Member Reviews

The Last Agent in Paris by Sharon Maas is a story taking place in the setting of two countries England and France torn by a war raged by the Nazi Germans. The majority of the novel takes place in Paris, which is under Nazi occupation from 1940 to 1944.This is an emotional World War II historical novel inspired by the true story of Noor Inayat Khan, the first female radio operator sent by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) into Nazi-occupied France. Set in 1940, the novel follows Noor, a young woman whose life is upended as Nazi forces invade France. here, Noor is recruited by the SOE due to her proficiency in French, which makes her an ideal candidate for covert work in Nazi-occupied France. After her family is forced to flee Paris, Noor vows to return and fight for the country she loves - France.

Training as a wireless operator in England, Noor becomes an ideal candidate for a perilous undercover mission in Paris. Assigned to a secretive spy network led by the enigmatic Prosper, she takes on the dangerous task of transmitting crucial intelligence to London. As Noor navigates the treacherous streets of Paris, dodging Nazi patrols and risking capture with every broadcast, the stakes become higher. Her fellow agents are being picked off one by one, and Noor begins to suspect there is a traitor in their midst. In England, Noor undergoes rigorous training in radio communication, cryptography, and other espionage techniques, preparing her for the dangerous work of transmitting messages from behind enemy lines.

As the last remaining agent in her network, Noor must find a way to keep the mission alive, even as the walls close in around her. The novel is a testament to Noor's courage, resilience, and determination in the face of overwhelming danger, offering a powerful exploration of sacrifice and loyalty during one of the darkest chapters of history. Fans of historical fiction, particularly those interested in stories of women spies and wartime resistance, will find The Last Agent in Paris utterly unforgettable.

One of the novel’s most powerful aspects is the slow-building tension that Maas creates. As Noor becomes the last agent standing in her network, the suspense intensifies with each passing chapter. Who is the traitor? Can Noor keep the operation alive? Maas brilliantly captures the psychological weight of these questions, making it impossible to put the book down.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Publishers for an advance copy for my honest review

Novel Nerd Blog: https://smithareading.blogspot.com/

Was this review helpful?

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “The Last Agent in Paris” by Sharon Maas. I am so happy that I read this story!!! It is inspired by the TRUE story of Noor Inayat Khan. How have I never heard her story before? She was a true hero who put her life on the line in Paris during World War II.
This is a heartwarming story full of resilience and hope. I went down a rabbit hole of research after reading this. Highly recommend! Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheLastAgentInParis #SharonMaas #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInParis # BooksSetDuringWWII

Was this review helpful?

The Last Agent in Paris is about a brave and courageous woman named Noor Khan who is working as an undercover for British in France. The whole story is a historical account of this young brave woman who sacrificed her own life to serve her country.

The story is well researched and well written. And it is also quiet engaging as well. Noor is half-Indian half American and her heritage makes it an advantage to work as an undercover. The middle part of the story is gripping and interesting, nearly putting you on the edge when Noor was finally caught by the Nazis and Gestapo and questioned by a man named Voigt. France is Noor's home and the thought of her own country being ruined by the Nazis was too much for Noor. One rare thing about this is in most WWII historical fiction, the story starts two years prior to WWII but in this case, the story starts somewhere in 1914 when Noor was born, detailing her childhood in France, her courtships, her father's untimely death and how she managed to help her mother and sister escape to England.

Overall, this book is an emotional roller coaster ride--heartbreaking moments and the ending of the book was actually sad. Noor Khan is an inspiration to many women out there and a brave and courageous one in fact. Worth five stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Many thanks to Bookouture for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour.

Was this review helpful?

The Last Agent in Paris sounds like a title for a very intiguing, dramatic novel. While this book by Sharon Maas does provide intrigue and plenty of drama, it is a novel only in that it is a fictional presentation of a real female Special Operations Executive agent of Great Britain during World War II. I expected the book to feature actions taken by the lead character, Noor Inayat Khan, during her time as an agent in Paris as well as a bit of background about ther that led to her signing up to serve her country in such a dangerous assignment. I got more than I expected. The book not only covers Noor Inayat Khan's background back to the very beginning of her life but also gives us a great deal of information about her father, Hazrat Inayat-Khan, and great-grandfather, Sangit Ratna Maulabakish Sholay Khan, who were well-known and well-revered in their own time and country for their musicianship and teachings. It was the first time I read about the teachings and practices of Sufism and learned how it traveled from India to America, England, and France. It was also interesting to learn a little bit about the Indian musical style and instruments. The entire book reads like a novel with romance, family trials and tribulations, and the nerve-racking business of undercover agents support to the French Resistance, but it was also nice to learn more about other cultures.

Was this review helpful?

This fictional story is based on a real-life hero, Noor Inayat Khan, code-named Madeline, one of France's first female radio operators. It delves into her life history before the war and her capture. I’ve heard her story before, and I’ve been to her memorial at the RAF Museum in England. Her story is a fascinating one, as well as her bravery. Her relationship with her father was a significant one and helped build her into the brave woman she became. She was a pacifist but felt forced to participate when the Nazis invaded Germany. It was a fascinating, well-researched story and I look forward to reading more by the author.


Thanks to @netgalley, @bookouture, and the author of this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Bookouture.

This WWII novel was inspired by the true story of Noor Inayat Khan. When I first started reading, I took an interest in all of the characters, but I felt a connection with Noor in particular. I found that as I carried on reading, that connection deepened. The author wrote in a way that made me feel as though I had come to know this character; as though she was my friend.

Noor was a wonderful character, and I admired her strength and resilience. I wasn't sure if I would be able to read all of this in one sitting, but I did, as once I became invested, it was difficult to lay it aside. Noor’s story was moving, inspiring and heartwarming.

Thank you to Bookouture, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Was this review helpful?

I found this to be a very emotional tale of resilience in a time when a nations people is being hunted and persecuted. I also found that the atmosphere conveyed in the story help with the narration of what the characters we going through. This story follow our main character as she and her family have had to flee for their lives. Once she has left she realised that she has to do more and risks her life to go back and do something for the war effort and for her people. I suggest that tissues are needed when reading this book.

Was this review helpful?

This historical novel, based on a true story, follows Noor, the daughter of an Indian Sufi leader, as she grows up across Europe. Noor's early life is surrounded by music, community, and fairy tales, but as World War II looms and Paris falls to Nazi invasion, Noor and her family escape to England. Driven by a need to support the war effort despite her pacifist beliefs, Noor joins the SOE, the secret British spy organisation. She soon becomes the first female wireless operator in occupied France, only to find herself in an increasingly dangerous situation as her network starts to collapse under the Nazi threat.

I have read a number of books about SOE operators this year, but was happily suprised that this was a unique story. Noor’s life is fascinating and it’s clear that the author has done extensive research. The dual timeline in the first half keeps the reader engaged. However, I found several aspects disappointing. The characters, including Noor, felt one-dimensional, with Noor herself portrayed as frustratingly inconsistent, annoying and self-centred. Her actions often seemed unnecessary, and I did not appreciate the repeated trope of every man falling in love with her. The plot included several underdeveloped and unnecessary aspects, and the dialogue was often unnatural. While I kept reading to find out Noor’s fate, my interest lay more in the true historical events than in the author’s storytelling choices.

Was this review helpful?

📕📕BOOK REVIEW 📕📕
📚📚Bookouture Books-on-Tour📚📚
The Last Agent in Paris by Sharon Maas

This is the fictionalised story of Noor Inayat Khan the first British female wireless operator working with the French resistance during WWII. Born in Russia in 1914 Noor led quite an unconventional life. She was ostensibly a pacifist, she believed in fairies, she was quiet and shy and she fell in love easily and unconditionally. But now living in Paris with her family, when the Nazis stormed the city in 1940, the family fled to England. The author has clearly done some detailed research and it shows. I did know a bit about the real life Noor but there were a lot of interesting details that I now know were factual of which I hadn’t previously been aware.

Briefly, now living in London and determined to do something to support the war effort Noor fought to be accepted into the services. Once she was her dedication was noticed and she was approached to train as a wireless operator. Her training was intensified and in June 1943, codenamed Madeline, she flew to France taking up position with a resistance cell run by Prosper. No more about her life as I don’t want to give spoilers for anyone who doesn’t know her story.

I did find this quite a slow starter but the pace seemed to ramp up when the family were escaping France. Noor was an incredible woman. She might have been small in stature but she was tall in bravery. Completely dedicated to what she believed was right and loyal to her country, her friends and her family. It’s a gripping, tense and emotional story and one that deserves to be shared again. Lest we forget.

Was this review helpful?

It Just did not hold my attention. So I am sad to say I dnfed the book at 65%. The concept was good though. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Was this review helpful?

I have never heard of Noor and that’s one of the many reasons I like reading historical fiction because each book usually turns up something new I’d never heard before.
Noor’s upbringing was unique and her unwavering support to do whatever she could to defeat the armies of darkness during WWII were nothing short of heroic.
I cringed when I read about her end but she was stalwart to the end.
I wonder how many people would be willing to sacrifice all that Noor did if the same service was asked of them today?

Was this review helpful?

This book was based on a true story of the heroine Noor Khan! If you love WW2 historical fiction novels this one takes great care with the finer details! I really enjoyed this story. It follows the story of a woman Noor who decided she will help her country, France as the Nazis draw close. It was so evident that Maas wasn’t just telling the story of one woman but MANY women. Well worth a read and recommendation.

Was this review helpful?

The Last Agent in Paris is a historical fiction WWII novel that will have you fully engaged all the way through. WWII historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and a tenacious female protagonist is my reading vibe.
Loved the storytelling and intriguing historical facts. Highly recommend for anyone who loves historical fiction. Well done Sharon Maas! I'm a fan!

Was this review helpful?

A thoughtful and respectful novel about Noor Khan, a true hero and incredibly brave woman. Noor didn't have to go to Paris as a radio operator and she certainly didn't have to stay as the Nazis closed in on her and her network. But she did. And she resisted until her tragic end. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Maas has written an excellent WWII novel.

Was this review helpful?

I love this story, a real-life tale of Noor Inayat, the first female radio operator trained by the SOE in Britain. I thoroughly enjoyed the care the author took in her research, which made the imagery, Noor, the character, and the realities of her role as a radio operator spring from the page. Radio operators were hunted by the Nazis and punished severely, with life expectancies of less than two months once in France. Noor’s life is an inspiration, and the author tackled her story beautifully. I could feel and smell Noor’s fear. Although tragic, Sharon Maas created a book I couldn’t put down from start to finish. As a historian, I knew the tale; I had seen it played out in movies and read about it in other novels, but this book left me deep in thought; Noor’s life lingers still. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the history of WWII, books about espionage, and strong women dedicated to a mission in life. Thank you to Net Galley, the author and the publisher, for the opportunity to read this free ARC. My review is voluntary and mine alone.

Was this review helpful?

Wow! An amazing telling of the true story of Noor Khan and the work she did to help gain freedom from the Nazis. This book follows her entire life journey starting at her birth in Russia in 1914. She was a musician, a writer, and eventually a spy, and Sharon Maas builds the whole timeline so beautifully. I couldn't wait to read about all the espionage and war efforts, but I thoroughly enjoyed learning of Noor's upbringing and the building blocks of what made her into the remarkable woman she became.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

Was this review helpful?

It is a beautiful and amazing story of Noor Inayat Khan. I have already heard of her, but this story shows her character and courage to do one of the most dangerous jobs, even through the toughest times. I will say that there were some grammar errors as I was reading it on NetGalley and it was a little slow-paced at the beginning but after that, it flew by quickly. Thankyou NetGalley for letting me read this incredible story.

Was this review helpful?

The Last Agent in Paris was a remarkable book about Noor Inayat Khan the first female wireless operator in France. There was so much attention to detail in this book, so much information that I did not know that was so incredibly moving to read about. This was an incredible book that I will be recommending to so many others.

Thank you to NetGalley and the published for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Loved this one based on the life Noor Khan a true heroine during the war and a brave woman for the time she lived in . It was so good
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

Was this review helpful?

This book was fantastic I loved it. Based on the real life story of Noor Inayat Khan the first female radio operator that went into France during WWII. I was hooked from the beginning, it’s tense, exciting, dangerous, dark and tragic. If you are a historical fiction fan you won’t be able to put this down. It’s an incredible story. Highly recommend this awesome story. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC, I’m so glad I read this it was excellent.

Was this review helpful?