Publication Date: October 8, 2026
They thought her husband was a hero. Only she knew the truth…
France 1943: Amelie Garnier loathes the enemy soldiers who occupy their sleepy French village. Forced to work as a secretary for the Nazis, her heart pounds as she speeds through the narrow streets, enemy secrets in her bicycle basket, home to her husband Bruno. Bruno is hailed as a hero for hiding resistance workers in their cellar but only Amelie knows the truth of what goes in their isolated farmhouse. And what danger she is in…
Present day: Longing for a new start away from the tragedy she left in London, Emma arrives at the forlorn honey-coloured farmhouse. Sorting through dusty cupboards, she discovers a sad-eyed wedding photograph of the previous owner, Amelie, and cannot shake the sense that Amelie too has known great grief.
But when she mentions Amelie’s name in the ancient, cobbled square the locals look away and mutter about a devastating betrayal. Emma knows what it feels like to be wrongly judged and is sure she can still feel Amelie’s gentle presence in the rooms of her new home. If Emma brings Amelie’s truth into the light, will she find a path forward from the rawness of her own loss, and hope for a brighter future?
A completely heartbreaking story about bravery and the terrible sacrifice that a heroic woman in war was forced to make. Fans of Kristin Hannah and Fiona Valpy will be swept away by The French Wife.
As Emma moves into a decaying property in France, her curiosity is sparked when she discovers photographs of the previous owners.
Told in dual timelines, author Ann Bennett serves up a heart-wrenching slice of World War II historical fiction in The French Wife.
Amélie Garnier may be forced to work for the Nazis when they occupy her town, but that doesn’t stop her husband’s ill treatment. He may be head of the resistance, but it is Amélie who takes risks.
The author connects the two stories together via the property. Decades after the war, Emma works on restoring the home while digging up clues about Amélie’s tragic story. In the process, Emma finds she is able to let go of her own buried grief while looking toward a future full of new beginnings.
The French Wife provides a tale highlighting a woman’s sacrifice during World War II and her effort to share the truth.
Ann Bennett is the author of several historical novels about the second world war in South East Asia, inspired by her father’s experience as a prisoner of the Japanese on the Thai-Burma railway. She has a Law degree and works full time as a lawyer, but is fascinated by India and South East Asia. Since her early twenties she has spent as much time as possible travelling in the region. She’s married with three sons and lives in Surrey.
