There should be more stories celebrating the unsung heroes—ordinary individuals who, in their own extraordinary ways, stood tall against tyranny, regardless of the cost. Dr. Sumner Jackson was one such hero, defying the odds during the Nazi occupation of Paris. This book masterfully captures his courage and resolve, offering a narrative rich with hope, bravery, and fear. The vivid depiction of 1940s Paris immerses you in its historical setting, making the story all the more gripping. It’s a book you won’t want to put down—and one that will linger in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the final page.

This is truly a somewhat ineptly named book by Alex Kershaw that nonetheless deserves a wide audience. Alex Kershaw seemingly has a terrific knack for finding these stories of individuals which somehow are both personally interesting, and yet are emblematic for the larger story being told about World War Two. In this case, the story of one family of Americans that is caught up in Occupied France.

The Avenue of Spies refers to the Avenue Foch in Paris, which was a nest of Nazis busy trying to squelch the French resistance, and also the protagonists in this story. An American doctor, his French wife and their only son.

The surprising aspect of this story is that this American doctor and family lives in Paris before the start of World War Two, and endures the Occupation after Paris and France fall in June 1940 and through the war.

This is a rather amazing story that simply is riveting because of both what happened, and the narrative Kershaw weaves. I don’t want in any way act to spoil the narrative, but it is interesting, fast-paced and truly astonishing. Paris only occupies a part of the story, and suffice to say the rest of the book is awful to contemplate.

I was hooked on trying to finish this story and couldn’t be distracted. The family is truly caught up in the maelstrom of Europe in World War Two. A fantastic read. Highly recommended.