I have enjoyed other Sharon Maas books and really wanted to love this one, and I did, up until the end. I know that its based on a true story and a real person, but the ending wasn't what I was expecting as I was not familiar with the true story of the main character before reading it. The ending felt very abrupt and I didn't get the closure I would have hoped for.

A woman who wants to do more for the war effort becomes a wireless operator and then a spy in France against the Nazis.

In 1940, Noor flees Nazi-occupied Paris with her family, vowing to find a way to fight for her beloved country. Once she is trained as a wireless operative in England, she returns to Paris as part of a covert spy network, risking her life broadcasting critical messages while evading Nazi patrols. As fellow agents are captured and betrayal looms, Noor becomes the network’s last hope to keep vital communication alive and help turn the tide of the war.
I first heard about Noor Inayat Khan a few years ago, so I was interested to read a fictional telling of her life. This book is written in what I can only assume are like little photographs into her life, beginning with how her parents met. While this was interesting, these quick scenes left me feeling as though I was on the outside looking in and I didn’t really get to know her.

It wasn’t until she was sent to France that it really grabbed my attention. I was hoping for some kind of explanation/speculation about why she wrote down her messages and kept them, something she had been trained not to do, but I didn’t get that. And then, it was just sad, knowing how it turned out.

Overall, this was an interesting read. I would have liked to feel like I knew her, but readers of World War 2 will no doubt enjoy this one.

This is an interesting book which is based on real events and real people. Ever since she was a child Noor has always been a sensitive soul, one that gets caught up in her emotions but one that’s also determined to do whatever it takes to look after her family. When the second world war breaks out, Noor and her family end up fleeing their home in France for one in England, but Noor, like her siblings is determined to make a difference no matter what.

This is an emotional book that starts off with a gripping first chapter about an unknown woman having been captured by the Gestapo in Paris in 1943. This initial chapter sets up an exciting plot opening before the action goes back to the early years of Noor’s life, in fact to the time when Noor is just a baby onwards. The book is separated into five parts, with each part being about Noor’s life as she learns certain things from her upbringing, her father who is a Sufi leader, and we soon see into the sensitive soul that is Noor. These early chapters about Noor slow the pace down and at times I did find it hard to get through, certain parts were a bit long for me, but they slowly show us the character that Noor is, sensitive, creative and strong willed.

As each part of the book ends there is a chapter set back in the current time of 1943 as we soon see more about the unknown woman who has been caught. These scenes are exciting and keep you wanting to read on though the other parts of the story, to find out what will happen next. As Noor grows older we discover more about her character as well as that of her siblings and parents. I like what happens, how Noor is shown as both a sensitive person but also full of heart and determination to make a difference, especially when the war soon breaks out. When the story moves to England it begins to speed up as well and we learn more about the various volunteer work Noor does and how she feels about her calling when she finally gets the chance to become an SOE agent.

I don’t want to give away what happens, but when the action moves into her training and then back to Paris it was so exciting I just couldn’t stop reading. It took a while to really connect with Noor at the start of the book, but when she is an adult and working towards her calling during the war, I really felt connected to her character and loved her resilience despite what happens when she enters France. There are lots of emotional moments in this story, especially later in the book with Jannick and lots of moments while in France. The story is exciting and at the same time an emotional one as we find out certain things happening to the spy network Noor is involved with.

As the story builds up towards the conclusion, we eventually see how the earlier snippets of a tale around a certain character catch up with events following Noor. There are lots of dramatic moments and you really feel for the characters and Noor when you see what is happening. The ending is a bit of a difficult one for me though. I didn’t feel satisfied by it, in fact I was left a bit of an emotional wreck after reading this whole book as the ending (particularly involving Noor) felt a little abrupt and to be honest very sad. The epilogue was written more like a non-fiction book than a fiction one which made it feel a little strange, and I did feel a little numb after reading what happens at the end of the story, but it’s not until you read the author notes that you discover that most of the story is based on true events and that makes this quite a sad and poignant tale, but also a necessary story to tell about this woman who I hadn’t really heard of before reading this.

There is one use of the f swear word and some milder occasional words in English and other languages, as well as mentions of deaths, bombings and of course the fear and horror that the Second world war brought on people, however the story doesn’t really have too much violence or anything, though it is bound to make you emotional reading it and its ending might not be the most satisfying one if you were hoping for a happier ending. It is a good read though, especially as it delves into such detail into Noor’s background and who she was as a person before showing what happened to her as she became an agent in France. Overall a good story, though I secretly wished there was a happier fictional ending to this one.

Historical fiction can be hard to read at times, and when it comes to wartime fiction, this can be even harder. “The last agent in Paris” is definitely one of the toughest I’ve read. Telling the story of Noor (and heavily inspired by the real story of Noor Inayat Khan) and the role she played as a British spy in Paris, with devastating but long reaching consequences.

From the beginning I knew it wouldn’t be an easy read, but Noor still managed to draw me in. How could she not, with her love of music, her desire to write, her ability to see and remember the fairies, her commitment and passion for her family and the immense sense of purpose she had in the role that would change her life forever. Sharon Maas tell the story in a mix of what amounts to a fictional biography, with many of the details well researched and filling in the framework for her book. It is a heartbreaking story, even while it’s also a story of encouragement and hope. This is such powerful and engaging storytelling, and a story that will remain on my mind and heart for some time to come. Thanks so much to Sharon for sharing this story; and to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my review. Available for purchase now.

I love this author and will read anything by her. With every book she raises the bar and this one - wow! An absolute masterpiece. Noor's story comes alive in this beautifully written tale. Nobody writes books quite like this author - with such heart. Just wow!

I have found all of these books very moving to read and this one was a very hard and emotional book to read. It starts at the beginning of her as a child growing up with her family and how she became to be the first female radio operator to be sent over to France during the war. It was very well told and couldn't put it down.
Looking forward to the next book from this author.

Thank you @bookouture & @netgalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This historical fiction novel is inspired by the true story of Noor Inayat Khan.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: The opening thirty percent of the book describes Noor's idyllic childhood in France and England. However, everything changes with Hitler's invasion of Poland and the onset of World War II. The author skillfully captures the chaos of this period, which ultimately drives Noor to take action, and she joins the Special Operations Executive (SOE), becoming the first female radio operator sent to Paris. Then her story quickly turns tragic.

MY THOUGHTS: I was impressed by the author’s research and how well she conveyed the perilous nature of Noor's mission and the harsh realities of Nazi oppression. This was an intriguing story, with a well-developed, strong female main character.

If you enjoy WW2 stories based on fact, I hope you will read this one!

I had heard of Noor as I'd seen a programme on TV about her and knew what she did in the war. A very interesting book and very sad. Such a brave lady. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

The Last Agent in Paris is based on the phenomenal story of Noor Inayat Khan, the first female radio operator sent by SOE into Nazi-occupied France and who was instrumental in the ultimate victory over the march of fascism by Hitlers forces.

The bravery of Khan cannot be understated and neither can the amount of research and detail that has gone into the writing of this book. Truly phenomenal and a must-read for lovers of historical fiction and indeed anyone interested in history and the roles individuals played in shaping it

Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and the incredible Sharon Maas for this deeply moving and compelling ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

It was an emotional roller coaster. The book was based in ww2. The book was based off a true story. You don’t want to miss this!

What an absolutely captivating life Noor lived. Unfortunately, the thing that kept me wanting to finish the book was that I wanted to know if Noor got to live the life she wanted or died a hero. I found many sentences and paragraph were similar if not repeating and things like Noor asking what a pianist is, although it had been explained to her during her training in England and although she spent a lot of time in Pairs when first arriving made silly English mistakes. I so wish I could give it more stars. The Last Agent in Pairs is based on a truly inspiring amazing young woman. Noor was courage’s and brave although naïve and reckless. Noor's childhood was fascinating and made a huge impact on the war efforts. 3 1/2 stars
I would like to thank the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my free copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheLastAgentinParis #NetGalley.

Wow, this was quite a story and journey as a reader. I was biting my nails, meditating or at the edge of my seat.
Noor’s story is complex and fascinating, her father a guru and musician and her mother utterly devoted to this Indian Hindu turned Muslim. She literally follows him around all four corners of the world. We flick through difference stages of Noor’s life.
Eventually settling in France. Musically and spiritually gifted, well-travelled and educated, Noor’s mission is to serve against the Nazi’s. When her wish is granted she faces several tests.
I enjoyed how the Author threaded this together, at first I thought I was reading the wrong book. Bravo!!!! 5 Stars!!!

The Last Agent in Paris by Sharon Maas.
I did enjoy this book. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. I got into it straight away. It was very interesting. It was very well researched. I did like the writing style. I did feel for Noor. For what she went through. I did like the epilogue which explained which parts were true. Noor was brave, strong, and determined woman. This was a powerful and emotional read. I would recommend this book.


Blurb.
As the bombs rained down on Paris, my family fled before the Nazis could take us. I never thought I’d see my beloved home again. But I’ve come back to fight for the people I love. And now, I’m the last agent standing. The freedom of the world rests on my shoulders.

Paris, 1940. As Nazi soldiers march down the Champs Elysees, Noor’s heart is shattered. Her family is forced to flee their home to the safety of England, and as Noor watches the French coast disappear in the distance, she vows to do everything she can to stop Germany from devouring her beloved country.

Training as a wireless operative in England, Noor’s perfect French makes her the ideal candidate for undercover work in her beloved Paris, and she is soon assigned to an illustrious spy network led by a mysterious man named Prosper.

Day after day, Noor walks the treacherous streets of Paris looking for safe places to broadcast messages to London. But Nazi officers lurk around every corner, and Noor’s heart thunders in her chest as she evades detection, tightly clutching the briefcase containing her radio equipment. She knows it would take just one stop and search for her life to be over.

With each passing day her mission becomes more lethal as, one by one, her fellow agents are captured. Someone is betraying them, but who? And when Noor becomes the last agent in the network, can she keep the links with England alive, to help win the war?

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book

based on a true story you are compelled to read and finish this one... and its so jaw dropping with what you are about to read and learn ... tears will flow whilst you read this book

a true hero of her time and many more people should know about her courage

will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors books

Wow. What a story! Although listed as being fiction, this book is meticulously researched, and firmly rooted in truth. Of course I've heard of Noor, I've read a few books that she features in, and she is, of course, one of the women in the fantastic film, 'A Call To Spy'.

There's a very handy 'historical note' at the end of the book, which clearly explains what is fact and what is not in the book.

But this book taught me about her early life. I didn't know, for example, that she was a published writer (her book is now on my to buy list). I was reminded anew of her bravery and dedication. She's a true heroine, and may she never be forgotten.

I thought the 'Noor' of this book was incredibly well written. She certainly felt like a real character, with flaws and emotions. I recognised some of the other names from other books as well, it's always nice to think they are remembered in this way.

The Last Agent in Paris by Sharon Maas has a long timescale starting in Russia in 1914 and taking us all the way to the end of World War Two and beyond. Based on the true story of Noor Inayat Khan who worked with the S.O.E (Special Operations Executive) as a wireless operator in Paris. This was a fascinating and engrossing story of one women’s determination to fulfil her duty and help rid the world of Hitler and the evil he inflicted upon it. The prologue is stark and straight to the point with a woman named Madeline being questioned at Avenue Foch which was the headquarters of the Gestapo in Paris. She is the last woman standing from a network and despite being questioned at length she is determined not to give anything away. Questions arose from even from reading the brief prologue. Who was this woman? How had she ended up in this situation? Is there any hope for her escape/freedom?

The reader is then taken back to Russia 1914 where Inayat and his wife Amina (who was originally from America) have just had their first child, a daughter named Noor. Noor means light or brightness. Her spirit is always shining but she has been born into a world of great turbulence with much upheaval and war. The family are pacifists and are followers of the Sufi movement. Music is the centre of their lives and they travel from place to place eventually settling in Paris having been gifted a house. Two brothers and a sister join Noor and the family is complete. As the chapters progress the reader can see that Noor is a dreamer and has a gullible nature and is fragile and delicate and as the years pass and the Nazi’s rise to power she will have to push these tendencies aside and become more in tune with what is going on around her.

After her father passes away, Noor being the eldest steps up when her mother falls apart. She does her best to ensure her siblings receive a good education and she continues to teach the ways her father preached. But deep within her there is something stirring, a sense of commitment to a grander cause. Some sort of calling, a duty to sacrifice herself for the good of others and this stays with her and only intensifies as the world once again heads towards war. Noor has many values and the strongest of these is loyalty, courage and sacrifice and when war is declared she can’t wait to join in and do her bit. At this point there as an extremely well written paragraph where her brother Vilayat explains to her why she as a woman can’t enlist. This was so well explained and justified and I found myself really agreeing with what he said but it only served to inspire Noor more.

The family are soon forced to flee Paris and the description of their journey to a French port in order to get to England where they had citizenship was harrowing and disturbing. But here is here Noor showed her reckless side. That when she is hell bent on doing something there is no stopping her and sometimes I just wanted someone to curtail her wings a bit and for her to have more caution for herself and those around her. Noor is never one to back down from a challenge even when she is told it can’t be done or it’s too risky. She is persistent and starts to show courage and strength. Soon, she goes against the odds and enrols for training and her intelligence is noted. She would be perfect for the secret work of the S.O.E. I loved reading all the details of her training and it just hit home even further for me that there were so many strands to the war machine and even just to train one woman took many months and so many people working together.

Noor was always at the centre of her family. She offered love and support but when her training is complete and she was literally being dropped into the lions den this was taken away from her family and in a way Noor suffered slightly as well. The plot really took on a life of its own when Noor returns to Paris to carry out her secret work. All the details of the network, who was involved, what they did and how they operated were fascinating. There was a great building up of tension and suspicion and with every turn of the page you feared what awaited you. The title of the book finally starts to come into play and the last few chapters are a race to discover what will happen and not knowing anything about the real-life Noor’s story meant that I was kept on the edge of my seat not knowing what the eventual outcome would be and I love that to be the case when I read books of this nature. My opinion of Noor did a complete 360 from the first few chapters and the last few chapters made me truly comprehend what a remarkable and exceptional woman she was.

Overall, the story is very well written and researched and it’s evident that that the author is very passionate about the subject matter. Initially, I did think that it took some time to get going, to get the actual crux of the story-that being Noor’s arrival in Paris to carry out the work that she had been trained for. This only happens well after the midway point of the book. I found myself thinking up to that point that things were quite long winded and over explained with too much unnecessary detail. I was trying to decipher what could potentially be relevant to the plot and what I could cast aside.

But it was only as I reached that point where Noor finally landed in Paris that I realised all the information and background story had been essential and in fact a brilliant picture of Noor as a person had been built up and of her family and their customs and beliefs. All her experiences growing up and all the knowledge and wisdom imparted from both her father and mother had moulded and shaped the woman she was when her calling finally came to fruition. Yes, I found her to be reckless at times and as danger was lurking at every turn she was a bit too blasé about keeping herself safe. But deep down beneath it all she was a woman fuelled by a very strong fire that would not be quashed until she had achieved her objectives and she fought and fought until the bitter end.

The Last Agent in Paris is a brilliant homage to an incredible woman and Sharon Maas should be proud of her achievements in writing this book which in her end notes she has stated that she has wanted to write about Noor for quite some time. The historical notes at the end were a fantastic addition and further enhanced my understanding and appreciation for the story that I had just finished reading. Quite often readers can skip over these bits of a book but I urge you not to. I found myself rooting for Noor the further I delved into the book and yes she at times she was frustrating for her stubbornness and obstinance but her other strong qualities far out way these slight niggles I had about her. It’s wonderful to see another unsung hero being brought to light as I had never heard anything about Noor prior to reading this book. So many people’s daring work went unnoticed during the war and bringing the courage and audacity of Noor to the page made for a powerful, riveting and compelling read which I would certainly recommend to all fans of this genre.

My thanks to Sarah Hardy at Bookouture for a review copy of the book via NetGalley.

I have known of Noor Inayat Khan for a fair while now but only that she was of Indian origin, served as a radio operator for the allies in Paris amidst German occupation, and that she was eventually betrayed to the Nazis and lost her life. So, when the opportunity came to read this book and learn more about her, I naturally jumped at it.

And indeed, Noor Inayat Khan’s life was a remarkable one. Her life and character were in many ways a study in contrasts, on the one side was a young woman deeply immersed in music and spirituality, a poet and writer, a dreamer who her own mother feared for in terms of how she would cope with the realities of the world, on the other, a fearless radio-operator, adept at her work, committed to saving her beloved France to such an extent that she was willing to forego even opportunities to get back to safety offered by her superiors, standing steadfast as the ‘last agent in Paris’. But while these two facets of her personality seem so different to each other, it was from her spirituality and roots that she drew the strength to face the challenges she faced in that other part of her life, her ability to love deeply that also fuelled her commitment to her mission, and a combination of obstinacy and naiveite which added many shades to her character.

In The Last Agent in Paris, author Sharon Maas traces her story. Beginning with her capture and interrogation, we move between her time in German capture and her story, from a little after her birth in 1914. Her father Inayat Khan was a musician and Sufi preacher, learned in the sacred texts of many faiths and her mother, an American who married Inayat in the face of family opposition. The eldest of four siblings, Noor, born in Moscow where her parents were at the time, was responsible for a little ‘miracle’ even as an infant. Her father, able to see beyond narrow ideas of ‘normal’, understood her dreamy nature and it was from him that she gained the strength and deeply spiritual inclination which empowered her to face the world in all its ugliness. But even at a time when defined by her dreaminess and immersion in music, after her father’s early death (when she was only 14), she took on the responsibilities of looking after her family (cooking, cleaning, getting the younger ones ready for school) and also continued her own education while her mother had fallen into depression for a time. All her and her family’s dreams and aspirations were brought to a standstill when war broke out and the Nazis entered France, the place they had been living and the children had grown. Having to leave their home and flee to England, she and her siblings all wished to play their part in the war effort. But for Noor, as we see, this contribution could never be ordinary—she became the first woman radio operator to be dropped into German-occupied Paris!

In writing The Last Agent in Paris, Sharon Maas relies on the definitive bio of Noor by her friend Jean Overton Fuller, Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan: Madeline, as well as follow up books by Fuller based on her interviews with those involved including Ernst Vogt, the German officer who interrogated Noor. While these and Shrabani Basu’s Spy Princess provide the base of the story, the historical is supplemented with the fictional in the form of characters about whom not too much was known (including true identities) as well as incidents woven in which were real but probably didn’t involve Noor. A historical note at the end clarifies what is based on fact and what on fiction.

Noor’s is a story one can’t read but with a sombre mind, yet the author gives us an interestingly written, well-pieced together, and absorbing book which doesn’t feel incomplete or lacking at any point—in fact, it continues on beyond Noor’s death to how her family and Jean found out what happened and much of what had been kept hidden from them. I enjoyed learning about her early life and her family and the atmosphere she was brought up in. What I was most anxious about were the sections where Noor was in captivity and what she would have gone through. But even among the ‘enemy’ she had her admirers who recognised her courage and work. I was glad the author didn’t go into graphic detail about what might have happened (other than one harrowing scene at the end) such that one can bear these parts better.

Noor was a complex character, strong-minded and resourceful, skilled at her work and deeply committed to her duty but also gentle, dreamy, spiritual and even naïve. The book brings out well the various shades of her personality which make her difficult to classify and even perhaps truly comprehend. Despite her dreamy nature and love of peace, she never chose the easy way out in any situation even where it was an option she could legitimately take. And yet, at times, she also seemed to do things (like keeping a written record of all transmissions sent with her at all times) which defied even basic logic on a misunderstanding of her instructions. One aspect that puzzled me in the book though, was her seeming unfamiliarity with Parisian life and ways considering she’d been brought up there. But overall, the fictional and the historical woven together create an intriguing and convincing portrait.

The Last Agent in Paris is a wonderful but poignant piece of historical fiction about an extraordinary young woman whom more people should be aware of.

It’s 1940 and World War II is in full swing. Nazi soldiers have invaded the streets of Paris. Noor and her family are forced from their home, the safest place for them to be is England. Noor is determined to save her country from being over taken by the Germans. She becomes a wireless operative in England and is quickly assigned to a spy network in her beloved Paris, her homeland. As a member of the spy network she spends her time walking through the destroyed streets of Paris. She risks her life everyday sending broadcast messages back to London. But as members of her network are captured, her mission becomes even more dangerous. There is a mole in the network and Noor doesn’t know who she can trust, but she does know she must carry out her mission to save her country, her family and survive.

The Last Agent In Paris, written by author Sharon Maas, is a phenomenal story of loss, survival and loyalty. I immediately felt attached to Noor and her family. I wept for them many times for what they went through. This was such an amazing story that broke my heart an put it back together piece by piece. I was amazed that this story was inspired by a true story, that in itself made me cry over and over again. Once again I am astounded by the writings of Maas. She had me overwhelmed with emotion, page after page as I read through this book. This is a book that definitely landed on my list of one of the best books I have read this year. I will remember this book for a very long time. I highly recommend this phenomenal read.

I’ve been addicted to WWII books about the SOE. I find the whole premise absolutely fascinating, especially when women were involved. The British and Americans through these groups of people together, with barely any training, and then drop them in occupied zones basically with their fingers crossed. The pianists (wireless operators) were given a 6 week life span. How did people go out there with such little hope of survival?

Noor took the ultimate risk, heading into France again (even after she and her family had escaped to England) as a pianist, the earliest woman to do so. She struggled to be away from her mother the most, and not being able to tell her family what she was truly doing. Knowing how unlikely it was for her to return to them made it all the more difficult, but didn’t keep her from going. She survived far longer than anyone expected.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.