The Paris Assignment

A Novel

De: Rhys Bowen

Narrado por: Barrie Kreinik

A courageous wife, mother, and resister confronts the devastation of World War II in a heartbreaking and hopeful novel by the best-selling author of The Venice Sketchbook and The Tuscan Child.

Londoner Madeleine Grant is studying at the Sorbonne in Paris when she marries charismatic French journalist Giles Martin. As they raise their son, Olivier, they hold on to a tenuous promise for the future. Until the thunder of war sets off alarms in France.

Staying behind to join the resistance, Giles sends Madeleine and Olivier to the relative safety of England, where Madeleine secures a job teaching French at a secondary school. Yet nowhere is safe. After a devastating twist of fate resulting in the loss of her son, Madeleine accepts a request from the ministry to aid in the war effort. Seizing the smallest glimmer of hope of finding Giles alive, she returns to France. If Madeleine can stop just one Nazi, it will be the start of a valiant path of revenge.

Though her perseverance, defiance, and heart will be tested beyond imagining, no risk is too great for a brave wife and mother determined to fight and survive against inconceivable odds.

©2023 Janet Quin-Harkin, writing as Rhys Bowen (P)2023 Audible, Inc.

This was a very moving story.

Being half Jewish and listening to this audible book, made me uncomfortable in many ways. Following the women being trained as spies was interesting. However I didn’t expect all of the women to be widowed or single.

This book was really good. And I definitely recommend everyone to listen to it.

A Twist on the Usual WWII Story

The story follows Madeline from a naive schoolgirl to marriage to motherhood to the devastation of WWII. Madeline’s husband Giles an ideologist and romantic believer in Communism becomes part of the Resistance. Madeline returns to England thinking it after for her and her son Olivier only to learn Olivier was killed in a bombing.

That sets the stage for Madeline to join the Resistance as a courier, return to France and live to avenge her son’s death.

In fact Olivier hasn’t died but was mistaken for another boy with a similar name. His life is told in parallel to Madeline’s.

Without giving away details, this book deals with the usual issue of German atrocities, deprivation and torture. It tells of family estrangement as well as reconciliation.

I did have some difficulty with the portrayal of the nuns who took in children orphaned in the war. As a Catholic it bothers me to think there were evil nuns as well as good and compassionate nuns. I suspect Germans feel the same when reading about Nazis.

That being said, the book is well written and compelling.

Stand Alone

Excellent stand alone story. Thoroughly enjoyed iTunes hope Rhys Bowen continues along this vein in future books

Historical gritty war truth

Well-written and researched right down to the hats with corks on them in Australia to keep flies away. There was a good mix of good vs bad characters, and the only thing I found less believable was that the author maintained there were still Jews living in their own residences in 1942/3 in Paris-Jews were moved to ghettos or camps and neighbors were encouraged to rat on Jews so I doubt any remained freely walking around with their yellow star.

Good Story

The story itself was engaging but the plot of this book was much broader than than the actual story that was told, so each of the many plot twists felt forced and under-developed.

The first part of the book was very good and the characters were well-developed. After that, a lot of ground was covered but not in the same depth as the earlier part of the novel. My suggestion would be to make the book a lot longer or eliminate a couple of parts.

Still, an entertaining and interesting read and worth the credit.

A must-read for fans of historical fiction

Rhys Bowen's stand-alone novels, often set in the evocative backdrop of World War II, have a certain charm that I find irresistibly captivating. Bowen's writing style is so engaging despite the repetitive setting that it keeps drawing me back. Her ability to weave intricate stories within this historical context is remarkable. There's a depth and authenticity in her characters and plots that make each book a new and exciting journey, even within a familiar era. Rhys Bowen has undoubtedly become one of my favorite authors, and I can't get enough of her storytelling. Each novel, set against the tumultuous period of WWII, offers a fresh perspective, making her works a constant source of enjoyment and discovery for me.

Good Historical Fiction

I enjoy reading this era of history. The Australian orphanages and population build up was a new topic from this time frame for me. Enjoyed the storyline and characters. As mentioned in a few other reviews…quick ending but it did tie up the loose ends nicely.

Under grown women in WW2

This story shows how women also played integral parts in defeating Hitler in WW2 and stayed strong even in the aftermath.

Great Story

After reading two other WWII books in quick succession, one a nonfiction, this is satisfyingly realistic. Great story. Enjoyable narrator.

Absolutely captivating, suspenseful and heartwarming

Rhys is a clean writer , with well developed story lines that leave you wanting more right until the end , when it is all wrapped up in a satisfying ending. Read it, you won’t be sorry!