The French Agent

Officially World War II is over but for Sabine Brouillette, a former member of the French Resistance, the battle continues to bring to justice to those who betrayed her country to the Germans. When she discovers that a member of the SOE who worked closely with her group of partisans was the person who betrayed them she is determined to track him down, even if it means travelling to the other side of the world.

In Sydney Diana White is waiting for the return of her husband who served with the RAF during the war. As well as looking after their seven year old son, Freddy, Diana is a landscape gardener involved in a number of exciting new projects. There is a severe housing shortage in Sydney and Diana wants to ensure that new large scale developments factor in the environment in the initial planning. Diana is looking forward to having Caspar home again with his family but when he returns it is obvious that something is definitely wrong.

The French Agent by Belinda Alexandra portrays a picture of the struggle of the resistance fighters in France as they fought the Germans and also attempted to protect their families and friends. It is largely a story of loss. It is also a story of politics as countries realign their allegiances due to changing threats to the nation - in this case the impending Cold War. How the experience of war affects not only those who were fighting but also the lives of family members if they return home is a theme of the book. The importance of preserving our bush and garden landscapes as housing developments move further away from the city is another theme.

Belinda Alexandra has provided the reader with another novel providing a perspective of the affects of war on the lives of ordinary people. Unfortunately many of the issues are still very relevant in 2023.

Sapphire Skies

The gym that I go to is not only for exercise - from time to time it also involves discussions about books or films. Two of my 'gym buddies' were recently discussing  books by the Australian author, Belinda Alexandra, so I decided to read her latest novel, Sapphire Skies.

Belinda Alexandra's mother is Russian which helps to explain her interest in that country and the setting for this book. Lily is an Australian living in Russia. Her partner, Adam, had died from cancer and Lily decided to escape Sydney for a time as she readjusted to a life without Adam. After a bomb exploded in the underground railway near her work, Lily discovers that an elderly lady that she had befriended has been injured. Lily and her landlady, Oksana, look after the lady, who is reluctant to reveal her name, and her dog. Over time the secret of the elderly lady's life is revealed.

The story is told from several viewpoints. We learn of the life of the flying ace Natalya Azarov through the memories of Valentin Orlov and also from Natalya's perspective. Initially I found it difficult to become involved in the story as the first chapters jump from events in 2000 to events in the 1930s and back again and involved different stories - the discovery of a plane downed during World War II, Lily's life in Moscow and Natalya's life prior to the Second World War. Eventually the pattern of the stories become interwoven and the story of the role of female pilots during the war and the political intrigue when Stalin ruled Russia is powerfully portrayed. As Natalya's story is revealed Lily also comes to terms with the challenges in her life. Sapphire Skies is a novel but it introduces the reader to the horror of aspects of Russia's recent history. However it is also a story of survival and of love.