A wonderful historical fiction piece. The characters alone pulled me in. They each have such diverse stories and I loved their journeys.
Pub date : August 30, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved reading this book.I was immediately drawn in by the characters the setting the time in history.The story was so real so well written I will be recommending the book and the author.#netgalley #harperonechapter

Three women, from three different walks of life come together to work at Latimer House in WW2. Latimer House is a secret location where German prisoners of war are being interrogated in a bid to find out the secrets of German warfare.
The story revolves around these women. Betty who lives in the local village and is destined to marry a man who bullies and belittles her. She feels she has to do what he wants in order to keep her mother and sister safe .
Judith is a German Jewish refuge who has lost all her family and is full of bitterness towards the German prisoners.
Evelyn who comes from a more upper crust family and hasn't heard from her German fiancé in four years .They decided to breakup because they were on opposite sides in the war.

I loved this book. I quickly became immersed in the lives of these women who are trying to make the best of their situations. They became firm friends, looking out for each other and sharing the good times as well as the bad.

I particularly like the quote about what friendship is and it has stuck in my mind.
A brilliant read that is calling out for a sequel. Although there is a really good epilogue I still want to find out what happened next.

I have been aware of some of the “Secrets of Latimer House” for some time so was delighted to be offered the chance to read this book set in WW2. Latimer house was as secret as Bletchley Park – everyone knew that it was being used for the war effort but what went on behind closed doors was known to a select few.

The story focuses on three young women from very different backgrounds who are brought together through their work at Latimer House during WW2. Although they are working in different areas they soon become firm friends - bound by the official secrets act and the secrecy surrounding the operations they can't even tell each other what they do, but they all know that they are key parts of the jigsaw and each has a valid contribution to make.
• Evelyn is from an upper class family, privileged and pretty, but she is also fluent in German and a skilled interrogator.
• Judith is a German Jew who came to England following the destruction of her father’s business during Kristallnacht. The Nazi’s took everything from her so she has no loyalty to Germany & is 100% on the side of the allies, using her language skills to help bring the war to an end.
• Betty is a girl from the local village – she cannot type as she claimed, but she has an exceptionally sharp mind and soon becomes a leading analyst.
All the characters are well written and believable. It is easy to picture them and imagine them as the book unfolds. As an officer, it would have been very easy for Evelyn to consider herself superior to the others but she became acutely aware of her privilege and a significant quote as she reflected back on her time at Latimer is:
“It made me realise that we have more in common than our differences and I fervently hope in the future that people will remember that”

The story has been well-researched with some interesting details (such as the convoluted route taken when driving some high-ranking POWs through London so they would only see the parts not affected by the bombing, rather than the widely-reported devastation). It is entertaining, emotional, and yet still very believable, probably because it is based upon real events.
For anyone unfamiliar with Latimer House, but having an interest in Bletchley Park & similar areas, I would strongly recommend that you read up on Latimer!

I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to those who like female-focused WW2 historical fiction-based-on-fact, but also to anyone interested in Latimer House or people who like stories of female friendship, loyalty & honesty with a bit of gentle romance thrown in!

#NetGalley #JulesWake #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter #TheSecretsOfLatimerHouse

Having previously read novels set in and around Bletchley Park, this story provides an insight into other clandestine operations in the Home Counties during WW2. Three very different young women are employed in varying roles at Latimer House. The set up is so secret that, even though they share a room, they are not supposed to discuss their work. This is the tale of their exploits, home lives, backgrounds and romances.

Very readable.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

My first by this author and I really enjoyed it. Great characters woven together by working at Latimer House a secret place where war criminals are interrogated and documents translated. Although the 3 women come from different walks of life they share a bedroom and a passion to do their bit for the war effort. A book to get mad at, cry at or laugh at and with the characters. Thanks Jules, the publisher and NetGalley.

"The Secrets of Latimer House" was an excellent story filled with intriguing events and believable characters. Even when I was still only partway through, I found myself recommending it to friends.

I have a feeling this is a story that will stay with me for a long time to come.

There was a quotation shared in the book that sums this story up very nicely. “Friendship improves happiness and abates grief by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.” - Marcus Tullius Cicero

Evelyn, Betty and Judith all came from very different backgrounds and, on the surface, would seem to have very little in common. Yet, when they are thrown together as roommates in the Latimer House, they find they share more in common than not. And as each finds their way through the grief and trials of war, they discover that friendship truly does improve happiness and abate grief.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. I enjoyed the WWII historical fiction about three women working with German POWs. This was a first novel for me that explored this topic and it was well done. I liked the chapters being divided by character and liked Betty's the best. I left Juidths experience was the lightest and would have loved more detail there. I won't leave a spoiler but very much liked who the novel ended.

I stayed up late to finish this book last night. And as I was trying to get to sleep, after finishing it, I started thinking about what I liked about it and what I didn’t like. For the first time in a few months, I couldn’t think of anything I didn’t like. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be looking for others. The story centers around three women that come from totally different backgrounds. They are in England at the beginning of the war and all three want to do something useful to help in the war. Much to their own amazement, they become fast friends and learn to support one another. The characters are well developed and the storyline is interesting and captivating. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review. Good book.

I took The Secrets of Latimer House away on holiday with me and it kept me entertained all week.

The story follows 3 very different girls as they share a room and do different jobs, but they can't even tell each other what they do.

Evelyn is from an upper class family, Judith is a Jewish who came to England just before the war to escape the Nazi regime and Betty is a girl from the village. We watch as their friendship and confidence in themselves grow.

All the characters are well written and believable. It is easy to picture them and imagine their turmoil.

A very different book based around WW2 but well worth the read.

A hypnotising story based round the friendship and camaraderie of three young women, Evelyn Betty and Judith brought together at Latimer House during WW2. They bond during their secret work and you live through their ups and downs at work , life and play whilst giving an insight into the invaluable work that was carried out at Latimer House in its efforts to support the war. It will make you laugh , smile and cry as you live their lives
Three highly likeable and well portrayed characters .

4.5 stars rounded down to 4

Society heiress Evelyn Brooke-Edwards is a skilled interrogator. - her beauty making her a non-threat in the eyes of the prisoners. Farm girl Betty Connors may not be able to type as she claimed, but her crack analytic skills soon find her unearthing covert connections. German ex-pat Judith Stern never expected to find herself listening to German POW's whispered conversations, but the Nazis took her father from her so she will do whatever it takes to help the allies end the war. Tucked away in the Buckinghamshire countryside, Latimer House, a grand country estate, stands proudly - witness to some of the greatest secrets of WWII.

This is the story of three women who were chosen to work in Latimer House during WWII. The villagers are told that it's a distribution centre.

Evelyn, Betty and Judith all work at the country house and quickly make good friends. Each woman has their own trials and tribulations. They also come from different backgrounds, but they all have one goal, to help the allies win the war. The story has been really well researched and it's intriguing. I loved the three women's characters and the strengths they needed to carryout their work. I loved this book from beginning to end.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #JolesWake for my ARC of #TheSecretsOfLatimerHouse in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful story which billets three dissimilar women, who might otherwise never come in contact, into a dormer room while working at Latimer House. There are so many secrets that must be kept in protection of the country that the three can’t even tell each other what they do each day. As their assignments proceed, they learn to find common ground in uncommon situations. Love, heartache, abuse, and tragedy face the women who are doing men’s jobs while learning about who they are and what they are willing to do for self and country.

This is a wonderful WWII story that brings a different light to the typical historical fiction novel. If focuses on how both men and women interrogated German prisoners, listened to their musings, analyzed their information, and used it to save lives. Their story is interesting and educational while being entertaining and emotional. The characters are genuine, and the reader begins to care about their well-being shortly into the book. That feeling continues to grow as they encounter situations that are unique to them. The plot is based upon real events and is eye opening.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it is highly recommended!


I received an ARC from Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of the book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Three girls from three totally different backgrounds end up bunking together at Latimer House a Distribution Centre (which it is not).

Judith is a German Jew who has escaped to England, who wants to help the war effort in anyway possible.

Betty is from the local village and doesn't have much confidence in her job and work experience, she comes across a vivacious and confident in herself but that's not the true Betty.

Evelyn has an Navel Officer who is fluent in German in the past she has logged German pow's in to the system in England.

They are all moving to Latimer House with new jobs, they don't know what the jobs are and no idea what they do at Latimer House.

This is an interesting story with a few twists and turns.

Never read this author before but I was intrigued by the premise. Something a bit out of my comfort zone.
I have read other books set in this time period and they can be a bit hit and miss but I wanted to give it a go. Very pleased I did. Absolutely loved this book. ,The characters were fantastic, I really clicked with them all. All very different but equally well drawn and crafted. The story carried me along and I found it hard to put the book down to do anything else. A credit to the author that Betty could have come across as shallow, Evelyn as stuck up and Judith as living up to her surname but they didn't
. Very strong women, doing a very difficult job with great courage and determination. The positivity of the book is infectious and a welcome tonic for these different, but also troubled times. Normally I roll my eyes at people who want the "what happens in the future bits and only if it's good" and think oh dear give me a break but in this case I really did want to now everything that happened -did Evelyn???? Did Betty and Carl????? (won't post to avoid spoilers)
I really did enjoy this book, loved it in fact. Rarely do I give out 5 stars but in this case I have no choice

The Secrets of Latimer House is a wonderful book set at the time of the Second World War about friendship, honesty and making the most of your life:
'Today we all realised what's really important in life. We have to do the living for those who can't, even if its tough going.'
It’s a story of three very different women - Betty, Evelyn and Judith - who all find themselves working at Latimer House, deep in the Buckinghamshire countryside and bound by the official secrets act not to discuss their work, even amongst themselves. Their differing backgrounds make the story all the more interesting and I found myself totally unable to put it down in the end. A fantastic read for any fan of WW2 fiction built on fact!

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Last time I read a book set during WWII I decided that would be the last one. I felt I’d read everything there was to know and they were becoming a little bit samey. However when I read the blurb for this book after being invited to read it by One More Chapter it captured my interest. Not only that it sounds so interesting – who doesn’t love a bit of espionage, but also the author Jules Wake who I know normally writes contemporary romance fiction, this looked like something of a departure from that and I was intrigued.

Well I’m so glad I decided to read it because I loved it. Perhaps I found it a little bit slow to start off with. Perhaps I found Evelyn Brooke-Edwards initially a little off-putting with her privileged background, but glad to say she turned out to be a lovely, kind hearted but strong character who didn’t shy away from hard work despite her social standing.

Betty is a brilliant character. She lives in the village with her mum and younger sister but later moves into Latimer House sharing a small attic room with Judith and Evelyn, mainly to get away from her bullying boyfriend. She’s always cheerful and fun loving and is very proud when she’s promoted from typist to analyst, helped very much by her almost photographic memory.

Then there’s Judith who comes across as a very staid, serious kind of person who prefers to keep herself to herself and doesn’t approve of people having fun, certainly not at first anyway. But then that’s hardly surprising since she’s a Jewish refugee from Germany, fleeing to Britain when her home town was invaded and taken over by Nazi rule.

Some of the story is related to the work the women do in relation to German prisoners of war. They are brought to Latimer House to enable covert intelligence to be gathered from the prisoners of what is going on militarily within the German forces. The rest of the story surrounds the women’s family lives, their romantic interests and above all their devotion and allegiance to the fight in beating Hitler and hopefully putting an end to a war that had gone on far too long and destroyed too many lives.

In spite of the story being based in the throes of war, there are many light hearted moments in the book and the three women, though from very different backgrounds become the very best of friends, always there covering each others back and offering support.

It’s a real page turner of a book, always with something new and exciting happening, keeping the reader engrossed. I loved it and am so glad I decided to read it, it’s an excellent first novel in a new genre for this wonderful author.

*Will post to my blog on or around publication date* Posted to Goodreads same time as Netgalley

A really interesting and well written book that intertwines fact and fiction. This facts in this story revolve around the coming and goings of a country house - Latimer House - that was taken over by the government during the war to interrogate prisoners of war. Amazing that this could all go on without arousing the suspicion of the local community. The fiction, the relationship between three women working at the House from all backgrounds. Easy to read with a story that draws you in.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the advance copy of this book

Latimer House is a former stately home in Buckinghamshire which becomes a secret base where high ranking German prisoners are held for interrogation by allied troops.
Three women from very different walks of life are recruited. Evelyn is a socialite heiress recruited as an experienced interrogator. She was engaged to a German aristocrat before the war so is fluent in the language. Betty is a farm girl local to the village where Latimer House is situated and is initially recruited as a typist although she is very soon promoted to become an analyst. Judith is a German Jew who has lived in England since 1938 having lost everything in Kristallnacht. Her job is in the M room listening in on prisoners conversations in their cells. The three are billeted together in the original servants room in the attic. of the house. Having signed the official secrets act they are unable to even discuss their individual jobs together.
They quickly become firm friends looking out for and caring about each other whilst going about their daily duties. Their friendship is heartwarming and central to the story. It’s about strong women recruited to positions that would never have happened if not for the onset of war. They certainly proved to be more than capable.
This is the first novel that I’ve read by Jules Wake and I understand that it’s her first historical book. I sincerely hope there are more to come! Novels set during WW2 are fast becoming a favourite of mine since devouring’The Rose Code’ and ‘The Huntress’ recently. I was surprised to learn that Latimer House really exists and was used during the war as a military establishment and I have researched the history of it online since finishing the book. So interesting. All in all a fabulous read and I highly recommend. My thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review such a fascinating story

I do like a novel that’s based on events that actually happened which is the case with this book. I was not aware of Latimer House and it’s history and enjoyed discovering into secrets.