The Last Secret Agent

Pippa Latour’s remarkable memoir is very powerful.

Parachuting into occupied France in World War 2 as a Special Operations Executive agent, risking her life to covertly radio information back to the British. Many didn’t make it back.

The story is recounted honestly, without glamorising or over-dramatising. It serves as an important historical account as well as being a fascinating and very entertaining story. There’s an old age reflective wisdom to it, I felt complete trust in Pippa Latour as a storyteller.

Pippa Latour also makes sure her fallen comrades are remembered.

The audiobook narration is excellent with convincing French pronunciation of names and places.

Very highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Octopus Audio

This is a truly astonishing account. It will move and amaze in equal measure and it feels like a privilege to have gained even limited insight into the reality of war. We hear so much about the role of men in wars but relate little about the women involved. Pippa Latour was exceptional in every way. In her early upbringing overseas, she suffered a number of personal tragedies. Clearly gifted with a talent for language, it’s difficult to remember she was so young. She was still within her Kate teenage years when she became involved with SOE and her account is truly remarkable.

Few of us have much idea about the role of the SOE. Secretive and subversive, their actions were dangerous and life threatening daily. Thanks to their bravery and subterfuge, numerous plans by the Germans were thwarted or delayed. Pippa Latour recounts events in a very understated way. I was moved to tears a couple of times and this is an important historical document as well as one of the best autobiographies I’ve ever read. I’ve been privileged to both read and listen to the audio version, very ably narrated by Jilly Bond. Her enthusiasm in narration matches many of the events and I listened to it in a couple of sittings.

This is the most amazing story of a remarkable woman. From her childhood in Africa, to in her early 20s, being parachuted into France as a covert radio operator, and being one of the last secret agents to make it out alive after the liberation, this is truly an awe inspiring story. Using wireless sets hidden around the French countryside, Pippa, code name Genevieve sent hundreds of messages with information on the German troops, and precise locations for the allies to bomb. She had many close calls where she was in danger of being caught but her quick thinking and being able to pass as 14 and act appropriately helped her on many occasions.
She died in New Zealand aged 102 with her past kept mostly secret until her sons happened upon an article about Pippa Latour and asked if it was her, she was by then in her 80s
I wish this book was required reading in schools so everyone could learn about her heroism and bravery, and she may never be forgotten.

#TheLastSecretAgent. #NetGalley

This was an absolutely fantastic audiobook, both in terms of the narrative and the narration. I was captivated from start to finish and Pippa Latour‘s life story is one which I feel everyone should read. The narration is clear with good intonation, I really enjoyed listening to it and found it easy to follow and focus on the narrative. I can’t recommend this enough!