The London Bookshop Affair - by Louise Fein

About the Book

"A new historical drama from Daughter of the Reich bestselling author Louise Fein, about a London bookshop involved in an espionage network, set against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis, perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff"--

Book Synopsis

From the bestselling author of Daughter of the Reich, an historical drama set in London about a bookshop involved in an espionage network.

"An utterly atmospheric and completely compelling read!" --Julia Kelly, international bestselling author of The Lost English Girl

Two courageous women. One astonishing secret. A world on the brink of war.

London, 1962: The world is teetering on the brink of nuclear war but life must go on. Celia Duchesne longs for a career, but with no means or qualifications, passes her time working at a dusty bookshop. The day a handsome American enters the shop, she thinks she might have found her way out of the monotony. Just as the excitement of a budding relationship engulfs her, a devastating secret draws her into the murky world of espionage.

France, 1942: Nineteen-year-old Anya Moreau was dropped behind enemy lines to aid the resistance, sending messages back home to London via wireless transmitter. When she was cruelly betrayed, evidence of her legacy and the truth of her actions were buried by wartime injustices.

As Celia learns more about Anya--and her unexpected connection to the undercover agent--she becomes increasingly aware of furious efforts, both past and present, to protect state secrets. With her newly formed romance taking a surprising turn and the world on the verge of nuclear annihilation, Celia must risk everything she holds dear, in the name of justice.

Propulsive and illuminating, The London Bookshop Affair is a gripping story of secrets and love, inspired by true events and figures of the Cold War.

Review Quotes

"This dual-timeline story, which bounces readers between Nazi-occupied France and a London in the shadow of the Cuban Missile Crisis, will keep readers on the edge of their seats with its many twists and turns. In this gripping story of love and betrayal, loosely based on real-life figures and events, even the author's note at the end is a riveting must-read." - Library Journal (starred review)
"The London Bookshop Affair is several books at once: a family chronicle, a coming-of-age tale, a love story and (in roundabout but effective fashion) an espionage thriller. Ms. Fein does an admirable job of attending to each of these aspects, while timing revelations in ways that heighten suspense and afford every character his or her due." - Wall Street Journal
"The London Bookshop Affair is full of tension and intrigue, exploring two of the most critical periods of recent history through interweaving storylines that are compelling, moving, and utterly immersive. Brilliant, character-driven historical fiction." - Phillipa East, author of I'll Never Tell
"Historical fiction at its very best--beautifully written and superbly atmospheric, with true-to-life characters and a fascinating story that echoes down the years to today's world." - Frances Quinn, author of That Bonesetter Woman
"Based on actual events that occurred during the global missile crisis of October 1962, Fein's historical novel examines this pivotal era through an intensely personal lens." - Booklist
"Superb: an intriguing story about love, loss, and subterfuge and how, with courage, ordinary people are capable extraordinary things. Gripping: an engaging and well-researched story that was both moving and compelling in one." - Gillian Harvey, bestselling author of A Year at the French Farmhouse
"A story of love and betrayal set against the backdrop of the Cold War. As educational and intelligent as it is a gripping page-turner. I loved every minute. Brilliant!" - Charlotte Levin, bestselling author of If I Can't Have You
"I devoured this wonderful book about women's bravery in times of crisis. Fascinating, gripping and moving." - Susan Allott, author of The Silence
"[K]ept me enthralled from the start...This was such an engrossing story filled with secrets, love and rich, illuminating history." - First for Women
"Louise Fein brilliantly conjures up the atmosphere of London in the early Sixties: the greasy food, smoky pubs, grim housing, and the limited work and home lives many led. Rumbling in the background is the mounting alarm about nuclear weapons, and the growth of activist movements campaigning against them. Celia Duchesne is a smart, ambitious and gutsy heroine, who follows her moral conscience while unravelling a devastating family secret. I was hooked from first to last page." - Gill Paul, bestselling author of A Beautiful Rival
"This is historical fiction at its very best. I was utterly immersed in this book from the very first page. It immediately evokes the atmosphere of the era whilst, at the same time, the elegant writing builds a multi-layered story that is breath taking in its detail. Utterly fabulous!" - Victoria Dowd, author of The Smart Women series
"A fascinating story of one young woman's search for the truth about her family, set against the backdrop of 1960s London in the lead up to the Cuban missile crisis. Fein interweaves the global and the personal to create at once a compelling evocation of a world on the brink, and a moving depiction of the difference individuals can make to global events." - Caroline Bishop, author of The Lost Chapter