Amanda Lees
Out 16th May 2023
WW2 Series Book Three
The Midwife’s Child
Amanda Lees
Auschwitz, January 1945: forced on a terrifying death march from the notorious concentration camp, midwife and former secret agent Maggie must find the strength to protect the tiny baby girl her dying friend left to her care. Only weeks old, little Leah is in terrible danger – from the Nazis, from the freezing weather, from starvation.
So when a company of soldiers led by brave Captain Jamie Maclean rescues the marching women, Maggie’s relief knows no bounds. But it soon turns to astonishment when Jamie vows to help Maggie reunite Leah with her father – he has fallen in love with Maggie, and will do everything in his power to assist her.
Maggie can’t yet trust her own, budding, feelings. But she accepts Jamie’s help, and slowly starts to dream of a life together. Until Maggie gets the news every survivor dreads. The most fearsome Nazi of all, Dr Mengele, the terror of Auschwitz, has escaped – and she may be the only person strong enough to track him down.
Looking at baby Leah’s trusting eyes, Maggie’s heart is torn. But she has to find Mengele and bring him to justice. Can she succeed on the most terrifying mission of her life, when so many others have failed? And if she does, will she find her way back home to the ones she loves, or will the heartbreak of everything she has suffered destroy any chance of happiness, forever?
A compelling and heart-breaking historical novel about sacrifices, determination and love that conquers all. Perfect for readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and The Alice Network, this emotional read will leave you filled with hope.
WW2 Series Book Two
Paris At First Light
Amanda Lees
Paris, 1944: secret agent Juliette is on her most dangerous mission of the war so far. But then her children are kidnapped, and to get them back she may have to commit the ultimate betrayal – that of France itself…
Four years ago, when France fell to the Nazis, Juliette made the ultimate sacrifice, leaving behind her two precious children to join the Resistance and defend her country. Now a spy in Paris, she must work with CaptainDaniel Diaz – an American agent she’s taken an instant dislike to – on a dangerous mission to uncover a deadly Nazi plot.
As the pair play their parts, Juliette begins to see another side to Daniel, and their feelings for each other start to grow. But just as love blossoms, Juliette receives a ransom note that changes everything. Someone in Paris knows who she is. And they’ve kidnapped her little son and daughter. The message is clear: betray your country, or you’ll never see your children alive again.
Juliette has sworn a sacred oath to save France at all costs, but she could never sacrifice her children. So, against all the odds, she decides to attempt the impossible: rescue her children and continue her dangerous work fighting the Nazi threat.
But as the mission forces Juliette and Daniel to the very brink, will they succeed on all fronts? And if not, will France pay the ultimate price, or will Juliette?
A completely gripping and heart-wrenching historical novel about hope, betrayal and one mother’s limitless courage. Perfect for fans of The Alice Network, The Nightingale and My Name is Eva, this epic story will leave you breathless.
Here’s a video review of Paris At First Light by the wonderful Robin.
Do take a look at the rest of her YoutTube channel – it’s a treat!
And here’s Robin’s video review for The Silence Before Dawn
WW2 Series Book One
The Silence Before Dawn
Amanda Lees
Nazi-occupied France, 1944: I tear open the envelope, extracting a sheet of folded paper. I read it, my heart cracking with every word. There is no mistaking the name of the man who betrayed us. Jack. My beloved fiancé – and now, a traitor.
For months, Marianne’s resistance network has carried out courageous missions from a remote farmhouse in southern Provence, aiding the Nazis’ downfall. But one fateful night, they are viciously ambushed as German soldiers storm in, scattering, capturing or killing every last person there.
Mourning the loss of her friends, Marianne will need every ounce of courage to survive. Not only has her life as a secret agent been critically compromised, but her heart has been shattered. Because Jack, her darling fiancé and fellow spy, fled in the chaos – and is accused of being the traitor who betrayed them.
Desperate to believe Jack’s innocence and that their love was true, to her horror Marianne discovers he has been seized by the Butcher of Lyon, a Nazi more brutal and ruthless than any other. Now it is more imperative than ever that Marianne finds Jack – before he reveals the names of every undercover agent in France, or before he is murdered for remaining loyal.
So Marianne sets out on the most dangerous mission of her life, and the most personal. With her tight-knit group of fellow women agents by her side, she risks everything to rescue Jack. Can she save her fiancé before it’s too late – and change the fate of the war in the process? Or is she blind to the heart-breaking truth, and simply sacrificing her own life?
Based on true stories of the fearless women secret agents – and their tales of bravery, betrayal and love – this is the first book in the heart-pounding, heart-wrenching and totally addictive World War Two Resistance series. Perfect for readers of The Nightingale, All the Light We Cannot See and Ellie Midwood.
Best Selling Author
Amanda Lees
Amanda was born in Hong Kong and survived both a convent boarding school and a Jesuit boys’ school before being summarily ejected from the latter.
She gets her thirst for adventure from her parents who met in the jungle in Borneo where her mother had set up a hospital and her father, a former Gurkha Intelligence officer and Oxford-educated spy, was probably up to no good.
From Aconite To The Zodiac KIller
A Dictionary of Crime
Amanda Lees
From Aconite to the Zodiac Killer is an essential, go-to resource for readers and even for writers of crime fiction. More than simply a glossary, this is a guide that provides a doorway into a supergenre, and one that is not just for readers, but also for the many fans of film and TV dramas, of podcasts, and crime blogs. It is also an indispensable resource for writers or would-be writers of crime fiction.
This is an indispensable guide for fans of true crime and crime fiction, whether in books, films or on TV, who want to look behind the crime…
If you want to know how many murders it takes for a killer to be defined as a serial killer, what Philip Marlowe means when he talks about being ‘on a confidential lay’ and why the ‘fruit of a poisonous tree’ is a legal term rather than something you should avoid on a country walk, this is the reference book you’ve been waiting for.
Other Books
Kumari, Goddess of Gotham
The first book in the Kumari trilogy
Nominated for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize and the Doncaster Book Award
"A magnificent debut full of wit and humour..."
"A powerful and touching novel..."
Kumari, Goddess of Secrets
The second book in the Kumari trilogy
"Terrific blend of fantasy, wit and adventure..."
"Kumari is a gusty heroine riding an entertaining rollercoaster of life..."
Kumari. Goddess of Destiny
The third book in the Kumari trilogy
"A brilliant fusion of fantasy and contemporary comedy that adults and children will both enjoy immensely."
"A thrilling page-turner of a book..."
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
- Maya Angelou
Meet Amanda
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Out Now!
WW2 Resistance Series Book 1
The Silence Before Dawn
Amanda Lees
“This book is the first book in a historical fiction series, and what a brilliant start it was to the series. A story of courageous and brave women working for the resistance in France during World War Two.
The Author has written an absolute page turner of a read and I was so caught up in this amazing story I honestly didn’t want to do anything else until I’d finished the book. This is one I highly recommend to fans of historical fiction. Bring on the second book in the series!”
“The Silence Before Dawn' is a face paced book set in the closing stages of WWII. From the first page, this book is all action: espionage, double-crossing, and of course a dash of love.
Marianne, the central protagonist, is a trained SOE, leading a team of men in occupied France. In the lead-up to their final mission, it appears there is a mole in their midst. Uncovering the mole, while keeping the Gestapo off their trail and, of course, completing their mission takes careful planning and a whole lot of guts. Marianne's character has a similar spunk to real-life SOE, Nancy Wake (aka White Mouse).
Amanda Lees does a fantastic job weaving elements of real, incredible women working as SOEs into a pacy, packed story. Throughout, I kept thinking I must be nearing the end of the book as so much had happened, only to find I was nowhere near to it (and had no idea what could or would come next).”
“In this thrilling historical fiction by Amanda Lees, Marianne is part of a group of resistance fighters during World War II. It is Nazi occupied France and Marianne is the leader of a network that is working hard to bring the Nazi's down. Despite their hard work, however, there appears to be a traitor among them.
What an amazing book and an excellent start to a new series. There were so many countries affected by World War II and the author focuses this story on France, all well telling various stories, that of Marianne, Jack, and their past, as well as the efforts to stop Klaus Barbie and how far one of her team members is willing to go to accomplish their objectives.”
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The Midwife’s Child Is Out Today!
The latest in my WW2 series of books, The Midwifes Child, is out today and getting stellar reviews. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed it or bought a copy so far - we had a huge number of preorders which is wonderful. If you don't have a copy yet, you can get one...
The Midwife’s Child Review by Christine @stamperlady50
This is the 3rd book in the Resistance Series, but can be read as a standalone. I loved all of these books. The first one was The Silence Before Dawn, followed by Paris at First Light and now this one The Midwife’s Child. Auschwitz in 1945-Maggie is in Auschwitz...
The Story Behind The Silence Before Dawn
I had long been thinking of writing a spy series set in the Cold War, partly because my father, who died when I was three, was a spy during that time. That began to change during the pandemic when I saw ordinary people doing so many extraordinary things above and...