We first meet Celeste at the age of 89, still tormented by memories of the unspeakable horrors of the German occupation almost seven decades earlier. In the second chapter, we are transported to 1943 and, with her powerful story-telling skills, Liza Perrat takes us on the young Celeste’s journey as we experience life in her village and the fateful choices she makes as her young life is ripped apart by war.

Deftly crafted, with twists and turns leading to an unexpected ending that cannot fail to impact, this is a story I could not stop reading. Rich characterizations stir a range of deep emotions as the narrative unfolds. I am a lover of historical fiction and partial to stories set in France. However, this story is written with a combination of beautiful and compelling prose that will engage and appeal to readers of all genres. The depth of research is obvious and the reader feels the anguish, fear, suspicion and hatred inflicted by war. At the same time, there are moments of beauty and love delivered through the author’s lyrical descriptions.

I am thrilled to have been introduced to Ms. Perrat’s work and quickly downloaded the other two novels in this series. Without hesitation, I recommend this book to all readers. It is just that good!

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