An unforgettable wartime novel about loyalty, honour and the unbearable cost of choosing a side, perfect for readers of The Rose Code, All the Light We Cannot See, and The Nightingale

Munich, 1938. Europe is on the brink of war when Julia 'Missie' Ormesby, a young Englishwoman, meets Conrad von Echlau, a German aristocrat whose conscience is increasingly at odds with the country he serves.

Their connection is instant, consuming — and impossible.

As Germany darkens under Nazi rule, Missie and Conrad are pulled apart by history. He remains bound to the Luftwaffe, while she returns to England, where her fluency in German leads her to Bletchley Park and the hidden world of enemy intelligence.

But when Conrad is chosen for a secret German mission, the war brings them back into each other’s orbit in the most devastating way.

Now Missie must confront the truth: the man she once loved is no longer just a memory. He is part of the enemy war machine. And as Britain’s intelligence chiefs close in, love, duty and country collide.

'This is a startingly brilliant first novel' Tom Bradby
‘This stunning novel will stay with you long after you turn the last page’ Lucy Foley
'A heart-stopping thriller, a heart-breaking love story, and a heroine to die for. I loved it’ Kate Mosse

© Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026