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illinibaby's review
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.0
katelinpro's review
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book had an interesting premise. However, I got really confused by the duo-narrators being so similar. It was difficult to keep their stories straight. Espionage is always a fun theme, though!
shirleytupperfreeman's review
Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction, but in this novel Christine Wells tells the fictionalized story of two real women involved in British intelligence during WWII. Paddy Bennett was a trusted associate in Room 39 of the Naval Intelligence Division in which Ian Fleming (later author of James Bond novels) was a leader. After Paddy marries and leaves the division (mandatory for married women at that time), she still secretly helped out with Operation Mincemeat in which a dead soldier was released from a submarine with highly sensitive plans in tow. The British knew the Germans would get hold of the plans and would do everything in their power to verify the veracity of the body, the plans etc. so everything had to be planned down to the most minute detail. The British plan worked, the Germans were misled and thousands of lives were saved. Paddy became the inspiration for Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond novels and Friedl, the other main character in this novel, had her intelligence roles to play. A decent story.
thepagelady's review
5.0
A great book! The book is full of information and little facts that I had know Idea about which is always a plus for me! The characters were wonderful and I really enjoyed getting to know them! Definitely a book to binge read with!
kvincent904's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
smalltownbookmom's review
4.0
WWII historical fiction fans will be delighted with this new book from the author of Sisters of the resistance. I really enjoyed this one on audio narrated by Saskia Maarleveld that cleverly combines fact with fiction in a suspenseful story about two women spies and the dangerous lives they led during the war.
It was so fun getting to know more about both author Ian Flemming and the real life inspiration for his character Miss Moneypenny, Victoire Bennett! Even more surprising to learn was that this WWII British Naval intelligence officer was a married woman and kept working even while pregnant.
I thought the author did a great job intertwining both Victoire and Austrian double agent/socialite Friedl Stöttinger's stories. Based on the real life events of these women's lives, this book is perfect for fans of Kristin Harmel, Natasha Lester or Kate Quinn.
Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and Libro.fm for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!
It was so fun getting to know more about both author Ian Flemming and the real life inspiration for his character Miss Moneypenny, Victoire Bennett! Even more surprising to learn was that this WWII British Naval intelligence officer was a married woman and kept working even while pregnant.
I thought the author did a great job intertwining both Victoire and Austrian double agent/socialite Friedl Stöttinger's stories. Based on the real life events of these women's lives, this book is perfect for fans of Kristin Harmel, Natasha Lester or Kate Quinn.
Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and Libro.fm for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!
andreagraves5's review
4.0
Not anything what I thought it would be. I really liked it and how the paths intertwined.
shesbecomingbookish's review
4.0
Quick and Dirty
-WWII fiction
-dual timeline, dual POV
-homefront action
-based on a true story
Synopsis
Bored with nursing, Paddy, a London socialite, accepts a secretarial position for British Naval Intelligence, trading bed pans for a part in some of the most important, and most daring, decisions of WWII. Finally, she's making a real difference, doing something meaningful that impacts the outcome of the war. Meanwhile the glamorous Austrian Friedl has accepted the role of a double agent. As an enemy alien in London, she's well-positioned to secure intelligence from the elites she rubs shoulders with every night in the premier clubs. But who's side is she on? At times the lines begin to blur for Friedl. As both women delve deeper into the world of intelligence their paths are bound to cross. But there's more on the line than their lives.
Musings
This book had me at hello! I'm a sucker for WWII fiction, and I particularly love homefront stories. And this one did not disappoint! Glitz, glam, intrigue, secrets, espionage, and romance were all at play. I wasn't sure how the two characters/plots would play out, but I was fully invested in both storylines. I appreciated the fact that the two women were polar opposites, but both played an important roll in one of the biggest tactical moves of the war. It's no wonder that Paddy became the inspiration for Miss Moneypenny, one of the key characters in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels. The glitzy life of London's elite gives this one a Gatsby vibe that I am here for! Overall, this was a solid WWII book that will have a spot on my shelf for a long time to come.
-WWII fiction
-dual timeline, dual POV
-homefront action
-based on a true story
Synopsis
Bored with nursing, Paddy, a London socialite, accepts a secretarial position for British Naval Intelligence, trading bed pans for a part in some of the most important, and most daring, decisions of WWII. Finally, she's making a real difference, doing something meaningful that impacts the outcome of the war. Meanwhile the glamorous Austrian Friedl has accepted the role of a double agent. As an enemy alien in London, she's well-positioned to secure intelligence from the elites she rubs shoulders with every night in the premier clubs. But who's side is she on? At times the lines begin to blur for Friedl. As both women delve deeper into the world of intelligence their paths are bound to cross. But there's more on the line than their lives.
Musings
This book had me at hello! I'm a sucker for WWII fiction, and I particularly love homefront stories. And this one did not disappoint! Glitz, glam, intrigue, secrets, espionage, and romance were all at play. I wasn't sure how the two characters/plots would play out, but I was fully invested in both storylines. I appreciated the fact that the two women were polar opposites, but both played an important roll in one of the biggest tactical moves of the war. It's no wonder that Paddy became the inspiration for Miss Moneypenny, one of the key characters in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels. The glitzy life of London's elite gives this one a Gatsby vibe that I am here for! Overall, this was a solid WWII book that will have a spot on my shelf for a long time to come.
amayfie2's review against another edition
4.0
Overall I enjoyed this novel looking into the story of the real Miss Moneypenny and her connection to Ian Fleming. I enjoyed the story but it drug on in places and the back and forth between characters was challenging at times.
I want to thank William Morrow, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, for this Advanced Reading Copy.
I want to thank William Morrow, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, for this Advanced Reading Copy.
jordynkw's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25