The Last Library of Paris by Kerry Barrett is a historical fiction book set during WWII in Paris and Lisbon. The main characters were Frances Reed and Cassie Watkins. Both showed courage, determination and personal strength. I loved how the novel moved back and forth between the two story lines.
Frances Reed runs the American Library in Paris. They focus on bringing books to various Jewish patrons who can no longer come to the library as well as the patrons who are able to go to the library. As movement in Paris becomes more restrictive, the library also begins to send books to local hospitals and prison camps to help reach more people. In order to help they reach out to English readers asking for books to donate. They work hard to stay quiet and respectful, out of the suspicions of the Germans.
Cassie Watkins works for the British Intelligence Agency and is posted in Lisbon. The city is populated by intelligence agents from the Germans and British as well as other countries. Spies around each corner, following each other and generally collecting information.
Cassie is not allowed to do any intelligence work for a couple of weeks, while she is mourning her brother’s death. However, she is helping the underground make papers for the displaced population and finds herself in just the right place a couple of times. Then she starts to work with the new assistant and is noticed by a creepy man who works at the embassy.
Mystery, spies, espionage and romance all wind around the story and hold the reader’s attention. The book showed me a new perspective on the war and all the various ways people participated. The Last Library of Paris by Kerry Barrett was a really good read.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
