Friday, January 21, 2022

Book Review - Her Secret War by Pam Lecky


My Review

In 1941, Sarah Gillespie is living in Dublin with her sister and father, sorting through a romance with her boyfriend Paul, when things suddenly and tragically change. Her neighborhood - and her home - is bombed by Germans. Her family perishes and Sarah lives. She makes the decision to go to England to live with her uncle and his family. She becomes involved in war work there, and slowly becomes involved in espionage, spurred on by her anger about what happened in Ireland.

I wanted to read Her Secret War because I love historical fiction and the 1940's is my favorite time period to read about. I was also intrigued by the Irish setting, as I knew very little about Ireland during World War II.

This is a beautifully told novel with a sympathetic protagonist. Sarah is such a relatable character, and it makes the position she later finds herself in particularly striking. She is going about her normal life and finds it changed beyond her control. This spurs her to take courageous and dangerous action.

This is a leisurely paced novel, but fascinating, as Sarah tries to figure who she can truly trust in England.

The author, Pam Lecky, has a real gift at description that sets the time and place with passages like:

"15th September 1941, Hursley Park 

It was Monday morning and Sarah’s first day at Supermarine. She surveyed the wood-panelled office with admiration. Much like the rest of the house she’d seen so far, it was beautifully decorated, contrasting sharply with the utilitarian office furniture. She would have loved to have caught a glimpse of the original antiques that must have been here before, but she assumed those items were stored somewhere safe until the war was over. The window afforded a view of the parkland, lush and green with a stand of oak trees in the distance. The grounds were extensive, Uncle Tom had told her, housing many different departments both in the outbuildings and in the huts hidden beneath the vast woodland canopy. Her aunt had mentioned that Lady Cooper, the widowed owner, was still in residence, occupying the upper floor of the mansion, and was often to be seen about the place" (eBook position 879).

Her Secret War was a wonderful read and I highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone interested in the World War II time period.

Book Synopsis

A heart-breaking choice

With nothing to keep her in Ireland and a burning desire to help the war effort, Sarah seeks refuge with relatives in England. But before long, her father’s dark past threatens to catch up with her.

A dangerous mission

Sarah is asked to prove her loyalty to Britain through a special mission. Her courage could save lives. But it could also come at the cost of her own…

A gripping story that explores a deadly tangle of love and espionage in war-torn Britain, perfect for fans of Pam Jenoff, Kate Quinn and Kate Furnivall.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Author Bio

Pam Lecky is an Irish historical fiction author, represented by the Hardman & Swainson Literary Agency. From an early age, Pam had a particular fascination with all things historical, from food and clothes to architecture and social history. Patiently awaiting the invention of time travel, she must be content with giving her novels a historical setting instead.

Find more about Pam on her website and Instagram.