Code Name Hélène

A Novel

By: Ariel Lawhon

Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik, Peter Ganim

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Frozen River, this thrilling novel about a daring socialite spy chronicles the true wartime exploits of a woman who deserves to be a household name.

"Will fascinate readers of World War II history and thrill fans of fierce, brash, independent women." —Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours

It is 1936 and Nancy Wake is an intrepid Australian expat living in Paris who has bluffed her way into a reporting job for a Hearst newspaper when she meets the wealthy French industrialist Henri Fiocca. No sooner does Henri sweep Nancy off her feet and convince her to become Mrs. Fiocca than the Germans invade France and she takes yet another name—a code name.

Told in interweaving timelines organized around the four code names Nancy used during the war, Code Name Hélène follows Nancy’s transformation from journalist to one of the most powerful leaders in the French Resistance, known for her ferocious wit, her signature red lipstick, and her ability to summon weapons straight from the Allied forces. But with power comes notoriety, and no matter how careful Nancy is to protect her identity, the risk of exposure is great—for herself and for those she loves.

Critic reviews

"Ariel Lawhon delivers in Code Name Hélène. This fully animated portrait of Nancy Wake— underground operative, charmer in red lipstick, loving wife, and hard-hitting woman of her times, will fascinate readers of World War II history and thrill fans of fierce, brash, independent women, alike. A stark exploration of the remarkable difference one person, willing to rise in the face of fear, can make." –LISA WINGATE, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours

"Fascinating"
—NEW YORK POST "REQUIRED READING"

“A spellbinding work of historical fiction. . . [and] one of the most sensual romance novels you’ve ever read. . . She is real, this really did happen is the mantra you may find yourself repeating, in awe of every page.”—BOOKPAGE, *STARRED*

"A compulsively readable account of a little-known yet extraordinary historical figure—Lawhon's best book to date." –KIRKUS REVIEWS, *STARRED*

“Magnificent. . . Lawhon carries us into the heart of the French resistance [and] into the mind of a badass heroine with uncanny instincts who takes on the Nazis and men’s arrogant sexism with uncommon bravado. . . Even long after the last page is turned, this astonishing story of Wake’s accomplishments will hold readers in its grip.”—BOOKLIST, *STARRED*

"Readers will be transfixed by the story of a woman who should be a household name."–LIBRARY JOURNAL *STARRED*

“Riveting. . . [A] stunning, moving story.”—BOOKREPORTER.COM

“Masterful. . . Exhaustively researched and vividly woven. . . As much an epic love story as an engrossing narrative of an unlikely anti-Nazi combatant. . . Lawhon has proven herself a master at her craft, and she does readers a great service with Code Name Hélène.”—CHAPTER16

“Captivating. . . [Lawhon] sweeps readers into Nancy’s wry, fast-talking, first-person account of her adventures. . . While Nancy cuts a vivid, stylish figure through the novel’s pages, her supporting case is also well drawn [and] Lawhon’s elegant plotting makes them shine. . .Lawhon’s gripping narrative gives ‘Hélène’ her due.”–SHELF AWARENESS

"Gripping…Lawhon throws readers into the middle of the action… Lawhon’s vivid, fast-paced narrative will keep readers turning the pages, and a detailed afterword makes plain how much of the account is factual. This entertaining tale does justice to Lawhon’s larger-than-life subject.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Mixed Feelings

Historical novels are my favorite genre so this one seemed like a slam dunk. The story, while sensationalized, was a good one and like most historical novels, it sent me to the Internet to learn more. A big problem I had was trying to figure out who was who. There were so many code names and not a whole lot of background to flesh out many of the characters so I sort of lost track and just kept reading. If I really understood who was doing what and their relationship to Nancy, I would have appreciated the book far more. An even bigger problem for me was what one astute reviewer referred to as a story-in-a-blender; style of writing. This is a popular gimmick in contemporary writing that I loathe. For me, it defeats the purpose of good storytelling. *Code Name Helene* time jumps so much I could barely keep track of the story line. There aren't chapters so much as 34 *episodes*, each with a different date. Here's the progression:1944, 1936, 1944, 1936, 1944, 1936, 1944, 1937, 1944, 1939, 1944, 1939, 1944, 1940, 1944, 1940 1944, 1942, 1944, 1942, 1944, 1943, 1944, 1943, 1944, 1943, 1944, 1943, 1944, 1943, 1945, 1944 - or something like that. It would be difficult enough to keep track of this in a hardcover book where you can flip back and forth to jot down notes. With the audio version, it was impossible for me to keep track of these dates as the story unfolded. Only on reflection, do I see that the story alternated between two time periods, something I didn't pick up on while trying to focus on what was happening. I just found it choppy, confusing and difficult to follow. In the end, I think planning to read the book twice would provide the most enjoyment. The story of this remarkable woman is definitely a good one and if you can get past the multiple code names and time jumps, I believe the author does justice to bringing Nancy Wake's incredible wartime exploits to life.

Tremendous historical fiction listen

I was sucked in from the first page, and amazed to learn that nearly all of the events in this book were true. It just made it that much more incredible. I binged listened the last two hours because I had to finish the book, knowing I could not have gone to sleep that night without doing so!

incredible!

I love reading about strong women in history and the author brings her to life in this remarkable story. More history classes need to celebrate brave women like Nancy.

Absolutely Exceptional

I loved every aspect of this fascinating story of a real life hero, Nancy Agustas Wake. Special thanks to the author for telling her story.

One of my best listens.

I highly recommend this story. I entered into Nancy's world and felt every moment with her. A great love, courage, bravery, loyalty. A fabulous accounting of her life. Will always be one of my favorites.