Maggie Brouillard is a member of the French resistance, she’s helping Jewish people escape Paris and her fiancé Emil is forced to leave. Her sister Cecilia won a scholarship to study music in Nice at the Prix de Rome and Maggie sends her coded messages. She assumes Emil made it to Nice safely, due to the war she hasn’t heard from Cecilia or Emil and she hopes for the best.

Harriet Conway applies to be Rose Brouillard’s secretary, the family of the famous composure now live in England and at the rundown Chaffingham House. They fled Paris towards the end of the war, Harriet has no idea what happened to them during the German occupation and she knows Jean-Jacques Brouillard collapsed during a performance.

Harriet discovers Rose Brouillard is a very difficult woman, she’s obsessed with her husband’s music and continuing his legacy. Her troubled son Sebastien is forced to practice and play the violin, her daughter Cecilia is confined to a wheelchair, she never leaves her room and her young son Rex is lonely. A man arrives at the house looking for Maggie Brouillard, Rose tells him to leave and Harriet is confused. She discovers Maggie was Cecilia’s older sister, something happened to her during the war, Harriet has no idea what has been covered up and the secrets members of the family are keeping from each other.

I received a copy of In Darkness, Look for Stars from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. It’s a poignant story about a complicated family, torn apart by a war and greed, tragedy, death, jealousy, hatred, secrets and revenge. Harriet, Cecilia, Rex and pilot Alec McLeod are my favourite characters in the narrative, four stars from me and I’m keen to read other books by author Clara Benson.

I love historical fiction but it’s been a while since I’ve read anything in this genre so I was keen to give this a go. It was a good book, quick to draw you in and a nice easy read but it felt a little more like YA that the adult historical fiction I normally go for

I love historical fiction books set during WWII. I loved the prologue and how it started the book with a peak into a family’s involvement with the French Resistance. This is a dual timeline book, but the timeframe is closer in years. To be honest, I felt that the dialogue was trite and not deeply engaging. It seemed to be more of a young adult book if it weren’t for the subject matter. I did not care for any of the characters in the story except for Maggie. And she did not play that significant of a role. It’s not a horrible book to read, but also not one of my favorites in this genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

A story of the Resistance, set in Paris in 1941. Maggie is front and center, helping to transport forged documents amid increasing danger. Her bravery comes to light years later when handwritten letters surface.

Not your usual WW2 historical fiction, IN DARKNESS, LOOK FOR STARS by Clara Benson is a tale of love, loss, hope, danger, resistance, betrayal, fear and jealousy. Spanning a decade from 1941 to 1950, the story is poignant, heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. Once I started this captivating read, I could not put it down...and wouldn't have if real life didn't have a habit of getting in the way.

Paris, 1941: Defying her high society mother's expectations and ambitions, Maggie Brouillard dedicates her life to the French Resistance helping Jews escape capture and certain death. In the process she has met and fallen in love with Emil, a Jewish Resistance fighter, who is so far removed from what her mother considers a suitable match. But Maggie doesn't care a jot. She loves Emil and would do anything for him, as well as helping as many people as she can, working beside the man she loves. But the Germans are gaining ground and getting closer and Maggie knows she must move Emil somewhere safer.

Nice, 1941: Cecilia Brouillard lives a quiet uncomplicated life in the south of France, which has so far escaped the horrors of war, studying and composing music at the Academie. But that is about to be disrupted with the arrival of Emil, at the behest of her sister Maggie to shelter him and keep him safe from the Nazis. However, his arrival plunges Cecilia's life into complete disarray and ultimately danger as he introduces her to the world of the Resistance and freedom fighters. But trusting her sister with Emil's safety would cost Maggie dearly...when Cecilia and Emil fall desperately in love and unable to live without the other. Cecilia lives in fear and shame of Maggie discovering their secret but finds she cannot give Emil up. Then the police raid one of their meetings and they are arrested. Cecilia is released soon after but Emil is sent to a Jewish camp in Poland.

Soon after her release Cecilia discovers she is pregnant and quits the Academie and returns to Paris to her family. But if she thought her mother would welcome her with open arms and take care of her, she was sadly mistaken. Rose was livid to discover Cecilia's condition and immediately sought to rectify it...by any means necessary! As soon as Cecilia discovered her mother's deception, she moved in with her older sister Maggie, continuing her involvement with the Resistance alongside her, with Maggie was still oblivious to her sister's betrayal. Leaving Rose to focus all her energies on young Sebastien, a music protege at 11, and throwing soirees for German officers - an arrangement that was mutually beneficial for both parties. And the promise that Sebastien will outshine his sister Cecilia and rise to the ranks she so far has failed to achieve.

But soon the future becomes frightening and uncertain for all involved, as Maggie and Cecilia must decide where their loyalties lie and how far they would go to protect themselves and each other.

Hertfershire, 1949: Arriving at the neglected yet grand home of Chaffington House, Harriet Conway has come to take her place as Rose Brouillard's secretary. Home to the Brouillard family since escaping Paris after the war, Chaffington's extravagance has all but disappeared with faded memories to match its decor and tragedy in the air. Rose is aloof, abrupt and extremely self-assured. Her purpose in life is to ensure Sebastien rises to the musical heights to which he aspires following in his father's footsteps and to preserve her late husband, Jean-Jacque Brouillard's, memory with scrapbooks of newspaper clippings and photos spanning the decades of his career right up to his untimely death. The fact that she has one surviving daughter and a grandson is of no consequence real to her.

The years, it appears, have not been kind to Cecilia. She is now confined to a wheelchair due to an accident anyone refuses to discuss, but for Sebastien's vague snide comments. She lives in an extended part of the house in her own apartment with everything she needs and yet she is utterly bereft with a sadness that consumes her that she refuses to leave the house. Even her 9 year old son Rex cannot inspire any happiness, and the boy is consistently disappointed that his mother hardly acknowledges him.

When a man knocks at the door one day searching for Maggie, Rose slams the door shut on him claiming there is no one there by that name, Harriet begins to suspect something is amiss. She soon learns that Maggie is the eldest sister of Cecilia and Sebastian but why won't no one speak her name? What could she have possibly done to be wiped from the family's memories? And what has happened to Cecilia to inspire such desolation?

Chaffingham is clearly shrouded in secrecy with the family so haunted by a past too shocking to speak of. But when Harriet stumbles across a letter, she uncovers a secret that could destroy the family even further. What is she to do? Ignore it and pretend she never uncovered its contents? Or expose the secret and rewrite history?

What a captivating read this book was! Although a little slow to start, it soon picked up pace as become privy to the Brouillard family's tragedies and secrets. The unexpected death of the patriarch. The extravagant expectations of their mother Rose. The instability of young son Sebastien and his failure to meet her demands. Cecilia's disgrace. Maggie's heartbreak. Rose's collaboration with the Germans. Maggie and Cecilia's resistance activities. The betrayal of siblings. The dysfunctionality of one family.

IN DARKNESS, LOOK FOR STARS is a beautifully told yet heartbreaking tale told in dual timelines - during the war and post-war - as the story unfolds between the past and present. It is easy to feel compassion for some family members and utter disdain for others as you are encapsulated within their stories. There is an element of mystery that will keep you turning the pages until the secrets are revealed leading to the shocking final act that will leave you breathless.

I do have one critique regarding the title - I cannot see how it fits the story. But that aside, it is an outstanding story that is so beautifully told.

I thoroughly enjoyed IN DARKNESS, LOOK FOR STARS and have no hesitation in recommending it to fans of historical fiction, particularly WW2, although it is not your typical wartime fiction.

I would like to thank #ClaraBenson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #InDarknessLookForStars in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic book about the resistance set in WWII. A gripping, great read!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Going into In Darkness, Look for Stars I was confused by the presence of a "present day" story line. While it was not included in the synopsis, I ended up liking it more than the past timeline which is really rare for me. Another thing that held this one back for me is a lot of the characters actions in the past are questionable. I do not want to give any plot points away but many of these actions were so illogical to me I cannot believe, especially during a war, a person would make them. Even though it missed the mark for me, others who love WWII fiction may enjoy this entry in the historical fiction catagory.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookoulture for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

A wonderful family saga. We start with meeting Maggie in wartime working with the Resistance. Then the story goes to the second part of the dual time only 8 years later but what a different family is left. I loved both stories. This is a tale of bravery, heartbreak, disloyalty, tragedy. I loved reading how different members of the family reacted to the occupation. A captivating read.

With its dual timeline set in pre and post-WWII France, this well written historical novel involves us in the lives of a musical family caught up in the events of Nazi occupation and its aftermath. With its involving plot and well-rounded characters, and enough drama to whet the appetite, I learned a lot about the French Resistance and their fight against the occupying Nazis. Recommended reading.

I loved the chapters from the war, as they uncovered the mysteries that the Brouillard family were working so hard to keep secret. Tragic events towards the end of the war had a lasting effect on each member of the family; causing Cecelia to retreat into herself and Sebastien to become anger prone.

I also loved reading about The Resistance activities that Maggie and Cecelia were involved in. I’d read a little about The Resistance in occupied Italy, and hadn’t read anything about the French resistance so I found this really interesting and want to learn more.

Although this is Historical Fiction, there was a definite mysterious undertone too, with the deep secrets of the Brouillard family being slowly uncovered as the plot moves forward. I would say that there was also a Thriller element for me too although it’s hard to explain without spoiling the book.

Among all of the fear and heartbreak there’s also the blossoming of Romance, both in the past and the present day, showing that among all of the doom and gloom there’s still hope to cling to. I thought that this was really important as although the book highlights the tragic realities of war it also touches upon the human lives and emotions and how vital it is to live in the moment, especially with such darkness looming over them.

It's been a few months since I read historical fiction. In Darkness, Look for Stars was just what I needed to dip my toes back into the genre. I loved the setting of post WWII England, but I've got to be honest, I'm drawn more towards stories set during WWII as opposed to after. In this book particularly, I absolutely LOVED the prologue. However, I felt like it was such a tease because after the initial glimpse of Maggie, the book isn't about her. While I really enjoyed this book, I was drawn most to Maggie's story and the fact that this book was not her story was a huge let down for me. Truthfully, I think I've read so much wonderful historical fiction that the bar for a great historical fiction novel is very, very high in my opinion. While I did enjoy this one, it does not come close to The Alice Network, All The Light We Cannot See, or even The Huntress. I truly think the genre has spoiled me with some great previous historical fiction reads, but I think this one could be enjoyable for those who have not read much of the genre and just want to give it a try. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for my free copy in exchange for my honest review.

In Darkness, Look for Stars begins in 1941 with Maggie Brouillard saving the life of RAF officer Alec McLeod after he crashes his plane in war-torn France. We then skip forward to England in 1949 when secretary Harriet Conway arrives at the Brouillard home to work as a secretary. She discovers a family both torn apart and held together by music with no sign of Maggie. Then Alec comes searching for his rescuer...
The narrative is split between the two time periods: we see the events of the war in contrast to the situation afterwards. Cecelia Brouillard, Maggie's sister hides Maggie's Jewish lover from the Germans and they fall in love. Emil is captured and Cecelia returns to her family in Paris, pregnant and full of guilt at her betrayal of her sister. Meanwhile in 1949, we see Cecilia as a figure of sadness. She is unable to walk after being shot in the back, refusing to show any love towards her son.
I was completely hooked by the plot. The action sets off straight away and doesn't lose momentum at any point. The personal tragedy as well as the national horrors are heartbreaking to read, even more so when you understand the factual basis of the Jewish deportations.
The characters are so well developed that I really found myself caring about the outcomes for them. Even Rose and Sebastien, who were not at all likeable, prompted some sympathy at the end of the book as their actions have terrible consequences.
In Darkness, Look For Stars is a beautifully devastating book. Highly emotional and utterly captivating from the first page to the last. The terrible events of the war and its aftermath for the French people whether collaborators or Resistance are evoked with passion and pathos in this story. Yet the hope and lightness of music and love are never far away from the plot and make parts of this book uplifting and joyous.

This was a very rare entry into the dual timeline WWII historical fiction novels that I've read in that I actually preferred the "present day" timeline (it's not actually present day, it's only 8 years later in 1949). I was surprised a lot by this outcome, namely because from the synopsis alone I didn't even realize there WOULD be another timeline to invest myself in.

There's a lot to say about the characters in this book (like, A LOT), but I hesitate to do so because I don't want to give anything away. Suffice it to say I HAVE THOUGHTS. Some of the plot points were a bit tricky for me...namely, I couldn't quite get around some of the character's willingness to discuss rather important matters around people that seemed blatantly untrustworthy and everything that this leads up to.

In terms of the novel's standings among other WWII hist fics, I don't know that it ultimately added a lot to the genre for me - but as this is almost exclusively the era of historical fiction I prefer to read, I think I've become rather picky. There is definitely something here to recommend, if only for the 1949 timeline, which I would have LOVED to explore more of.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

A tale of danger, hope, fear and love written with flair, confidence and style that is so poignant it could sever readers’ heartstrings, In Darkness, Look for Stars is a stirring, captivating and electrifying novel by Clara Benson sure to satisfy readers looking for intelligent, atmospheric and enthralling historical novels.

In Paris, 1941, Maggie defies her high society mother by dedicating her entire life to the Resistance and to ease the fears of the Jewish community by helping them escape from persecution and certain death. While Maggie’s mother despairs of her daughter’s interest in such unladylike pursuits, her daughter doesn’t care a jot about high society and instead just wants to help as many people as she possibly can and to be as close as she can possibly be to the man she has fallen over heels in love with, Emil, a Jewish Resistance fighter, who is as far removed from her mother’s idea of a perfect son-in-law as it is possible to get. But Maggie would go to the ends of the earth for the man she loves – even though he is wanted by the Nazis with a very uncertain future ahead of him. Paris has lately become increasingly hostile to people who practise the Jewish faith – with the sight of people being dragged away in handcuffs becoming increasingly common. Emil and Maggie know that they cannot spend another second in each other’s arms any more and that the time has come for them to part, but will they ever see each other ever again?

Maggie’s sister, Cecilia, lives in the South of France, a part of the country thus far untouched by the horrors of war. Cecilia lives a life that is quiet, sedate and comfortable yet this life is about to be turned on its head by the arrival of her sister’s lover Emil who turns up on her doorstep desperate for shelter and a place to hide in from the Nazis dogging his heels. Emil’s arrival plunges Cecilia into immediate danger and into the world of the Resistance where each day is uncertain and full of terror, anguish and despair. Yet, Cecilia knows that she mustn’t crumble because there are people relying on her – including her sister Maggie who is desperate for news of the man she loves.

As the future gets more frightening and uncertain for Maggie and Cecilia and with their lives hanging in the balance, they must decide where their loyalties lie and how far they would go to rescue themselves and one another.

In Darkness, Look for Stars is an evocative and emotional tale of family ties, illicit desire, forbidden love and impossible sacrifices set against a vividly rendered background that takes readers effortlessly back to France in the 1940s. A captivating and, at times, harrowing story of loss, redemption, hope, triumph and desire that brilliantly explores the strength and courage women show at times of adversity when all seems impossible, In Darkness, Look for Stars is poignant and affecting without being trite or sentimental.

A wonderfully written historical novel, In Darkness, Look for Stars was the first Clara Benson novel I read, but it shall certainly not be my last.

In Darkness Look For Stars

I read a lot of historical fiction and that of WWII and this was a heartbreaking yet heartwarming story of what war can do to a family.
The story is told in a dual timeline during the German invasion of France and after the war in England. It centres around the musical Brouillard family. The father was a famous composer and his wife Rose trades on his celebrity status for many years. She has high expectations of her children and is quite the demanding matriarch.
Maggie, Cecilia, Sebastian and their mother Rose live an entitled life. Cecilia is an upcoming violinist studying under scholarship in Nice while the rest of the family are living in the family home in Paris during the German invasion. Sebastian is also a violinist and is expected to be as good as his sister Cecelia and his mother expects nothing less. Harriet much to her mothers distress has little to no musical ability but does teach music. Harriet is secretly working for the resistance and has fallen in love with Emil, a Jewish resistance member. His life becomes threatened and Harriet organises for Emil to go to Cecilia. Cecilia and Emil have an instant attraction.

Fast forward to England after the war and Harriet Conway is introduced to the England timeline. She arrives in Hertfordshire at the family’s English home of Chaffingham House as Rose’s Secretary. Harriet is a no nonsense blunt woman who has lost as much during the war as many families. She is the catalyst in attempting to bring the family together but the family is so broken is this possible?

The story highlights the bravery and honour of the French Resistance members who died fighting the German Occupation and the struggles and suffering people went through during this period. I am always in awe of the strength of character of the resistance members.
There are many themes covered in ‘In Darkness Look For Stars’ conflict, bravery, honour, love, loyalty, loss and family secrets. The characters are so well developed as is the story line. A truly great read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Bookouture for this ARC I highly recommend it.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I tend to especially enjoy WWII stories. I really enjoyed this book - it had an interesting and unique storyline, there were suspense and intrigue, and an incredible cast of characters. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from Mrs. Benson!

Thank you, Bookouture and NetGalley, for a digital ARC!

Thank You to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Darkness, Look for Stars is a family drama that begins in France during WWII. We are introduced to a well to do family trying to survive during the occupation of France.
The story is told in back and forth narratives between the past in France and the present day in England after the war has ended. Family secrets are exposed in the present day with the past narrative providing a timeline of events and how they are connected.
Well constructed characters that you get to know and see why they are the way they are due to the events of their lives. Secrets kept from each other lead to unforgivable acts.
Really enjoyed this book and it is sure to appeal to many readers, especially those that like historical fiction set during WWII.

Not your usual WWII historical fiction, this one only spans around a decade instead of the 60+ years you often find. It works nicely mainly because the characters continue to bear the burdens of the war. I thought the follow-through from one timeline to another was smooth, and that there was real growth in some characters, especially Cecilia. It was an interesting story of family loyalty and the lasting repercussions of choices made in haste. For more thoughts, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.

I found this book interesting in the form the author chose to write it in.

The story is interesting. I was drawn in with the prologue and the story of Maggie. Then, I was disappointed when she didn't show back up in the book until chapter 7. I was intrigued with the prologue and was longing for all of Maggie's story to be told. Turns out, fair warning, the story is ultimately not about Maggie.

I appreciated the fact that there was no hiding from the pain of family secrets and how much damage they can cause multiple generations. After having lived through horrible family secrets myself, it is nice to see that someone understands how secrets will haunt for a long time after the fact.

After the story was over, I found myself wanting more of Cecilia's story. Does she fall in love again? Does she overcome the painful memories of the past?

This is a nice deep yet light read for those who are looking for some historical fiction distractions from real life. Escape into the world of professional musicians, the French resistance in World War 2 and the fight for relevance in the 1950s after the war is but a memory.

A riveting read with a compelling storyline. Keeps you on tentherhooks and brings to the fore the horrific realities of war.