This is not a fast book but was very interesting story and one I really enjoyed. It takes place during WW II and begins in Berlin just before the war begins. Audrey James has left her home in England to go to Berlin to study music and cannot leave once the war begins. She lives with a Jewish family in Berlin and is very close to them. The family is split and Audrey remains with Ilse her best friend and when the house is occupied by Nazi soldiers she hides her friend in the attic to protect her. She quickly realizes she must become part of the undercover resistance if she is to get them both out of Berlin.

The story is set in two time frames, 1938 in Berlin and 2010 in Northern England where e Audrey is now living at the end of her life and is telling her story to a young woman who is trying to write it all down to preserve history. This is not a true story but one that is compiled from many resistance workers of the period.

I learned a lot and highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history. The flow of the story is really good and the characters are well developed. I wanted to stay with it till the end and am so glad that I did. The story is one of hardships, difficult decisions, loyalty and discovery and I really applaud the author for covering all those bases beautifully.

I wish to thank Net Galley and Random House Publishers – Ballantine Books or allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

WWII historical fiction is a genre of books that I find myself coming back to again and again. I was thrilled to read Heather Marshall’s addition to the list. Audrey is an English/German who begins living with her Jewish neighbors after her father leaves the country. She becomes close to the daughter Ilse. In a tragic afternoon, all of Ilse’s family is lost to her. When the Nazis take over the house, ilse must be hidden in the attic to keep her safe. Audrey begins working with the resistance and soon all the lives, including the Nazis, in the house change.
As a dual time story, there is also the story of Kate. She recently lost both of her parents in a car accident that she blames herself for. For a new start, she decides to answer an ad at an inn where her parents honeymooned. In working at the inn, she meets the owner, Audrey.
Audrey conveys the story of her life and of those closest to her. They eventually find solace in each other and determine that we have to turn around and face our pasts, including the mistakes that we make.
Both women have made mistakes that have haunted them. With the help of each other, they can finally forgive themselves and look toward the future.
Do yourself a favor and read the author’s notes at the end of the book. It introduces us to the woman that was the inspiration for Audrey.

An entertaining read. I was distracted initially by several inaccuracies, and struggled with the flatness of the characters, but I kept wanting to come back to it and got through it very quickly.

I’ve read a lot of WWII fiction, but never from this perspective of an English/German woman who stayed and fought the Nazi’s from inside the party. I’m not a huge fan of the back and forth in time narrative and the convenient wrap up that the baby Audrey rescues and is other sole survivor of the group turns out to be Kate’s father, who died in the car crash that ultimately sent Kate to where Audrey is in the 2010s but I did like the theme of survivors guilt that is explored through this parallel.

A story told by alternating the events in Berlin during WWII with related characters decades later. The early years focused on resistance efforts of men and women, and the later years brought so much to the aftermath. Beautifully done, with unexpected turns that added so much.to the telling. It will be easy to booktalk to our patrons.

I really enjoyed how this story unfolded. I have read many historical fictions taking place during World War II, This will stay with me for a while.

One of the best WWII novels I’ve found. Highly recommended, as is the author’s information at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of this novel. I really enjoyed how Ms. Marshall took real life events and weaved them into a moving and captivating story about the Resistance Movement during WWII. Strong female characters are a plus for me while reading historical fiction novels. Ms. Marshall does not disappoint.

“…𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦.”

Prepare to be captivated, inspired, & emotionally gutted in the best way possible. Heather Marshall’s 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙪𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙮 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 weaves a dual-timeline tapestry of courage, sacrifice, & resilience, immersing readers in pre-WWII Berlin & Northern England in 2010. It’s a story that lingers long after the final page.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲:
• 🎹 Music as Resistance: Audrey’s piano is her solace & her weapon.
• 🏠 A House Divided: Nazis move in while Ilse hides in the attic—pure tension.
• 💔 Heartfelt Sacrifices: Brave acts that will have you gasping & crying.
• 🔥 Dual Timelines Done Right: Seamlessly shifts between Kate & Audrey’s stories.
• ✊ Powerful Female Friendship: Audrey and Ilse’s bond shines amid darkness.
• 🧩 Twists Galore: Connections between past & present will leave you stunned.

𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:
1. Audrey joining the resistance.
2. A chilling confrontation with a Nazi officer.
3. Kate uncovering Audrey’s devastating secrets.
4. A symbolic rainstorm scene in 2010.
5. A twist ending that demands a reread.

More than historical fiction, this is a masterclass in storytelling—equal parts thriller, heartbreaker, & homage to women’s strength.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁/𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:
• Severe language, including multiple F-bombs & misuse of deity.
• Graphic depictions of Nazi brutality & oppression.
• Themes of grief, loss, & betrayal.
• Attempted rape (off-page, not explicit).
• Same-sex attraction.

⭐️ 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 stars. Why Not a Full 5? Graphic language. One storyline seems to overshadow the other, leaving me craving more of the historical narrative.

A series of events in many families' lives at the onset of WWII that features the trials and tribulations of the Jewish people and the Resistance that aimed to stop Hitler as the War continued to effect the world. This is a riveting historical fiction not to miss.

Things I loved:
-historical nuggets of less heard about parts of WW2
-dual POV

Things that stopped this from being a 5star:
-the romance side plot felt rushed and tbh unnecessary
-I wanted more of a wrap up on Audrey’s past POV
-I felt way more invested in the past POV than the future

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of The Secret History of Audrey James.

This captivating novel tells the intertwined stories of Audrey, a young pianist who joins an anti-Hitler resistance movement in 1938 Germany, and Kate, a woman in 2010 who comes to terms with her own losses as Audrey shares her story. The book masterfully explores themes of loss, bravery, resilience, courage, love, and friendship.

I usually skip WWII books set in Europe after reading so many in the last few years, but Marshall manages to write a story that is clearly well-researched, but also poignant and absorbing.

The Secret History of Audrey James is a powerful and moving story, and a must-read for those who enjoy historical fiction, stories of resistance, and narratives that balance heart-pounding tension with moments of profound tenderness.

For those who enjoyed Marshall's first book, Looking for Jane, you will not be disappointed.

4.5 🌟s

I truly enjoy the writing of Heather Marshall. This is her second book- and I enjoyed her first as well. In this new novel, I like the way she seamlessly weaves together two stories between the time just prior to World War II and more modern times. There are times when dual timelines do not work out in my opinion. In this novel there is one main character in both timelines (the title character, Audrey) and it is a successful way to achieve a great story. We learn about her time during WWII and her personal battles as well as what she publicly did for those she loved. Haunted by her past, an encounter in the 2000’s brings to light those secrets.
The author also includes some romance-but doesn’t overdo it. Sometimes I find that can detract from the story and isn’t necessary. In this case, it’s just a small part and added to the story in a nice way.
The author’s note also showed how many real stories and circumstances Ms. Marshall brought into the story. There were times in the book that were heartbreaking and terrifying. Knowing that things were so very real makes it even more so.
I’m already looking forward to the next book by Heather Marshall!
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Wow, this had a huge emotional impact on me. I have read lots of historical fiction fiction set during World War II but I don't think I have ever read one that had several huge twists like this one. There is so much to unpack and I will be thinking about this book for days.

This novel is a dual timeline book with one story about Kate in 2010 and the other about Audrey in the late 1930s. Kate needs to leave London as she tries to escape her failed marriage and tries to deal with her past. She has lost both her parents and she is trying to retrace their steps. This brings her to Oakwood Inn where she meets Audrey. After a rough start, Audrey begins to confide in Kate about her past. Audrey was in Berlin, living with a Jewish family right before WWII began. Her story is heartbreaking but also incredible with what she went through to protect those that she loved and to try and make a difference for those in need.

This is an amazing work of historical fiction. It is thought provoking and even more inspiring is the fact that it was loosely based on real women. If you love books about World War II or just about strong women in general, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Ballantine Books/Random House and NetGalley for this ARC.

There wasn’t much new here regarding WWII, but then since 50-million books have been written about it, it would be difficult to do so. What I really did like was finding myself engrossed in ‘being there’. The author did an expert job of making the characters real, and the story moved along at a comfortable pace. I loved the ending. Okay, maybe it was a bit contrived, but I loved it anyway.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Secret History of Audrey James. I enjoyed it immensely. Well done, Ms. Marshall. Well done.

I want to thank Ballantine-Random House and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Secret History of Audrey James by author Heather Marshall. She previously wrote Looking for Jane.
“Reason, he said. We shall pray for reason.”
There are some things we can’t ever unsee, unhear.”
“Life deals but shit to some people and roses to others.”
War is coming. Hitler is invading countries, forcing the Jews out of their homes shooting some and sending others off to concentration camps. Audrey is British and is staying across the street from a Jewish family in Berlin to study the piano. She and Ilse become best friends. After Kristallnacht, Ilse”s father is shot and her mother and brother are taken away.
This book takes place in Berlin in 1939 and in England in 2010.
Audrey James life is indeed secret! And a very emotional one. Her life and those secrets will eventually be revealed.

Following the path of Audrey James in WWII and then Kate Mercer in the present- we see how life choices effect those around us more than we know and perhaps having grace and faith matters more too.

I enjoyed reading this book! The chapters following Audrey are vivid, terrifying and realistic! Kate's sesrch for a new future is rewarding and well thought out. My only gripe is the LGBT situation of a character. Why must every book these days have some reference to it? Ugh, it's annoying and off putting. Thankfully, this is not a fully developed line and I felt I could overlook it.

I fear this is only the beginning.

WOW is all I have been able to say. This is a story I can never forget.
A gripping story told in dual timelines, Berlin before the war, during the war and after the war and England in 2010.
A story of strong women, so much loss, friendship, tragedy, love, family secrets and more.
An emotional story that had tears streaming down my face as I read. Many times I felt as if I was standing next to Audrey as her life unfolded.
Every time I open an historical fiction book I am learning something new and this book was no different.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book.

This book absolutely gutted me! I could not put this book down. It was such a riveting tale of heroism and self discovery. The characters were so relatable and the subject matter, while dark, was compelling.

This was a very well-written WWII novel with a dual timeline story set in 1940s and in 2010. The characters were extremely well developed and easy to get to know. I very quickly became invested in the story and found it difficult to put down.

Reading the author's notes after finishing was very interesting. I learned that some of the elements were based on real life events.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys WWII fiction.