Paris Undercover is the story of two unlikely heroines in WWII (Kitty and Etta)
They help to smuggle airmen out of Paris
It was a slow start, but once you get into it, more interesting

Paris Undercover by Matthew Goodman is a gripping account of two ordinary women, Kitty and Etta, who find themselves entangled in the dangerous world of espionage during World War II. Tasked with helping Allied airmen escape Nazi-occupied France, these two best friends and flatmates may not have been trained spies, but their courage and determination proved otherwise.

Goodman structures the book into three distinct sections, each offering a different perspective on their harrowing journey. The first part details Kitty and Etta’s backgrounds and their work aiding escapees, leading up to Etta’s arrest. The second follows Etta’s brutal journey home and her later attempt to publish an (almost) tell-all book about her experiences. The final section shifts focus to Kitty, chronicling her fight for freedom and the betrayal that forever altered their lives.

As a fan of WWII historical fiction—especially stories centered around strong female protagonists—this book was a perfect fit. Goodman does an excellent job of bringing this nearly unbelievable true story to life, making it accessible and compelling for modern readers. The tension, the resilience of these women, and the shocking betrayals make for an engrossing read. The fact that this is a real story only adds to its impact.

If you love historical accounts of courageous women defying the odds, Paris Undercover is a must-read. Goodman masterfully balances history with storytelling, making this both an informative and deeply engaging book.

Matthew Goodman’s Paris Undercover unearths the extraordinary and often overlooked story of two women—Etta Shiber and Kitty Bonnefous—who became unlikely heroines during Nazi-occupied Paris. The book offers a gripping, harrowing account of their efforts to rescue Allied soldiers, smuggling them out of enemy territory, and the consequences that followed, particularly after Etta’s memoir, Paris Underground, distorted the truth of their actions.

The narrative alternates between the women’s daring wartime exploits and the aftermath, focusing on the betrayal Etta's book caused Kitty. Etta, an American widow, and Kitty, an English divorcée, operated under the radar, often smuggling soldiers in the trunk of their car through Nazi checkpoints. Their courage was unmatched, but the path they chose was fraught with peril. When they are eventually captured by the Gestapo, the story takes a darker turn, revealing the painful and often brutal treatment they endured in prison.

Goodman’s meticulous research—revealing personal letters, testimonies, and military records—lays bare the shocking truth behind Etta’s memoir. The book paints Etta as a hero, but many of the deeds in Paris Underground were exaggerated or fabricated, particularly at Kitty’s expense. “Kitty’s life in prison became infinitely more difficult after the book was published,” Goodman notes, highlighting the deep betrayal that followed. As a result, Paris Undercover is as much a story of personal redemption as it is a tale of historical intrigue.

Goodman’s pacing is mostly smooth, though some sections may feel slightly drawn out. However, this minor flaw doesn’t detract from the compelling narrative, which strikes a fine balance between history and human drama. The book provides a unique perspective on WWII espionage, focusing not on professional spies but on everyday people who became heroes out of necessity and defiance. Through Kitty and Etta's journey, Goodman introduces readers to the grim realities of life in Nazi prisons, offering a fresh take on the war from the point of view of women on the frontlines.

Paris Undercover is a powerful, multi-layered narrative about heroism, betrayal, and the lasting effects of distortion in the telling of history. Goodman succeeds in uncovering the truth, delivering a book that is as emotionally resonant as it is historically important. For anyone interested in WWII, resistance movements, or tales of moral complexity, this book is a must-read.

Paris Undercover is written in 3 parts. Part One (22 chapters) recounts the backgrounds of Etta Shiber and Kate "Kitty" Bonnefous and how they became friends living in Paris shortly before WWI. This is followed by the events occurring during the Nazi occupation and how they courageously helped dozens of British servicemen escape to unoccupied France. At one point, Etta writes a book about her experiences. I must say that, for nonfiction, this reads like a thriller. I couldn't put it down.

Part Two (3 chapters) addresses the necessary falsehoods in Etta's book. At the time of publication the war was still going on and names, places and dates were changed to safeguard the identities of those still active in the resistance . . . not sufficiently as it turned out.

Part Three (4 chapters) picks up the narrative of Kitty's travails in numerous prisons. I am being purposefully vague with details for those who don't want any spoilers. Suffice it to say that outcomes are wrapped up tidily.

Five stars for an epic literary work. There are numerous photos included which greatly enhance the story. One caution: depictions of torture and the deplorable conditions of imprisonment are disturbing.

This book reads just like a fascinating nonfiction book from Erik Larson would read. It has almost a fiction feel to it and really made it easy to be wrapped up in Etta and Kitty’s lives. I had never heard of either woman before and now have a great appreciation for their sacrifices and their subsequent fates from the decisions they made during World War II.

The way the author presented their stories was interesting. He first told their stories like you would expect from a nonfiction book. When the book came to Etta publishing her memoir, he then went on to explain the inaccuracies in Etta’s memoir, and the background in how the memoir came to be. The research and support was extremely interesting. Also, we learn how that memoir greatly affected Kitty. Overall, a very well researched book that held my interest all the way through.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Matthew Goodman, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

After her husband and cousin die, Etta Shiber moves to Paris to live with her friend, Kate Bonnefous. Although the women seem to be fairly typical women in their 50s, as France is occupied by Nazis, the women begin to help soldiers escape from behind enemy lines. Kate is the primary instigator, but Etta is definitely complicit.

Both women are arrested, separately, and when she is eventually freed, Etta writes of her experiences, but her account is embellished to help sales and sway public opinion. Kate suffers for her friend's actions.

The accounts of the women's prison experiences is haunting. The author's portrayal of Etta Shiber as a typical, frumpy, dull widow doesn't really ring true based on her experiences. The popularity of books about World War II and the Holocaust is particularly compelling in view of current world events. This book is meticulously researched and a relatively quick read (despite its length). #ParisUndercover #NetGalley

I really appreciate these untold stories of the heroic actions of women in World War ll. Etta and Kitty helped dozens of Allied soldiers escape Nazi occupied Paris until they were themselves captured and imprisoned. After eighteen months, Etta was released as part of a prisoner swap but Kitty remained imprisoned until the war ended. Etta wrote a memoir that was an immediate hit and was turned into a movie, but her memoir wasn't entirely truthful. Even worse, the memoir made life much harder for Kitty who was still imprisoned. When Kitty was released from prison at the end of the war, she sued Etta. Paris Undercover covers the friendship between the two women, the treatment of female political prisoners, the French Resistance, and what life was like in Nazi occupied France. Superbly researched, and a fresh perspective on the horrors of WWll.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

Paris Undercover by Matthew Goodman delivers a compelling and meticulously researched account of two women, Etta Shiber and Kitty Bonnefous, who risked their lives to rescue Allied soldiers during the Nazi occupation of Paris. Their bravery and the complex truths surrounding their actions unfold in this gripping narrative, enhanced by Goodman's extensive use of wartime letters, military records, and personal testimonies.

Goodman excels at storytelling, vividly bringing to life the atmosphere of occupied Paris and the harrowing danger faced by the women. The depth of his research is evident, especially as he uncovers the contradictions in Etta’s memoir Paris-Underground, which misrepresented some key aspects of their story. This layer of deceit adds a fascinating dimension to the narrative, exploring themes of betrayal, personal motives, and the consequences of historical manipulation.

However, at times, the book becomes verbose and lengthy, with detailed descriptions that can feel overwhelming and slow the pacing. The depth of the research, while impressive, occasionally detracts from the story's emotional punch. Despite these pacing issues, Paris Undercover is a powerful testament to courage, friendship, and the complexities of memory and history. Highly recommend this book for those interested in WWII stories and untold histories.

In this work of history that reads like a novel, Matthew Goodman rights a historical wrong and gives us the true story of two middle-aged women, Katherine Bonnefous and Etta Shiber, whose unlikely heroism in WW II has never been properly acknowledged until now.

Goodman shows us how Bonnefous’s large Paris apartment becomes a base of operations for a clandestine network that the two women organize to provide an escape route via Paris for British soldiers who were left stranded in France in 1940 when the German army overran the country.

We also see how the apartment becomes a hiding place and way station for soldiers who Bonnefous and Shiber themselves smuggle into Paris as stow-aways in Bonnefous’s car.

In this section of the book Goodman displays his skill in portraying suspenseful situations. He also brilliantly conveys what it felt like to live in Paris during the German occupation.

And then, when Shiber and Bonnefous are inevitably betrayed by an informer, enabling the Gestapo to capture them separately and isolate them so completely that they can never see or communicate with each other again, Goodman gives us a close-up view—at times too close—of the horrible tortures and inhuman treatment inflicted by their German captors.

Goodman then takes the story into the postwar era. This section of the book is an account of unintentional betrayal of Bonnefous by Shiber, and unscrupulous publishing in which a book titled Paris Underground, supposedly written by Shiber, becomes a best seller and the accepted narrative of two women’s exploits during the war. It also is an account of Bonnefous’s miraculous survival from longer imprisonment and more terrible treatment than Shiber experienced. We see that Bonnefous goes on to live a happier and longer postwar life than Shiber. And in fact they never do communicate with each other again.

Goodman is generous in his Prologue where he provides an almost complete overview of the book. But if you read only the Prologue you will miss a meticulously documented yet easily readable narrative that tells you the real story of these two women and especially tells you why Bonnefous more than Shiber should be seen as the extraordinary person she was.

Thank you, Matthew Goodman, for your own heroic effort to set the record: searching out every relevant document, enhancing the main story with collection of notes that in themselves comprise a worthwhile book, even taking the trouble to provide a list of names of the twenty soldiers who Bonnefous and Shiber helped escape. I think this book will be a lasting contribution to the literature on France under German occupation and on unsung women who should be remembered for their heroism.

While I appreciated hearing the story of these two brave and important women who took risks and sacrificed themselves during the Nazi occupation of Paris, the journalist style of writing made it hard or for me. to really engage in the story. I guess I prefer a historical fiction approach with dialogue to really get into the characters and stories.

This is the tale of two brave women who, during World War II, assisted dozens of Allied soldiers in fleeing Nazi-occupied Paris. After becoming a widow, American Etta Shiber relocated to Paris to live with her English friend Kitty Bonnefous. In the end, the Nazis grabbed them and put them in prison. Etta was freed as part of a prisoner swap after 18 months. Kitty was imprisoned until the conclusion of the war after receiving a death sentence. This book reveals why she tried to sue Etta as one of her first acts after being freed.
Soon after her release, Etta wrote a memoir titled Paris Undercover. It was chosen for the Book of the Month Club and adapted into a film. Sadly, a large portion of the book was inaccurate. Even worse, Kitty was clearly recognizable despite having a different name in the novel, which made her existence in prison much more difficult. The goal of this book is to present a realistic picture of what the women did. I hope this time the story is accurate because the author done a lot of study.The Nazi occupation of France, the French resistance, and prison life are all discussed in the book. Although I've read about life in the concentration camps, I didn't know much about how the Nazis treated political prisoners, especially women. This book goes into terrifying depth on that. It's amusing to hear how the memoir was misrepresented. This book is good since it takes a different stance on the war..

Paris Undercover is a gripping account of two extraordinary women, Etta Shiber and Kitty Bonnefous, who risked everything to help Allied soldiers escape Nazi-occupied Paris. With meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Goodman brings their bravery and sacrifice to life, offering a compelling look at resistance, friendship, and betrayal in the face of war.

The book masterfully alternates between thrilling moments of espionage and the emotional weight of its characters' choices. I found myself completely immersed in their story, especially in the moments where they had to navigate the dangers of the Gestapo. However, one of the most debated aspects of the book is Etta’s decision to publish a memoir while the war was still ongoing—an act that inadvertently put Kitty at risk. This made me question whether Etta’s intentions, though well-meaning, truly justified the consequences as unintended consequences for Kitty, who remained imprisoned and unaware of the publication.

Goodman’s writing brings both women to life, highlighting their courage while also exploring the moral complexities of their actions. Whether you’re a fan of WWII history or simply love stories of resilience, Paris Undercover is a fascinating and thought-provoking read. I personally always enjoy books that shed light on lesser-known figures of the war, making their stories feel all the more impactful. Though at times, I did find the book a bit wordy, it was still very good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC

Paris Undercover is a fascinating story of two elderly women who risked everything to help Allied servicemen escape occupied France. This is a story of WWII that I have never read anything about, and Goodman, who has clearly done his research, does a wonderful job of providing extensive detail of Etta and Kitty's lives, their work, their imprisonment, and their impact in the war. There are some tangents that, while related to the story, do slow down the pacing a bit, but otherwise Undercover is simply an incredible story that reads stranger than fiction. There are some details that are hard to read, and the ending is actually quite sad, but Goodman presents the facts without bias, giving readers the entire bittersweet truth. With its focus on the war from a Parisian perspective, its unlikely heroines, and its willingness to share the horrific details, Paris Undercover is a unique and powerful story from the annuals of WWII.

I struggle to leave a review for this book because I have so many conflicting thoughts on it. At times I was very interested and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next, while at other times I just wanted things to move along. A lot of parts seemed to drag on and be repetitive. Another thing I struggled with was to keep track of whether I was being presented with the actual facts or if the book was referring back to some of the falsified information that was portrayed by a main character. Overall some good information about World War II.

Paris Undercover is a powerful and eye-opening nonfiction account of two extraordinary women—Etta, an American, and Kitty, a Brit—who risked everything to help Allied soldiers escape from Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II. At around 60 years old, these unlikely heroes built an underground network that successfully smuggled soldiers to safety—until they were caught by the Gestapo.

The book follows their diverging fates: Etta is eventually released and writes a book about her experiences, but Kitty suffers a far more tragic path. The details revealed in Etta’s book lead to Kitty enduring even greater punishment at the hands of her captors. And even after the war, her so-called "liberation" brings new horrors, as her suffering is compounded by the very people who should have saved her. Though she survives, the trauma of her experiences haunts her for the rest of her life.

This wasn’t quite the book I expected, but it delivers a deeply moving, educational, and often horrifying look at bravery, betrayal, and the cost of war. It shines a light on two remarkable women I had never heard of before—and I’m grateful to have learned their story.

It is important to remember the heroes of WWII and the bravery shown. I appreciate the amount of detail shown. Although sometimes I got lost in all the details and couldn’t keep engaged in Paris Undercover. This might be a great attraction to those who enjoy nonfiction. At times it is a difficult book to read . But it is history that really needs to be preserved .
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of Paris Undercover. All opinions expressed are my own.

Matthew Goodman’s Paris Undercover follows the true story of Etta Shiber and Kitty Bonnefous during the occupation of Paris and their work helping British and French Soldiers flee Nazi Occupied France.

Etta and Kitty were eventually caught, arrested and jailed for their efforts. Goodman gives a detailed accounting of the horrible conditions and treatment the women faced by the Gestapo’s soldiers. Warning -some parts were hard to read.

Goodman’s research on these women was meticulous and makes for a good read.

Thank NetGalley for the advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received a free ARC ebook of <i>Paris Undercover </i> from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
This biography reveals the compelling story of two older women living in France at the onset of World War II. Etta, an American citizen, is cautious and quiet, but she has come to France to live with her good friend Kate, following the deaths of her cousin and husband. Kate, a British citizen, is very different. She is far more independent and daring, and her personal life includes divorce, a child by another man, and a separation from her second husband. The two form an unlikely friendship and live in Kate's Paris apartment. Their quiet life revolves around their dogs and long walks in Paris even as the threat of war grows ever stronger. They could return to their home countries but believe that the Maginot Line will protect France and them from a German invasion.
The swift and complete failure of the protective Maginot Line cause the two women to flee Paris. Their flight, however, doesn't bring them to safety, and they are forced to return to Paris. They suffer the terrifying indignities of Nazi occupation. Etta is Jewish, and the anti-Semitism grows rapidly; she naively believes that her American citizenship will protect her as the USA is not yet in the war. Kate, meanwhile, decides she must somehow assist in the war effort.
At first, the two women make hospital visits to captured British soldiers and French prisoners. It isn't long, however, before they become far more involved in the resistance effort. Always under Kate's leadership, the two begin assisting British soldiers with a place to stay, false papers, and transportation to safety. Kate's apartment becomes a waystation for the British soldiers. Kate leaves much unsaid to Etta about the depth of her involvement with the Resistance.
It isn't long before their activities have drawn the notice of the Nazi occupiers. Both women are arrested separately. Despite being an American citizen and America not yet in the war, Etta is imprisoned and then eventually released for a short time. When rearrested, she is tortured for more information about resistance efforts. She knows very little. Meanwhile, Kate is also severely tortured but remains firm in her anti Nazi stance. The two women and others are brought to trial and found guilty. Kate assumes all responsibility.
This account reveals the often missing story of ordinary women participating in anti Nazi activities. Goodman provides a lengthy appendix of sources and testimonies to support his work.

This is one of the first WWII books that I felt told the real and honest stories behind those who fought against terror and the after effects throughout their lives. Not only that, but it tells what really happens when a fictionalized (and true) stories are told to the people who were involved. This gets into backgrounds and stories that aren't well known and connects the puzzle pieces as to why things happened the way they did. It was fascinating to see the operations of the war, the governments, the families, the writers and publishers. All of their stories culminated in a book that was essential to the American war effort, that was created and used effectively as propaganda instead of an honest and inspirational story.

It sounded so interesting. Two older women living in Paris who are helping Allied servicemen escape. Etta is a sheltered woman who has anxiety. She never had children but hung out with her husband and brother in New York City. When they die she moves to Paris to live with Kitty, her only friend. Kitty lived a pretty unconventional life. She has one son and is separated from her husband, not her son's father. She is lively, social and daring, hardly a match for Etta. Kitty volunteered as a defense warden and then at the American Hospital and is the one to start up and plan the escape routes up until the point that they are arrested. When Etta is released and sent back to the States as part of a prisoner exchange, she is offered the opportunity to write their story. She makes out pretty well but she has no idea whether Kitty is alive or dead. The middle part of the book is mostly about the writing of the book, the background of the ghost writer and what was fact and what was fiction.
Even though names were changed there was the possibility that Kitty's really identity would be found out. Finally part three was about what Kitty went through which was horrible and graphic.

While this was an important story to tell and the author did a lot of research but I had a hard time staying engaged. There were a lot of French terms thrown in that I didn't really understand and it was distracting as I really don't know the language beyond croissant and oui. I will give 3* for the effort and research but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for providing me with a digital copy.