Of Espionage And War

The Silent Woman by Terry Lynn Thomas is a marvellous historical suspense that had me engrossed from the start.

Opening in 1930’s Nazi Germany with Hitler in power, ordinary lives are beginning to be affected. Anti Semitism is rising. Opposition is squashed. “If he could carry on as usual, he could convince himself that things were just as they used to be.” No one should have ignored the actions of Hitler.

Action moves to London. The reader is treated to espionage, murder, spies and double dealings. There is the theme of trust. So much is going on that the reader wonders who can be trusted and who is doing the dodgy dealings? We need to be aware of the phrase ‘loose lips sink ships.’ Suspicion lurks around every corner.

Amidst the turmoil, is the theme of child abuse. Good women protect the innocents.

There is the theme of PTSD. World War I was not so far distant. Everyone had been affected, some continued to suffer flashbacks. Everyone remembered the horrors and no one was over keen to be plunged into war again.

As a historian I loved The Silent Woman as it was set in my favourite time period. As a literary fan, I loved The Silent Woman with its great plotline and strong believable characters. I read it in just one sitting. I think it would make a fabulous BBC drama.

I received this book for free from Net Galley. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON