I found the two tales very well thought out it kept you wanting to keep turning the page

I started reading this book last week, but the mention of the incident in Paris 2015 and the bombing in Manchester on 22nd June this week was all too similar and too upsetting for me to continue with it. I am sure it is a good book but at the present time, not for me, sorry.

I found this a sensitive and well imagined account of how a national tragedy can bring missing people together and shows how the kindness of strangers have unforeseen rewards.
I am writing this in the aftermath of the Manchester bombing and news updates have shown this phenomena is not restricted to fiction. This novel is set in the aftermath of the Bataclan shootings in Paris, where Kurtiz Ross and her husband Oliver are searching for their estranged daughter Lizzie. Lizzie walked out 4 years ago and sources have suggested she may be at the Bataclan watching her favourite group. Whilst waiting in a cafe, Kurtiz strikes up an acquaintance with Marguerite Courtney and this meeting goes on to have fortuitous consequences for all concerned parties.
This story is initially difficult as there are so many names and events to become familiar with, plus the fact that there are two time lines to consider, Marguerite and her husband Charlie in the period 1947 onwards and then Kurtiz in early 2011 and then Paris November 2015. There is a twist in the tale and I was delighted to guess this and I found that all strands of the story and family history was resolved.
Charlie was the most interesting character, but war experiences left their mark on him. He and Marguerite were well matched and their story was a real heart warmer. Kurtiz and Oliver were too self absorbed to have a great deal of sympathy with, Lizzie had made her own choices and seemed the happiest of all in this read.
I throughly enjoyed this novel and have already recommended it to my local book group. I have today left a copy of this review on Goodreads.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have enjoyed every book that this author has written and this one did not disappoint

Because this book is written about two different era's they tie in beautifully, the incidents in Paris were watched by us all with growing horror, as this is written about you feel like you are part of the story. As you have seen the devastation caused and the pictures are vivid in your mind
Very well written and to be honest I couldn't put the book down as needed to find out how it all came together

great read and easy to follow story line. look forward to reading more from this author.

My review as posted on Goodreads:

This dual-timeframe novel opens in 1943 in occupied Paris. It then moves to the same part of Paris in 2015. Beyond that there are snippets from the lives of the main protagonists covering London, Paris Jerusalem and the south of France.

There are five main characters Kurtiz, Oliver, Charlie, Marguerite and Lizzie the missing daughter of Kurtiz and Oliver.

In essence this is two unconnected love stories.

I found myself drawn in to both. I like the writing style. The descriptions of the people and locations make the novel feel very real.

In many novels there needs to be an element of coincidence. This is true here, but the clever use of historical and recent aspects of the horrors of war and terrorism helps to make this book something special.

I would be surprised if this book does not feature on several best seller lists.

My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK (Michael Joseph) for a copy in return for this impartial review.

History keeps on repeating itself.

Kurtiz Ross is a photographer whose daughter disappeared four years previously. After a vague tip-off, Kurtiz and her estranged husband Oliver end up in Paris on the night of the terrorist attack on the Bataclan. Oliver is hurt and Kurtiz meets Margarite an aging actress who, during that terrible night of uncertainty, relates her life story, which is very much along the same lines as the Ross family.

This story relates to how history repeats itself and someone has already made decisions in life that you are making now.

A brilliantly told story set against that dreadful night. The characters are superbly written and likeable, especially Margarite. It had me in tears many times and I couldn’t put it down. The characters in the book are all linked in more ways than that night. They have all made decisions that had hurt others, but were right for themselves.

Written through the 40s, 50s and modern day, the book flows and draws you in from page one.

I loved this book!

Helen

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.