This was a captivating story and I enjoyed how the author told the story from the home front and from the side of the men involved in the war. I felt like the story ended a little too suddenly for me. I really enjoyed the characters of Beryl and James!



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

This book gave me a new view of WW II. Marilyn Turk provides the reader with a great story backed by amazing research that introduces a part of history that is not always as talked about. What happened to soldiers captured during the course of war? It also shows how those who stayed behind did everything in their power to help the war effort and the soldiers who were on the frontlines. This story follows a family in Leeds who loses a family member to night raid bombings, James joins the RAF, and Beryl does everything she can at home to help with air raid safety and supporting her Mom. She takes a job at Waddington's after leaving college to help and waits with all England for an end to the war. Then her brother can return home and they can try to get back to a new normal. But then the news comes that James has been captured and it feels like tragedy is piling up. Then comes one of the worst bomb blitzes and an elderly community member loses her husband and home. The women band together to find home and support to continue moving forward. Meanwhile James, as a POW, meets up with an old college friend. American Kenneth is also a POW and is relentless in his pursuit of freedom to rejoin the war. Beryl learns that her employer is providing board games that contain secret escape plans. Now how can she let her brother and friend know that help could be on the way, without giving away the secret to the enemy? And how long will they all have to wait for the escape plan to be implemented?
The detail in each part of this story is amazing. I was pulled into the story immediately and didn't want to leave until I knew how everything ended. The danger in the POW camp was palpable, the air raid siren blared through to make the danger seem real. I have enjoyed, and learned from, many different WW II novels. This one lands near the top of the pile. It was a new story for me with the POW story. Marilyn Turk weaves a wonderful story to share this unique story. I look forward to the next novel she writes. I will definitely be watching for it!I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a wonderful story - a sweet romance blooming in the midst of war. The trials of the POW prison was heartbreaking to me, but the trials those at home faced were awful as well. I think we always think of those in the war before we think of those trying to keep home fires burning under the hardships the war brings to everyone. I really liked hearing bout how the POWS tried to escape and their training that led them to always be planning this vs. becoming complacent. I never realized that.
This was a great book with a HEA and I've thought about it many times since finishing it. Thank you Marilyn Turk!

Marilyn Turk brings us a WW2 story, inspired by real events.
The Escape Game has parallel storylines.
• The first focusses on Beryl Clarke, a young woman living in Leeds and working at the Waddington Board Games company by day, and acting as an ARP warden at night. Through her we get a glimpse into life on the home front, the realities of bombing raids, rationing and community pulling together.
• The second storyline focusses on her brother James and his university friend Kenneth who ultimately found themselves in the same POW camp in Germany. Here we discover how POWs kept themselves occupied whilst also constantly looking for ways to escape their captors and coming up with some innovative ideas and plans!

The stories are interwoven and the dual perspectives give us both a home front & a POW perspective. A gentle romance builds between Beryl & Kenneth through their letters, in a way that many relationships did at the time.

I was aware that “escape kits” had been hidden in all sorts of innocuous items, including Monopoly games and it was lovely to read a story where this was significant. I liked the way that Beryl passed hints to her brother & Kenneth about what to look for. It brings a whole new meaning to “get out of jail free” cards!

What didn’t work so well for me

Whilst some of the details about life in a German POW camp were interesting, it was one of the tamest, most civilised camps you could ever imagine. There was minimal punishment for those breaking the rules, escape attempts were treated like a game, nobody seemed to get ill and the Germans were more like the security guards at a shopping mall than soldiers guarding their enemy! The final escape happens in the last few pages of the book, and is virtually glossed over. After so much detail in the earlier part of the book, it felt as if the author had run out of steam, or reached her word count & stopped.
It’s lovely that an American author wanted to write about the UK during the war, but a good British editor would have picked up on small facts that really highlighted that this had not been written by somebody who knew & understood British life such as the fact that British churches don’t have “dressing rooms” for brides to wait in - she’d have been in the vestry or maybe next door at the vicarage - and that bridesmaids follow the bride down the aisle, rather than walking ahead of them!

Recommendation
Overall, this is a nice little story that had a great story at the heart of it. I think it would be of interest to anyone who wants a very gentle, clean read with a strong faith element, but it fell flat for me as it could have been so much more.

Did you know that Monopoly games were Made Into Wartime Prison-Escape Kits during WWII with the help of MI5? I did not! I just finished this story "The Escape Game" that brought this fact to life. This book is part of the wonderful Heroines of WWII series. This is why I love historical fiction!

Half of the story takes place in Leeds, and half of the story takes place at the German POW camp on the Baltic sea in the German city of Barth, 105 miles northwest of Berlin called Stalag Luft I for captured Allied airmen.
(I am curious about the relatively lax nature of the POW camp for the airmen..)

When the war broke out, Beryl Clarke leaves college to return to Leeds, to care for her mother, work as a secretary at the Waddington game company, and work as an air raid warden on regular shifts at night.

I really enjoyed this well written and engaging addition to the Heroines of WWII series! Thank you to new-to-me author Marilyn Turks for introducing me to several new facets of WWII that I had not known about!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

The Escape Game is a fantastic addition to the series. Well written with a good plot and well developed characters. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC. This is my unbiased review

This was a great story with pieces of history that I hadn’t heard before (like making the escape game)! This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I really enjoyed it!

The only suggestion I would have is to drop the present day introduction/conclusion. There wasn’t enough of that story line to be worth it.

During the encampments of WWII, usually we learn about what happened in the gas chambers and how cruel people were to put their neighbors on the spot. There was so much division in those days, but we rarely hear about what might have happened inside POW camps. This book, The Escape Game by Marilyn Turk, shares all about what it might have been like.

These pilots from various countries were all placed into the same POW barracks of sorts. These men were limited on their food, but thankfully received many Red Cross packages as well as packages and letters from family. It was mentioned in the story that the person in charge of this POW camp for pilots was a pilot himself during The Great War (otherwise known as WWI). These pilot POW were treated fairly well.

These men were also constantly working towards escaping. Whether it’s a tunnel being dug under their barracks, hiding in a truck that delivers goods to the camp, or something else, these men were always planning an escape in some way or another. In one of those Red Cross packages, one of the main characters receives a Monopoly board that has secret compartments. Not only did it have real French and German cash, it also had a compass, and a map of safe houses.

Not long ago, I read another historical fiction book about useful tools being distributed in Red Cross packages in games like Monopoly as well as gadgets flying with the pilots to keep them warm and nourished for a few days. It’s amazing how innovative the British were to help their pilots, soldiers, and POWs.

This is a fantastically written book that anyone interested in historical fiction should absolutely read! 5 out of 5 tiaras for this excellent work! Thank you NetGalley and Barbour Fiction for access to this book.

This story started out interesting and I enjoyed Kenneth’s personality. Beryl’s struggles at home with the impacts of war on everyday life was a good reminder of how horrible the war was.

Kenneth was a lively young man and his mindset to escape and not get comfortable was inspiring. The POW camp was quite mild compared to other horrific camps which was surprising.

However, somewhere the story lost paced and just stayed in the middle lane. I expected more action and suspense with the escapes and thought the game would have been more emphasized than what it was.

I enjoyed James and how this challenge grew his Faith and wanted more of that for Kenneth. There was potential for that but just never really developed but a brief prayer at the end.

The narrative focuses on two aspects of WW II, alternating between them. One aspect in life in Leeds, England. We follow a young woman, Beryl, and her mother as they endure air raids and bomb shelters. Beryl works at the board game company so that provides the link to the secret method of helping prisoners escape the German POW camps. The other aspect of the novel follows the experiences of an American who had volunteered to fly for England before the U.S. entered the war. The historical information contained in those two parts of the novel may not be anything new as Turk was not writing about anyone in particular but used the written accounts of many to create the story.

The unique part of this historical novel was the use of a game to send secret messages to POWs. It was a clever way to provide resources for an escape in a way that the Germans would not recognize. This does not come into the book until well past three quarters so most of the book is rather generic WW II experiences.

This is a good book for readers who like to read about WW II experiences based on a compilation of written accounts with a little near the end on the unique use of a game.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

This book was a real page turner for me, never knowing what to expect from one page to the next. The author did a great job in writing a well researched depiction of life in a POW camp of pilots captured in Nazi controlled Europe during WWII. Risking it all for escape was the name of the game, and these prisoners, pilots from many countries, worked together in perfecting escape routes and digging tunnels. They forged documents and sewed clothing to use after escaping the compound. The love story was secondary but the life of those left behind in England was simultaneously followed along with the pilots’ story. A heart wrenching time to be sure!

A great historical fiction but with plenty of facts as well. WW2 was a nasty war especially with what the POW.s went through. Very well written and a good book to read. 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

A truly intriguing novel of WW2 that held my attention from beginning to end. The title got my attention as soon as saw it and the description sealed the deal for my interest in wanting to read it and I am so glad I did.

The Escape Game is unlike any other book that I have read in recent memory, from the home front to the POW camps, to the incredible characters it had me eagerly reading to find out what would happen next. Every time a box would arrive from the Red Cross to the POWs I was filled with anticipation to find out if there would be THE monopoly board game that held the keys to the prisoners escape. If not for the lovely Beryl, who had an interest in two of the prisoners the clues may have gone unnoticed by the recipients of the game.

Ms. Turk has written a truly amazing and well researched novel, I look forward to reading more of her work. Fans of historical fiction will surely want to read this.

I received a copy through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I was hopeful for this book. It was my first by Marilyn Turk and the premise of the book seemed very interesting. I always find historical books to be great reads, especially when they give insight into some historical fact that is little known.

My favorite part of this book was the historical fact included though. I didn’t know that Monopoly was used in any way to help men in the World War escape! It was fascinating to hear about it and to read a fictional story of how it may have played out for real men who wound up using the board game to help them escape.

The story outside of this aspect was slow to me. It was hard to stay invested in the characters. Overall, I like Kenneth, and James, and Beryl, but I would have liked to see more character development. Also, at the end, I would have very much liked to see Beryl and Kenneth interact more. The story came to a close very abruptly from a reader point of view.

**I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are completely my own.**

A good WW2 novel about love, and courage. The story and characters are well done. The plot and action will keep your interest till the end. The end felt kinda sudden and like the author hurried to finish the book to me, but overall I thought it was a good read, and worthwhile for those that like this type of novel to enjoy.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this latest installment in the _Heroines of WWII_ series!

As with each book in the series to date, it is a standalone read (yaaaay :D). And, it's my first Marilyn Turk book--but won't be the last! She is a talented author who vividly brought the story to life. It almost could have used a tad more fleshing out in areas, but none to give me much pause. (On the same token, compared to some other recent reads for me, it was refreshing to leave room for reader inference and not be told everything!)

I read the book in about a day, and was sad to see it end. Also in keeping with the series theme, I learned quite a bit about aspects of WWII I hadn't known before. There's always more to tell, and this book did a great job of doing just that. It also made me want to search my Monopoly game :D ... but alas, no dice! (No pun intended, haha!)

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Monopoly piece - a tiny race-car - but oh the story it tells.

War brings many undesirable things with it, not the least of which was the air raid sirens that peeled through the silence in Leeds, England in 1941. As an Air Raid Warden, Beryl has the unfortunate privilege of encouraging folks to find shelter, sometimes just managing to do so herself. Many were not so fortunate. Fathers, sons and brothers are fighting, including James, her brother, as well as his college buddy, Kenneth. POWs in Germany, escape is at the top of their list.

Waddingtons, a game manufacturer, is commissioned to make a very special Monopoly game - one fit for those who are stuck behind enemy lines. Will James and his fellow POWs receive one of these special games - one that can help them escape?

This early copy of Heroines of WWII was received through Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited.

Finished ✔️ The Escape Game by Marilyn Turk!

4.5 ⭐️’s
Publish Day: March 1st, 2023
Kindle Unlimited: No
WW2 Novel
Full of intrigue
Full of adventure
Full of Romance
Very interesting and well written
Definitely keeps your attention
Gives a light on what life was like during WW2
Yes, I’d recommend this book 📚

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I am so glad I turned to the back and read the Author's Notes first. The information there added to the pleasure of reading The Escape Game. This book highlights the emotional toll of the bombings Europeans endured during WW II as well as the uncertainty about the well-being of loved ones. The plot was interesting as the story moved between Beryl Clarke in Leeds, England and Kenneth Bordelon in a POW camp in Germany. It held my interest as I read whenever the opportunity presented itself. It was a satisfying read up until the last chapter and epilogue in which everything was brought to a rushed and highly unsatisfying conclusion. I found myself mentally filling in the holes left in the story.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Escape Game from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

(2.5 / 5)

Beryl Clarke is doing her part in England during WWII, working as an air raid warden and helping her mom get through the devastation of her husband’s recent death during a bombing. More bad news comes when they learn that Beryl’s brother James has been captured by the Germans. The women will do whatever they can to help, even if it’s just packing Red Cross boxes and their own care packages for James and his friend Kenneth, who is also in the camp. But then Beryl learns of an escape kit disguised as a Monopoly game that is headed to various POW camps and knows she has to try to give the prisoners a heads up about it.

This book promises intrigue, adventure, and romance, but I found very little of any of those things. Most of the story was just showing life in Leeds during WWII, as well as life in a POW camp. James’s friend Kenneth is actually the second MC and is captured and taken to a POW camp before James is. He attempts to escape several times, unsuccessfully, but more detail is given to his time in the camp than the actual escapes. Kenneth and Beryl knew each other before the war started, when the two of them and James all attended Oxford University, and Kenneth and Beryl both thought fondly of each other at that time. This is what we’re told. So when Kenneth starts writing letters for his crippled friend James, Kenneth and Beryl remember each other fondly and start to hope for more some day. This we’re also told. The romance doesn’t really develop as much as it is just there for us to be told about. Maybe some flashbacks to the time they knew each other before would have helped, but overall, it just felt forced and empty.

The story of the Monopoly game being sent to POWs with an escape kit hidden inside is such a tiny part of this book. I feel like the story would have been better to have been more focused on the camp and less on Beryl’s life, but then, the series is called “Heroines of WWII,” so clearly she needed to be a main character. I also think it would have been better if Kenneth had been a stranger that Beryl met and got to know through letters he wrote for her brother, and then maybe the romance could have been more of a budding one by the end of the book, rather than what it was. Also, the epilogue was completely unnecessary, and that reminds me of the incredible coincidences that happen throughout the book. After several of these moments, I still thought for sure that my suspicion about the identity of a certain character’s relative would turn out to be wrong, because there was no reason I could think of to have such a huge coincidence. But sure enough…well, I won’t give away any spoilers. And the truth is, most people probably won’t be bothered by most of this. If you’re a fan of WWII-related Christian romance and aren’t bothered by the things I mentioned in my review, please do give the book a try. It does have plenty of good reviews.