Martha Hall Kelly has written an intriguing historical fiction account of two indomitable woman involved as SOE spies during WWII known as the Golden Doves.

When Josie and Arlette met, they were thrown together and unsure of each other, but their bond ran deep. Two teen women that could walk through life unobserved, they carried out many clandestine operations for France. When they were captured for a smaller infraction, the two were sent to Ravensbruck. There they endured many travesties, perhaps the worst when Arlette’s young son was taken from her.

Seven years later and the two are in completely different places in life.
Josie poses as a reporter but is really working for the US army’s Operation Paperclip, a secret intelligence program that brought war criminal Nazi scientists to the United States. When she’s given the case of finding Dr. Snow, she travels far and wide to find him, but would rather put a bullet through his heart then bring him back to the US.

Arlette’s working in a coffee shop in Paris when a handsome stranger approaches her with information on her lost child, Willie. Is there a chance he’s still alive and living at Hope Home in French Guiana? When Arlette feels like she’s in danger of a secret being revealed in Paris, she quickly heads to French Guiana hoping to find Willie.

The longer Arlette is at Hope Home the more she’s convinced all is not what it seems, but what’s really going on?

When Josie’s search brings her to French Guiana, the Golden Doves are reunited for what might just be their biggest challenge yet.

Kelly’s story brings to light a completely new and different aspect of WWII that isn’t heard or talked about much. Told in the before and after in both voices, this book was extremely compelling and had me holding my breath in more than one place and with an ending that was perfect, this was an excellent read!! Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

LT Josie Anderson is stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas in 1952. She briefs Germans, who were former Nazi scientists from Ravensbrück. Interviewing them is challenging, but a must to keep them away from Russian Intelligence. She is given an assignment to look for Dr. Snow who tortured her mother in the camp. Can she find him and bring him to justice?
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1952- Paris, France Arlette LaRue is another Ravensbrück survivor. The war ended 7 years ago. She is working at local cafe with other Ravensbrück survivors.
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In the concentration camp Arlette was experimented and suffered abuse and although she survived, she suffers daily now. The atrocities at this camp were shocking. It’s amazing some survived. They were know as “rabbits”, Polish women who were experimented on. Now she is in a mission to find her son who was taken from her.
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These ladies were known as The Golden Doves for their incredible work with the resistance.
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Martha’s novels are always well researched and bring us heartbreaking but inspiring novels where women worked tirelessly with the resistance during some of the hardest times in our history.
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I enjoyed the mention of Caroline Ferriday from The Lilac Girls. Be sure and read the author notes for some insight.

The Golden Doves alternates between two POVs and two time periods (1944-45 and 1952). Normally I am fine with this format, but in this novel I found it to be a constant interruption of whatever action was taking place in the part I had just read. This made the story erratic, inconsistent, and hard to follow, especially at the beginning where I had a difficult time connecting with the characters and their actions. The last part of the novel, most of which takes place in French Guiana, finally speeds up the action, although it was not always very believable. I was curious how the author would ultimately end the novel, which, incidentally, has a bit of a cliffhanger ending. Does this mean we will see more of Arlette and Josie?

I had read and enjoyed three previous novels by Martha Hall Kelly so I was looking forward to reading The Golden Doves, her newest novel. I may be an outlier here, but I was rather disappointed with the direction in which she took this story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy of The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly. I was so excited to read Kelly's newest historical fiction. While it does connect to the Lilac Girls series. You can easily read this as a standalone. It features the hunt for German scientists after WW2 with several flashbacks to the war. This was not my favorite book by this author. While it was interesting it also felt very unrealistic at times. Everything lined up too perfectly, it was predictable and it wasn't a new story. It reminded me of many others I've read during that time frame. The second half was better than the first.

Martha Hall Kelly's fiction is well researched, detailed, and sweeping. The Golden Doves, while not shying away from the horrors experienced by the women in the book, is captivating and tense. While it's a longer book, nothing feels extraneous, and instead feels essential to capturing the story Kelly is telling.

I didn’t enjoy this book very much. The plot was a bit too convoluted and a lot of the coincidental incidents stretched belief (like Josie meeting Ariana in Rome.) There were too many situations like that which weren’t fleshed out enough. I hate to review it badly because it’s obviously an important piece of history to remember, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I won’t be sharing this review outside of NetGalley.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Golden Doves follows two former female spies as they embark on a quest to find a Nazi doctor in the aftermath of World War II. The quest takes them all over Europe and French Guiana. In their chase for justice, they uncover and revisit secrets of the past and have to decide if they are willing to risk it all to save the world.

It is a beautifully told story of an appalling time in history. If you are a lover of historical fiction, you will not be able to put this book down!

The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly is the harrowing and page-turning WWII story of survival, bravery, and justice.

During WWII, Josie and Arlette worked with the French Resistance and earned a reputation as the Golden Doves. Eventually, they were arrested and taken to Ravensbrück Concentration Camp. A decade later, their paths cross again as Josie hunts down a fugitive doctor and Arlette looks for her long-lost son. Danger abounds in their espionage work during the war years and in their current pursuit of justice.

The Golden Doves caused me to think of two possible companion reads: Lilac Girls for its concentration camp content and The German Wife for its details about Operation Paper Clip.

With the writing of The Golden Doves, Martha Hall Kelly extends the reputation she’s earned for well-researched and well-written stories. Kelly is a compelling storyteller and her characters are complex and complicated.

If you enjoy a side of mystery/thriller with your hisfic, you might enjoy The Golden Doves. A web of lies, dark secrets, and danger lurk around every corner.

One of the reasons that histfic is my favorite genre is because of the historical details. Of interest in The Golden Doves is how the Nazis escaped after World War II. The methods include help from sympathetic citizens, the Vatican, and Operation Paperclip (U.S.).

Intense themes include survival, trust, endurance, good vs. evil, betrayal, brave women, and justice.

Fans of Lilac Girls and Martha Hall Kelly will appreciate The Golden Doves. Readers of WWII historical fiction might like this harrowing search for a Nazi doctor.

Thanks #NetGalley @RandomHouse Ballentine for a complimentary e ARC of #TheGoldenDoves upon my request. All opinions are my own.

American Josie Anderson and Parisian Arlette LaRue worked for the French Resistance stealing Nazi secrets. These "Golden Doves" were arrested and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp along with their family members. Ravensbrück was the largest concentration camp for women. There Alette's son is taken from her, and Josie's mother suffered at the hands of a sadistic Nazi doctor.

Years later they are reunited when Josie accepts an assignment to hunt down the evil Nazi doctor who is attempting to flee justice. Arlette, who has been searching for clues about her son, received a message that her son may have been found. Josie is determined to find the infamous doctor responsible for so many deaths at Ravensbrück and Arlette is determined to find her son. The Golden Doves unite to help each other on their missions.

This book was well researched and well written. I don't shy away from books over 500 pages; however, I felt the length of this book at times. I enjoyed both women, their POVS and their plight. I enjoy reading books about bravery and courage. Both women show it in all sections of the book.

I had never heard of operation paperclip and was astounded by what I learned. Wow and how could they come to mind after learning about it and looking up more information on my own.

This is the first book that I have read by the author, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Martha Hall Kelly does it again! The Golden Doves takes place during WWII and follows two former spies and friends, Josie and Arlette. It’s historical fiction, but there are many suspenseful moments, too. Kelly’s writing highlights strong women and the important roles they often played behind the scenes in pivotal moments during the war. Historical fiction lovers will enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having loved Lilac Girls I knew I was in for a treat. I loved everything about this read - the style of writing, the descriptions of the setting (even the horrific Ravensbruck) that made you feel as if you were there seeing it with your own eyes, but most of all these amazing women, Arlette and Josie, that made me laugh, cry, and feel. Their courage, bravery, and connection to each other was so very admirable. Known as the Golden Doves, they worked with the French resistance until they were ultimately caught and sent to Ravensbruck.
Knowing little about the Ratline and the US quest to lure the brains of Nazis to Texas in an effort to beat the Russians in developing effective biological warfare, I was eager to learn more. The Ratline was such a despicable stance for the Catholic Church to take and it was clearly described and then footnoted by facts in the author’s notes. I knew about their exodus to South America but never thought about how they escaped prosecution was maddening. That these criminals responsible for the annihilation of millions of innocent people can still be living the good life enabled by the Catholic Church is grossly unfair. Knowing so much of this emotional read was based on facts made the story that much more powerful. For me personally having the focus on the children and Ravensbruck brought so much angst and emotions to the forefront.
The connection Josie and Arlette shared was such a strong bond and gave me hope that many others survived and were able to live the rest of their lives enjoying freedom.
My sincere appreciation to Martha Hall Kelly for once again capturing my heart, Ballantine Books for having the wisdom to recognize the brilliance of her ability to make readers feel and care, and NetGalley for affording me the honor of having an opportunity to read this just published powerful read.

I have read all of Martha Hall Kelly’s novels and really like the details she gives in her historical novels. As with her others, some of the subject matter is tough to read in this one. It is the story of two female spies and deals with Nazis, concentration camps, stolen children and so much more that happened during that time. Make sure you read the authors notes at the end for more details. Very informative. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I just finished this book. This is everything that I look for in historical fiction. The education that I gained on this and the level of mystery and taking down the big bad was just everything.

I appreciate the amount of research that went in to this book and how Martha Hall Kelly created this amazing story of struggle, strength, and overcoming hardships that desecrated so many lives in one hell of a long period of time.

How often we forget the harsh realities of history. The harsh realities of communities damaged by a belief system so cruel that it kills others. The generational trauma these communities still face is heartbreaking. And to see the books I read taking place during WWII and watching history repeat itself everyday is terrifying.

The story of The Golden Doves will stay with me forever,

The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly is the story of two women, bound together by the past, who risk everything to hunt down an infamous Nazi doctor in the wake of World War II. American Josie Anderson and Parisian Arlette La Rue were thrilled to be working with the French Resistance, stealing Nazi secrets, and earning the nickname: “the Golden Doves.” When they were arrested and sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp, they had to endure unspeakable horrors and incredible loss. Josie ends up working with the US Army Intelligence while Arlette searches for her son. Now, a decade later, they called on again for a dangerous mission. From Europe to French Guiana, they fight to secure justice as they find themselves in a web of secrets and danger. Will they find the answers they are looking for?
Martha Hall Kelly has earned a reputation for intense stories of women surviving through incredible historical events against all odds. In The Golden Doves, she explores the horrors of the infamous Ravensbruck concentration camp and the hunt for Nazi fugitives in the wake of World War II. It was a hard read with the subject matter and the alternating points of view between Josie and Arlette and two time periods, 1952 and 1943. Overall, I enjoyed the story. Josie was hard to like at first but as her story opens, readers will understand why. I appreciate the author’s commitment to explore the stories that occurred after the war ended as many World War II era stories often ignore the aftermath events. If you enjoy incredible stories of survival and the hunt for justice, I recommend The Golden Doves.


The Golden Doves is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

"The Golden Doves" is a book that has left a lasting impression on me. I cannot emphasize enough how much I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading. The novel's captivating storyline, rich historical details, and skillful character development make for an exceptional read. I first discovered Martha Hall Kelly at Tucson's Festival of Books, where she introduced "Lilac Girls." Since then, I've been a huge fan of her writing. Martha Hall Kelly's latest novel, "The Golden Doves," is inspired by real events and tells a captivating story about two ex-female spies who share a history. As a "Lilac Girls" fan, I was thrilled to reconnect with some of the characters in this novel. The story alternates between the past and present, skillfully immersing readers in the experiences of both women. I was particularly impressed by the author's incorporation of lesser-known history, such as the United States' employment of Nazis in the military, which added depth and context to the story. I highly recommend "The Golden Doves" to anyone with an interest in historical fiction. The novel's enthralling plot, historical intricacies, and expertly-crafted characters make for an exceptional reading experience.

This was a decent story but I had issues with a couple of things. The main issue being for being such good spies both Josie and Arlette really seemed to let their guard down with their actions in their story line after the war. They behaved in ways that I would not believe former spies would behave.

Over all a good story with some minor story flaws.

Summary: Since the debut of her best-selling Lilac Girls which told the fictionalized story of real-life heroine Caroline Ferriday, Martha Hall Kelly’s novels have revolved around strong female characters during war time–World War II, then World War I, then the Civil War. In the same vein, though not part of the Woolsey-Ferriday trilogy, The Golden Doves features tried and true, tough yet feminine protagonists as they attempt to ensure that Nazi leaders pay their due in the period post World War II.

What’s to love?

It didn’t take long at all for me to be sucked into the intrigue of Josie and Arlette. I also appreciated the portrayals of how each woman forged on and attempted to deal with their past trauma in completely different ways. Finally, as a copy editor, I am compelled to add that the proof reading was impeccable.

What’s to leave?

You know the point in the horror movie when you want to audibly yell at the hero not to hide in the barn filled with chainsaws in the middle of the night? Yeah. There are a few moments like that in this book. Sure, dramatic irony creates suspense when the reader clearly knows that something is about to happen but the character seems clueless. However, these female spies make some choices that just don’t seem to fit with the “Golden Doves” who gained such renown during World War II.

What’s to learn?

Though I knew that many Nazis escaped to South America and other countries, I had never heard of Operation Paperclip. (It’s addressed within the first chapter of the book, so it’s not a huge spoiler; but if you really don’t want to know before you read the book, skip the next sentence.) I had not read about the many Nazis who were pardoned and brought to America (or Russia) in return for scientific help. Fascinating!

I also did not realize that the term “FUBAR” originated during WWII; platinum was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; and that, technically speaking, carry-out coffee and take-out Chinese food could have been around in Paris in 1952.


Conclusion: I loved the twist at the end! Despite some departures from believability in this novel, I hope to read about what happens to Josie and Arlette in a sequel or another of Kelly’s future female spy novels.

This novel is told from the points of view of two women, Josie and Arlette. Spies and friends during the war, the novel takes place in 1952 but gives readers multiple flashbacks into their history. Martha Hall Kelly does extensive research which I appreciate. While I enjoyed this story, I didn't find it as compelling and realistic as some of her previous novels. There were a few plot points that affected my rating despite the thoroughness and skilled story-telling. I found Luc's willingness to believe Arlette unrealistic (in the beginning when they have their first tryst). I also thought that Josie seemed inexperienced/unprepared for the assignment and therefore it seemed unlikely that she would be promoted to Karl's job (I know it makes for a clean wrap up but...). The overall plot line of the Hope camp was also a bit hard for me to accept. Despite these criticisms, this is a carefully crafted novel with mostly solid characters and stories.

The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly is sure to be another fan-favorite. In this novel, her first work away from the Lilac Girls trilogy, follows two former female spies as they try to track down a Nazi doctor from their past and seek justice for his victims.

This novel has everything that Martha Hall Kelly is known for — addictive character development, a page-turning plot, and twists and turns throughout the story.

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loooooooved The Golden Doves. I would have read it in one sitting if my kindle hadn’t died.

Told in two different perspectives and two different times (Nazi occupied Paris and post-War), The Golden Doves is a rich story, with lots of attention to historical detail, and thoughtful characters. This is my favorite Martha Hall Kelly book!

This is definitely one to set some time aside to dive into, because once you start you won’t want to stop.