Unfortunately, I could not read the book as the font was unreadable and I could not edit it. Therefore, I will give it 3 stars as a middle mark.

Another great historical Fiction set in England in 1944. A woman helping with the war effort, a Jewish man whom she loves and all based on true events.

I love books like this as you can feel the fear, tension, live and emotions of the times. Maddie and Max are great characters, strong and courageous. This story just grips you and your heart-strings and doesn't let you go.

Not predictable with a twist at the end that really got me this is a book you don't want to put down.

Highly recommend.

The Light We Left Behind by Tessa Harris is a gripping novel about WWII and the brave men and women who fought so hard against the injustice of the nazi party. Maddie and Max were young and in love. Even the threat of imminent war couldn’t shake their hope for a future together. But Maddie is in England and has no idea where Max is. Tasked with the job of convincing German generals to tell their secrets, she is living a life of subterfuge and secrets. So, when Max arrives on the scene, it appear all hope is lost since he believes the lie she must portray. Based on true events and full of brave moments and heartfelt hope, this story will continue the legacy of the brave men and women who fought for our world. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

This was a really good read, it was very well researched with a good storyline and well developed characters. I couldnt put this book down and would definitely recommend this to historical fiction lovers.

‘Something moved them both so powerfully they would never be the same again.’

My fascination for wartime history continues with another stellar read. Of late Great Reads & Tea Leaves has posted a few - Bletchley Park, Latimer House - yet still I found myself drawn to learn and read more. The Light We Left Behind was a story surrounding yet another British secret location I had not heard of - Trent Park mansion. Here, senior German officers were ‘imprisoned’ in the house with the hope that those listening and recording in the basement would hopefully uncover useful information towards the Allies war effort.

‘So it’s a bit like a luxury hotel, but with barbed wire around it. Rather clever idea, don’t you think?’

I enjoyed learning about Trent Park mansion - how fascinating to try listening in. Maddie was a wonderful lead character, strong and independent. If you enjoy reading murder mysteries with suspense and romance all mixed well together, you are sure to enjoy this book. The Light We Left Behind is another winning read that allows you to be immersed in this time period. The research is well done and the story is full of detailed drama, laced with love and hope.

‘And in that moment … the hurt of the past seemed to melt away, and something told her the light they’d left behind was about to burn brightly once more.’





This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

This was a twist on the typical WWII novel. And while I am glad I read it, it gave me too many locked room mystery vibes. Which is a genre I tend to not like because I personally find them to stressful. However readers who like that type of mystery or story will enjoy this one. I think the reason I don’t tend to like close room mysteries, suspense or stories in general is because you as the reader simply don’t know who to trust. There’s not always a clear cut bad guy.

This was an great WWII-era novel! Psychologist Maddie Grasham is taken to Trent Park, an old London stately house, which is a secret POW-like camp for some of the most senior ranking Germans captured. They’re living in comfort as a psychological tool to get them to divulge secrets. Maddie is surprised to see Max Weitzler, a Jewish German who was sent to work alongside the Brits, because he was Maddie’s secret love years ago. When it looks like there’s a traitor in their midst at Trent Park, Maddie starts to wonder who she can trust.

This was a fantastic book from a historical perspective. I’ve heard of Trent Park but it was interesting to see it fleshed out a bit more and to see a fictional account of what went on there. As far as the plot, it definitely kept my attention and the characters were well developed. I did absolutely like Max’s character was better written than Maddie’s, but I absolutely loved Maddie’s loyalty and her fight to do what’s right.

I’ve enjoyed all of Tessa Arlen’s books and this one is no exception, I highly recommend it!

What a brilliant book to start off the year! From the get go I was hooked, Harris wasted no time in getting right to the action and the heart of the story. Maddie is a perfect heroine to lead this book, her courage and dedication kept me on the edge of my seat. I adored the way her and Max's stories were weaved together, across time jumps and flashbacks. The secrecy and spy elements of this book were also well written, keeping me interested and keen to know more. Overall, a superb historical fiction, one I am glad to have read.

When 17 year old Maddie Grensham falls for her German penfriends' brother in 1936, she starts off a chain of events that changes their lives forever.
In 1945 she is an Oxford educated psychologist, still holding a candle for Max Weiztler when her professor dies and his house is burgled the next day. Then she is called up to finish his work psycho analyzing prisoners in Trent Park, a luxury prison for high ranking German officers where walls really do have ears.
It's ther that she reunites with the dashing Edward Fitzroy Windlesham. And while she battles with her feelings for him, against the hope that she might one day see Max, she's also drawn deeper into the mysterious world of MI19.
A gripping book about spies, secrets and how long can you hold onto lost love during war time?

This novel opens in Munich shortly before the outbreak of war. During the opening we are introduced to Maddie Gresham, a young English girl who is the guest of a German family. We also get to know Max Weitzler, the eldest son of the family. I won't go into details of the story because I don't want to spoil it.

The descriptions of escaping from Paris prior to it's fall to the invading forces is excellent.

Maddie Gresham's journey from Oxford University to Trentham Park on the outskirts of London during World War Two takes the novel into an intriguing aspect of history, about which I was not really aware. Once again I won't go into detail, for fear of spoiling the plot. Suffice to say that espionage is a significant part of the storyline.

What I liked most about this story is the way a very human saga is cleverly interwoven into a series of extremely disturbing historical events, which unfold as the two timelines and settings: Paris in 1939 and London in 1944, are inexorably brought together.

This together with the excellent way in which the eclectic range of characters are developed makes this an extremely enjoyable book.

It is a novel which I was sorry had to end.

I give my thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for a copy of this book in exchange for this review.

Wrapped up in secrecy, psychologist Maddie Gresham is whisked off to Trent Park, a ‘hotel’ for captured Nazi generals. She must work to gain their trust to find information on the deadly rockets Germany is planning to send to England. Kept almost completely in the dark about the happenings at the Park, her life and work only grow more dire when Max Weitzler, a Jewish boy she fell in love with in Germany when she was seventeen, is brought to the Manor to work alongside the British.

Although I’ve done a lot of research on WWII, I’d never heard about Trent Park before this so it was interesting to learn about what went on there. It’s always interesting to see what happened behind the scenes in the war, especially with the roles women were given.

I really enjoyed Max’s character and his plot, though I do wish we got a little more from his chapters. I did feel, however, that Maddie’s character fell flat. It was like she was being outshined by every character she shared a scene with.

The plot was engaging and I found the book hard to put down – I needed to know what was going to happen! There was the perfect amount of drama and suspense.

I’ll be sure to check out other books by the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

gill, Cotswolds. (As reviewed on Amazon, directly)

Like Kate Atkinson? You'll love this clever WW2 novel, with its high drama and bold, gutsy heroine
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 December 2021
Verified Purchase
Right from page one, when delightful, gutsy heroine Maddie is introduced, you know that you are in for a reading treat with this engrossing World War 2 novel. The Light We Left Behind, like all Tessa’s books, has strong plotting and moves at breath-taking speed to combine high drama with a highly satisfying period romance. It’s an absorbing and original story based on true, little known WW2 events that happened at Trent Park, a former London stately home. Here captured Nazi generals unwittingly gave away secrets, due to concealed listening devices that recorded their every conversation. Tessa’s story imagines what could have happened if, alongside those secrets, there was also a young woman ready to risk her life to save a young man who she’d given her heart to in pre-war Germany.

As the plot deepens, there will be murder, subterfuge, betrayals, a race against time to save more lives, and a barrage of obstacles to overcome if pscyhologist Maddie is ever to be truly happy.

Tessa’s confident, sweeping writing style brings characters from all levels of society and their settings to life. If you enjoy Kate Atkinson, you’ll love this. Like Atkinson, Tessa’s, historical detail is pleasingly on point. We move, with ease, from dover sole substitutes at the wartime Savoy Grill, to the charred heat of London’s back streets as a bomb slaps down. At one point, a handsome chap who answers to the name of Lord Frobisher hosts a ‘tea and scones’ party with a secret agenda. Another time, he’s cracking open the champagne for Maddie. So. Put the kettle on. Or pour yourself a chilled one. Then sit back to begin The Light We Left Behind.

There’s real joy to be had in reading about characters who are that bit bolder than we are ever likely to need to be - and this book captures this brilliantly. A thrilling, five stars of a read with a unique plot and a satisfying ending. I can’t recommend it enough!
Read less

A gripping story set in the ultra-secret Trent Park during WW2. Trent Park is a top secret POW camp housing some of the most senior captured Nazis- but things are not quite as they seem and in this case the walls really do have ears. Based in fact, this book is a fictional story set in a real place, and it is truly fascinating! Well written, the story kept me reading desperate to know what would happen next.

Many thanks to Net Galley and HQ for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
This book is set in WW2 in Trent Park, high ranking German officers are being held captive here, they have many comforts most prisoners of war do not have, the psychology behind this is to encourage them to talk among themselves, whilst trained listeners record their conversations to help the Allies.
Maddie is a psychologist and has signed the official secrets act, she is on assignment to gain the trust of the German officers. Maddie’s heart belongs to Max , a German Jew, who she met some years ago in Germany., she hopes he has managed to survive.
This story is about sacrifice, betrayal, friendships and love.
An enjoyable light read, if a little far fetched in places.
3.5 stars

I enjoyed The Light We Left Behind by Tessa Harris but it has stayed with me since I finished it. It is set at Trent Park, an actual Second World War POW camp - although that description doesn't do the facility justice. Maddie Gresham is a young psychologist sent to work there after the death of her boss. There are also scenes filling in her back story particularly as regards her friendship with a German family in Berlin.

There are many strands to the novel, any of them worth pursuing: murder mystery, romance, spy thriller, war story... I think Tessa Harris's mistake was to try to incorporate all of them in this book. That choice left me feeling that I was skating and slipping around on the surface all the time.

A real page turner, what i loved about this book is what i learnt. What happended during WW2 that i hadnt known about before. The characters were fab, loved reading about their story an how they fitted in. Loved reading about the plots how they deciphered codes, what went on in the streets etc all the characters came to life throghout the book.

This story is set during WW2 in Trent Park where high ranking German officers were housed in relative comfort in order to try by questioning and listening to learn information to help the Allies. A love story, a mystery and espionage I found this a light read of a dangerous and essential part of the Allies' work to overcome the German invasion. It was interesting but some of the plot was rather far-fetched.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Tessa Harris/HQ for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am grateful for writers like Tessa Harris. Reading books like The Light We Left Behind just shows how little we are taught in history classes. Year after year the same things are taught without much added each year. I am ashamed to admit I have and AA degree in history and did not recall Trent Park or its mission during the war.

The author made reading about history a joy. I experienced the fears of those working in secret. I cheered on the their successes. I felt their frustrations. Through Maddie's eyes my own were opened.

Maddie had been visiting a penpal in Germany when she fell for Max, her penpal's brother. Together they showed their disgust for Hitler. They fell in love only to be separated when she was deported. Miles of worn torn Europe separated them after her return to England. Soon there was nothing, but love lived on.

Maddie is called to Trent Park. She was clueless to everything. She didn't know that her mentor had been at Trent Park. His hypothesis was being put to the test. German Generals were living in luxury while the English suffered. She was needed to serve her country.

She wasn't clueless for long. Her psychology training will be put to the test. She will find it hard to not ask questions. I found it difficult to not ask questions. I enjoyed the suspense. The drama was addictive. I enjoyed discovering "the behind the scenes" happening of the war.

A gripping story set in WW2 at Trent Park. Full of brilliant characters and beautifully written. I couldn’t put it down.

The Light We Left Behind started with a really strong story but did seem to fizzle towards the end with a rushed ending and many loose ends for different aspects. However, the main character's love interest, Max was very well developed and had a fascinating, often heart breaking backstory that kept me reading just to make sure he got a happy ending. The main character wasn't my favorite and felt a little "flat" compared to Max.

That being said, the The Light We Left Behind was worth reading as it brought to light a fascinating part of intelligence gathering and subterfuge during WWII that many do not realize existed and is just starting to come to light now.