The world is at war, and Stella Jilani is leading a double life. By day she works in the lion's den as a typist for the Reich; by night, she risks her life as a messenger for the Italian resistance. Against all odds, Stella must impart Nazi secrets, smuggle essential supplies, and produce an underground newspaper on her beloved typewriter.
But when German commander General Breugal becomes suspicious, it seems he will stop at nothing to find the mole, and Stella knows her future could be in jeopardy...
London, 2017Years later, Luisa Belmont finds a mysterious old typewriter in her attic. Determined to find out who it belonged to, Luisa delves into the past and uncovers a story of fierce love, unimaginable sacrifice and, ultimately, the worst kind of betrayal...
Set between German-occupied 1940s Venice and modern-day London, this is a fascinating tale of the bravery of everyday women in the darkest corners of WWII, for readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris.***
[A sudden eruption of noise guided us - one burst after another, pushing up into the air like fireworks on a dark night]***
(@AvonBooksUK, 12 December 2019, 400 pages, ebook, copy from @AvonBooksUK via # NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed)
***
***
I was looking forward to reading this book as I enjoyed the author's book A Woman of War a lot. I was not disappointed. Stella is a compelling and unique character, a strong woman, working for the Italian resistance and as a typist for the Nazi's. My heart was in my throat a lot of the time as I read, wondering if Stella would be caught and what terrible price she would pay. General Breugal of the Nazi's is the perfect villain. He gave me the creeps. I also really enjoyed the parallel story set in 2017. Luisa uncovers family secrets when her seemingly cold and unloving mother dies. I enjoyed the way the stories gradually come together and the links between them are revealed.
