The Officer and the Spy
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4.6 • 8 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
“An unforgettable story of great love torn apart by war, of heroism and betrayal, passion and pure evil, all set against an idyllic Greek island backdrop. It’s a genuine masterpiece, a book to lose yourself in.” Gill Paul, The Secret Wife
“With the historical authenticity of Sebastian Faulks, the perfectly observed family relationships of Santa Montefiore, and the gut-wrenching twist of Jojo Moyes, The Officer and The Spy is epic, enthralling and deeply emotional.’ Iona Grey, Letters to the Lost
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Under the Cretan sun, in the summer of 1936, two young people fall in love…
Eleni has been coming to Crete her entire life, swapping her English home for cherished sun-baked summers with her grandfather in his idyllic shoreside villa. When she arrives in 1936, she believes the long, hot weeks ahead will be no different to so many that have gone before.
But someone else is visiting the island that year too: a young German man called Otto. And so begins a summer of innocence lost, and love discovered; one that is finite, but not the end.
When, in 1941, the island falls to a Nazi invasion, Eleni and Otto meet there once more. But this time Eleni has returned to fight for her home, and Otto to occupy it. They are enemies, and their love is not only treacherous, but also dangerous. But will it destroy them, or prove strong enough to overcome the ravages of war?
An epic tale of secrets, love, loyalty, family and how far you’d go to keep those you love safe, The Officer and The Spy is an exquisite and deeply moving love letter to Crete – one that will move every reader to tears.
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“What a beautiful novel. So romantic, so epic, so tear-jerking.” Lorna Cook, The Forgotten Village
“I was completely spellbound . . . It’s the best book I’ve read this year.” Kathleen McGurl, The Forgotten Secret
Reviews
Praise for The Officer and The Spy
“Ashcroft has done it again with another deeply moving, beautifully romantic and vividly rendered story. This is a wonderful and resonant historical novel, focussing on family, loyalty and love without borders.” Katherine Webb, The Legacy
‘Haunting and heart-breaking . . . explores truth, beauty and the fragility of human relationships’ Rachel Burton, The Secrets of Summer House
“The Officer and The Spy is beautifully written, powerful and poignant. Time and place are brilliantly evoked, with a moving love story at its core. It is excellent.” Tracy Rees, The House at Silvermoor
“The Officer and The Spy has simply blown me away! Such a powerful and poignant love story set against the beauty and danger of wartime Crete. At times I could hardly bear to read on, and yet couldn’t put it down.” Liz Trenow, Searching for my Daughter
“The Officer and The Spy has every element you could hope for from a gripping historical novel – romance, heartbreak, evocative prose and expertly woven themes of loyalty, bravery and betrayal. Both captivating and devastating, this is a uniquely moving, unforgettable story.” Holly Miller, The Sight of You
Customer Reviews
Eye Opening, dramatic WW2 story
If you only read one historical fiction novel this year; The officer and the Spy should be that book. I didn't want to put it down. I had to force myself to temporarily put it down to adult. I can't begin to say how badly I wanted to hide in a corner with an endless cup of coffee while I read all 480 pages. There is so much in this story that needs to absorb and remember. I learned so much about the horrors of World War 2 on the Island of Crete. I lost count of how many times I cried.
The Officer and the Spy is an emotional story. Eleni returns to Crete each year to visit her grandfather. In 1936, when Germany was actively spreading their influence, she meets Otto Linder, a German on vacation with his family. He was the boy next-door that she couldn't forget even after he broke her heart. When war comes to England the boy she loves becomes the enemy.
Eleni is living in London in 1940, working for the government. She has caught the eye of the SOE. Her experience and the languages she speaks soon has returning to Crete, but not returning her family in Chania, the place she considers home. No one is to know she is on Crete working in Heraklion..
As Crete begins to fall to the Germans she knows what she must do. Eleni is soon considered a rogue agent but that won't stop her from returning home . Her bravery had me in awe. Her dedication to the Cretans left me speechless. Eleni risks everything to help the resistance. Her antics had me on the edge of my seat. The atrocities had my stomach aching. No matter how challenging the story became to read, I couldn't put it down. I needed to know everything that happened to the characters.
One of those characters is Otto. He is back in Chania, now as a member of the occupying force. Eleni and Otto are enemies but they can't stay apart. Their romance was a highlight during a time of bleakness. Their love was the bandaid to ease the pain while reading all the horrors the Cretans suffered. They risked everything to be together. They will risk everything for a better tomorrow.
Jenny Ashcroft blew my mind. I loved the way she set up the story. I can honestly say I expected a different ending. She had me fooled. She had me so invested in the story that I devoured every page. She has written a very believable story. I became completely invested in some of the characters and was thrilled to discover what happened to them after the war.