June 2026:

For this month we read a historical novel loosely based on the intelligence officer, Vera Atkins, who worked in the French section of the Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.) during WWII.

The book is written from the point of view of three women; Grace, Eleanor and Marie. Grace is a widower in New York in 1946 who discovers in Grand Central Station 12 photographs of women which intrigues her and compels her to investigate. In 1944 Eleanor works at the S.O.E. and she realises that the male special agents in France were being caught too easily because they stood out (most young French men were in the army).

Eleanor suggests that women should be used as agents/operators. Eleanor recruits Marie who speaks French fluently. The group found that this jigsaw approach to the narrative gave small pieces of the story which the reader had to put together and heightened the puzzle about what had happened to the 12 women.

Themes of the book are the battle against sexism at the time; the fight for recognition of the women’s sacrifice; and the acceptance that human lives collateral damage in war. The book is well researched but it lacked tension and suspense. These women were doing something harrowing but this did not come across to the reader. The romantic elements of the novel were embarrassing, unrealistic and unnecessary.

The group thought it was good to have a novel highlighting the role of women during the war and the story of the ‘lost’ girls needs to be told but this book does not do the topic justice.

The group thanked our convenors (Maggie and Coleen) for their organisation and leadership of the discussion.