Review by Booklist Review
Beneath the glitz and glamour of the life of singing star Genevieve Dumont, aka Black Swan, lies a whirlwind story of love, loss, sacrifice, and war in Paris, 1944. Robards (The Fifth Doctrine, 2019) delivers a suspenseful historical account of the women in the Résistance who used heart, body, and soul to advance the Allies plans for an invasion, despite the ironclad control of the Nazis. Genevieve encounters a cast of characters with cloaked intentions, including Max, her manager and leader of her tour group; her dresser, Berthe; Max's driver, Otto; and myriad others. When she catches news that her mother, Lillian de Rocheford, has been taken prisoner, it releases past memories of loss as Genevieve takes action. She jumps into the fray, first purely by instinct, then with the full knowledge that lives are at risk and the future of freedom in Europe lies in the balance. WWII history buffs will appreciate the accurate depictions and backdrop, while romantic-suspense lovers will eagerly follow Genevieve from the seashores of France to the hilltops of Germany.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Famed, beautiful Parisian singer Genevieve Dumont uses her alliance with the Resistance to rescue her mother from the Nazis in Robards's thrilling latest (after The Fifth Doctrine). As the darling of Paris's music scene, Genevieve receives adulation from the Nazis while secretly helping her manager, Max Bonet, an intelligence operative working with the British. When Genevieve returns to her childhood home and discovers that the Germans have killed her father and taken her mother, Baroness Lillian de Rocheford, prisoner, Genevieve becomes resolute in her efforts to rescue her and joins forces with her estranged sister, Emmy, also an agent for the British. Genevieve gains the attention of Gen. Claus von Wagner, a high-ranking German officer who she believes knows her mother's whereabouts. In her quest to save Lillian, Genevieve persuades Max to help by revealing a painful story from her past. Together, Emmy, Genevieve, and Max risk their lives in a well-planned but highly risky mission to free Lillian from von Wagner's German estate where she is being held prisoner. Robards blends commendable attention to historical detail with intense realism and deep feeling. Historical fiction fans will be enthralled with this richly hewn novel and the romance and danger lurking around its every corner. Agent: Robert Gottlieb, Trident Media Group, LLC. (June)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Genevieve Dumont is an acclaimed star, a popular singer in Paris in 1944. She appears to live a happy, carefree life as a darling of the Nazi party. However, readers quickly learn that appearances can be deceiving. Genevieve isn't just a typical performer; she's working with the Resistance, collecting important and confidential information to relay back to the French. When she learns that her mother, Baroness Lillian de Rocheford, who's also working with the Resistance, has been captured by the Nazis, she realizes that she must repair her relationship with long-lost sister Emmy in order to save her mother's life. Robards takes a step away from her contemporary works ("Guardian" romantic suspense series) and delves into the world of historical fiction, crafting an engaging story that explores an often overlooked aspect of World War II lore. VERDICT For fans of Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale, this page-turning novel full of suspense and excitement examines the lengths to which we are willing to go for our loved ones.[See Prepub Alert, 12/9/19.]--Cassandra Walsh, South County Lib., Bellport, NY
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