A maid at the Paris Ritz Hotel can be invisible. Louise listens to boastful Germans and reports their conversations to the underground during World War II. In the present day, her granddaughter Nicole sees a photograph of her grandmother, her head shaved as a horizontal collaborator. She journeys from her English home to Paris to find out what Louise’s life was really like.
A good WWII novel with a twist that was unexpected.

A compelling WWII story of significant depth, one I could not stop reading as Ella Carey captivated me from the very first line. Her Daughters of New York series blew me away, but The Paris Maid is on another level. It’s as if she was always meant to write it. Set in dual timelines, present-day London and Nazi-occupied Paris of 1944, the story alternates mainly through the eyes of Nicole and her grandmother Louise, with an outfit of supporting characters like Kit, a fighter pilot for the Allied forces.

The Paris Maid sparkles with a refreshing vibrancy. The detail is superb, the story-telling impeccable, and the characters authentic and poignant. The plot is unforgettable: even with its multi-layers, two timelines, and three viewpoints; it is still easy to keep track of, providing a clear picture once all the pieces fall into place.

This story felt very personal - a sincere emotional connection. As I continued reading, I couldn't help but think there was something extra special about the story. When I read the author's notes, I discovered Ella Carey's inspiration came from her father’s participation "as an RAF pilot dropping parachutists over France for the Resistance during the Second World War." From her father’s experience and her book research, the heroes become a large part of the story’s fabric, giving it an air of genuineness.

In my opinion, The Paris Maid is Ms. Carey’s best work yet. She employs all the best writing techniques imaginable—including fine-tuned suspense. There is an excellent flow to the plot with some on-the-edge-of-your-seat action. The story is about many things, but what resonates the most is the immeasurable cost of sacrifice. Fear is replaced by courage in those who fight against the grievous injustices flourishing under Nazi rule, with hope continuing to rise in the protectors' hearts that freedom will one day be won.

Thankfully, the efforts of those who fought will never be forgotten. Stories like Ella Carey’s keep those memories alive, those violent acts and quiet acts of courage in front of us. I cannot say enough what an incredible tribute this is to those who resisted evil. Even though we know through historical accounts what happened, The Paris Maid contains many unexpected twists and surprises. That’s the beauty of weaving fact with fiction. It proposes other things that might have transpired. It is a genuinely moving WWII novel. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this new novel, and I highly recommend it to those who love historical fiction or had family served in WWII.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this eCopy to review

I enjoyed The Paris Maid, Louise is very believable and the more you read the more real she becomes. I did not expect her 'secret' so that is great as all to often in these historical novels you know everything that is going to happen from the start.

I loved how Nicole is investigating her Grandma's past (Louise), and the duel time and aspect really helps bring both stories to life. What was her Grandma hiding and why does it need to be secret? Again this was another big revelation and also one that I did not see coming.

I loved how Nicole's family grew closer as they investigated Louise's past.

I was completely drawn in by the story and read it obsessively, cue lots of tears, gasps and smiles. A perfect reading experience

The Paris Maid is an intriguing story set mainly at the Ritz hotel in occupied Paris 1944.
Working stoically as a maid, Louise picks up the nazi residents chatter and works closely with the French resistance.
All becomes very dangerous when Sasha, a secretary for a high placed nazi, is put in place to live with Louise in their Ritz staff quarters. But who is Sasha and how much of a threat is she really?
The story takes us back and forth from 1944 to present day, where Louises decendents try to figure out who is the girl in an old photograph, branded with a swastika? Did their grandmother support the nazis or is there an underlying story?

While I don't usually choose books covering war, having read previous books by this excellent writer, I couldn't let this one pass. And am I glad!
The Paris Maid is a captivating read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story moves fast, the characters are well developed and interesting, The Ritz is still a glamorous place, although catering to the wrong crowd at the time.

The story of the two women, the incredible work of the resistance and the incoming support from the allied forces took my breath away. The outcome is magnificent, although a bit abrupt. I guess I just didn't want this book to end.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

What an astoundingly powerful WW2 story of significant depth! Once I started reading The Paris Maid I could not stop as I was drawn in from the first line and became lost on the pages as they fluttered past. My eyes barely noticed the breaks in the chapters as I was so focused on the scenes and the characters and their movements.

I have enjoyed all the books I have read by Ella Carey but this one is in another league. It’s as if this is the novel she was always meant to write. This one shines with a fresh vibrancy. The detail is stunning, the story-telling flawless, the characters believable and heartbreaking. The plot is unforgettable: even with its multi-layers, two timelines and three viewpoints, it is easy to keep track. For the separate strands weave together into a unified whole towards the end providing a clear picture once all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place.

This story felt extremely personal, as if born from a sincere emotional connection. I kept thinking while reading The Paris Maid, there was something extra special about it. Then I discovered from the author’s notes, it was inspired by her father’s involvement as ‘an RAF pilot dropping parachutists over France for the Resistance during the Second World War’. Obviously Ella was deeply moved by her father’s stories of his experiences. Plus, from the historical research she gathered on important people of the time. For these heroes become a large part of the story’s fabric giving it an air of authenticity. Real persons such as: Arletty the French actress, Blanche Auzello the wife of the managing director of the Ritz, Frank Meier the head bartender of the Ritz who helped the French resistance, Pearl/Pauline Witherington who commanded a band of 3500 French Resistant fighters and Henry C Woodrum B-26 pilot who was shot down but escaped the Nazis. Together with her fictional leads, this combination created a strong believable reading experience.

The modern timeline begins with a dilemma. A young woman, schoolteacher Nicole, has just discovered her beloved grandmother was suspected of being a Nazis supporter. She has received a photograph from her aunt that brings this question into focus. Nicole cannot believe this to be true of her much loved grandmother Louise. So, she sets out on a mission to Paris to uncover the truth. But just before she goes, she pulls out a Grimm's Fairy Tale book with a strange inscription inside the front cover owned by her grandmother. What does it mean?

The clues are in the detail. It is a complicated story. And this story is told from three points of view: present day by schoolteacher Nicole and the historical ones by war airman Kit and maid Louise. And I must not forget the setting. Most of the main drama circles around the famous Ritz Hotel in Paris—a place with a lot of impressive history of its own. The glamour, fashion, foods and style of Paris comes through the text very well providing an authentic feel.

In the historical thread: we get to know Maid Louise extremely well. Her story is heartbreaking but her bravery is inspiring. She is determined to stay focused on her maid’s job, trying to remain anonymous but the people she meets and interacts with, begin to change her life. She wants to help in the war against the Nazis. But a woman named Sasha enters her space and she suspects she is her enemy. How can she manage all her activities with someone spying on her? Then she learns the truth about her father, and it sets her on a dangerous mission.

There are some very intriguing characters in this novel. Even an appearance by a famous American novelist! Resistant fighters known as the dressmaker and the butcher are intriguing heroic souls. Kit the pilot provides quite an amazing account of his experiences that detail the inner workings and dangers of the resistant fighters.

In my opinion, this is Ms Carey’s finest work to date. She utilises flawlessly all the best writing techniques imaginable—including fine-tuned suspense! There is a great flow to the plot with some serious on the edge of your seat action. This is a story about many things (including family roots and identity) but the one bright flag that flies high in the sky is the unfathomable cost of sacrifice. Fear is replaced by courage in those who fight against the deplorable injustices rampant under Nazi rule. Yet hope continues to rise in the defenders' hearts, that freedom will one day be won. Eventually it does but not without the loss of many innocent lives: those caught in the crossfire and those who pushed back against the darkness. It was a harrowing time.

Thankfully, the efforts of those who fought will never be forgotten. For stories like Ella Carey’s keeps those memories alive, those fierce acts and quiet acts of courage in front of us. I cannot say enough what an incredible tribute this is to those who resisted evil. Even though we know through historical accounts mostly what happened—as far as the war is concerned, The Paris Maid contains many unexpected twists and surprises. That’s the beauty of weaving fact with fiction. It proposes other things that might have happened. And Ella has done well. It is a genuinely moving WW2 novel that I am so glad I read and highly recommend. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.

4.5 Stars!!

When Nicole received a shocking photograph in the mail of her grandmother from the end of WWII, things turned upside down for her. Her Granny Louise never mentioned her life during the war to her family. Nicole loved her Granny very much, surely there had to be some mistake. So she sets off for Paris and the Ritz Hotel for answers. Who was her grandmother? Why did she hide her life during the war from her family.

Louise was a maid working at the Ritz during the German occupation. The Ritz, a place full of Grace and glamour and overrun by Nazis. For Louise, it was a place to hide from herself and her heritage. She was very skilled in memorization and became a part of the resistance operating within the walls of the hotel. When an stranded RAF pilot finds his way to the hotel, she hides him and keeps him company. It’s not long though before her family catches up with her and things take a drastic turn.

In a beautifully set dual time line story, we are showered with familial secrets, brave strong women and the desire to do more and learn more to preserve a family legacy that began during a time of terror. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture and Ella Carey for early access to this amazing story!

It is not often a book surrounds me off the bat as “The Paris Maid” did. Ella Carey described moments using all the senses, what smells were present, the sights, the sounds. I really appreciated that!

The book follows Nicole as she investigates why her beloved Grandmother would be in an old photo being paraded through Paris streets after the war as a collaborator. Nicole has to navigate her search while also dealing with family drama.

We also meet Louise, who is living as a maid in the Ritz during 1944. As part of the Resistance she encounters dangers around every corner while working under the noses of Nazis.

This book was a great addition to my library! A huge thank you to Ella Carey for writing this book! Also thank you to, Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to review “The Paris Maid”.

A gripping Workd War 2 novel that also has a parallel modern day story. The stories of multiple strong female characters are woven through 1944 and modern day. Uncovering the secrets hidden from a family may just be the thing that brings them all together.

The story centers on The Ritz in Paris with a band of resistance fighters working right under the Natzi which are guests of the hotel.

A good WW2 novel m, nothing earth shattering like other novels of the time period.

It's not very often that I am drawn into a story in the opening pages. The Paris Maid is an exception. I was captivated from the opening passages, and devoured this story in one sitting. Set in dual timelines, present day London and Nazi occupied Paris of 1944, the story alternates mainly through the eyes of Nicole and her grandmother Louise, with an ensemble of supporting characters like Kit, a fighter pilot for the Allied forces.

Nicole is devastated to learn that her beloved late grandmother may have harboured a scandalous secret from a dark period of Nazi occupied Parisian history, so she sets off to Paris to uncover the truth. It begs to answer the question: How well do we know the people we love?

Ella Carey writes with an ease, and she masterfully weaves the characters in and out of the storyline. I also love how she has snuck in some famous names throughout the novel. The story is beautiful and heartbreaking. If WWII historical fiction is you jam (like mine is), you should plant this one firmly on your TBR list now!

Pub date: 6 April 2023

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

When Nicole finds a photo of her grandmother from 1944 with her head shaved and branded a traitor, she wants to prove to the world and her family that her grandmother did not betray her people. She must set out to Paris to find the answers she needs and clear her grandmother's name.

Told through alternating chapters of characters as well as times lines we follow the main character of Louise as she works at the hotel Ritz as a maid, and secretly for the resistance.

While also following the character of Nicole in her search for answers in the present day.

This novel is full of secrets, strength, spies and fighting to survive. Carey had me captured from the first page and emotionally involved throughout

This is a great read. Picking up on the events surrounding the liberation of Paris in 1944, Ella weaves a story with three strands and ultimately draws them together neatly. One of the main characters spends 4 years in the Ritz hotel, hiding her German heritage and working at translating codes for the resistance. She comes to a sticky yet surprising end but her legacy of bravery and selflessness impacts the surrounding characters and the next generation or two. A really enjoyable read

The Paris Maid was such a good book, when you start reading it there are some areas where it got a little confusing but by the end I completely understood what had gone on.

If you enjoy reading about the time around WWII i highly recommend this. It shows how people put themselves on the line to help complete and total strangers and the strength and tenacity that these people had to make it through this war.

I highly recommend!

“The Paris Maid” is a historical WWII novel by Ella Carey. This book is set in two timelines - the past (Summer 1944 mainly at The Ritz in Paris) and present day (also set mainly in Paris). In the 1944 timeline, the reader follows a number of characters, but mainly Louise, a maid at The Ritz who assists with The French Resistance. Additionally chapters are devoted to Kit Harrington, an American flyer and those he meets trying to get him out of France and back to help the Allies. In the present day, we follow Nicole who is trying to uncover her ancestry. As is pretty typical of then/now books, I preferred the “then” story - in this case the characters felt more real and there was a lot more action. I did like that it was pretty easy to keep all of the characters apart. I liked how Ms. Carey wove some famous names into her story and I enjoyed looking up their stories online for more information. I found one part to be a bit odd, though it tied some loose ends together nicely, and I saw the twist coming once that “odd part” happened. If WWII historical fiction is something you enjoy, this book might be one you’d like to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an arc in exchange for my honest review!

Publication: April 6, 2023

This book is hard to rate for me because I loved how Carey brought the history to life. The biggest hinderance for me is that this is nothing new to the WW2 genre. I think a big problem is that personally, I've read a lot of WW2 novels in my young adult hood. I feel that the majority of historical fiction books have some tie in to WW2, which I find overdone.

Was this a good book? Absolutely!
Would I recommend it? I think any book is worth a shot if you think it's up your alley

Perfect for fans: historical fiction, WW2 fiction, The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

Grandma Louise's daughter found a photo of her after the war with a swastika on her forehead and being paraded through the streets of France.

Her daughter sent it to Nicole.

Nicole couldn't believe Grandma could have been a Nazi collaborator.

Or maybe she was and that's why she would never talk about the war.

Nicole had to find out the truth, but could she after all these years?

We follow Nicole, Louise, and soldiers as the story unfolds and truths are revealed.

THE PAIRS MAID will keep you glued to the pages as you live through the war with Louise, soldiers, The Resistance, and all the citizens trying to stay alive.

You will also hope Nicole finds out that her Grandmother is innocent because she can't think of her grandmother any other way than the way she knew her.

THE PARIS MAID is historical fiction and a mystery wrapped up into one good read.

Enjoy!! 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

The paris maid was a pleasure to read! To have a book that is well written as well as entertaining is a delight. Reading is about escaping your world and entering another one. The word building was phenomenal in this book. Here I forgot about my own life and was immersed in the world created by the author.

Heart breaking, heart pounding and heart warming, this story packs an emotional punch! Tears fell at that ending. JUST WOW! It is clear the author was inspired and has a passion for this time in history. It wasn't all darkness either but highlighted the resilience of the human spirit. There was even an amazing twist that I never anticipated or saw coming.

Beautiful writing, sometimes quite poetic. I was pulled in from the first chapter. I can never claim to be a history buff but through this novel I was educated even about the macabre atrocities as the result of Nazi terror.

This book provided a unique take on a World War 2 novel too as its progression transports us from past to present when a young expectant mother wants to learn the truth about her grandmother.

Thank to Bookouture and NetGalley and the author for an advanced reading copy.