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The French Spymistress
The brand-new WW2 historical fiction novel from the Sunday Times bestseller, for fans of Dinah Jeffries and Santa Montefiore
By Rachel Hore
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Table of Contents
About the Book
1939: when World War Two breaks out, the courage of two women will be tested to the limit…
In Occupied France
Marie-Louise, a headstrong, single woman with two young children, is recruited into a secret intelligence network. She must collect privileged information about German military activities to help the Allies liberate her country. Her skill and daring will propel her to the top of the organization - and along a path of hidden passion and extreme danger.
Deep in the English countryside
Sarah, a Sussex wife and mother, looks after evacuees and keeps the home fires burning while her husband is away on secret war work. When she’s suddenly plucked from this life of humdrum duty to run a safe house for foreign agents, she is forced to make sacrifices that threaten her health, her family and her personal happiness.
As Marie-Louise and Sarah’s lives collide, the danger mounts in this exciting and moving story about the resilience of the human spirit.
PRAISE FOR THE FRENCH SPYMISTRESS:
'A moving, timely and original take on what some women did, and sacrificed, in wartime.' DAILY MAIL
'Meticulously researched and rich with detail, as well as being a page-turner which I couldn’t put down. A new classic of WW2 fiction.' MAGGIE BROOKES, author of The Prisoner's Wife
‘Moving and gripping . . . The French Spymistress is now one of my favourites’ NORTH NORFOLK LIVING
'Wonderful…moving, thrilling and original’ WENDY HOLDEN, author of The Queen’s Painter
In Occupied France
Marie-Louise, a headstrong, single woman with two young children, is recruited into a secret intelligence network. She must collect privileged information about German military activities to help the Allies liberate her country. Her skill and daring will propel her to the top of the organization - and along a path of hidden passion and extreme danger.
Deep in the English countryside
Sarah, a Sussex wife and mother, looks after evacuees and keeps the home fires burning while her husband is away on secret war work. When she’s suddenly plucked from this life of humdrum duty to run a safe house for foreign agents, she is forced to make sacrifices that threaten her health, her family and her personal happiness.
As Marie-Louise and Sarah’s lives collide, the danger mounts in this exciting and moving story about the resilience of the human spirit.
PRAISE FOR THE FRENCH SPYMISTRESS:
'A moving, timely and original take on what some women did, and sacrificed, in wartime.' DAILY MAIL
'Meticulously researched and rich with detail, as well as being a page-turner which I couldn’t put down. A new classic of WW2 fiction.' MAGGIE BROOKES, author of The Prisoner's Wife
‘Moving and gripping . . . The French Spymistress is now one of my favourites’ NORTH NORFOLK LIVING
'Wonderful…moving, thrilling and original’ WENDY HOLDEN, author of The Queen’s Painter
About the Author
© Gemma Day
Rachel Hore worked in London publishing for many years before moving with her family to Norwich, where she taught publishing and creative writing at the University of East Anglia until deciding to become a full-time writer. The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge is her fourteenth novel. She is married to the writer D.J. Taylor and they have three sons. Visit her at RachelHore.co.uk and connect with her on X @RachelHore and instagram @rachel.hore.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK (July 2, 2026)
- Length: 464 pages
- ISBN13: 9781398545748
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Raves and Reviews
'I’d never heard the heartstopping real-life story of wartime Resistance intelligence network Alliance and its brave and glamorous female leader. So thank goodness Hore has written a novel about them ... A moving, timely and original take on what some women did, and sacrificed, in wartime.' DAILY MAIL
'A heart-stopping rollercoaster of a novel, based on the almost unbelievable real life experience of a young French woman in WW2. Right from the prologue, I was terrified for her, and speechless with admiration for her courage and ingenuity. This story is a sobering reminder of the terrible dangers faced by ordinary people in the face of Nazi aggression, but also an upliftng story of courage and endurance. It is meticulously researched and rich with detail, as well as being a page-turner which I couldn’t put down. A new classic of WW2 fiction.' MAGGIE BROOKES, author of The Prisoner's Wife
‘Moving and gripping . . . The French Spymistress is now one of my favourites’ NORTH NORFOLK LIVING
'Wonderful…moving, thrilling and original’ WENDY HOLDEN, author of The Queen’s Painter
‘A beautifully crafted and thoroughly enjoyable novel… for readers who enjoy authentic and hard-hitting historical fiction.’ JANE CABLE, author of The Forgotten Maid
‘An engaging read made poignant and powerful through it being inspired by the lives of real women’ CATHERINE LARNER, MORE ABOUT BOOKS
What readers have to say (5 STARS):
‘Beautifully written and well researched.’ Kate Hardy, author [Goodreads]
'A compelling read… I definitely recommend this as an excellent historical novel’ Annette C. Librarian [Netgalley]
‘Wow this was a page turner! I love reading about the bravery of people during war and this was a brilliant read.’ Laluna [Netgalley]
’Told with warmth and compassion… A great read and to be recommended.’ Herbiesnana [Waterstones website]
'Excellent read’ Tractor Girl [Goodreads]
’Well worth reading… excellent research’ [Goodreads]
'Based on the lives of two women who both worked extremely hard in their own countries for victory. This book is a riveting, tense and emotional journey through their eyes.’ J. Porter [Goodreads]
‘Wow this book was amazing… Well worth reading’ Carol [Netgalley]
'I’d never heard the heartstopping real-life story of wartime Resistance intelligence network Alliance and its brave and glamorous female leader. So thank goodness Hore has written a novel about them ... A moving, timely and original take on what some women did, and sacrificed, in wartime.' DAILY MAIL
'A heart-stopping rollercoaster of a novel, based on the almost unbelievable real life experience of a young French woman in WW2. Right from the prologue, I was terrified for her, and speechless with admiration for her courage and ingenuity. This story is a sobering reminder of the terrible dangers faced by ordinary people in the face of Nazi aggression, but also an upliftng story of courage and endurance. It is meticulously researched and rich with detail, as well as being a page-turner which I couldn’t put down. A new classic of WW2 fiction.' MAGGIE BROOKES, author of The Prisoner's Wife
‘Moving and gripping . . . The French Spymistress is now one of my favourites’ NORTH NORFOLK LIVING
'Wonderful…moving, thrilling and original’ WENDY HOLDEN, author of The Queen’s Painter
‘A beautifully crafted and thoroughly enjoyable novel… for readers who enjoy authentic and hard-hitting historical fiction.’ JANE CABLE, author of The Forgotten Maid
‘An engaging read made poignant and powerful through it being inspired by the lives of real women’ CATHERINE LARNER, MORE ABOUT BOOKS
What readers have to say (5 STARS):
‘Beautifully written and well researched.’ Kate Hardy, author [Goodreads]
'A compelling read… I definitely recommend this as an excellent historical novel’ Annette C. Librarian [Netgalley]
‘Wow this was a page turner! I love reading about the bravery of people during war and this was a brilliant read.’ Laluna [Netgalley]
’Told with warmth and compassion… A great read and to be recommended.’ Herbiesnana [Waterstones website]
'Excellent read’ Tractor Girl [Goodreads]
’Well worth reading… excellent research’ [Goodreads]
'Based on the lives of two women who both worked extremely hard in their own countries for victory. This book is a riveting, tense and emotional journey through their eyes.’ J. Porter [Goodreads]
‘Wow this book was amazing… Well worth reading’ Carol [Netgalley]
Resources and Downloads
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