Thank you to NetGalley & Ballantine Books/Penguin Random House for the advanced reader copy of this.

3.5. What I thought this book was and what it turned out to be were two complete different things.

I read and loved the Lilac Girls by this author so I was expecting more of the same—well researched, literary historical fiction & from the beginning of the Golden Doves the tone was much different. This was much more fast-paced, historical thriller with dual POV, dual timeline. In it, we follow Josie & Arlette, the Golden Doves, during their time working for the resistance in Paris and a few years after the war. The book goes back and forth between POVs and places so quickly it’s hard to get settled into one story. The author tries to cover a lot of ground here—Ravensbruck, Operation Paperclip, the Ratlines for Nazis to escape to South America, reuniting German children, continued medical experimentation—but ultimately it just felt like there was too much going on and it got a little unbelievable and far-fetched at the end. While it wasn’t a perfect hit for me—I think it would work really well for fans of Kate Quinn. Her book, the Huntress, particularly comes to mind. I also think it would make a really fun TV show adaptation.

Review also posted on Goodreads & StoryGraph

🕊 BOOK / REVIEW 🕊

THIS BOOK WILL GIVE ME THE BIGGEST HANGOVER OF THE YEAR 😭

I simply can't get over how utterly consuming #thegoldendoves by @marthahallkelly was. This book clocked in at over 500 pages, and yet I binged this HARD. Both Arlette and Josie bought a lot to this story individually, but it was true magic seeing Hall weave their past and present together.

This is my first #WW2 / #historicalfiction book that talks about bringing the doctors and surgeons from the concentration camps to justice. I was physically ill reading certain parts of this book, knowing that these human experiments actually happened!

The ending also ruined me. It was left open-ended, and now I am desperate for a sequel! This book is just fantastic and so special. I can't wait to meet you in April @riverstonebookstore, Martha! Thank you for my copy, @penguinrandomhouse #ballantinebooks ❤️ Out Apr 18th!

Well, another stellar story. I have to admit, about 60% in, I thought it was pretty predictable. But I was very, very wrong.
Josie and Arlene became friends due to necessity during WW II, but stayed friends by choice afterwards. During the war, they risked everything to fight for the resistance, and in turn were sent to a concentration camp. Fast forward about ten years, and they find they must still risk their lives, this time to bring monsters to justice.

Oh my heck! This is possibly one of the best books I've read thus far in 2023. WWII books tend to hit me where it hurts, and this one was no different. I ached reading this book... so much so that I had to take it in small chunks. My heart just hurt. I went from needing to know what happens to not being able to keep going.

The Golden Doves is told in dual POVs and in dual timelines, but it wasn't confusing to follow at all. I came to know and love Josie and Arlette... and everytime I thought I had something figured out, these ladies and those helping them would reveal something else to me. There was a point at which I thought this book was predictable. Nope. It wasn't.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine books for the opportunity to read and advanced copy of The Golden Doves. Thank you Martha Hall Kelly for writing such a powerful and well-researched story.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5357268550

Dual time novel based on events during WWII and afterwards in the 1950s. This eye opening account of the US race with Russia and Israel to find Nazi scientists is amazing. The way the International Red Cross the Vatican and others helped Nazi criminals escape to safe areas is horrendous. The twists and turns throughout as Arlette searches for her child and Josie searches for her mother's murderer are heartbreaking. Sometimes keeping up with all the different characters proved to be challenging. Historical fiction readers will definitely not want to miss this book. Recommended.

A historical fiction novel that is a must read. This writing shows the author took time and did a lot of research! This author knows her stuff.
There is an emotional feel as well as suspense. A dual timeline between 1942 and 1952 and very well written.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Oh my goodness, I could not put this book aside. Rich in historical detail and atmospheric writing, it is truly grand historical fiction.
Many thanks to Random House and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have read and enjoyed this book but am unable to write a proper review at this time. Will do so before the publish date.

"Two former female spies, bound together by their past, risk everything to hunt down an infamous Nazi doctor in the aftermath of World War II—a pulse-pounding novel inspired by true events from the New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls"
Martha Hall Kelley writes very compelling. Historical fiction.
Overall 9/10
Writing Quality 9/10
Image / Illustration Quality 8/10
Character Development 9/10
"Couldn't Put It Down"-ness 9/10
Intellectual Depth 9/10
Originality 10/10
I recommend this book for anyone that enjoys well researched historical fiction.

As a Martha Hall Kelly fan, I anticipated a fantastic read. I was not disappointed. Told in two voices using two timelines, I had to pay close attention to the time period and voice to be sure I didn’t get lost which explains the four star rating.

This historical fiction tale reads like a thriller and demonstrates the continued impact of WWII on the world in the 1950s. Josie is an American in Texas in 1952. She’s working for Army Intelligence. Arlette is living in Paris, working in a cafe with other women who survived Ravensbruck. She is mourning her missing son. During the war, the two women were known as the Golden Doves as they worked in the Resistance. When the past comes calling, the women are willing to put everything on the line for justice.

Martha Hall Kelly’s back matter attests to the research that she does while preparing to write. This contributes to the sense of reality in her work. I always end up with more titles in my TBR list.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve felt like I’ve read so many books set around wwii that I wasn’t super excited even though I love the lilac girls and her other books. But I was really excited to see a focus on operation paperclip and complication geopolitics. It felt a tad slow at times but at the end I thought there were so many potential twists that I thought were happening that it sped up a lot

Martha Hall Kelly does it again! This is delicious historical fiction - fast-paced, interesting characters, and a fascinating true story. I found it a little slow to start, but once it did, I couldn't put it down. I almost didn't pick it up, because it's "another WW2 story", but it's not like any of the others, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. This was a fun read!

This was a wonderful, if sometimes sad and depressing book. It’s a great story, told extremely well, and is based on real people and events. The book follows American Josie Anderson, the daughter of a US ambassador to France. Her father leaves the country on business just days before Hitler occupied the country. Teenage Josie and her French-born, Jewish mother are trapped. Arlette is a French teenager, living on the border of Germany. She’s an orphan, being raised by a cruel aunt. When Josie and Arlette are teamed up by the resistance, no one has any idea of how successful they’ll be together, or what good friends they’ll become.

This book slowly reveals all the details and character connections the reader needs to understand the story. It’s a tale of friendship, of war, of deprivation, and of espionage and resistance. It’s detailed and intricate, and an enthralling read. I highly recommend it.

I enjoyed this book very much, and I learned a few things from it as I read.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity in sharing this book with me, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

Another excellent WWII historical fiction novel by Martha Hall Kelly.

Dubbed The Golden Doves, Josie and Arlette are teamed up to work together as part of the resistance to help bring down the Nazi regime. But even after the war is over, is a hero's work ever really done?

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A well researched novel about two women recruited in Paris by the French Resistance during the German occupation in WW11. Each chapter opens with the year and who is narrating the story. This was especially helpful as the story switches from 1952 (the current time) to the 1940’s. Once in the concentration camp the author tells of the horrendous conditions and the suffering of the inmates. For a novel you are surprised at the level of detail and appreciate the amount of research the author, Martha Hall Kelly has done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy of this book.

I am a huge Martha Hall Kelly fan and I was very excited to dive into this book! Thank you for allowing me to review it!

I really enjoyed this story. It was easy to visualize the scenes and characters. The idea was great.
The beginning of the book was a bit confusing. I feel like it should have been a sequel or there should have been a book between The Golden Doves and Lilac Girls. The flashbacks helped but I felt we should have had more backstory at the beginning. I thought I had forgotten characters from her other stories.
Once the flashbacks started it all started to come together and the story was amazing. I enjoyed the closure of the ending until the very end. I love a good cliffhanger but Kelly hasn't really written a series before so I am concerned that she will leave it without another book.
Please give us more!!

Pub date: 4/18/23
Genre: historical fiction
Quick summary: American Josie and French Arlette found themselves in Ravensbruck concentration camp after their work in the French Resistance work was discovered. Years later, these "Golden Doves" are in French Guiana, trying to track down a Nazi doctor and Arlette's lost son.

Martha Hall Kelly writes beautiful historical fiction that sheds light on untold stories, and I'm so glad she introduced me to the Golden Doves. Josie and Arlette were each so inspiring, and I enjoyed both the WWII and post-WWII timelines. The concept of Nazis hiding out in South America is familiar, but I hadn't heard about French Guiana. The Nazi hunt storyline kept the plot moving along well and provided plenty of suspense. I did not predict the ending!

I had both the audio and text versions of this book, and I highly recommend the audio. Narrators Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Saskia Maarleveld brought the doves to life, and it was such a pleasure to listen to their story. 4.5 stars rounded to 5.

Thank you to Ballantine Books for my e-ARC and PRHAudio for my complimentary audiobook.

Another Martha Hall Kelly 5 star read. Wow, great research and well told story. Each chapter opens with the year and who is speaking, this really helped out since the story switches back and forth from 1952 to the 1940’s. I liked both of the main characters and each had their story to tell, Arlette and Josie. They both show the bravery that so many showed during this time, I doubt in this day and age this bravery and sacrifice exists. I read this in just a few days, it was hard to put down.

I have read many WWII books but this is the first one that has gone so deep in the testing they did upon children. Horrendous is the only way to describe it, and then to have some of them escape and live a normal life adds to the injustice.

The explanation of the facts of the story at the end was a great addition to the book, it is always great to have this added on. Thank you, Ms. Kelly.


Received an ARC from Random House Publishing and NetGalley for my unbiased review – This one comes in with 5 stars.

Two young women spies, American Josie Anderson and Parisian Arlette LaRue, partner together in the French Resistance during WWII. A dynamic team, they create a lot of havoc for the Third Reich, become known throughout France as The Golden Doves, and are on the Gestapo's most wanted list. Eventually, they are arrested and sent (with their loved ones) to the Ravensbruck concentration camp. There, they will each lose everything dear to them.

Now, ten years later, they find themselves working together again in a dual mission. Josie, working for U.S. Army intelligence, is assigned to find the Nazi doctor responsible for the horrific acts done to her mother in Ravensbruck. A mysterious man claims to have found Arlette's son, stolen from her as an infant in Ravensbruck. Josie and Arlette cross Europe and follow a complex network of secrets to French Guiana. Can they get justice while protecting their loved ones and themselves?

The novel The Golden Doves, told in two POV's each in two different timeframes, shows the same depth of research and ability to make things come alive for the reader as The Lilac Girls. This is a good historical fiction read, though I found it a bit drawn out and not as good as The Lilac Girls. Nevertheless, I will continue to look forward to reading more from Martha Hall Kelly.

My thanks to Ballantine Books for granting me access to a DRC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are given freely. The novel is to be published on 4/18/23.

A gripping story about two women who worked for the French Resistance and ended up in the Nazi concentration camp Ravensbruck. The story travels from during the war to 1952 where Josie is in Texas working for the government as a Nazi hunter while in Paris Arlette cannot move on as she continues to morn for the little boy taken from her. The author who brought us the amazing “Lilac Girls” has done it again and do read the author’s note on what prompted her to write “Golden Doves.”