Courage in the Paris Underground

by CLR Peterson | Apr 18, 2026 | Book review, France, French Resistance, Historical novels, Holocaust, Jewish History, World War II

Greetings, Reading Friend!

Do you enjoy novels that stretch characters to their limits, or even beyond, to pursue their highest calling, come what may?

If so, you’ll love Skylark! Author Paula McLain places her characters in terrible danger in two interweaving stories, set in 1664 and between 1939 and 1942.

The Paris underground has always been a dark, foreboding place, so how could a novel set in that location brighten a reader’s day?

My answer is simple: Skylark reveals the heroism that transformed the underground into a refuge for the persecuted.

Plot Summary:

In 1664, Alouette Voland wishes to follow in her father’s footsteps to become a master dyer. She secretly experiments with dyes, seeking to create a lost shade of blue dye. When her father is arrested for treason by his employer, The Gobelin Tapestry Works, she testifies at his trial and is sent to the Salpêtrière asylum, a place where women are treated with extreme cruelty. Along with her allies Marguerite and Sylvine, she plots an escape through the city’s sewers and tunnels.

In 1939, Kristof Larsen arrives in Paris to work in a psychiatric ward. His neighbors, the Brodsky family, befriend him, particularly their young daughter Sasha. When the Nazis begin deporting Jewish residents in 1942, Kristof and Alesander attempt to utilize their knowledge of the labyrinthine Paris catacombs to guide Sasha and other refugees to safety.

Major Characters:

1664 Timeline

• Alouette Voland: The daughter of a master dyer at France’s Gobelin Tapestry Works, she secretly creates forbidden dyes, but her ambition leads to her imprisonment in the brutal Salpêtrière asylum

• Étienne Duchamp: A young quarrier who works in the dangerous limestone mines beneath Paris. He forms a deep romantic connection with Alouette.

• Marguerite: A fellow prisoner at Salpêtrière who chronicles the institution’s horrific abuses against women in a secret ledger

• Sylvine: Another prisoner at Salpêtrière who lost her child to the system; she allies with Alouette and Marguerite in their quest for freedom

1939–1942 Timeline

• Kristof Larsen: A Dutch medical student who specializes in psychiatry because of personal tragedy. He lives in Paris as World War II begins, and eventually risks everything to help his Jewish neighbors escape the Nazi occupation.

• Sasha Brodsky: A precocious 13-year-old Jewish girl. She uses a “memory palace” to help her remember and tell stories, as well as to cope with her family’s persecution during the Nazi roundups.

• Alesander Extebarria: A charismatic Basque architecture student who befriends Kristof and uses his expertise to map the Paris tunnels for the Resistance

• Ursula: An Austrian nurse and Resistance member who works alongside Kristof to save children and patients from the Nazi threat

Strengths:

• Scenes with life-and-death choices and cliff-hanger endings
• Poignant, yet very human characters I cared about
• Well-researched historical background, with a new location and two new subcultures to inhabit and explore
• Insights into the lives of cloth-dyers and female mental patients in bygone times

Weakness:

Frequent shifts between timelines may occasionally disrupt the narrative flow.

Content review:

Both stories contain violence (including sexual) and the mistreatment of powerless individuals and groups by those with power.

My recommendation:

Readers whose sense of adventure motivates them to explore unfamiliar locations and times will find much to love in this suspenseful novel, as I did. It’s a rewarding read for those who can tolerate descriptions of the harsh realities of life and the darker side of social institutions in earlier eras.

Reader, can you recommend a time-slip historical novel you loved? Many thanks to the friend who recommended Skylark to me!

Arrivederci/Until next time,

Colleen
clrpeterson.com

Two Days to Disaster: The Genius of Robert Harris’s Pompeii

by CLR Peterson | Mar 18, 2026 | Book review, Historical novels, Italy, Technology

Greetings, Reading Friend!

Whatever you’ve heard about Pompeii’s disaster from feature films or documentaries, set it aside.

What if the fate of Pompeii depended not on a soldier or emperor, but on an engineer racing against a mountain ready to explode?

In Pompeii, Robert Harris begins his novel just two days before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 and concludes it only four days later. This compressed time frame immediately creates tension, while the strong characters, vivid descriptions, rich historical detail, and masterful suspense reveal Harris’s skill as a storyteller.

Why read a novel set so long ago and far away?

The characters reveal universal human truths, giving readers heroes to root for and villains to despise
Vivid Details, especially descriptions of Vesuvius and the Roman aqueducts, bring the era to life
Enhanced Perspective: If you’ve ever visited Pompeii or plan to do so, this story will enrich your understanding of life in the area near Pompeii and Vesuvius.

Brief Summary:

In A.D. 79, the huge aqueduct (Acqua Augusta) that supplies fresh water to towns across the Bay of Naples begins to fail, and its water engineer disappears.
Attilius, a young Roman engineer, is sent to repair the aqueduct. He must find and replace the faulty part before the reservoir (Piscina Mirabilis) runs dry and the towns lose their water supply in the scorching summer heat.
Arriving in Pompeii, he encounters corruption and powerful enemies, with few local allies to assist him.
He struggles not only to restore the water supply, but to stay alive, especially as Mount Vesuvius awakens, with all its volcanic fury.

Major Characters:

Marcus Attilius Primus (Aquarius)—protagonist, young engineer in charge of the huge aqueduct (Acqua Augusta) that supplied water to towns across the Bay of Naples

Ampliatus—most powerful man in Pompeii; he’s a former slave who made his fortune after the previous volcanic eruption; he attempts to embody the perfect aristocrat through power, imagination, wit, and style

Corax—overseer of laborers who assist Attilius with aqueduct repairs; he challenges and mocks Attilius from the start

Corelia—adolescent daughter of Ampliatus; she recruits Attilius to save a slave whom her father has unjustly sentenced to a torturous death

Pliny—aged admiral of Rome’s naval fleet in the Bay of Naples and a prodigious author (of 37-volume Natural History), he supports Attilius’s quest to repair the aqueduct

Strengths:

Strong plot combining both intelligence and action
Skillful portrayal of suspense and tension
Unique, relatable characters

Weakness:

To be fully appreciated and understood, the novel requires readers’ attention to the basic principles of aqueducts and volcanoes

Content review:

Violence is graphic in a few places; Occasional coarse language and non-consensual intimacy

My recommendation:

If you favor suspenseful, masterfully-written historical novels, and you’re willing to read a bit ‘into the weeds’ to understand key details, you’ll enjoy Pompeii as much as I did.

Reader, can you share a favorite novel or work of non-fiction about Pompeii?

Arrivederci/ Until next time,

Colleen
clrpeterson.com

From Secret Intelligence to Soufflés: How WWII Shaped a Culinary Icon

by CLR Peterson | Feb 17, 2026 | Book review, Historical novels, Women's Struggles, World War II

Greetings Reader Friend!

This month, we discuss a surprising novel based on a little-known part of a famous chef’s life. Readers of a certain age may recognize the name of Julia Child, while younger readers can check youtube for her PBS cooking shows.

The Secret War of Julia Child, by Diana S. Chambers, cover image

How did Julia McWilliams progress from her role as a clerk for the Office of Strategic Services (the CIA’s predecessor) to gathering intelligence in World War II to becoming a celebrity chef and cookbook author?

Did her wartime life in Asia prepare her to dive into French cooking and cookbook writing (as Julia Child, her married name)?

In The Secret War of Julia Child, author Diana R. Chambers addresses these questions, as well as creating an entertaining, fact-based historical novel about Julia’s life, from her early years in Pasadena, California, to her departure from Asia at the close of World War II.

Julia’s “hunger for experience” comes through strongly in the novel—helping to explain why Julia rejected her first serious suitor, why she lobbied her boss to send her to Asia during World War II, and why she sought the most remote, adventuresome assignments during the war.

Chambers sets Julia’s adventures against the backdrop of women’s status in the U.S. in the 1940s—with fewer career opportunities than their male counterparts, most women (including Julia) sought the security of marriage. Julia’s height made her anxious that she wouldn’t find that security. Although she also desired independence, her goal of finding a husband emerges as a clear theme throughout the novel.

Julia views Paul Child in a negative light from their first meeting, when his Jeep splashed her with mud, leaving much change to follow through the novel. Their love story, with all its ups and downs, provides a non-linear thread reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Major Characters:

Julia McWilliams—protagonist; a tall, ambitious young woman who loves to take on challenges, but worries she’ll never find a husband

Paul Child—mapmaker whose brusqueness and apparent self-centeredness initially repel Julia

General “Wild Bill” Donovan: The real-life founder and head of the Office of Strategic Services; he hires Julia as a file clerk and later sends her into the field.

Lord Louis Mountbatten: The British chief of the South-East Asia Command; he’s friendly and polite to Julia, even when she secretly investigates his unit for potential moles

Jemadar Deepak Binoy: An Indian soldier; he’s a fictional character in the novel, highlighting the loyalty and bravery of the diverse personnel Julia encountered in the South Asia theater.

Caro McWilliams—Julia’s mother; she encourages Julia to be a free spirit, but also influences her to find a husband and settle down, fueling Julia’s internal conflict

Jane—a colleague and friend of Julia’s who served with her in Asia; Julia is frequently jealous of Jane’s attractiveness to men

Lieutenant James Mack—Mountbatten’s handsome assistant; he’s Julia’s romantic interest in Ceylon before Paul Child

Strengths:

Chambers immerses readers in the exotic locations of Julia’s experiences in a vivid, breath-taking way, including suspenseful descriptions of the dangers she encountered, both natural and human-caused.

Weakness:

Emphasis on romance seems a bit exaggerated, but this could be an accurate reflection of women’s perspectives in that era

Content Review:

This novel doesn’t shy away from the violence of war (as observed by Julia), or physical intimacy, but neither are portrayed graphically.

My Recommendation:

This novel offers an intriguing window into the years before Julia McWilliams became the Julia Child known to the world, as well as insights into the basic operations of the OSS in World War II. I enjoyed The Secret War of Julia Child, and I would recommend it to both foodies and history buffs.

Reader, can you recommend a novel set in the Asian theater during World War II?

When Beliefs Collide: Courage Under Fire in Tudor England

by CLR Peterson | Jan 17, 2026 | Book review, England, Historical novels, Martin Luther, Netherlands, Reformation

Long before bookseller Kate sets her eyes upon Thomas More, the chancellor of England, she already fears and hates him.

Why?

Discovery of the forbidden English Bibles she sells could send her to the stake.

In The Heretic’s Wife, author Brenda Rickman Vantrease skillfully weaves Kate’s life-or-death choices into this novel set in Tudor England.

The Heretic's Wife, by Brenda Rickman Vantrease, cover image

English Catholics contend with Bible-reading Protestants for the nation’s religious future, and Henry VIII loses patience with the Pope’s refusal to sanction his marriage to Anne Boleyn. In this fraught era, Kate marries John Frith, a Protestant reformer.

As Kate joins her husband in enabling the English people to read the Bible in their native language, they face threats from enemies in the king’s court, as well as Thomas More’s dungeons and torture.

Characters, of course, are at the heart of the story.

Main Characters:

Kate Gough (Kate Gough Frith) – The novel’s protagonist, she’s a fictional London bookseller, from a long line of religious dissenters, who works in her brother John’s bookshop.
John Gough – Kate’s brother, a bookseller who is deeply involved in the underground Lutheran movement
John Frith – A major historical figure and Protestant reformer, he’s Kate’s primary romantic interest.
William Tyndale – Famous historical figure as Bible translator; he’s Frith’s mentor and collaborator in Antwerp.
Sir Thomas More – Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor, uses any available means to keep Protestant ideas (especially English Bibles) out of England.
Henry VIII – The King of England; he set in motion religious turmoil in England in his attempts to annul his first marriage and marry Anne Boleyn.

Supporting cast sympathetic to Reformed religion:

Anne Boleyn – Henry’s second wife
Thomas Cranmer – Future Archbishop of Canterbury
Thomas Cromwell – Henry’s powerful minister, aligned with political reform and, when convenient, with religious reform.
Lady Walsh – A noblewoman who shelters reformers
Endor – A mute, humble servant who offers kindness and comfort to those around her; her life reveals the suffering and lack of justice for common people

Sympathetic to More and Catholicism:

Lady Margaret Roper – Thomas More’s devout daughter

Strengths:

Strong, solid portrayals of the Reformation’s impact on common people (such as Kate’s family and others who endure hardships due to their Reformed beliefs and activities); these balance the well-known, high society characters of Thomas More, Henry VIII, Queen Catherine of Aragon, and Anne Boleyn.
Vivid, accurate historical details of the numerous people and settings in the novel.
In-depth characterization of Thomas More—beyond his one-dimensional portrayal in A Man for All Seasons
Two supporting characters, Endor and Lady Margaret Roper, appealed to me as sympathetic and multi-dimensional.

Weakness:

The complex plot—juggling multiple viewpoints, locations, and timelines—can occasionally disorient readers, though it mirrors the era’s chaos.

Content review:

This novel includes descriptions of torture and violence, as well as physical intimacy.

My Recommendation:

The Heretic’s Wife is perfect for fans of Hilary Mantel seeking suspenseful Reformation stories beyond palace intrigue. If you enjoy immersion in a bygone era with characters, both common folk and the high-born, who sacrifice for their ideals, and if you’d like to witness how the conflicting beliefs of Kate Gough and Thomas More collide in England in the 1500s, I recommend this gripping story.

Reader, can you recommend a novel that shows how the Reformation affected common people?

When Privilege Meets Purpose: A Review of Last Light Over Galveston

by CLR Peterson | Nov 24, 2025 | Book review, Historical novels, U.S. History, Women's Struggles

For a well-bred young lady in 1900, the path to a comfortable life was clear: marry a wealthy gentleman. But what happens when that path clashes with a woman’s own burgeoning sense of justice and morality? This central question lies at the heart of Jennifer L. Wright’s Last Light Over Galveston, my book review choice for this month.

Last Light Over Galveston, by Jennifer L. Wright, cover image

Kathleen, a fictional eighteen-year-old from the Hudson Valley north of New York city, returns home with a new perspective on life after two years at a European finishing school. This creates a major conflict with her father, Lawrence, who raised her to become a genteel wealthy lady.

Kathleen’s presence at both the Croton Dam strike in the spring of 1900 and the Galveston, TX, hurricane of 1900, forces her to choose between her father’s values and her own, changing the direction of her life.

Major Characters:

Kathleen McDaniel—protagonist, young woman seeking her identity; she struggles to reconcile her privileged upbringing with the needy people and world she encounters

Lawrence McDaniel—father of Kathleen, wealthy farmer who hoped to secure his wealth by building a major dam on his land

Wesley Odell—impoverished young man, photographer and first love of Kathleen

Matthew Richter—young meteorologist protégé of Isaac Cline, befriended Kathleen

Theodore Walsh—Businessman recruited by Lawrence McDaniel to help fund dam construction and marry Kathleen

Isaac Cline—Galveston celebrity meteorologist and leading U.S. expert on storms who badly erred in his assessment of Galveston’s hurricane risk

Joseph Cline—brother of Isaac, also a meteorologist who never admitted any role in the Galveston disaster

Mother Camillus Tracy—strict but loving head of St. Mary’s orphanage; she took in Kathleen, in spite of her advanced age for placement in an orphanage

Emily—Kathleen’s roommate at St. Mary’s orphanage; an aspiring nun and inspiration to Kathleen

Maggie—lonely young girl in St. Mary’s orphanage; Kathleen took her under her wing

Strengths:

This novel presents fascinating portrayals of Kathleen’s personal development and the backgrounds of the Croton Dam strike and the Galveston hurricane

Weakness:

Alternating chapters—between Kathleen’s lives in a manor house in New York’s Hudson Valley and in Galveston—may cause confusion for readers

Content review:

Descriptions of the casualties of both the Croton Dam strike violence and the Galveston hurricane are appropriate for mature readers

My Recommendation:

Last Light over Galveston is a powerful reminder of the significant storms that rage within us. It masterfully weaves together the Croton Dam strike and the cataclysmic Galveston hurricane of 1900 with the internal turmoil of a young woman fighting to define her own identity in a world that has already prescribed it for her. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy coming of age stories, especially with inspirational themes, set within the context of historical events.

Reader, can you recommend a book, non-fiction or fiction, about a natural disaster and its impact on individuals?

Can a Saint Plot a Killing? Bonhoeffer’s Moral Dilemma

by CLR Peterson | Oct 23, 2025 | Book review, Germany, Historical novels, Holocaust, World War II

Should a man who participated in plots to kill Adolf Hitler be considered a saint?

Many people who have heard of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian and preacher, regard him as a saint for his courage in speaking out against Hitler and the Nazis.

But did he deserve such accolades?

At the heart of the debate: was Bonhoeffer’s involvement in plots to kill Hitler a sin against God (a violation of one of the 10 Commandments) or a virtuous act to prevent the deaths of millions of innocent people (including many Jews)?

Denise Giardina’s historical novel, Saints and Villains, gives readers an informed opportunity to make their own judgment about Bonhoeffer’s character.

Saints and Villains, by Denise Giardina, cover image

This book is labeled as historical fiction because the author filters a huge collection of facts through her novelist’s mind to create what she calls “a work of the imagination.”

Characters:

Dietrich Bonhoeffer—protagonist; prepared through his childhood (up to age 14) to be a concert pianist, then decided to study theology

Dietrich’s family members:

Karl Bonhoeffer—Germany’s leading psychiatrist; opponent of Freud and psychoanalysis, not religious

Paula—Karl’s wife, daughter of Prussian aristocracy; religiously observant

Christel—his older sister, who marries Hans von Dohnanyi

Sabine—Dietrich’s twin sister

Suse (Baby)—younger sister who Dietrich taught and defended

Karl-Friedrich—oldest brother, not sympathetic to Dietrich

Walter—second-oldest brother (both were conscripted in Great War; Walter dies of wounds)

George Bell, Bishop of Chichester-British pastor and bishop; became Dietrich’s mentor and close friend

Elizabeth—Dietrich’s long-term love interest; her Jewish heritage plays a central role in the novel

Maria von Wedemeyer—Dietrich’s second and much-younger girlfriend and fiancée in his later days

Alois Bauer—abused boy who becomes prominent Nazi and antagonist of Dietrich

Fred Bishop—friend of Dietrich’s at Union Seminary in New York; introduces him to American Black culture

Lasserre—French friend of Dietrich’s at Union Seminary; pastor of a working-class mission in northeastern France

Uncle Rudi (General Rudiger Graf von der Goltz) Paula’s brother-in-law)—looks down on Jews, supports Hitler

Strengths:

Saints and Villains reveals the complexities, strengths and weaknesses of its major characters, while weaving them into a compelling, tension-filled plot.

Weakness:

This novel is rewarding, but not a quick read. Some readers may not have the patience to follow Dietrich through the many situations he encounters.

Content review:

Saints and Villains is a book for mature readers who can handle reading about some of the disturbing things done by the Nazis to silence their enemies and eliminate anyone they disapproved of.

My Recommendation:

Saints and Villains was a satisfying read for me, as it gave me a better understanding of Bonhoeffer, his enemies, and his culture—all while telling a fascinating, haunting story of the consequences of making choices that go against powerful, unrestrained rulers. I recommend it to readers who wish to learn about Bonhoeffer and his cultural context.

Reader, can you recommend a novel or non-fiction book about Bonhoeffer that gives a balanced assessment of his life and legacy?

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