Book Blurb:
Anna Cavanaugh is a restless young widow and brilliant French teacher at a private school in Washington, DC. Everything changes when she’s recruited into the Office of Strategic Services by family friend and legendary WWI hero Major General William Donovan. Donovan has faith in her—and in all his “glorious amateurs” who are becoming Anna’s fast friends: Maggie, Anna’s down-to-earth mentor; Irene, who’s struggling to find support from her husband for her clandestine life; and Julia, a cheerful OSS liaison. But the more Anna learns about the organization’s secret missions, the more she longs to be stationed abroad. Then comes the opportunity: go undercover as a spy in the French Resistance to help steal critical intelligence that could ultimately turn the tide of the war.
Dispatched behind enemy lines and in constant danger, Anna is filled with adrenaline, passion, and fear. She’s driven to make a difference—for her country and for herself. Whatever the risk, she’s willing to take it to help liberate France from the shadows of occupation and to free herself from the shadows of her former life.
My Review: 3.5 stars
After the success of Jane Healey’s The Beantown Girls, I couldn’t wait to dig into The Secret Stealers. When I read that this book was about a female spy dropped in Germany-occupied France, I was instantly pulled in. Although Anna Cavanagh’s story was fictional, the work of the OSS and General William Donovan were very real, and I love how Healey tied actual historical people and events together in Anna’s journey. For someone who considers themselves a history buff, I’m surprised that I had no idea what the Office of Strategic Services was or the role they played in the war. When I think of the US joining World War II, my mind goes to the actual fighting occurring on foreign soil, not the groundwork or intelligence that began in the United States.
The Secret Stealers introduced me to the OSS and SOE and the exploration of gender roles during the war. There was a lot packed into this novel, which definitely made me feel like I learned a lot, but surprisingly, at times, seemed rushed. Healey’s writing style is simple and easy to read. I think that appeals to a lot of readers when delving into historical fiction. Anna, our main protagonist, was a relatable character, who proved herself worthy of her missions and her gender. The many minor characters gave this book a good dose of dimension that helped lift the story from the page.
I’m glad this story was brought to the page as it offered suspense, mystery, strong women, romance, history and friendship. Grateful to Healey for including a well-done author’s note to let us know what parts of the story were real versus fictionalized.
Quotes I liked:
I had never realized before how physically draining grief could be.”
“What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who live in it after we are gone?”
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