Fein, Louise

This dual-timeline story, which bounces readers between Nazi-occupied France and a London in the shadow of the Cuban Missile Crisis, will keep readers on the edge of their seats with its many twists and turns. In this gripping story of love and betrayal, loosely based on real-life figures and events, even the author’s note at the end is a riveting must-read.

A good choice for readers who enjoy 20th-century historical fiction, Fein’s novel is well researched if a bit heavy-handed, with factual passages on eugenics and epilepsy. The classism and racism fundamental to eugenics come through clearly, as do the heartbreaking consequences of a child’s serious illness.

Fein shows the slow twisting of the people in Hetty’s city, suggesting parallels in the United States today, which book discussion groups can parse out into fuller understanding.