This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Wow...I devoured this book in a number of days and. I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely amazing story and what a twist at the end. First book I’ve read by this author but it won’t be the last. Definitely recommended.

KEY WORDS: Historical, WWII, fierce females, sister-love, TW: attempted rape.

So I got this eARC back in November or December and sadly life (moving house, job hunting etc.) got in the way of actually getting around to reading it. Fast-forward to this month and I actually suggested it for this book club I’m doing with the women in my boyfriend’s family (his mum and his brothers’ wives). Guess what? I bloody loved this book!

I don’t generally read a lot of historical fiction and if I do, it’s usually YA or has a paranormal twist or something. Nope, this is just a straight, adult historical, set just before World War II in France. I want to say it was out of my comfort zone, but it wasn’t really because I would read loads of books like this, I just can’t be bothered a lot of the time. It takes a very specific mood for me to get here.

The story is told from the protagonist’s, Romaine (Romy), third-person perspective and her twin sister, Florence’s first-person perspective. This in itself I found highly unusual – why isn’t the first-person Romy, right? It actually works surprisingly well, because you never get to know what’s truly going on in Romy’s head in the same way you know Florence. The story is about Romy, but it’s Florence’s story to tell, and I liked that.

The novel begins with the death of Romy and Florence’s father – how this affects the girls and their relationship with each other shapes the flow of the story and immediately draws you into the action. We then skip to eight years later, 1938 and war is coming. Romy, an aviatrix, sits very firmly on the side fighting the Hitler’s regime, while Florence, now rich and glamorous, takes after her father and husband, both high-ranking government officials who believe allying with Germany will help France. Romy flies planes to neighbouring Spain to help fight the fascist regime there, running with a band of rebels in France, while still spending time with her sister and niece on weekends.

Every second of the novel is filled with suspense – there is tension between the twins due to their political allegiances and yet you can still tell that they love each other and would do anything for the other. Both of these women were fantastically complex characters. Romy is reckless and rebellious – a whiskey-drinking, poker-playing young woman who loses herself in everything around her to try and forget; her walls are so high she barely even realises they’re there anymore. She fights for what she believes is right and will continue to do so until her last breath. Florence fights for the life she has built for herself – so opposite to her twin – refined and particular but she is fighting just as hard as Romy, just in a very different way.

The important part of this book for me was the look into relationships. Florence and Romy’s being the most important, but also Romy and Chloe (her niece), and Florence and Roland. Seeing the way these have been built and fall and break and rebuild, the love between them all is so intriguing. While the setting maybe war, and while wars wage between them all, there is definitely a strong theme of love here.

I also found the historical facts incredibly interesting. Learning about the pre-war situations in both France and Spain intrigued me and was something I hadn’t really been taught before – all of the characters, including the Germans and the rebels were well rounded and felt as though they had stepped out of history just to tell their story. I also loved the casual appearance of Josephine Baker – that made me laugh.

TL;DR – A really interesting look into relationships, especially sisterly relationships, in a troubling time when no one can truly be trusted, even those you love the most. Betrayal is always just around the corner, but can love conquer even the worst lies?

I loved this book, it kept me gripped all the way through.
There is romance, suspense, adventure and a great story. The characters of the sisters are very well etched out and stay with you a long time after you have finished reading the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of Paris and the time-frame of a war that was closing in.
Highly recommended for those that enjoy historical fiction – 5 stars from me.

I am currently working on expanding our school library's senior section after years of a dismal and uninspiring selection of books that our older readers never checked out. My job has been to seek out much more diverse, gripping and modern books that will get them into reading by appealing to as broad a range of readers as possible. This really appealed to me because of its fantastic narrative and sense of atmosphere, combined with believable characterisation and its historical insights It's hard to get young people into reading and if the library is not stocking the kind of book that they might grow up to buy as adult readers then we are not really meeting their needs. I can imagine this provoking lots of discussion after finishing it and a long queue of people trying to reserve it as they've heard so much about it. Will definitely be buying a copy and know that it's going to be a very popular choice. An engrossing read that kept me up far too late to finish reading it. It certainly stood out from the other books that I was considering and I look forward to converting more Kate Furnivall fans in future!

Great characters and plot, a few surprises and set in an era I love stories from! I will be reading more from Kate furnival.

Alongside Lesley Pearse and Lucinda Riley, Kate Furnivall has to be a favourite author of mine. I have read everything she has written since her incredible début The Russian Concubine. Her writing, the plot lines and the character development have only grown stronger with each book and her last publication The Liberation blew me away and was one of my top books of that year. Now she is back with an equally as good book,The Betrayal. I think the dark, muted tones used on the beautiful cover in part sum up the feelings throughout the story. Ones of tension, suspicion, fear and claustrophobia. There was a real sense of overwhelming pressure throughout, that one little slip or error would see things go very much awry. With the eventual consequences hard to believe or maybe not given the period the book focuses on. I felt this was different from Kate's previous books as there weren't dramatic events on every page, instead this is a subtle exploration of the various players at work in a much bigger game than is first known. There is a concentrated effort on character development, an attempt to get under the skin of certain people in order to encourage them to unveil themselves and bring their secrets, connections and game playing to the fore.

The book does have an opening which leaves you desperately wanting to read on and find out all the answers instantly. Of course, much to the frustration of this reader we don't get that, there wouldn't have been much of a story if all was revealed too soon. The opening line 'There is blood on my hands' had me more than intrigued. It is in 1930 in Paris, our main female protagonist Romy wakes up to an altered world. Devastation and turmoil have struck and she has no recollection as to how she came to be in the situation she now finds herself in. What has happened? How did it happen? Why did it happen? Was she some how involved? Romy has a complete memory block and I suppose this is what our minds do when something so overwhelming occurs that we can’t simple process it. Romy will have to live with the repercussions of her actions with regard to this situation for many years to some. It will eat away at her bit by bit until she finds retribution and the truth. No sense of calm and peace will ever prevail for her until justice is served.

So many questions and many more arise during the course of the story. The answers remain resolutely locked away in Romy's memory and will deeply affect her for many years. Florence her twin, happens upon the developing circumstances and discovers the horror, but this knowledge needs to be known to as few people as possible. As there is such a bond and unique connection between twins, Florence would do anything for her sister, not to see her come to harm even if what has occurred is the actual truth. Suffice to say more lies and deceit ensue on behalf of both women. Another question arises can they cope with such a huge burden placed upon their shoulders? The opening chapters have a very important bearing on the remainder of the book, they form the backbone of the story as it is always simmering away in Romy's mind - what did actually happen? Was she really capable of a deed that would shock and inspire horror in many? Romy's motivation to seek the truth is always ever present, she can't rest until she knows. Peace and acceptance will always evade her until she does so.

Fast forward to Paris in 1938 and great changes have occurred, Hitler and the Nazi's are stirring in Germany. Little does the world know the terror, horror and destruction that will follow in following years. Romaine Duchamps, Romy, is very much a changed woman as she flies planes to various locations to help out within a much bigger picture. Romy loves flying. She feels free and away from the shackles, memories and sense of being caged when she is on firm ground. I thought Romy was vastly different from when we had first encountered her. She was an independent woman, going against the grain of society at the time. She wasn't married and at home tending to children or entertaining guests. She needed that sense of freedom that flying brought her. She felt trapped by past events and had to find something that would take her mind away from things. She was brave, full of spirit, strength and determination and in a male dominated world she was a woman who stood out. She was fearless never shirking away from situations that many woman would run screaming from. She knew the bigger picture of world events and wanted to attempt to put a halt to things in some small way.

As events rage away in Spain due to the dominance of Franco, Romy wanted to help the people there too, to prevent another dictator extending their reign of power. Flying the planes brought danger and the threat of discovery but she was willing to do whatever was asked of her. Lies and deception in this case were an absolute necessity. Leo Martel is a close friend and puts his trust in Romy that she can carry out tasks to perfection. He was protective but had a job to do as well and loved the real maleness about him that he cared for Romy and maybe not just in a professional capacity. Romy is a woman who has to live with her lies and untruths, these being the lies created that eventful day in the study. I sensed that by taking on such gruelling hours and dangerous quests that she was punishing herself but why do so considering she didn't know the exact events or the reasons behind them. Memory is a powerful thing and I hoped some of it would come back to Romy so she could find resolution.

What of Florence? I was even more surprised to find out she now she lived an extensive life of privilege and was married with a daughter Chloe aged six. Her husband Roland Roussel is a minister in the Ministry of Defence. I couldn't make head nor tail of him and never could figure out his motives throughout the story. Were they genuine? Was something else going on? The relationship between himself and Florence seemed strange and very much strained. There was no openness between them. I quickly realised nothing could be taken at face value. Every character, every word spoken may have said one thing but what wasn't spoken or mentioned spoke volumes. I just wasn't astute enough to pull the pieces of the puzzle together and when the big reveal came and the action ramped up significantly in the latter half of the book I was shocked. But shocked in a pleasing way to have had the wool very much pulled over my eyes and that I was kept guessing until all eventually became clear.

Romy has to be on top of her game at all times, keeping an eye on all the players. She knows more than she lets on. Whereas Florence became the complete opposite. She became withdrawn, secretive, cut off and lives with a fear that could tear her world apart. She keeps ploughing on, she has an ultimate goal in mind and even if it forces people apart and upsets the some what stable apple cart she will do this. A lack of trust, mystery, unrest, darkness, unease and corruption dominate the book. The tyranny of dictators is becoming ever more prevalent and though Romy, Martel and their associates are bit players in an ever widening web they do their part to perfection.

Menace, threats, plots and ploys weave back and forth and there were a few points I did become slightly confused but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of a very well written, intriguing story. Fire, grit and determination are alive in the heart and mind of Romy and I hoped she would find solace and would be able to draw a firm line under the past and resolve more issues in the present. Romy has guilt eating away at her but also a deep responsibility she feels to her sister given she helped her cover up something which if came to light could change their lives forever. For this she deserved nothing but admiration and I loved her character the most as she was plucky and full of courage in the face of so much adversity and enigmas floating around.

The Betrayal was a very good read with an assured pace, rising tension and with a super crafty twist. The Liberation slightly edges this one out for me but only by the narrowest of margins. Romy was an intriguing character to read about and I felt I was very much on a journey with her and I hope many other readers will pick this up and tag along with Romy. She is one remarkable women you wouldn't forget in a hurry. I'm already looking forward to Kate's next book The Deception which will be published in August of this year.

I would give this book 4.5 stars!
This book jumps straight into a shocking event that happens in the lives of twin sisters Romaine and Florence and then jumps forward 8 years to follow their very different lives as an aviatrix and a socialite in Paris inthe leading up to World War 2. This was the first book of Kate Furnivall’s I’d read and I would definitely be checking out what she’s written to date and any future works! I flew through the book swept up in the lives of the twin sisters and there was twists aplenty as well as finally finding out what happened in the opening scene. Definitely a must read for lovers of The Nightingale and any Historical Fiction fans! Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK fiction for the ARC

Love, loss and impending war, Set in Paris in 1938, it tells the story of twin sisters, Romaine and Florence united by a terrible dark secret in their past but divided by present day political loyalties.The story is chilling and suspenseful and heart-breaking all at once.
Highly recommended for historical fiction fans.

Romy and Florence are twin sisters but have very different personalities - set in the late thirties in Paris Romy is a daredevil aviatrix, flying dangerous secret missions in and out of war torn Spain to help the Republicans against the fascists whereas Florence is mother to Chloe, the niece that Romy adores, and married to a political figure who appears to be collaborating with the Nazis

As the pressure of war intensifies Romy takes more and more risks in her both her personal life and her flying - I really loved her character - she was very flawed but courageous and ready to fight for what she believed in.

A great story with plenty of intrigue and very strong characters reacting to the horrendous situation in Paris at the time with the strong bond of twins coming through even though they had such opposing views

A great thriller, which had me questioning everyone! Really enjoyed it and found myself reading 'just one more chapter' late into the night.

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical novel set in Paris just before World War Two where spies and intrigue abound.
Romy and Florence are twin sisters who are bound together by a terrible secret but kept apart by their political ideals.
Romy is a bold aviatrix who flies dangerous missions into war torn Spain in order to aid the Republicans fighting Franco and the German fascists. Her sister is mother to Chloe and wife to the hateful Roland who seems to engage in collaboration with Nazi officials as Hitler plans to invade France.
The two sisters clash as Romy continues to act impetuously both in her flying and in her actions on the ground so that she can help those who need it.
I was enthralled throughout this book as it was full of action as well as some romantic suspense. I particularly admired the flawed character of Romy and all her attempts to redeem herself after perceived actions as a teenager that she cannot fully remember.
The author's descriptions of the dark side of pre war Paris were well drawn and her information about aeroplanes from this era was excellent. The reader could easily imagine being in the cockpit with Romy as she flies her missions.
I would recommend this book to fans of World War 2 historical fiction with strong female protagonists. If you enjoy Victotia Hislop books and Kristin Hannah novels such ad The Nightingale you will certainly want to read this.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

The betrayal centre around twins who suffered a tragedy and following them in wartime Paris where they are in the middle of the action. It is slow to get into but stick with it as it’s an excellent story.

This book is different to what I would normally read. I did enjoy it but at times got a bit confused with the different characters, but would still recommend it to others

4.5 stars.

This book really gripped me. The 1930s French backdrop adds a certain je ne sais quoi that is quite charming and the characterisation is just superb. This novel kept me at the edge of my seat throughout. Loved it!

Many thanks to Netgalley who provided me with this ARC. I chose to read it and give a voluntary and unbiased review.

In The Betrayal twin sisters, Romy and Florence are united by a secret yet divided by their ideals. Set in Paris just before the outbreak of the Second World War, this book has it all, a bit of history, some romance and a lot of intrigue to keep the reader interested, guessing and turning the pages.

The Betrayal is well written, the cast of characters is varied but easy to keep track of and the book had my heart racing with fear for them at times, a sign of engagement with the story and characters.

I reveived a copy of the novel via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another brilliant page turning book from Kate Furnivall.
The story is set in the late thirties and we read how a secret the two sisters share, has led them down two different pathways.
Their lives, loves and betrayals flow through the pages. Their bond as sisters is there for all to see but is there trust?
As Hitler is gaining power in Germany, the sisters want different for their beloved France.
Until the very last page, I was trying to guess the connections of the characters. I highly recommend this book.