The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall
5 stars
464 Pages
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books
Release Date: February 25, 2025
Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction, WWII, 1940s
Audrey James (AKA Ada Jakobs) lived in Berlin Germany. Her father was English, and her mother was German living in Germany. She died in childbirth having Audrey. Her father loved her mother greatly and was distant with Audrey since she was a daily reminder of what he lost in her mother. Her father moved back to England, but Audrey stayed with the Kaplan family to complete her studies at a music conservatory. Tensions are rising and antisemitism are causing families to sell their homes and businesses and flee. The Kaplans believed they were safe and stayed. While out shopping for a dress to wear to her final recital, the Kaplans are assaulted in the street. This is the action that changes life for everyone.
The story of Audrey James is loosely based on the true-life story of Mona Parsons. Although this story is fiction, the Red Orchestra was a real organization and a part of the resistance. The story is well written in the third person point of view. The way the author weaves Audrey’s story through Kate in the present is brilliant. If you like stories about strong women in wartime, you will enjoy this story.
