The Book of Lost Names

by Kristin Harmel

Madeleine Maby (Narrator)

Throughout the 1940s, forgers helped thousands of children escape Nazi France. In this instant New York Times bestseller, Kristin Harmel reimagines their story...

Perfect for readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Librarian of Auschwitz and The Book Thief.

In 1942, Eva is forced to flee Paris after the arrest of her father, a Polish Jew. Finding refuge in a small mountain town, she begins forging identity documents for Jewish children escaping to neutral Switzerland. But erasing people comes with a price, and along with a mysterious, handsome forger named Remy, Eva realises she must find a way to preserve the real names of the children who are too young to remember their own identities.

When Remy disappears and the resistance cell they work for is betrayed, the records they keep in The Book of Lost Names become even more crucial to remembering the truth...

A present day discovery of the book leaves researchers fascinated by its origins and desperate to decipher its codes. Only Eva holds the answer but will she have the strength to face old memories and help reunite those lost during the war?

If you loved The Book of Lost Names, don't miss Kristin Harmel's The Winemaker's Wife, available now. ___________

What readers are saying about The Book of Lost Names:

'A heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism centered on a female forger who risks everything to help Jewish children escape Nazi-occupied France' People Magazine, '20 Best Books to Read this Summer'

'Brilliantly imagined ... This thoughtful work will touch readers with its testament to the endurance of hope' Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

'Harmel illuminates heartbreakingly real but forgotten stories from WW2, blended with a dash of suspense and romance' Booklist

'A fascinating, heartrending page-turner' Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author

'This moving novel will resonate with readers who love World War II stories about courage, survival and resilience' Bookbub

'Smart, evocative and utterly engrossing' getliterary.com

'An engaging and evocative novel ... A testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of bravery and love in the face of evil' Goodreads

'One of my favourite July 2020 book releases ... The discussion of identity with themes of religion, family, selflessness, and nationhood will sit with you long after closing the last chapter' theuncorkedlibrarian.com

'It's a fabulous read that you will fly through, but not without shedding some tears' freshfiction.com

'This is a beautifully written story that captured my attention and heart from the very first pages!' Reading Between the Pages Blog

What readers are saying about The Winemaker's Wife:

'Engrossing ... A suspenseful tale of courage and sacrifice' Pam Jenoff, NYT bestselling author

'What could be better than [...] a writer as compulsively readable as Kristin Harmel? Pick up this epic and heart-wrenching WWII tale immediately!' Alyson Noel, #1 NYT bestselling author

'Once you start reading this moving novel, you will not be able to put it down until you reach the last page' Armando Lucas Correa, bestselling author

'Written in heart-wrenching prose, The Winemaker's Wife is a complex story of love, betrayal and impossible courage ... I couldn't turn the pages fast enough' Anita Hughes, bestselling author

• ISBN10: 1797105604
• ISBN13: 9781797105604
• Publish Date: 21 July 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Format: Audiobook (CD)
• Duration: 0 hours and 11 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

The story shares two timelines. The first take us to Florida where we meet Eva Traube Abrams, a semi-retired librarian. While re-shelving books, she glances down at a newspaper and sees a man holding a book. A book she hasn’t laid eyes on in nearly six decades…. the book of lost names.

Eva goes to Germany to retrieve the book and unlock its secrets. As she travels the reader is transported to 1942, Paris, where we meet Eva, a college student forced to flee Paris with her mother after her Jewish father is arrested by Hitler’s Nazis.

This was my first time reading Harmel and she transported me to Paris. As much as I wanted to savior the story, I found myself unable to set Eva’s story down and devoured it on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I laughed, cried, cheered, held my breath and was completely in awe of the characters we met. Twists and turns I never expected ripped me apart and pulled me together again.

The rich history and the efforts of the resistance in France were beautifully detailed. I found the forgery aspects fascinating, but it was the characters that were most memorable. Such brave men and women who risked everything to help so many.

Both past and present are told from the point of view of Eva. Her voice felt authentic and I connected with her. While we spend most of our time in the past, I understood the driving needs of Eva in the present.

I became swept up in the danger and the impossible romance. Even when I knew the outcome, I couldn’t stop myself from holding my breath and wishing for the impossible.

By the time I closed The Book of Lost Names, I was a hot mess. Teary-eyed and wrecked, I felt like the book claimed a piece of my soul … one I willingly gave. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer