The Instant #1 Bestseller
The #1 bestselling author of Looking for Jane returns with a poignant, gripping novel about a pianist in Berlin on the cusp of WWII and a choice she makes that echoes across generations.
Sometimes the best place to hide is the last place anyone would look…
Northern England, 2010
After a tragic accident upends her life, Kate Mercer leaves London to work at an old guest house near the Scottish border, where she hopes to find a fresh start and heal from her loss. When she arrives, she begins to unravel the truth about her past, but discovers the mysterious elderly proprietor is harbouring her own secrets…
Berlin, 1938
Audrey James is weeks away from graduating from a prestigious music school in Berlin, where she’s been living with her best friend, Ilse Kaplan. As she prepares to finish her piano studies, Audrey dreads the thought of returning to her father in England and leaving Ilse behind. Families like the Kaplans are being targeted as war in Europe threatens.
When Ilse’s parents and brother suddenly disappear, two high-ranking Nazi party members confiscate the Kaplans’ upscale home, believing it to be empty. In a desperate attempt to keep Ilse safe, Audrey becomes housekeeper for the officers while Ilse is forced into hiding in the attic—a prisoner in her own home. Tensions rise in the house and the chance of survival diminishes by the day. When a shocking turn of events pushes Audrey to become embroiled in cell of the anti-Hitler movement – clusters of resisters working to bring down the Nazis from within Germany itself – Audrey must decide what matters most: saving herself, protecting her friend, or sacrificing everything for the greater good.
Inspired by true stories of two courageous women and the German resistance during WWII, this is a captivating novel about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the healing that comes from human connection.
Buy it Now
Canada | UK | USA
Praise for The Secret History of Audrey James
“A fascinating and moving story of courage, sacrifice, and friendship, The Secret History of Audrey James draws from real historical events to remind us of the power of standing up for what we believe in, and of the way love can shape the course of our lives.”
Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Daughter
“Deeply researched, beautifully written, and effortlessly weaving the narrative threads, this book reveals Marshall to be one of the finest novelists working in the genre.”
Janet Somerville, The Toronto Star
“An epic tale of unsung female heroes, whose courage and daring sing out on the page in all their deserved glory. A historical page-turner written with wisdom and compassion, an expert blending of past with present, and a truly unforgettable novel from one of my favourite authors!”
Marissa Stapley, New York Times bestselling author of the Reese’s Book Club pick Lucky
“Heather Marshall firmly establishes both her commitment to sharing women’s untold stories and the intricate power of her craft. Gripping, haunting, and inspiring, The Secret History of Audrey James is historical fiction full of meaning and heart, and an unforgettable account of the profound impact of sacrifice and survival across generations.”
Natalie Jenner, internationally bestselling author of Every Time We Say Goodbye
“The Secret History of Audrey James is a poignant reminder that we never know what pain, sacrifice, and courage hide beneath the surface of loved ones until we start taking an interest in their stories. Heather Marshall’s latest novel is emotionally charged and brutally beautiful. Audrey and Kate will steal your heart and keep you reading into the night.”
Janet Skeslien Charles, internationally bestselling author of The Paris Library and Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade
“A deeply felt novel about all that matters most in our lives: friendship, love, personal bravery, and the hidden history of home. Marshall masterfully illuminates lost-to-time history, a page-turning mystery, courageous women, and the sacrifice for love. With the heartbeat of friendship in every page, traveling from London to the Netherlands, to Germany and through the perils and prisons of WWII, Marshall brings to life the women who must decide what they will surrender for those they love. The Secret History of Audrey James is historical fiction at its most immersive.”
Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea
“The Secret History of Audrey James is an artfully composed narrative that draws out a bittersweet melody of courage, endurance, and connection across generations. Audrey and Kate’s bond shows us that, even in the face of profound loss, our loved ones live on through the stories we tell. In another exploration of resilient women confronting systemic oppression, Heather Marshall reaffirms her place as a formidable storyteller and a writer to watch.”
Ellen Keith, bestselling author of The Dutch Orphan
“A captivating and gripping tale told with vivid prose and a deeply emotional heart. It is impossible not to be moved by this stunning story of loss and grief, resilience and bravery, acceptance and forgiveness, friendship and love. . . Inspired by real women and events, Marshall has masterfully mixed fact with fiction and breathed life into people the history books forgot. A dazzling second novel from this talented writer and I am excited to read whatever she pens next!”
Louise Fein, bestselling author of Daughter of the Reich
“Heather Marshall’s The Secret History of Audrey James is a poignant tale of friendship, the unbreakable bonds of family—both blood and chosen—and the irrefutable strength of women. The novel is full of heart, pluck and hope, and Marshall is a writer who deeply understands what moves readers. This is storytelling at its best.”
Karma Brown, #1 bestselling author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife
“A deeply affecting novel about love, loss, and guilt across multiple generations.”
Caroline Bishop, author of The Other Daughter
“Heather Marshall’s range is astonishing! With compassionate insight, deft characterization and a staggering depth of historical research, The Secret History of Audrey James is a moving written symphony. Not only a harrowing snapshot of history but a portrait of women driven by talent and ambition striking a stark contrast against the travesties of war. Readers of Kristin Harmel and Pam Jenoff will be dazzled. As readable as it is intelligent, The Secret History of Audrey James is a splendour of a sophomore novel.”
Rachel McMillan, author of The Mozart Code and The Liberty Scarf
“A beautifully researched story about friendship, bravery, and resistance. Well-drawn characters, a compelling plot, and friends risking their lives for each other. Historical fiction fans, don’t miss this one!”
Andie Newton, USA Today bestselling author of A Child for the Reich
“The Secret History of Audrey James is a gripping read right to the end . . . a study in the enduring power of women’s friendships and their resourcefulness at a time when Hitler had relegated women to ‘Kinder, Kűche, Kirche’ – children, kitchen, and church.”
Roberta Rich, #1 bestselling author of The Midwife of Venice and The Jazz Club Spy
“The Secret History of Audrey James, Heather Marshall’s engrossing follow-up to her bestselling debut Looking for Jane, shines just as bright. Once more she introduces us to brave women caught in history’s pull, women who come to heal one another in unexpected ways. Heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure, this is a tender, sensitive page-turner that will have you rooting for Audrey and Kate to beat the odds.”
Margaret DeRosia, bestselling author of Eight Strings
“The lives of history’s survivors converge in this multigenerational novel of love and loss… Both women’s stories lay bare the burden on survivors of tragedy and bring to light the restorative power of shared narratives. In her second novel, Marshall uses themes of friendship and survivor’s guilt to weave a fast-paced story. Written in a style akin to Kristin Hannah’s, Audrey and Kate’s story is a valuable addition to WWII historical fiction.”
Booklist (starred review)