Review By Veronica
The Paris Deception is a captivating and riveting story about two women trying to survive the horror of the second war.
Favourite Quote:
The stench of burning paint reached Sophie’s throat, and though she retched at the acrid taste, she did not turn away. Like everyone else watching from behind the line of soldiers’ rifles, she wasn’t there out of morbid fascination but for posterity, committing the frightening scene to memory. Thousands of works of art—millions of dollars—destroyed.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Sophie Dix fled Stuttgart with her brother as the Nazi regime gained power in Germany. Now, with her brother gone and her adopted home city of Paris conquered by the Reich, Sophie reluctantly accepts a position restoring damaged art at the Jeu de Paume museum under the supervision of the ERR—a German art commission using the museum as a repository for art they’ve looted from Jewish families.
Fabienne Brandt was a rising star in the Parisian bohemian arts movement until the Nazis put a stop to so-called “degenerate” modern art. Still mourning the loss of her firebrand husband, she’s resolved to muddle her way through the occupation in whatever way she can—until her estranged sister-in-law, Sophie, arrives at her door with a stolen painting in hand.
Soon the two women embark upon a plan to save Paris’s “degenerates,” working beneath the noses of Germany’s top art connoisseurs to replace the paintings in the Jeu de Paume with skillful forgeries—but how long can Sophie and Fabienne sustain their masterful illusion?
I love a good historical fiction book, and this book satisfied the historical itch that I’ve had lately. I am always amazed at how authors can find new and exciting ways to approach the second world war. In this case, Bryn brought the art world and the Nazi occupation together and created an interesting story. If you love art and art history, you will adore everything about this book. It was interesting seeing how Parisians fought to keep valuable artwork out of the hands of the Nazis. This secretive and quiet rebellion from some Parisians helped protect numerous artwork pieces from being destroyed by the Nazi Party.
Now I will let readers know that the beginning of this book is a bit slower paced, but when things start to pick up, you will find it hard to put down this book because you will need to know what will happen next. There were a lot of cloak-and-dagger moments in this book as Sophie and Fabienne worked together to replace the paintings at Sophie’s work with forgeries. There are moments in this book that will have you at the edge of your seat and get your heart racing. Both Sophie and Fabienne are wonderful and compelling characters. I always enjoy a character that just feels so real and raw, and Sophie and Fabienne check off those boxes.
The Paris Deception is a masterfully written story that you will not be able to put down.
Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
