The Scent of Secrets by Jane Thynne

9780553393903

425 Pages
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballatine Books
Release Date: September 15, 2015

Fiction, General Fiction (Adult), Historical Fiction, 1938, Suspense, Espionage

Clare Vine is an actress but also a member of the resistance. She is half English and half German. As part of her resistance work, she is asked to get close to Eva Braun. At a loss for how to go about doing this, she runs into her and strikes up a conversation. Their talk quickly turns to perfume and Clare’s friend Coco Chanel’s new perfume. Eva tells Clare that she dabbles in making her own perfume and asks Clare if she would like one for herself.

The story is very interesting with mentions of historic events within. It has a steady pace, is written in the third person point of view, and the characters are well developed. I was so intrigued with this book that I could not put it down until I finished it. I recommend it to anyone that likes suspense and/or espionage stories.

3 stars goes to all the meticulously researched details, tidbits and rumours amout the Nazi Germany! The authoress done her homework well and the novel is full of the interesting information about the life in and under the regime. The stage is set well and the idea of using an actress as a heroine in the world obsessed with them (as the Reich's higher-ups truly were) is clever.
But as the espionage, action and even danger (for the heroine) - well, this book is seriously lacking in these departments.

I did not finish this book. It was not working for me, I wasn't drawn into the story or invested in the characters. I will not be rating or reviewing this book. Thank you for the opportunity.

Clara Vine is an actress who finds herself working as a spy for the British government. Her fluency and family ties to Germany make her the perfect cover, and her target is Eva Braun, the paramour of Herr Hitler. As Clara travels further into the perilous world of the Nazis she finds herself in terrible danger.