The Sisters of St Croix

By: Diney Costeloe

Narrated by: Nicolette McKenzie

Length: 14 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

A gripping story of love, death and danger in Nazi-occupied France from the best-selling author of The Throwaway Children.

When Adelaide Anson-Gravetty finds out her father is not the man who raised her, she is both shocked and intrigued. Determined to find out more about her new family, she travels to the convent of Our Lady of Mercy in France to meet her aunt, the Reverend Mother. But when France falls to the German army, Adelaide and the nuns are soon in the thick of a war that threatens both their beliefs and their lives. Collaborating with the Resistance, sheltering Jewish orphans, defying the rulings of Vichy France: these are dangerous activities in dangerous times. These courageous women must give all they've got in order to protect the innocent from the evil menace of the Nazi war machine.

Originally published as Death's Dark Vale.

©2009 Diney Costeloe (P)2009 Soundings Ltd

Critic Reviews

"Historical fiction heaven...Diney is excellent at pacing and introducing historical factors. Anyone who feels that women's hist fict is a simplified genre sub-set would definitely need a rethink after this." (The Bookbag, Top Ten Women's Fiction Books of 2016)

Two Excellent Books

The Sisters of St. Crois and it's companion book are excellent stories taking place during WW1 and the present. I am very interested in this time frame of history and love to listen to difference accounts of the occupation by the Nazis of France, and other countries. It's not full of gore, but full of stories about the people living and trying to survive at that time. There are so many stories out there and this one is very intriguing. Most of the story plays out in the convent of St. Crois, but does play across the channel to England. The two books together are time well spent in listening. Diney Costeloe writes very well, and the narrator does a great job as well.

disappointing

I enjoyed all of the other books by this author but this one fell short for me.

a world War II story you won't soon forget

it was a little slow setting up all the characters but once it was set I did not want to stop listening!

Reviews

I enjoyed this book, but honestly I don’t enjoy writing reviews. Some books I enjoyed others hated. I enjoy Disney Costeloe novels and will continue to read and listen to this genre. You need to do you and not read the reviews.

Depressing but action packed

This story kept me 99% percent engaged! I kept anticipating what was going to happen next. I kept repeating "kill that mean s.o.b. He would do if say anything to catch "the enemies of the reich, jews, nuns, anyone, even children! It made me want to put my fist into my tablet and end the suffering! The reader was one of the most animated I've heard. This was definitely
A love, hate book.

Enjoyed overall

The book started slow and took a good turn at the end. I enjoyed the characters

An amazing finish to two wonderful books

Another brilliant read by Costeloe. She really has a talent in creating a world you get immersed into and are desperate to know all about the characters. So many plot twists and links. I just love her books.

Brilliant story

This was well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat and still has surprises in the end.

What a fabulous book!

There is so much intrigue in this WWII novel involving the British, the French and its French Resistance, a Convent in France looking after anyone who requires help from Jews to Germans and those in-between. Life/death, love and sacrifice; I found myself living within each chapter. Highly recommended!

The Sisters of St Croix

A very good story. I’m sure very true in many cases. Very sad in places. Couldn’t wait to listen to the next part of the book well into the night. Excellent read.

Excellent read

Never enjoyed two books book one then two and I’ve read many they were excellent in all ways they made me laugh then cry and so interesting well worth the read highly descriptive in every way.Make sure you have plenty time on your hands you can’t put them down so well written. Title of book one is The Nurses of St. Croix well done to the author

An excellent wartime story

Most gripping from the start to the end of this amazing story about the persecution of Jews in the Second World War and the bravery of those who tried to help them escape the SS. A wonderful listen.

Great read

very well read and kept my interest till the end of the story, enjoyed

A must read sequel to The Nurses of St Croix.

This novel is also an excellent strand alone story, however having read the first book in the series gives you the back story and familiarity with some of the main characters that enthral you, making it near impossible to stop listening, even when you know you need to get some sleep.
The narrator engages so personally with the characters that you feel that it is they themselves who are telling you of the toils and torments that are being suffered and the love and determination felt. A truely realistic story. One would find it hard to believe it fiction at all.
This story harnesses so many emotions and absorbs you back in time, that I could almost smell the surroundings of the war inflicted French countryside, and feel the anxiety and fear against evil.
Best, and favourite book read this year.

good read

a very good read and true story as well brilliant from start to finish thanks pamie

very good

if you love wartime tales then you'll love this, kept my interest throughout and the story took me there. A little disappointed the 'what happened to everyone' was wrapped up neatly in the epilogue, which could have easily done with a final chapter in more detail.