Utterly gripping WWII spy thriller!

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑  It's been quite a while since I felt so desperate to read and understand the outcome of a book. With friends popping around last night I pressed hard to find out what happened near the end, before they arrived, but failed. I realised this finale wasn't worthy of such a fevered read, but needed to be absorbed gently to take in the detail. All I can say is, Wow! What a superb read that is sure to impress any fan of WWII spy thrillers!

A Treachery of Spies is told in two timelines - a modern day murder investigation in Orleans, France and in WWII with the Maquis de Morez Resistance fighters and the British SOE who supported them against the occupying Nazis. In 2018, Captain Ines Picault investigates the murder of an woman who seems to have no past. It comes to light that she is linked to the French Resistance but why would anyone kill an elderly women and cut out her tongue? Buckle up for an adventure back in time that will deliver action, bravery, heartbreak, exhilaration and a complex mystery. Honestly, this is a jaw-dropping effort that had to have taken a great deal of research and mapping out. It's entirely worth the effort!

The characters were the linchpin and felt like family to me. The members of the Maquis we get to know intimately are so well rounded with fully formed personalities with impressive skills. French Captain Picault is also a person of note. She has her own story that unfolds as her investigation gets underway. A likeable character, she is a great foil to the historical element as she makes sense of the conflicting information her digging uncovers. Be warned, there is a vast array of characters with tenuous connections. Try to keep them straight as best you can. It gets really twisty and knowing who is who will help you with the intricate plot.

The tension whilst reading this novel was simply relentless. I sat gripping my kindle tightly as our beloved Maquis take on one dangerous mission after another. I wanted to read quickly to find out what happened but also slow things down to stay in that world of passion, revenge and honor. It was extremely hard to let them go and return to reality. The atmosphere and the sense of duty speaks volumes and ties the reader to the pages with unbreakable strength. I cannot convey how moved I was by this story and impressed that it isn't simply a WWII drama but a modern day whodunit filled with its own tension and danger.

This is a book that deserves to be read. There is more in A Treachery of Spies than meets the eye and I hope it impresses you as much as it did me.