The Songbird
By: Stacy Lynn Miller
Pub date: January 7, 2025
Publisher: Severn River Publishing
This was my first novel by this author, but not my last. I was so intrigued in the story about Hattie James and her father. She is a singer at the Copacabana Club in the 1940’s in New York. Her father is a long-time respected diplomat.
She gets a call no daughter would want to get. Her father is arrested for espionage, and to make matters worse it is to help Nazi Germany.
Soon her father has escaped and the FBI is all over Hattie and feel she MUST help them find her father.
I DO NOT want to spoil any of this novel, BECAUSE its is so harrowing, descripting, shocking and a fresh TWIST in Historical fiction, deserving all the stars!

I just finished reading The Songbird and really loved this book. Fairly early on in the book the book became intense. You didn’t need to wait until you were half way through the book for the book to get interesting. It was interesting from the get-o.
I loved all of the characters in the book and grew to hate Baumann and his sick hunting game. Hattie is willing to take big risks throughout the story. It was a book that I couldn’t put down.
I would like to thank Seven River Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of this book.

Tags: historical fiction, LGBTQIA, suspense, mystery

This book has an exciting premise and setting. The complicated family and friendship dynamics added an interesting layer to the main plot. Yet as much as I love WWII spy suspense, this book ended up not being my cup of tea.

It was too dark and disturbing for my taste. It is remarked that “[t]he enjoyment [character] took in the kill was the mark of a twisted [person]”- yet Miller goes into unnecessary detail describing really twisted murders, which struck me as rather ironic. (Obviously, I know enjoying writing a murder isn’t the same as enjoying committing a murder - but still.)

Furthermore, I thought the story was too focused on sex at inappropriate times. Two characters have missing loved ones who are feared dead, but one is more concerned about whether a woman is attracted to her. There are also multiple comments about a dad thinking his daughter is sexy and a daughter thinking her mom is sexy, which felt weird to me. don’t have any problem with sex, but I was more interested in the spy plot and would have liked the story better without what I felt to be the hyper-focus on sex.

That said, my rating is based on the quality of the writing rather than my personal preferences. Even though this book wasn’t for me, I’m sure others will enjoy it. It was still well-written overall (despite a few distracting anachronistic phrases). While I skimmed or skipped some parts that made me uncomfortable, I made myself keep reading for the engaging plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for the free eARC.

In the glamorous world of 1940s New York, Hattie James is a rising star, enchanting audiences at the iconic Copacabana Club. However, her glittering life takes a dramatic turn when she receives a shocking phone call informing her that her father, a respected diplomat, has been arrested for espionage and accused of aiding Nazi Germany. This revelation shatters her world and plunges Hattie into a whirlwind of danger and deceit.

Perfect for fans of historical fiction authors like Kate Quinn and Kristin Hannah, The Songbird offers readers a mesmerizing journey through a world where love may be the most dangerous weapon amidst espionage and betrayal during World War II.

So, this one was totally a wild ride—like, so much going on, but in a way that keeps you hooked. You’ve got glamorous settings, shady secrets, and all these hidden agendas happening in the background. Our girl finds herself in the middle of this dangerous situation, and things get messy. There’s undercover action, some really tense moments, and you’re never really sure who’s on whose side.

Honestly, it had me guessing the whole time, but just when you think things are clearing up, something even more intense drops. It’s all very mysterious and a little bit dramatic in the best way. I will say, though, there were a few threads I wish had tied up a bit more, but still, super enjoyable.

If you're into a little suspense and intrigue with a dash of glamour, this one’s for you.

I'd like to thank Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.