I’m a big fan of WWII historical fiction, and while this wasn’t the best I’ve read it was good. It paced itself well and I enjoyed the characters even though there wasn’t a lot of development. I would say I’d you want to read something with a rosier picture than a lot of WWII books this would be a good one to check out.

Thanks to a trusted source, I have just discovered author KAREN ROBARDS who has been a published author since 1981. I have read THE BLACK SWAN OF PARIS, a novel set in France (mostly Paris and Normandy) during the last year of World War II. My only regret is that I did find her books before now. There are several more that I want to read as time allows.

The story follows Genevieve Dumont, a star singer in Occupied Europe in cabarets and music halls, whose signature costume resembles a black swan. She is around 25 years old. She started her career in Morocco a few years before the story begins in May 1944.
Her manager is Max Bonet a handsome and charismatic man. Otto Cordier is her driver/bodyguard. They both have alter egos to their public persona.

Dumont’s parent are Baron Paul and Baroness Lillian de Rocheford from a place near Cherbourg on the Normandy coast, near the soon to be D-Day Beaches. They are members of the French Resistance. Genevieve has a sister, Emmanuelle (Emmy) who is currently living in England (since 1939) with her husband. The Black Swan is estranged from her family and has not seen them for seven years because of a traumatic series of events when she was 18.

Obergruppenfuhrer Claus Wagner is a high-ranking member of the Nazi SS in Paris. He is NOT a nice guy. He is the chief interrogator of spies in France. He is ruthless, relentless and cruel. Outwardly, he is debonair and charming.

Some of the characters are not who they seem to be on the surface. The French Resistance is a major player in the story. There are daring rescues and foiled plots. In a climactic scene in Stuttgart, Germany, revenge is taken for previous malevolent acts.

There is action galore. There are scenes of romance. The characters are well developed. I had a chance in 2011 to visit many of the places mentioned in the story. My memories were rekindled by the descriptions of the places.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. If you love to read stories about WWII, by all means this is for you. There are historical aspects of the story so you will end up smarter than before you read it.

GO! BUY! READ!

If you like WWII stories (because there's a lack of them, haha), this one isn't bad. It has a lot of layers and cracks along at a good clip. Genevieve is a great protagonist and this brings you almost to D-Day so it's a good read.

An OK book, about French civilians under control of the Nazis in WW II. A far better book to read is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.

Better than several other WWII novels that I have read lately. There seemed to be no glaring historical errors. I thought the book could have been edited for a tighter story line, but not bad. Kristi & Abby Tabby

Better than several other WWII novels that I have read lately. There seemed to be no glaring historical errors. I thought the book could have been edited for a tighter story line, but not bad. Kristi & Abby Tabby

This book was just short of perfect for me. It had a bit of everything. Exciting setting, wonderful characters, suspense, a romance, and a captivating story. It is the best fictional WW II book I have read and I have read a lot of them.