For historical fiction, too often the main characters in this novel did not seem believable. Even in the beginning when the 2 young women were aiding the French resistance, they seemed to treat it too lightly, like a game. Later while tracking down a Nazi doctor and a missing child, their actions screamed immaturity and certainly didn’t reflect any professional training. At the same time, this novel was very well researched and exposed WWII horrors of which I was unaware. The role played by some within the Catholic Church and within the U.S. government in getting high level Nazis to safety and freedom after the war was unbelievably horrible. WWII literature is always difficult to read because of the inhumanity but it is also important to know what happened so we can make better choices in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC to read and review.

Another great book by Martha Hall Kelly. The story line took me a little while to get into as it bounced back and forth between the two main characters, Josie and Arlette, and the years 1943/4 and 1952. But, once I got into my groove I couldn't put the book down. I had to keep picking it back up to find out what was going to happen. The plot twist at the end I did not see coming.

The authors note at the end gave actual historical facts which led me to order a non-fiction book that was recommended.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for the advance read copy.

I really enjoyed this story and the dual timeline of the characters. While a very hard story to read it did not feel long or feel like it dragged on.

Another amazing historical fiction book from one of my favorite authors! What went on at the Ravensbruck concentration camp with the medication experiments on prisoners was truly horrifying!

In this latest from Martha Hall Kelly we get to know a scarred survivor who is looking for revenge and becomes a spy for the American intelligence. Told in alternating timelines, we get to know what happened to her French Jewish mother and also get to know her friend who lost the baby she gave birth to at the camp.

Great on audio narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Saskia Maarleveld, this was equally moving and heartbreaking. This incredible story celebrates the resilience and bravery of women during and after wartime while shedding light on a little-known part of history. Many thanks to @prhaudio and NetGalley for early digital copies in exchange for my honest review!

CW: suicide attempt and PTSD

Martha Hall Kelly brings us another beautiful story from WWII. I love her use of dual timelines to give you the whole picture one piece at a time. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

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.