Review of 'The Paris Promise' by Suzanne Kelman
Review of 'The Paris Promise' by Suzanne Kelman
Release date: May 20, 2025
Publisher: Bookouture
REVIEW
Suzanne Kelman has delivered another emotionally charged WW2 novel that burrowed deep into my heart and made me experience every reaction imaginable. I was extremely impressed by the expressive writing and the many twists and turns throughout. Suzanne has a real talent in conveying the brokenness and suffering of the victims during the crushing Nazis period in history. We see the courage of women who fought for freedom through her vivid descriptions, dialogue and well formed characters. The Resistance, made up of both men and women, was a dedicated group of individuals who made many sacrifices to keep their families safe and to push back the darkness that surrounded them. It was a horrifying time in history and The Paris Promise shows us how frightening it really was for the victims. And making decisions would have been hard. For every action had the potential to unleash more horrors.
I appreciated the dual timeline approach in telling this story for each provides a clear picture of events. They help us slip into the shoes of the characters. The past of 1940’s is told through Antoinette, who is caught up in a terrible dilemma. She is a virtuoso violinist called upon to perform for the Nazis. Her husband Renee, the love of her life, is a musician as well. When they are torn apart, she vows to find and rescue him. And it is a promise she is determined to keep. She also has a son who is in danger and she must do all she can to protect him. This leads her into the Resistance and doing things she never would have considered before. But her love for her family and country fuel her determination. We learn of her astounding courage and the gifts she leaves behind: a violin and compass to direct those she loves to hope and revelation.
When Deanna inherits her grandmother’s violin, she is discovers it is a valuable instrument with a mystery behind it. This gift leads her on a mission to uncover the story of Antoinette’s life. What she learns shocks and unsettles her. And while on this quest for truth, she meets people she is not sure are friends or enemies. But she is guided by her friend Felicity who provides great support and valuable information during this complex search. It was fascinating to watch the mystery at the heart of this novel unfold. There were some hair-raising moments for Deanna that had me perched on the edge of my seat! Not to mention the startling trauma of Antoinette seen through her vivid account. A woman who stared hatred in the face and defied it.
This is a powerful story of secrets, tribulation, revenge, duplicity, deception, manipulation and remorse. But it is also about forgiveness, hope, healing, love, triumph, understanding and resilience. The polar opposites of humanity are on display: the capabilities of humans to be either good or evil. The extremes are seen during wartimes but also the shadows and greys that are etched into the edges of truth. And sometimes out of a bad situation, good things can materialise. Life is not always black and white. When good people are forced into bad situations, they are forced to make decisions and actions they never would have imagined.
This novel made me think about so many things. And the characters were brilliant and clearly drawn. It was easy to love certain ones and be appalled by others. Once I started The Paris Secret I could not stop as I wanted desperately to see what was going to happen on Deanna’s and Antoinette’s journeys. And when the past crosses into the present, it is downright scary!
There are a number of wise lines throughout that support the encompassing theme, such as: ‘Sometimes the greatest act of love is knowing when to let go…’
Well done to Suzanne Kelman for such a magnificent story that sings of lasting love, resilient hope and restored beauty from ashes. This is a top WW2 fiction novel that cannot be missed. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.
