Highly enjoyed this one! It kept me engaged throughout and was a joy to read, would certainly recommend!

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this book! I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down! I love this time period in history! The story brought me straight into the world!

Set in Venice, this story focuses on women of the resistance. The author did a great job with each character and I couldn’t stop reading!

I love nothing more than a well-written story about women working in the Resistance during WWII. And does this book ever deliver! One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was where it was set. Many of the novels that discuss the Resistance movements along with the people who supported them take place in either France or the UK. And while I love those settings, I really enjoyed reading this perspective set in Italy. Though I've never been to Venice, the writing made me feel like I could picture exactly what it was like at the time.

Sometimes it can be difficult in a novel where there are two narrators - one in the present and one in the past. However, I felt like this book excelled at this and kept me equally engaged between both. Especially towards the end of the book, I felt like I couldn't put it down!

Overall, an excellent WWII historical fiction read!

A story about the WWII in Venice and how the resistance tried to stand up for their movement. The authors history of about Venice was intriguing.
The story moves between 2017 and 1943 time frame. Main character, Stella, is a secret messenger while working as an interpreter/typist in a German office.
So many dark secrets and lies….who can you trust?!?!
“Words have the power to unite people”

I've tried to finish this one multiple times, but unfortunately I had to DNF this one. I think that the cover was stunning though and will try again in the future.

I thought that this author's first book was good, better than good even, this one was just as good.
There a lot more depth into this one, more background and research, or so it seemed.
I had to just finish it, but now wish I hadn't.
Full of history, fear, suspicion and loyalty.

I love Venice and this book has ignited my resolve to return one day soon.

A fantastic read. Great plot, brilliant characters and an emotional read too. Looking forward to reading more from the author.

The Secret Messenger by Mandy Robotham is a marvellous dual timeline novel that I just could not put down.
It is set in 2017 and 1944 from the point of view of a granddaughter and her grandmother. The former finds an old typewriter and longs to discover her grandmother’s roots and wartime experiences.
The reader is transported to Nazi-occupied Venice. We witness the bravery of ordinary men and women of the resistance. “We are all soldiers in some way.” They led dual lives, lived on their wits and had to always be aware of their surroundings.
Morale was important. It was the simple things that lifted it up.
The Nazi regime was brutal. They reigned with terror, committing acts of atrocity.
There was always a question of trust. The Nazis knew how to exploit and manipulate people into giving others away.
The Secret Messenger is a testimony to the bravery of the resistance, ordinary men and women who stood up to a cruel regime, putting the war effort above personal safety. It was a powerful and consuming read.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

This was a powerful historical fiction book. The writing flowed, the plot was absorbing, and the characters were fantastic. I haven’t read a lot of WWII fiction set in Italy, any I learned quite a lot. I never realized Venice was occupied during the war. I highly recommend this book, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book has a dual timeline. I loved the characters in these books.
This book had a great story and also was very educational

I received a free advanced copy ebook of <i>The Secret Messenger</i> from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I have read lots of historical fiction set during World War II with a smaller subset that are set in Italy. Robotham also has a more contemporary setting in England with a grieving young woman, Luisa, settling the estate of her mother - a woman who was always closed off and estranged from her own mother, Luisa's grandmother, Stella. While clearing out the attic, Luisa finds an old typewriter and some photos that spark her need to learn more about her grandmother and perhaps, the reasons behind her own mother's distance. For Luisa, this means a trip to Venice.

The city of Venice with its beauty and history becomes transformed under the oppressive control of the Nazis and the fascists. For Stella the need to defeat the fascists and the Nazis means that she juggles roles as a translator/typist in German headquarters, a courier for the Resistance, and a writer for the Resistance newspaper. A talented writer, Stella manages to compose a love story that is serialized in the newspaper and it is this love story that grates at the German occupiers. As a translator at the German headquarters Stella is privy to information that proves valuable to those who surreptitiously work to defeat them. The danger is constant and the threat of exposure very real, perhaps through her friendship with a supervisor, Cristian, who proudly wears proof of his membership with the fascists.

The setting of Venice proves to be a powerful part of this story. Venice was deemed a safe city, one mostly spared the bombings and bloody battles. But the oppression and retaliations were very real with the local residents bearing the brunt of German anger. For Stella and her compatriots, occupation could mean imprisonment, torture, and execution.

Robotham's take on a fearless young Italian woman is well-done.

#NetGalley #TheSecretMessenger

Having previously read and enjoyed A Woman of War I was excited to embark on this second war novel. It was equally as good and I loved the brave central character of Stella immensely. It gave great insight into 1940s Venice and life amongst the invading Nazi regime. A perfect, well written story to settle down with on the couch. Highly recommended.

This was a fascinating read. I loved the split between the present and WWII Venice. It was really interesting to read a story set in Italy during this time, it's a different viewpoint from what i'm used to.

It's an engaging and well written story that i'd recommend to any historical fiction readers.

This is the second book from Mandy and after adoring A Woman Of War I was excited to get approved for The Secret Messenger.
Mandy Robotham weaves a very intricate story around the characters and the telling of their stories in present-day and in 1943 Venice during WWII.

I have also been approved for her latest book The Berlin Girl which is out on the 29th Oct and look forward to reading that soon. I find that Mandy is definitely an excellent historical fiction storyteller!

I am going to recommend this to everyone.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Mandy Robotham and Avon books UK for an eARC of this book all the views are my own.

#TheSecretMessenger #Netgalley #Mandy Robotham

It has been some quite some time that I have read a book that had me in such anticipation of what would happen next, quite like this book did for me. The author, Mandy Robotham weaved a very intricate story around the characters within the book and the telling of their stories in present-day and in 1943 Venice during WWII. I really appreciated the storyline being set within Italy as far too often historical fiction during the WWII era is set within Germany, France, or other European countries, so it was interesting to read a story involving Italy and all of the hardships taking place there during this time. I look forward to reading more titles that Mandy Robotham writes as she is definitely an excellent historical fiction storyteller!

Overall an enjoyable WW2 story set in an unusual location (1940s Venice, under occupation)
The story centres around Stella, by day she is a typist in the Reich office, but by night she is a messenger for the Italian resistance and Types of content for an underground newsletter on her trusty typewriter.
The book switches between Stella’s story in the 1940s, and the story of her granddaughter Luisa who finds the old typewriter in the attic also no with some photographs, and wants to learn more ...

I’m not sure that the dual timeline approach was really necessary for this story – it would’ve been just as powerful, possibly more so, if it had just been Stella’s story. There was evidence of some good research which I always appreciate in a historical novel, but some sections did feel a bit long winded and overall it was ok, not great.

German occupation. Well written story. It made me think, reflect and enjoyed it. I would say if you feel like reading that kind of thing - don't hesitate.

An excellent read. The first book I have read from this talented author. It certainly made me stop and think about the war and German occupation. Wonderfully writing. Recommended.

Stella is a member of the Italian resistance living in Venice in WW2, by day she works as a translator for the Reich but at every opportunity she is writing a newsletter for the resistance and passing on a any information she can glean from her day job. As the distinctive fault on her typewriter gets noticed a reward is offered for any information........ will she be revealed and her life put in more danger and face the death penalty? In the present day Luisa is clearing the attic after the death of her mother and finds a battered old typewriter and a photo from Venice which makes her determined to find out more of the history of her Italian side of the family.

A great book working well in the two timelines although I much preferred Stella's story and couldn't wait to get back to her chapters, definitely recommended