Pippi Latour’s life was fascinating. She had more adventure and transformative experiences as a child than most people have in their lives.

I am familiar with the broader story — WWII, German actions in occupied France, the Vichy government, the SOE, the French resistance movement, etc. I have also read works of historical fiction focused on resistance and spy efforts in France and other occupied countries. So, there was little that was truly surprising. However, historical fiction, as the name implies, is a mix of fact and fiction, and it is not always easy to know how closely the story hues to reality. And of course, no two people’s stories are the same. Yet, it was very interesting and enjoyable to get the firsthand knowledge of what life was like for Pippi Latour as an SOE agent, knowing that she was sharing the “truth” and her impressions and experiences to the best of her recollection.

An outstanding story highlighting the little-known exploits and heroism of a female SOE operative dropped into France in WW2. The story gives an excellent picture of the intense and horrifying life as an uncover agent. The author does a great job of bringing the individual to life and you can almost feel as if you were there. This is a great read for anyone but should be especially important to the young women of today as a role model and how no task or career is unobtainable if you put your mind to do it.

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

When it comes to the history of war, we rarely read about the women of war. When we do, it's almost always those who were part of the medical contingent. This is the memoir of a woman who was an active part of World War II as a secret agent. Pippa Latour, under various code names, spent her time in the midst of it all, mostly in the north of France in the Normandy region, living rough while doing her part to communicate information to the allies in England. We often think of the world of being a secret agent as being full of intrique and glamour. Let me tell you, Pippa's experience as a secret agent was anything but. In this account of Pippa's involvement, as told to Jude Dobson, she manages to defeat the odds while dodging Nazis and just trying to survive. A feat that most sturdy men couldn't handle, let alone a petite 23 year old woman who had to believably pretend that she was a 14 year old girl.

As one who loves to read Historical Fiction, especially of this very time period, I had begun to tire of the same old stories being told over and over again. It was so refreshing to read a book of this time period that had a whole different point of view. Instead of the typical accounts of surviving the horrors of the concentration camps, here we are told of an active agent who lived every second in fear of her life while working tirelessly to do her part to fight the Nazis right on the French front.

Unlike my beloved Historical Fiction stories, this was all true. As much as I love Historical Fiction, it is always confusing trying to determine which parts were real and which were fictionalized. In this case, for the most part, this is all true. At least, as true as a very aged woman's mind can remember, as well as what could be documented corroborated. Plus, unlike so many accurate true accounts, it's not dry at all. It actually reads easily and is interesting as a good Historical Fiction book but without all of the guess work.

A very fascinating book that I can easily recommend to anyone who has an interest in the various stories from World War II. Reads easily enough that it would even intrigue those who are not history buffs but appreciate a good story. Should be especially appealing to women, though also enlightening for men who are looking for World War II stories that they had not run across before.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for offering me a copy of the eBook in lieu of a review.

Pippa Latour, the last surviving British spy during World War II, reveals the real, untold story of her time in France. She discusses what the process was like and how she had to hide her identity. Pippa parachuted into Paris to conduct sabotage under enemy lines. Many of the people she trained with ended up not making it out and Pippa discusses how difficult and scary this time was for her.

Some of this was really technical and a little hard to follow, but for the most part, I found it interesting. I liked learning about how secret agents were used before and during World War II and the lengths they had to go through to hide. I can't believe she lived to be 102!

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Let me start this off by saying the narrator, Jilly Bond, nailed this book. I felt like I was listening to Pippa herself tell her story. So, if you have the chance, get this on audio. But, you cannot go wrong with this book either way.

Pippa Latour had a very unique life. And she kept it all secret from her family. Until, one of her kids discovered her past on the internet. She decided to come clean after decades of silence.

I am amazed at Pippa and everything she did in the war. And I love how she is just matter of fact about her experiences.

Pippa was an incredibly strong and resilient young woman. Not to mention very intelligent. She spoke several languages, could jump out of airplanes and risked her life at every turn.

Need a well researched biography…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this audiobook from the publisher for a honest review.

Pippa lived more in her first 23 years than most could in five lifetimes.
Orphaned in Africa and raised by godparents and aunts, she grew up deeply connected to nature.
After bouncing between boarding schools, she found herself in Paris—just before the Nazi occupation.
Later, she was sent to London to train with the Allies, where her sharp mathematical skills led her to work undercover in Nazi-occupied France, transmitting vital messages back to London.
Her story is real, and it kept me turning the pages, always wanting more.

What an incredible memoir! Told years after World War II, 102 year-old woman who worked for the special operations executive as a spy tells her story in this wonderful book only 26 female agents returned, and Pippa was one of them. Being a child who moved quite frequently she picked up languages like a sponge, learn to shoot a gun at age of seven and excelled at subjects like math and algebra. All these qualities made her the perfect spy.. at the age of 23 Pippa was flown into the most dangerous part of France with most of the work that she had to do made me hold my breath as I was reading. The fact that it was told in her voice just made it even more special.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion

This book is the memoir of a woman who became a spy at the age of 23 in WWII. It truly is an amazing book. The guts that it took for this woman and those like her to parachute into France in order to send strategic information out to England using Morse Code is unfathomable. Although she really wasn't sure what she was being hired to do when she took the job, she faced every challenge and obstacle with bravery and composure.

The story included names and dates, yet read smoothly and did not have that history book feel to it. It gives you at least a partial feel for all she endured and the loss of friends and acquaintances that she suffered.

Wow. Just wow.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

The Last Secret Agent is a gripping, unforgettable memoir. Pippa Latour’s story—parachuting into Nazi-occupied France as a teenage SOE agent—is as thrilling as it is inspiring. Her courage, quick thinking, and quiet resilience shine through every page.

Told with honesty and heart, the book captures both the danger of her missions and the emotional weight she carried long after. A must-read for anyone interested in WWII history, espionage, or untold stories of remarkable women. An easy 5 stars.

Pippa’s story is an incredibly moving memoir of surging WWII as a Secret Agent. From her childhood in Africa to her time in France during the war, her imagery and stories are beautifully told. Having a Gran who was a child during WWII, and remembering her stories and close calls, Pippa’s sacrifices and those of her comrades are not lost on me. This is an immensely important book, and teaches the significance of those who endangered their own lives to protect that of others. Trigger warning: contains minor/moderate mentions of rape and death.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 5/13/2025. There is a fine line in our society about honoring privacy and being really nosey so-and-sos. Any number of celebrities have faced this wiggly line as have survivors, champions, etc. It's a funny thing when a spy has to face it, though. While the few (family included) who knew of her service thought she had been a balloon watcher, Pippa Latour had actually spent WWII in France - on the run and living rough, sending coded messages via wireless, selling soap and spying. She had been a member of England's infamous SOE in occupied France (the Normandy area, to be precise), parachuting in alone in May 1944 and getting back out in October 1944. Thanks to the internet, her sons found out and, tasked with their questions and disbelief, Pippa had to do something she never had planned to do. She told her story. As far as she was concerned, the oath she took as a spy remained intact as did the mental and psychological strains from the months spent in France. It was a closed chapter. Until it wasn't.

The book is written from Pippa's point of view and from her memories with some additional fact-checking and supplemental details from her co-writer Jude Dobson. To say that Pippa's voice is delightful is soft-selling. She is beyond delightful, wry and amused and sensible and just getting the facts out there. Her life is fascinating and you get the feeling that, intellectually, she understands how wild and rich her life is... But it was just her life. Doesn't everyone grow up happily in the jungles of Africa after being orphaned, sent to boarding school in Paris, half-adopted by a wide variety of amazingly supportive extended family members? Oh, and her skill with guns and Morse code and puzzles weren't anything big; she learned as a kid and her mind just enjoyed making things fit and math. No biggie. Pippa went through hell, though, but takes pains to keep things from getting too emotional in her retelling. She shows you sadness and fear but she holds it at a distance of years as if to say "this is why I closed the book, so it can't hurt me anymore." Yet you get the feeling some things still hurt and it pretty much depends on her co-writer to find out about her awards and the ways Pippa was honored. What sticks out to Pippa more is not the awards SHE got; it's more about the unfairness of things her courier Katia didn't get, the way her fellow female SOEs who died were forgotten. Bloody fair play and all that as they'd say.

In the end, the epilogue is written by Jude because Pippa didn't quite make it to her publication date and passed away at the impressive age of 102 - the last surviving WWII spy who operated out of occupied France. Hats off to an amazing woman! Her words caught me, held me, and made this book a wonderful read.

TW: there is mention of a rape but, in Pippa style, it is underplayed and brief. While the woman admits to night terrors etc after the war, she is clearly determined not to inflict them on her readers.

My untold story as a spy behind Nazi lines.

Pippa had lived a whole life before she ever started working with SOE - Special Operations Executive. Growing up in Belgian Congo, the Serengeti, Kenya, Paris and more gave her a knowledge that few of us could match. This memoir was an eye opener as to what those who had a part in gaining victory managed to live through. Many did not survive, and for those we are also very grateful.

I am quite sure I would not have what it would take to do what Pippa did. I received this ebook through St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. This short review was written in appreciation for the opportunity to learn more about an incredible woman.

This was a fascinating true story about a female secret spy operating against the German Nazis. I was in awe of this hero who risked her life to fight the good fight of WWII. I applaud the family of Pippa who worked tirelessly to see that her story is finally shared with the world!

I paired the ebook with the audiobook which was a nice addition.

I received an advanced electronic copy from publisher St. Martins Press books and Netgalley. Also thank you to Macmillan audio for the gifted audiobook. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book. All opinions are my own.

Absolutely amazing book. I am always looking for more stories like this and this one satisfied it. Easily five stars!

Pippa Latour's memoir reveals extraordinary courage told with remarkable humility. At just 23, her activities in Nazi-occupied Normandy demonstrate astonishing bravery and dedication to the resistance movement.
This meticulously detailed account offers rare insight into a lesser-known chapter of WWII history. Her vivid portrayal of resistance work stands as one of the most comprehensive first-hand narratives available.
Highly recommended both for its historical significance and as a powerful testament to human resilience in the face of tyranny. Latour ensures the contributions of these unsung heroes will never be forgotten.

For anyone interested in WWII women who made a difference, this memoir of the oldest surviving SOE agent Pippa Latour is an important read. Ms. Latour never spoke of her time as an agent during her lifetime until one of her sons found something on the internet. She had planned to take her secrets to her grave. This tiny, humble woman was made of steel. Pippa Latour is a true heroine.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The last surviving undercover British female operative in WW2. Pippa Latour parachuted into occupied France in 1944, and after decades of silence she told her story. She kept her war life secret from everyone including her family. Pippa was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire and received the Légion d’Honneur in France! This memoir was published posthumously.
I very much enjoyed hearing Pippa’s story. I am amazed what a life she lived. In this memoir there were times it felt even she was amazed, and other times where amazing feats were “no big deal, we just did what we had to do” attitude you find in the greatest generation.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. #netgalley #thelastsecretagent

I tried reading Code Name: Lise a few months ago, but I couldn't quite get into it. In contrast, reading Pippa Latour's own recollection of the war was utterly engrossing and deeply moving. I had really enjoyed The Rose Code last year, which focused on code breakers, so it was incredible to now experience a firsthand account of World War II from the perspective of someone in the Special Operations Executive.

Once I reached the part where Pippa parachutes into Normandy, I couldn’t put the book down and read the rest in one sitting. She was so brave; she was only 23 years old and posed as a teenager selling soap to German soldiers to help her grandparents get by. All the while, she transmitted 135 messages back to Britain to aid the Allied war effort. She narrowly avoided discovery by the Gestapo multiple times, and the harrowing two-month trek she undertook to reach Paris and return to England was terrifying to imagine.

I especially appreciated how Pippa made a point to honor the other women of section F who lost their lives in service and ensured that their contributions wouldn't be forgotten. I don't think I can ever fully grasp the level of mental strength and courage these women possessed and my respect for them is immeasurable. On a lighter note, I was amused by a conversation between Pippa and intelligence officer Vera Atkins, when Vera reassured her that she could still back out of the mission before she jumped. Vera quipped, "To date, the only ones in your position who have ever changed their minds are men."

WWII continues to fascinate me, and reading Pippa's story felt especially poignant in light of the troubling parallels in today's world. History often repeats itself, but I have no doubts that there are still people as fearless and determined as the women of the SOE among us.

This book was actually hard to believe! My jaw actually dropped during different parts of the story. I am so glad that Pippa told her story, because she was truly amazing. A World War II British Spy, Pippa's story was kept secret until now. Not only was she one of a small number of women in a position like this, she exceeded all expectations in the amount of information she was able to obtain and share with the Allies until Paris was liberated. It is impossible to review this without giving away too many incredible details and side stories - but if you are a fan of history, strong women and WWII spies, this is a must read. An inspiration to everyone and a story that we should all be so glad that she shared!

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copies.

What a life Pippa LaTour led. This is a fascinating, brutally honest account of being in France as a secret agent during WWII. What courage it must have taken, and what courage to share her story. I highly recommend it.