5.0 stars
HIGHLY recommend

I keep trying to avoid WWII historical novels, but they keep pulling me in. This novel was unique to me as it was about the German resistance before and during the war. I had no idea this occurred in Germany, but I had learned about the French resistance. This was so new to me especially as so many women were involved because they were fairly invisible to the men.

This is the second novel by this very talented Canadian writer. I love how strong and beautiful the writing is, the incredible characters, and the fascinating storyline.

It is a tough read at times, but war is tough. The only way to understand our past including war is to learn about it to avoid it from happening again.

TRIGGER WARNING: War, Holocaust, sexual assault, starvation, physical violence, blood, confinement, death

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7010479227 - posted 1/28/2025

Storygraph: - https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/b3d76611-d90a-497c-b053-f221bc6276ec?redirect=true - posted 1/28/2025

Books by Dorothea blog: https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/01/review-secret-history-of-audrey-james.html - posted 1/28/2025

The Secret Life of Audrey James is an interesting story based in part on the life of Mona Parsons and her actions during World War II. There are parts of it that are difficult to read as war is not glorified in this novel. It shares information about those who did not agree with Hitler and tried to undermine his approach, sometimes costing them their lives. It is a story that needs to be told and the author did a brilliant job of telling it. I like the way the story of Audrey in the war era is blended with present day Kate recording the story. The style works well for this type of storyline. The characters tugged at my heartstrings as all faced losses they dealt with in various ways. I highly recommend this book.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Well written, well researched historical novel about German resistance to the Nazis in WWII. Told from two different perspectives over two timelines, the characters were fully developed, the plot moved along at a brisk pace and some unexpected twists kept me intrigued throughout. This is a war story, a love story, a survival story and a story of dealing with loss. It is hopeful, sad, reflective, and redemptive. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy.

The Secret of Audrey James by Heather Marshall tells a dual timeline story with present day Kate who is leaving a marriage and finds employment in a remote Scottish inn. Audrey James is part German part British living in Berlin attending the piano conservatory prior to WW2.

A well written story which makes it even more fascinating because it is based on a true person. Both women Kate and Audrey have issues to deal with and work through. It’s a bit of a rocky road but they do come through it.

If you like dual timeline stories and WW2, this is a good read! Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Five stars for this brilliant novel about a survivor of World War II in Berlin who in the present day meets a survivor of a different sort. In 2011 Kate moves to start a job at a remote country bed and breakfast in England trying to follow the path of her deceased parents, and she has a bumpy introduction to the owner, an elderly lady named Audrey. The two women discover they have more in common than meets the eye.

I love how well researched this novel is, and I learned so many new things about WWII that gave more depth to the experiences of the resistors, the victims, and those trying to navigate the extreme conditions. I will not forget story as it made such an imprint on me. I look forward to reading more by Heather Marshall who is a talented author.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 / 5.0 Stars

What a spectacular and exhilarating story, full of heart and soul which draws strongly upon the historical record. There are actually two stories with two female protagonists sharing similar journeys but from far differing perspectives. They're about 60 years apart in age.

Berlin, 1938
Aspiring Pianist Audrey James, born of a German mother and British father, is prepping for her graduation recital at the Berlin Konservatorium. Although her widower father has returned to England, she remains in Berlin to complete her studies while residing with the Kaplans, a Jewish family who are longstanding friends of the James'. In November of 1938, all hell breaks loose and Audrey's and the Kaplan's worlds are shattered beyond comprehension. Audrey and Ilse Kaplan seek shelter in the Kaplan home which is soon overtaken by German SS officers. Audrey becomes their housekeeper, so that she and Ilse may remain in the home. Audrey soon insinuates herself into the officers' nefarious dealings, all while trying to hide Ilse.

Alnwick, England, 2010
Londoner Kate Mercer's own life has shattered after much personal loss. She accepts a temporary position at an inn up in Alnwick essentially caring for Audrey, now in her 90s but still as feisty and independent as ever. Audrey is a prickly one and both she and Kate have their secrets. Can they get past this initial chill and find peace with one another in the same home?

As dual timeline novels go, this is absolutely among the best. There is a taunting connection between the two time periods which is slowly revealed over the courses of the stories. The writing is solid and evocative. The historical research which went into the story's writing is Herculean and aids in the cinematic delivery of a Germany moving toward and through another war. At times the story is tender and heartbreaking and at others, thrilling and pulse-pounding. Yet throughout, there is a strong thread of hope.

I am grateful to author Heather Marshall and her publisher, Simon & Schuster for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: ‎June 4, 2024
Number of Pages: 432
ISBN-13: 978-1982170257

A promising plot with characters that did not really impress me. Told in a dual storyline, we meet Kate Mercer in 2010 and Audrey James in 1938. Aside from both being at crossroads after terrible experiences, we’re not given a connection. Audrey’s story is mostly during WWII, as she endures loss, heartbreak, and imprisonment. Kate is weighed down by guilt of her parents’ deaths and an impending divorce.

Audrey’s story is much more interesting, but lags and meanders towards the end. Kate and Ian are necessary but boring characters filled with soap operish drama to fill pages. I expected more from this book. It kept my attention until about 30%, but something was off as it continued. The language and Audrey’s attraction to Ilse were especially cringy.

I read the last page, closed the cover, and put the book down, but the book wasn’t finished with me yet. The characters and their lives have lingered in my mind and to me that is a sign of a truly great book. I enjoy WWII historical fiction and I found this gripping book to be a welcome new addition to the genre. There are so many things I would like to say about it, but most of them would end up being spoilers as this book keeps keeps you thinking and has many secrets to reveal along the way. I would highly recommend this book, it’s one that you can immerse yourself in, though you may need to come up for air a time or two before you reach the surprising conclusion. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

I absolutely loved The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall. In a world inundated by WWII Historical Fiction, I truly felt like she had an interesting and unique story to tell.

The book is told in two timelines. In 1938 we meet Audrey James, a young woman living with a Jewish family while studying piano in Germany. The reader is quickly thrust into the story as the book begins with Kristallnacht and quickly elevates from there. In 2010 we meet Kate, a young woman who has lost both parents in a car crash and is looking for a fresh start. She replies to a job opportunity at an old guest home where she meets a 90 year old Audrey who is ready to rid herself of the secrets she's been holding onto for decades.

The focus of the story is primarily on the past timeline. What I thought was most interesting is that the book primarily takes place before WWII begins. I was captivated by how quickly the political climate could change and though this subject in general was rather timely. Audrey's story is in some moments chaotic and in other moments calculated depending on what risks she had to take in order to survive. I was captivated by the natural suspense throughout the story and admired her bravery.

Kate's character development is definitely weaker because her primary purpose is to document Audrey's story. In some moments I almost felt we could do without this timeline completely. The characters develop deep relationships quickly, but they do share somewhat parallel traumas in their loss.

This is a strong story in the historical fiction category and I loved how Heather Marshall used pieces of her own family history to build the narrative. I rated this book 4.25 stars on Storygraph and rounded up to 5 on Goodreads.

"The Secret History of Audrey James" starts off with a really compelling scene--Canadian soldiers, taking a break near the German border in 1945, see a woman, bloodied and exhausted, shoeless, struggling toward them. She tells them she is an Englishwoman named Audrey James and collapses.

This whopper of an opening promises an equally gripping story to follow, but that never quite happens. Heather Marshall presents a dual timeline tale of Audrey and, in 2010, Kate, a young woman who takes a job at a guest house on the Scottish border run by a prickly older woman. Kate is seeking to recover from a recent loss, and the proprietor, Audrey, who harbors many secrets, find common ground. Audrey is indeed the same woman we encountered in the opening, and how she got from Berlin to Scotland makes the meat of the story.

The risk of using a dual timeline is that one is nearly always stronger than the other. Such is the case here, with Kate's move the the borderlands is more a device than anything else. But this is a very readable novel that will entertain many readers, and the descriptions of the change in circumstances for her Jewish friends and hosts in Berlin are shattering, as is Audrey and Ille's fight to survive.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A dual timeline story done brilliantly! Audrey is in 1939 Berlin studying music and art. Restrictions were getting tighter in WWII Germany and although Audrey’s father was desperate for her to come home, she stayed. She stayed mostly for her friend Ilse who was Jewish. The Germans commandeer the house and Ilse hides in the attic. Kate’s story is in 2010 when she takes a job at an old inn in Scotland. She becomes friendly with the owner who is Audrey James. Audrey shares her story with Kate and Kate learns much about Germany both before and after the war.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I could not put this book down. I have read so many World War II novels and the formula of a character relating their story at the end of their life is not new. Yet, as this novel jumped back to World War II and forward to modern times both settings were equally compelling. Audrey James is such a strong, brave character. She will stay with me. The actions of the resistance cell made up of Nazi officers was interesting and well researched.
I enjoyed this book immensely. The author made a horrible time in history a learning experience in the power of women and the power of love.
I know this book will resonate with many, I expect to see it be very successful. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this amazing novel.

I am so drawn to historical fiction and since the majority of that genre seems to center around WW2, I read a lot of that time period. When I come across a WW2 book that appears to have a different plot line, I always get so excited and that’s exactly how I felt when I saw this book on NetGalley.
In 1938 Berlin, Audrey James is living with her best friend’s family while she is finishing up her schooling at a music conservatory. The Kaplans are Jews and while Audrey is not she realizes Berlin isn’t the safest place. When Ilse’s family is attacked by SS Officers, Audrey does what she can to protect Ilse, even joining a German Resistance cell to help stop Hitler before another war breaks out.
In the modern day story line, Kate Mercer’s life has been turned upside down after a tragic car accident and she leaves London to work at a small, run down guesthouse on the Scottish border in an attempt to regroup and find herself. While the elderly proprietor is standoffish at first, she soon begins telling her story to Kate and the two women soon bond.
I really wanted to like this book, and I did for the first 60%. The last 1/3 was so long and there was so much going on I found myself skimming pages just to try to finish. I love how the author tried incorporating many different areas of WW2 especially as I have never heard of any of the topics included- the German Resistance, Mona Parsons, and Elsa Koditschek. While in real life none of these three things happened together and Heather Marshall admits to taking creative liberties to put all three together for this book and while it flows cohesively, it’s a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for an advanced copy of this. The Secret History of Audrey James hits the shelves on February 25th.

The Secret Life of Audrey James by Heather Marshall is a great story set in dual timelines with 1940 Berlin and modern day London. When Kate responds to an ad for an assistant at the hotel Audrey lives in and operates outside of London, she has recently been orphaned and her marriage is in trouble. Little does she know her section to run away from her current problems will soon force both women to confront their their pasts and the trauma they buried there. I loved this book and highly recommend it. I received an ARC of this book and all opinions are my own.

Ever since reading Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall, I have been not so patiently waiting for her next novel! I am so glad to say that the wait was worth it, and this book did not disappoint!

This work of historical fiction is about Audrey James, who is living in Germany when Hitler starts to take power and, eventually, World War II begins. Audrey, who is not Jewish, is living with her best friend Ilse, who is Jewish. The story follows the friends journey as Audrey tries to do everything in her power to keep Ilse safe, and even risks her own life to do so. The story also follows Kate in 2010, who travels from London to the Scottish border to escape her past, and ends up working for Audrey at Audrey’s hotel. An unexpected friendship forms between the two, as Audrey entrusts Kate to document the horrors she went through during the war in Germany.

Even though this book is a little bit on the longer side (432 pages), Marshall held my interest throughout the whole book. I felt connected to the characters and was rooting for them throughout the entire book, hoping for their safety while they navigated the challenges of the war.

While this book obviously touches on some pretty tough topics, it also touches on topics that I think a lot of people will relate to and resonate with. For example, Marshall writes about the struggles of having a strained relationship with one’s parent with such depth. She also talks about issues such as divorce, having a chosen family, and the deep bonds you share with a best friend. Marshall treats these topics with sensitivity, while also allowing the reader to become invested and feel what the characters are feeling.

The authors note made me appreciate this book even more, as Marshall describes the extensive research that she conducted. I also loved that the main character is based off of a real women who was heroic and worked against the Nazis during the war.

I believe that this book is going to be widely discussed when it is released, and is a perfect choice for a book club. This is a book that will stay with me for a while, and I am already eagerly awaiting her next one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC of the novel in exchange for my unbiased review! This book is out in the U.S. on February 25, 2025!

4 stars for a very readable historical fiction book. It opens with Audrey James being discovered by Canadian soldiers in the Netherlands, near the German border in 1945. Then we learn why Audrey, daughter to an English man and a German woman, was in Germany in the next chapter, set in 1938. She is attending the konservatorium, a famed music school in Berlin. Subsequent chapters alternate between Kate and Audrey.
Kate's chapters are set in 2010. She is seeking a fresh start after her marriage failed. She applies for, and gets hired as an administrator at a B&B in the north of England, near the Scottish border. The owner of the B&B is Audrey James, but it was not Audrey who hired her. It was Sue, Audrey's only employee. Audrey and Kate get off to a bad start, but they grow to like each other. Audrey opens up to Kate about her experiences in Germany during WWII.
The author explains that Audrey is based on a real person, Mona Parsons, arrested by the Germans in WWII for helping allied soldiers and airmen escape. Some parts of the book are fiction.
I liked the surprise ending.
Thank You Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheSecretHistoryofAudreyJames #NetGalley.

Pub Date Feb 25 2025

Audrey James is a young English girl living with a Jewish family in Berlin in the late 1930s while she is pursuing her studies in music. However, Hitler’s power is gaining and Jewish lives are threatened. After a disastrous visit to a Jewish department store, Audrey and her best friend Ilse’s lives change as they fight for Ilse’s survival.
Years later a young Kate Mercer discovers a photo of her parents taken at an historic Scotland inn and, in researching the photo, she comes across an ad for help wanted. Escaping a painful divorce and tumultuous memories, she takes a position at the oakwood Inn. There she becomes a confidante to Audrey, the inn’s owner. The women share their stories of their heartbreaking history and find they’re connected in more ways than they would ever expect.
A well-researched and heartbreaking story of the horrors of the Holocaust.

Just when I think maybe I have read to many WWII books, then one like this comes along and I think, oh my, what a great story!! I can’t say this was a different scenario, we still have war, Nazi atrocities, resistance fighters and more, but the author gives us a version that is interesting, totally believable and we start to care about the characters and can’t wait to read more. I loved Audrey, Else and especially Kate and Ian. Second chances can heal and create new beginnings.

This was an excellent read, I even read it slow so I wouldn’t miss anything. Audrey’s story is so worth it.

I received an ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for my unbiased review – This one comes in with a high 5 stars.

The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall

There is a strong theme of guilt and healing running through this story. In the 2010 timeline, Kate Mercer has lost so much after a tragic accident. Now she's heading to a job at an old guest house near Scotland and the reason she picks this location has to do with her past and her parents. Once at the house, Kate meets the owner, Audrey James, a wall of stubbornness in a 90 something year old body. These two will challenge and support each other throughout their time together.

Then we go to earlier, 1938 Berlin, when Audrey is a teenager living with her best friend's family while attending a prestigious music school. Audrey's mother was German, her dad is British and Audrey's heart is in Berlin even though her mom is gone and her dad has moved to Britain. In fact, he wants Audrey to leave Berlin, NOW, despite the fact that Audrey's music school graduation is only a few weeks away. But that can't happen because Audrey's best friend and her family are Jewish and disaster strikes when the family is accosted on the streets.

Audrey must hide her best friend Ilse, while living a false life as a housekeeper for the enemy. We meet Germans who don't support Hitler, who are willing to risk it all in attempts to kill him, and Audrey becomes a spy and a resistance member. Over the next many years Audrey has to make decisions she will regret for the rest of her life.

This story meshes so well with others I've read lately. I'll leave the horrors of what Audrey saw and experienced to the book but I'm always amazed at just how horrible things were for people in Berlin, people whose families had been established there for generations. Possibly movers and shakers in their communities but finding that they are now nothing at all, not considered worth the air that they breath. The story allows us to see that not all Germans supported the things that Hitler and his minions were promoting although letting that fact be known would mean certain death. I was able to read this with DeAnn and it helps to get to discuss what we've read. The author's notes are very important to the entire story and I aways enjoy knowing the author's thought processes and reasons for writing things the way they are written. I also enjoyed the series of questions at the end of the book. I needed to process what I had read and the questions helped me to do so.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

4.5 heart-breaking war stars (rounded up for my tears at the end)

This is my first book by Canadian author Heather Marshall, but now I’m eager to read her first book, “Looking for Jane.”

Inspired by a real person, this one features a woman, Audrey James, who has a fascinating but tragic life story. Audrey had a British passport but considered Germany her home since she grew up there. Many historical novels alternate with a modern-day storyline with scenes from the past. Some succeed, like this author, and some are mediocre. I liked both storylines in this book and liked the alternating timelines.

Kate Mercer is a woman on the run from a tragic accident and the loss of her marriage. She’s moving out when she spots an advertisement for live-in help at an inn in the far north, near Scotland. She knew this place as her parents visited on their honeymoon. She finds an aging Audrey as her new boss and owner of the inn, and the two haunted women begin to share their lives as time progresses. Kate memorializes Audrey’s story by recording and writing her story.

Both women have complicated pasts, and I became totally invested in both of their stories. Audrey lived through the tumultuous events of WWII. She had been studying piano at a Berlin music conservatory and was just about to graduate, living with a Jewish family she had known most of her life, including best friend Ilse.

As the crackdown on Jewish families and businesses starts, tragedy hits the Kaplan family. Military officers take over the house, as was often the case.

The book explores so many elements, from friendship to resistance to courage in the face of impossible odds and forgiveness. I was hopeful that Kate could find a fresh start and maybe a second chance at love. Also, I hoped that Audrey could make peace with her past and some of the unintended consequences of her actions.

Don’t miss the compelling author notes at the end! I found them fascinating.