The Secret Stealers begins in Washington D.C. during World War II. Anna Cavanaugh is a gifted French teacher but she wants to do more with her life

Do you have what it takes to be a spy? If my cover is being a clumsy, awkward, stressed-out person then I could definitely be a spy.

Review

Anna has recently been widowed and questioning how she can get out of the slump that she is in. Her parents really want her to move back home but Anna is not a fan of that plan. Eventually, Anna wants to return to France but at the moment the country is occupied by Nazis.

Anna has known William Donovan, who was the head of the Office of Strategic Services. He was an actual person who had an amazing career. He hired Anna to work as his personal assistant. She worked her way up to spy training and then as an actual spy. Her goal of going to France might actually happen. Of course, it’s going to be dangerous. She cannot go to a country occupied by Nazis dressed as herself. The OSS creates a backstory for her and trains her before sending her to France.

Anna arrives in France but it has changed with the Nazis hanging out all over the place. She’s willing to risk her life to end the Nazi occupation. Her parents are not excited about this new career as a spy. However, they do eventually come around and are very proud of her. I think her mom still wants her to relax at the beach and read trashy romance novels. It’s a great idea but it’s not the right choice for Anna.

Did you know that Julia Child was a researcher for the Office of Strategic Services? She wasn’t a spy but she helped spies do the spying. Julia Child came up with a shark repellent, which is still used at this very moment. She met her husband through working at the OSS. Spying brought two people together in marriage.

Julia Child is friends with Anna. I didn’t make the connection that it was the Julia until the end. Maybe I shouldn’t tell you but Julia Child might be one of my favorite people of all time. I couldn’t keep it a secret. So maybe I wouldn’t be a good spy after all. hmmmm . . . . Good to know.

Recommendation

If you love stories about women taking charge of their own life and taking the road less traveled, then you will enjoy The Secret Stealers.

If you don’t like Julia Child or if you love Nazis, then you are all mixed up. You should love Julia Child and hate Nazis. Work on it and come back to this book later.

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