The Paris Deception
Author: Bryn Turnbull
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: MIRA
Release Date: 2023
Pages: 434
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: From internationally bestselling author Bryn Turnbull comes a breathtaking novel about art theft and forgery in Nazi-occupied Paris, and two brave women who risk their lives rescuing looted masterpieces from Nazi destruction.
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?
My Review: Sophie Dix is a German who fled the country during the takeover of the Nazi regime. She works at a museum in Paris where she restores art artifacts. She has an estranged sister-in-law, Fabienne who is a Bohemian artist. During the Nazi occupation of Paris, the two women will embark on a dangerous journey to save art. They will hide the original paintings and forge them to protect the original collections. How long can these women manage to sustain their forgeries?
I found both Sophie and Fabienne to be very compelling figures. They have both lost loved ones. Therefore, I found them to be very sympathetic. I also thought that their emotions felt very real. They feel sorrow and bitterness. I could connect with them. I also admire their bravery as they risk their lives to save art. Thus, these women face the challenges of protecting their love of art and their loved ones. I could not help but be invested in their story and see how it would end. I love how both Fabienne and Sophie had true grit.
Overall, this novel is about courage, loss, war, and art. I did not care for the other characters. They felt very flat and some of them were very cliche. I also thought that The Paris Deception was very slow moving. It took me halfway through the story until I was drawn into it. Nevertheless, I did like how the book ended. I also thought The Paris Deception was eloquently written and filled with vivid imagery of the Nazi occupation of Paris! It showed the grim realities of war and did not sugarcoat it! I recommend this for fans of The Rose Code, The Stolen Lady, and Chateau of Secrets!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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