Well written, engrossing historical fiction. Could have used a review by a radio Morse operator of today or the past. Then and now, the mechanism on the radio set that is pressed to transmit Morse, is the "KEY". ( )

I received a copy of The War Pianist from NetGalley and Avon Books UK in exchange for an honest review. Mandy Robotham has done it again, a thoroughly researched and interesting narrative set during the Second World War. I had never heard of the term “pianist” for a radio operator before, their fingers did have to move quickly and they only had a short time to send a coded message. Both of the main characters are focused, realistic, saw things as they were, women who wanted to change the course of the war and did. I highly recommend reading this book if you enjoy WW II historical fiction and Ms. Robothams previous books, The Berlin Girl and The Resistance Girl, and another five star read for me. ( )

Marnie Fern works at the BBC in wartime London. When her beloved grandfather is killed during a bombing raid, she discovers he was a radio transmitter, known as a pianist, assisting the Dutch resistance. She is approached and accepts an offer to take his place, transmitting secret messages to Corrie Bakker, her contact in Amsterdam. She is thrust into a world of intrigue where at any moment lives could be endangered and traitors could be afoot. Who can she really trust?

I have read and enjoyed quite a few of Robotham’s historical fiction works.
While this might not have been my favorite, she is a great story teller. Her books are well researched, tension filled, and engrossing, usually featuring a strong female character. While there is a lot of inhumanity, horror, and sadness in this book, it concludes with a feeling of hope. As a reader, I always want to know “what happened next?”. Her ending answered that question for me.

Thanks to #Netgalley and #avonbooksUK for the ARC. ( )

July, 1940

This gripping and heartbreaking WW11 historical fiction is set in Blitz-ridden London and Nazi-occupied Amsterdam.

In London:

The story tells us how Marnie after the death of her grandfather replaced him at his post and became an undercover radio operator or pianist for the Dutch resistance and set to complete his mission at any cost.

While in Amsterdam:

Fellow pianist Corrie Bakker is at the other end of the wireless and trying to survive caught in a cat and mouse game.

My thoughts:

Powerful and haunting, Ms. Robotham captures the tension and fear in her unique and captivating style. This story is well-written, fast-paced and very suspenseful. With multiple points of views this gripping story of Morse code, adventure, bravery and courage is one of a kind and very hard to put down, it has so much to offer. I was utterly invested in the characters’ lives, they seemed so real. Richly told you can picture the rubble left behind and hear the bombs falling even smell the cordite in the air and the scary marching boots in Amsterdam.

Set in the era I love to read “The War Pianist” ticks all the boxes for me: vivid descriptions, interesting insights in the resistance, wonderful characterization and a compelling storyline that flows very well.

Thank you Avon Books UK and Netgalley for this ARC ( )