The French Gift by Kirsty Manning

 This was another traumatic novel, set in The Second World War this time. I found this one extremely harrowing, and rather heavy-going, but I will try more of Kirsty Manning's books. I much preferred Ellen Feldman's writing, though.

This was a time-slip novel, featuring the stories of three strong women - Evie, Margot and Josephine. Evie, a young widow and curator, is anxious to find out the true tale of her late husband's great-aunt, Josephine. What did she do during the war? Why did she disappear? She is helped by an attractive man, but wary of getting too close to him. Her 'holiday' on the Riviera with her son becomes a search for the truth in a tribute to her husband.

Josephine, incredibly brave, works for the Resistance in Paris. Unfortunately, she falls into the clutches of the Nazis who send her to the notorious Phrix Rayon factory, where she faces horrific working conditions in a chemically-fueled nightmare. (I can guarantee that you will think twice about buying rayon again after reading this book!) She shares her cell with Margot,a maid who worked for a family at a villa in the Riviera, who has been accused of murder.

I liked the dramatic beginning, the lyrical descriptions of the French Riviera and the historical setting. The information about Agnes Humbert and the factory was interesting, although I read her book a long time ago. There is also a useful bibliography.

I read this novel for Rose City Reader's TBR 23 for '23 Challenge.