Daughters of War

Written by Dinah Jefferies

Narrated by Stephanie Racine

A new sweeping historical novel of World War II from the international bestselling author of The Tea Planter’s Wife France, 1944.

 
In an old stone cottage, on the edge of a beautiful French village, three sisters long for the end of the war.
 
Hélène, the eldest, is trying her hardest to steer her family to safety, even as the Nazi occupation becomes more threatening.

Elise, the rebel, is determined to help the Resistance, whatever the cost.

And Florence, the dreamer, just yearns for a world where France is free.

Then, one dark night, the Allies come knocking for help. And Hélène knows that she cannot sit on the sidelines any longer. But secrets from their own mysterious past threaten to unravel everything they hold most dear… 

The first in an epic new series from the #1 international bestselling author, Daughters of War is a stunning tale of sisters, secrets and bravery in the darkness of war-torn France…

Praise for Daughters of War:

“A rich tapestry of courage, passion and family secrets beneath the dark shadows of war” —Hazel Gaynor, bestselling author of When We Were Young and Brave

“A glorious page-turner … a novel to disappear into” —Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Secret Wife

“An outstanding novel, beautifully written. Rich in courage, love and sacrifice, but chilling and taut in its portrayal of the horrors of war”—Kate Furnivall, bestselling author of The Guardian of Lies

“As layers of long-hidden family secrets emerge, you are sure to be hooked to the very last page”—Liz Trenow, bestselling author of The Forgotten Seamstress

“Love, grief, abandonment, betrayal and secrets … I adored it” —Liz Nugent, bestselling author of Little Cruelties

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Sep 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9780008479435

Dinah Jefferies

Dinah Jefferies began her career with The Separation, followed by the No.1 Sunday Times and Richard and Judy bestseller, The Tea-Planter’s Wife. Born in Malaysia, she moved to England at the age of nine. In 1985, a family tragedy changed everything, and she now draws on the experience of loss in her writing, infusing love, loss and danger with the beauty of her locations. She is published in 29 languages in over 30 countries and lives close to her family in Gloucestershire.

Reviews for Daughters of War

[susan0316 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This novel takes place in the river valley of Dordogne near the village of Sainte-Cecile during 1944. The Germans have occupied the town since 1940 and the occupants are hoping that the end of the war will come soon.Helene, Elise and Florence Baudin live in a small cottage outside of the town. They are all in their twenties and are doing what they can to keep each other safe. They love each other dearly but they don't always get along.-Helene works as a nurse. Since she's the oldest, she tries to take care of her sisters and keep them safe.-Elise is very daring and part of the Resistance.-Florence is a dreamer and longs for the end of the war. She stays at home and cooks and works in their garden.This multi-layered novel is told by all three of the sisters in alternating chapters. By writing it this way, we get differing views from each sister about their childhoods, fears and dreams for the future.When Florence comes home from a walk, she has a wounded German deserter with her. She wanted to keep safe until he could recover. Helene and Elise are both concerned with keeping him in their house. They all know the punishment for hiding deserter is death. The same night, the doctor's wife brings an RAF pilot to the house for a few days until they can find a safe house for him. They reluctantly agree to hide him too. They all want to do their part in defeating the Germans and making France free even though they are aware of how they would be treated by the Germans if either man was found in their home.Many WWII novels give the reader the big picture of the war and effect on the people. This book is a look at one small family - three sisters - so we get a more personal view of the war and their struggle for freedom.I was very impressed by this book and the author's writing. The three sisters were all written very well, the scenery in France was beautiful and the ending makes me anxious for the next book in the trilogy. Dinah Jefferies has several earlier books about WWII and I plan to check them out.

[vanessacw · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story of three disparate sisters living in occupied France during WWII. The eldest sister is the mother hen, the middle sister is fighting with the Resistance in the form of the Maquis and the youngest sister is the dreamer, just yearning for peace and for the country to be returned to its former self. Secrets start to unravel as the road they’re travelling on takes a rocky turn.What a fabulous read! I was totally gripped and immersed in this story. I loved the different characters of the sisters, they are very contrasting but all very likeable. It’s beautifully written with some fantastic and vivid imagery, it really paints a picture in your mind of the delightful landscape of the Dordoyne. It’s also a very moving and emotional read. There are some quite sad and harrowing moments. It’s a tale about fighting for what you believe in - a tale of love and survival. And ultimately of courage and hope. A real page turner! This is the first book in a series so I am very much looking forward to the second instalment!