A heartbreaking and yet, at the same time, uplifting story as well.
Once again, we are in France during Hitler times.
This one, however, is told through the eyes and experience of a woman who was a 'coder' I guess you'd say. She didn't know exactly what she was being assigned to do when she signed up to help, but when it came down to it, she had to send info, hidden and very dangerous info, via coded messages... in order to get help, or protect, or kill those who were affected.
So, she had a very important job, indeed!

Funny thing is that she never told ANYONE, including her husband and children, about her time during the war... until she was 102 years old!! She had sworn an oath of secrecy, and thought she was not allowed to speak of any of it... but was later told that she actually could... as it was so many years ago, and so many others had done so already.
Still, she never said a word, until one day her son looked her up on the internet and came to her and asked if she was, in fact, the woman they were talking about in the article... and then the dam broke!

In turns heartening and enlightening, and then savage and cruel, and hard to even listen to.
But what an amazing encounter she shared, via her experiences during the war!

4 big ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!

#TheLastSecretAgent by #PippaLatour and #JudeDobson, and narrated nicely by #JillyBond.

***** This has NOT YET been released, so, look for it on 5/13/25. *****

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you, Net Galley for the advanced audio version of THE LAST SECRET AGENT by Pippa Latour. I have read a lot of historical fiction about World War II, this was my first non-fiction on that subject. This was excellent. It was so full of details, some familiar, others not. Her life story was very intriguing, sad, but, living so long there must have been joy in her life after the war ended. I wish she had talked more about life after the war. I did like that fact that she mentioned some of the individuals that she worked with, telling the reader how she looked them up. It's amazing that she kept so much of her brave and daring life a secret for so long.

The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour is a riveting memoir of her time as a British SOE agent during WWII, and the audiobook truly brings her courageous story to life. Latour’s firsthand account of her secret missions in Nazi-occupied France is both suspenseful and deeply moving, offering a rare glimpse into the bravery and resilience required of wartime spies. The narration adds an extra layer of immediacy, making this an inspiring listen for anyone interested in history or tales of unsung heroes. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

The narrator was clear, differentiated characters, and was entertaining. The story is incredible. What a privilege to hear this unbelievable story from the real life of a brave, incredible woman.

It’s giving Call the Midwife meets James Bond—but make it real and quietly heroic.

The audiobook felt like sitting at the kitchen table with someone’s grandmother as she finally decides to tell you everything. Emotional, elegant, and unforgettable.

Pippa Latour was just 20 when she parachuted into Nazi-occupied France with nothing but a code, a cover story, and a mission that could’ve cost her life.
This audiobook is her story—finally told in full after years of silence—and it’s one of those listens that makes you stop and feel.
It’s not just about spies and war. It’s about a young woman who kept a nation’s secrets and then kept her own.
She hid radios under floorboards, smiled at Nazi soldiers while feeding intel to the Allies, and never once called herself brave.

5 stars. This story matters—and I’m so glad she finally got to tell it.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Pippa Latour's personal history as a SOE agent. I LOVE getting to learn more about field operatives during WWII--especially women! The admiration I have for all the women I read memoirs from who held these roles are truly awe-inspiring.

Pippa Latour spent her early years in the Belgian Congo, where she rapidly picked up several languages, learned how to shoot a gun, and took classes to learn morse. All of this really set her up well for where she'd find herself in her early 20s--a British spy working in Nazi France, operating a Type 3 Mk. II or Mk XV (I presume). As she enters her role in 1944, Pippa is in her early 20s. However, she's to go undercover as a 14-year old school girl living with her grandparents and selling soaps. She has some ingenious ideas in the field--from where she stores her codes in a shoelace to where she hides the crystal for her machine--I was wholly impressed.

She was one of very few to make it back home after the war's conclusion and signed a NDA. She never spoke of her experiences after the war, until now. Her children eventually asked her in the early 2000s about her experiences after reading about her somewhere else. They had no idea! When she decided to share her story, she wanted it done her way. This memoir was written entirely by Pippa (with some assistance from journalist Jude Dobson) and published posthumously.

Highly recommend to all my friends and followers!! This is one you surely won't regret. Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillian audio for the ARC of this book!

I enjoyed the narration of this book. The previously untold story of the last secret agent in Nazi occupied France was compelling. She was a courageous woman who led an interesting life before @nd after this chapter as well.

4+ stars

“…the wishful revenge is what drove me to get on the ground in France with SOE. Like grandfather and his daughter I had morals that I lived by and would even die by, to secure a freedom I desperately wanted to protect.”

In 2023 the last surviving agent of the secret Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.) died at the age of 102. Pippa Latour’s son had questions about her life which until then had been kept secret. This account of her incredible story had been documented with the help of journalist Jude Dobson, to be published after her death. Pippa’s unconventional upbringing in Africa set her up with a skill set for survival and propelled her travels to England and Continental Europe as a child and teen in search of safety and security.

In an ironic twist she winds up parachuting into enemy occupied France to gather intelligence in the lead up to the D-Day invasion. The tale of how she evaded capture, torture and death reads like a novel and lends credibility to the many works of WWII historical fiction I have devoured. This primer of dates, places and people involved in that war comes into focus through the lens of a young woman who lived it, and I feel fortunate to know the story.

Clocking in at 8 1/2 hours, this would be a perfect pairing with Kate Quinn’s The Rose Code.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Within the last year, I've become really obsessed with historical fiction (specifically during WWII) and memoirs. So a memoir about a woman in WWII just checked all of my boxes. This was an incredible memoir of Pippa Latour's experiences being a spy during WWII. If you love badass women, I would highly recommend checking this one out.

I thought that the production and narration of this audiobook were great too. The narrator, Jilly Bond, did a lovely job - she spoke clearly. I tend to like to listen to audiobooks on a faster speed and was able to listen to her at 2x speed with no issues.

Special Agent Pippa Latour’s remarkable story as the oldest living female member of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) came to light shortly before her death at the age of 102. Born in South Africa to a French father and a British mother, Pippa lost her parents very young and spent her teenage years at a finishing school in Paris. At the onset of World War II, she was sent to live with relatives in London for safety. After a brief stint with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), Pippa’s exceptional talent for languages caught the attention of SOE recruiters. At just 23 years old, she parachuted alone into Nazi-occupied France in the critical months leading up to D-Day in 1944. Disguised as a 14-year-old granddaughter of French patriots, she cycled through the Normandy countryside selling goat soap, scouting targets for Allied air drops and landings. She also operated several hidden telegraph machines to send vital intelligence back to London. Evading Nazi patrols was perilous; of the approximately 400 SOE agents deployed to support the French Resistance, only about 40 were women — and few survived. Despite her youth and limited training, Pippa’s courage and skill enabled her to carry out her mission with extraordinary success. For her contributions, she was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and the French Legion of Honor. Pippa kept her wartime service a secret for most of her life, even from her children. Her story only surfaced near the end of her life, when internet references revealed her role. She collaborated with journalist Jude Dobson to tell her story, later narrated compellingly through Macmillan Audio. Pippa Latour’s extraordinary life of bravery and resilience continues to inspire both adults and young readers alike.

This book was very interesting but I struggled with it.

I opted for an audiobook and that may have been the issue. I adjusted speed and volume but “the Queen’s English” is harder for my ears.

The story itself was fascinating. Normandy from a female perspective isn’t something I’ve read before so I couldn’t just not read because I NEEDED to know. Even the London sections were eye-opening.

This book is one of my new favorites and a lesson for me about sticking with it.

I am very thankful for the opportunity NetGalley gave me by allowing me access to the vibrant book early. Other than that, I was given nothing for this review.. it’s an honest perspective on this work of literature.

The Last Secret Agent” by Pippa Latour is an exceptional memoir that stands out for its honesty and restraint. Unlike many historical accounts that lean on hyperbole, this book is written with a clear, precise style that lets the raw truth speak for itself. There’s no unnecessary dramatization—just the facts, and that makes it all the more powerful.

Reading about Latour’s life was both humbling and enriching. She was orphaned, raised in Africa, and thrown into the unimaginable horrors of war at a young age. Her strength, independence, and quiet endurance were extraordinary. The brutality she faced—especially the darkest realities of war, including sexual violence—was deeply unsettling, but the way she carried on, refusing to let those moments define her, was awe-inspiring.

I’ve seen war depicted in movies, but hearing it from someone who lived through it, in her own words, made it feel more real than ever. This book didn’t just tell her story; it made me reflect on my own life, my privileges, and the resilience of the human spirit. What a woman. What a life. I feel grateful to have read her story. I am so grateful to have “met” her through this audiobook.

Thank you NetGalley, publisher, and author for this audiobook.

The Last Secret Agent stands out not only for its historical significance but also for its heartfelt portrayal of courage and resilience. It's a must-read for anyone interested in World War II history, espionage, or stories of extraordinary individuals who have shaped our world.​. I would have enjoyed reading more about her life post-WWII but understand that the book was more about her time in the war.

What an amazing woman! If you enjoy WWII history and would like to learn about Pippa Latour’s journey as a spy during Nazi France, I encourage you to pick up this memoir. Pippa was a very humble and courageous woman. I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was fantastic. I was truly engrossed in learning about Pippa’s life as she began her journey as a SOE at only 23 during WWII. I couldn’t imagine going through the things Pippa had to endured. I also don’t know how she was able to keep the fact that she played such an important role in the war from her family all of those years. Again, she was just an extremely impressive woman. I feel honored to have the opportunity to hear her story through this memoir. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars – A fascinating and inspiring story

I really enjoyed The Last Secret Agent. Pippa Latour’s story of working as a spy behind Nazi lines is incredible and truly eye-opening. The courage she displayed was awe-inspiring. The audiobook, narrated by Jilly Bond, was perfect for bringing Pippa’s experience to life—Bond's voice really captured the emotion and tension of the story. While the pacing slowed a bit in places, it’s still a gripping account of wartime bravery that kept me hooked throughout. Definitely worth a listen!

An incredible memoir from Pippa Latour, the last surviving British SOE agent assigned to France. The life expectancy of these agents was about six weeks. Her incredible life spanned 102 years. From deepest Africa to Europe, her life was a life well lived. She never shared her war experiences with her family. Only once her sons found information on the Internet did she tell them about her role during World War II. When asked “how many people did you kill” she responded “none”. However, she reported her radio communications were responsible for the death of thousands of enemy personnel and saving many innocent lives. This is a wonderful memoir detailing the bravery and important roles of so many secret agents and resistance fighters.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

What a fascinating read! I was impressed by how she kept bringing up other women who did intelligence work through the war, and encouraged the reader to read about them.

Posthumously published, The Last Secret Agent is a memoir of the incredible life of Pippa Latour. When Latour passed at 103 years old, she was the last surviving member of the SOE, Special Operations Executive. Latour kept her military involvement secret from everyone, however finally decided she needed to share it through this incredible memoir. Gripping, informative, emotional, and full of heart- I highly recommend this novel.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook The Last Secret Agent.

The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour, Jude Dobson. Pippa lived an amazing inspiring life. So many dynamics led her to be a spy. I can’t imagine being that courageous and brave and continue to put her life at risk with the potential to be caught. Another amazing story of courage and survival. Thank you to #NetGalley#Macmillian Audio #TheLastSecretAgent for this Arc. This is my honest review. Releases May 13, 2025

I loved listening to this fascinating true account told by a real WWII heroine. Pippa Latour had one of the most interesting, tragic, and tumultuous childhoods I’ve ever heard, then used her experiences to her advantage as an SOE agent behind enemy lines. I loved the way Pippa told her story, so matter-of-fact but also with some personal details. Her memory is absolutely incredible! I also really enjoyed the narrator, Jilly Bond, for this audiobook. I highly recommend this book to other history buffs. I’m so glad I learned more about Pippa Latour in her own words. What an absolute legend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for free temporary access to this audiobook for review purposes. I post this review with my honest opinions. This review is cross-posted to Goodreads. It will also be published on Amazon and Instagram within one week of the book’s publication.

Content notes: obviously, the peril that comes of being an SOE agent in Nazi-occupied France; mentions of illness, injury, and death, including suicide; brief mentions of abortion and infanticide; discussions of witch doctors and a charmed “lucky” object; questioning whether God is loving after she experiences suffering and loss