonists who had to learn to trust each other with their lives. Narrated by Elisabeth (codename Cecile), the action and tension ramped up the more I read and I admired her resilience, bravery and determination. I also liked how the plot focused on how English spies were sent to help the French Resistance. However, the end was sand. An enjoyable read.
December 11, 2022
I read the first book in this series on a long flight and couldn't wait to read the follow-up, which I also tore through in two days. I love the universe Mara Timon has created, especially the indefatigable and charming Elisabeth de Mornay. I look forward to seeing what comes next for her, as well as some of the characters in the universe we have grown to love like
May 2, 2022
This story kept my interest but you should read the first in the series. It's the end of the war and things are winding down. I liked the heroine, and her love for a German officer, who insists he's not a Nazi. However, I'd like to have seen more affection from him toward her. He seemed stiff and cold, yet she was mad about him. A worthwhile read with a touch of espionage.
October 17, 2022
This is the 2nd book following the activities of SOE radio operator Cecile in WWII. Both equally good. I don’t know whether there is a 3rd in the offing but I will definitely read it if there is. The author is meticulous in her research, although this is a work of fiction she does weave in real events. Thoroughly recommended
October 15, 2021
I wanted to really like this book as it had all the hallmarks of an exciting read but sadly I found it dragged and just didn’t get on with the story. I don’t often give up on a book but I did with this one…too many good stories to read and not enough time to read them all!
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