The French Agent is an exciting tale set in France and Australia during the Second World War, involving two completely different but strong women. Sabine fell in love with Casper during the war when they both worked for the Resistance. Diana, a landscape gardener, lives in Sydney, and finds it difficult to connect with her husband when he comes back. She doesn’t know how to deal with his mental anguish.

Casper’s war years connect the two women, resulting in Sabine traveling to Australia. Belinda Alexandra always tells an exciting and complicated story beautifully, although I found this one a bit far-fetched. The two women are courageous and admirable heroines. Diana’s story is very traumatic, however, involving DV. Alexandra captures the atmosphere of the time, and I loved her idyllic descriptions of Sydney.

One part of the book annoyed me and didn’t seem realistic, when someone told Diana to look at the Allies’s treatment of their colonies and other actions. I doubt that many people would have had those thoughts then, and that it was judging the times by today’s standards.

However, I am a big fan of Belinda Alexandra and this is one of her best.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for a free review..

The French Agent by Belinda Alexandra is another brilliantly told story. It’s 1946 and there are two women in two locations - Sabine Brouillette, a member of the French Resistance, now investigating war crimes and Diana White an Australian landscape artist trying to run her own business and wife of Casper who served in the war. Casper is a common thread for both as a special agent he is sent to France to assist the French Resistance and seems to be suffering from PTSD on his return home to Sydney, Australia. Mystery surrounds Casper on his return which is compounded by his reluctance to talk about everything.

Using Sabine and Diana the story reflects back on the Nazi occupation of France and all its associated horrors and contrasts this wth the life of those in Australia during this period. An excellent portrayal of the period.

Mystery and intrigue are imbedded in the story with spies, lies and conflict adding to the twists and turns of the plot.

An excellent historical novel and a highly recommended read.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from HarperCollins Australia via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.