THE PARIS AGENT by Kelly Rimmer is a moving historical fiction novel written with dual intertwining timelines; one set during WWII in France following two female SOE operatives and the other set in 1970 England with a survivor trying to uncover the mystery surrounding their betrayals and deaths. This is a story that pulled me in emotionally and made it impossible to stop reading. Make sure you have the tissues handy for the ending.

This story is extensively researched and believable. The author makes you feel the emotional suspense and distress of the SOE operatives while they are in France. That these young women volunteered and were sent into occupied territory during WWII with only months of training and no guarantee they would return alive demonstrates their strength, bravery, and belief in freedom. The second story line follows a father and daughter duo looking for answers twenty-five years after WWII to fill in questions the father still has after a brain injury while with the SOE in France, but many of the documents are still classified. The two storylines come together is an emotional climax that is gut-wrenching and uncomfortable.

I highly recommend this historical fiction novel featuring strong women caught up in the horrors of war and the long-lasting emotional ripples that flow through their families.

At the height of the war, people were being recruited into the SOE, a resistance group with headquarters in London with circuits located throughout France. The story focuses on two timelines and a few characters. Eloise and Josie in the past, with Charlotte in the current. Eloise and Josie are two spies running separate missions for the SOE and their stories intermingle together. Charlotte in the current doesn't know how but her life is intertwined with both Josie and Eloise.

I am always drawn to WWII resistance type stories. I try to picture myself there and would hope I was as brave and courageous as the men and women who helped to take down the Reich. Another well written book from the author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Rimmer makes sure her readers walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, toeing the line and understanding the empathy and compassion needed to fill them. What I love about this style of writing is that Rimmer writes about what the world needs … ppssttt. Can you hear that? Cue ‘What The World Needs Now’ by Dionne Warwick…

You’re humming, aren’t you?! I heard you. You said ‘love sweet love.’

O.k. the world needs love AND understanding.

This truly transformative read begins with an innocent question at a picnic which initiates a search for answers, resulting in bringing a long-forgotten, twenty-five-year-old mystery to light. In short, it’s about two female SOE operatives Josie (aka Chloe) and Eloise (aka Fleur) and and the double agent, Noah (aka Marcel), who controls their fate. You’ll be spellbound at how their lives intersect in occupied France.

Do not kid yourself. Kleenex needed. War is not pretty or fair.

Two things: (1) post-it note with aliases so that you don’t get bogged down in the beginning and (2) clear your schedule because Rimmer is the master of ‘book induced reverie’ - she has the knack of sweeping her readers into her book world where they let the world pass by while they are exploring a bygone era. Time will cease to exist.

Rimmer has written this impeccably researched novel with passion and verve. It’s full of details and rich descriptions and almost - almost - kicked The Things We Cannot Say out of first place for my favourite Rimmer book.

If you love your historical fiction with a little side order of mystery, this is one you’ll want to read.

I was gifted this copy by Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

"The Paris Agent" by Kelly Rimmer is an engaging WWII historical fiction novel that artfully combines romance, action, espionage, and mystery. Set against the backdrop of war-torn Europe, Rimmer's meticulous research and expert storytelling transport readers into the lives of British SOE agents, evoking their courage, sacrifice, and emotional journeys. With multiple perspectives and a captivating narrative, this intricately woven tale is sure to captivate fans of the genre.

Rimmer's ability to bring her characters to life is commendable, as readers experience their triumphs and battles firsthand. The story seamlessly alternates between the war years in France and post-war England, adding depth and intrigue to the plot. As Noah embarks on a quest to uncover the identity of the agent who saved his life, hidden secrets and unexpected twists emerge, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the satisfying conclusion. Despite occasional confusion caused by the use of code names, the book's strong storytelling and powerful themes of love, resilience, and the impact of war make it a compelling and immersive read for fans of WWII historical fiction.

Powerful Multi-Timeline Story Weaves Multiple Threads Into Amazing Tapestry. You know those centuries old tapestries where when you look at them, you're almost *positive* they *had* to have been painted *after* being woven - and then you see the details and realize that, no, the threads really were placed together to the level of precision required to produce the scene you see from further away? This book is the literary equivalent of one of those types of tapestries.

Yes, particularly early in the tale it is somewhat hard to distinguish who is who in the alternating chapters, as while each chapter is headed by the lady's real name, more often the story is told (particularly of the actual spies during the war) using their code names. So it can take a while to piece together who is who, which is perhaps the only glaring weakness of this particular tapestry. (We'll detail a more minor one, that only some will have problems with, momentarily.)

But the piece overall is truly stunning in both its breadth and its attention to minutia level details, all while weaving together a story that while the reader *knows* it is fiction... almost seems all *too* real. Particularly in certain sequences... it gets quite uncomfortable. (Though, to be clear and to alleviate some concerns, never in a sexual way. More along the lines of V for Vendetta's more uncomfortable sequences... and then these get even worse.)

Indeed, the quibble level issues are that perhaps, given the story told, things are wrapped up a little *too* neatly in the end. If you like every possible string fully tied off, you're going to like this one. If you prefer more open ended sequences when those are called for... well, I just told you everything gets tied off into nice little bows. The other quibble that some might argue - and would usually argue is more than a quibble, but I'm actively downplaying it here because it *is* a minor issue in the grand scheme of this story and how it is told - is the presence of an LGBT character that could have been, so the argument goes, written with almost any other backstory to achieve the same result, resulting in a character that has that particular background for no other reason than, again going with how others are likely to present this argument, 2000s era sensibilities that perhaps would not have been period accurate.

Still, even accounting for the "inclusions", to draw from the term for a diamond's imperfections, this really is one of the stronger WWII historical fiction stories out there, and I've read a fair amount within that space. Yes, this is yet again France and in particular D-Day, but those tend to be the stories that get the most attention, both in the historical record and the overall zeitgeist. Overall, truly one of the better and stronger WWII historical fiction tales I've ever come across. Very much recommended.

Another riveting story by Kelly Rimmer. She takes us from SOE operations in occupied France in 1944 to 1970 England with a full cast of interesting characters. Plenty of action and intrigue as the lives of two female spies are detailed and secrets are unraveled in the later timeline that reveal how entwined these characters lives are.

Many of us are familiar with Kelly Rimmer’s books. When we get word that there’s a new release on the market, we can’t wait to get our hands on it. She has a way with words and dialect.

In this story, she makes you feel the deep physical and emotional pain that was experienced by her characters. Yet, she also shows the importance of love from family, friends and a sweet dog. It’s expertly written and deeply researched. The story is complex with multiple POVs but easy to follow.

In the beginning we learn that Noah Ainsworth’s wife, Geraldine, died not too long ago. She was always telling him not to look back as it was emotionally disturbing. “Somethings are easier to forget than to confront.”

Yet, he needed to find out what exactly occurred from an accident that left him unconscious with a traumatic brain injury when he and others were escaping from the German soldiers during WWII. Decades after this happened, it bothered him immensely. He wanted to thank the person that brought him to the hospital and saved his life.

Noah’s daughter, Charlotte, was missing her mother. It was her 54th birthday in May of 1970 and she was gone. Geraldine always wanted Noah to move forward. She was the controlling type and always seemed to get her way. However, she wasn’t around and Noah felt like he needed return to his WWII days as an agent to resolve parts of his past. It didn’t take much convincing for Charlotte to be supportive.

The book takes the reader back to parts of Britain and France from the early to mid 40’s when SOE agents bravely volunteered to go into enemy territories. With little training, they were offered a cyanide pill to take as torture was always brutal.

It’s a story that makes you think about two sides: good vs. evil and what it means when freedom is lost. It’s engaging with nail-biting suspense leading up to a satisfactory ending. This is a book to be remembered.

My thanks to Kelly Rimmer, Graydon House Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with an expected release date of July 11, 2023.

Absolutely brilliant! As always, Kelly Rimmer delivers an outstanding novel. Heartbreakingly beautiful! The amount of research put into her historical fiction books is unmatched. I always enjoy dual timelines too. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

After the death of her mother, adult Charlotte (Lotte) tries to spark some interest in life again in her father, Noah. It's been 30 years since her father sustained a head injury that erased most of his wartime service memories. He does remember waking up in a Paris hospital and was told that an agent with the code name "Remy" had brought him there. Together, Lotte and her father set out to find out who "Remy" is so that her father can offer his thanks. Along the way, they discover that her father's service to his country was far more than "just a soldier." As information about the war and the network of spies is revealed, readers are introduced to several female agents who are all known by their code names. Readers will have to remember both the code name and the real names of the characters to keep them all straight as Rimmer switches back and forth between their use. What role these agents played in bringing about a successful "D-Day" and their fates brings an interesting view of the role of women in WWII. Engaging dialog, good supporting characters and the well crafted feel of imminent danger propel readers to the end.

While incredibly heartbreaking, this book kept me on my toes. The characters are loveable and the story has a good mystery the propelled the story forward.

Absolutely loved the storyline, which comes as no surprise from Kelly Rimmer! I had a little trouble keeping up with who was whom because of all the code names and different points of view throughout the book. But this was so well-written and even though it’s fiction, I learned so much about the resistance that I never knew.

I seem to be heading into another WW2 phase, which is great because so many of my favourite authors have books about that very time coming out. I was so excited to see that not only did @kelrimmerwrites have a new book coming out but that it was about spies in Paris during the occupation made me so excited.
Thirty years after the end of the war that left Noah wounded and missing chunks of his memory he loses his wife. He then decides to embark on a quest to thank the man who saved his life, who he cannot remember.
An example of expertly done dual timelines, with lots of excitement and heart in both of them.
A one session read for me because I had to know what happened.
Releasing July 10 2023, keep an eye out for this one in a few short weeks.
Thank you to @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for allowing me to read a copy of this wonderful book ahead of time in exchange for an honest review. #bookstagram #theparisagent #history #historicalfashion #ww2 #ww2books #spies #readersofhistoricalfiction #readersofinstagram #reading #read #readerlife #bookworm #booklife

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

first time reading this author but i love wwii historical fiction. i quite enjoyed this book. i also appreciated the more realistic handling of trauma and its aftermath.

Another amazing historical fiction by Kelly Rimmer! She has a way of bringing her characters and scenes to life in a way that makes you feel as though you’re right there with them.

In 1970, Noah Ainsworth is still haunted by memories of his time as an SOE operative in France. However, a critical head injury left Noah with frustrating memory gaps and a burning question that plagues him—who was the agent who saved his life during that tragic final mission? Determined to find answers, Noah's daughter Charlotte embarks on a search from their home in Liverpool, leading her to the incredible lives of two ordinary women—Chloe and Fleur—who transformed into fearless spies on foreign soil. But as Charlotte unravels the heroic exploits of these women and their connection to Noah, she inadvertently stumbles upon evidence of a double agent lurking disturbingly close to home, drawing her into a treacherous web of secrets and unearthing a shocking story from those final days of the war.

I am a big fan of Kelly Rimmer's books about women in history and, once again, she takes readers on a gripping journey, one that threads the lives of two remarkable women into the fabric of history, unveiling the power of courage, family and the mark left by the darkest era of human conflict. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher to request this book by one of my favorite historical fiction authors.

Set with alternating time periods and a large cast of characters. Through one family's search for the person who saved their father's life during WWII, a whole world of secrets is revealed. Finding out their father was part of the SOE (Secret Operations Executive), a secret organization of men and women spies who were sent out to sabotage the Nazis.

I really liked this one told by multiple pov’s . It’s a classic type Rimmer novel with a dual timeline narrative told from differing perspectives of the history of Soe agents in WWII. But she does a good job of weaving it all together. Overall and engaging read
Thanks for letting me review this book from Netgalley and the publisher

This is an entertaining, well-written, WWII historical fiction novel which is written over a dual timeline. It vividly describes the actions of two strong and capable, courageous, female SOE operatives during the war, and the search for answers by the intelligent daughter of an operative in 1970. Its mystery, intrigue, and suspense will keep the reader engaged from beginning until end. There is bravery, suffering and heartbreak, and a satisfying conclusion.
NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Ms. Kelly Rimmer kindly provided me with an ARC of this outstanding novel, and this is my honest opinion.

Riveting! Kelly Rimmer has established herself as a master storyteller, and she once again delivers with this moving and suspenseful page turner about English SOE spies. Featuring two timelines, the novel toggles between England in 1970 and the experiences of the spy protagonists primarily in France during World War II. The women characters are particularly relatable and well developed, and Rimmer’s plot and prose kept me flipping pages well into the night. Another excellent story well told by Rimmer!

A tip to future readers: Pay close attention to link the real and code names of the featured female spies early on to avoid the momentary confusion I experienced as to which character’s arc I was reading.

Highly recommended to fans of Rimmer and other authors of beautifully written, well researched WWII fiction, including Kristin Harmel, Kate Quinn, and Martha Hall Kelly.

Many thanks to Graydon House for the complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

This is one of my favorite genres to read, and I've enjoyed other books by Rimmer. This one, however, wasn't one of my favorites. There's a large cast of agents, who go by code names, and it was quite confusing to keep them all straight without flipping back or taking notes on who's who. I did enjoy the dual timeline. Things did come together a bit by the end, thankfully. However, I think the book could've benefitted from following just one mission and keeping things more focused overall.