I read lots of historical fiction and The Secret History of Audrey James has moved to the top of the list as one of my favorites.

Rather than just telling the story straight out, the author uses a dual time-line. One taking place in 1938 and the other 2010.

In 2010, Kate Mercer is trying to get her life back after divorce and ends up as a caretaker of sorts to an elderly woman running an Inn. The elderly woman, Audrey James, does not want help. But eventually the women develop a friendship and Audrey begins sharing her unbelievable story of survival in World War II.

Audrey was a young German woman whose best friend was Jewish. Rather than leave for safety, she stayed in Germany to help protect her friend and to do what she could for the resistance.

The writing is excellent and really pulls you into the story. The constant tension and stress of living in Germany at the time, watching the city you love destroyed. I will definitely read more from this author.

Historical fiction about a courageous women during the Holocaust. Audrey, an English woman, is staying with her best friend Ilsa and her family in Berlin while she completes her music degree. She just has a few weeks left when the family, who is Jewish disappears, and Audrey and Ilsa are left trying to find out what happened to them. When the house is commandeered by Nazi's, Ilsa hides in the attic while Audrey poses as a housekeeper hoping not to be found out.

It's a harrowing, horrible and inspiring story of courage and love. The story alternates with the present story of Audrey which is not nearly as engrossing as the past story, but works well enough. I also enjoyed reading the author's notes about the real people who inspired the characters and situations in the novel.

This book takes place in two timeframes. The historical one starts in 1938 - Audrey James is half German, half English, and is living in Germany with her best friend Ilse’s family, who are Jewish - when things take a turn for the worse, Audrey focuses on protecting Ilse and eventually gets involved with the German resistance. And in the more present day storyline, it’s 2010, and Kate, fleeing the end of her marriage, spontaneously takes a job at a small hotel near Scotland where her parents went on their honeymoon - which is run by the now elderly Audrey James. Eventually Audrey starts telling Kate her story, and Kate has secrets of her own too.

This one was pretty good, but was just too long and slow for my taste. I’ve read so many WWII novels that it takes a lot for one to stand out for me - and, indeed, this was good but not a standout. I absolutely loved Heather Marshall’s first novel, Looking For Jane, but I think in part because it had a more unique, non-war story. I’d still recommend this one if it sounds interesting to you, just wouldn’t say it’s a must read.

3.75 stars

Gut wrenching, heartbreaking, and worth the read. While the author pulls from various sources to create this story, there is enough reality to make this a bitter pill to swallow. It’s hard to imagine the fear and sorrow people like Ilse and Audrey had to endure, but the author does a good job of balancing descriptive details with subtle inferences to move the plot along. The twist that comes at the end was a little less believable and I’m torn on if the story would have been more successful without it, but it does not harm the overall success of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I like to read historical fiction that is set during WWII and I really enjoyed this one. The story is alternately told between the past and the present. The stories were heartbreaking at times and really tugged at my emotions. I found both of the main characters, Audrey and Kate, believable and well developed. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this dual timeline WWII novel. The author explored grief and survivors guilt and forgiveness quite adeptly. I will be recommending to all of my book groups. Thank you for the ARC

With so much WWII fiction out there now, it can be hit or miss with any given new book in the subgenre. That said, The Secret History of Audrey James was a big hit with me. I physically felt the tension between Audrey and Ilse and the German officers who commandeer Ilse’s family’s house following Kristallnacht. The fear, the resistance, the hope, the courage - all shown in powerful scenarios and interactions.The story telling from the present time of the past was engagingly crafted, but I think I’d have preferred the story without the dual timeline, and being set only in the war period with an epilogue. The ending did not surprise me and seemed too neatly tied up, in the end disappointing me given how unlikely this would have been in actuality.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group,Ballantine Books, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this moving book.

What a book. I have been waiting for this one for a while as it was supposed to be released in 2024 but was then delayed. I am so glad I got to read it. If you have read Marshall’s Looking For Jane, you will know what a skilled storyteller she is, and I think this one is even better. It is a different take on WWII historical fiction than I have read before, and the twists and turns it takes are something special. I read most of it in one day because it was impossible to put down. You will love all of these characters and get so involved in their journeys. It’s heartbreaking, sweet, devastating, inspiring. I can’t wait for Marshall’s next book.

I absolutely loved Heather Marshall's first book, Looking for Jane, so it's no surprise that I absolutely loved this book. I read half of the book in one sitting. The strong female characters were so well written. I highly recommend if you enjoy historical fiction and strong female characters.

4.5 ⭐️

If you know me, you know my love of WWII historical fiction, and The Secret History of Audrey James did not disappoint. Heather Marshall has written a compelling and emotional story that that had me hooked from the start.

One of the aspects I appreciated most was the depth of the characters and the connections between them. Their love, loyalty, and sacrifices were palpable, making me truly invested in their journeys. The storyline itself stood out from other WWII novels I’ve read, offering a unique perspective influenced by true stories and the author’s own family history.

Would highly recommend this for anyone who loves a good historical fiction novel.

I have not read Heather Marshall's debut release so I was not sure what to expect with The Secret History of Aubrey James.

Aubrey James is raised by a detached father after the death of his wife and mother of his child during the birth of Aubrey. Aubrey becomes close friends with her neighbor, Ilse Kaplan. The girls are as close as sisters. The book opens in 1938, when Aubrey is living with the Kaplans and is about to graduate from a prestigious music school. Aubrey's father asks her to come to England but Aubrey decides to graduate and have her senior concert before leaving Germany. Mr Kaplan is shot dead in the street and Ilse's mom and brother are rounded up. As we know, Germany quickly becomes hell and high ranking Nazi officers commandeer the Kaplan house. Aubrey decides to hide Ilse in the attic of the Kaplan home.

Fast forward to 2010, Kate Mercer is recovering form a car wreck and the loss of both of her parents when she discovers a picture in her parents items that is of them together in an old guest house near the Scottish border. Kate is looking for a fresh start and accepts a job as an assistant at the guest house. The owner of the guest house is Aubrey James. The two slowly get to know each other and share their stories.

I don't feel like Kate's story was necessary or added any real value to the story. I found the ending too far fetched. I do see why Marshall used Kate to help tell part of Aubrey's story. I felt Kate's tone when initially questioning Aubrey about her experience in Germany was very brash and uncaring which felt unbelievable to anyone who knows what happened in Germany during this time.

There were some holes in the storyline that just left me frustrated. As someone who reads a lot of historical fiction, I might be more prone to notice these holes than some. This is why I gave the story only a 3 star rating.

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.

The Secret History of Audrey James is a well written WWII historical fiction novel. Audrey is a young woman living in Berlin studying piano when the Nazis are rising to power. Her father has moved to England, and wants her to join, but she wants to stay with her closest friend Ilse and her family, who are Jewish. As Hilter becomes more powerful, everyone's lives are in danger, and Kristellnacht changes everything. Audrey becomes an important part of the resistance, and won't spoil anything else.

There is also a dual timeline, where Audrey is an older woman running an inn in Northern England, and a young woman comes to help her and learns the story. Both timelines are really engaging.

The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall is a compelling historical novel that intertwines the lives of two women across different eras. Set against the backdrop of World War II Germany and modern-day Northern England, the story explores themes of friendship, sacrifice, and resilience.
The novel follows Audrey James, a young woman on the brink of graduating from a prestigious music school in Berlin in 1938. As the war looms, Audrey's life takes a dramatic turn when her best friend, Ilse Kaplan, is forced into hiding due to her Jewish heritage. Audrey becomes a housekeeper for high-ranking Nazi officers while secretly aiding the anti-Hitler movement, showcasing her bravery and determination
Kate Mercer moves to a guest house near the Scottish border to heal from a personal tragedy. There, she uncovers the hidden past of the elderly proprietor, linking her story to Audrey's wartime experiences. This dual narrative structure enriches the novel, providing a deep and emotional exploration of the characters' lives and highlights the unbreakable bonds of friendship.

I love reading WWII books because I learn so much about the resilience of people. I love that there were people fighting against evil and fighting for those being oppressed. I love to learn about the thing women did to help the during the war. Women were so important during WWII because they were always underestimated, While I know that Audrey James wasn't an actual person, she is based on actual people who fought against the Nozis in WWII.

This story is so well written and so beautiful. I loved the back and forth of the Audrey's past and Kate's present. I love how Audrey and Kate connected and how their stories unfolded and crossed paths. Audrey was so incredibly brave. She got Ilse to safety after the attacks in the streets and managed to keep her safe in her own home even once SS officers took control of the home. The fact that she put herself in harms way to help get information to try to save Germany and the Jewish people. I was in awe of her and determination and drive. Kate having lost all of her family goes in search of the place her parents spent their Honeymoon and finds Oakwood and Audrey. I loved that these women were able to unburden themselves and help each other heal. I also enjoyed that among all this very heavy topics, Audrey helped Kate to find love. While Kate and Ian's story is minor to this novel, it was lovely.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of this ebook. All opinions expressed are my own.

It can be difficult to find an unputdownable historical fiction book, but this is it. I loved both of the dual timelines and found them equally compelling. This book deserves to be placed on the same shelf as The Nightingale.

When a tragic accident throws her life into chaos, Kate Mercer flees her heartbreaking memories that seem to surround her to Northern England to start over. Her new boss, elderly Audrey James, is cantankerous and closed off. Audrey resents the help unknowingly brought to her, but behind that tetchy behavior is a heart of gold.

As Audrey slowly opens up about her past working in the German resistance in Berlin during WWII, Kate discovers a remarkable woman almost lost to history. In helping Audrey tell her story, Kate works through her own grief and begins to understand her own history a little better.

Alternating between two timelines, Audrey and Kate show us what it means to love, to lose, and to forgive. These two strong female leads persevere when things get ugly and together, they have found a way to find a semblance of peace despite their circumstances. The Secret History of Audrey James is a beautiful exploration of both the personal and historical, interwoven in a way that feels healing and redemptive.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballatine Books, and of course the author Heather Marshall for the advanced copy of the book. The Secret History of Audrey James is out now. All opinions are my own.

I read and loved Looking For Jane. The debut novel by this same author. This is a brilliantly told story. The way this author weaves the two main characters together is nothing short of perfection.

I loved this line in this story:
""Audrey nodded warily. "Yes. My name is Audrey. Audrey James."" It was just the perfect sentence at the time. It just broke me....

This is a story about two women who are childhood friends living in Germany during the time when Hitler was starting his reign of terror. As he was fooling people into believing that what he was doing was what was best for Germany and it's people. To get rid of any people that were less than. Any people who were considered by him to be unworthy. He made people believe that the Jewish people were causing trouble for Germany. That they were doing much harm to Germany. He started grooming young kids to be in his army. He was a horrible little man who caused so much destruction.

Audrey was a German child who had hardly any friends. When the Kaplans moved in across the road Audrey ran over and introduced herself to Ilse. The Kaplans were Jewish. This was not a problem for Audrey. She and Ilse became fast friends. They were inseparable throughout their childhood. When things went crazy in Germany with the Nazi's rounding up the Jews Ilse was separated from her family. She saw her father gunned down by a soldier and her mom and brother taken away. She had no one. No one except Audrey. Audrey loved Ilse and would do anything to keep her safe.

We meet Kate in 2010 and get to know her. She's going through a divorce after the loss of her parents in a horrific car accident. Kate was with them and was the only survivor. She carries a lot of guilt from being a survivor. Her husband and her were already having problems and she decided to move away and found a job at an Inn. The Inn is owned by Audrey. The two get to know each other and Kate gets Audrey to open up about her life. This is hard for Audrey but also helps her. It also helps Kate to open up about the night she lost her parents. The two survived a lot and bond over their grief.

This story gives a lot of info about what it was like to grow up in Germany when the horrors were happening. It shows how strong some friendships between a German girl and a Jewish girl were. How they endured during soldiers taking over the home of the Kaplans. What it was like hiding in an attic and fearing for the worst. You feel the fear and sadness that emmetts from Ilse. How Kate kept them both safe by lying and being a housekeeper for the soldiers. Then working for the resistance to try and help as much as she could. It shows how strong the bond is between true friends. So strong that lies told by a horrible man could not be broken.

Then you find out how the two main characters lives intersect. How they know some of the same people. What happens to each. And in it all a love story happens. Audrey and Kate are two strong willed women. One survived Germany and the other survived a horrific car wreck. While one is way more horrific they are both essential to this story to bring the characters together and help each find closure.

This book is told from two different times. In the late 1930s mid 1940s, and 2010/2013. I thought this book was so good. It made me do some weeping but it was suppose to do that.

Do not miss the Author's Not at the end. It has a lot of great info and is so worth the read.

Thank you #NetGalley, #RandomHouse #BallantinePublishing for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC of this book.
Its been a bit since I have read historical fiction but this one was a great one to get back into the swing of things. Well written between present day and past. A story of love past and present with a reflection that spans time. A recommend read.

A timely story about the resilience of humans, especially women. Audrey's story was heartbreaking but was beautifully written.

After a tragic accident, Kate Mercer leaves London to work at a rural guest house near the Scottish border. Her employer, Audrey James has her own secret history from her time around WW2. Despite differences in age a background, the two form a tight bond that helps to reveal Audrey’s past as an English woman assisting the German resistance.

This is inspired by real life events and is a unique perspective that I found interesting. It is well researched with a fascinating authors note. Told in dual timeline and perspective, I found the past timeline to be more interesting and engaging and like the use of the current to push the past timeline along. I did find this book somewhat superficial with none of the tension and emotional connection with the characters that I really like and expect with World War Two fiction. Overall this a good book with an interesting plot, but did not wow me as I was anticipating.