I’m delighted today to be sharing my publication day review of the latest book from Louise Fein, The London Bookshop Affair: published today (16th January) by William Morrow Books for kindle and as an audiobook, the paperback will follow on 29th February. My thanks to the author and publishers for providing my advance reading e-copy.
It was 2020 when I read Louise’s first published book, People Like Us (published in the US as Daughter of the Reich) but I can still vividly recall its emotional impact – a heartbreaking love story set against a horrifying WW2 backdrop, with a perspective on the growth of an ideology that I’ll never forget (you’ll find my full review here). Her second, The Hidden Child, was equally unforgettable – an entirely compulsive read with stunning emotional and historical depth, with its insights into the eugenics movement and the traction it gained in the UK in the period following the First World War (you can read my review again here). When she contacted me asking if I’d like to read and review her latest, I just couldn’t resist…
Two courageous women. One astonishing secret. A world on the brink of war.
London, 1962: The world is teetering on the brink of nuclear war but life must go on. Celia Duchesne longs for a career, but with no means or qualifications, passes her time working at a dusty bookshop. The day a handsome American enters the shop, she thinks she might have found her way out of the monotony. Just as the excitement of a budding relationship engulfs her, a devastating secret draws her into the murky world of espionage.
France, 1942: Nineteen-year-old Anya Moreau was dropped behind enemy lines to aid the resistance, sending messages back home to London via wireless transmitter. When she was cruelly betrayed, evidence of her legacy and the truth of her actions were buried by wartime injustices.
As Celia learns more about Anya—and her unexpected connection to the undercover agent—she becomes increasingly aware of furious efforts, both past and present, to protect state secrets. With her newly formed romance taking a surprising turn and the world on the verge of nuclear annihilation, Celia must risk everything she holds dear, in the name of justice.
Propulsive and illuminating, The London Bookshop Affair is a gripping story of secrets and love, inspired by true events and figures of the Cold War.
London in 1962, a time of social change and new opportunities – and nineteen year old Celia Duchesne dreams of another life, away from the antiquarian bookshop on the Strand where she works, leaving her middle-aged parents and Southwark behind, along with the boy next door who seems to be her destiny, having some real excitement in her life. A secretarial job with the BBC – now that would be just perfect, right in the middle of everything.
When the shop changes hands, and its new American owner Mrs Denton is content to let her run it day-to-day in return for a pay rise, she uses the extra money to sign up for a shorthand and typing course at the Pitman school, the first step in changing her life and becoming more like her stylish best friend Daphne. Daphne herself is heavily involved in the CND – the nuclear threat is ever present, and increasing – and Celia (admittedly rather half-heartedly) assists in the making of banners, attending meetings and joining marches. And when Septimus Nelson walks into the shop one day – rather gorgeous, charming, an American working at the US Embassy – and takes her out for lunches and tea, it opens up the possibility of romance in her life too.
But her world is about to be rocked by a discovery made by Daphne at the solicitors where she works – a file, wedged at the back of a drawer, revealing some devastating information about her past. And we discover more about the short life of Anya Moreau, working for the SOE and dropped into France in wartime to work as a wireless operator – and Celia needs to find out more about the connection between them. But, at the same time, she becomes increasingly aware that there’s more going on behind the scenes at the bookshop than she realised – and a little digging takes her into the path of considerable danger and a secretive world she never knew existed.
The construction of this story is really excellent. In the 1960s, the main focus is Celia – very likeable and wonderfully naive and innocent, but gaining in strength and confidence as she slowly uncovers all those hidden secrets – but we also see Septimus’ viewpoint, and he’s a far more complex character than he appears to be at first. And then we have Anya – this becomes a dual time narrative, and her wartime story is one of villainous betrayal. The supporting cast are superbly drawn – as is the setting, and the murky world of espionage. I felt entirely immersed in the 1960s – a world of social and cultural change, overshadowed by the tension of the Cold War, the wrestling of the superpowers, the threat of nuclear war, and the flashpoint of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The research is immaculate – her author’s note at the book’s end, setting out the true history, is almost as fascinating as the unfolding story – but she uses it so well to draw the reader in her largely unfamiliar but recognisable world.
The storytelling is superb – I’ll admit that the world of espionage wouldn’t usually be one I’d seek out, but as the story unfolded I found it increasingly compelling, the tension mounting steadily with every twist and turn. The wartime story, with its clever and unexpected links and connections, was equally engaging – and with considerable emotional impact too. Inspired by real people and events, the individuals at the story’s heart feel just as real – there’s a depth of historical detail, but the story’s focus is always on the individuals at its heart. Yes, it’s a story of secrets and love, but also of bravery, mystery and betrayal, engaging and original, with an unpredictable but wholly satisfying ending – I very much enjoyed it, and it’s a book I’d thoroughly recommend.
About the author
Louise writes historical fiction, focusing on unheard voices or from unusual perspectives. Her debut novel, Daughter of the Reich (entitled People Like Us in the UK edition) was published in 2020 into 13 territories and is set in 1930’s Leipzig. The book was shortlisted for the RSL Christopher Bland Prize 2021 and the RNA Historical Novel of the Year Award, 2021. Louise’s second novel, The Hidden Child, was published in 2021 and is centered around the eugenics movement in 1920’s England and America. It was a Globe & Mail bestseller in Canada.
Louise, previously a lawyer and banker, holds an MA in Creative Writing from St Mary’s University and now writes full time. Equally passionate about historical research and writing, she loves to look for themes which have resonance with today’s world. Louise lives in the Surrey countryside, UK, with her family, and is a slave to the daily demands of her pets.
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