From Kirsty Manning, author of The Song of the Jade Lily, comes a gripping World War II set historical novel about murder, secrets, and survival. A forgotten manuscript that threatens to unravel the past... Fresne Prison, 1940: A former maid at a luxury villa on the Riviera, Margot Bisset finds herself in a prison cell with writer and French Resistance fighter Joséphine Murant. Together, they are transferred to a work camp in Germany for four years, where the secrets they share will bind them for generations to come. Paris, around about now: Evie Black lives in Paris with her teenage son, Hugo, above her botanical bookshop, La Maison Rustique. Life would be so sweet if only Evie were not mourning the great love of her life. When a letter arrives regarding the legacy of her husband's great-aunt, Joséphine Murant, Evie clutches at an opportunity to spend one last magical summer with her son. They travel together to Joséphine's house, now theirs, on the Côte d'Azur. Here, Evie unravels the official story of this famous novelist, and the truth of a murder a lifetime ago. Along the way, she will discover the little-known true story of the women who were enslaved by German forces in WWII. Bringing together the present and the past, The French Gift is a tender and heartbreaking story of female friendship, sacrifice and loss, and the promise of new love.
Excellant, Excellant story ! Set between two time lines...this story starts with a Fascinating murder plot at a luxurious Villa ..where a young maid is blamed for the shooting death of an American Socialite...and sent to prison...where she is placed in a cell with a French writer..who is also part of the French Resistance Fighters. They are Friends and one another's strength. They are both transferred to a German Work Camp ...in such horrible deplorable conditions...that really did happen during the war...the women who were enslaved in these camps .....working 12 hrs shifts to make Rayon for the German officers and soldiers uniforms...were often burned from the acid chemicals used to make Rayon...that left them with permanent scarring on there hands, legs, faces, necks, eyes, lungs and throats burning from all the harsh chemicals.Margot and Josephine are together for 4 years..where they share their lives and secrets...that bind them together for generations to come. In the present timeline.. Evie's who's husband... Raph..is the nephew of Josephine Murant.. she is his great Aunt. One day
Evie receives a letter...about her husbands Great Aunt...how one man from a museum...who is a historian of World War II ..would like to do a complete story of Josephine Murants life and the novels she has written. Evie travels to Cote d' Azur...the Aunts Villa..to meet with this historian..and along the way..they discover the truth of a murder from a lifetime ago and what all the womens lives were like ...working in that factory. Loved the story, the characters, The MOST SURPRISING ENDING...just a pure excellant read !
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