Title: Uma Espia no Meu Passado
Author: Lucinda Riley
First published August 1, 2012
496 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9789892323619 (ISBN10: 9892323610)
Rating: 4.24
Overview
The book Uma Espia no Meu Passado by Lucinda Riley is a gripping tale that takes readers on a journey through time and across continents. In 1998, Émilie faces her aristocratic past head-on when she inherits her family’s imposing castle on the Côte d’Azur.
As she tries to unravel the mysteries left behind by her mother, she discovers a secret room beneath the cellar and a touching poetry notebook signed by a mysterious Sophia. Questions arise about the tragic love affair that changed her family’s history forever.
In 1943, during the height of World War II, the inexperienced Constance is recruited by British intelligence and sent to Paris to spy for the Resistance. When an incident separates her from her contact, she takes refuge with an aristocratic family that entertains Hitler’s elite while plotting to free their country.
In a city full of spies, Constance must decide whom to trust with her heart.
Separated by half a century, Constance and Émilie are tied together by secrets that pulse with the need for redemption. With a mix of historical intrigue and family drama, Uma Espia no Meu Passado is a must-read for fans of Lucinda Riley’s work.
About the Author
Lucinda Riley, also known as AKA Lucinda Edmonds, had an early career in acting before turning to writing at the age of twenty-four. Her books have reached worldwide success, having been translated into thirty-seven languages and sold over thirty million copies.
She has achieved No.1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller status.
One of Lucinda’s most popular works is The Seven Sisters series, which follows the lives of adopted sisters and draws inspiration from the mythology of a well-known star cluster. The series has become a global phenomenon, selling over fifteen million copies and achieving No.1 bestseller status worldwide.
Lucinda split her time between the UK and a farmhouse in West Cork, Ireland, where she wrote her books alongside her family.
Editoral Review
Uma Espia no Meu Passado by Lucinda Riley is a gripping work of historical fiction. The book was first published on August 1, 2012, and it has since been translated into several languages, including English.
This book is the latest addition to Lucinda Riley’s popular Seven Sisters series, which explores the lives of seven sisters who were adopted by the same wealthy parents but grew up in different parts of the world. Riley is a bestselling British author who is known for her elaborate family sagas and her ability to weave together multiple storylines that span several decades.
Set in Paris in the 1930s, Uma Espia no Meu Passado tells the story of a young woman named Paulette who is recruited by the French Resistance to spy on the German army during World War II. Paulette, who is half-French and half-English, agrees to become a spy to avenge her sister who was killed in a bombing raid.
With the help of her handler, Henri, Paulette gains access to valuable intelligence that helps the Resistance fight against the Nazi regime. However, as the war drags on, Paulette’s loyalties are put to the test, and she must decide whom to trust and whom to betray.
One of the strengths of this book is the character development. Riley has a talent for creating complex, nuanced characters who are both flawed and relatable.
Through Paulette’s eyes, we see the dark side of human nature during wartime, as well as the resilience and courage of ordinary people who risked their lives for the greater good. The secondary characters are equally well-drawn, each with their own backstory and motivation.
In addition, the book’s pacing is excellent, with enough plot twists and turns to keep the reader engaged until the very end. One of the weaknesses of Uma Espia no Meu Passado is its predictability.
While there are moments of suspense and surprise, the overall plot is somewhat formulaic, and readers who are well-versed in the historical fiction genre might find some of the plot points familiar. In addition, the book’s themes, such as the nature of loyalty and the futility of war, are not particularly groundbreaking, though they are explored with sensitivity and nuance.
Overall, Uma Espia no Meu Passado is a compelling and well-written book that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and family sagas. Although the plot is not particularly original, the characters are memorable, and the setting is vividly rendered.
Readers who enjoy novels about World War II France or books set in Paris in the 1930s will find much to enjoy here. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a satisfying, entertaining read that is also thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.
I give this book a solid four out of five stars.
