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smclawler 's review for:
The Black Swan of Paris
by Karen Robards
WWII espionage thriller revolves around Genevieve Dumont, who was singing for her supper in Morocco, and Max Bonet, a piano player in the club scene, who unbeknownst to Genevieve, was running a spy cell for the Allies. After their meeting, Max became her manager, promoting her shows on the continent to insure she becomes the favorite entertainer of the Nazis, which she did. Since she was requested to perform throughout occupied Europe, Max, as her agent, accompanied her and was free to travel easily from city to city, without suspicion. Completing the entourage are Otto, the chauffeur, and Berthe, Genevieve's personal maid. As they travel across Europe, under the guise of Genevieve's performance schedule, Max completes his missions as a spy for the Allies. Initially Genevieve acts a bit self centered and temperamental, while Max presents as brusk and coldhearted, but as their backstories unfold, their behaviors become credible. Characters, and there are many, have distinct personalities and motivations, which make the reader care whether they live or die, and they are imbedded into the intense historical events leading up to to D-Day. Filled with suspense because it is a spy story, violence because the SS is involved, romance because Genevieve and Max come to terms with one another, and history because it is historical fiction. This book will keep you turning pages until the end.