Books about World War II are always interesting and almost always provide bits of revealing information that further demonstrate just how united the people in England were in trying to save their country and the world from Hitler’s atrocities. The Secrets of Latimer House is no exception. It is a fascinating story of some of the secret techniques that were used during the war, from interrogation to analysis to secret listeners. It tells the story through the eyes and experiences of three very different young women: a society heiress, a poor farm girl, and a German Jew who managed to escape from Germany after great personal losses. At first glance Evelyn, Betty and Judith couldn’t be more different and when they are billeted together it is hard to imagine them ever forming any kind of bond. But their loyalty, bravery and dedication to the vital roles they play unite them.

Very satisfying read, inspiring, showing how everyone in England was called upon to “do their part” and how well they all rose to that call.

Thanks to Harper Collins Publishers UK for providing an advance copy of The Secrets of Latimer House for my reading pleasure and honest review. It is well worth your time; you will enjoy it! All opinions are my own.

Is there any genre that Jules Wake can’t write perfectly? I really don’t think so! The Secrets of Latimer House is a change of genre for Jules, writing her first historical fiction novel. Set during the Second World War, this book is based loosely on the work that was done at Latimer House in Buckinghamshire, where German pilots and submariners were brought as prisoners of war to be interrogated before being taken to more permanent wartime accommodation.

This story brought three women together who couldn’t be more different to one another, but who formed a bond of friendship that carried them through the story together. I loved the three story arcs which fitted together so easily. The overall story was filled with plenty of drama, together with a little intrigue, and even some romance too. I think of the three women I found myself more closely drawn to Betty, but they were all such well-structured characters that I found myself completely immersed into the story, almost as if I was there with them. I have to say this would make a fantastic tv drama and one that I really need!

The historical fiction that I love the most is fiction that not only draws you into the story, but also makes you want to do more reading around the subject matter, and ‘The Secrets of Latimer House’ does that so perfectly. It is clear from the outset that Jules Wake had done a significant amount of research about what happened in Latimer House. I think many of us have heard of the important war work that women working at Bletchley Park had done, but it was refreshing to read that women at Latimer House were working as interrogators, translators and analysts, and it definitely made me want to go to Buckinghamshire to check out the information about the work done at Latimer House from the Amersham Museum. I will certainly be doing additional reading because my interest has been well and truly piqued by this wonderful novel.

This was different than one of the many of the typical WWII historical fiction novels I typically read. This one dealt with German prisoners of war and focused on three women working together in the attic of the Latimer House. I liked the character development of the three main characters and the suspense of their antics kept me interested through the end of the story.

The Secrets of Latimer House
by Jules Wake
Publish August 30, 2021

The historical background to this book is simply fascinating, and I can see why the author was inspired to write it – I’d never heard of Latimer House before, and you might well want to turn to Google in the same way I did to find out more. The surrounding community was wholly unaware of the pivotal part both the house and its grounds played in the collection of crucial wartime intelligence, and its secrets aren’t anything like as well known as other locations like Bletchley Park. The author’s research is simply superb, and she brings the location and its day-to-day activities vividly to life.
Readers will be drawn to read this book based on this and the author might be familiar to them. I recommend this book. You have a treat in store if you decide to read this book.

5 star

A fascinating look at women in the war and the secret work they were called upon to do. Duty, friendship, hardship, joy and pain. It's all here. Three very different women, each recruited because of their special abilities and skills, finding new confidence, determination and love. I got drawn into their story and really enjoyed reading it.

This is the first book I've read by Jules Wake but won't be the last. Latimer House, located in the Buckinghamshire countryside an hour out of London was a centre of intelligence gathering in WWII. This tells the stories of three very different woman thrown together as room mates whilst working in different roles.
Evelyn, upper class, engaged to a German before the war broke out is involved in interviewing and interrogating German POWs.
Judith, a German Jewish refugee is listening in to conversations in the prisoner's cells to gather intelligence and Betty, a local girl from the village, beautiful and extremely bright.
A thoroughly enjoyable book. Highly recommended.

What a brilliant story! I loved this book! Latimer House is a highly secret POW camp where German captives are interrogated by British intelligence operatives. Three young women, from very different backgrounds, are all sent their to complete some top secret work. Meet Evelyn, society heiress and skilled interrogator; Betty, local village girl whose analytical skills are soon being put to good use; Judith, a young Jewish refugee from Germany who certainly never expected to be listening and reporting on the conversations of the German captives.
All sharing a room together in the attics of Latimer House they soon become fast friends.
Brilliantly written characters that leap out from the pages, I was quickly engrossed in their lives and experiences, keen to find out how the story would play out. The authors research really shows in the small details of everyday life included in the story and I learnt so much more about Latimer House and what took place there.
Engaging, fascinating and based on fact- this is such a great read!

This novel kept me captivated throughout. It setting in the mysterious Latimer House, deep in the English countryside is based on an actual building which existed during the Second World War and which was the base for covert operations. I loved the secrecy of the situation and the three main characters were all so different but totally believable. Thrown together through their war work, they may come from different strands of society but proved what a leveller the situation was. They succeeded through their own efforts and abilities, nothing else.

The novel also had some interesting observations on the role of women both in the wider society and in the work in Latimer House. Outside the house, they might be regarded as subservient by some men or encouraged to succeed through marriage. In Latimer House, their female sex was seen as an advantage and they were able to use their capabilities to get some successful results. This gave you hope that the life after the war would give them opportunities not open to them before. Above all, you feel that human ties and friendships are important in helping someone to thrive. The focus is always on moving forwards in hope. For some, like Judith, this is a difficult lesson to learn.

In short: Immensely entertaining and informative
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

I really enjoyed this book, based on real events and places and set in the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside, about three women from different walks of life all doing their bit to help win World War II.

Evelyn (society heiress), Betty (local farm girl) and Judith (German ex-pat) are all working at Latimer House doing various jobs, which the locals think is a supply depot but is actually a place where high ranking German prisoners of war come and go, after being interrogated to try and find out what secrets they know that may help in the war effort.  Lots of listening in and secret rooms, quite fascinating.

Each woman has their own story and issues to overcome, but become close friends even though they were from such different walks of life.

Really enjoyable story, with lots going on, romance and a lovely ending.

This is the first time that I have read a book by Jules Wake. I was drawn to this because of the historical fiction genre.

The story begins in the Spring of 1943 with the opening chapters introducing the three main characters: Evelyn, Betty and Judith. They are from completely different geographic and socio-economic backgrounds. However their lives are soon going to come together at a large country house in the Buckinghamshire countryside.

The fact that this book, although fictional, is based on a real place helps to add a sense of reality to the novel. I liked the way that the characters and their back stories were developed.

It is difficult to say much about the narrative without spoiling the story. The book deals with multiple themes including: German Immigrants, prisoners of war, life on the home front and the search for valuable information by the British services. This is cleverly woven into a very readable story about the lives of the three main characters.

Although I have some knowledge about the subject matter, I feel that the book has made me more aware of the lives of those involved. On the strength of this book I will certainly look out for future historical fiction titles by Jules Wake, should further books within the genre becoming available.

I give my thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins (One More Chapter) for a copy of this book in exchange for this review.

I loved this book.

The story is about three women working at Latimer House during the war. They were so different from but their personalities complemented each other. Evelyn was a socialite whose job was to interrogate the German prisoners of war; Judith was a Jewish woman who escaped Germany and she listened into the prisoners conversations in their cells and Betty was a local gal who left school young and was a parlor maid in Latimer House and now analyzes the reports put out by the others. The characters were so well developed but Betty was my favorite. She was always so upbeat and positive but was insecure about her background. Judith was a bit more somber but she had lost so much due to the war. Evelyn was pretty grounded and she had been engaged to a German but broke it off when the war began.

There was a little bit of romance, lots of intrigue and in the time they were together they shared different hardships and became close. It had to be interesting working in this 100 year old mansion turned into a POW camp. It was so secret that even the villagers just thought it was a distribution center.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for providing me the opportunity to read this interesting story.

The Secrets of Latimer House by Jules Wake was probably one of the best books I have read all year. This story is about the secret history of Latimer House. It is located in Buckinghamshire England, not too far from London. Latimer House was where interrogations of captured German soldiers took place. This story is different from the usual World War II stories. This house and it’s employees played a pivotal role in the collection of war time intelligence gathering.

The historical background in this book is just fascinating. I can see why the author was inspired to write about this little known important part of history. I have certainly read plenty about Bletchley Park and it’s part regarding the gathering of intelligence but Latimer House was a place I had never heard of before. I read this one rather quickly because I wanted to find out more.

This is also a story of three women and the strong friendship that develops. The character development is excellent. There is plenty of drama, a little touch of romance thrown in for good measure, a some unexpected twists and turns that kept me interested until the very end.
The settings were excellently written that it was easy to picture yourself there in the room or out on the roof or feeling the wind in your face during a bike ride.

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it really highly. I will be eagerly awaiting Jules Wake’s next book. Well done.

I would like to thank Jules Wake, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an incredible book. I loved every second of it and can’t recommend it highly enough.
Latimer House in the Buckinghamshire countryside hides a secret from the nearby village. It’s not a military distribution centre, it’s a processing centre for high ranking German POW’s. A place where the secrets of the German war machine are coaxed from the prisoners and passed to military intelligence. This is the story of three very different women who find themselves working together at Latimer house to help Britain win the war against Nazi Germany.
Judith is a Jew who fled Germany before the War to live in England and is determined to help her adopted country beat the regime who killed her father and ruined her homeland.
Betty grew up in the countryside but wants something more exciting. Her analytical skills get her noticed and before long she is analysing transcripts of conversations between German prisoners to pinpoint anything that could be useful to intelligence.
Evelyn is an officer in naval intelligence, her ability to speak German fluently gets her a job interrogating German prisoners.
The three women find themselves sharing a room in Latimer House. As they get to know each other they share their hopes and fears but the secrets they have to keep could tear them apart.

Based on true events at Latimer House in Buckinghamshire. I was captured by the strength of the 3 women. Totally different personalities but equally strong in mind. It happens that I live across the valley from Latimer House and have stayed there too. I had no idea of what went on there in WW2 and the book has opened my eyes to some of the history in the area. It was interesting to hear place mentioned that I know. I would never dare cycle along Latimer Road nowadays as Judith and Walther did.

I loved these 3 women, their friendship and their courage.
A mix of historical facts and fiction, it's an engrossing and well written story.
The historical background is vivid, the women are fleshed and strong.
It's an unusual story that made me learned something new and I rooted for these women from different backgrounds.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Set against the background of a real interrogation center just outside of London, Latimer House becomes a main character in this fictional story of three young women who have been affected by the war so decide to join the Allies in their battle against Hitler in WWII. The three come from very different backgrounds but join together to further their contributions and make a difference. Jules Wake has developed a very vivid picture of conditions in and around London during the war while showing us a small piece of what life was like for those caught in London while fighting for freedom. I found myself reacting and cheering on the ladies as they struggle through. I had not read any of Wake's back library, now I just have to figure out where to start!

The Secrets of Latimer House is a detailed well thought out story that pulls the reader into the story from the first page!
I like how Wake has researched what happened and also added real life events that happened in WW2 regarding the interrogation of POW and secret missions...
The character development of The Secrets of Latimer House is good.The characters are interesti and relatable. Each of the 3 girls (Evelyn, Betty and Judith) have different backgrounds but are working together for a common, to come to the aid of the allied forces and in return they become the best of friends....
I would recommend reading The Secrets of Latimer House to lovers of Historical Fiction set in WW2 that are based on true events, as it is a captivating and inspiring story that includes secrets, anxiety and coming together in a time of need!

Superb ! This is one of those books that you love from the off, then you fall in love with the characters. Betty the down to earth browbeaten girl with the bullyboy boyfriend. Then there is Judith who is Jewish and fled her home country, she isn’t too sure where she fits in. Last but not least Eleanor who has had a gifted upbringing and thinks clothes etc magically launder themselves however they all have big personalities that make the book joyous. The historical side to the book is fascinating. This is the first Historical novel by Jules Wakes and I sincerely hope it won’t be the last.

A fascinating, historical tale of three women from very different backgrounds who come together in order to help the war effort during World War Two.

A unique set of circumstances brings each of them to Latimer House, where they are billeted as a result of the specific skills they possess, although to the public eye, the house is nothing more than a distribution centre.

Whilst ostensibly a novel about the war, the underpinning stories of the women’s lives and how they each overcome their own demons, cementing the strongest of friendships in the process, is at the heart of the narrative and is utterly compelling. Betty, Judith and Evelyn are so very different and yet, the bond brought about by their remarkable situation is both heart-warming and inspiring.

To discover in the epilogue that Latimer House actually existed lends even further intrigue despite the story itself being fictional.

Highly recommended!

With thanks to the author, One More Chapter and Rachel (@rararesources) at Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in the publication day push.

The Secrets of Latimer House will have you weeping with grief, joy, laughing through the darkness, and calling your best friends to tell them you love them. With all the things the universe is tossing at you right now, this novel will remind you to find the beauty in living.

"What shall we make a toast to? To tomorrow, because today is done."