The Last Library of Paris by Kerry Barrett
@kerrybean73.bsky.social
@kerrybarrettwrites @hqstories
@kerrybean73 @hqstories
In the heart of Paris, one library refuses to close its doors …
As the city’s shopfronts go dark and war rages across Europe, Frances Reed is determined to keep her library open. Delivering books to those who need them most, she knows stories are more than just words – they can save lives.
Meanwhile, Cassie Watkins arranges safe passage for those with nowhere else to turn. When a parcel of books connects Frances and Cassie's worlds, they form a fragile network of readers, helpers, and secrets.
But someone else is reading between the lines too, and discovery could cost them everything. How far will Frances and Cassie go to keep stories alive?
StoryGraph | Goodreads | Smashbomb | BookBub
5 out of 5 (exceptional)
THE LAST LIBRARY OF PARIS takes us back to Lisbon in this amazing sequel to The Bookshop of Secrets. If you've read that one, then you will recognise some of the names and places, but you don't need to have read it to enjoy this one.
Told from the perspectives of Cassie and Frances, the story takes you from occupied Paris to neutral Lisbon, with Nazis, PVDE, the British Embassy, and more visas than you can shake a stick at.
Like every book by this author, it was a gripping, sad, cowardly, and heroic read, with some of the characters being based on real people. One I particularly loved, although it wasn't a person, was Peacock Books. I knew about their colourful covers, but didn't know about the service editions. How I would love to see one of those!
I do have one question, though. What happened to Marcus' books? Were they real? Were they ever published? Was he based on anyone? Okay, so it's more than one question, but it's all about the same person, so I'm sticking with it.
A truly outstanding read that I highly recommend.
** The same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian
Kerry Barrett is a writer and journalist. She spent more than 10 years as features editor of All About Soap magazine, writing about EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale, and still writes about television for various entertainment websites. In 2013 Kerry published her first novel, Like A Charm. She’s gone on to write several dual timeline stories, where a mystery from the past is solved in the present day. As Posy Lovell, she has written historical sagas about Kew Gardens, and the Singer Sewing Machine factory. And her two loves – books and telly – combined when she got the chance to write two Emmerdale spin-off novels.
Kerry lives in London with her husband and two teenage sons.
Comments