Natasha Lester's gripping historical novel The Mademoiselle Alliance observes the French resistance through the eyes of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, who transformed herself from socialite to fearless spy leader. The only woman to lead a resistance network in Nazi-occupied France, Marie-Madeleine operated with strategy, daring, and instinct--driven by deep patriotism and motivated, always, by love.
Lester (The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard) opens her narrative with Marie-Madeleine's prewar persona: an adventurous socialite who adores her children but chafes against her husband's strictures. As war comes to France, Marie-Madeleine joins a mysterious network gathering vital intelligence to undermine the Nazis and their Vichy collaborators. Lester shares details of tactics, sabotage, and all-important radio transmissions, connecting Marie-Madeleine's work to that of MI6 in London. But in wartime, courage can come at a terrible price, and Marie-Madeleine must carry out her dangerous work despite fearing for her operatives, her children, and Léon Faye, the fellow agent she loves.
Lester illustrates the contradictory aspects of Marie-Madeleine's life as a brilliant field agent and as a woman. Though she was bold and cunning, she was also daunted by the weight of her responsibilities and faced sexism from her male colleagues. She was confident in her ability to lead but also longed to be seen and loved. Lester weaves these threads--mother, leader, field agent, feminist--into an intricate tapestry depicting an extraordinary life of heroism, nerve, and sacrifice. The Mademoiselle Alliance is a worthy tribute to a woman whose clandestine work helped ensure that her beloved France regained its freedom. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams