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A Novel
by Heather Marshall
An astonishing historical novel of one woman's dangerous journey through World War II Germany and her life-changing friendship with a young woman decades later—from the #1 international bestselling author of Looking for Jane.
Northern England, 2010. After a tragic accident upends her life, Kate Mercer leaves London to work at an old guest house near the Scottish border, where she hopes to find a fresh start and heal from her loss. When she arrives, she begins to unravel the truth about her past, but discovers that the mysterious elderly proprietor is harboring secrets of her own.
Berlin, 1938. Audrey James is weeks away from graduating from a prestigious music school in Berlin, where she's been living with her best friend, Ilse Kaplan. As war looms, Ilse's family disappears and high-ranking Nazi officers confiscate the house. In desperation, Audrey becomes their housekeeper while Ilse is forced into hiding in the attic. When a shocking turn of events embroils Audrey in the anti-Hitler movement, she must decide what matters most: protecting those she loves, or sacrificing everything for the greater good.
Inspired by true stories of courageous women and the German resistance during World War II, The Secret History of Audrey James is a captivating novel about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the healing that comes from human connection.
What are you reading this week? And what did you think of last week’s books? (10-02-2025)
...it, didn't remember much from years ago. I'm almost finished with The Briar Club by Kate Quinn and love it. I'm reading a paperback from the library The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall. And I'm reading Little Alleluias by Mary Oliver when I have a few minutes.
-Melinda_J
What are you reading this week? (7/10/2025)
I'm finishing up The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall. It's very good!
-Joyce_Montague
What are you reading this week? (5/1/2025)
...njoyable. THE FAMINE ORPHANS by Patricia Falvey - based on a true historical event of sending women to Australia during the potato famine in Ireland. THE SECRET HISTORY OF AUDREY JAMES by Heather Marshall - set during WWII - it's about her life. I have read many others, but those are standouts. Looking forward to seeing what others have read. Elizabeth
-Elizabeth
What are you reading this week (1/2/2025)?
I finished THE SECRET HISTORY OF AUDREY JAMES by Heather Marshall. It is SO GOOD - I didn't want to put it down. :heart: It is out February 25 - I would definitely put it on your TBR if you are a women's fiction and...
-Elizabeth
"The lives of history's survivors converge in this multigenerational novel of love and loss ... a valuable addition to WWII historical fiction." —Booklist (starred review)
"A fascinating and moving story of courage, sacrifice, and friendship, The Secret History of Audrey James draws from real historical events to remind us of the power of standing up for what we believe in, and of the way love can shape the course of our lives." —Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Daughter
"Emotionally charged and brutally beautiful." —Janet Skeslien Charles, bestselling author of The Paris Library and Miss Morgan's Book Brigade
"Historical fiction at its most immersive." —Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea
This information about The Secret History of Audrey James was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Heather Marshall is the #1 bestselling author of Looking for Jane. She worked in politics and communications before turning her attention to her true passion: storytelling. Marshall lives with her family near Toronto.
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