Code Name: Lise (Unabridged)
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3.6 • 346 Ratings
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
A Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist
Florida Book Awards Silver Medalist
Featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Time, New York Newsday, and on Today!
Best Nonfiction Books to Read in 2019—Woman’s Day
The Best Nonfiction Books Coming Out This Year—BookBub
“A nonfiction thriller.”—The Wall Street Journal
From New York Times and international bestselling author of the “gripping” (Michael Connelly, #1 New York Times bestselling author) Into the Lion’s Mouth comes the extraordinary true story of Odette Sansom, the British spy who operated in occupied France and fell in love with her commanding officer during World War II—perfect for fans of Unbroken, The Nightingale, and Code Girls.
The year is 1942, and World War II is in full swing. Odette Sansom decides to follow in her war hero father’s footsteps by becoming an SOE agent to aid Britain and her beloved homeland, France. Five failed attempts and one plane crash later, she finally lands in occupied France to begin her mission. It is here that she meets her commanding officer Captain Peter Churchill.
As they successfully complete mission after mission, Peter and Odette fall in love. All the while, they are being hunted by the cunning German secret police sergeant, Hugo Bleicher, who finally succeeds in capturing them. They are sent to Paris’s Fresnes prison, and from there to concentration camps in Germany where they are starved, beaten, and tortured. But in the face of despair, they never give up hope, their love for each other, or the whereabouts of their colleagues.
In Code Name: Lise, Larry Loftis paints a portrait of true courage, patriotism, and love—of two incredibly heroic people who endured unimaginable horrors and degradations. He seamlessly weaves together the touching romance between Odette and Peter and the thrilling cat and mouse game between them and Sergeant Bleicher. With this amazing testament to the human spirit, Loftis proves once again that he is adept at writing “nonfiction that reads like a page-turning novel” (Parade).
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Most spies don’t look like James Bond. Case in point: World War II’s most decorated spy, Odette Sansom, a seemingly unremarkable mother of three. In the impressively researched Code Name: Lise, historian Larry Loftis uncovers the fascinating story of an ordinary Frenchwoman whose hatred of the German occupation led her to leave her quiet farm life to become a saboteur for the British. Audie-winning narrator Kate Reading delivers this Hitchcockian true story—which includes plane crashes, concentration camps, and an unlikely romance—with dashing flair. It’s an inspiring listen, reminding us that anyone can be a hero.
Customer Reviews
Fascinating
While I found this book engaging I would have liked more details of the actual spy activities of Odette and Peter. The book focused mostly on their time in captivity. This was enlightening and horrific and I would recommend the book.
Incredible Woman
Odette was an incredible woman whose bravery and determination was almost beyond belief. A compelling story that is not for the faint hearted....
Lise
Sad and heroic and-beautiful
story