Well done historical fiction about the intersection of two women- Marnie a BBC worker who finds herself working with the Free Dutch movement after her grandfather dies in the Blitz, and Corrie, who risks it all in the Netherlands as a radio operator. Based in fact but with good addition to add emotion and character, it's a good read. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC, For fans of WWII stories.

I was looking forward to reading this because I LOVED "The Resistance Girl, " unfortunately I had a really hard time getting into the story. The book was OK and I would rate it 2.5 stars. It was slow paced and not much really happened. Most of the story didn't seem believable. There's not much action, unless you count Marnie dodging the craters at night in the streets of London. Marnie definitely didn't always make the best of decisions. She walks right up to an undetonated bomb. I'm actually surprised she survived. I didn't really love any of the characters. The most fascinating part of the book, was the Artis Zoo. It's unbelievable how many lives the zoo was able to save, just by hiding them among the animals.

Recommend giving the book a try, I'm in the minority with my rating. The book just wasn't for me.
I loved the author's previous books and look forward to reading more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Avon Books UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have a read a lot of war books over the last few months but this one just didn't work for me. I tried several times to get into it. Others will love it but it just wasn't the book for me.

A mid aged spinster is working as a production assistant for the BBC who is set on her routine with few friends other than her grandfather to whom she is findly attached, War is declared and finally London is being blitzed under which she has to suffer every day until one day the worse happens and grandfather is killed in his shop. She decides to visit the bombed shop to recover anything of sentimental value. In doing so she finds a radio transmitter set hidden in the cellar. This becomes a turning point in her life. Grandfather was working for the Free Dutch government in London as their radio link to the Netherlands and have told them to get his granddaughter take over should anything happen to him. There by starts a journey where she has two jobs, her normal one and a secret one that in time gets her dropped into the Netherlands as a radio operator to maintain contact with London, and helping to save people hunted by the Gestapo. Under stress, how she transforms from a staid office worker into a spy, sending messages under fear of discovery and assuming disguises to walk under the noses of German soldiers is an exciting and engrossing story,

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the review copy!

“The War Pianist” by Mandy Robotham is a great historical fiction. I absolutely love Mandy Robothams books, so I had to read this one as well. And I am happy I did. This is yet another lovely book of this incredible author.

The story is set in July 1940. Marnie Fern’s grandfather dies in an air raid. She suddenly finds out that he has been working as a radio operative (called a Pianist).
Corrie Bakker is also a Pianist, and she ends up in a very dangerous situation. She fights to protect her family, but also herself.

This is a book about two incredible women. They fight for their own lives, but also for a lot of other people's lives. They fight for justice!

The story seems trustworthy. Mandy Robotham captures the historical elements very well.

The characters are written with so much depth and so many emotions that you can not help but feel sympathy with them.

Mandy Robotham is an incredible author. “The War Pianist” is yet another example of that! A beautiful, strong and lovely story!

Mandy Robotham is quickly becoming one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her ability to put down in words the character’s emotions and her descriptions that transport you to the middle of the storyline never fail to surprise me. I really enjoyed the “interview” at the end as a way of letting us know everyone’s what about after the war.

Thanks Mandy Robotham, HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for this amazing ARC.

What a great book, loved it, never a moment of boredom. So much happening with the plot. Great research for the history of the time thoroughly recommend.

This latest novel by Mandy Robotham does not disappoint and is full of tensions and suspense.. Its hard to think this may have truly been real life for many people in WW2 and not just a story.
Excellent as always.

The book is not about a pianist during World War II as I originally thought. A pianist is a radio operator, although known as a pianist, a much more engaging title in my opinion. The story follows Marni, a BBC employee who as WWII, progresses is enlisted as a pianist and becomes involved with the Dutch Resistance. I liked that book focused on a different aspect of WWII that I was not familiar with, namely the Dutch Resistance. The book was a slow start for me, took about 7 Chapters before I really became engrossed in it. Luckily, the chapters are not very long. An interesting and fast paced read once I got into the book.

The Pianist by Mandy Robotham 3⭐️

My first book by this author. WW2 historical novel, a subject I enjoy reading about
Who knew a pianist was the name given to the radio operators during WW2!
We have 2 women radio operators, Corrie in German occupied Amsterdam and Marnie in London. I especially liked maternal Daisy, and my heart went out to little Felix.

The author really brings the characters and locations to life. You can really feel that you are there in the air raids, their struggle is real, death, suffering. The indomitable spirit and stiff upper lip of the time prevail .
There’s a veiled reference to Bletchley Park.

I was drawn by the premise, a different take to the other WW2 books. However for me this isn’t one of the most engaging In the genre. It turned into too much of a full on spy novel for me.
The plot felt a bit contrived, relying on Marnie’s repeated poor decision making. I found the pace very slow.
You’d like it if you enjoy action spy novels.

Another well researched, well constructed story from Mandy Robotham. Her books have all been a gripping , worthwhile read. This novel picks up on the experience of people in London during the Blitz and the ensuing fear. It explores the actions of morse operatives as they communicated with the resistance and in doing so, ramped up the sense of suspense and suspicion. It is grea5 to see a high profile for Marnie, a woman. It is past time that the role of women is fully acknowledged.

Thanks to Avon UK and Netgalley I was able to read this beautiful and emotionally charged novel. This is a multiple POV story that focuses on Amsterdam and London. It is also about a worker with BBC which I had not read anything similar before. So powerful, and emotional. Loved this novel and recommend to fans of WWII novels.

July 1940
Marnie Fern works as a production assistant for the BBC in London. She is devasted to hear that her grandfather has been killed while working at his shop. While visiting the ruins, as she wants something to remember him by, she meets Willem who tells her that her grandfather worked for the resistance as a Pianist, which was also known as a Radio operator. Tapping Morse coded messages to and from the resistance in Amsterdam. She tells Willem what she does at the BBC to Willem and tells her she will be a great candidate to be a Pianist herself. Taking over the duties left from her grandfather. She agrees to help them fight the war against the Nazi’s.
Whilst working she builds up a relationship which one of the resistance operators in the Netherlands Corrie Bakker who has connection to Willem. When Willem receives a letter telling him that Corrie has gone missing. His first action is to decide to go and find out what happened to her. Marnie decides to go with him to help him find her.
The War Pianist by Mandy Rob is the sixth book from the author that I have read and another powerful and emotional story about the Resistance in WW11. From the first page I was intrigued. As I have heard a lot of the Resistance in France but not so much of what happened to the people that risked their lives in the Netherlands and the horrors that they endured. This is another 5-star read from the author. I highly recommend.

The War Pianist is emotionally charged and gorgeously written book about WWII in both London's Blitz and Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. Marnie works with the BBC, an orphan a dear grandfather who is her mentor. As a tailor he taught young Marnie his tailoring trademarks and they played games with Morse code. Little did she know it would save her and others' lives. After his awful death she decided to continue his mission with the Resistance by sending/receiving coded message. She meets Willem who introduces her to the right people on the right side and she is in business, though she must move from her home. He knew Marnie's grandfather.

Corrie is the intelligence at the end of Marnie's messages and was linked to Marnie's grandfather. Connie is desperate to save the lives of her own family and is willing to pay for it with her life. A few messages are written in the book which adds that bit of personal oomph. Each character is immersed in the war by one way or the other and we see grim realities of twisted bodies, deceptions, blackout, underground shelters. and meagre food rationing, Death pervades the air in many forms and survival is the goal. In books we have bits and pieces to go on but this one has soul woven into it in a beautiful way which makes this story beautiful.

Historical Fiction fans, if you are seeking a new perspective in this genre, this is for you. It will be interesting to see what author Mandy Robotham writes next!

My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this lovely book.

July, 1940

This gripping and heartbreaking WW11 historical fiction is set in Blitz-ridden London and Nazi-occupied Amsterdam.

In London:

The story tells us how Marnie after the death of her grandfather replaced him at his post and became an undercover radio operator or pianist for the Dutch resistance and set to complete his mission at any cost.

While in Amsterdam:

Fellow pianist Corrie Bakker is at the other end of the wireless and trying to survive caught in a cat and mouse game.

My thoughts:

Powerful and haunting, Ms. Robotham captures the tension and fear in her unique and captivating style. This story is well-written, fast-paced and very suspenseful. With multiple points of views this gripping story of Morse code, adventure, bravery and courage is one of a kind and very hard to put down, it has so much to offer. I was utterly invested in the characters’ lives, they seemed so real. Richly told you can picture the rubble left behind and hear the bombs falling even smell the cordite in the air and the scary marching boots in Amsterdam.

Set in the era I love to read “The War Pianist” ticks all the boxes for me: vivid descriptions, interesting insights in the resistance, wonderful characterization and a compelling storyline that flows very well.

Marnie is a single woman working for the BBC in London. Her parents have moved to Scotland to escape the worst of the bombing and all Marnie has left are her grandfather and her cousin Suzie .
One night while going to visit her grandfather she is caught in an air raid and has to shelter. Marnie later finds that her grandfather' s tailors shop has been bombed and he has not survived.
She then meets Willam who tells her that her grandfather was a secret radio operator working for the Dutch resistance.
I don't want to give any more of this story away. I liked Marnie and you couldn't have found someone less likely to be involved in helping the resistance than she was.
The story started off slowly, painting the scene for what was to come. All of a sudden the book took off at a fast pace. We meet Corrie and my heart was beating faster and faster as we find out what danger she is in. Then everyone is in danger.
This is a book I could see as film as it's full of great characters, even the ones we only meet briefly are so well described I could see them in front of me.
I can only imagine what those brave people who were in the resistance in the countries held by the Germans went through. They were so brave.
A really good read and kept me on the edge of my seat. I have read another book by the author, The Girl Behind theWall and I can recommend that one too. It's another book that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Unfortunately this one was just okay. Many, many times I struggled trying to get through this book. I just kept telling myself it would get more and more exciting and it just didn’t. I really love this author so I’m very sad to have to write this review.
I did like the two main characters in the book. I thought they were really well written and easy to follow. I didn’t however have an emotional reaction to them. I like when characters make me feel things and then I try to put myself in their shoes.
This one just didn’t do it for me. I will continue to read books from this author though as I love all her other work.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Marnie Fern is a plain, ordinary woman working for the BBC in London during the blitz. Her parents have evacuated to Scotland, but her grandfather stayed London with his tailor shop. When he was killed by one of Hitler's bombs, Marnie's life began to change. She discovered her grandfather was a secret radio operator, a pianist, sending coded messages to the resistance in Amsterdam. His contact, Willem, persuades Marnie to take his place.

Thus begins Marnie's "adventures" in The War Pianist, by Mandy Robotham. Follow Marnie as she hides from the blitz in various underground shelters, as she transmits from basements and church attics, as she survives a delayed fuse bomb, as she travels to Holland to find and rescue Willem, and as she becomes part of the Dutch resistance. This is one you'll want to read! I was allowed to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

The War Pianist
By: Mandy Robotham
Review Score: 3 3/4 Stars

Five Key Feels
-I can feel the suspense from the start.

-Robotham does such a great job of weaving the stories in London and an Amsterdam.

-Marnie’s move into helping Wilhelm was so interesting.

-Corrie has so much strength.

-No spoilers, but there are a few really good plot twists that I did not see coming!

————

The War Pianist was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Avon Books, UK. Thank you for allowing me to read this wonderful book!

Release Date: 2/16/23

Wow. The War Pianist is a wild ride! From the Blitz in London, to the Nazi occupation in Amsterdam, you feel the suspense as the story unfolds.

I really enjoyed the relationships that Robotham built, and how war has so much intensity.

The layers of this book were amazing to unfold, and I really enjoyed the evolution of this story.

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There’s no tickling the ivories in this one!

Go into this one blind. Don’t read the synopsis.

You’ll have to read to find out what a ‘war pianist’ really is and why they were essential to the resistance movement.

I loved that both pianists, one in Blitzed London and one in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam relied on their skill and put their life on the line for the war effort. Robotham made sure her readers knew exactly what was involved in this risk and the tension is palpable. As I got further into the book, I realized how similar these two girls’ journeys really were and the trust they needed to develop in each other to survive. I appreciated the fresh perspective of ‘fighting’ in the Dutch resistance.

Robotham wraps her readers tightly in her taut plot and continues to feed the tension with brazen acts of bravery, the acknowledgement of a mole within the ranks, and imprisonment. Counterbalancing it is a much-needed respite full of love and, albeit complicated, romance. I felt as though I were right there with Corrie and Marnie because Robotham appealed to my 5 senses and allowed me to enter the mind of a war pianist. I’ll admit to being a little let down with the ending, but appreciated the fine writing in this survival against-all-odds story. As always, Robotham amazes me with her skill to place me in the action and leave me with thankfulness for my freedom.

Congratulations on a fantastic cover!

I was gifted this spectacular story by Avon Books UK and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.