1942, Amsterdam. The Nazi occupation has shattered the lives of inseparable best friends Hannie and Sonja. The canals and rainy cobbled streets they once strolled down are now patrolled by soldiers day and night, who arrest people at will and beat those who resist.
Hannie can't stand by and watch the lives of the innocent be destroyed by the evil occupiers. At great danger to herself, she joins the underground resistance, where she meets the charming and mysterious Jan. She covers her bright red hair to avoid detection by the Nazis while distributing fake IDs. And she makes a promise to Sonja and her little sister Maya, who are Jewish - she will hide them and keep them safe, no matter the cost.
But as the German grip on the country tightens with each passing day, Sonja's worst fears come true when members of her family are taken prisoner. With Jan by her side, Hannie goes undercover as a nurse to try to free them. But she's devastated when she discovers they've been taken to a concentration camp in the isolated far east of the country. Is she too late to save them?
And when Sonja goes missing, Hannie is terrified the worst has happened - has someone betrayed her best friend? Hannie knows her most dangerous task is now ahead of her. Can Hannie save Sonja, and will she have to make the biggest sacrifice of all to bring her home?
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'Sonja went out for a walk last night and never came home'.The word rang in Hannie's ears as she raced across Amsterdam to reach her dearest friend before it was too late.
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(@bookouture, 20 March 2024, e-galley, 400 pages, #ARC from the publisher via @NetGalley_UK, #BlogTour 20 March)
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I read a lot of historical fiction. I've lost count of the books I've read set during WWII. I really enjoyed The Girl with the RedHair. The plot is a bit different from the books I tend to read about WWII which tend to focus on the front and the lives of soldiers or other people involved in the War such as nurses. I liked the fact the author chose something a little bit different with this book. I didn't like Hannie at first, she seemed to vain and silly and it took a long time for me to get on board with her. This is a well-written and engaging read. I really enjoyed it. I'd recommend this book.
