The Light We Left Behind

Written by Tessa Harris

Narrated by Tor Leijten

‘How did I not know anything about this?! A beautifully written book.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

England: 1944

When psychologist Maddie Gresham is sent a mysterious message telling her to report to Trent Park mansion, she wonders how she will be helping the war effort from a stately home.
 
She soon finds captured Nazi generals are being detained at the house. Bugged with listening devices in every room, it’s up to Maddie to gain the Nazis’ trust and coax them into giving up information.
 
When Max Weitzler, a Jewish refugee, also arrives at Trent Park with the same mission, Maddie finds herself trapped in a dangerous game of chess.

The two met in Germany before the war, and Maddie’s heart was his from the moment they locked eyes.

But Maddie has finally gained the trust of the Nazi officers at the house, and her love for Max must remain a secret.
 
When the walls have ears, who can you trust?

Based on the true events that took place at Trent Park during WWII, this is an emotionally gripping, and heart-breaking novel about love, sacrifice, and betrayal, perfect for fans of The Rose Code and The Lost Girls of Paris.

Readers LOVE The Light We Left Behind!

‘I loved everything about this book – it has it all! Well-written, well-paced, fascinating and gripping from the beginning right through to the end.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This is story-telling of the highest order, well-paced and compelling… this was a story that swept me away.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A beautiful story with a strong and courageous heroine. I couldn’t put this down! Beautiful writing kept me turning the pages.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Absolutely brilliant, five stars from me.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A beautiful read.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An unputdownable book.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I read it so quickly as I couldn’t put it down.’ – NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Feb 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9780008511463

Tessa Harris

Tessa Harris is the author of the acclaimed Dr. Thomas Silkstone Mysteries, including Secrets in the Stones and The Anatomist’s Apprentice, as well as the debut Constance Piper Mystery, The Sixth Victim. A graduate of Oxford University with a History degree, Tessa has also been a journalist and editor, contributing to many national publications such as The Times and The Telegraph. She has also acted as a literary publicist for several well-known authors. Readers can visit her website at www.tessaharrisauthor.com.

Reviews for The Light We Left Behind

[Amy Hagberg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Beginning in 1940, the Trent Park estate outside London housed captured German Luftwaffe pilots to extract military information. The rooms of the house were equipped with hidden microphones to MI19 operatives could listen in on their conversations.

In 1942, it became a prisoner-of-war camp (the Cockfosters Cage) for German generals and staff officers. They were pampered with delectable meals, fine wine and whisky, and luxury accommodations in hopes they would lower their guard and converse openly about military intelligence. The British Germany’s military capabilities, weaponry, war crimes, and the resistance movement. Among the 109 German top brass held at Trent Park were generals Otto Elfeldt, Ferdinand Heim, Gerhard Bassenge, Friedrich Freiherr von Broich, Heinrich Eberbach, Georg Neuffer, Dietrich von Choltitz, Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke, Hans Cramer, and Ritter von Thoma, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, and Admiral Walter Hennecke (the man in charge of all sea defenses for Normandy, France).

Such is the backdrop for Tessa Harris’s new historical novel, The Light We Left Behind. In 1944, psychologist Maddie Gresham is sent a mysterious message ordering her to report to Trent Park. It will be her job to gain the Nazis’ trust and coax them into giving up information. When Max Weitzler, a Jewish refugee, also arrives, Maddie is stunned. The two had met and fallen in love in Germany before the war. She’d held onto hope that he had escaped the Nazi threat. But their love must remain a secret. When there’s a shocking death at the mansion, Maddie realizes that not everyone at Trent Park is on the same side.

The Light We Left Behind is a fascinating twist on women’s wartime efforts in England. I’d never heard of MI19, a section of the British Directorate of Military Intelligence during WWII, and their role at Trent Park makes for a gripping emotional novel about love, sacrifice, and betrayal. It was well-paced and features an intelligent, courageous heroine. 4 stars. For more reviews visit amyhagberg.com