Code Name Hélène: A Novel

This was my first time tackling a historical fiction piece. The time jumps allow the reader to keep turning the page to see what happens next and you want to see how everything will be tied together in the end. I loved how the romance was intertwined with the violence of war, the contrast was very well done and intriguing. After reading the authors note, which you should do, I have a new found appreciation for this book. It was an honest story with admirable friendships, sacrificial love, and some humor sprinkled throughout. I am thankful for a story that stayed true to the events of this time period and to Nancy’s life, even if it doesn’t have a “happy ending.”I am heartbroken btw. I wrote this with blurred vision from crying way too much.

I've been reading fictionalized versions of women who did amazingly brave things in WW2 and Australian Nancy Wake was certainly fascinating. The book requires paying attention to dates because of the non-linear timeline. There is a lot of profanity which is designed to make Nancy Wake the foul-mouthed Aussie w/her all-male colleagues more realistic. There are also graphic depictions of Nazi torture of civilians outside concentration camps that pop up randomly & I did skip most. The most confusing element to me - even though it's true to her life is that the bulk of Wake's military work occurred in France in 1944. She's not trained by British SOE & sent to France to support the resistance fighters until 1944. Prior to that, she'd been doing brave - but not uncommon - resistance war work like delivering forged transport papers & accompanying refugees to their next stop in their journey to escape while her husband was away on active duty. What was never explained was why Wake was singled out & called the hard-to- capture White Mouse by the Nazi & Vichy governments for her work before & during 1943. The Author's Note are a must read, but I was left wondering why her early efforts made her such a target when she didn't become a ruthless leader & constant threat to the Nazis backed by British supplies and money until so much later. Still, a very good read.

Based on actual facts, I loved reading this novel about a woman spy during WW2. What she did is astonishing, and I deeply appreciate the way this author wrote about her story, in a way that was skillful and captivating!

My first novel to read by author Ariel Lawhon and it will not be my last. I do not want to give away the plot, but I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I even imagined myself as the heroine in the story questioning if I even had the strength in my internal being to do what she did for the love of country and others. It’s love, it’s war and all the intrigue and drama you’d want in a read in between.

Amazing book! Strong female character. Best book I have read in the past year. If you are considering this book - do it. You wont be disappointed.

Nancy Wake is a badass. This is an amazing book about an incredibly courageous woman who accomplished things that are even hard to imagine accomplishing today. I was shocked to learn most of the events this book are true, after researching Nancy Wake a bit myself. Thrilling, suspenseful, inspirational, informational. Don't miss this one!

I feel rendered speechless by the story of Nancy Wake, easily one of the most remarkable people in history. To learn which parts of this historical fiction novel is true is mind-boggling; I won’t say more along those lines to avoid spoilers. If you don’t know Nancy’s story, do yourself a favor and read Ariel Lawhon’s book now, right away, and do NOT read the author’s notes at the end before you do. Also, do NOT make the mistake of consulting Wikipedia or Google before you finish the novel like I did. Read her story as Lawhon has let it unfold, and you will not be sorry.Nancy was an expatriate from New Zealand who moved to France at a young age. She fell in love with a wealthy Frenchman and made France her home. Her fairytale life was interrupted as World War II began. She helped smuggle documents and people, and then joined the French resistance. As the Gestapo’s most wanted person, she eventually had to escape France to avoid capture. She returned to London, trained with the Special Operations Executive, and became a secret agent and saboteur.There are heart-wrenching events and circumstances in this story, as you would expect in a novel set against the backdrop of World War II. There is one scene in particular that was absolutely horrific; it’s one of the worst things I can possibly imagine as a mother, and I couldn’t get it out of my head. I almost stopped reading at that point. I’m ultimately glad I didn’t, but I still wish that I could have skipped that part. Just know that there are a couple disturbing scenes, and decide accordingly whether you want to read this.The author mentions in the afterword the bad language throughout the book. It was authentic with regard to the person Nancy Wake was, and I respect Lawhon for including language that is authentic. If bad language would have you clutching your pearls, maybe skip this book, but know that you are truly missing out.Overall, this is an amazing rendering of the story of an amazing woman. It’s incredible, the ordinary and extraordinary bravery of human beings to persist in the face of, and fight against, the terrible atrocities that other human beings commit. I am glad to know Nancy’s story.

I enjoyed this read. The timelines crossed so often I sometimes had to reread a short portion and by the end I had learned to pay particle attention to the cues of timeline. Overall it was very enjoyable to read exciting and still realistic, fun and enlightening.

Second World War, female resistance fighter. The true story of Nancy Wake is amazing. The book is gripping, I stayed up late in the night to finish it. Charts the rise of the Nazis, where Nancy as a journalist witnesses first hand their brutality in Austria and the growth of hate, which has its inevitable end.Nancy’s tale is inspired, she is brave beyond words, cycling a 500 mile round trip to get a message out, living in a bus in the woods commanding thousands of French Resistance fighters. She is afraid of nothing. Even the ‘Wolf’, who is the stuff of nightmares.It’s also a love story. But I won’t spoil it. Read it for yourself.It time hops but that keeps you interested.Fab!

I am usually suspicious of semi-biographical fiction, but I read this on the recommendation of my Mum and I'm so glad I did. Nancy Wake's experience during the war is so inspiring, I can't believe she is not more famous. This book does a great job of weaving the different timelines of her story together and it's worth reading the endnotes to what was true (based on other autobiographies and historical sources) and what was tweaked for the story. Even with a bit of creative license, it does not take away from the bravery of Nancy and her role in the war.

This is a short review. I do a lot of reading and am a critical reader. This book, based on a true story, held my attention throughout. It skilfully wove Nancy Wake’s story through different timelines, and described her staunch and powerful leadership of men in a time of terrible turmoil.I am definitely going to look for more books by Ariel Lawhon.

I loved this book. A really good read using factual information to create a really well told story. The author’s note at the end is worth reading once you’ve finished the book because it gives you information on how she used the facts to create the book and where she changed them. Don’t read this until you’ve finished though, or you’ll spoil the story, unless you already know it.

I can highly recommend this book, and that it is about a true Operative, makes for an amazing read.A work of art how Ariel Lawhon interwove and brought the two time threads of the story together.The bravery and sacrifices of SOE Operatives is astounding.