Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly

3 reviews

kimveach's review

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Despite its 511 pages, this is a surprisingly fast read. It's another gripping novel from the author of Lilac Girls. As with her other books, Kelly doesn't shy away from the dangers for women spies in WWII and for the work they continued to do hunting Nazi war criminals after the war ended. I loved the characters, Arlette and Josie, and their search for Arlette's baby and the war criminal.

The author's note at the end tells us her inspiration for the novel and where she wrote history in the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Trafficking, Alcohol, Misogyny, Confinement, Death, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Suicide, Ableism, War, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Colonisation, Medical trauma, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Vomit, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Classism, Antisemitism, Body shaming, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Torture

mjr_pogue12's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A brilliant story that spans two time periods during WWII and post-WWII. I was enraptured by the story of the Golden Doves, and highly recommend Hall for any historical fiction lover. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Murder, War, and Violence

Minor: Sexual violence

It's a WWII book and has some semi-graphic scenes at the Ravensbruk POW/concentration camp

paperbackportals's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No

3.0

Review: The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly

If you like to read historical fiction set in WWII, you should check out The Golden Doves. The story follows Josie and Arlette, two women who met in the French Resistance during WWII and survived the end of the war despite imprisonment in Ravensbruck, the women-only concentration camp. The story finds Josie and Arlette in 1952, still trying to heal from their experience. Josie finds herself on a new mission hunting down a notorious Dr. Snow, and hers and Arlette’s paths cross again.

I found the story interesting and focused on a bit of a different part of the war than I have usually read. Although the hunt for Nazi war criminals is similar to the story in The Huntress by Kate Quinn, it was different though and emphasized the problematic aspects of the Cold War race for scientific development. I found the characters and story compelling, but I did find it a bit long. The length caused some parts to feel very slow, especially when some portions were repetitive through the dual perspectives, and made the reveal feel rushed. I think had the story been a bit tighter, it would have made quite a thrilling read throughout. 

The Golden Doves is the perfect read for serious historical fiction reader, as it requires a bit of a commitment. However, if you take the time, the characters and story won’t disappoint. 

Thank you to Penguin Reads for the opportunity to read this novel. This review reflects my honest opinion.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Racism