Paris Undercover: Praise & Reviews
“Goodman’s gripping account chronicles the events — both courageous and horrifying — and illustrates how loyalty and betrayal can coincide in wartime and its aftermath.” —Becky Melon, The Washington Post
“Goodman skillfully recounts the heroic activities of two women in Nazi-occupied Paris who aided in the escape of British and French soldiers after the fall of France. … [he] vividly reconstructs the women’s experiences amid the horrors of occupation and shows how wartime deprivation and despair can inspire both the noblest and basest of human impulses. Beautifully written and thoroughly absorbing, Goodman’s book is a must-read, particularly for those interested in lesser known aspects of World War II history.” — Library Journal
“A magnificent and in-depth re-examination of atypical heroines carrying out acts of gallantry. … The compelling nature of the narrative is consistent, from the women’s path into each other’s lives to their subversive activities in a locked-down city to their harrowing incarcerations. This impressive effort functions as both a dual memoir and a wartime story, and you will not want to miss it.” — Book Reporter
“Genuine heroism and well told, with no Hollywood ending.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Of the countless books written about the French Resistance, Paris Undercover stands out as a true original: a riveting, masterfully researched exposé of the explosive reality behind the story of two women imprisoned by the Nazis for helping Allied soldiers escape from behind enemy lines. When one of the women is released early and publishes a falsehood-filled memoir, this portrait of courage and friendship morphs into a heart-pounding tale of betrayal that is impossible to put down.”—Lynne Olson, author of Madame Fourcade’s Secret War
“One of the best books I have read in ages. … It's beautifully written, wonderfully paced, suspenseful, shocking to the core and yet somehow the indomitable Kitty shows us hope, inspiration, astonishing generosity and a renewed belief in the human spirit.” —Sonia Purnell, author of A Woman of No Importance
“With elegant language and his trademark meticulous research, Matthew Goodman peels back the layers of mythmaking to reveal a riveting true story that reads like a movie script and showcases the power of humans to persist in the face of overwhelming odds.” —Elizabeth Letts, author of The Perfect Horse
“A smart, vividly realized account of a daring wartime escapade that turns out to be far more complex and problematic than it first appears, Paris Undercover is a gripping and provocative feat of historical investigation—full of surprises to the very end.”—Gary Krist, author of Empire of Sin
“A genuine surprise: not a typical World War II history but a thoughtful examination of the sometimes-blurred lines between fact and fiction, and the dangers of telling other people’s stories . . . Occupied Paris, escaped British soldiers in need of safe passage home, two elderly heroines, and others who want to profit from their story—all makes for a riveting read.”—Melanie Benjamin, author of Mistress of the Ritz
“Just when it seems there is nothing more to learn about World War II, here comes this vivid story of an intrepid woman and her escape line, made more fascinating and poignant by its tangled afterlife.”—Caroline Moorehead, author of A Train in Winter
“A remarkable tale of a pair of unlikely middle-aged resisters . . . This is a fascinating book enlivened by exquisite detail and a deep sense of the humanity of its principal characters.” —Tim Brady, author of Three Ordinary Girls
“This is an amazing story. It’s so surprising and poignant to discover how these two middle-aged women, acting on their own, risked their lives to save Allied soldiers trapped in occupied France. And the consequences of their heroism turn out to be even more extraordinary: dear friends enmeshed in a story of desperate survival—and betrayal.”—Sarah Rose, author of D-Day Girls
