The average lifespan of a wireless operator dropped into France during WWII was six weeks… Into this dangerous setting, 23 year old Pippa Latour was dropped alone, with little more than falsified papers, a few weapons, and a cyanide capsule. Her gripping story is told in the first person narrative, and it is told well.

Pippa was uniquely qualified to blend into the French countryside, posing as a local. Her mother was French, her father British, and she was born in South Africa. Orphaned at a young age, her eclectic upbringing by a succession of godmothers provided her with a unique skill set which included multiple languages and remarkable adaptability. She said, “….my education at age eighteen… would be diverse--bush baby in the Belgian Congo, free spirit in the outdoors of the Serengeti, classroom-contained in Kenya and finished off in Paris. It was an eclectic mix.”

This fascinating memoir takes us from her childhood in Africa to finishing school in Paris and on to SOE training before giving us an inside look into life constantly on the move and in danger as a wireless operator behind enemy lines.

“The Last Secret Agent’ by Pippa LaTour with Jude Dobson is a story I feel honored to have read, and one I already want to read again. History from one of the people who made it. Well done!

I received this book for free from NetGalley to provide my unbiased review.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 13, 2025
“The Last Secret Agent: My Untold Story of Life as a Spy Behind Nazi Enemy Lines” is a work of non-fiction by former SEO agent Pippa Latour and biographer Jude Dobson.
Pippa Latour was the last remaining British female operative in WW2. Until her death a few years ago, Pippa had told no one of her past in the war, not even her own children. In 1944, she parachuted into occupied France, posing as a schoolgirl selling handmade soaps, in order to collect and communicate information on the German forces. She was barely an adult herself, surrounded daily by death and gruesome injuries, risking her very life for the war effort. Pippa co-wrote this novel, with the help of Dobson, when she was 101 and, when she died in 2023, she was the last remaining female operative, which, Dobson hints, is likely the reason she was able to tell her story so openly.
Pippa’s life reads better than a work of fiction, even before she joined the service. Right from birth, she had an exciting story to tell, from her arrival on the deck of a ship, to her young life living in Africa with a cheetah for a pet, to being a barely legal adult in a foreign country. Everything about Pippa is admirable and extraordinary and if anyone is a real-life war hero, it is Ms. Latour.
Considering her age, and the clandestine military work she performed, Pippa’s memory of events is impressive and, where there are gaps, Dobson fills them with thorough research. Both women pay respectful tribute to the fallen and the wounded who played such an important role in shaping the future of, not just Britain, but all of its allies.
“Secret Agent” is a very personal story, and it reads like Pippa is speaking right to me, which helped connect me to this brave and resolute woman. It is unfourtunate that the majority of our veterans, domestic and ally, are no longer around to tell their remarkable stories of a time that we can only imagine. “Agent” is a non-fiction story, which is incredible in itself, but it also provides an in-depth look of World War 2 France, and all of the dramatic and terrifying events that took place there (and throughout the world, of course).
Much respect to Ms. Latour for bringing this story to the world at a relevant and pertinent time. “Secret Agent” should be read by anyone who wants to be inspired, has an interest in World War 2, and believes that female voices should be heard.

What a life! What a mission! What a woman! Can you even imagine, the bravery, the cunning, the determination, and the grit that it took to parachute and work behind enemy lines, to send back codes, and to risk your life for the greater good? Born and raised in South Africa, Pippa Latour, learned to be brave in the face of danger. She learned to be tough as she experienced loss, grief, and upheaval in various living situations. She was strong, brave, resilient, and intelligent. This served her well when she joined the Special Operations Executive (SOE), where he parachuted into occupied France, sending back codes, and using her quick wits and thinking to avoid many close calls and to evade trouble.

She lived quite the life, and I was blown away at the beginning of the book where it is mentioned the no one in her family knew of her brave deeds or involvement with the SOE. It was only after her children questioned her about what they learned about her on the internet in 2000, that she decided to tell her story - her way. It was her story after all and if it was going to be told, she was going to be the one to do it! I so admired her for not needing or wanting public praise and kept her heroic deeds to herself. I also loved that she decided to tell her story on her own terms once her involvement with the SOE became known. This memoir was published after her death and was co-written with journalist Jude Dobson.

It is no wonder that Pippa was the last surviving member of the undercover British female operative in WW2. From her childhood she was strong, brave, and able to adapt to new situations. I love reading books based on real people and events. I also love reading books that teach me new things, evoke emotion, and are thought provoking. This book did all of those and then some. While reading I couldn't help but wonder if I could have been as brave as Pippa and the other women who parachuted into Nazi France during the war. You never know what you have inside of you until you are put to the test. To be a person in extraordinary situations. This is another example of how brave women throughout time have stepped up and answered the call for service displaying great bravery, skill, confidence, and intelligence.

Gripping, informative, and evoking emotion.

A Fascinating Portrait of a Forgotten Heroine

This book delivers a gripping and moving account of Pippa Latour's extraordinary life as a British spy in Nazi-occupied France. Her bravery, intelligence, and resilience shine through every page, and it's refreshing to see her story finally given the spotlight it deserves. From her resourceful use of everyday items to conceal codes, to the high-stakes operations leading up to D-Day, the narrative is rich with tension and humanity.

Pippa does a great job painting the historical backdrop and offering a personal lens into the covert world of wartime espionage. Pippa's journey—from orphaned childhood in South Africa to the front lines of resistance—is as compelling as it is inspiring.

The only reason for holding back a fifth star is that some sections felt a bit rushed or lacked the depth I was hoping for, particularly in exploring her emotional world during those harrowing missions. Still, it's an important and captivating read that sheds light on an unsung hero of WWII.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in history, espionage, or stories of remarkable women who defied the odds.

This was an amazing and breathtaking account of being on the right side during the Nazi disaster and theHolocaust. Pippa was an incredible woman that I’m happy that I got to read about. This book absolutely blew my mind, and I loved reading all of her amazing story.

Phyllis "Pippa" Latour was born in South Africa and became an orphan at an early age. She was then raised by different family members and servants in several different countries thus affording Pippa the opportunity to learn to speak many different languages, adapt to different cultures, different customs and learn what I would call street smarts as she grew up. She was taught Morse code early on loved it. After school, she joined the resistance as a Secretive Operative Agent. Pippa learned how to parachute into unknown territory and then to travel in strange places through the dark to find her contacts who she did not know. She and her contacts learned how to survive in the forests and forage for food among other things.

This book was so exciting and so different from any WWII secret agent book that I have ever read. Pippa was very intelligent, very brave and very resourceful during her career as a secret agent. She faced many challenges and handled them with her multiple skills and high intelligence.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this very exciting page turner.

The Last Secret Agent is, without fail, one of the most incredible and intriguing memoirs I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.

Pippa Latour grew up in the Belgian Congo (speaking some dozen different languages) before landing herself in Paris just as WWII was brewing in Europe. Instructed to flee to England for safety, the horrible reports she files along with the news leaves her desperate to do something— anything— to aid in the allied efforts to put a stop to Hitler’s tyranny across the continent. Without fully understanding what she’s signed up for, she enlists in a secret agency known as the SOE— a boots on the ground spy circuit. Stationed in France, this memoir documents her time living as a secret agent in France and the impact of the war on her life.

If you enjoy history, this memoir is not one to miss. I wish I could have known Pippa personally— what a fierce and feisty woman!

I would like to thank St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Living to 102, Pippa Latour definitely led a most interesting and unusual life. As a spy behind enemy lines, Pippa operated as a wireless operator. Once the war was over, she never looked back, burying the stories she never wanted to revisit. Pippa believed “It wasn’t anybody’s business what I did in the war. It was my business. Mine alone.” Then along came the internet, and she felt the truth needed to be told. My review is vague, and I leave it up to you to read Pippa’s own words.

While this is Pippa’s memoir, the tone is more of a fact-based biography than a memoir of personal memories and accompanying emotions. For instance, as a teen-ager she is walking alone over the Pyrenees with no extra clothes or belongings, and no knowledge of Spanish. Rather than fear and apprehension, she copes by focusing and moving forward. Partway through the book I realized that she tells us these stories dispassionately as that is how she approached everything, because being emotional would get you killed.

Pippa was one courageous, resilient and resourceful woman who knew her own mind.

https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/

Amazing book about SOE Pippa Latour.
Beautifully written by author Jude Dobson,I couldn’t put down until I finished reading…
Thanks for giving me a chance to read about resistance in France during WW2…

This is narrative nonfiction and reads more like an intriguing WW2 espionage historical fiction novel. I expected it to be a bit dry since it’s written by a 100 year old, but it was fun and engaging! I really liked the narrator and her different voices for different characters.

It took a while for Pippa’s job in France to be fully explained. It would’ve been nice if this paragraph came way earlier in the book instead of almost two-thirds through: “It was my job to find information while moving from place to place, especially troop movements, and pass that back to home base. Of course, I would also send and receive messages about parachutages and any other information the circuit needed to communicate about. This information would come via the couriers. Katia and Lise would meet on their own “sked” every two days, to exchange intelligence. Then Maurice or I, as wireless operators, would pass it along as needed, keeping the all-important link to London alive for Scientist.”

Overall a really enjoyable and informative read! I liked that it wasn’t overly dark or sad. Pippa was so real and honest.

✨ Book Review: The Last Secret Agent: My Life as a Spy Behind Nazi Lines by Pippa Latour & Jude Dobson ✨

📖 Thank you to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for the opportunity to read this ARC! My thoughts are entirely my own.

⭐ 5 STARS ⭐

I don’t usually read memoirs, but The Last Secret Agent had me hooked! 📚 I couldn’t put it down and finished it in just two days. Pippa Latour’s story is absolutely inspiring—her bravery as a spy behind Nazi lines during WWII is something to be admired. 💥

While the first 25% could have been a bit shorter, I understand why the backstory was included. It added depth to her incredible journey. I also learned so much about WWII—events I wasn’t even taught in school! 🏛️📜

This book really hit home for me, as my grandfather served in the war as an American in an administrative role because he could type. He spent some time in Paris after the liberation army came through. Reading The Last Secret Agent felt like sitting with him and listening to his stories. ❤️

Highly recommend this to anyone who loves history, memoirs, and stories of unsung heroes! 🕵️‍♀️

📚 #BookReview #TheLastSecretAgent #WWIIMemoir #MustRead #PippaLatour #WomenInHistory #ARCReview #NetGalley #HistoricalNonfiction #BooksOfInstagram #SpyThriller #TrueStory

This honestly is a book needed right now with the erasing of DEI and the history of non whites and females etc in the military and significant history this IS NEEDED …this is also needed to remind us of WWII how it started what it looked like and hopefully open America’s eyes … we are playing with fire and are certainly going to get burned if not incinerated
There was some repetition but when I see how the information was gathered and the telling occurring when Pippa/paulette was over 100 it makes it seem more authentic and genuinely from her and her memories - it is crazy to me how talented she was and how brave many were ! Her story is fascinating! I’ve always said I can’t imagine but I would hope I would so so such and such but also hope I never have to find out and I truly didn’t think we would be tested but given the direction we are going who knows
This story is about resiliency, bravery, agency and so much more - truly this story and those like it are what we need right now

Every so often, a memoir comes along that leaves you in complete awe—not just because of the remarkable events it recounts, but because of the sheer resilience and courage of the person who lived it. The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour, co-written with Jude Dobson, is one of those books. It’s an unforgettable, jaw-dropping story that reads like a thriller, but what makes it truly incredible is that Pippa Latour lived an unbelievable life, even in her younger years before becoming part of the SOE.

If you’re drawn to stories of resilience, bravery, and untold histories, this book will undoubtedly captivate you. The Last Secret Agent is an unmissable read—a moving, heart-pounding tale of heroism that sheds light on one of the most remarkable women of WWII. It left me both humbled and inspired, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I loved this read, she was such a brave young women, and I felt like I was walking in her shoes.
We begin this book at the very beginning of her life, and yes, we see what made her what she was.
Her life was not easy, and there is a lot of tragedy, but their were people who stepped up and she had an amazing upbringing.
This woman and others like her are owed so much, they saved so many lives and helped win the war, and often went unrecognized!
I loved that this amazing woman Pippa Latour is being recognized, she was so smart and gave so much to the world! Many thanks to Jude Dobson for this wonderful book!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher St. Martin's Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

Pppa Latour was an agent working for SOE(Special Operations Executive) in France during WWII. Growing up
in the Belgian Congo, the skills she learned during her childhood were an asset as an agent, as was her ability
to learn languages.. Life expectancy for agents was between 2-6 weeks. When sending information gathered,
she had to keep it as short as possible so the Germans would not be able to pinpoint her location.
Pippa was a truly courageous and fascinating woman. Fortunate that she was willing to share her story .
Highly recommend.
#TheLastSecretAgent #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

What an incredible story it's mind-boggling how young Pippa Latour was when she parachuted into France during WWII as a SOE agent for Britain as a wireless operator. The fact that she never told anyone about her role during the war, not even her family due to signing the official Secrets Act, shows how faithful and loyal Pippa was. This memoir tells about the life of Pippa from her childhood in Africa, her teen years in France, her war training in Britain and her time as a SOE agent in France and her later years in New Zealand. To say Pippa was brave and courageous is an understatement. Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read this book it was an honour to read such an amazing woman's story.

If you enjoy history, you will love this memoir of the last surviving SOE agent during WWII. This the memoir of Pippa Latour who won many awards for her service but did not want to discuss it until near the end of her life when one of her grandsons discovered her service and wanted to know more about it. This story is a very inspiring read of a young woman's bravery during a time of incredible danger and turmoil. Her unique childhood and her hatred for the Nazi regime provided her the strength to excel at this exceedingly dangerous pursuit. She also pays tribute to her many fellow female SOE agents who did not survive the Nazi terror of this time. I finished the book feeling very grateful and inspired that such brave young women were willing to fight against the evil of their time. I highly recommend this excellent book.

Heartfelt Thank You of appreciation to both St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for the sheer pleasure of reading an ARC of this masterpiece. Just WOW! I will carry this true story with me for a very long time.
Pippa Latour began her life as an orphan and then became an undercover operative during World War II. She parachuted into France with the project to secretly sabotage the enemy. She then began sending secretly coded messages to London. Her intelligence and outstanding bravery especially during a time in our history when the rights of women were all but non existent.
Pippa’s story means everything to me since my late Father in law was an 82nd Airborne parachuter and jumped into Normandy. I will be purchasing a physical copy of this book in May for my shelves to share with the generations who come after myself in life. It IS that important.

Where do I start? This is a most interesting Memoir that kept me reading. Pippa starts with her difficult birth and her childhood in Africa. Details on to how she ended up in Paris and then England and how she eventually ended up training SOE F are well established. We get an account of her training, parachuting into Normandy and the workings of the resistance and her roll in that resistance. The entire story was a secret she never shared, but got cleared to tell this story. Pick up this book, you won't regret it.

Wow! What an amazing book! This book details the life of Pippa Latour from the beginning of her life in South Africa, and then her life as a secret operative agent. The bravery of her and her fellow SOE agents is commendable. It still confounds me that the terrible events of WWII happened. I'm proud of those who stood for freedom and against tyranny. Jude Dobson did an excellent job researching and writing this book!

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.