Imogen Robertson is a writer of historical fiction and Darby Kealey a writer and producer based in Hollywood; together they form the writing duo Imogen Kealey.

“Liberation” is a true page-turner of a novel very closely based on the real life of one of the most fearless female resistance fighters, Nancy Wake, to be turned into a movie by Anne Hathaway. Nancy Wake went by many codenames; one “Helene” or “Madame Andree” but the Nazis occupying France hunted her by the name „The White Mouse” with a five million Franc bounty on her head. Nancy was originally Australian when working as a journalist in Paris in 1936 until she met the love of her life, her husband Henri Fiocca who had acquired a sizeable fortune living in Marseille. Soon Nancy joins the résistance using the cover of a wealthy wife of one of Marseilles prominent citizens becoming one of their most fearless fighters after the Gestapo incarcerates her seemingly untouchable husband.
It would be cruel of me to unveil more of Nancy’s breathtaking, extraordinary life and fighting from 1936 until the end of the war captured in this fast paced novel. Several books have been written about the legend Nancy Wake, all approaching her life story from a different angle but the Hollywood handwriting with all its drama building lies at the core of this thriller which makes for perfect summer reading set against a very dark historical background. It certainly kept me breathless, shocked and in disbelief several times.

Read like a film script and I really struggled with that. I am really quite picky when it comes to nazis being portrayed in fiction and couldn’t get on with this at all.

Awe inspiring and inspirational, this is a fictionalised account of the exploits of SOE heroine Nancy Wake aka The White Mouse as she braved the Gestapo and worked in occupied France on behalf of the resistance movement.

Well written, exciting with excellently drawn characters and historically well researched this is a marvellous story really well told and heavily recommended.

Liberation by Imogen Kealey

It is 1943 and Australian Nancy Wake is ready to celebrate her marriage, in Marseilles, to Henri Fiocca, a wonderful, cultured and successful businessman. But Henri and some other guests know that Nancy is not all that she seems, that, after years of living in countries occupied by the Nazis, she is determined to kill as many of them as she can. For Nancy Wake is known by the Germans as the White Mouse, for her ability to sneak in and out where she shouldn’t, causing the maximum amount of disruption and chaos she can. There is a high price on her head.

With the marriage ceremony barely over, Nancy is again at work, delivering allied airmen to safety in the most dangerous of circumstances. But the Gestapo are becoming suspicious, particularly Major Böhm, who hauls in Henri for questioning. Nancy must flee but she is determined to return to France to continue the fight as a leader of the Maquis, which she does as a captain in the SOE. But Major Böhm will not rest in his hunt for the mouse.

If ever there was a life lived that is suitable for novelisation, it’s the life of Nancy Wake. Knowing that she really existed and that she endured all that she did, that she achieved what she did, very much in a man’s world, makes Liberation all the more irresistible. It also helps that one of the co-authors is Imogen Robertson, who is such a fine writer of historical fiction. And so I couldn’t wait to read this. Like many of us, I’m sure, I’m finding it hard to settle with a book but I found this story particularly appealing. It was good to read about a woman who overcame everything in her fight for her cause, so that life could be restored.

Nancy Wake is an extraordinary character, in fiction most certainly and one can imagine that the real Nancy might see herself here in this portrayal. She dominates the novel as we see events almost entirely from her point of view. We are always in the room with her, or in the camp in the mountains, or hiding in plain sight in a cafe, or in a town square witnessing an atrocity, or drinking with her friends, the men who would kill and die for her, and often do. Nancy is a charismatic figure but she’s also damaged, tormented by her fears for her husband and enraged by the existence of Major Böhm. She is driven by vengeance and fury, but there is self-knowledge, too. But throughout it all we know that she is a force for good. There are glimpses of kindness and warmth, and at times we feel we must weep for the sheer effort that Nancy Wake puts into every day of her life as a leader of the Resistance.

There are other characters to enjoy here, too, especially Nancy’s radioman Denden. I loved the depiction of the community of fighters camped out in the forests and mountains, ruthless but also increasingly in awe of their woman captain. They’re mostly a tight band, each with a distinct voice. But one other character who stands out is Major Böhm, the very opposite of goodness. Major Böhm is a monster. Some of the scenes with him are utterly chilling, reinforcing our solidarity with Nancy Wake, showing us brutally why she is ready to risk absolutely everything to stop him and all of the other monsters. There is so much tension, so much fear. This is not a book to put down easily.

The authors certainly know how to write intense action scenes. There are pages here that had me on the edge of my seat. It’s all very visual, very real, and we see the action unfold moment by moment. I’m not going to describe any of this. You must read it for yourself!

Liberation is a truly excellent novel, succeeding both as a wartime thriller and as a portrayal of a most astonishing and admirable woman whose life would have been so different if she had been allowed to live with the man she loved in peace. The novel also reminds us that bad times do pass, a message that I hang on to. Liberation has proved a fine companion to me over recent days and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Other review
The Paris Winter

I was absolutely engrossed in this book about a real character called Nancy Wake, in the WW2. She was an extremely brave lady, undertaking many secret missions to make people safe in the French Resistance. She was nicknamed the White Mouse and has to evade capture by the Germans. It really makes you want to read on and marvel on the bravery of such people during the war years/
It is being made into a film this year and I will look forward to seeing it.

Wow ......I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t wait to pick it up every time I had a spare minute to read.
Although this book is fiction, it is based upon the true story of Nancy Wake, the SOE who joined the resistance in France during WW2 and who was nicknamed ‘The White Mouse’ by the Nazi’s as she constantly evaded capture!
I’d never heard of Nancy Wake before reading this book. This book has taught me all about Nancy, a fierce, fearless women, ahead of her time who helped so many people escape France and how she helped Liberate France from the Nazi’s. Ive always been interested in WW2 and this book definitely piqued my interest and desire to learn more about Nancy and the plight of the resistance during WW2.

If you are a fan of historical fiction I would highly recommend this book!

"Liberation" is thoroughly gripping from the very first page. It's heartbreaking and it's inspirational. It's a story of war, of fear and courage, of love and friendship. The fact that Nancy Wake was a real person whose deeds formed the basis for this dramatisation is astonishing.
This is a very well-written, emotion-filled journey through World War II. I loved it, but I hated it too - you need to read this book to understand why.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

An excellent story of Nancy Wake being an SOE Agent during WW2,an emotional story of bravery and the need to help others.5*

Excellent historical fiction based on, and about, the wartime SOE operative, Nancy Wake. The wife of a wealthy industrialist who initially helps, and then later leads the French Resistance against the Germans (who wanted her arrest so much that they put one million francs on her head). She was a truly amazing woman, and this book - which is not a factual biography or history book - honours her. It is not, and doesn't pretend to be non-fiction allowing use of the author's imagination, but it is the real events of her life - which are in the novel - that are the most amazing.

It is well written, and could be described as 'a ripping yarn'.

With my thanks to NetGalley and Sphere for an advance copy.

The story of Nancy Wade an Australian woman married to a French citizen and living in Marseille during World War Two.
Nancy works with the resistance to stand up to the Nazi occupation and this makes her a target of the Germans who want her caught and they put a high price on her head.
A frightening and sad story of the time and the ordinary people who showed compassion and bravery to help others.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.