Rosie Meddon

3.75/5 (rounding the whole star rating to 4)

If you haven't read the first two books in this series then this book and review won't make sense. This review may contain spoilers of those books in the series, but won't contain any spoilers for this book.

The chapters allow the author to indicate some time has passed, but no indication is given of how long, or exactly what happening.

I would suggest having a dictionary (either physical or virtual) nearby when reading this book as there were a number of words that I had to look up the definition to, in order to fully understand what was happening. I can imagine the author did this to keep you in the time frame that this book takes place.

There are a number of parts where the characters get emotional and the author does a great job allowing the reader to fully understand the emotion.

This book takes a different path from the first book in the series, I would have thought that Esme got back into being a 'decoy woman' but instead the author decided to get Esme to do something else.

While this story isn't 100% accurate of the time frame, it does allow the read to get a sense of what was happening during the war.

"You know I can’t tell you that."

"For heaven’s sake, Esme, I’m in the War Office. My clearance exceeds yours by some leagues."

"‘I’m sorry you can’t tell them more,’ Richard said. ‘Deceiving those close to you is a sordid business"

The author included the main characters inner dialogue a number of time in the book, which allows the reader to get a better sense of them and what they are thinking. I would have loved the author to included more of it and from other characters.

Overall, a great ending to the series.

"With the shroud of her grief blurring her judgement, she had seized upon the chance to escape into a world of fantasy, where there was no need to confront the enormity of [...] ."… (altro)

If you don't know about the 'decoy women' who helped with World War II (as I didn't) then this book will help you understand their view and what they had to go through.

As with many books it was hard to get started, and a few times I wondered if I was going to continue but I'm glad I did.

There are many things in this book that can apply to our lives today, like

‘Especially,’ Esme said, ‘if they have the good sense to steer clear of politics, religion and money.’ And from giving unsolicited advice about starting a family!

Or even

"Briefly, she skimmed the remaining pages until, desperate to hear something that put matters in a less terrifying light"

There are some things that could be changed, like providing translation in certain parts, or getting the main part of the book sooner, but other than that it's a great book with many humorous parts.

‘What the devil are the RAF planning to do with an aquarium?’ he asked, his bafflement seemingly genuine. ‘Practise fishing?

I do wish this book was longer, or a second book, you will understand why when you finish the book.… (altro)