The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly is the harrowing and page-turning WWII story of survival, bravery, and justice.

During WWII, Josie and Arlette worked with the French Resistance and earned a reputation as the Golden Doves. Eventually, they were arrested and taken to Ravensbrück Concentration Camp. A decade later, their paths cross again as Josie hunts down a fugitive doctor and Arlette looks for her long-lost son. Danger abounds in their espionage work during the war years and in their current pursuit of justice.

The Golden Doves caused me to think of two possible companion reads: Lilac Girls for its concentration camp content and The German Wife for its details about Operation Paper Clip.

With the writing of The Golden Doves, Martha Hall Kelly extends the reputation she’s earned for well-researched and well-written stories. Kelly is a compelling storyteller and her characters are complex and complicated.

If you enjoy a side of mystery/thriller with your hisfic, you might enjoy The Golden Doves. A web of lies, dark secrets, and danger lurk around every corner.

One of the reasons that histfic is my favorite genre is because of the historical details. Of interest in The Golden Doves is how the Nazis escaped after World War II. The methods include help from sympathetic citizens, the Vatican, and Operation Paperclip (U.S.).

Intense themes include survival, trust, endurance, good vs. evil, betrayal, brave women, and justice.

Fans of Lilac Girls and Martha Hall Kelly will appreciate The Golden Doves. Readers of WWII historical fiction might like this harrowing search for a Nazi doctor.

Thanks #NetGalley @RandomHouse Ballentine for a complimentary e ARC of #TheGoldenDoves upon my request. All opinions are my own.

American Josie Anderson and Parisian Arlette LaRue worked for the French Resistance stealing Nazi secrets. These "Golden Doves" were arrested and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp along with their family members. Ravensbrück was the largest concentration camp for women. There Alette's son is taken from her, and Josie's mother suffered at the hands of a sadistic Nazi doctor.

Years later they are reunited when Josie accepts an assignment to hunt down the evil Nazi doctor who is attempting to flee justice. Arlette, who has been searching for clues about her son, received a message that her son may have been found. Josie is determined to find the infamous doctor responsible for so many deaths at Ravensbrück and Arlette is determined to find her son. The Golden Doves unite to help each other on their missions.

This book was well researched and well written. I don't shy away from books over 500 pages; however, I felt the length of this book at times. I enjoyed both women, their POVS and their plight. I enjoy reading books about bravery and courage. Both women show it in all sections of the book.

I had never heard of operation paperclip and was astounded by what I learned. Wow and how could they come to mind after learning about it and looking up more information on my own.

This is the first book that I have read by the author, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Martha Hall Kelly does it again! The Golden Doves takes place during WWII and follows two former spies and friends, Josie and Arlette. It’s historical fiction, but there are many suspenseful moments, too. Kelly’s writing highlights strong women and the important roles they often played behind the scenes in pivotal moments during the war. Historical fiction lovers will enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having loved Lilac Girls I knew I was in for a treat. I loved everything about this read - the style of writing, the descriptions of the setting (even the horrific Ravensbruck) that made you feel as if you were there seeing it with your own eyes, but most of all these amazing women, Arlette and Josie, that made me laugh, cry, and feel. Their courage, bravery, and connection to each other was so very admirable. Known as the Golden Doves, they worked with the French resistance until they were ultimately caught and sent to Ravensbruck.
Knowing little about the Ratline and the US quest to lure the brains of Nazis to Texas in an effort to beat the Russians in developing effective biological warfare, I was eager to learn more. The Ratline was such a despicable stance for the Catholic Church to take and it was clearly described and then footnoted by facts in the author’s notes. I knew about their exodus to South America but never thought about how they escaped prosecution was maddening. That these criminals responsible for the annihilation of millions of innocent people can still be living the good life enabled by the Catholic Church is grossly unfair. Knowing so much of this emotional read was based on facts made the story that much more powerful. For me personally having the focus on the children and Ravensbruck brought so much angst and emotions to the forefront.
The connection Josie and Arlette shared was such a strong bond and gave me hope that many others survived and were able to live the rest of their lives enjoying freedom.
My sincere appreciation to Martha Hall Kelly for once again capturing my heart, Ballantine Books for having the wisdom to recognize the brilliance of her ability to make readers feel and care, and NetGalley for affording me the honor of having an opportunity to read this just published powerful read.

I have read all of Martha Hall Kelly’s novels and really like the details she gives in her historical novels. As with her others, some of the subject matter is tough to read in this one. It is the story of two female spies and deals with Nazis, concentration camps, stolen children and so much more that happened during that time. Make sure you read the authors notes at the end for more details. Very informative. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I just finished this book. This is everything that I look for in historical fiction. The education that I gained on this and the level of mystery and taking down the big bad was just everything.

I appreciate the amount of research that went in to this book and how Martha Hall Kelly created this amazing story of struggle, strength, and overcoming hardships that desecrated so many lives in one hell of a long period of time.

How often we forget the harsh realities of history. The harsh realities of communities damaged by a belief system so cruel that it kills others. The generational trauma these communities still face is heartbreaking. And to see the books I read taking place during WWII and watching history repeat itself everyday is terrifying.

The story of The Golden Doves will stay with me forever,

The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly is the story of two women, bound together by the past, who risk everything to hunt down an infamous Nazi doctor in the wake of World War II. American Josie Anderson and Parisian Arlette La Rue were thrilled to be working with the French Resistance, stealing Nazi secrets, and earning the nickname: “the Golden Doves.” When they were arrested and sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp, they had to endure unspeakable horrors and incredible loss. Josie ends up working with the US Army Intelligence while Arlette searches for her son. Now, a decade later, they called on again for a dangerous mission. From Europe to French Guiana, they fight to secure justice as they find themselves in a web of secrets and danger. Will they find the answers they are looking for?
Martha Hall Kelly has earned a reputation for intense stories of women surviving through incredible historical events against all odds. In The Golden Doves, she explores the horrors of the infamous Ravensbruck concentration camp and the hunt for Nazi fugitives in the wake of World War II. It was a hard read with the subject matter and the alternating points of view between Josie and Arlette and two time periods, 1952 and 1943. Overall, I enjoyed the story. Josie was hard to like at first but as her story opens, readers will understand why. I appreciate the author’s commitment to explore the stories that occurred after the war ended as many World War II era stories often ignore the aftermath events. If you enjoy incredible stories of survival and the hunt for justice, I recommend The Golden Doves.


The Golden Doves is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

"The Golden Doves" is a book that has left a lasting impression on me. I cannot emphasize enough how much I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading. The novel's captivating storyline, rich historical details, and skillful character development make for an exceptional read. I first discovered Martha Hall Kelly at Tucson's Festival of Books, where she introduced "Lilac Girls." Since then, I've been a huge fan of her writing. Martha Hall Kelly's latest novel, "The Golden Doves," is inspired by real events and tells a captivating story about two ex-female spies who share a history. As a "Lilac Girls" fan, I was thrilled to reconnect with some of the characters in this novel. The story alternates between the past and present, skillfully immersing readers in the experiences of both women. I was particularly impressed by the author's incorporation of lesser-known history, such as the United States' employment of Nazis in the military, which added depth and context to the story. I highly recommend "The Golden Doves" to anyone with an interest in historical fiction. The novel's enthralling plot, historical intricacies, and expertly-crafted characters make for an exceptional reading experience.

This was a decent story but I had issues with a couple of things. The main issue being for being such good spies both Josie and Arlette really seemed to let their guard down with their actions in their story line after the war. They behaved in ways that I would not believe former spies would behave.

Over all a good story with some minor story flaws.

Summary: Since the debut of her best-selling Lilac Girls which told the fictionalized story of real-life heroine Caroline Ferriday, Martha Hall Kelly’s novels have revolved around strong female characters during war time–World War II, then World War I, then the Civil War. In the same vein, though not part of the Woolsey-Ferriday trilogy, The Golden Doves features tried and true, tough yet feminine protagonists as they attempt to ensure that Nazi leaders pay their due in the period post World War II.

What’s to love?

It didn’t take long at all for me to be sucked into the intrigue of Josie and Arlette. I also appreciated the portrayals of how each woman forged on and attempted to deal with their past trauma in completely different ways. Finally, as a copy editor, I am compelled to add that the proof reading was impeccable.

What’s to leave?

You know the point in the horror movie when you want to audibly yell at the hero not to hide in the barn filled with chainsaws in the middle of the night? Yeah. There are a few moments like that in this book. Sure, dramatic irony creates suspense when the reader clearly knows that something is about to happen but the character seems clueless. However, these female spies make some choices that just don’t seem to fit with the “Golden Doves” who gained such renown during World War II.

What’s to learn?

Though I knew that many Nazis escaped to South America and other countries, I had never heard of Operation Paperclip. (It’s addressed within the first chapter of the book, so it’s not a huge spoiler; but if you really don’t want to know before you read the book, skip the next sentence.) I had not read about the many Nazis who were pardoned and brought to America (or Russia) in return for scientific help. Fascinating!

I also did not realize that the term “FUBAR” originated during WWII; platinum was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; and that, technically speaking, carry-out coffee and take-out Chinese food could have been around in Paris in 1952.


Conclusion: I loved the twist at the end! Despite some departures from believability in this novel, I hope to read about what happens to Josie and Arlette in a sequel or another of Kelly’s future female spy novels.

This novel is told from the points of view of two women, Josie and Arlette. Spies and friends during the war, the novel takes place in 1952 but gives readers multiple flashbacks into their history. Martha Hall Kelly does extensive research which I appreciate. While I enjoyed this story, I didn't find it as compelling and realistic as some of her previous novels. There were a few plot points that affected my rating despite the thoroughness and skilled story-telling. I found Luc's willingness to believe Arlette unrealistic (in the beginning when they have their first tryst). I also thought that Josie seemed inexperienced/unprepared for the assignment and therefore it seemed unlikely that she would be promoted to Karl's job (I know it makes for a clean wrap up but...). The overall plot line of the Hope camp was also a bit hard for me to accept. Despite these criticisms, this is a carefully crafted novel with mostly solid characters and stories.

The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly is sure to be another fan-favorite. In this novel, her first work away from the Lilac Girls trilogy, follows two former female spies as they try to track down a Nazi doctor from their past and seek justice for his victims.

This novel has everything that Martha Hall Kelly is known for — addictive character development, a page-turning plot, and twists and turns throughout the story.

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loooooooved The Golden Doves. I would have read it in one sitting if my kindle hadn’t died.

Told in two different perspectives and two different times (Nazi occupied Paris and post-War), The Golden Doves is a rich story, with lots of attention to historical detail, and thoughtful characters. This is my favorite Martha Hall Kelly book!

This is definitely one to set some time aside to dive into, because once you start you won’t want to stop.

2.5 stars

For the second time this month, looks like I am once again an outlier who didn’t like a book written by a popular author that everyone else seemed to really enjoy. In both instances, the reasons why I disliked the books were very similar, even though the genres, styles, and story lines were completely different (more on this later). The interesting thing is that, with both authors, I had read previous books by them and had enjoyed those immensely, but their newest releases I disliked to the point of nearly breaking my own rule and giving them the DNF treatment (in the end, I hung on, but barely, since I had to resort to skimming large sections of both books in order to get through them). It’s also possible that the previous books were also problematic, but I didn’t notice at the time, and now having evolved as a reader, I’m perhaps more critical of things that maybe didn’t bother me before. Either way, both experiences have made me realize that I need to be even more selective with the books I decide to pick up (not that I wasn’t selective before, as I’ve always been a lot pickier than most people I know when it comes to this stuff) – basically, I have enough to deal with in my life at the moment and I really don’t want to add “frustrating reading experience” to it if I can help it…

Before I talk specifics about what bothered me with this particular book, I have to say that I did read Martha Hall Kelly’s previous Lilac Girls series and thought those books were really well done – which is why I’m completely baffled as to how Kelly’s newest release, The Golden Doves, ended up on the absolute opposite end of the spectrum for me. Initially, going into this book, I was actually expecting to like it, not only because I had enjoyed Kelly’s previous works, but also because the genre is historical fiction (which is my favorite genre) and the premise really did sound interesting: two former female spies (the titular ‘golden doves’) who endured unspeakable atrocities during World War II join forces once again after the war is over to heroically take down a bunch of Nazi fugitives who had evaded justice. Given this description, I assumed that I would be getting a thrilling, fast-paced espionage story with two strong, kickass female protagonists at its center (yes, a la Kate Quinn, whose works I adore). Well, friends, that assumption was dead wrong! What I ended up getting instead was a plot hole-filled, unnecessarily draggy, poorly-written, boring (I could keep going with the negative adjectives, but I will stop here) story featuring two naïve, immature, annoying-as-hell, frustratingly pathetic (which, believe it or not, is an understatement) female protagonists who were so stereotypically written, it’s not even funny. I mean, literally all you need to know is that Josie Anderson is American and Arlette LaRue is French – those identities essentially drive the entire story in that they dictate how the two women act, think, talk throughout much of this (unnecessarily long 500+ page) book. With Arlette especially, we are reminded time and time again throughout the entire story, both directly and indirectly, that she is a French woman (which to me, felt like the author was trying to use that to justify why Arlette behaves the way she does — namely, the constant flirting with men and always having to come across as ‘sexy’ and ‘sensual’). And yes, both women were utterly unconvincing as spies – sure, it can be argued that both were recruited as teenagers (though this already doesn’t make sense because why them??) so of course they would be immature, but the problem is, nearly a decade later, when they became grownups (both when they are apart and when they reunite), they still conducted themselves in exactly the same immature manner in nearly every circumstance.

For me, the biggest issue with this book was the way the characters were written, which can essentially be summarized in two words: unrealistic and unlikeable. First, Josie – she works as an agent at U.S. Army Intelligence, but she is impulsive, irrational, and has no sense of awareness or common sense whatsoever (as an example — in one scene, she knows someone is trying to kill her, yet after nearly getting run over, she walks into a hotel room without checking it first, immediately pours herself a drink, leaves her firearm in plain sight on the kitchen counter, then blindly pushes open another door, completely unaware that someone is following her). Much of her behavior and actions throughout the story don’t align with her job -- in fact, several characters she encounters throughout the story outright question whether she was ever trained because she kept doing stupid things. And that’s when she’s an adult…as a teenager, she actually does even more ridiculous things, which, of course, is not surprising at that age – what’s surprising is why she was chosen to be recruited as a spy in the first place. Of course, this also makes what happens at the end, with her career, entirely unplausible.

As far as Arlette goes, I honestly don’t even know where to start. While Josie’s story arc was ridiculous but at least somewhat tolerable, Arlette’s story arc was absolutely outrageous. Pretty much all Arlette does for most of the story can be summarized as follows: 1) pine for her son, 2) flirt with every guy she encounters, 3) berate herself for being “pathetic” and “ridiculous” because of how easily she falls for men (especially the handsome ones — though it seems that, according to Arlette and Josie, every man they encounter – and there are plenty in this story -- who isn’t a Nazi fugitive is “handsome” or “good-looking” in some way). As an example of how outrageous and nonsensical Arlette’s story arc got — I ended up skim-skipping most of the sections where Arlette was in French Guiana (which was, oh, like a third of the book) because a lot of it was useless fluff that didn’t advance the plot much (except near the end), plus I got tired of reading about Arlette lusting after the bodyguard every couple pages (no exaggeration – there were actually scenes where Arlette spies on the guard taking a shower, or her blouse conveniently flies open in his presence somehow, or she’s in a bathrobe when he suddenly enters the room for no reason – not to mention all the gratuitous references to the bodyguard’s “beautiful eyes” or hot physique or whatnot) — it basically got into “steamy romance” territory, which to me, made absolutely no sense given what the story was supposed to be about.

Another thing that irked me about this book was that the entire narrative was written in first person, alternating between the “voices” of Josie and Arlette. Normally, this would not be too much of a problem, but when both of the main characters are so unlikeable (and problematically written like they were here), to have to hear the story told from their perspective and be subjected to their every ridiculous, outlandish thought – well, let’s just say it made this already tedious and frustrating read even more tortuous. Interestingly enough, the last couple books I read that I didn’t like (all new releases) were in the same format – first person point of view narrated by the main protagonist(s). I noticed this format is used a lot with mysteries and thrillers, which I can understand, as the limited perspective could help build up the air of mystery or suspense in the story, but with historical fiction, it seems like it would be less effective…though I guess at the end of the day, doesn’t matter too much as long as it’s done correctly, which it obviously wasn’t in this case, as it made the entire story sound stilted and awkward.

Overall, I was hugely disappointed with this book. It actually had the potential to be a very powerful, emotional story about the Holocaust and its aftermath, while also shedding light on historical atrocities such as the Lebensborn program, the secret experiments at the concentration camps, the underground network that helped the most heinous of Nazi fugitives evade justice after the war, etc. Unfortunately, Kelly took the story in an entirely wrong direction with the contrived plot and the ludicrously nonsensical (not to mention unrealistic) characters. Ironically, the Author’s Note at the end of the book actually does a good job of covering the historical details and also provides references for non-fiction books that cover these topics. I mention this because I’m kicking myself now for wasting my time reading 500+ pages of a story that I disliked when I could’ve just read the Author’s Note and found out everything I needed to know (including the basic plot and the ending, which there are major spoilers for in the Author’s Note).

To me, this book was a waste of time, but again, as I mentioned earlier, I’m an outlier with this one so don’t just take my word for it. If you’re on the fence about whether to pick this one up or not (with the page count, it’s actually quite a time investment), I would recommend checking out other reviews before deciding.

Received ARC from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.

The Golden Doves were incredible characters and I devoured their story. This is without a doubt one of the most powerful and compelling books I’ve ever read and I cannot stop thinking about it. The narrator was perfect for this story and I flew through it. I could hardly wait to see how everything turned out for both "doves." I really appreciated the author’s note and all the research she did to share this story with her readers.

What a compelling story! I, as always, was drawn in by the fascinating story and the excellent writing, which pulls you into the story and keeps you interested. However much I was pulled in from the beginning, the second half of the story didn’t work for me. Yes, I realize this is based on a true story and that these atrocities really happened but it wasn’t relayed as well and the story felt like it was dragging on. I think the issue may have been that I didn’t love the characters as I did the ones in Martha Hall Kelly’s previous books. The ending was satisfying but the middle lost me.

Once again, Martha Hall Kelly has written an incredible novel steeped in fascinating history and wonderful characters. The Golden Doves captivated me from the first page as I was drawn into the lives of 2 young women who had served in the French Resistance during WW2. The novel opens in 1951 and the reader discovers how these women, Arlette and Josie, have tried to move on from the horrors of war. The women come together again and risk everything to hunt a Nazi doctor which takes them to French Guiana. The book felt, at times, like a mystery novel as Arlette and Josie are on a quest to find out what exactly is happening in French Guiana.. What I love most about Kelly's books are how well researched they always are and I always learn something new about history. This book is no exception and I was shocked by some of the historical events Kelly shares. I will always be a fan of Martha Hall Kelly. From the minute I discovered Lilac Girls, I knew I would read anything and everything she writes! The Golden Doves even revisits a few characters from Lilac Girls. This is definitely a book for anyone that enjoys historical fiction!

The Golden Doves provides an eye opening look at the post WWII era where those who survived the war continue to have to find ways to do so and also continue bringing war criminals to justice. Each one of Martha's novels is better than the last!

The Story of Two Women in the French Resistance and Afterward

During WWII Josie Andersen and Arlette LaRue worked for the Resistance in Paris. They were so successful stealing secrets that they were known as the Golden Doves. Their notoriety made them targets of the Gestapo. They were hunted down and imprisoned in Ravensbrook where terrible medical experiments were performed on the prisoners. Arlette’s son Willie was also taken prisoner, but he disappeared. At the end of the war, they were released from Ravensbrook, but Willie was missing.

In the 1950’s, the two women come together again. Josie is working for the US government in Operation Paperclip keeping track of scientists brought to the US to keep them from Russian Intelligence. She is tasked by the government to find the doctor who performed the infamous experiments at Ravensbrook. Arlette has been given information on where Willie might be. This quest takes them from Europe to French Guiana.

This is an extremely well written and researched novel. This is the third novel by Kelly I’ve read. I think in some ways it’s the best. It reintroduces some of the characters from the Lilac Girls, another novel set partially in Ravensbrook.

The characters of Josie and Arlette are very convincing. They were both brave women who cared about their loved ones and wanted he help women injured during the war. The book is long, but the author keeps you reading with cliffhangers at the end of some chapters.

The afterward is worth reading. It details how the book was conceived and relates where it is based on fact. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy excellent historical novels.

I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.

Two female spies in France during WWII reunite a few years later to try to track down escaped Nazis in South America. Fast-paced story which takes the reader on a wild ride from Paris to Ravensbruck, Texas to French Guiana as these brave women try to find lost family, Nazi criminals all while protecting their own secrets and not knowing who they can trust.