Dora was a German born Jewish girl who moved from Berlin when pressure loomed in the late 1930s. Her mother, father and grandmother remained in their small village, while Dora moved on to Holland, then France. Her life immediately became one of danger, risk and courage, when she and the friends she met, formed groups to work against the Nazis. When she met Alfred Benjamin, Dora's life changed and she and Alfred formed first a close friendship, then love. The resistance work they did was second to none, but it was when Dora became secretary to the notorious Klaus Barbie, passing classified information to the resistance on a daily basis, that her life hung in the balance.

Being Jewish, an enemy to the Reich, an undercover secretary, with her strength and courage respected by all who knew her - would Dora survive to see peace after the war, or did she push one too many times?

The Undercover Secretary by Ellie Midwood tells the incredible true story of Dora Schaul, weaving her life into the fictional tale I've just read. Dora was determined to get retribution for her beloved family members; all the people she loved. The harsh and brutal murders fueled her anger and rage. Dora's bravery throughout the war years, even while being terrified, saw her named as one of history's most courageous women. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Man! This woman is brave! That is all I could keep thinking about throughout reading this book. I do not know that I would have the nerve to do what the characters accomplished in this book. There is a little bit of everything in here for the reader

Ellie Midwood has done in again as she recounts the life story of Resistance heroine Dora Schaul. In The Undercover Secretary,While writing this fictional account, Ellie relied on Dora's on recounting of her life's events along with the accounts from other Resistance members. Dora left Germany and immigrated to Amsterdam where she met, and later married Alfred Benjamin, a communist. They traveled to Paris and were later arrested. Dora escaped and connected with the underground in Lyon. She eventually worked in Gestapo headquarters with Klaus Barbie. It was because of Dora's work that the crimes of the Lyon Gestapo were uncovered.

This is a fascinating read and is a reminder to be ever vigilant so that history will not repeat itself. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

A historical WWII novel, The Undercover Secretary is a eye opening story about Dora Schaul, a young Jewish woman. What horrible hardships she had to endure to fight for what she believed in.
This story is based on true events which made reading this very compelling.
This story shows us insight into the heroines of the French Resistance.
A truly heartbreaking page-turner about the true story of Dora Schaul.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I adore this author's writing and my heart broke reading about Dora's struggles and hardship.

As good as this was, I felt something was missing. I felt that there were the times the story didn't flow very well or things were just mentioned and glossed over. I would have loved a little more depth, a little more for the readers to chew on.

This WWII novel was a reminded that WWII was won by women who were brave enough to work behind the scenes to make sure that the right side won. Spies hidden in plain sight.

An interesting look at another facet of WWII history based on a true story.
While some of the morality is questionable, wartime drove a young, light colored Jew to leave Germany one step ahead of the Nazi take over. Her family was not so fortunate.
Caught up with the propaganda of Communism, she begins to advocate for the Soviet Union. First in Holland, then in France. Even though questions are raised, she stays true to the cause. After escaping an interment camp because she is illegally in France, she works with the French Resistance in a key area of German offices. After learning her husband was killed trying to escape, she has nothing to lose. Miraculously, she escapes the Butcher of Lyons who is not brought to justice till decades later.

The Undercover Secretary by Ellie Midwood

My first Ellie Midwood book but won’t be my last! This is WW2 historical fiction that tells the tale of Dory Schaul. She was a German Jew who fled early on in the Hitler reign. She finds love and a calling. Her and Alfred (her love) start working together to fight the regime and do their part for the persecuted.

I adore Ellie’s writing style. I felt like I was watching a movie unfold. She is a beautiful storyteller that makes you see what you’re reading. The pace and length of this book is great as well! I am sure this was hard to keep short as the story of Dory Schaul is packed full to the brim!

Would read again and will recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction!

Nice heart warming story of an under cover secretary working for the french resistance. it tell the story of Dora a jewish woman who tries to help with the war efforts by finding out and sending information.

A quick but interesting read! Based on real characters, this story is a compelling and frightful one!!! I liked Dora's character even though I did not always agree with her decisions, but she was so young and had already experienced so much! I also found interesting to read about the resistance in France from a Communist point of view. Indeed, saving France did not have the same aim for everyone!
Once again I have enjoyed reading a book by Ellie Midwood, and I can't wait for the next one!
I received a complimentary ARC of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

Heart wrenching emotionally moving characters that come alive.I was drawn in from the first page to the last.Had a x of tissues with me as I read.#netgalley #bookouture

I was drawn in from the first page, I did find myself losing interest in a couple of places, however once past I was page turning late into the night again. The Undercover Secretary tells the incredible true story of Dora Schaul, one of history’s most courageous women. A young Jewish woman’s determination to fight for what she believes is right and revenge of her loved ones, right under the Nazis noses while working for the French Resistance.
A heart aching, gut wrenching story of human strength, love, loss and suffering.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture as I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the story of Dora Schaul, an undercover secretary working for the Gestapo and Klaus Barbie, otherwise known as The Butcher of Lyon. But its so much more than that as Dora was working for the resistance movement and was the woman who released the names of all the ss officers working in the Lyon office and the atrocities they admonished to the wider world allowing them to not escape justice
This is her story and Ellie Midwood has written it perfectly. It's a story of love, hope, courage and strength and Dora has this in abundance.
Ellie's writing takes your heart and soul

The author is quite good at writing--she beautifully describes scenes and characters. The area that needs some work is understanding and developing the psychological aspects of characters. There are many times when she quickly has the characters change direction without a reasonable explanation and development. It makes one wonder why she even brought certain things into the story. It doesn't go anywhere. Why was it used? The story jumps around too much to build any tension. With some work this author could write really amazing stories!

This is was such an amazing read, I was drawn in from the very first page, from there it was a Rollercoaster ride of love, happiness, loss, and sorrow. With a very strong femeine lead. I recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction or just wants a great read!

I just finished this read on netgalley and oh my word but Ellie Midwood has done it again. She's destroyed my heart and mashed it into a thousand pieces before putting it back together with a little damage to remember the story. I thought I knew a lot about Klaus Barbie (more than anyone would want to know about this sick git) but somehow I missed the story of Dora Shaul. What a woman. What a story. Must read in my opinion. What I love about Ellie's books is finding out more about real life characters who people arent always aware of. I guess, if I had to make a guess, Dora Shaul would be much better know if she wasnt a communist. But I dont give a fiddlers fig what her politics were, she was a hero and deserves to be recognised. Wonderful book. (review copied to Second World War club on Facebook.)

Omg this book was heartwrenching and with brutal honesty. This is a kind of book where the Main characters voices Will stay in your head for ages.. but it also had glimmer of hope in a dark era. And it shows how strong people are..
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

In this unputdownable novel, Ellie Midwood brings to life the incredible true story of the unsung hero Dora Schaul, a German Jewish woman that escapes Germany in the early years of Hitler’s reign, first fleeing to Amsterdam, where she falls in love with Alfred Benjamin. From there, she and Alfred make their way to France, where they start working together in the anti-fascist movement.

Ellie honors Dora in a remarkable way in this novel. Telling her story on how Dora survived fascism, Nazism, racism, attempted annihilation, wrongful-imprisonment, loss, heartache, suffering and so much more.

Over the course of this story, you get to see Dora transition from a scared and nervous immigrant in a foreign country trying to survive persecution, to a brave and fearless woman who goes under cover courtesy of the French Resistance and gets a job working in the Lyon Gestapo office under the infamous Klaus Barbie. The extent Dora went to not only survive, but to avenge all those lost by bringing to light what was happening in Lyon, I was completely and utterly mesmerized. Until today, I had never heard of Dora’s story, but it one that will live with me forever.

Ellie Midwood did an absolutely phenomenal job with this novel. It was a beautifully written piece of work to bring honor and tribute to a truly inspiring, brave and incredible woman of history. As every novel written by Ellie Midwood does, I found myself reading late into the night and refusing to stop until I reached the end.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Ellie Midwood for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Undercover Secretary by Ellie Norwood once

Once again the author has wrote a book that takes you on a journey of a women and others that ( in real life ) helped to win the war against the nazis.
Dora Schaul put her life in danger to go undercover and dupe the nazis into believing she was working for them in ww2 when in fact she was relaying information back to the west.
Brilliant characters , great plot , and some hold your breath moments.

“There’s a difference between determination and stubbornness, Dora. Determination keeps you focused. Stubbornness, in contrast, blinds you….it’s important to recognize when to back down.”

Author Ellie Midwood has honoured the memory of Dora Schaul and has educated her readers on the efforts of the French Resistance in her latest novel, The Undercover Secretary. Based on a true story, this account highlights one of the unsung heroines of the French Resistance, a Jewish survivor and German woman, and shares the complex world of the anti-fascist movement, bringing readers inside Dora Schaul’s nightmarish world.

When Dora met Alfred Benjamin, the entire course of her life changed. She transitioned from vulnerable prey in a foreign land into a relentless hunter, feared by the Gestapo themselves. She joined the French Resistance and was instrumental in uncovering the entire office of the Lyon Gestapo, including the Butcher of Lyon, the infamous Klaus Barbie himself. Thanks to her brave, selfless and life-risking actions, all their identities were uncovered and aired all over Europe via the BBC.

Midwood reminds readers to see the light in the darkest of moments, to be inspired to fight for what’s right, to be compassionate to the plight of others, and most of all, to fight against hatred so that history doesn’t repeat itself. Her insight into Dora’s life gives readers a heroic example of one who lived this advice.

I was gifted this amazing historical fiction book by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.