This was my 1st book by Heather Marshall and I'll be reading her 1st soon!
This historical novel is has a dual timeline of 1935-45 with Audrey, and 2010 with Kate, who has suffered the loss of both parents and now a divorce. Kate is reluctantly employed by Audrey, who then begins to tell her about her past prior to WWiI and during. Kate's story is slowly divulged through her conversations with Audrey and others.
I was definitely more engaged with Audrey's courageous tale-her friendship and commitment to her Jewish friend Ilse, the rising terror from the Nazi's, joining the Resistance and the various events of suspense with a beautiful friendship throughout. Kate's while sad, was the backstory for me. There are some scenes of violence appropriate for the story, unrequited same sex love, forgiveness of self and others, the outcome of trauma to families and heroism.
For me, the ending seemed a bit too quick and coincidental as well as puzzling given Audrey's previous character of devotion, hence a 3.75 rating.
I do highly recommend reading this book for anyone interested in a thought provoking perspective of the German resistance and the courage they had in resisting the cruelty, greed and persecution of the Jewish, foreigners and anyone not "Aryan" enough.
A big thank you to Heather Marshall and Simon & Schuster, it was a privilege to read the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This wonderful Historical Fiction, dual timeline, was inspired by historical events, the author’s family history and an actual Canadian woman in a resistance cell against Hitler. From 1938 Berlin, leading up to WWII and beyond into England in the 2010s. The story presents from two main characters’ experiences: Audrey James (past and present) along with Kate Mercer (present time). Each woman has experienced tragic loss, trauma and survivors guilt. The book beautifully explores generation trauma, how it effects the choices and decisions we make, eventually leading to the process of healing and forgiveness.
The book is divided into four parts, each starting with a quote from Dante’s Devine Comedy-Inferno Volume. As a reader this set me up for the dark settings that were to follow. The author does a good job compelling the reader to care for all the characters. The two timelines are not confusing and invite the readers to experience an emotional rollercoaster between the past while leading you to the present.
Audrey, a young and aspiring pianist, stays in Berlin with her best friend’s Jewish family to continue her 3 year program at the conservatory. Her father seeing problems with the upcoming Hitler calls her to his home in England. This decision to stay will have dire consequences and change the course of her life. She will do anything to assure the safety of her best friend Ilse. Audrey’s story is intense, daring and courageous.
Kate having experienced personal trauma and loss, decides to leave the busy bustle of London, a failed marriage, and head out to a small town in England where (from an old photo) her parents honeymooned at the Oakwood Inn. After answering an ad at that same Inn, she becomes the housekeeper and aid to the elderly, grouchy owner with the assistance from a couple of locals. Eventually, mutual understanding from their aching love & loss, bond these two wounded women and their life stories unfold, pulling the reader into the stress and strain of chaotic times.
A wonderful book presented from a different perspective than most WWII novels. Highly recommended.

This book was inspired by the true story of women during World War 2 and the German resistance. good historical read.

“Crimes that infinitely outdistance every human measure . . .”

This book grabbed me from the start. I could hardly put it down during Audrey’s chapters, and I was equally curious to know how Kate and Audrey got on in Kate’s chapters.

Although the book is loosely based on life experiences of real characters, it was mostly fiction and I found some things very unbelievable. But it was still a good read.

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

I did not finish this book. I read about 20 pages and was bored. There are far too many WWII books for this to start off as slowly as it did.

4.25. A very interesting and captivating historical fiction novel told in parallel during World War II and in 2010. We first focus on Audrey, a promising pianist raised in Berlin but with a widower English father who wants Audrey to return back to England when things start deteriorating in Germany in 1938. Audrey did not want to leave due to her strong bonds and friendship with a neighbor, Ilse who was Jewish. In 2010, we meet Kate Mercer who is trying to recover from a recent, unexpected and tragic loss of her parents from an automobile accident in which she also suffered physically and emotionally. Kate, recently separated decides to start a new chapter in her life from picking up her roots and moving from London to become an administrator at a bed and breakfast in Scotland. There she meets Audrey and their two lives become entwined. An endearing tale but one of strength, survival, perseverance, love, tragedy and redemption. Excellent character development. And well researched tale. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

Berlin, Audrey James is living at her friends Ilse's house while she’s studying music and piano. Her father desperately wants her to return to England, he thinks it’s too dangerous to stay in Germany and he’s worried another war is about to break out and she will be stranded.
Audrey doesn’t want to desert her friend, everyone in the Kaplan household is anxious by the anti-Jewish sentiment sweeping Berlin and rising the power of Adolf Hitler. The Kaplan’s disappear, a group of German officer’s move into their house and employ Audrey to be their housekeeper. The soldiers have no idea that Ilse wasn’t with her family that day, she’s hiding in the attic and Audrey is helping her.

The story has a dual timeline its set in 1938 and in 2010 and told mainly from the two main characters points of view and it’s very easy to follow.

Alnwick, Kate Mercer is trying to get her life back on track, she’s in the middle of a messy divorce and she's recently lost her parents. Kate needs a change, a place to live and gets a new job as an assistant administrator near the Scottish border and at Oakwood Inn. Her boss isn’t what she's expecting, an aloof and elderly lady, she changes her attitude and she wants to share her life story with Kate.

Kate learns about her living in Germany before and during the Second World War, how everything was taken away from Jewish people, not all Germans agreed with Hitler’s ideas and wasn't how it seemed.

I received a copy of The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall from Ballantine Books and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Wow, this narrative is very different to the author’s previous book, Looking for Jane and it's just as powerful and compelling.

Using the life of a real courageous woman as a bases in her new novel, Ms. Marshall explores the bonds of friendship, love, family, secrets, tragedy, war, risks, the German resistance and who was involved and the Holocaust. Five stars from me, a plot that emphasises love comes in many forms, levels and depths, the nature of luck, fate and chance and it’s never too late to admit you’re human and made mistakes.

This amazing historical novel was actually inspired by true stories of courageous women and the German resistance during World War II, The Secret History of Audrey James is an amazing book about strong friendship and the the sacrifices we are willing to undertake.

I would give this ten stars if I could. The range of feelings that this book will give you is phenomenal.

Set just before WWII, we learn Audrey’s story of bravery and love. A second timeline is in 2010 when Kate is just trying to find herself after her own tragedies.

Read this book. Don’t hesitate, just do it!

Thank you to Heather Marshall, NetGalley, and Ballantine Books for this ARC.

This was the most interesting historical fiction book I have ever read. I really enjoyed this book, it was written from a different perspective than I am used to when it comes to historical fiction.

This story goes between two different time frames, between the late 1930’s in Berlin and 2010 in England. Audrey is the main character and she is from the ‘present day’, 2010 and is telling her story of her time in Berlin during WWII.

This book was very hard to put down, but also broke my heart at the same time. I will gladly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and will be suggesting this book in my book club once it’s published!

When I first read the plot of Marshall's book, The Secret History of Audrey James, I imagined I would be reading about Nazi atrocities in great detail and was preparing myself for a depressing read. (That it took place near Scotland was the hook for me.) But that was not the case.
Yes, the brutalities and hardships due to Hitler's actions are discussed but the details are not as graphic as some historical novels I have read. Marshall states what has happened but the details are minimal.
The two main characters, Audrey and Kate have storylines that are decades apart, but both women come together when they must depend upon each other for physical care and employment. The women are carrying their own share of physical and emotional scars.
Kate's parents were killed in a car accident and she suffered serious scarring. Audrey lost her one true love and then was imprisoned for her anti Hitler activities.
What makes this book so interesting and more intense as it progresses is how the author reveals a little more about the two characters with each new chapter. Marshall does a great job tying her loose ends together. So well in fact that readers may not realize that in addition to a great story of friendship, love and history, a bit of mystery awaits them at the end.
Be sure and read her acknowledgements at the end where she shares where her ideas came from and who they are based on.
Thanks to Netgalley for a chance to read this novel.

A dual timeline historical fiction book by the author of looking for Jane. In 2010 Kate is looking to start over after the ending of her marriage and an accident that killed her parents. She moves far north in England to work as an assistant at an inn helping Audrey James.

In 1930's Germany, Audrey stays with a German family as she is a student at a well known piano school. She doesn't want to leave Germany for her loves the Jewish family she has known for years. However, her father wants her to return due to impending war. Then most of the family is captured or killed and high ranking Nazi officers take over the house where she lives.

An excellent read!

This is an outstanding book, fact based fiction full of twists and turns. I highly recommend it.!
Thanks to NetGalley for a free arc.

Audrey James is a stalwart, no nonsense, determined woman. Throughout this very compelling novel, the reader learns about Audrey but never quite knows her. Instead, Audrey provides snippets of her life and those who contribute to it, giving just a small measure of her story. Multiple characters offer glimpses of Audrey in varied time periods, including wartime Germany. The beauty of this novel is the love Audrey has for the generations she has protected, nurtured and supported through 3 generations. Seldom have I experienced a character who roused such emotion. A must read!

This book is another dark, but gripping tale of the atrocities of World War II. Well written and engaging. The twists and turns of the tale were wonderful. Surprises keep arising in the writing. Well worth reading.

The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall is a historical fiction with a duel timeline that takes place in the late 1930’s and 2010. Audrey James is a British pianist that is studying in Berlin in 1938. She is living with her longtime friend Isle’s family. She is weeks away from graduating when Hitler increases his takeover of Europe. Audrey does not want to leave her friend so she does not return to London as her father requests. Since Isle’s family is Jewish, they are targeted as are all the other Jewish people, rounded up, and forced to leave their home and sent to camps. Isle is not with the rest of the family when they are rounded up so she avoids capture and is hidden in the house by Audrey when it is taken over by the SS. Hence the story begins.

Kate Mercer’s life has fallen apart as a result of a car accident that killed her parents and hurt her. She is also going through a divorce. She wants a change from London so she takes a job in the countryside as an assistant to Audrey. She found a picture in her parents possession of this same place and they were advertising for the position. She believes her parents honeymooned there and is hoping to find closure.

Kate believes Audrey harbors many secrets and is interested in finding out more about her. They become friends and she convinces Audrey to tell her story. Kate records it so she can comprise a book. As Audrey’s story unfolds, much is revealed about Audrey’s time during the war and the things she did to help those in danger. It also reveals some of the things Kate is withholding about the accident and brings connection to the two.

I love the twists that take place in the story. I was also amazed to learn about some of the things that were done by the resistance to try and stop Hitler. I feel the writing about what was taking place, along with the switching of timelines was extremely well done. I would like to thank Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this pre-release. I would highly recommend it.

Great book! The chapters flip back and forth from World War 2 to the present day (2010). It's an intriguing story and very well told.

After a tragic accident and the ending of her marriage, Karen Mercer takes a job working at a guesthouse near
the Scottish boder. She discovers that it is where her parents stayed and hopes find out more.
The proprietor, Audrey James, has a mysterious past and does not like to talk about it. Kate convinces her to
share her story which involves Audrey living in Berlin in 1938 when Hitler is in power. The story alternates between
the present and the past, as Audrey reveals what she endured living in Berlin at the time.
Sacrifices made for friendship and love and the power of human connection.
#TheSecretHistoryofAudreyJames #RandomHouse #Ballantine #NetGalley

I was excited to read this book as I loved the author’s previous book, Looking for Jane. This is an entirely different topic but I loved this as well. I’ve read many books about the holocaust and WWII but this perspective was very unique. The women involved in the resistance were so incredibly strong and Audrey James is no different. The dual timelines worked so well and the connections between the two main characters is slowly woven through but not overtly obvious. The storytelling and writing is excellent. One of my favorite books this year!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Yet another perspective of the Holocaust, but this time, through the eyes of members of the Red Orchestra, which consisted of Germans trying to fight Hitler from within. The dual story of modern day Audrey and Audrey during the war is well- crafted, along with the cast of modern characters who get to learn Audrey’s story. I enjoyed the writing very much, but really appreciated the research the author conducted to provide this interesting perspective on the War.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.