When journalist Ella Franks is unmasked as a woman writing under a male pseudonym, she loses her job. But having risked everything to write, she refuses to be silenced and leaps at the chance to become a correspondent in war-torn France.
Already entrenched in the thoroughly male arena of war reporting is feisty American photojournalist Danni Bradford. Together with her best friend and partner, Andy, she is determined to cover the events unfolding in Normandy. And to discover the whereabouts of Andy’s flighty sister, Vogue model Chloe, who has followed a lover into the French Resistance.
When trailblazing efforts turn to tragedy, Danni, Ella and Chloe are drawn together, and soon form a formidable team. Each woman is determined to follow her dreams “no matter what,” and to make her voice heard over the noise of war.
Europe is a perilous place, with danger at every turn. They’ll need to rely on each other if they are to get their stories back, and themselves out alive. Will the adventure and love they find be worth the journey of their lives?
My Review
The background to this story about American women struggling to be accepted as journalists is the true life of Martha Gellhorn, wife of Ernest Hemingway, who accompanied the troops in Italy but denied access to the Normandy landings, smuggled herself on board a hospital ship in order that she could witness the D-day landings.
In the scenes on Omaha beach in The Last Correspondent we witness the horror and mayhem realistically through the eyes of experienced photo-journalist Danni and her companion, journalist Ella, who is at the beginning of her career. Tragedy draws them together and they do their best to send home accurate reports of the war as well as seeking out Chloe, their friend’s sister who is missing in France. At times there seems to be too much coincidence and romantic feelings but wartime certainly made emotions more intense.
Driving into occupied France without authorisation proves to be as dangerous as you might expect but the intensity of carnage and suffering is suitably shocking. Despite my reservations about the accuracy of certain events I really enjoyed reading this thrilling, eventful story. Miss Lane tells a compelling tale.
The Last Correspondent on Amazon UK
Lizanne lost in a good book 