The Woman with the Map: An emotional and compelling historical fiction novel that you won't be able to put down

by Jan Casey

A wartime novel of a Bomb Plotter in the Blitz and her choice, decades later, to start living once more

February 1941
The world is at war and Joyce Cooper is doing her bit for the effort. A proud member of the ARP, it is her job to assist the people of Notting Hill when the bombs begin to fall. But as the Blitz takes hold of London, Joyce is called upon to plot the devastation that follows in its wake. Each night she must stand before her map and mark the trail of turmoil inflicted upon the homes and businesses she knows so well. February 1974
Decades later, from her basement flat Joyce Cooper watches the world go by above her head. This is her haven; the home she has created for herself having had so much taken from her in the war. But now the council is tearing down her block of flats and she's being forced to leave. Could this chance to start over allow Joyce to let go of the past and step back into her life? An emotional and compelling historical fiction novel perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Mandy Robotham and Catherine Hokin.

Genres: Historical Fiction, War

458 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2022

About the author

All of my novels explore the themes around how ordinary people are affected by extraordinary events during any period of history, including the present. I'm fascinated with the courage, adaptability and resilience that people find within themselves during times of adversity and for which they do not expect pay, praise or commendation. I'm also interested in writing about the similiarities as opposed to the differences amongst people and the ways in which experiences and emotions bind humans together.

I was born in London but spent my childhood in Southern California where bookworm parents and regular trips to the library instilled a love of books and literature deep within me. For many years, I was a teacher of English and Drama and I worked, until recently, as a Learning Supervisor at a college of further education.

Now that my lifelong dream of becoming a published author as come true, I spend my time writing, reading, swimming, walking, cooking, practising yoga and enjoying my grandchildren.

You can follow me on Twitter @JanCaseyAuthor or find me on Facebook at facebook.com/JanCaseyAuthor

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, did this book put me through the emotional wringer. I’ll freely admit to shedding tears at some points.  Alternating between 1974 and the period of the Second World War, we gradually come to see why the devastating losses Joyce experienced during the war have made her the way she is, reluctant to get close to anyone for fear they may disappear from her life and preferring to live a solitary, self-contained existence following her established routines. Her little basement flat has become her sanctuary, the place that gives her a sense of stability.  Gradually we come to understand just why it is such a wrench for her to leave it.

The details of Joyce’s wartime work, plotting the location of bombs dropped on London during the Blitz, was fascinating. I was struck by the contrast between the chaos in the streets above and the methodical operation of the Report and Control Centre with its forms, log books and detailed procedures that define  the colour of pins to be used to denote the various levels of destruction and casualties, or the precise diameter of the circle to be drawn to identify V1 rockets.

It was impossible to read the descriptions of the horrific damage and loss of life inflicted on London (and other cities) by German bombing raids without thinking of the atrocities being committed in Ukraine at the moment.  As the war continues, Joyce’s experiences reflect those of many Londoners during the Blitz – never knowing whether this moment might be your last, homes damaged beyond repair, people desperately scrabbling in the rubble of bombed-out buildings, finding yourself left with just the clothes you stand up in and reliant upon the kindness of strangers, loved ones injured or literally blown to oblivion.  And it never stops, for year after year. ‘Everyone was hungry; everyone was cold. They all had spots or skin the colour of the pall of smoke that hung over the city and stomach upsets and earaches and missing fingers and swollen joints…’ Although there are snatched moments of happiness they prove transitory. And, just when you think it can’t get any worse for Joyce, it does. (The chapter headings become positively chilling.)

I fell in love with Joyce and if she were my neighbour I’d want to give her a big hug and join her in a cup of tea and a vanilla slice.  Taking the first tentative steps to remove the protective barrier she has built around her takes courage and Joyce proves once again, as she did during the war, that she has it in spades.

The Woman with the Map is one of the most moving books I’ve read for a long time. The parallels with events in Ukraine make it especially poignant and chillingly prophetic. Attending the celebrations at the end of the war, Joyce listens to Winston Churchill proclaiming that in years to come whenever people had their freedom threatened they would look back at the ‘stubborn determination and stoic endurance’ of the British people and say, like them, that they would rather die than be conquered’. Slava Ukraini!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a good WWII fiction book and this one was fantastic. We follow Joyce from her life in London during the war as she works to do what she can to help her country to her much lonelier life in 1974 when her life has changed drastically.

1941 - As the Blitz in London gets worse, Joyce is asked to move from her job as a member of the ARP where she assists people when the bombs begin to fall each day to a job in one of the central offices plotting where the damage and death has occurred in her neighborhood of Notting Hill. As she gets reports from the people working outside, it's her job to put a pin in a large map that also indicates if there have been deaths at that location. She's proud of the work that she's doing and devotes her life to her job. She lives with her mother and she has grandparents and other family living nearby. When she meets Derek and falls in love with him,. he becomes the happiness in her life as death and destruction continue to happen all around her.

1974 - Joyce continues to live in the basement apartment that she first rented 40 years earlier. Her life centers around her job in the payroll department of a large store but her job is all she has left. She pulls away from people who want to befriend her. After her years during the war and all of the pain that she's suffered, she just isn't willing to take a chance on having friends again. There was a lot of building going on in London after the war and when the housing council decided to tear down her apartment house to make way for newer buildings and she has to find somewhere else to live. This move totally changes her life but will it be enough of a change for her to try to let go of the past and start enjoying her life again?


This is a difficult book to read in parts. The destruction to life and property during the Blitz is horrifying but well written. It's apparent that the author did considerable research into this part of war. Joyce is a strong main character that I connected with from the beginning. Her life is so affected by the deaths of family and friends and by 1974, she only relies on herself. I shed a lot of tears for her during the novel and cheered her on as she began to take small steps to begin to connect with other people and to find happiness in her life.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are two versions of Joyce in this story: stoic and determined to survive the Second World War; in the 1970s, she has retreated from the world in order to protect herself. It is Joyce’s experience of the war that allows readers to understand how Joyce has altered to become the woman we see in the more modern narrative.

This is a very detailed story and I was fascinated by the concept of marking bomb sites on a large map. It’s not something I knew anything about and the way that Casey describes it all was so interesting and vivid, it is clear that the writer has done their research. It sounds like an involved job with meticulous attention to detail whilst the world is falling apart around you.

One thing I don’t think I was prepared for was how long Casey’s chapters are. The more modern narrative, alternating with the 1940s, are shorter chapters and I found these sections to be the least interesting to start with. Switching back to the war, these sections took a long time to get through; I was grateful for then narrative breaks that were interspersed throughout these sections. However, the more I read of this book, the more I found 1970s Joyce to be appealing and I think this is because I had an even greater understanding of what happened to her during the war.

As I read the book, I gradually became aware of the significance of the chapter titles. I could not foresee how Casey would develop the story and the amount of tragedy that surrounds Joyce is devastating. At the same time, it is undoubtedly a reflection of what so many experienced during the Blitz and I could not even begin to imagine how Joyce pulls through. Yet, it also helped me understand why Joyce behaves the way she does after the war has ended.

The novel finishes on a welcome note of optimism in both timelines. Of course, the end of the war was met with jubilation and celebrations, which Joyce experiences on a very detached level. Therefore, for her, the victory is bittersweet because it marks a new period of her life. Consequently, the final chapter of the novel were particularly poignant for me because it showed that Joyce finally felt able to reinsert herself in life around her, rather than watching from the side lines. In my opinion, the ending reminded me of the youthful, hopeful Joyce that we meet at the beginning of the story.

I liked this book and the attention to detail that Casey provides. It was not a story I was expecting and it provided another, new insight into the experiences of living in London during the Blitz. The grit, determination and heart-ache surrounding Joyce and her companions became a symbol of survival during this time, which I think Casey expertly captures in this story.

With thanks to Aria fiction and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

As you all know WW2 based books are one of my favourite genres and I practically devour every one that I read and this little beauty was devoured with equal measure. I have not read Jan Casey before and I can honestly say I totally love her style. This book is highly descriptive, which made a great change from plenty of dialogue, not much substance. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Joyce through this style of writing. I felt that I got to know her and her family and friends incredibly well.

I’m not going to lie, Joyce did annoy me especially in her later years. She has become so cut off and actually quite judgmental. I really wanted to give her a good talking too. Mind you with everything she went through during the war I am not surprised that she had become somewhat distant with those around her. Never accepting help or really making friends. I love how Joyce changes and grows and the past/present style of the chapters flowed superbly well.

Without a doubt I enjoy authors who are able to evoke strong feelings in the reader. I am sure this is actually a difficult thing to do. I want to read a book that takes me through a whole gamut of emotions from happiness to sorrow and Jan creates this in spades. This is the perfect book for readers who love to be challenged with an in depth story full of light and dark. A great read.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This interesting historical book was a dual time-line. It starts in 1941 and then jumps to 1974. I found this a very enjoyable book as it dealt with women who risked their lives during the blitz to rescue bombed out people and deliver messages to the wardens whilst bombs were falling. Most of the time they worked through the night and then went to their daytime jobs without sleep. I really loved this book and was sad to finish it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anybody who knows me well, knows that not only am I a book geek but I am also a history nerd, with a particular interest in the Second World War. I also love discovering new authors. I read the synopsis of ‘The Woman With The Map’ and it certainly sounded like just my kind of read. I was spot on too because I really enjoyed reading ‘The Woman With The Map’ but more about that in a bit.
I have to be honest and say that it took me a little while to get into this book, which has probably more to do with the fact that I was tired when I started to read and finding it hard to concentrate and should not be taken as a criticism of the book itself. Once I got into the story then that was it and I was away as the saying goes. I wasn’t able to read the book over the course of a day but I managed to binge read the book over the space of three or four days. I would become so wrapped up in the story of Joyce Cooper’s life that I would lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of the story and I had to say goodbye to Joyce. I found ‘The Woman With The Map’ to be an intriguing and emotional read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘The Woman With The Map’ is well written. Jan has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. The story is told using two timelines – one timeline narrates Joyce’s story as it was during the Second World War and the other timeline describes life for Joyce in the 1970s as she faces eviction from her safe haven, her flat. The timelines interlink and the story flows seamlessly as a result. Jan clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. Jan has clearly done a lot of research into the Second World War period and this shines through and makes the story seem that bit more authentic. Whilst reading this book, I felt a bit like I was on an emotional rollercoaster as I shared the feelings that Joyce was going through. I love the way in which Jan makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short and overall I did enjoy reading ‘The Woman With The Map’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jan’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jan Casey’s The Woman with the Map is a complex, immersing and fascinating historical novel of love, loss and courage.

It’s 1941 and the Second World War continues to rage on. Determined to do her bit for king and country, Joyce Cooper joined the Civil Defence where she works tirelessly to assist the people of Notting Hill as Hitler’s bombs relentlessly attack London night after night. With the Blitz continuing to wreak further havoc and destruction, Joyce is called upon to plot the devastation that follows in its wake. With her trusty map, Joyce watches the homes, buildings and businesses that she knows so well being obliterated by war.

Three decades later, Joyce lives in her basement flat where she is perfectly happy to watch the world go by from the safety of her home. Having suffered terrible pain and loss during the war, Joyce’s basement flat is her refuge and her salvation. She cannot imagine ever leaving her safe haven – until she discovers that the council plan to tear down her block of flats and are rehousing her. This unexpected turn of events is a cruel blow for Joyce, but will it provide her with the second chance she so desperately needs? Or will the loss of her beloved home prove to be the final straw for Joyce?

Brilliantly observed, powerfully written and wonderfully poignant, The Woman with the Map is an atmospheric and moving tale of a woman’s journey through life during the twentieth century that cannot fail to touch readers’ hearts. Jan Casey vividly evokes the periods she is writing about and in Joyce has created a brave, bold, flawed and believable heroine whom readers will take to their hearts.

Jan Casey’s The Woman with the Map is high quality historical fiction from a master storyteller.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have one purpose when I read World War 2 historical fiction. I want to know what my relatives went through in order to survive. I want to know what it was like as doodlebugs buzzed overhead. I want to know what it is like to look up and see a Jerry parachuting into the neighborhood. I want to understand their struggles, their determination. The Woman with the Map has given me so many details. I think I am finally beginning to understand why some people are the way they are.

I can't say I enjoyed reading about the V-1 or V-2 and other bombs. What happened was devastating. I do appreciate the insight to what it was like. Reading about the bombs in history books does not describe the devastation that occurred.

The devastating amount of loss gutted me. I can't begin to imagine what it was like to slowly loose all your family members in bombing raids. The survivors would move to a new place only to be blown up again. The sense of hopelessness my have been intense.

The author takes the reader through the struggles of living in war torn London. The reader gets a glimpse of trying to find some sort of normal, trying to find love only to have it taken away. The reader begins to realize that there was no such thing as 9-5. The office of Report and Control had an important job, but I never realized how closely they could be affected.

Years later, survivors are still affected even if they don't realize it. The author was brilliant in weaving the life of Joyce in WW2 with the life of Joyce in 1974. Survivors guilt is a horrible thing. The author made me think. The author had me wanting to know more. What more could I ask of a historical fiction.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Woman With The Map by Jan Casey
The novel starts in February 1974, when we are introduced to Joyce, the main character of the book. Then we go back to February 1941 during World War II. Joyce is 21 and busy with her job and her war work. She lives with her mum, sees a lot of her other relatives and socializes with her cousin and best friend Flo, who is a hairdresser.
The story moves back and forth between the two timelines. We see how Joyce is living alone in the 1970s, then we go back to her being a young girl during the War. She begins a job at the Civil Defence, where she has to plot bomb damage on a big map of London. She is now Senior Warden Cooper – “our woman with the map”.
We see as she meets Senior Regional Officer Derek Nicholls, who is 29 and they begin a relationship. Joyce and Flo begin taking lessons at Madame Beaupre’s School of Dance and we follow the family’s experience of being in Notting Hill, London during WWII.
It’s an interesting story, Joyce is a great character and I enjoyed learning about her life through the dual timelines. The background of the War in London feels very authentic and is very visual, so you can really understand how awful it was. (Sadly, it also made me think of the situation in Ukraine now too.) It is rather depressing at times though, as her personal losses mount up and life seems to treat her badly over and over again. It did feel at times a bit like one of those horror movies where the characters get picked off once by one.
It is well written in many ways and the characters are very well done, but just too much death and destruction for me to love it, I’m afraid.
6 out of 10

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 1 out of 5]

I must be in the minority because this is the second Jan Casey book I've read (or started to) and didn't enjoy. I don't know why because the genre is one that I love, especially dual timelines, but I honestly found myself drowning in endless paragraphs and pages of wordy descriptions and monologuing. I'm a dialogue girl and there wasn't enough of this to make this remotely interesting. Coupled with the fact that there are some author's styles that a reader just doesn't gel with. I knew I recognised the author's name but didn't know from where until I opened the book and recognised her previous book "The Women of Waterloo Bridge" ...and as much as I tried to like that one, I didn't enjoy it either.

It's a shame because the premise for this sounded intriguing but I honestly didn't care to wade through pages of monologuing and descriptions to discover the outcome.

However, don't take my word for it. Plenty of others have enjoyed THE WOMAN WITH THE MAP. For me, I think it's just a case of personal taste...and this just wasn't mine.

I would like to thank #JanCasey, #AriaFiction and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheWomanWithTheMap in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Alda Delicado · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Woman with the Map is a dual storyline novel that lingers in your mind a long time after you finish reading it and that is due to the frustration and sadness that the main character evokes in the reader.
The first storyline is set during the Second World War in London. Joyce is a young woman working as a warden and later in the offices of the ARP where her organizing skills land her a job mapping all the bombings and destructions in her area of the city.
The second parallel storyline is set in the 70s and now we see an older Joyce totally alone, living in an old apartment and being evicted by the council that sends a friendly officer to try and persuade her to accept a new apartment.
This second storyline makes you realize from the beginning that things are not going to end well with Joyce and it permeates all story with a pending doom that honestly made the book harder to read at least for me.
The details and writing are impeccable and it captures the spirit of the time but the story is truly brutal and not for the faint of heart.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Georgina Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book.

I always enjoy dual timeline novels and this was no exception. We follow Joyce through her war days, working at her map night after night plotting the bombs destruction across London, and during her difficult time of having to move out of her home after 30 years in the early 70’s.

What a woman. What a time she lived in, the descriptive writing of the devastation caused nightly during The Blitz was amazing. You really feel for anyone who lived through this, the damage to both buildings and lives caused was just horrendous. Each event in Joyce’s life is written in such a way that you feel every emotion with her - joy and sadness.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in wartime or historical fiction, its just beautifully written and will stay with me for a long time to come.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I had a hard time putting it down. The journey through Joyce's life during WWII was both heartwarming and gut wrenching. The author did an incredible job in making me feel like I was right there with Joyce watching her live out all the love, warmth, loss and stress. I will highly recommend this book to anyone. It has all the emotions wrapped into one great historical fiction.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It’s a dual timeline story following Joyce’s life both during WWII and later in 1974. It’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking as we follow her life during the war and afterward as she’s lost family members. At the end she begins changes to ease her loneliness and bring back some happiness.

[Connie Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Woman with the Map is written by Jan Casey. This is the first book that I have read by this author. This is a dual timeline story - with part of it during Joyce Cooper's life during WWII in 1941 and later in life in 1974. I enjoyed reading an England WWII point of view. This book is about 430 pages. The story flows nicely off the pages.

When the war begins, Joyce wants to do her part, like so many others. She helps the people of Notting Hill when the bombs start to fall. When the war gears up, Joyce's organizational skills are used to plot the destruction that has been left behind and to follow to see what happens next. She takes pride in this work and excels at it.

1974 Joyce leads a lonely life. She has lived in the same place for 30 years. She has lost so much due to the war. She is working in payroll at a company and her job is the one thing that she is excited about. Her flat that she has been living in is about to be torn down and she will have to find a new place to live. She struggles - but can she leave it all behind and enjoy what is left of her life?


I felt the characters emotions as I read. The author did a great job with creating struggles and pain. I cannot imagine what life may have been like during WWII in England. I felt the author did a great job in bring history to life. The characters were well written, the story line was intriguing. I hope to read more from this author someday.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for allowing me to be a part of this tour. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

[Frankie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Woman with the Map is a compelling and engaging story of devastating loss and courage to find peace.

As soon as I set eyes on this book I felt as though I needed to read it; I do love WW2 historical fiction especially when it’s centred around the London blitz and add a duel-timeline element then I am like a fish on the line. My thoughts after (or during reading) were mixed, I hate to say I didn’t love it, it didn’t have that ‘wow’ factor I look for in historical fiction, but I did really like it. I know that sounds contradictory, but I felt torn by the end. I can only describe it as when you’re watching a pretty naff film, you neither love nor hate it, but you can’t bring yourself to turn the tv off, you feel compelled to keep on watching and that is how I felt about this book, I felt compelled to keep reading I wanted to know what happened and if Joyce found her happiness.

The Woman with the Map is the first book I have read by Jan Casey, I do have one of her previous books sitting on my kindle, I will get around to reading it one day (don’t we all say the same about our ever-expanding reading piles?) I will certainly read it now though.

Split between 1941 and 1974, this follows the story of one woman; Joyce who through WW2 she worked as an ARP during the blitz she assists people in and around Nottinghill as the bombs land, she loves her jobs she feels she needs to help and she is helping those around her. She is soon transferred to a different department here sh is to track the damage, death and destruction. She knows her job is important but you can only imagine what she must have o deal with everyday hearing of the horrors and then having to put all these pins in a huge map plotting the deaths in said location. She is a strong woman but the death toll and destruction soon starts to affect her, as it ould anyone. She soon finds a little happiness when she meets and falls head over heels in love with Derek, he is the light in this dark tunnel and gives her hope of happy times to come.

Fast forward to 1974, Joyce is still living in her basement flat, she is refusing – or should that be turning a blind eye to what is set to come in the fact that the council are going to be ripping down her apartment block. Ahe keeps ignoring the letters and day after day gets up foes to work and goes home the constant cycle. She has found herself in a rut, all of what she saw and experienced forty years earlier has had a huge effect on her and all she wants is her safe place, her haven of her little run-down basement flat but eventually, she must conceit defeat and find somewhere to live, a move which will force to finally let go of everything she has been holding dearly on to and find hope and happiness.

This isn’t the easiest of books, more-so with what is going on in the world at the moment, reading about homes buildings being destroyed by bombing and the loss of people lives when the same is happening right before our eyes is difficult and there were times I felt it too hard to read when there is so much destruction, loss and hate in the world because of that aspect alone is one of the reasons I couldn’t love the book. I am finding myself reaching for lighter reads these days, but saying that I can not deny that Jan Casey is an exceptional author, her attention to detail and her knowledge of the era is second to none, she is a wonderful author who draws the reader in and she doesn’t sugarcoat the history and that I really liked that.

Despite my personal mixed feelings, this is a great book, one which I think will appeal to those who love their WW2 historical fiction, story is a simple one of letting go of the past, finding courage and allowing yourself to be happy. It’s a beautiful message and one we should all listen to especially in the times we are living in and what we have lived through in the last two years.

Overall, an emotional, engrossing and heartbreaking story that is full of loss and one woman’s bravery, a story that will tug at your heart in more ways than one!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)

Joyce Cooper’s experiences during the war are snippets of a world we’re not often privy to, particularly from a woman’s perspective. What I know about Notting Hill boils down to the movie, Notting Hill, so to say The Woman with the Map had been eye-opening for me would be an understatement! Night after night, brave individuals like Joyce did all they could for the war effort–even children who masqueraded as couriers–all in an effort to survive. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to have everything you know and often, those you love, stripped from you. And even when that happened, there was only one option: to carry on.

I appreciated the two polar timeframes represented in Joyce’s life. We get the Joyce from 1941, a young woman faced with an impossible fate, and later the much older but not necessarily wiser Joyce, who has learned it’s best to shut out the world because the world has not been kind to her. It was an interesting contrast to see someone who is so steadfast in being alone and shutting everyone out, yet she wants to surround herself with the past, thereby embracing that painful time in her life. Her home reflects the past and despite all of that, it’s her safe zone. Jan Casey did a great job of showing that division, even more so when Joyce is forced to make a choice on where she wants to live going forward, and in letting go of her flat, she’s letting go of that painful past. Maybe.

Out of the two timelines, 1941 was my favorite. It was the building block for the future Joyce, and I felt like I was right there with her while she and the rest of her district endure constant bombings and destruction, and you wonder how anyone could withstand it. Given everything going on in our current world affairs right now, it really brought the reality of the present even closer to home. A constant thread through the pain and loss were continual glimpses of hope and endurance. It was reflected in Joyce’s familial relationships, her budding romance, and at times, when she notices little things like the fighting spirit of the crocus plant that grows in Notting Hill, attempting to make its way despite the frailty of the environment around it.

The Woman with the Map is a historical fiction novel, but it felt like it could be a true story told by the women who endured during World War II. Joyce was easily a recognizable representation from that era, and her story (and all it holds) was well told.

[The Pursuit Of Bookiness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy an Historical fiction story and WWII in particular. The Woman with the Map is a dual storyline novel that looks at the story of Joyce and her experience during the war, with her job in the ARP plotting the devastation caused by the blitz and her life now (well in the 70’s) where she faces a whole new set of challenges.

I think Jan Casey captures the horror and devastation of the Blitz so well, it’s not sugar coated in anyway and in places was really uncomfortable to read. Not because it was badly written, quite the opposite it made my think about how I would react living under the constant threat of bombing.

The other vein of the story follows Joyce in 1974 as she navigates having to leave her basement flat and all she knows when they start to knock down old buildings and put in shiny new apartment blocks. Following her experience in the war Joyce doesn’t feel she needs anyone else and we follow her as she takes some tentative steps to letting people into her life which is such a lovely storyline, I found myself willing her on.

I don’t typically read Dual storyline books because its so easy to get lost but The Woman with the map is a well researched, easy to follow story that will be a great addition to your TBR list this year

The Pursuit Of Bookiness received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

1941 Joy Cooper joins the Civil Defence during WW2, charting the bombs falling on London but gradually her world is eroded as she receives reports of familiar targets... 1974 Joy is required to leave her home but does she have the strength to start yet again...?
The Woman With The Map is a dual timeline novel set in the 1940s and 1970s in London.
Joy starts the war with optimism and a world of security and love from her family. This gradually erodes as the nightly Blitz destroys her home town and the people she loves most. The physical and emotional devastation is not shied away from and makes this an intense book to read. I think a great deal of research went into this book and the scenes described feel authentic.
The sadness and sense of loss is relentless in both timelines. Joy has lost so much over the course of the book. The destruction and devastation is surely more than anyone can bear. Yet Joy finds an inner strength to eke out an existence but avoids making new personal connections. This is a form of self preservation as the hurt and pain of the past is overwhelming.
The dual timeline works really well and I felt that both historical periods were realistically portrayed from the food to the clothes and beyond. The final chapter ends on a note of hope but this doesn't eradicate the grief of the rest of the book in both timelines.
The Woman With The Map is a book full of Blitz spirit but the sadness is almost overwhelming.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book opens with Joyce in 1974 receiving urgent mail. She makes a comment that they don't know what urgent means. This sets the tone for the rest of the book and her experiences in 1941. Most of the book is from 1941, and to me that was the most interesting part. As a plotter, Joyce marked the locations of bombs during the Blitz. I can't imagine what that would have been like. The autor does a great job showing us the emotion Joyce feels. This is a little different type of historical fiction novel. It focuses on Joyce in London and does not bring in the outside war.

This is a fascinating book. I've read many WWII historical fiction books and love when I can find a story that is new to me. I had no idea plotters was a job. I also enjoyed Joyce after the war ended and her return to her pre-war life. It is not something included in many WWII historical fiction novels but it is something everyone in a war has to do. They need to return to normal life.

I did not like this book as much as other historical fiction books. I loved the storyline but struggled to stay interested in the writing at times.

[Debbie Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought I had already reviewed this book but apparently had not. What a wonderful book...another one set in WWII London but a dual timeline with the setting also in the 1970s. While many books have dual timelines recently, this one seemed different. The same person was the main character in each time period and it focused solely on her life in the two time periods.

This book introduced me to the life of those in London who were out at night keeping track of air raids, bombs dropped and their location, damage done, people hurt or killed....It was something about which I had not really thought but the things these people saw had to be devastating. Obviously, the woman lived through the war but to see her life afterwards...how the young happy woman became someone else. And how do you not change after living through London during the worst of the bombings?

It has already been a book I recommended to others. What a good book it would be for different generations to read especially those who survived WWII in Europe and their children.

I did receive this book early through #NetGalley and #AriaFiction.

[Jemima Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit disappointed in this novel. I love wartime romantic fiction and especially those like this with such detailed insights into the lives of civilians, the author has clearly done a lot of research around her subject and I appreciate that. Unfortunately it really is rather depressing and whilst I appreciate this may be reflective of the truth of the time, many families had more than one survivor and it almost became a joke working out whos demise would be next. Such a shame. The switching timeline was a nice touch and served to build the character of Joy well, alongside exploring how her experiences affected the rest of her life. I feel the end however came a bit too quickly, perhaps a little rushed, I felt we should have been allowed a little more of how Joys life was turning around. Not really a feel good romance but it has value in understanding the atrocities that people lived through in the war.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Woman with the Map is story told in dual timeline, the past thread centers around WW2 London as our protagonist, Joyce Cooper, is tasked with plotting the devastation that ensues in the wake of the blitz. The present day thread takes place in 1974. What sets this dual storyline novel apart from others I’ve read is that both storylines follow the protagonist, Joyce Cooper and her life events from both time periods and the affect her past experiences had on who she became in the future. The author successfully stitches together the threads from the two equally compelling plot-lines, taking the reader on a journey through one woman’s life that will truly touch your heart.

I highly recommend this emotion and compelling historical fiction novel for fans of Pam Jenoff, Fiona Valpy and Diney Costeloe.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Helen R Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic dual timeline WW2 historical fiction novel set in London.

This book follows Joyce, during the war and her time as a bomb plotter, and then in the 1970’s.

The dual timeline weaves together seamlessly, without any confusion and as younger Joyce’s story unfolds you understand why older Joyce is the way she is.

Joyce had far more than her fair share of heartbreak and devastation and reading how it affected her all her life is really poignant and sad. She is one resilient woman though!

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the work of bomb plotters in the war, it must have been a terrifying and exhausting job.

The book is well written throughout, with well developed characters and a great storyline.

My only complaint is the ending was just too soon for me. I would love to know if Joyce reconnected with certain people.

[Sunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Woman with the Map takes place in London during WW2. It is a dual timeline, with both timelines following Joyce Cooper. Joyce was a bomb plotter during WW2 in London. She was tasked with marking the locations where bombs landed on a map. It was interesting to learn about life in London during the war.

Joyce’s experiences during the war were completely heartbreaking but yet there is still a feeling of hope. This one is a slow read and meant to be savored.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished this book, but I did not enjoy it. The writer is talented, but the story left me feeling empty. have read numerous books about WW2, and the blitz. All were sad, but this went beyond war time sad. I kept reading hoping something would turn the story before the last page, and add a glimmer of hope. But if it was there I could not find it. I thought it started with a clear picture of how tense the job would have been to place pins on a map, indicating where homes were obliterated, people killed, etc. War is harsh, so was this story. I read an advance copy courtesy of Net Galley.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a journey. It felt as though you was walking alongside Joyce. I cried, I laughed, I cried some more. I always think a good book leaves you wanting to know what happens next. This book certainly did! The bravery of Joyce and the courage at the end! Absolutely incredible! I could not imagine how challenging it must have been during the war, not the different jobs everyone did! This gave a small insight in how everyone pulled together and made me wonder how we would cope today. Highly recommended!

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Woman with the Map was a sad but wonderful read! The author did a great job capturing this time period and really bringing it to life for the raiders. The writing is wonderful! Joyce is a great main character. She's strong and I found it easy to connect with her. I also liked that the author allowed us to see Joyce's life after the war. That isn't something that you normally get to read in a book. Overall an emotional and interesting book!

[Fi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started my working life in the early 70s; I worked with a couple of spinster ladies who were nearing the end of theirs; I assumed that being single had been a deliberate choice, and, with the selfishness of youth, gave them little consideration ..... Joyce Cooper, the protagonist of this novel, is one such lady, and how I now wish that I could go back & be a little more empathetic to those spinsters of my youth.
An excellent book, covering yet another aspect of war work during WW2

[KateP · Rating 4 out of 5]

During wartime, Joyce works for the Civil Defence plotting bomb damage on a map of London. As the war progresses she is bombed out several times and loses most of her family. In the 1970s, Joyce leads a lonely life. It started off brilliantly but it petered out a bit by the end and the 1970s story was a little disappointing, it didn’t really get going until the final page. Enjoyable but could have been a little shorter and more resolution added to the 1970s storyline.