The Riviera House

By: Natasha Lester

Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik

A lush and engrossing novel of one woman’s quest to keep Nazis from stealing priceless art during WWII, perfect for fans of The Rose Code.

Paris, 1939: The Nazis think Éliane can't understand German. They’re wrong. They think she’s merely cataloging art in a Louvre museum and unaware they’re stealing national treasures for their private collections. They have no idea she’s carefully decoding their notes and smuggling information to the Resistance. But Éliane is playing a dangerous game. Does she dare trust the man she once loved with her secrets, or will he only betray her once again? She has no way to know for certain . . . until a trip to a stunning home on the French Riviera brings a whole new level of peril.

Present Day: Wanting to forget the tragedy that has left her life in shambles, Remy Lang heads to a home she’s mysteriously inherited on the Riviera. While working on her vintage fashion business, she discovers a catalog of the artworks stolen during World War II and is shocked to see a painting that hung on her childhood bedroom wall. Who is her family, really? And does the Riviera house hold more secrets than Remy is ready to face?

Critic reviews

"Beautifully written and intimately researched, The Riviera House weaves an intriguing and wonderfully imagined path between WW2 Paris and modern-day French Riviera. Lester handles the darker aspects of war sensitively, while effortlessly drawing the reader into a powerful tale of art, passion and secrets. Like the masterpieces she writes about, Lester adds rich layers and real depth to her characters, and fans of historical fiction and dual timeline novels will be mesmerised as connections are slowly revealed, building toward a heart wrenching finale. Magnifique!"—Hazel Gaynor, NYT bestselling author of When We Were Young & Brave

“The Riviera House is a poignant meditation on loss and the courage it takes to start over. A stark reminder of how the past influences the present, the novel kept me up at night, turning the pages faster and faster, in order to be with its heroine Remy as she solved the mystery of an enigmatic painting and learned what happened to the Résistants who risked their lives to help others.”—Janet Skeslien Charles, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Library

"In Hitler's war on civilization, a group of women and men risk everything to protect the art in their care, but it's not until decades later that the profound extent of their sacrifice is discovered. The Riviera House is a love letter to art in all its forms. With beautiful prose and immeasurable heart, Natasha Lester shows we must dare to love, in spite of fear, no matter the cost.”—Erika Robuck, national bestselling author of The Invisible Woman

"Delectable and daring, The Riviera House takes readers from wartime Paris to the sun-soaked French Riviera and beyond, populating its world with fabulous fashion, unforgettable characters, vibrant masterpieces — and intrigue at every turn." —Bryn Turnbull, author of Woman Before Wallis

“A vivid, nuanced and deeply moving depiction of women’s courage in the face of unimaginable danger, sacrifice and loss. The Riviera House is a gripping story of a young woman who risks her life to record the Nazi’s pillage of fine artworks during World War II, and the repercussions of her actions down the years, as her legacy helps another woman in her greatest hour of need. A superlative work of historical fiction—Natasha Lester’s finest yet!"—Christine Wells, author of Sisters of the Resistance

“A gripping and heartbreaking tale sweeping from Nazi-occupied Paris to the sun-kissed coast of southern France, The Riviera House is a story that will stay with me for a long time.”—Posy Lovell, author of The Kew Gardens Girls

"Art lovers and fashionistas alike will be glued to this emotional page-turner about the women who safeguarded Paris’s treasures during the German occupation."
—Kaia Alderson, author of Sisters in Arms

A must read/listen - to know why we must not allow it to happen again

A beautiful story. Fiction but a story that reminds us what happens when tyranny is allowed to grow unchecked until it is to late. The story of sacrifice and love for art and country.

A Beautiful Story

This is a beautiful story about love, courage, sacrifice, and hope.The author skillfully transitions between occupied France and the current day. She vividly reveals what it was like to live under the Nazis in France which has been forgotten by the generations that have followed. The current day story which you will find is connected to the one in World War II , is equally rich . The narration is as beautiful as the language, and story itself. It will always remain one of my favorites and I hope it will for you too.

Brings it home

Some stories give a reader a taste of history/loss. The Riviera House makes a reader want to stand up and hold those who are devastated so their pain is easier to bear, and to fight back.

Love and History

This book follows the life and history of a family that complies with life’s hardships, but passes their love down throughout time.

WW2 Gem

The past and present are woven into a beautifully nuanced novel of love and war.