The Guardian of Lies is historical fiction set in 1953, with a backdrop of the Cold War, Americans are setting up a nuclear base in France while Soviets are continuing their spy missions to sabotage. The story is about Eloise who always wanted to be a spy like her brother. When she gets an opportunity to help him out, she gravely injures them both and what follows is a narrative of guilt, coming to terms with it and recognizing when she is being played. She is headstrong but has lived in the shadow of her brother for too long and the story helps her become herself.

Overall, the plot is a slow burn. The POV of the Captain offers another side of Eloise and is helpful in learning more details about what is going on in the area. Eloise is young (19 years old) and as a result, she sometimes makes decisions that end up poorly but this is her journey to grow and that is okay. It was hard for me to relate to most of these characters and that is why I did not enjoy it as much. There are several instances of animal cruelty and death, which I found most of them unnecessary.

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted ebook copy for an honest review.

I was hooked into this story from the very first page! I'm a known binge reader, and this book definitely helped solidify that title. I haven't read Furnivall before, but this was a great introduction into her writing. Also, the time period - Cold War - is not an era that is broached very often in fictional books so I did appreciate this!

THE GUARDIAN OF LIES by Kate Furnivall is a gripping historical novel with double agents, car and gun chases, nuclear conspiracy, and family betrayal… not to mention, a surprise ending. The story takes place in 1953 in the South of France. The tension between the Americans and the Soviets is mounting. The Americans have built an airbase in France to be able to launch airstrikes on Soviet soil. The tension between the French locals and the American is escalating and there is a rumour that the Soviets have spies everywhere. Eloïse Caussade comes back home and hopes to find out what happened to her brother and if he is still alive. She will soon be caught in the town conspiracy and will have to be brave and smart to stay alive and denounce the corruption that surrounds her. Who can she trust? Who is telling lies?

If you love historical novels with elements of tension and action, this is for you. Awesome read!

This historical fiction is set just after WWII amidst the tensions of the Cold War in France.. It tells the story of a sister and her brothers and how their family ties are tested as they find themselves caught up in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Russian and American spies. I loved the Cold War setting and found it fascinating to learn about what it would have been like to have lived during those times. The plot is gripping and I was never sure what would happen next or who was lying or telling the truth. In the midst of this exciting plot, I was captivated by the beautiful descriptions of the French countryside which made me feel as if I were right inside the novel, experiencing the story with the characters. This is excellent historical fiction. Kudos to the author. Thanks to Netgalley for this copy of this novel.

Not as gritty as The Survivors, I found The Guardian of Lies to be just as engaging with twists and turns as our heroine finds herself questioning the allegiance of neighbours and family loyalties in Cold War-era France. This title is rife with danger, intrigue, secrets, and betrayal – who can you trust, where can you turn – and a bit of romance to balance the scales.

A fast-paced read, this is not the typical era I indulge in with my historical fiction picks. I wasn’t familiar with many of the incidents or significance of some of the references, but it wasn’t difficult to be immersed in the events or to feel the gravity of the tensions conveyed. It was an atmospheric and captivating novel from start to finish. It opens with heart-pounding action from the very first chapter and finishes along the same veins. The dark and shadowy world of espionage will have you questioning and doubting and surprised at some of the outcomes. Definitely a gripping page-turner that’ll keep you hooked with a well-thought-out plot and remarkable characters!

My thanks to the publisher for the complimentary copy of this title via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was an incredible book. From the first paragraph I was glued to Eloïse's side, riding shotgun with her through the twists and hard turns of this amazing adventure. Ms Furnivall made everyone into a plausible suspect and a plausible saviour at the same time, and the ending had me stunned - and cheering. Absolutely amazing. How have I never heard of Kate Furnivall before? I will be looking up her entire backlist now!

This book started off with action and intrigue and it ended the same way but in between it lost me. The premise was exciting and France in the 50’s seemed like a great backdrop for a story but for some reason I couldn’t get into this book. Their were a couple of great characters but the rest seemed lacking depth and I couldn’t get attached to them, therefore, I didn’t really care what happened to them. I love a book with plot twists but this one had one too many twists so instead of adding excitement to the story it actually took away from it. I almost felt like I was just reading till the next twist. It felt like the story didn’t have a definitive plot and it was just changing with the authors mood. It was an ok book and did have some great parts to it but it just didn’t win me over. I thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the chance to read this book.

This novel was exactly what I needed right now. It’s fun, mysterious, full of action and adventure, and hooked me from page one!
-
The book follows Eloise, who works for a spy agency in Paris. She wants to work with and protect her brother, who is working for the CIA, and in the aftermath of the Second World War and in the thick of the Cold War, this can be a dangerous agency to work for! I loved that the was set in France after the war. I feel like there are so many World War Two novels set in France but not a lot set after the war, so that was nice! I like that it took place in Paris, but then Eloise returns home down in southern France so we get to see that as well!
-
Eloise was such a loveable character! She was strong and kind, and just wanted to protect her family! She so wants to follow in her brothers footsteps that I kept getting so frustrated at her brother for not helping her more, but she proved to be a very resilient character! If you’re looking for a fun, fast paced Cold War story involving espionage, then I highly recommend this book!

I thought this book was okay. It was an enjoyable read with the mix of historical fiction and the spy world. I was trying to figure out who was good and who was bad, but was surprised at some outcomes! Usually the historical fiction books I read take place during WWII, so it was interesting to read a book that takes place a little after that era (this book introduces the beginning of the Cold War). Murder, spies, lies, betrayal, secrets, and much more are all in this book.

Thanks Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for a copy of this book.

Guardian of Lies takes place during The Cold War in South West France

A chilling story yet one of courage.

Eloise returns to her home town from Paris to find the town up in arms as her father has sold land to the United States Air Force for a runway.

Her brother Andre has been at home following injuries caused when Eloise was driving to help him escape in Paris.

Her brother isn't the brother she remembers or so she thinks.

Eloise faces down lies, secrets, betrayal , murder all with courage.

I wont give the plot away but suffice to say the pages will turn fast as Kate Furnivall brings you successfully back to the Cold War Era where no one should trust anyone.

Kate Furnivall has a way with all of her books that make you feel you are right there in the middle of the action.

Loved this book, was sorry to see it end.

Thanks to NetGalley , Simon and Schuster Canada , Simon and Schuster UK for a wonderful read. Cant wait to get my copy.

“The Guardian of Lies” brings us back to 1953 in the South of France, a time when the peace between the West and the Soviet Russia was fragile and volatile. This is the story of one family torn apart by secrets and conflicting allegiances.

It is hard not to be spellbound by the sense of place and times that utterly take us at the heart of Camargue during the Cold War. In the 50’s the south of France had become a battleground between the Americans and the Soviets. By establishing a nuclear airbase with the intent on stopping the spread of Communism, the Americans turned the small town of Arles upside down and caused conflict within its residents.

The author has taken writers privilege in her fiction and has placed the airbase in the south of France rather than in the north where the tactical air units where located during that time. Having said this, although the actual area may have been changed the story nevertheless reflects the challenges those affected had to go through.

The main character is Eloise Caussade, a courageous young Frenchwoman raised on a bull farm who followed her brother André to Paris after he became an intelligence office working for the CIA. Her dream was also to become a CIA operative but instead worked at a PI Agency. When her life was thrown into turmoil she headed back home only to find a town in a state of unrest. What happens in the town is a wonderful tale of courage, subterfuge, love, betrayal and murder.

The story maintains a steady pace and the author keeps it jogging throughout the entire novel. The narrative is as deceiving as the spies who played roles. Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys, it is easy to get fooled ……eventually, what is slowly revealed is a twisty plot full of switches and a scheme Eloise is drawn into.

This is an enjoyable read