Just when I think I’ve found my favorite Martha Hall Kelly book, she writes another that is even better. Her writing and the amount of research she does to authenticate her historical fiction is beyond impressive. This story has an enthralling yet intricate plot, admirable and complex female protagonists and a mystery that will keep readers guessing right up until the ending. Historical fiction doesn’t get any better than this.

This book is absolutely fantastic. Go buy it. Now.

I read a lot of WWII fiction, and Martha Hall Kelly has blended excellent historical research, a fast-paced mystery, two great heroines, and a great storyline into an outstanding novel in The Golden Doves. This book honestly has almost everything I want in a good historical fiction novel. It tells the story of Josie, an American Jew living in Paris, and Arlette, a French woman with a partially German child. Both live in occupied Paris during WWII and join the Underground to fight the Germans, becoming the Golden Doves, a duo renowned for fighting the Germans. At the same time, the story tells us about their post-war lives--Josie lives in Texas working for Army Intelligence, tracing ex-Nazis and Arlette works at a coffeeshop in Paris, searching for her son from whom she was separated when they were locked in Ravensbruck. When Josie is sent to search for Dr. Snow, a Nazi and doctor the Army wants to recruit before the Russians can, her search leads her across the world to find the man who escaped justice; while the Army wants to recruit him to help with their own biological research, Josie's search is more personal because he is the reason her mother was killed in Ravensbruck. Meanwhile, Arlette is contacted by Luc Minau, a man from French Guinea who runs a camp for orphans, who may have found her long-lost son. As Arlette and Josie travel across the world, they find their missions intersecting on a global scale.

This book was so good--it was fast-paced, well-researched, and interesting. I liked hearing about post-war France and Germany, as well as about the Nazis who escaped through the "ratline" to South America. This book illuminated so much about that era of history which is often overlooked and discusses many of the atrocities inflicted by the Nazis on concentration camp prisoners from a very personal perspective. It was at times extremely personal and touching and at other times funny and thrilling. I enjoyed the mystery, which I didn't figure out until the very end, and appreciated the way Kelly wove details through the entire book. At times the back and forth nature of the storytelling from the 40s to the 50s felt very abrupt, especially since there were two POVs and two timelines--it didn't always feel well integrated with some of the shorter chapter lengths. However, overall, it was an outstanding book, and I highly recommend it. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5!

The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly is a gripping and emotional novel of two heroines who could not rest knowing that many Nazi monsters were still alive and living well after the end of WWII. This historical fiction novel is grounded in fact, making the story even more compelling. I read so many pages with a hand over my mouth and tears in my eyes, but never once did I consider putting the book down for more than a quick tissue break. Highly recommend (and don't skip the author's note at the end!)!!!

A bit different than those of us who have been reading Martha Hall Kelly's Ferriday Family stories, but exciting, none the less. This one involves 2 women who were incarcerated in the infamous Ravensbrook Camp during WWII for their work with the resistance. As always, Hall Kelly has done her research and we learn more about this awful place (what they did with mothers and babies was especially gruesome). Then quite a few years down the road (after surviving this terrible trial)the two women team up again to seek out former high ranking Nazi's living in South America. Also some interesting background on how the U.S. military recruited former Nazi scientists to work for the U.S. government in their desire to win the Cold War in Russia. A pretty decent 'spy' novel from someone who hasn't attempted this genre previously. Recommended

A decent thriller about women who worked in the French Resistance in WWII, were captured and sent to Ravensbruck, and are now back in the game, willingly and unwillingly. The various plots stretch the willing suspension of disbelief some, and the entire Fleur plotline could have been removed, moving its important details into the main narrative, but otherwise this will appeal to fans of historical fiction.

The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly is part of a series but I wasn't aware of the other books when I decided to read an ARC of this book. Maybe that's why it took me some time to really get into the story. Also the book jumps back and forth in a timeline so be aware. Once I figured this out I began to enjoy the book. I'm not a huge World War II fan but The Golden Doves provided a perspective that I had not explored. It's always interesting that women are given very little credit or importance in most of America's past conflicts. While I don't enjoy reading about war I appreciate the depth of the characters in the book. Going back and forth in time and discovering more and more about how women operated during wartime as well as how they provided a much-needed but little recognized service made this book one of my favorite stories of World War II
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

The Golden Doves moves backward and forward in time. It involves the story of two young women who worked for the French resistance during the war. Once caught, they were interned in Ravensbruck concentration camp. Forward to just after the war when both women are now leading very different lives. But they soon find themselves drawn into working together on a mission that leads them into a new danger.

Martha Hall Kelly has spun a very absorbing tale involving the hunt for war criminals that will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next. Many authors write stories that involve espionage during the war, and this book has a different take that is done with equal layers of suspense and intrigue.

If you have read and enjoyed Martha Hall Kelly's earlier books, you will enjoy this one. While it was a little slow to start, and I had to remind myself to pay attention to the changing timelines, it was well worth the read.
Thanks to Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
4 stars out of 5
Available April 18, 2023

I've really enjoyed Martha Hall Kelly's previous books, and The Golden Doves was no different! It took a little while for me to get into it, but then I couldn't put it down. I loved the character of Josie, a former female member of the French Resistance, who survived Ravensbruck alongside her friend Arlette. Arlette was not my favorite, and I definitely looked forward to Josie's sections more. I'm a sucker for cat and mouse games, so the Dr. Snow storyline kept me turning pages. The author always does a great job of threading so many real historical figures and events into her stories (and sends me down many google rabbit holes!). This book was a little long, but overall, I really liked it and would absolutely recommend it. Can't wait to see what the author does next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

When Josie and Arlette, the former “Golden Doves” responsible for taking down several Nazi operations during World War II, are reunited with a mission that Josie must complete, their old spy habits come to the surface. Josie is tasked with finding a lethal concentration camp doctor, Dr. Snow, and Arlette has been told that her son, who was taken from her during her time in the camp, is potentially alive and well. Both women, on separate journeys that leave them questioning everything they know, come together as the golden doves once more to seek justice and help one another the best way they know how. A well written historical fiction novel told from multiple perspectives and over multiple time periods, it will keep you guessing until the very end.

I am a huge fan of historical fiction, especially WWII. I thought this was beautifully written. I didn’t realize this was part of a series and I wish I would have read the others first because I felt I would have had a more complete picture. But even without reading the others I enjoyed this story.

This author has a way of crafting period dramas with such believeable characters and plots that you want to keep reading . This was just as good as liliac girjs in my opinion.
Thanks ton net galley and the publisher

Where to even start? When you write books such as Lilac Girls and the books that follow it’s hard to imagine an author has that much talent to write a book that’s even better then her previous. But that’s just what Martha Hall Kelly has done. Her newest book goes better the point of view of two women who were both spies during WW2 and survived being in a concentration camp only to find themselves in a race to track down a famous Nazi doctor. Based on a true story, Kelly brought to light part of WW2 history that I knew little of. I loved the characters and how perfectly imperfect they both were.
I highly recommend this amazing book and thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Martha Hall Kelly's new book called The Golden Doves. I've read a lot of books set during World War II and this one was one of the best. Josie is a half-American half-French girl living in Paris with her mother and grandmother. Arlette is French. The two are pulled together through their work with the French Resistance. They work together and become known as the Golden Doves. They are eventually caught by the Nazis and sent to Ravensbrück Camp. Josie loses her mother in the camp and Arlette loses her son. Years later the two team up again to find Arlette's son and try to bring one of the Nazi Doctors to justice. Our heroine from The Lost Roses, Caroline Ferriday even makes an appearance.

The Golden Doves is a great read by Martha Hall Kelly. I loved it and am giving it a very well deserved five plus stars.

When I read that this book pertained to two women, Josie Anderson, an American, and Arlette LaRue, a French national, who had been imprisoned in Ravensbruck concentration camp for women, working together after the war against heinous Nazis, I never anticipated the thriller-like, edge-of your seat twists, turns, and u-turns of this book. The portions set during the war are heartrending and after, in 1952, suspenseful and immersive. There are numerous Nazi and Nazi-related characters, and the thinking of the Nazis portrayed here startled me at times. So did the vying of the US and Russia to obtain Nazi scientists after the war to gain their evil but strategically useful knowledge; the US government effort in this regard was named Operation Paperclip, not general knowledge in the US as far as I know. In her professional role at Army Counterintelligence, Josie is part of this effort, yet resentful that as a result of Operation Paperclip, many Nazis appear to be escaping punishment for their egregious and inhumane treatment of prisoners.

Arlette had been separated from her beloved son Willie at Ravensbruck concentration camp after having been initially consigned to a Lebensborn home when her cruel aunt finds she is pregnant by German soldier Gunther. Lebensborn homes were for unwed pregnant “pure German girls.” Although Arlette is French, her beloved is German so she qualifies. However, babies were to go to adoptive homes and Arlette escapes with Willie, only to later end up at Ravensbruck.

When in 1952 Arlette is approached in Paris by Luc Minau, whose grandmother Danae has a project to reunite concentration camp mothers and children, she agrees to go to French Guiana to determine if the child Luc and Danae have identified is her long-lost Willie. From Arlette’s arrival there at the Children’s Home, the action and curious incidents run at rapid pace, and eventually Arlette gets Josie to come help her unravel the sinister events.

My rating for this exciting book is really 4 1/2 rather than 5, my only slight criticism being that there are so many characters that at times It was hard to keep track. The author’s note at the end of the book was excellent and gave further historical insight.

My thanks to #NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book but I only liked it. I can’t quite pinpoint what it was missing for me. It was an ok read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book! I loved the alternating perspectives and I didn’t figure out the ending. I thought the story was kind of rushed, but other than that, I really liked it.

Told in alternating timelines during and after World War II, we follow two resistance spies, American Josie Anderson and Parisian Arlette LaRue, as they partner up to defeat the Nazis.

During the war, the two women, along with Arlette’s baby Willie live together gathering intelligence on their Gestapo neighbors and feeding information to the Allies. Josie and Arlette are so successful in their spying that they earn the nickname of the Golden Doves, and a bounty is put on their heads. When they are finally caught, they end up in Ravensbruck concentration camp along with Josie’s mother, a famous Jewish singer. Despite Josie’s father’s diplomatic connections, they suffer for quite some time in the infamous camp and Willie is taken from Arlette.

Ten years later, each woman has approached their post war lives very differently. Arlette remained in Paris working in a coffee shop, continuing her fruitless search for her missing son. While Josie headed back to America working for Army intelligence, doing her best to hunt down former Nazi scientists for America’s nuclear arms race against the Soviet Union. Their paths collide again when Arlette gets a lead on her son’s location, and Josie finds out that Dr. Snow, a wanted Nazi doctor, is in the same location—French Guiana.

The Golden Doves is a great addition to the WWII historical fiction genre. The story was interesting, and fast paced. My only hang ups where with Arlette, who seemed to fall for any man in her path and tended to believe what she was told, which seems implausible for a successful spy, who is likely far from naïve and cautious to a fault. Josie’s character flaws were in keeping with her storyline.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine Boks, and of course Martha Hall Kelly for the advanced copy of the book. The Golden Doves is out on April 18th. All opinions are my own.

A super interesting story based on history. The characters are well-described, Arlette and Josie have very different backgrounds but merge together seamlessly. The setting is all over the world, Texas, France, Germany, Italy, French Guiana. This also makes for an interesting story. There are so many themes mentioned, WWII, spying, US army, US Diplomacy, concentration camps, Nazis, and more. Some of the difficulties I had with the book were too many coincidences, and the language didn’t seem to fit the time period, and the characters all had the same tone of voice. Overall, I’m glad I read it. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This story was interesting but the back and forth was out of control. I’ve read her other book and loved it. I did keep reading because I wanted to read the outcome but for me it was like pulling teeth. At times I didn’t even want to read b/c I was avoiding reading this.