The Lost Song of Paris

Heartwrenching WW2 historical fiction with an utterly gripping story inspired by true events

By: Sarah Steele

Narrated by: Samara MacLaren

She played for love. She fought for freedom.

Inspired by incredible true events, The Lost Song of Paris is a heart-wrenching story of lost love, danger and espionage and one remarkable woman's bravery in World War Two, from the bestselling author of The Missing Pieces of Nancy Moon and The Schoolteacher of Saint-Michel.

This unforgettable novel is perfect for fans of My Name is Eva, The Shut Away Sisters and The Secret Messenger.

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'For a moment she closed her eyes and imagined she was perched on the diving board at the Piscine Molitor, the sun beating down on her bare shoulders and the sound of Parisians at play beneath her. All she had to do was jump.'

1941. Darkness descends over London as the sirens begin to howl and the bombs rain down. Devastation seeps from every crack of the city. In the midst of all the chaos is a woman gripping a window ledge on the first floor of a Baker Street hotel. She is perched, ready to jump. And as flames rise around her, she is forced to take her chances.

1997. Amy Novak has lost the two great loves in her life: her husband, Michael, and her first love, music. With the first anniversary of Michael's death approaching, Amy buries herself in her job as an archivist. And when a newly declassified file lands on her desk, she is astonished to uncover proof that Agent 'Colette' existed - a name spoken only in whispers; an identity so secret that it has never been verified.

Her discovery leads her to MI6 'godmother' Verity Cooper - a woman with secrets of her own - and on to the streets of Paris where she will uncover a story of unimaginable choices, extraordinary courage and a love that will defy even the darkest days of World War Two . . .

(P) 2022 Headline Publishing Group Ltd©2022 Sarah Steele

Critic reviews

A brilliant storyteller whose stories are always enchanting and engrossing

This magnificent novel is heartbreakingly tender and hauntingly evocative . . . the sights, sounds and smells of 1940s Britain and France are so vividly brought to life and the characters so credible, it is at times easy to forget this is fiction. You will be left wanting to learn more about the real women working in the field and behind the scenes . . . this book is a superb tribute to them all

Fascinating, moving, romantic and utterly gripping. I couldn't stop reading once I'd started. (KATIE FFORDE)

An enthralling read. Fascinating, poignant and beautifully written, I fell under its spell from the first page. (TESSA HARRIS)

This extraordinary story shows us the best and worst of what it is to be human, and the redeeming power of love. Like the raging melody at the centre of it, The Lost Song of Paris reaches its tumultuous climax and bursts into its own heart-wrenching tenderness. (JANE BAILEY)

A fantastic read. I was gripped and enthralled. Wonderful storytelling. (JILL MANSELL)

Sarah writes with a lyrical beauty which is testament to her former career as a musician. This is a novel you should not miss and is impossible to put down. (CAROLINE MONTAGUE)

A tense, heart-in-mouth story about courage in Occupied Paris . . . and secrets. (GILL PAUL)

LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!!!! THIS BOOK MUST BE READ!! (REAL READER)

Great story, suspenseful to the very end

The well developed characters and plot line. Brought Paris alive for me. I will look for other books by this author.

Time We’ll Spent

Great read/listen for those of us that love history. I was drawn in immediately!

Emotionally Wonderful

This book gripped me from the beginning. Classified documents finally released tells an emotional story of love and the unimaginable bravery of those who fought to save the world from the evil of Hitler and his minions. Years later those brave men and women still were haunted by the trauma of the second world war. This story is so well written, and a performance of the reader was perfect. This will be added to my favorites and will be read again. I can’t recommend this book enough.

It was good not great

The story was kind of slow in the beginning but picked up as it went. My biggest struggle was that all of the female voices were the same and the story didn’t tell you when it was switching scenes and so it took a while to learn enough of the characters to know where they were.

Memorable and heartwarming

A gripping storyline, meaningful and memorable, excellently narrated. I could not stop listening. Learned a lot about the history of WW2. The book is very thought provoking, making one think about values, such as loyalty and true love. It is very highly recommended.