Published By: Firefinch
Pages: 384
Released On: 22/10/2026
In 1942, the Nazis come for a Jewish family living in Montparnasse, occupied Paris. In the chaos of their arrest, eleven-year-old Josie flees to the only person she trusts: her piano teacher, Andrée Levallois, secretly an operative in the French Resistance.
Andrée takes her in as a member of the family, spreading their rations and risking everything to keep her safe. But soon the authorities close in, and both Andrée and Josie are caught in a desperate race to stay alive.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Firefinch for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
If I’ve added up right, I think this is her 7th book, and it’s the 7th one I’ve read. She is a go-to author for sure.
Her previous book, The Wish, was completely different to her previous books, being set in the present time and not being related to any world wars, and it was stunning. But this book is a return to what I know she does brilliantly.
There is more to it than this, but having a story focussed on a child makes it all the more harrowing. We’re used to reading and watching things about adults in the war, soldiers, partners, parents etc. Rarely do we get to see the same situation in regards to a child and I think that’s what makes this so good, but not always easy to read.
What I like about her books, including this one, is her focus on the everyday man. She doesn’t focus on the soldiers or the people in charge. She focusses on the innocent people who are caught up in battle, and that is no more obvious than in her choice to revolve the story around a child.
Her books are always so detailed, even down to the smallest thing, and that’s what makes her books shine because you can tell she’s taken her time with it. There’s such a sense of atmosphere and it’s quite uncomfortable, it’s like you’re walking alongside the characters, always looking over your shoulder.
She’s shown the kindness of humanity. How among the devastating times, people will still help others, even strangers, if they can. Regardless of race, religion, or background, and we’ve lost a bit of that.
It’s not an easy book to read a times topic-wise, but it’s one you’ll read in one sitting because you won’t want to pull yourself away from it.
It’s a little sow to get going. The opening is fast but it quickly slows down. I don’t mind that but I do wish it had maintained that same pace for longer but overall it’s okay, there’s a ba;ance of slower and faster extracts.
It is a bit repetitive at times, which isn’t a huge issue but it was enough to be noticeable.
It’s emotional, just like her others, and if you manage to get through it without crying then you’re a tougher person than I am.
It’s not my favourite book of hers. That has to be either The Tattooist of Auschwitz (because it was so new, this amazing talent), or Sisters Under the Rising Sun. But it’s still as good as I expected it to be. Her research is impressive, her storytelling emotive, her characters very real, the peril and the fact she doesn’t sugar coat the difficulties of war but nor does she sensationalise them. It is a bit slow at times but overall it is a brilliant piece of storytelling.
She is keeping these stories alive. At a time where everyone’s getting older, and there becomes less and less people alive from WW2, we run the risk of forgetting these stories, these people, but through Heather’s work, they will live on forever and that’s so important.
Books By Your Bedside 