Last Twilight in Paris: An Enchanting WWII Historical Mystery of Love and Resilience Set in Paris and Inspired by True Events
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
"A fast-paced and vibrant wartime tale of holding on to love against the odds and learning to fight for the truth." -Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Daughter
A Parisian department store, a mysterious necklace and a woman's quest to unlock a decade-old mystery are at the center of this riveting novel of love and survival, from New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff
London, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop. The box is marked with the name of a department store in Paris, and she is certain she has seen the necklace before, when she worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe --and that it holds the key to the mysterious death of her friend Franny during the war.
Following the trail of clues to Paris, Louise seeks help from her former boss Ian, with whom she shares a romantic history. The necklace leads them to discover the dark history of Lévitan--a once-glamorous department store that served as a Nazi prison, and Helaine, a woman who was imprisoned there, torn apart from her husband when the Germans invaded France.
Louise races to find the connection between the necklace, the department store and Franny's death. But nothing is as it seems, and there are forces determined to keep the truth buried forever. Inspired by the true story of Lévitan, Last Twilight in Paris is both a gripping mystery and an unforgettable story about sacrifice, resistance and the power of love to transcend in even the darkest hours.
"A fast-paced and vibrant wartime tale of holding on to love against the odds and learning to fight for the truth." -Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Daughter
A Parisian department store, a mysterious necklace and a woman's quest to unlock a decade-old mystery are at the center of this riveting novel of love and survival, from New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff
London, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop. The box is marked with the name of a department store in Paris, and she is certain she has seen the necklace before, when she worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe --and that it holds the key to the mysterious death of her friend Franny during the war.
Following the trail of clues to Paris, Louise seeks help from her former boss Ian, with whom she shares a romantic history. The necklace leads them to discover the dark history of Lévitan--a once-glamorous department store that served as a Nazi prison, and Helaine, a woman who was imprisoned there, torn apart from her husband when the Germans invaded France.
Louise races to find the connection between the necklace, the department store and Franny's death. But nothing is as it seems, and there are forces determined to keep the truth buried forever. Inspired by the true story of Lévitan, Last Twilight in Paris is both a gripping mystery and an unforgettable story about sacrifice, resistance and the power of love to transcend in even the darkest hours.
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Community Reviews
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
"People's stories matter, and how they end, matters."
London 1953 - Louise Burns finds herself in a stagnant marriage. One day she makes a discovery that brings back memories of her life during WWII as a Red Cross Helper in Germany. Ian, a man she had a deep connection with during her time in Germany reappears to help provide clarity on what Louise discovered.
Paris 1939-1944 - Helaine Weil is a young Jewish woman who was extremely sheltered by her parents due to a medical condition. She was not allowed to leave her house for years. On her first outing alone, she meets Gabriel, a young musician.
The 2 stories connect through a mysterious necklace and the suspicious death of Louise's friend, Franny. The book is told in dual timeline from the two main female characters' perspectives.
This is a story about the horrors of World War II, survival, friendship, faith, and love. This is my first book by Pam Jenoff but certainly not my last.
"People's stories matter, and how they end, matters."
London 1953 - Louise Burns finds herself in a stagnant marriage. One day she makes a discovery that brings back memories of her life during WWII as a Red Cross Helper in Germany. Ian, a man she had a deep connection with during her time in Germany reappears to help provide clarity on what Louise discovered.
Paris 1939-1944 - Helaine Weil is a young Jewish woman who was extremely sheltered by her parents due to a medical condition. She was not allowed to leave her house for years. On her first outing alone, she meets Gabriel, a young musician.
The 2 stories connect through a mysterious necklace and the suspicious death of Louise's friend, Franny. The book is told in dual timeline from the two main female characters' perspectives.
This is a story about the horrors of World War II, survival, friendship, faith, and love. This is my first book by Pam Jenoff but certainly not my last.
Beautifully written, mysterious.
Over the years, WWII became one of my favorite topics to read about. I'll read historical fiction if it's set during World War II. Since it was my first novel by Pam Jenoff , I wasn't sure what to expect from Last Twilight in Paris . I knew it would be about World War II, but it was unlike the other WWII books I had read. The history of Levitan was one of the topics I wasn’t aware of during World War II. That was one of the things that I loved about this book; it made me learn something new. After finishing the book, I even did my own research because I was so captivated by the history. In addition to learning about Levitan's past, I found it interesting to read Louise's account of her experience working for the Red Cross. Reading Louse's story reminded me of a research paper I wrote in high school about the Red Cross. That was my favorite part of Louse’s story.
Dual-timeline novels are my favorite to read. It is a perfect fit for the stories of Louise and Helaine. Though in different ways, both women suffered greatly during the war. How might the author integrate the two timelines together? Like Louise, I wanted to know if the heart-shaped necklace was the same one she had seen during the battle. What could she find, I wondered? Although I enjoyed both romances, I thought Helaine and Gabriel had a stronger bond than Louise and her husband. Throughout, I couldn't help but cheer for Helaine and Gabriel. I admired Louise and Helaine's courage and determination; they were such strong women. Though Helaine has advanced significantly from the start of the book, both had outstanding character development. After reading their story, I couldn't help but wonder what became of Louise and Helaine. Both made a big impact on me.
Although I enjoyed both Louise's and Helaine's stories, I was particularly interested in Helaine's. I was always looking forward to her perspective. I loved the hint of mystery, which had me wondering until the end. Last Twilight in Paris is a story you won't soon forget; it will shock you and make you cry multiple times. The conclusion was the only aspect I wasn't sure about; it seemed a little rushed. I couldn't believe it took me so long to read a book by Pam Jenoff, and now I can't wait to see what else she has in store for us! I recommend this book to fans of both historical fiction and mystery.
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