October audio book of the month - The Secret Pianist by Andie Newton, narrated by Mary Galloway

 

The Secret Pianist 

By Andie Newton

Narrated by Mary Galloway

Sisters. Traitors. Spies.

When a British RAF Whitley plane comes under fire over the French coast and is forced to drop their cargo, a spy messenger pigeon finds its way into unlikely hands…

The occupation has taken much from the Cotillard sisters, and as the Germans increase their forces in the seaside town of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Gabriella, Martine and Simone can’t escape the feeling that the walls are closing in.

Yet, just as they should be trying to stay under the radar, Martine’s discovery of a British messenger pigeon leads them down a new and dangerous path. Gaby would do anything to protect her sisters but when the pianist is forced to teach the step-daughter of a German Commandant, and the town accuses the Cotillards of becoming ‘Bad French’ and in allegiance with the enemy, she realizes they have to take the opportunity to fight back that has been handed to them.

Now, as the sisters’ secrets wing their way to an unknown contact in London, Gaby, Martine and Simone have to wonder – have they opened a lifeline, or sealed their fate?

Firstly, let’s talk about the narrator, Afterall, I did listen to this book on audio. Mary Galloway is the perfect choice, her voice is utterly mesmerising, and I thought she really brought the characters and the story to life. I shall certainly be looking out for more books narrated by this actor.

Now, for the writing. The story follows the lives of the three Cotillard sisters. They are trying their best to keep their noses clean and stay out of trouble, but fate has other ideas for them.

This story is incredibly fast paced, and an awful lot happens in this novel. Some of the characters sent shivers down my spine and there are a few hair-raising moments when the sisters are on the brink of discovery, but their bravery and love for each other carries them forward. 

Now, I must talk about the pigeons. It is sad to think that pigeons are now considered vermin when they did so much for the war effort. These birds are so important in this story as it is through their instinct to fly home that messages can be sent from occupied France back to England. 

I thought the plot was very appealing and the characters were interesting. There are a few characters who I certainly did not like, but there were also some surprises at the end of the novel that made me rethink my initial first impressions.

If you love world war II historical fiction, then this book will certainly be right up your street. I thought it was fabulous, and I will certainly be reading more books by this author.

This book is well worth the read, or listen to. You can find your copy over on Amazon.

Andie Newton

Andie Newton is the USA Today bestselling author of The Secret Pianist, A Child for the Reich, The Girls from the Beach, The Girl from Vichy, and The Girl I Left Behind. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Washington State University and a master’s in teaching. When she’s not writing gritty war stories about women, you can usually find her trail running in the desert and stopping to pet every Yellow Lab or Golden Retriever that crosses her path. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family.

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club — The Signare of Gorée by Laura Rahme #HistoricalMystery #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn

The Signare of Gorée
By Laura Rahme

1846. In the heat of West Africa, the French navy uncovers the corpses of two French soldiers. Inspector Maurice Leroux arrives at the island of Gorée. It seems death has come to this small colonial outpost off the Senegal coast, home to the prosperous mixed-blood women known as the signares.

The navy suspects that the Bambara people, emboldened by approaching emancipation, may be out for blood. While confronted by the locals’ strange magical beliefs, Maurice remains skeptical. Does malevolence play a part, or are these deaths accidental, brought upon by the brutality of nature in an island known as the white man's grave?

But when murder strikes, it becomes clear that a killer is stalking Gorée.

Swept by a mystery unlike any he has known, Maurice meets Signare Angélique Aussenac. The proud métis, deserted by her wealthy Bordeaux lover, casts her spell upon Maurice.

But beyond the throbbing sounds of the tam-tams and the glittering signare soirées, danger lurks. Someone is watching. And the deaths go on.

Could the killer be one of the rich Bordeaux merchants? Or are they hiding among the powerful signares?

A historical mystery spanning France and Senegal, THE SIGNARE OF GORÉE explores a world of magic, murder, and passion.

If this book tickles your fancy then you can find your copy over on Amazon, and get this if you have #KindleUnlimited you can read for FREE! Bargain!

Laura Rahme

Laura Rahme is the author of seven historical novels. Born in Dakar, Senegal where she spent her early childhood, she moved to Australia at the age of ten. A graduate of two Honors degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Psychology, she has worked over two decades as an IT professional. Her greatest joy comes from travel, researching history, and penning historical mysteries. She now lives in France with her screenwriting husband.

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On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club — Operation Tulip by Deborah Swift #WW2 #HistoricalFiction #Holland #Romance #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @swiftstory @cathiedunn

Operation Tulip
By Deborah Swift

Holland, 1944: Undercover British agent Nancy Callaghan has been given her toughest case yet. A key member of the Dutch resistance has been captured, and Nancy must play the role of a wealthy Nazi to win over a notorious SS officer, Detlef Keller, and gain crucial information.

England: Coding expert Tom Lockwood is devastated that the Allies have failed to push back the Nazis, leaving Northern Holland completely cut off from the rest of Europe, and him from his beloved Nancy. Desperate to rescue the love of his life, Tom devises Operation Tulip, a plan to bring Nancy home.

But as Nancy infiltrates the Dutch SS, she finds herself catching the eye of an even more senior member of the Party. Is Nancy in too deep, or can Tom reach her before she gets caught?

Inspired by the true events of occupied Holland during WW2, don't miss this utterly gripping story of love, bravery and sacrifice.

Doesn't this book sound amazing?! You can find your copy over on Amazon.

Deborah Swift

Deborah Swift is a USA TODAY bestselling author of twenty books who is passionate about the past. Deborah used to be a costume designer for the BBC, before becoming a writer. Now she lives in an old English school house in a village full of 17th Century houses, near the glorious Lake District. After taking a Masters Degree in Creative Writing, she enjoys mentoring aspiring novelists and has an award-winning historical fiction blog at her website www.deborahswift.com.

Deborah loves to write about how extraordinary events in history have transformed the lives of ordinary people, and how the events of the past can live on in her books and still resonate today. 

Recent books include The Poison Keeper, about the Renaissance poisoner Giulia Tofana, which was a winner of the Wishing Shelf Book of the Decade Award, and a Coffee Pot Book Club Gold Medal. Her most recent books are The Silk Code and The Shadow Network both set in the Second World War.

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