Compelling, intense, gut-wrenching
As with all the other books by Kathryn Gauci I’ve read, I was instantly hooked. In the In the Shadow of the Pyrenees, the author takes her readers on a wild and dangerous ride through France under Nazi Germany control. Her main characters are ordinary people, mostly villagers who help the British airmen and French and foreign Jews to flee to avoid deportation to labor or concentration camps or to imminent death. The characters latch on to you and pull you with them from one “safe” place to another, through the Pyrenees’ dangerous mountainous areas. You’ll encounter all different people—patriots and collaborationists; uncover family secrets, feel their excitement at successful escape, or suffer with them their losses. They are so real you can’t help but sympathize with them. Their story is a roller coaster of success and catastrophe that left this reader feeling a little breathless at times.
There are heart-wrenching scenes: Pablo and Mercedes and her child, Armando’s unexpected feelings, Colette’s suspicion and suffering, and, of course, all the dangerous, clandestine missions of Justine aka Jacqueline. I don’t want to give away too much or it will rob you of the excitement you’ll experience while reading this captivating book.
The story moves at a quick pace as the plot plays out, thickens, and takes more than a few turns. While the ending held some tragic, twisty surprises, I loved how the author addressed and tied up all loose ends. I also fully appreciated how clues had been dropped throughout the storyline. A very cleverly written must-read for fans of historical fiction, especially of WWII. Highly recommended.
5.0 out of 5 stars In the Shadow of WWII
Reviewed in Germany on November 19, 2023
Armand, schoolteacher and involved in rescuing Spanish refugees, doesn’t think twice when the stream of escapees from the Nazi terror needs help.
Colette, his wife lives in terror.
Their daughter, Justine, works from Toulouse to help rescue Jews and Escaped soldiers.
In the Shadows of the Pyrénées is a full-bodied narrative of a difficult period in France, which was divided between two zones and overrun by Nazis and their victims.
Kathryn Gauci always shows impeccable research in her books, and this is no exception. Told with respect and understanding, she rolls out a wide panorama. Not only the rough nature but also the villagers living in this environment come to life, as do the people who need help. Especially Hélène, a beautiful Jewess, springs to mind as a complex person.
A rollercoaster of emotions, danger, and a clandestine love affair, In the Shadows of the Pyrénées, ticks all the boxes.
