Book Review: The Lost Girls of Paris

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. ~Christopher Reeve

In May 1940, Nazi Germany marched into France. Within a month, France had fallen to the might of the Third Reich. With France occupied by the enemy, England was in danger. Now, only 21 miles at the narrowest point (150 miles at the farthest point) separated England from this deadly foe. Something had to be done. In June 1940, the Special Operations Executive (SOE) was established. Their mission was espionage; undercover operatives would subvert and sabotage the Nazi regime by blowing up bridges, factories, and trains, as well as cultivate local resistance and guerrilla warfare.

Starting in November 1940, SOE agents were recruited and subjected to arduous training before being parachuted behind enemy lines. Although many SOE agents were male, more than three dozen were women from all walks of life and from all over the world. These women were fluent in French and were trained as couriers or as radio operators. Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a staunch supporter of the SOE, saying, “And now go and set Europe ablaze.”

The Lost Girls of Paris, by Pam Jenoff is a fictionalized overview of the women of the SOE. This book opens in New York City one year after the end of World War II. Grace Healey, a war widow, is rushing through Grand Central Station on her way to work. En route, she spies an abandoned suitcase filled with photos of different women. Something about those women’s faces pulls at Grace, and she sets out to discover who they are.

A tale of strength, support, and survival, The Lost Girls of Paris highlights the heroism and sacrifices of 39 women whose efforts aided the Allies and, ultimately, won the war.

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Trade Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.