*AD-gifted: I received a copy of The Girl Across The Wire Fence in exchange for this post. Affiliate links are marked with a *
Today it’s my stop on the tour for *The Girl Across The Wire Fence by Imogen Matthews. A gripping story of love, betrayal and courage set in the times of World War II. Read on for my full review.
Book Description
1944, Amersfoort Concentration Camp, Holland. Based on a true story, the unforgettable tale of two young lovers who risked everything to keep hope alive in the very depths of hell.
On a cold, dark day in a tiny Dutch village, Saskia and her boyfriend Frans watch as Nazi soldiers force thousands of prisoners towards Amersfoort Concentration Camp. Their hearts break as they see the desperate faces of innocent men and women and realise that the war is closer to them than it’s ever been before…
Saskia’s father’s shop is raided when the guards suspect that he is Jewish, and Frans is soon forced to enter the concentration camp every day to collect scraps of food as it’s the only way to feed the animals on his family’s farm. But despite the growing fear the couple feel, when a prisoner begs Frans to send a letter to his beloved reassuring her he is alive, they know they must risk everything to help him. They smuggle his letter out, right under the noses of the Nazis. And eventually they ferry hundreds of messages for prisoners, bringing them hope in the darkest moments of their lives.
But every letter Frans gets out of the camp puts him in even more danger.
And every reply Saskia manages to collect is a risk.
And then Saskia is led into Kamp Amersfoort and is forced to wear a yellow star.
Inside, she cannot ignore the pain of the other prisoners, and Frans knows she will be putting herself in more danger to help them – attracting the attention of the guards. The couple know they must act. Everyone says it’s impossible to escape the camp, but it’s the only option they have left. Their love has kept them together but is it enough to help them survive?
What I Thought
I’m obsessed with the World War II historical fiction genre at the moment. I’ve read quite a few recently and they have all been really good. The Girl Across The Wire Fence is no exception. It focuses on the bravery and strength of a young couple in love – Saskia and Frans. Based on a true story this novel shares will us the courage of the people who smuggled prisoners’ letters in and out of Kamp Amersfoort concentration camp in Holland.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, as it gave me a real insight into the sad conditions inside Dutch concentration camps. It was superbly written with amazing characters that showed us that good can win the fight. I would give it 6 stars if I could! Looking forward to discovering more of Imogen Matthew’s books!
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the copy.
Author Bio
Imogen Matthews is an Oxford-based, award-winning author and journalist with an interest in forgotten stories from WW2 Holland. Imogen was born in Rijswijk, Holland, to a Dutch mother and English father who moved the family to England when Imogen was very young. All her life, she listened to her mother’s stories about her life in Holland, in particular the hardships she faced during the Hunger Winter in 1944-5, which has had a profound impact on her writing.
Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ImogenMatthews3
Website: www.imogenmatthewsbooks.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxfordnovelist
Where Can I Buy?
Available to buy from *Amazon.
Book On Tour
Here is a list of the other bloggers on The Girl Across The Wire Fence tour. Why not head over and check out their reviews!
Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you’ve enjoyed this review. You can check out my bookcase of past reviews here.
I do enjoy stories about the Second World War and this looks particularly interesting. I will have to add it to my tar pile (which grows ever larger)!
Another beauty Thankyou for the fab review – I’ll be getting soon