Weaving together the stories of two women during World War II, this novel works well, even if it light on the spies and the librarianship. Ava is recruited to help gather information from underground publications through Europe. Elaine finds herself working with the Marquis trying to smuggle Jews out of occupied France. Their stories run in parallel, and you see how their lives are depended on each other without them ever meeting. I will say, the cover made me think I was going to get some queer romance in there, but that is not a part of this story.

The Librarian Spy tells the story of two women, Ava—a librarian who is sent to Lisbon to work for the Allied cause—and Helene, who works for the French Resistance in Lyon. In Lisbon, Ava is drawn into the world of spies, the Portuguese secret police, and her desire to help the refugees who flood the city, trying to make their way to a safe country. In Lyon, Helene—soon to become Elaine—prints and delivers clandestine newspapers as an integral part of the resistance. Their stories soon intertwine through decisions that affect them both.

This book was an utter delight to read. When I started out, I thought the conversation felt a little bit stilted, but I quickly looked beyond that to the stories themselves. I loved both Ava and Elaine for their courage, strength, desire to help others, uncertainty, and capacity for love. Both women were imperfect and for that they were more perfect to me.

I haven’t found other historical fiction novels set in Lisbon, and this was also an interesting read for me because of that. Madeline Martin describes Lisbon, its people, the architecture, and the atmosphere so well that I felt like I could see it myself. It made me want to travel there and learn more about Lisbon’s World War II history.
While I’ve read quite a few books about the resistance in France, I’ve never read a story quite like Elaine’s, and I appreciate that about this story, as well. Her relationships with her husband, her fellow resistance members, and other characters throughout the book made me understand what the women of France gave up when the Nazi occupation began. While I realize both Ava and Elaine were fictional characters based on real experiences, Martin does an incredible job of weaving their stories together with the history of both Lisbon and Lyon.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys World War II historical fiction, strong female characters, the French resistance, or has an innate love of books. One line Martin wrote really resonated with me: “Perhaps that is the draw of books. . . .To show us the way even when we think the path is too dark to see.”

A research librarian from the Library of Congress sent to Lisbon to document newspapers. A woman deep in the Resistance in Lyon, creating newspapers and flyers to spread the truth of the Nazi occupation. Together the two might just be able to save one Jewish family as part of their fight for freedom during World War II.

Thank you to NetGalley and NetGalley and Harlequin for granting me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

The book is a wonderful historical fiction novel set in WWII that portrays two strong women who join the resistance and risk their lives for a family they have never met.

Elaine helps print and publish the underground newspaper Combat. After her husband's death she joins the resistance.

Ava joins the resistance as a spy posing ad a librarian and passes photos of magazine articles, book pages, correspondence, and newspapers.

The two join forces through coded messages in Connect to help reunite a Jewish family in America

The story is about faith, courage, and strength. I loved every page.

Recommend.

Impeccably researched, with a fast pace and unique settings, The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin is a perfect European-set WWII novel. Fans of historical fiction will find much to love in this complex story about two very different women navigating the horrors of war. Martin’s attention to detail brings home the profound dangers her main characters are willing to endure in their quest to rid the world of tyranny, and the consequences of taking that stand when one wrong move could mean death. From Ava’s work as the Librarian Spy in Lisbon to Elaine’s losses and triumphs as a Resistance worker in Lyon, the reader is swept into an unforgettable story not to be missed. I highly recommend this page-turning homage to the unsung heroes of WWII and the power of the written word!

Another wonderful historical fiction novel revolving around stories I was not familiar with.

Ava is happily employed in the Rare Books Room at the Library of Congress. “Your government needs you,” she’s told and embarks on a covert operation in neutral Portugal. Her job is to gather information and texts that will inform the US what the Nazis are planning.

In Lyon, Elaine’s husband is missing, and she is printing resistance pamphlets in an abandoned warehouse and secretly distributing them.

Both women face unspeakable dangers.

Citizens of all countries supported the war effort in countless ways, and I learned a great deal from this meticulously researched and well-written book.

Definitely one of the best historical fiction novels I have read in a very long time. Madeline Martin delivers a wonderful mystery in the book, The Librarian Spy. Books about books are truly my favorite trope. If you enjoy Fiona Davis, you will love Madeline Martin.

Last year I gave 5 stars to Madeline Martin’s The Last Bookshop in London and wished I could award it ten. This year Martin has outdone herself with another novel of World War II, this one focused on Lyon, France and the neutral country of Portugal. The Librarian Spy of the title is Ava, an American working in the rare books collection at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Because of her research and language skills she is pressed into service to move to Lisbon and spy for the United States. Life is certainly more stressful than the normal routine of a librarian but she does have the protection of Portugal’s neutrality and her American citizenship. .Even so she is witness to the viciousness of the Nazis and the dangers for the flocks of refugees who have come to Portugal in hopes of escaping from the Germans by boat to more welcoming countries.
As we follow Ava’s efforts in fighting the Germans, we are also introduced to Elaine in Lyon, France who has joined The Resistance, following the imprisonment of her husband. She is naturally fearful of her husband’s situation but her fear is mixed with guilt that her last words to him were angry..
The tension and danger for each woman mounts as the Allied Invasion draws closer and the Germans respond like cornered rats. doing their worst to the local citizenry. The two threads of the story come together as Ava discovers a coded message sent by Elaine hoping to get a Jewish mother and child out of France and to a reunion in New York with the husband.. The unselfish efforts of the two women to achieve this goal grab the reader while the horror of Nazi atrocity makes it even more important.
This was a part of World War II, I knew nothing about, and the author’s attention to detail really brought it alive. The Librarian Spy is a powerful story from beginning to end and left me with one question — would I have the courage to resist evil as these two did?

The Librarian Spy, Madeline Martin, 6/14/2022

This is my first Madeline Martin book. Suffice it to say, she is an exquisite writer and I’m looking forward to reading her other novels!

I have read several WWII resistance novels, as I’m fascinated with the period my father faced fighting in the Navy as a medic in WWII. As he passed while I was very young, I never got to talk to him about his experiences. I therefore search historical literature to try to build the puzzle in my head and my heart. As this novel was based on a true story, I added it to my list.

I appreciate the author’s in-depth research and the way she wove a deep heart-felt story about two women who risked everything to help the war effort. Ava and Elaine were two very different, but deeply determined young women. Ava, an American Librarian working for the American government gathering intelligence in Lisbon, Portugal. Helene (aka Elaine) is a French homemaker who joined the Resistance in Lyon, France when her husband disappeared working for the Resistance. Both are out to bring down the NAZIS. As the book progressed, the ladies appeared more and more alike and even intersected at one point.

There are many heart-wrenching in-humane happenings at the heart of the war and Martin brings us to the front lines. The details are horrid, but we need to remember so we never allow such a thing to happen again.

Overall, the tense ongoing danger and suspense from page to page makes this novel a real page-turner. Hands down, I recommend this to anyone with a human heart and soul. Thank you to the author, Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC. All thoughts and moments are entirely my own.

Two brave women, two countries, and WWII.

We meet Ava who had worked at the Library of Congress but was transferred to Lisbon because of her language skills and to serve as a spy.

We also meet Elaine in Lyon who is helping the French Resistance by working with the printing press and distributing the real news of the war.

These women meet via a coded message sent through the printed pamphlets that saved a mother and son.

Ms. Martin brings to light what went on in both places - the horror Europeans went through - and how refugees tried to get to Portugal since it was a neutral country. I had never heard anything about Portugal during the war.

You will cry with the characters and feel their pain and terror as well as share some joys in this marvelous, well-researched book with great characters, a great story line, and filled with as Ms. Martin said “the power of the written word.”

You have to read this book to experience the hope and determination within. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

As there is a lot of historical fiction centered on WWII, I’m always interested to find one that has a unique take on the time. The Librarian Spy certainly has that through it to narrators.

Helene, turned resistance worker Elaine, and American Library and Eva provide different points of view of the war while working towards a common cause. Both women and they work they under took, from printing the resistance newspapers in Lyons, France, to collecting these newspapers and preparing them for US government viewing in Lisbon, Portugal was work I hadn’t thought about before.
and yet this was a critical part of the Allies war efforts. It allowed those inside and outside of occupied territories to understand what was occurring in France and other countries . It also allowed for coded messages to be sent a key part of this tale.

I found this to be an unputdownable tale of love, loss, sacrifice and a fierce determination to never give up in the face of unrelenting evil. I appreciated learning about another aspect of the resistance work and the effect it had on the war. If you enjoy historical fiction I highly recommend picking the book up.

Thank you Netgalley, William Morrow books and Thought From A Page for the opportunity to read, review, and discuss this book.

I very much enjoyed this author’s first novel, The Last Bookshop in London. I was so delighted to see that she had written a second book. This one is set during WWII as was the first.

What could be more enticing than a novel called The Librarian Spy? I couldn’t wait to open the book and then became immersed . I highly recommend this sophomore effort on Ms. Martin’s part.

This time the author has developed a plot that feels more complex than that of the first book as she follows two different woman. The Librarian Spy is Ava. When the story opens she is working at the Library of Congress in D.C. Ava very much likes her job and the feeling of security that being surrounded by books provides for her. Nonetheless, when she is tapped for a special assignment, Ava takes the new position even though it means getting on a plane, something that is highly fraught for her (readers will learn why).

Ava finds herself in Portugal. Not all readers may know that Portugal was neutral during the war. The author does a terrific job of portraying the city. There are no shortages for many while others are waiting in long lines, hoping against hope to be able to board a ship and to leave Europe. There are the many who watch others; these Portuguese and Germans leave others feeling unsafe despite the neutrality.

Ava’s job is to collect newspapers and other documents that can be transmitted to the States. She meets with a number of characters in the course of her work. Readers especially watch her relationship with the British James.

Meanwhile in France, a second plot line unfolds. This is the story of brave Elaine. Her name has been changed, because, as readers learn early in her part of the book, she gave her papers to a Jewish woman who was fleeing. She was lucky to get new ones. Now, as Elaine, she is involved with the Resistance. Elaine’s husband has been captured and readers may feel a great deal as they wait to see if he will survive the war.

Readers follow Elaine through a depleted city as she couriers, and into the woods where the maquis hide. Will she survive? Will her work change anything in the war? Will Elaine lose friends to the Germans? Finally, how will the two stories intersect?

As I have previously noted, there have been so many WWII titles published for historical fiction fans so it can be hard for any particular one to stand out. In this novel, I found that the courage of these characters moved me especially when I think about the current state of our world and the need for values and bravery in the face of challenges. I recommend this novel even within a crowded field.

Readers who have enjoyed novels by Susan Elia MacNeal and/or Anne Perry’s Elena Standish series may also want to give this title a look.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 7/26/22
Genre: historical fiction (WWII)
In one sentence: Librarian Ava and French Resistance printer Elaine are working to bring down the Nazis - when a coded message brings them together, can they maintain hope in the darkest of times?

You're probably thinking - wow, another book about the French Resistance in WWII. But trust me - this one brings something new to the time period/genre! Ava is recruited to work in Portugal, gathering intelligence through the newspapers available in Lisbon. I wasn't aware of Portugal's role in WWII, so it was great to learn about this topic. Elaine's story is also newspaper-related, as she works with a Resistance printing press. Seeing these two women use the power of words to fight Nazism warmed my heart, and I was so invested in their stories. There's plenty of suspense and surprises in this one!

If you love historical fiction, The Librarian Spy is a winner! I read it over two days, and I was sad when the story ended. If you enjoyed Martin's previous book, The Last Bookshop in London, I bet you'll love this one too.

Thank you to Hanover Square Press, NetGalley, and the Thoughts From A Page podcast for my NetGalley ARC!

“What she now held in her hands was the real truth. This was a newspaper men and women risked their lives to write, to create, to distribute. One that could actually change the tide of war.”

My love of historical fiction has led me to countless WWII novels, and Ms. Martin uncovers yet another gem of a story about the power of the writing and how the most unexpected players altered the course of history. In her beautiful novel, words are an integral part of the past and present and lead to successes and failures during the war.

The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. sends librarian Ava Harper to Lisbon, Portugal to assist in the war effort. In this proclaimed neutral country, spies prevail, the danger is real and risks are pervasive. Miles away in Lyon, France Helene Belanger (aka Elaine) starts working for the resistance for deeply personal reasons. The clandestine printing operation in the heart of resistance territory sets the stage for missions with life and death consequences.
It seemed like a long wait, but my favorite part of this novel is when these two brave women’s lives intersect.

With heartbreaking and often unnerving details, Ms. Martin deftly transports readers to the heart of the conflict. For WWII historical fiction fans, especially those who admire the power of the written word.

Many thanks to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I had read the previous book by this author and was really looking forward to this one. This book takes place in Lisbon and occupied France. I found both stories interesting. The book has strong females willing to go the distance to help others.
While I enjoyed the story I kinda felt like it was just like others I had read only set in a different location. Historical fiction fans will like this book
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

This has to be one the best books I've read this year. While I'm not usually a fan of the chapters alternating between the two main characters, in this instance it was needed. Each storyline gave insight into how the war effected people in that area. The writing flowed so well that you felt the joy, sorrow, heartbreak and despair that the characters did. It is an emotional book but one set during the war has to be. There were many times I stopped and looked up tidbits found in the book. It was a wonderful read. One of my favorite quotes, " Perhaps that is the draw of books. . .To show us the way even when we think the path is too dark to see". We learn from books and sometimes the best stories open our minds to different ideas.

*publish date is 7/26/22*

Madeline Martin delivers a suspenseful and gut wrenching telling of how the power of words were used to inspire and encourage the Resistance in France to stand against the Nazi occupation. The bravery and the sacrifices of these people humbles me - all in an effort that evil will be thwarted and the world can once again hope. The story is told from the point of view of Ava, a librarian at the Library of Congress, and Elaine, a housewife in Paris. The turn of events that cause these two to connect kept me turning the page. Even though the characters in this book are fictional, they have taken residence in my heart as I am sure there were innumerable Avas and Elaines that were not.

I highly recommend this book and thank #thoughtsfromapage, #netgalley, and #hanoversquarepress for the advanced copy.

I am truly a sucker for any books surrounding librarians, World War II, France, and dual storylines so this book was absolutely perfect for me. Ava and Helene (aka Elaine) are two women trying to survive World War II - and trying to help however they can. Ava is an American librarian stationed in Portugal collecting intelligence to send home when she finds a hidden message in a newspaper, seeking a way out of Nazi France for a Jewish woman and child.. The message was sent by Elaine, a French woman working for the Resistance. The two women's stories and war experiences are vastly different, but they both are working to end the war.

This story was well written, and I was captivated by both women's stories, as well as their strength and bravery. To learn at the end that this was based on a true story makes it even better! This was the first World War II book set in Portugal that I've read, and it was fascinating to learn about that history- especially the neutrality and secret police element. The themes related to refugees were heartbreaking and very fitting for today as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy. All opinions are my own.

I appreciate so much that the writer took the time to write a book with so much interesting history. I loved that the book had so many factual information. Incorporating Eva and Elaine’s story during these hards times made the story even better. I liked following the two ladies journey from beginning to end on how they were able to contribute the skills that they unknowingly retained to help the cause for their country. The book reads rather quickly for me, but that’s what I love about page turners

Ava, a librarian at the Library of Congress, is sent to Lisbon to secretly help as a librarian spy. She decodes a message from Helene "Elaine" who lives in Lyon. Her husband disappears one day only to find out he has been captured by the Nazi's. She later discovers he had been working for the Resistance which she decides to join. Her work in printing and distributing coded messages ends up putting her life at risk yet also helping to save as many as she could. A story based on true events from the Resistance movement and how powerful the effect was on individual lives and families. My thanks to Cindy Burnett at Thoughts From a Page and Net Galley for this book.