I have read all of Andie Newton’s books so far and not once have I been disappointed! She is an amazingly talented writer and her historical research and detail is always spot on. Plus she has a wonderful prose and creates interesting characters. So when this one came up for review there was zero question if I would read it or not!
Not only is the cover to DIE for but I loved the sound of this plot…..American nurses tasked with a secret mission go missing and infiltrate the Nazi regime. It couldn’t sound more compelling if it tried! Spies and Nazis are a hot ticket right now. There are so many books about women spies infiltrating or working against the Nazis during WWII right now but Andie Newton is at the tip of that sword for me.
I sat down to read this one and expected to read it in a couple of days—wrong, I read it in like a day. It was so great and I loved the larger narrative and characters so much but it’s the uniqueness of the story that really shines. This book isn’t due out in the US until October so my review is really early, but when it becomes available in the US you will want to snag yourself a copy because it’s a wonderful novel!
Summary
‘We’d heard stories about the nurses in tent seven. A secret mission, stolen money, and spies…’
In 1944, four American nurses disappeared for five days. No one knew what happened to them. Until now.
When Kit and Red set foot on French soil during the Normandy landings, they know they have to rely on each other. As they head for the battlefield, their aim is simple: save lives. But when they’re called away on a top-secret mission to patch up a few men behind enemy lines, everything changes.
Alongside fellow nurses, Roxy and Gail, they’re told to prepare for the worst, trading in their nurses’ fatigues for civilian clothes and hiding medical supplies under their skirts. But it’s a lie. Their real mission tasks them with the impossible – to infiltrate the Reich and steal something the Nazis desperately need to win their losing war.
In an ultimate test of courage and comradeship, each woman must decide what she is prepared to risk and what she has to live for. (summary from Goodreads)
Review
As I mentioned, I read this one super fast. It has a lot of action and intrigue to keep readers captivated and invested in the story. It had such great pacing and every time I would come to the end of a chapter I was like ‘oh no I can’t stop there just one more’. Newton has a knack for leaving off at just the right moment where readers won’t want to stop. I don’t want to give away too much about the plot and story but let’s just say it’s so good. I loved the bond between the nurses and how they had to work together on their secret mission. The secret mission is an excellent addition to the story and really kept things interesting and exciting.
I especially loved how the nursing profession was explored and highlighted in this book. Like most readers and the characters in this book, I always think of battle field nurses as wearing their white dresses and working on patients as needed. But in reality the life of a battlefield nurse is far from that. I did my master’s thesis on battlefield nurses in the Civil War so I should know better but whenever I read historical fiction with nurses, I fall into the same pitfalls as many readers and have this idyllic image of them. In this book Newton does a fantastic job creating realistic nurses and their conditions without going overboard to shatter the vision but enough to remind readers and the characters that nursing is often a dirty and messy business.
The four main characters Kit, Red, Roxy, and Gail were very well done and I think readers will find things to sympathize with and flaws that make them real and human. I loved their story and I had a hard time picking which one was my favorite. In the end I think I liked Kit the best but all of the women were well draw and interesting. Although my one criticism would be to give a bit more of their back story. I loved their characters so much that I wanted to know more about their lives etc.
Newton’s historical research is top shelf and you cannot go wrong with any of her books. I love them all for different reasons and haven’t been disappointed yet. This book is one that you will want on your TBR for fall immediately! It’s so good and you are doing yourself a disservice by not reading this one. If you have read Newton’s other books, you will know how special each of her books are. Another 5 star from me!
Book Info and Rating
Format 320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 7, 2021 by Aria
ISBN9781800246249 (ISBN10: 1800246242)
Free review copy provided by publisher, Aria, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 5 stars
Genre: historical fiction
The Lit Bitch 
Thank you for the wonderful review! I’m always blown away by your words. Totally made my day! Digital is out now. Followed by a paperback release in the UK in October, and January in the US.