A witty and moving recounting of one of the women behind enemy lines in the British intelligence forces fighting in WWII. It was harrowing and entertaining in turns and such a gift to later generations to have this unique tale of heroism and grit preserved.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

When you read this book and the story of Pippa's life, you'll almost believe that she was [literally] born to do the job she does in the war; everything in her life leading up to her time as a spy during WW2 was exactly what she would need to accomplish the very missions she would embark on at the tender age of 23; it IS a bit mind-boggling as it all unfolds. What she [and the other SOE operatives] did and accomplished was nothing short of amazing and miraculous and I am in awe of them and her and this whole story.

I am so glad that, after decades of silence, that Ms. LaTour decided to write her full story down - this is a story that everyone should be reading and may we ALL be as brave as she and all those who fought so valiantly during that time of war.

Jilly Bond is an excellent narrator and does a fantastic job telling this story. I cannot even imagine reading some of this story out loud without bawling my head off, but she accomplishes it and accomplishes it well, and I commend her for being able to not only read this often difficult story, but to do it in a way that just sucks you and keeps you there until the very end. I highly recommend listening to this amazing audiobook!

I was invited to read/review this by the publisher [St. Martin's Press] and I thank them, Pippa LaTour, Jude Dobson, Jilly Bond - Narrator, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for providing this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very timely autobiography. Read this to learn, not just about history, but about what you can do about it.
I loved the narration and the storytelling. Every component made for a very compelling story. It evoked the feeling of chatting with your experienced elder.
This book definitely made me sob at a point or two. Especially learning about how her grandfather and aunt in France ended up.
Thank you to Pippa Latour for sharing her story with us. It is one we would do well to listen to and learn from. I only wish to be as brave as her in my life.

The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour is a powerful, deeply moving account of one woman’s incredible contributions to the Allied war effort. She tells her story with humility, clarity, and an eye for the emotional and historical weight. This book is not just a memoir; it’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, especially when the stakes are nothing less than freedom itself.

What struck me most was how much of her work, and the work of so many women like her, was done in the shadows. There’s a whole history of women’s contributions to WWII that we rarely hear about, especially in espionage. Latour’s story is a reminder that the war wasn’t just won on the front lines. It was also fought in whispers, coded messages, train compartments, and village safehouses—often by women who had to blend in, endure, and persist without recognition or support.

What sets this book apart from other wartime memoirs is Latour’s voice: intelligent, composed, and refreshingly understated. She does not sensationalize her experiences, though she certainly could. Instead, she invites readers into the quiet, often invisible world of espionage—where courage is measured not by dramatic gestures, but by the willingness to risk everything for the greater good, day after day, in absolute secrecy.

The book offers an intimate window into the workings of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the dangerous operations carried out by agents behind enemy lines. Latour’s training, deployment, and covert activities in Nazi-occupied France are described with precision and grace, revealing the incredible challenges faced by women in espionage—both logistical and emotional. Her reflections on fear, loyalty, and isolation are profound and deeply humanizing.

Perhaps most moving is the way Latour highlights the collaborative nature of resistance. This is not just her story, it is also a tribute to the countless individuals, named and unnamed, who aided her mission and paid dearly for their bravery. There’s a reverent, almost sacred quality to the way she recounts the fates of her fellow agents and the civilians who risked their lives to help. And she never forgets to honor those around her, civilians, resistance fighters, and fellow agents, many of whom never made it home.

This is a must-read not only for history enthusiasts, but for anyone interested in the nuanced realities of wartime heroism. It challenges the traditional narratives of war by centering a woman whose intelligence, adaptability, and moral conviction made her an unsung hero of the Allied victory.

This is more than a war story, it’s a deeply personal reminder of how many courageous women helped shape history, even if history didn’t bother to remember them. Latour’s memoir is a long-overdue tribute to that forgotten courage.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!

This book was so interesting! Pippa Latour was one of the female agents dropped behind enemy lines during World War II.

She did incredible things, fighting for the cause she believed in, even at risk to herself.

Women are so often unmentioned in terms of the heroics of the day, but they deserve to be celebrated.

This was the life of an amazing woman not just the years of her acting as a spy for England. I have read various books that describes these British female operatives in WW2, their courage and determination to help the war effort in any way they can. Not all of them survived the war. The ones that did had bad memories to deal with and trying to adjust a normal life, it is shameful to realize how long it took for these women to be recognized by the British government for the sacrifices they had taken. What makes Pippa Latour unique is that she was the last Secret Agent from World War II to be alive. She had a unique upbringing from birth till age 18, the time she started training.
I first listened to the audio narrated by Jilly Bond. She did a wonderful job in presenting the story, made for easy listening. I waited a couple of weeks and then read the kindle version. I enjoyed both. Reading it this way brought extra clarity to the events taking place.

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.

The audio book is excellent. The narrator has a great voice that captures you and draws you into the story.

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ rounded up to 5

What a story! I’ve read my share of WWII spy novels—some gripping, some not—but The Last Secret Agent is something else entirely. It’s not a novel. It’s the real-life account of Pippa Latour, the last surviving British female spy from Churchill’s Special Operations Executive, finally telling her story after decades of silence.

Pippa parachuted into Nazi-occupied France at 23, posed as a teenage soap seller, and risked her life to send 135 coded messages to London. No gadgets. No backup. Just grit, silk hair ribbons, and nerves of steel. She worked alone, passed through Gestapo checkpoints, and survived—one of the few who did.

What makes this memoir even more remarkable is her humility. Pippa kept her secret for years—even her own husband had no idea. The truth only came out when her son stumbled across her name online. She passed away in 2023 at the age of 102, just before this book was published.

Beautifully co-written by journalist Jude Dobson, and brilliantly narrated by Jilly Bond, The Last Secret Agent is honest, quietly powerful, and absolutely fascinating. It’s for anyone who loves WWII history, female-led stories, or just a jaw-dropping true tale well told.

Pippa called her life “unusual.” That might be the understatement of the century.

** Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a comp of this audiobook. The opinions are my own.

A fascinating, lesser known piece of history. Following one life’s journey all over the world. This book is more than just a spy story. It tells of the resilience and strength of determination when faced with various life events starting at a young age. Pippa lived an entire lifetime in her first 24 years! (But then lived to be 102!)

The audiobook provides excellent enhancement to the story as pronunciations and other languages are done much better than my brain could handle. The narrator - Jilly Bond - is easily understood at faster speeds.

Thank you St Martin’s Press for the ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC 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.

I'm a big fan of WWII fiction and have really enjoyed the biographical fiction about women in the war that has come out in the last few years. I've been trying to read more nonfiction WWII history so The Last Secret Agent is totally up my alley. And it turned out to be a really good book.

For a long time after the war, no one in the SOE could talk about their service. While men being tight-lipped about their service was a big deal, as people figured that they did something important that they couldn't talk about. For women, though, their contributions have long been overlooked. The only jobs anyone thought that they were doing were clerical, but many served in occupied territory. Until recently, no one could imagine women parachuting into France or breaking enemy codes.

At the beginning of the book, Pippa says she never told anyone about her time in the SOE - not even her husband. They knew of some of her earlier war work with barrage balloons. I wonder if the family member hadn't found a reference to her SOE work on the internet, if she really would have taken her secrets to the grave.

I'm glad she shared her story. Like many people who lived during this era, she lived an extraordinary life. She grew up in Africa. She was born in South Africa to a British mother and a French father - this mix served her well in the SOE.

Unlike some history that I've read, this isn't filled with dates and places and names. It is not dry or boring. I had to remind myself a few times that this was not a novel. Listening to the audiobook made it feel as if I was sitting with Pippa and listening to her tell her story. Jilly Bond was a good narrator for this book. I do wonder how much she mimics Pippa's real speech patterns.

If you've read The Invisible Woman by Erika Robuck, Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon, or Code Name: Lise by Larry Loftis, then you will want to read or listen to this book.

Be sure to read/listen all the way through the end to learn more about Pippa Latour's post-war life, including why this book is titled The Last Secret Agent.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Saturday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/05/the-last-secret-agent-by-pippa-latour.html

At 100 years old Pippa Latour still had a drivers license. She decided it was time to finally tell her story. This is her memoir of the bravery she endured as an SOE agent in World War II. It always amazes me what people have lived through during the War. This was a very informative memoir. It was a little slow an unemotional but a good story overall. She lived to be 102 years old! Happy Pub Day and thank you @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress for the ALC.

A fascinating read about a truly remarkable, brave woman. For those that have read extensively about F section or SOE operatives, there is a lot of information you'll already be aware of; however, I'd highly recommend this book. Enjoyed listening to this on audio!

It's fitting on the 80th anniversary of VE Day to post The Last Secret Agent: The Extraordinary Story of a WW2 Spy in Her Own Words by Pippa Latour. I listened to this earlier in the week and it was such a wonderful memoir!

Pippa was the last surviving World War II British spy (she died in 2023) and after keeping her story secret, finally decided to share her experiences as an SOE in 1944 France. This was co-written with journalist Jude Dobson.

After reading so many historical fiction books about the British SOE it was interesting to read a memoir. I've read a few non-fiction history books, but a memoir was something I hadn't read and honestly, Pippa had such a fascinating life!

If you're at all into World War II historical fiction, I highly recommend reading this book. The audiobook was fantastic.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for my advanced copies of The Last Secret Agent. This book comes out in the US next week, May 13th and has been out in New Zealand since 2024.

The Last Secret Agent is a captivating memoir that pulls you in from the very first page. Pippa Latour’s storytelling is vivid and engaging, making it impossible not to be drawn into her extraordinary life. From her early years to her daring work as a secret agent during World War II, every chapter reveals a woman of immense courage and resilience.

It feels like the right time for Latour to share her story—before it risks being lost to history. Her firsthand account is not only gripping but also incredibly important, shedding light on the often-overlooked contributions of women in wartime espionage.

This is a must-read for anyone interested in World War II, especially those who admire stories of strong, fearless women who helped shape the course of history.

4.5/5 stars. the last secret agent: my life as a spy behind nazi lines is a fast-paced, engaging nonfiction account of one of ww2’s lesser-known spies. it strikes a good balance between story and context—never overloaded with military detail, but still clear enough for readers without much ww2 background to follow. pippa herself is a standout: bold, clever, and genuinely fun to read about, with a dry sass that keeps things lively.

the only downside for me was specific to the audiobook edition. while the narration was mostly solid, the narrator’s laugh and giggle came off as fake and a bit unpleasant, which pulled me out of the moment a few times.

a great intro to an incredible woman’s story—and a strong pick for anyone who enjoys history told with energy and heart.

i received an ARC of the audiobook edition in exchange for an an honest review.

Pippa Latour led a peripatetic early life after being orphaned at an early age; she spent considerable time in Africa, including the Belgian Congo, France, South Africa, and elsewhere,.The many languages and skills - shooting, love of math and puzzles, for example - that she picked up during those formative years made her a perfect candidate to become a member of Churchill's OSE. In May 1944, at the age of 23, she parachuted into France and outlived the average of 6 weeks experienced by most wireless operators. Her mission: pick up intelligence, such as enemy troop movements, and transmit it back to England. Her cover: officially, she was a 29-year-old clerk. In reality: she posed as a 14 year-old-girl who sold her grandparents' goat milk soap to the Germans. By August, she was making her way to a newly liberated Paris to be returned to England. Pippa was faithful to her wartime pledge not to acknowledge this role or tell anyone about her wartime experiences until, when she was over 100 years old, her sons discovered this information on the internet. This book was produced when she was 102. Narrator Jilly Bond does a masterful job, making listeners believe that they are listening to Pippa herself. I was spellbound throughout the entire book. This memoir will appeal to readers and listeners of all ages, especially those who remember WWII or are interested in learning more about it. Highly recommended.

After decades of silence, including to her immediate family, British spy, Pippa Latour details her life story in The Last Secret Agent. This gripping and harrowing account of her life starts with her birth and details not only how she became a spy during WWII, but what her responsibilities and missions entailed. Pippa tells us how she was eventually uncovered as a spy by her family, and why she decided to tell her story.

I absolutely loved this book. It was interesting and informative, suspenseful and hopeful. For lovers of history, this is a must read!

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.

The Last Secret Agent was published posthumously, which is probably as Pippa Latour would have wanted. She was really a brave individual, and inspiration. At the age of 102, this was her memoir of her time as a special operations radio operator, where she spied for the British during WW2.

Orphaned at an early age, Pippa moved through different countries in Africa after being born in South Africa, including Kenya, the Serengeti, the Congo. She spoke Flemish, Dutch, French, English, Swahili, and more.

After parachuting into France in the dead of night, she operated from behind enemy lines, without acknowledgment. She was on the coast of Normandy, pretending to be a soap seller… Meanwhile she was actually reporting on German troop locations, movements, logistics — all things that enabled D-Day. She also saw some trauma as well.

I was grateful to receive this ARC and listened to it on audio 🎧 @macmillan.audio. Although it isn’t read by the author, audio is still my preferred format for this one, although there are some cool photos, maps, and tables in the physical book.

What I really appreciated about this one: I've gotten pretty burnt out on World War II fiction. I think I've just been reading so much of it. This one's real! A true story of a hero for the ages. Godspeed Pippa Latour.