The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly

528 Pages
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books, Ballantine Books
Release Date: April 19, 2023

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Spies, World War II

Arlette LaRue is a Parisian and Josie Anderson is an American. In 1943, they were known as the Golden Doves. They listened to German conversations and operated a radio to transmit the information to the Allies.

In 1952, Josie is a Captain in the Army out of Fort Bliss Texas and Arlette is working at a café. Josie is given an assignment to go undercover to find Dr. Snow, a Nazi, the American government wants to join their group of scientists. Arlette is approached by Luc Minau. He runs a non-profit organization trying to reunite mothers and children separated during the war. Josie and Arlette had no idea their worlds would collide again.

The story has a fast pace, the characters are very developed, and it is written in the first person point of view between the two women. The women in the story have strong independent personalities. If you like historical fiction, you would enjoy reading this book.

Requested this title because I loved Lilac Girls, one of the author's previous books. It started with great promise and then just faltered for me. Perhaps I need a break from WWII stories for a while.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly.
The Golden Doves was a refreshing change of pace from typical WW2 spy novels. Following dual timelines and two women's stories, the book shares events from the war as well as after. Focusing mainly on Nazis that escape to South America and how they continue to persecute others. I found it interesting and disturbing to hear how the Catholic church as well as the US Army helped Nazi leaders at the end of the war.

Martha Hall Kelly is one of my go to authors when it comes to Historical Fiction. Lilac Girls is a story that I still think about when I think of WW2. So when I received an ARC of The Golden Doves, I was thrilled.

The Golden Doves is a dual POV with a dual timeline. Josie Anderson and Arlette LaRue are former spies who are tied together for life. They worked together in Paris to help the French Resistance before being captured and taken to Ravensbruck concentration camp.

The "before" portion of the book was fantastic. I thought it was well written and I liked that it referenced parts of Lilac Girls. The "after" portion of the book was unbelievable and unnecessary. This portion of the story felt too farfetched and sadly almost ruined the book for me. I wish the author would have just focused on the "before" or if she was going to include the "after" then it needed to be more believable.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am in the minority. This book was not for me; I have to DNF at 27%.

Neither main character is likable & I find the dialogue to be unrealistic. I am not connecting with it despite it being a topic I’m interested in.

Thank you Net Galley & to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've been a fan of Martha Hall Kelly's for years now, she's an automatic read author for me, and I was so excited to read her next adventure. As a fan of historical fiction involving WWI & WWII, Kelly's stories are always a delight to read. Her research is incredible and she brings the characters and storylines to life; this was no different. Like her other books, this alternates not just perspectives but time. It follows Josie and Arlette and alternates between 1943 and 1952 in France. These two girls were The Golden Doves, spies for the resistance who were eventually captured and sent to the predominantly women-only concentration camp Ravensbrück in Germany. Fast forward to 1952 and both are women now, having survived the camp are on journies to find something; Arlette, her missing son, and Josie, hunting down one of the nazi doctors that was at Ravensbrück and committed horrible acts/experiments against the women at the camp.

While there were times when it was a little slow going and had me wondering where the story was going, things eventually panned out and the bigger picture made itself known. Admittedly, while I found the overall story good, I didn't always care for either of the main characters. They would sometimes make decisions that didn't make sense given that they were meant to be spies. Like, I understood some of the choices they made in the 1952 timeline, given that they had survived such horrors and were just trying to find that little bit of normalcy and things from before, but the 1943 before time, just didn't always make sense.

Overall, while this wasn't my favorite of her works, this was a good one filled with incredible details and imagery, It's a solid 3.5 stars for me, I think had I cared, or at least liked the characters more, it would have been more. It's still a good read and if you've read any of her previous works, it's worth reading.

Another amazing historical fiction read by Martha Hall Kelly! This one had a bit of a mystery to it that kept me guessing until the end and I loved the references back to Lilac Girls and Lost Roses. I cannot wait for whatever she writes next.

This historical fiction story is about the women only concentration camp, Ravensbruck, during WW2. The atrocities that happened there are told through two women who survived, the Golden Doves. The Golden Doves, American Josie Anderson and Parisian Arlette LaRue, are spies who are caught, imprisoned at Ravensbruck, and survive. Their stories are told through flashbacks from their present lives in 1952, post WW2. Yes, Martha Hall Kelly's book, Lilac Girls, is also about this camp but I agree with the author, we need to keep these stories alive, think about them, talk about them, and create a world where this can never happen again. The story these women have to tell starts slowly but the reader is soon deeply entrenched in their stories.

What a beautifully written story! I loved reading the authors note at the end, and how her story is based on so many true events during WWII, while fictionalizing the story in her own words as well. Josie and Arlette, The Golden Doves, were such inspiring characters and I loved reading their role in the resistance against the Germans during the war, and their stories years later in working to find Nazi scientists. The first half moved a little slow for me, but it set up a phenomenal second half of the book with suspense, longing and so many emotions throughout. 4.5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Random House- Ballentine for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I love historical fiction novels that focus on the heroines of WWII. How they put their lives on the line as spies or radio transmitters but how they aren’t really ever recognized. This is one of those stories and it was great.
Definitely read the authors note at the end.

This is an extremely important piece of writing insofar as it shines a blinding light on a country’s complicity in the horrors of war and how far powerful men will go to gain their objective. I took a long time reflecting on this book before trying to review it because so much of it was so difficult to explain and embrace. Murderers treated to tennis whites and court time and forget about the horrors they perpetrated, in their torture chambers, on innocent women. There is so much ugliness, so much misplaced rationalizing, and that may be the best we can say about those perceived to be the good guys. Those described in The Golden Doves are damaged survivors who are willing to follow instructions almost blindly, searching for the enemy, a lost son, and ultimately their betrayers.

Meticulously researched, slow going at times, I kept coming back to how much can be forgiven, while insuring that this story will not be forgotten. Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a copy.

I have read most books from this author and have always enjoyed them. This one was a little hard to follow. The chapters alternated between the two women, Josie and Arlette and then alternated between the war years and 1952. Josie and Arlette are the golden doves, spies that work for the resistance and are discovered, imprisoned in Ravensbruck camp. The story then continues in French Guiana where Arlette is trying to find her son. The story is very disjointed and sometimes confusing as to who was who and who could be trusted. Some of the story didn’t seem believable. Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

The Golden Doves. A pair of brave young women who became known for their daring acts in the French Resistance. American Josie Anderson and Parisian Arlette LaRue face harrowing consequences when they're captured by the Gestapo and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. A decade later, Josie works for U.S. Army intelligence and pursues a notorious Nazi doctor, while a stranger offers Arlette hope of finding her long-lost son. Together, the Golden Doves embark on a perilous journey across Europe and French Guiana, uncovering horrifying secrets and risking everything for justice and their loved ones.

I really wanted to like this one, especially with how much it was based on true stories and facts. The author did an excellent job highlighting the unfairness of how Nazi officers escaped justice for the crimes they did. Also, the horror of the continued experiments was also shown well.

However, I didn’t like either main character. Throughout the story, I found them both unlikely spies and I was frustrated by the decisions they made. It was hard to believe either of them had been trained in espionage. They also seemed to fall into bed with every good looking man who crossed their path. And would continue to sleep with them, even when they didn’t trust them.

Overall, I found this a difficult book to get through. I appreciated the details of life after World War II, but would have liked characters that I could actually like.

What a fascinating story! I have always loved books by this author and this one did not disappoint! I was eagerly turning pages and convincing myself to read just one more chapter every night so I could find out what would happen next! Fabulous writing!

This was a great WWII novel. I really enjoyed the dual perspectives told by Arlette and Josie. The things that they survived and moved past and accomplished were incredible. Their stories were really complex and it was interesting to see the impact of the war on life and how people had to rebuild all aspects afterwards. I loved the reference back to what started all of Martha's earlier books. Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

I received an advanced copy of The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly from the publisher Random House Ballatine via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: This book follows two former female spies, Josie Anderson and Arlette LaRue who worked together stealing Nazi secrets as the Golden Doves, their courage ultimately gets them to the Ravensbrück concentration camp, along with their loved ones, a reclusive Nazi doctor does unspeakable things to Josie’s mother, a celebrated Jewish singer who joined her daughter in Paris when the world seemed bright. And Arlette’s son is stolen from her, never to be seen again. A decade later, Josie is working for U.S Army intelligence where she hunts down Nazi doctors or scientists to help with the Cold War effort. When Josie is assigned the case of the infamous doctor who took her mother’s life, she is drawn into a complex web. Meanwhile Arlette hears that her long missing son might have been found, she is on an expedition to French Guiana.

What I Loved: I love Martha Hall Kelly and am so glad I got to read this one. This was a really important story and I found Josie to be a captivating character. This book feels cinematic and big and has an excellent pace. I also found it interesting to learn about Operation Paperclip and it made me so furious.

What I Didn’t Like: This felt a bit disjointed. The narrative set in the past isn’t very clear and I don’t necessarily feel connected to their mission or invested in the two character’s friendship. I felt like the work that they do wasn’t really highlighted. It didn’t really seem like these two were great spies. I’m starting to realize I’m not super into the spies in WW2 era, they usually don’t fully work for me.

Who Should Read It: People who love books about WW2 spies. People who love books about powerful historical women. People who love WW2 epics.

Summary: A story of two former spies who are ten years later on new missions.

Martha Hall Kelly is back again with another story set in WWII. Josie and Arlette are 2 women working with the Resistance that end up getting caught and sent off to Ravensbruck concentration camp. While there, they watch their loved get ripped from their arms and tortured by the Nazis, some never to be seen again. Years later, the women must relive their horrors as stones become turned and secrets start to be revealed.

MHK does it once again with her impeccable research and realistic stories told through the eyes of women standing up for what is right and wrong in the world. The character development is one of the reasons that I always love reading her novels, and while her books are much longer than other authors, it's because she allows the reader to invest in the character, rather than skipping over so much important development and this one was no different. While I can understand that this book is not for everyone, I found myself pulled in immediately and not wanting the story to end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my review and honest opinions.

American Josie Anderson and Parisian Arlette LaRue are thrilled to be working in the French resistance, stealing many Nazi secrets that they become known as the Golden Doves. They are hunted by the Gestapo. When they are arrested and taken to the Ravensbrück concentration camp, along with their loved ones, a reclusive Nazi doctor does unspeakable things to Josie’s mother, a celebrated Jewish singer. Arlette’s son is stolen from her, never to be seen again. A decade later the Doves fall into a dangerous mission: Josie is working for U.S. Army intelligence and accepts an assignment to hunt down the infamous Dr. Smith while a man tells Arlette he may have found her son. The Golden Doves embark on a quest across Europe and ends up in French Guiana, discovering a web of terrible secrets, and put themselves in grave danger to finally secure justice and protect the ones they love.

The author has written a WWII story of survival, bravery and justice. It is an incredible thriller that has been well researched by the author. These two brave women captured my imagination .at times it is a heartbreaking historical novel.

During WWII, American Josie Anderson and French Woman/single mother Arlette LaRue, worked with the French Resistance and earned a reputation as the Golden Doves. They passed information they had gathered from German Communications. Josie was half Jewish, with her mother being a singer who refused to leave France with her American Diplomat husband due to her mother's illness. Josie and Arlette were eventually arrested when a young Hungarian girl stole from a Nazi officer and ran to their apartment to hide. They were all sent to Ravensbrück Concentration Camp. Josie's mother and grandmother were also there, living in the Jewish quarters. The women dealt with various horrors while there and will never forget the "doctors" who experimented on them and those they loved. A decade later, their paths cross again as Josie is working for the American Government screening the documents of German Scientists that the government wants to work with. She is eventually tasked to hunts down a fugitive doctor and Arlette is looking for her long-lost son, Willie, who disappeared from their barracks just before the camp was liberated by the Russians. They travel to Europe and eventually end up in French Guiana. They are often in danger as the Russians and the Israelis are looking for these war criminals/scientists as well and will do whatever it takes to find them and bring the to their country for their own purposes.

The Golden Doves is loosely related to her Lilac Girls series, which I also enjoyed. Martha Hall Kelly has a reputation of writing well researched historical fiction and I always learn something from her books. In The Golden Doves, two things I learned about were "Operation Paperclip" the American program to bring Nazi Scientists to the US to work for the government, as well as "Nazi Ratline" which shares how so many of the Nazi War Criminals escaped justice with the help of various governments and religious organizations. The story is told from both Arlette's and Josie's point of views. It goes back and forth in time and place, which can be a bit confusing if you are not paying attention. We learn about their time as The Golden Doves, how they got to that point and what happened at Ravensbrück. There is also another plotline involving Fleur, the young girl who caused their arrest in the first place. This is historical fiction and although what is happening in the world at the time is historical, the stories were fiction, but Martha Hall Kelly does an amazing job of blending the two that had me checking out what was true and what was fiction. I am not usually a fan of longer books as my attention wanders, but not with this story. I was invested right from the start. My only issue was that sometimes the jump from Arlette to Josie was a bit abrupt and I had to reorient myself. Overall, I found this a compelling story with strong, courageous and resilient women. They had to put up with the male ideas of what women could do, but they did it well. This is a well researched book that also shared about the injustice of Nazi war criminals and what happened to the Nazi doctors and scientists after the war. I definitely recommend this one if you enjoy a good historical fiction story, especially one where you may learn some things and meet some wonderful characters.

I feel like perhaps I missed some thing with this book, given all the other wonderful reviews for it. The storyline is important- I learned about the rat line which allowed Nazis to escape out of Germany through Italy with the help of some of the members of the Vatican, and eventually winding up in South America (or in America if we thought they could help us with the arms race). Allowing Nazis, in particular high ranking ones, to escape judgment is a tragic and shameful part of American history and world history.
The storyline itself went back-and-forth between 1944 and 1952. I just found the two protagonists to be constantly making poor decisions in 1952 and not reaching out for help from others. I didn’t believe they were foolish enough to be doing that in 1952 as experienced and accomplished women. The scenes at Ravensbruck were as sad and heartbreaking as you would expect.
I appreciate the research the author did to write this novel. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read it as an ARC.