The Paris Agent by Kelly Rimmer is the latest stop on the TLC Book Tour.
I received a free review copy from the publisher for this stopover. I assure you I was not paid for this review and all opinions, thoughts and rants are completely my own.
About the book:
The Paris Agent
• Publisher: Graydon House (July 11, 2023)
• Paperback: 416 pages
“Kelly Rimmer always delivers a poignant story.” —Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London
A family’s innocent search for answers brings a long-forgotten, twenty-five-year-old mystery to light, in the riveting new novel from the bestselling author of The Things We Cannot Say.
1970—In the aftermath of his war-ravaged past, Noah Ainsworth is still haunted by memories of his time as a fearless British operative in France. But a critical head injury left Noah with frustrating memory gaps and a burning question that plagues him—who was the agent who saved his life during that tragic final mission?
Determined to find answers, Noah’s daughter Charlotte embarks on a quest from their cozy home in Liverpool, leading her to the incredible lives of two ordinary women—Chloe and Fleur—who transformed into fearless spies on foreign soil. But as Charlotte unravels the heroic exploits of these women and their connection to Noah, she inadvertently stumbles upon evidence of a double agent lurking disturbingly close to home, drawing her into a treacherous web of secrets and unearthing a shocking story from those final days of the war.
Once again, Kelly Rimmer takes readers on a gripping journey, one that threads the lives of two remarkable women into the fabric of history, unveiling the power of courage, family and the indelible mark left by the darkest era of human conflict.
About the author:
Kelly Rimmer is the author of historical and contemporary fiction, including The Warsaw Orphan, The Things We Cannot Say and The Secret Daughter, with more than 2 million books sold. Her books have been translated into dozens of languages and have appeared on bestseller lists around the world, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.
Kelly lives in the Central West of NSW (Australia) with her family and a whole menagerie of badly behaved animals.
What I thought….
I enjoy historical fiction and I did enjoy this winding tale, alternating between WWII and 1970. I will admit, however, to having some difficulty keeping track of all the spies. There were many times I had to flip back to see who was really Fleur and who was really Chloe. It became a bit more complicated when Theo, a young academic interested in family history, gets involved. No spoiler needed here but his plot line also creates confusion between Fleur and Chloe. At times, I really wanted a chart listing the spies’ real names and all of their aliases. (It might had helped if I had read this book in chronological days and not over a span of a few weeks.)
I would recommend, especially if you like WWII fiction. This book reminded me a great deal of Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein.
The Food…
There was a tiny bit of food mentioned in the novel but France in WWII was obviously not over run with abundance. The novel keeps with the realism of that time. When I read a novel with such a serious tale, it’s hard for me to be motivated to find a food tie-in.
Jocelyn/Josie/Fleur suffers from Coeliac Sprue, an autoimmune disease similar to Celiac disease. At the time, there was no known treatment and Josie must rely on obtaining and eating fresh fruits and vegetables during a time of war and scarcity. There were many instances in the novel when rations were shared with her and she was eager to swap bread for fresh food.
Chickpea Veggie Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
A great summer salad. Use whatever veggies you have on hand.
Ingredients
- 1/3 c. olive oil
- 1/4 c. apple cider vinegar
- 1 T. honey
- 1 t. Dijon
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 t. fresh oregano, chopped
- salt and pepper
- 2 (15 oz.) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1-2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 c. fresh basil, chopped
- Other assorted veggies (zucchini, other sweet peppers or onions)
Instructions
- Make the dressing. Add the first seven ingredients to a small bowl and whisk together. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the chickpeas, cucumber, peppers, tomatoes and basil (and any other veggies you want to throw in. Toss.
- Dress with the vinaigrette. Toss and refrigerate for at least an hour.
Yield: 6-8
This is a very versatile recipe. I did not have any green peppers but I did just harvest five sweet cayenne peppers from the garden. I used those instead. I also had some spring onions that I threw in. If you look at the picture closely, you’ll only see a few cherry tomato halves. I only had four our five cherry tomatoes from the garden but I did have three paste tomatoes that needed used. I just chopped those up. I was really tempted to throw in a zucchini but I did harvest some cucumbers before I whipped this up.
I think it’s always good to read historical fiction, especially when it highlights parts of history we may not be familiar with like the brave women of the SOE.
Maybe history is powerful not just for the lessons it can teach us, but for the perspective it can bring. (348).
Check out the others on this TLC tour:
Monday, June 26th: @poisedpen
Tuesday, June 27th: @nobookmark_noproblem
Wednesday, June 28th: @marensreads
Thursday, June 29th: @andrea.c.lowry.reads
Thursday, June 29th: @readthisandsteep and Re
Friday, June 30th: @mrs._lauras_lit
Monday, July 3rd: @wendysbookclub
Wednesday, July 5th: @megsbookclub
Thursday, July 6th: @laurasnextchapter
Friday, July 7th: Bookchickdi
Saturday, July 8th: @addictedtobooks86
Monday, July 10th: @page_appropriate
Tuesday, July 11th: Helen’s Book Blog
Wednesday, July 12th: @bigskybooks
Friday, July 14th: @diveintoagoodbook
Monday, July 17th: @charliegirl.loves2read
Wednesday, July 19th: @finding_joyathome
Friday, July 21st: Girl Who Reads
Friday, July 21st: Books Cooks Looks
Monday, July 24th: @nurse_bookie
Wednesday, July 26th: @subakka.bookstuff and S
Friday, July 28th: Eliot’s Eats
