Book review of A Week in Paris by Rachel Hore

A Week in Paris by Rachel Gore

My review today is for A Week in Paris the latest novel from Rachel Hore.

This is an historical novel set in Paris in 1937, in the years during The Occupation and in the 1960’s. When pianist Kitty Travers arrives in 1937 to study at the Conservatoire she has no idea her life is about to change forever. She meets an American doctor, they fall in love, get married and just as their family is settling into life in Paris war breaks out. Her life soon becomes a struggle for survival in a time of lies, secrets and injustices.

In the 1960’s, violinist Fay Knox arrives in Paris to tour with her orchestra for a week. Paris feels familiar despite her barely knowing the city and it isn’t long before she starts to unlock a dark secret that threatens to rock her childhood and make her question her memories and her Mother’s decisions. However, will discovering the truth help her Mother recover from a breakdown?

This book quickly became a real page-turner as we jumped from the sixties to the war years and back again. The characters were strong, likable and I really enjoyed the sense of mystery that slowly unravelled throughout the book. Paris portrayed at her difficult times came alive and there was a great link between the injustices of The Occupation and the Algerian issues of the sixties. I’m sure any lovers of historical fiction, especially the Second World War, would love this novel.

A Week in Paris is available in paperback and ebook format. Links to Amazon can be found below.