Audrey James lives in Berlin with her Jewish best friend Ilse Kaplan and her family while attending conservatory in 1939. In the span of an afternoon, their lives are turned upside down during the Kristallnacht. Audrey uses her acting ability to become the housekeeper for the SS officers who take over the Kaplans' home.

I also enjoyed Kate's parallel story in 2010 at an inn in northern England. I am not so sure about the plausibility of the ending but it was a sweet way to wrap up the stories. It was a nice balance to all the hard and heavy topics that Audrey and Kate endure during their lives.

Please don't skip the author's notes.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.
#TheSecretHistoryofAudreyJames #NetGalley

This was a great story surrounding WWII. I enjoyed that it had dual timelines- Berlin, Germany during the war, and Kate and Audrey in 2010. I found Audrey’s bravery and strength during the war to be heroic. I also loved how the two women found each other when they both really needed it most.

I both listened and read this one, and this was the first time I’ve listened to a historical fiction novel. I am not sure if that swayed anything, but there were times where I had a hard time connecting with the story. It moved very quick at times, and I never really felt invested in the characters. Overall I really enjoyed it and would still reccomend, but I would chose to read this one vs listen next time.

3.5*...I was anxious to read a well-researched WWII tale of the German resistance movement. This fit the bill. I did like how Marshall ties it all in to real events in her ending author's note. It truly is remarkable how these resistors had the courage to carry through their plans in the midst of such turmoil and chaos. I did like Audrey's younger self, but it was hard to really relate to the more modern-day characters and that storyline just fell flat a little for me. I felt it could have been a little shorter perhaps.
I also found the sentiment expressed in the story that--this is all there is, and we just have to accept that things don't happen for a reason--truly sad. In a story where there could have been a lot of hope and lifelong reflection it was just kind of a pessimistic realization. But I also know that this is what some people glean out of their circumstances. Perhaps just a reflection of the author?
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

THE SECRET HISTORY OF AUDREY JAMES by Heather Marshall is a compelling and emotional historical novel of friendship, love and resistance during World War II. It is told in two timelines, 1938 in Berlin, Germany and 2010 in Northern England. In 1938, Audrey James is about to graduate from a prestigious music program in Berlin. While attending the famous music school, Audrey has been living with her best friend, Ilse Kaplan, and Ilse’s family despite her father pleas for her to return to England. Tragedy strikes the Kaplans when Ilse’s father is killed by the Nazis and the rest of her family disappears. When the Nazis confiscate the Kaplan home, Audrey faces enormous risk to keep Ilse safe. She also finds herself becoming part of a secret anti-Hitler movement that exposes her to extreme danger and unthinkable life choices. In 2010, Kate Mercer retreats from London to an old guest house near the Scottish border after a tragic accident changes her life forever. There she meets the owner of the guest house who is none other than Audrey James. Kate and Audrey get off to a rocky start, but soon, they learn to trust one another and Audrey shares the secrets of her past experiences in Germany. As the truth is gradually revealed, Audrey and Kate find an unexpected connection between them that just might bring healing to them both. The story is inspired by the true stories of courageous women in the German resistance. It has the perfect blend of fact and fiction and kept me engrossed from start to finish. You won’t want to miss the informative Author’s Note at the end. I highly recommend this beautifully-written and poignant book. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

The Secret History of Audrey James is a riveting story about a woman who is a talented pianist living in Berlin as WWII looms. The choices and decisions she makes over the course of her life reverberate for years to come.

This novel unfolds in both 2010, as Kate Mercer moves from London to work for Audrey James at an inn near the Scottish border and in 1938 as Audrey was living with the Kaplan family in Berlin while she attended a prominent music school. The events depicted in the novel are inspired by real women and those involved in the German resistance. The novel showcases how decisions made can impact generations to come. It also showed how important friendship, sacrifice and healing are.

I am not normally a huge fan of historical fiction, but I was intrigued by this novel from the outset. The way the story was told going back and forth between Audrey and Kate really helped to move the story along and kept me as the reader engaged. It gave me a much greater understanding for how courageous many women were during this time in history and the fact the book was rooted in true events made this an even more interesting read to me.

I would highly recommend this novel!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

In 2010 Kate escapes her old life after a tragic accident and the unraveling of her marriage. She goes to an old guesthouse in northern Scotland where her parents spent their honeymoon and gets a job and establishes a relationship with the elderly and strange owner, Audrey James. Audrey was a concert pianist who lived in Germany during to the war to protect her best friend, who was Jewish and became part of the resistance. Both women harbor secrets from their past and together they learn that through sharing, they can begin to heal.

What’s ironic is while reading this I said “I didn’t mean to read another WWII book” and then the author’s note says “I didn’t actually set out to write a WWII novel” - so we were on the same page. However I ended up becoming totally engrossed in the story of Audrey, Ilse, and SS Soldier Friedrich and their life of resistance in Nazi Germany. The story was set in 2010 and WWII and switched back and forth throughout the novel using Audrey and Kate’s POVs. The audiobook was wonderful and I think I read half and listened to half. Sometimes when you listen to an audiobook with two time periods it gets confusing, but because of the two POVs (one narrator who did a great job switching back and forth) I was never confused as to whose story I was listening to or what time period I was supposed to be in. I picked this one up because I enjoyed the last book I read by the author, Call Me Jane and even though it was about WWII I’m glad I read this one and spent time with the characters.

4.25 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books

A taut and harrowing dual time line novel of WWII Berlin and present day UK. Kate, mourning her parents, travels to the hotel where they spent their honeymoon in hopes of learning more about them and ends up finding more than she ever expected as she stays with Audrey, the 90-something owner. Audrey's story starts in Berlin, where she stayed behind after her British father left so that she could complete her piano studies and because she did not want to leave Ilse, her best friend. And then she and Ilse are trapped, especially after high ranking Nazi officers move into Ilse's family home, forcing her up into the attic. These officers are part of a network who hope to remove Hitler and Audrey finds herself pulled into their work. This has many twists and deserves to be read without spoilers. The dual time line works because Audrey tells her story to Kate. It's a real page turner, and deeply emotional (although the ending was a little too easy). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. An excellent read- and don't miss the afterword.

In 1938 Audrey James is weeks away from graduating from a prestigious music school in Berlin when the Jewish family friends she is staying with disappear with the rising of persecution by the Nazis. Soon German soldiers arrive to occupy the house. Audrey volunteers to be their housekeeper to help her friend and keep an eye on things. But things aren't what they seem!
In 2010, Kate flees London to northern England after a personal tragedy. Trying to get closer to her parents' past she agrees to help run a guest house. There she meets the elderly owner, Audrey. As the truth about her own tragedy unfolds we also learn about all Audrey had to endure to survive the war.
I am a fan of WWII historical fiction stories, and enjoy when there is a different twist than is typically found in these stories, which this one does have, but I can't spoil it. I did struggle a good bit with the modern timeline. I felt all the mystery and slow drawn out reveal of Kate's story was a bit much. I found myself wanting to quickly get through that part to get back to Audrey's main story. I also felt the love interest in 2010 felt forced, and the ending a bit far fetched. 🤷🏻‍♀️ But those were just my feelings. It was still overall a good story and one to add to your TBR if you are a historical fiction fan.
Thank you to @netgalley for providing me a free advanced copy in exchange for my review!
#NetGalley #TheSecretHistoryOfAudreyJames

I enjoyed this book so much I immediately ordered her first book, Looking for Jane from the library.
The book begins with a woman saved by Canadian soldiers in the Netherlands near the end of WWII. We learn that this is Audrey James, a woman with a British father and German mother who is in Germany studying piano in 1939. Her father begs her to come home, but she refuses to leave her Jewish friend Ilse, who must hide in the house after Kristallnacht

We then come to 2010 when a woman, Kate, who is divorcing finds a picture of her parents at an inn near the Scottish border on their honeymoon. She discovers an an advertisement for a job there and applies on the spur of a moment. Accepted, she and her dog drive up. The owner is 91 year old Audrey.
They make a connection and Audrey tells Kate her story of being in the Resistance and how she hid Ilse. It is a harrowing story that is broken by the 2010 stories and how Kate was dealing with the trauma of her parents death.
There is a plot twist I wasn't expecting at all.
Even if you are tired of WWII stories, this book shows another side of the people and the many attempts on Hitler's life.
There are still stories to tell.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the EARC. This honest review is mine alone. I highly recommend this book.

The secret history Aubrey James is exactly the type of historical fiction I just love. The story goes between the story of Aubrey James, a young pianist in Germany, that’s living with her Jewish best friend and her family while she studies. When things take a horrible turn Aubrey is forced to do things to try to protect her best friend and try to help take down Hitler. The other part of the story is about Kate, a young women living in London after her divorce that is desperate for a change. When she sees an ad for a caretaker at an inn her own parents went to she decides to take a chance and takes the job. The story tells of sacrifice, love, and perseverance.

The story was so well written and was a very enjoyable read. I loved the characters and how the author wove in aspects of not only real people but her very own family into this story.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange of my honest opinion.

Heather Marshall is steadily becoming a popular author of compelling historical fiction books about remarkable women. Her debut novel, Looking for Jane, garnered numerous five star reviews, and I believe that this one will be well received also. This is a beautifully woven story. Even though this book contains a lot of the same themes that can be found in many WWII historical fiction novels, such as resistance, fear, hiding a Jewish friend, and the loss of loved ones, this story is made fresh by the depth of the characters and accounts of their bravery while danger lurked around every corner every day, as well as demonstrating how hope can keep people alive even in the most dire situations.

This story contains a good deal of suspense, and the author did a fabulous job of building tension into Part 3 of the story. I could feel my heart racing as I read some of the scenes. I ended up caring deeply for some of the characters and cried more than a few tears by the end of the book. Sometimes it is the unassuming people who are unknown to us who are the true heroes of the war and the women who inspired this novel are some of those people.

I highly recommend this book to fans of WWII historical fiction and believe that this would also be a good selection for book clubs. My sincere thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Amy Jackson and Vanessa Duque at Random House Publishing and Ballantine Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this moving story. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall is a dual timeline story from World War II Germany and Northern England decades later. After a tragic accident has left her floundering, Kate Mercer leaves London to work at an old guest house near the Scottish border. After she arrives, she begins to unravel her past and she discovers her new boss also has secrets from the past of her own. In 1938 Berlin, Audrey James has been living with her best friend, Ilse Kaplan and her family, while she studies at a local prestigious music school. When Ilse’s family disappears and Nazis take over the house, Audrey is forced to become their housekeeper as Ilse hides in the attic. She soon finds herself in an anti-Hitler movement. Can she protect those she loves or must she sacrifice everything to do her part to end the war?
The Secret History Audrey James was inspired by the true stories of courageous women who did their part in the German resistance during World War II. Audrey’s story could have been a standalone story and been captivating and the tie-in with Kate was a bit unnecessary. Unfortunately, World War II resistance stories, while interesting, are starting to blur together that I feel like I’ve read this before. However, I read this story for “the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the healing that comes from human connection.” The Secret History of Audrey James delivers on that; however, there was so much going on that the story started to get bogged down and I was getting bored. Overall, the story started off well; but did not end there. If you enjoy World War II resistance stories, I recommend The Secret History of Audrey James.

The Secret History of Audrey James will be available on February 25, 2025
In paperback, eBook and audiobook.

4 stars! The Secret History of Audrey James is unputdownable! I highly recommend this novel, particularly to those who enjoy World War II historical fiction. The dual storyline between Nazi Germany and almost present-day Scotland easy to follow and seriously, once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. This book is about devoted love and unrequited love, defiance and resistance, discovery and forgiveness. It would make a really good book club book!

I found this story very emotional and I as I kept reading I was wondering who would survive., I kept thinking of all those people who didn't make it and how horrible humans can be to each other. I dread WWII stories because of all the horrors that happened, but this story is a little more hopeful in that the characters are fighting against the bad things that are happening and are trying save others and alter history.
I like how the story is told to Kate and unbeknownst to the them both they have a connection. I also like how the story slowly evolves so that you don't get all the bad at once. I like how strong Audrey's character is and how much she is was willing to give up to save her friend. I like that there was another side to some of the people in this tragic war, and that they didn't agree with the leaders of the war. I also like that the story is based on a real person and that the author shows how strong the real person was. I love the added benefit of dogs in this story who support their human companions and make dealing with life hardships better.
The best part of the story is how the story is told, it is very engaging and powerful and it doesn't let up until the end. There are many parts of this story that show how events can change a persons life and save someone at the same time and yet still break your heart, but in the end the characters in this story still find some peace and love amongst all the tragedy. What a terrific story.

I want to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this powerful story about friendship during a horrible period of human history.

I hadn't read this authors previous book but you can bet I put it in my TBR now. I read a lot of historical fiction about WWII and the Holocaust. This story brings us a different and unique angle that I really appreciated-the resistance. Things that are happening on the world stage and currently in our country had me reading this with a completely different mindset than I would have reahad I read this 4 years ago. Knowing where the author came up with the storyline (from her notes) made this even more interesting. Dual timelines from two POVs bring us a great introspective on loss, pain, strength and absolute love.

The Secret History of Audrey James - Heather Marshall
Genre: Historical Fiction, WW2

I am pleased to have been able to read The Secret History of Audrey James. This novel relates the stories of Audrey James and of Kate Mercer and how their lives intersect in surprising ways as they are a generation or so apart. Kate is recovering from a tragic accident and a broken marriage and accepts a job in a guest house - sight unseen where she hopes to recover some equanimity in her life. Audrey is the owner here and she begins to relate her World War II experiences in Berlin, Germany to her new young manager. Through flashbacks we relive all of these horrific moments with her. Once a promising piano virtuoso, Audrey becomes a housemaid and stays in the unsafe city to protect her Jewish friend Ilse - who has lost her entire family to the Nazis. She sees her father shot in the street and her mom and brother hauled away.
I am always drawn to WWII novels. I always learn something new, and I learned so much from this one. And I am always amazed at the resilience and strength of the folks who endured this war especially on the European Front. Audrey stands alongside her dear friend Ilse after they witness the brutal murder of Ilse’s father in broad daylight in the street while on a shopping trip. Ilse’s mother and brother are herded away. Soon after, the Kaplan home is taken over by Nazi officers. Audrey must think fast and becomes their cook and maid so that Ilse can remain safely hidden in the attic. From the moment Audrey makes that choice, she must pivot again and again as the circumstances change. Her resilience is stunning as she is forced to mature very quickly. Her devotion to Ilse has a strength that I can barely imagine. Kate also gains strength over the course of the novel. She finds her own strength and resilience both in her growing relationship with Audrey, and in making independent choices for her new life. I always value books that give me strong female protagonists and Marshall does just that. I learned much about the resistance, but must resist talking about it. No spoilers. But the suspense level here is just excellent. I stayed up later than I should rather than putting it down. Marshall
I had to really sit with this book for a while after I finished reading. The story and the threads of this book that tangle in a surprising way, really captured me. I am often so saddened by how lightly we take war. We allow people to pretend that evil events never happened, and we allow people to talk flippantly about going to war over the smallest of things. Maybe it is primarily the women who catalog and hold onto the tragedy that war brings. Somebody needs to, and I am grateful for Heather Marshall’s meticulously researched The Secret History of Audrey James. Read it and look for more novels by her. I did. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This WW2. historical novel has such a different story than any other that I've read and I loved it!
This book has two POVs, Audrey , set in Germany, late 1930s and Kate in northern England in 2010. At first, I was curious as to why the 'contemporary' timeline was over ten years ago, but eventually that becomes clear.
The story begins in Berlin with Audrey studying music while staying with the family of her friend, Ilse. Their families used to be neighbors, but Audrey's father returned to England a few years back. Ilse's family is Jewish, while Audrey's is not. As war is nearing, Ilse's family is torn apart, their home taken over and their lives changed forever. The story continues with Audrey and Ilse living secret lives among in Berlin.
In England,Kate , in the midst of divorce, moves to the northern countryside to take a job as a manager of an inn. The owner of the inn, Audrey, is a 90+ year old woman, who is hesitant at the beginning to accept the help of Kate. As the story continues, Audrey becomes more comfortable with Kate and that's how we learn of her time in Berlin.
The relationship between these two women was deep, emotional, wonderful and caustic all at the same time. This story marks all the wins for relationships, family. heartache , love, courage, and bravery.
This is the second book by Heather Marshall. Her debut, Looking for Jane, was just as compelling! Will be looking forward to Marshall's next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this advanced copy in return for my review.
Publication 2/25/2025

Yes, this is a tale about two women during the Nazi rise in Berlin. Yes, I one is Jewish and the other not. Yes,, one hid in the attic and the other in plain sight. And Yes, it captured my interest. The author wove the past with the present beautifully. The lives of Ilse and Audrey are followed as they are young women through the present of old age. Audrey recounts her life as an aspiring pianist studying in Berlin, living with a Jewish family through the present to a young lady trying to find solace after the death of her parents.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

This novel follows the stories of Audrey and Kate, two women who navigate exceedingly tough hardships as they struggle for their own survival — Audrey in 1938 and Kate in 2010. Told in dual timelines, the novel focuses more on Audrey, pre-WWII Berlin and the resistance, yet incorporating Kate’s story (and Kate has lots of emotional baggage with which to deal) and her connection to Audrey makes this a really interesting read.

Audrey and Kate are two women who have both suffered unbearable trauma. Audrey during World War II and Kate in an accident that killed her parents. They meet at the inn where Kate gets a job. In sharing their stories they find some healing in their situations.

This is an excellent historical fiction book. It will grip you from the beginning and you will be there to the surprising end. You will want to know the full story for each of the women. It is one of the best historical fiction books I have read. I highly recommend reading this book. It would also make an excellent film.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #HeatherMarshall, and #SimonSchuster for a copy of this book.
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