"A poignant, thought-provoking and absorbing relationship story reaching beyond actions to examine the consequences of World War II."
This thoughtfully handled story of love, in all its guises, sits on two timelines creating questions and answers as you travel between and the 1940’s and 1960’s. When Elise meets German soldier Sebastian in Paris towards the end of the Second World War, they begin a love that simply can not be tolerated by those around them. Ruth Druart’s debut While Paris Slept was also set within the same field of conflict, yet this has a very different feel. While simply told and handled with gentle generosity and compassion, you shouldn’t expect light and airy as it also squeezes thoughts and feelings in a vice-like grip. Secrets and lies twisted and changed shape as they extended into the future creating contradictory feelings as I read. The sections from the war have a haunting intensity, and clearly affect the later time frame. As the ending settled around me and I read the Author’s Note I heaved an emotional yet satisfied sigh. Dwelling in sadness yet expressing hope, The Last Hours in Paris is a compelling tale and sits as a Liz Pick of the Month.
| Primary Genre | Historical Fiction |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
Win an Escape Challenge and a copy of The Spy and the Snake by M J Robotham
Closing date: 02/08/2026
War brings them together.
Liberation will tear them apart.
A POWERFUL PORTRAIT OF WAR. A HEARTBREAKING STORY OF LOVE. THE EXTRAORDINARY NEW NOVELFROM THE AUTHOR OF WHILE PARIS SLEPT.
Paris 1944. Elise Chevalier knows what it is to love...and to hate. Her fiance, a young French soldier, was killed by the German army at the Maginot Line. Living amongst the enemy Elise must keep her rage buried deep within.
Sebastian Kleinhaus no longer recognises himself. After four years spent fighting a war he doesn't believe in, wearing a uniform he despises, he longs for a way out. For something, someone, to be his salvation.
Brittany 1963. Reaching for the suitcase under her mother's bed, eighteen-year-old Josephine Chevalier uncovers a secret that shakes her to the core. Determined to find the truth, she travels to Paris where she discovers the story of a dangerous love that grew as a city fought for its freedom. Of the last stolen hours before the first light of liberation. And of a betrayal so deep that it would irrevocably change the course of two young lives life for ever.
The Last Hours in Paris features in the following genres: Historical Fiction, Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month, Recommendations, Second World War fiction, Fiction, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Romance / Relationship Stories, War, combat and military adventure fiction, Action Adventure, Fiction: narrative themes
The Last Hours in Paris is available in Paperback, Hardback
The Last Hours in Paris was written by Ruth Druart and published by Headline Review an imprint of Headline Publishing Group
The Last Hours in Paris has 438 pages
£15.29
