Cover Image: Three Hours in Paris

Three Hours in Paris

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This is a stand alone book by Cara Black. Black takes us to Paris, France on the day Hitler comes to attend church there. He only spends three hours in Paris.

Around the truth. of that visit without anymore information than that Black builds a novel of suspense, spies and intrigue . A young widow is set up to assassinate the Furher. She was a marksman sharpshooter from America who found the love of her life in Paris. He is in the Royal Navy and they have been assigned to the Orkney Islands. When a German plane explodes a war ship the husband and their young chid are killed in a terrible accident as a result of the bombing Kate is ready to take revenge.

The plot revolves around her escape from the scene of the crime and how she is trying to get back to safety. The Germans are investigating and seem to be hot on her trail.

Was this review helpful?

Three Hours in Paris by Cara Black was a great WWII novel. Sometimes I am surprised by the niche stories that emerge in this genre. It is always a great reminder of all the chaos, bravery, and attempts at heroism happening in the world at that time. This book was definitely a propulsive read given the pacing of it. I would recommend it, as long as the reader has time to read it all in one sitting--meaning that you will not want to put this one down!

Was this review helpful?

Sorry I could not finish this book in time. I will get a copy and try to read. Thank you for the opportunity.

Was this review helpful?

This book reads like an episode of the television series 24. A grieving young woman, Kate Rees, takes on the unexpected role of sharpshooter/assassin. Along the way she has to use her wits to stay ahead of the police as they attempt to hunt her down. As she fumbles along she uncovers more and more about the agency and people she works with and comes to realize all is not what she was led to believe. With an almost unbelievable amount of luck and tenacity, Kate moves from one mission to the next in an attempt to get back home to England. Cara Black gives readers a fast paced, intriguing storyline. Very entertaining read.

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

This story is centered around Hitler’s mysterious visit to Paris in June of 1940. You immediately connect with Kate, the main character, who is a woman scorned on a mission. After losing her husband and daughter in a bombing, she takes matters into her own hands and becomes one of WWII’s female spies. I couldn’t wait to turn each page of this book!

Was this review helpful?

Thriller is the correct word for this book. Once the action starts, it does NOT let up until the breathless end! You really come to care for Kate, and you realize just what a strong, intelligent, invincible woman she is. Highly recommend this book!!!

Was this review helpful?

Another page turner by Cara Black. An American sharpshooter with nothing to lose goes to work for the British during World War II. I had a very hard time putting the book down. Lots of twists and turns kept me guessing until the end!

Was this review helpful?

Cara Black is best known for her popular Aimee Leduc investigative series set in Paris. This is her first historical fiction and first stand alone novel. She did extensive research to make this book realistic and it shows in every page. She got the idea for this book based on the three hours that Hitler spend in Paris in 1940. After that she created an entirely fictional story with a main character that will be long remembered and a plot that keeps you turning pages to learn the fate of the main character.

Kate Rees is an American who learned to shoot when she grew up on a ranch in Oregon. As the story begins, she lives in England with her husband and daughter. When a tragedy occurs, she is distraught and not sure if her life is worth living. She is recruited by British intelligence and sent on a dangerous mission. They knew that Hitler was going to visit Paris and her assignment was to assassinate him. She misses her shot because she knows she will hurt a young girl standing next to him. When his intelligent officers realize that a shot has been fired at their leader, they begin a deep search for the shooter and Kate's life is in extreme danger. With minimal training, she manages to stay one step ahead of the people who are looking for her but will her luck continue as she begins to wonder if the entire mission was a set up to divert attention.

This is a fast paced novel with a lot of tension as the Germans play a cat and mouse game with the resourceful Kate. I thought that Kate was smart and resourceful despite the minimal training that she had gotten from British intelligence. She is a main character that I won't soon forget. I enjoyed this novel so much that I've started reading the author's crime series.

Was this review helpful?

Kate Rees is an American living near a military base in the Orkney Islands with her active duty Welsh-born husband and baby daughter, until an attack by the German Luftwaffe kills both, and destroys her family. Kate , from rural Oregon, is a top notch sharpshooter who is recruited by of the British SIS, and since she wants revenge for the death of husband and daughter, she gladly accepts. She is already an award winning markswoman, but she must memorize the plan, including potential contacts, and learn to change her appearance in order to evade capture. Her assignment is to get to Paris, and position herself in a vacant Montmartre apartment situated across from the church where Hitler was to attend services during a three hour event in Paris. When he arrives at the church, she is to assassinate him, and then escape back to England. She was recruited to fail, but she doesn't know that. Instead she is pursued through the streets and neighborhoods of Paris by the Wehrmacht, Gestapo, and Gunter Hoffman, an Munich police detective. This is a nonstop event driven thriller, which will keep the reader turning pages.

Was this review helpful?

What happens when you husband is killed in WWII and you are recruited to spy on the enemy? I love a good historical thriller and this one did not disappoint. Kate trains to be a sharpshooter for British intelligence. She is sent to Paris on mission and quickly figures out that there are other secret plans in play. The action and suspense drove the story along and it was a great adventure! Definitely recommended.

Was this review helpful?

I liked this one. Easy to read and a decent story. I'd read further books by the author. I'm rating it 3/5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

I wasn’t a huge fan of this I’m not sure why cause I like the premise of the story and love a strong woman character, but just found it lacking, one in the characters; I just didn’t love them!
And two it was boring in spots enough to skim a bit.
Overall it’s a decent read.

Was this review helpful?

Three Hours in Paris by Cara Black takes place during the occupation of France by the German forces. The three hours of the title represent the short time that Adolf Hitler spent in Paris. Although this is my first Cara Black novel, I would not hesitate to read more of her mysteries. Kate Rees, an American living in Great Britain with her husband and young daughter, is an expert markswoman. After a tragic accident, she is asked by British Intelligence to go to France with instructions to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Having no experience as a spy, Kate nevertheless parachutes into France to avenge the loss of her family. The plot of the story centers around her undercover assignment and the people who cross her path to aid or impede her progress. This is a fascinating journey into a terrible time and it is well told and researched. Highly recommended. Thank you to Soho Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Kate Rees has nothing to lose. When tapped to be a sharpshooter for a spy group in England and sent to Paris during the early days of its' occupation, she decides to go. Kate's training is very quick and her maneuvering around Paris is augmented by her past studies there. Her loss and grief are felt throughout the story, which moves quickly after she misses her original target and has to remain on the move in Paris. One of the reasons she was chosen is her fluent French and time spent there studying in the 30's. I liked the touch that part of the cover story would be that she was possibly Canadian because her accent didn't quite match a true French person.

Was this review helpful?

A clever, fast-paced suspense novel imagining what could have happened during Hitler's shortlived visit to Paris. Black is an avid Francophile and knows Paris well, and it shows in this pageturner.

Was this review helpful?

Extremely well written historical thriller! I've never been a fan of historical fiction but Black's writing shown a vibrant light on this story. I'm unsure if it's based on true events or not, but it felt as though it easily could have occurred.

Our heroine is resourceful and compassionate, bravely facing the horrors of the German invasion of Paris. With very little training, Kate makes quick, intelligent decisions. There were a lot of characters to follow - spies and counter-spies. This is a story I would have enjoyed more in paper format than on Kindle, only because I find that easier to flip back when I want to review exactly who is doing what.

*Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*

Was this review helpful?

As a devotee of Alan Furst and Joseph Kannon I was thrilled to feature Cara Black's similarly engrossing new stand-alone WWII novel in my Books section column for Zoomer magazine on the essential reading list of early summer (online, as well as in the June print edition). A riveting and deeply-researched espionage novel that stands among the best of the genre.

Was this review helpful?

I've read a couple of Cara Black's highly atmospheric and entertaining Aimee Leduc mysteries, set in various Parisian neighborhoods, so when I saw she had a standalone historical thriller coming out, my interest was piqued.

Black is back in her familiar Parisian stomping grounds, but this time, her heroine is Kate Rees, an American with vengeance on her mind. After losing her husband and daughter to Luftwaffe bombing on the Orkney Islands, Kate is recruited for her sniper skills and her mission has the potential to change the world. Her target is Adolf Hitler himself. But Kate misses her mark and this sets into motion a cat and mouse game of a different kind, as Kate flees with the Gestapo and German police hot on her heels, tasked by the Fuhrer to find and eliminate her within 36 hours.

Black brings to life Occupation-era France wonderfully. That's no surprise, since she's so good at establishing a sense of place in her Parisian series. She is also great at ratcheting up the suspense. It's taut, nerve-wracking, and oozing French authenticity. And that opening scene? It made me feel as if I was right there with Kate, holding my breath, waiting to pull the trigger.

If you liked The Huntress, The Alice Network, or more recently, Code Name Helene, I think you would love Three Hours in Paris. It didn't quite equal those titles for me, but it deserves a place of the same shelf and is sure to keep readers turning the pages.

Was this review helpful?

"Three Hours in Paris" is an astonishing tale of an American young woman, in a heart of Paris, playing for the English team, with an order to execute German politician and leader of the Nazi Party, the Fuhrer himself. How did an American girl fell into the British spy army to fight against the world's biggest bully?

Months prior to Sunday, June 23, 1940, Kate experienced the biggest loss of her life, the deaths of her husband, and newborn baby by the hands of the germans. Shortly after, she received an opportunity of a lifetime - to perform an act of revenge.

And finally, June 23, 1940, Kate is back in Paris, the city that once brought her happiness, loving husband, and hopes for a bright future. This time she is here on a mission of her lifetime. Unfortunately, Hitler's assignation goes wrong, Kate is on a run. And shortly after the fatal morning, she realizes the horrific truth. His mission was never the main plan, she was being used as a decoy. Angry and betrayed, young American finds herself on the dangerous streets of once-beloved Paris, surrounded by an enemy. Kate's desire to survive pushes her one step forward every time she meets new obstacles, and in the end, she concludes the mission her fellow agents were sent to do but failed in the process.

Yet another phenomenal story of strong women during the horrific days of WWII. I was on the edge of my seat while reading the book. I am fascinated by the bravery of all characters. Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced copy of the novel, and Cara Black for a remarkable and gratifying novel.

Was this review helpful?

A suspenseful historic investigation. This book starts with American born Kate living in Wales, her subsequent mission to Paris, but then expands to include German policeman Gunter and he tries to solve a murder. The story pulls the reader along. I think this book would appeal to many readers who like historical fiction, international settings, strong female characters, and police mysteries

Thank you to NetGalley, Soho Crime Press and the author Ms. Cara Black for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "Three Hours In Paris".

Was this review helpful?