• The Paris Assignment

  • A Novel
  • By: Rhys Bowen
  • Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik
  • Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (251 ratings)

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The Paris Assignment  By  cover art

The Paris Assignment

By: Rhys Bowen
Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik
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Publisher's summary

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.

About the Creator

Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels, including Where the Sky Begins, The Venice Sketchbook, Above the Bay of Angels, The Victory Garden, The Tuscan Child, and her World War II novel In Farleigh Field, the winner of the Left Coast Crime “Lefty” Award for Best Historical Mystery Novel and the Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel. Bowen’s work has won 20 honors to date, including multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Her books have been translated into many languages, and she has fans around the world, including 67,000 Facebook followers. A transplanted Brit, Bowen divides her time between California and Arizona. For more information, visit www.rhysbowen.com.

About the Performer

Barrie Kreinik is an actor, singer, writer, and narrator based in New York City. She specializes in accents and dialects, particularly those of the British Isles, with an emphasis on creating unique character voices. A recipient of Audie, Earphones, and YALSA Awards, she narrates audiobooks in a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction genres. As a performer, she has appeared in off-Broadway and regional theater, recorded media, concerts, and cabaret. She holds an MFA in acting from Brown/Trinity Rep.
Audie Award—2022, Multi-Voiced Performance ( Heresy by Melissa Lenhardt)
Audie Finalist—2022, Literary Fiction & Classics ( Ariadne by Jennifer Saint)
Audie Finalist—2023, Fiction ( A House Full of Windsor by Kristin Contino)
New York Times Best Audiobooks of 2022 ( We Do What We Do in the Dark by Michelle Hart)

What listeners say about The Paris Assignment

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Stand Alone

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

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Wrenching

In this stand-alone novel, Rhys Bowen immerses us in WWII, beginning to end. I never knew where the plot was going. Absorbing and well done. Barrie Kreinik's narration is satisfying, with multiple characters wonderfully voiced by her. The story made me realize the suffering and bravery of the people during those awful years.

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One of the best audios I have ever heard

I’m so glad I took a chance on this author. This is my favorite genre . Practically all I ever listen too. The character and the places came to life.. the plot was great. I was never bored at all, in fact wanted it to be a much longer .

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Moving, phenomenal

Read this. You won’t regret it. If you’re looking for a thriller that twists and turns, you won’t find that here. What you will find, is literary genius.

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I hope I it’s a series!

Love Rhys Bowen! I hope she has plans for a series. There could be more adventures for these characters!

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Loved this story!

Wonderful characters and story. The Australian orphanage portion was very interesting and a new topic I had not read about in other WW2 novels.

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Memories

I remember the war and hearing what the nazis did to the Jews and many other people. I didn’t know about the orphanages, and how badly the children were treated. It was a very interesting book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Sad but wonderful story.

Rhys Bowen always presents a realistic portrayal with enough detail to understand the story, but manages it with an appropriate amount of restraint. I don’t need the intimate, gruesome details of a rape to appreciate the horror. Ms. Bowen is adept at telling a meaningful story with a sensitive touch. She is definitely one of my favorite authors.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Kept me spell bound.

I hated to stop listening. I eagerly resumed listening whenever I could. I have read or listened to several stories from this time, but I enjoyed this more than most.

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