And here we are. The best of 2024. Any last guesses? Was it the one you bet I would pick it?

My favorite book of 2024 goes to the post-World War Two thriller The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly.

What is it about? During World War Two Josie Anderson, the daughter of an American ambassador, and Arlette LaRue, a native Parisian and new mother, joined the French Resistance and became known as the Golden Doves, stealing many of the Nazis’ secrets and becoming heroes in Occupied France. But when they are finally arrested and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp, Josie and Arlette witness the true horrors of Hitler’s regime. Josie’s mother, a renowned Jewish singer, is experimented on by a sadistic Nazi doctor and Arlette’s young son is taken from her to be given to a “good” German family. Against the odds the two women survive and attempt to rebuild their lives in postwar America and France. Josie begins working for U.S. Army Intelligence but finds herself at odds with the American way of dealing with valuable Nazi war criminals and Arlette works at a cafe, still holding out hope that her son is alive. When both women are given an opportunity to achieve what they desire most, they immediately agree but will discover that while the war ended nearly a decade ago, they are still in just as much as danger as before.

Why did I love it? There is nothing that this book does not have. Told against a historical backdrop, filled with mystery, and thrilling until the very end. Josie and Arlette were among my favorite characters this year and each woman is well flushed out with defining characteristics and skills. Both stories are compelling and one can gather that Ms. Kelly did her research when constructing this story. Though a large book, it flies by and I was surprised at how fast I got through the story. After experiencing a dip in my historical fiction, I can say that The Golden Doves helped me bounce back and, if you are in a reading slump, this is the perfect book to pick out.

To read my full thoughts, check out my review at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/06/the-golden-doves-by-martha-hall-kelly-review/.

With that, this is my Best Books of 2024. Did you read any of my favorites from this year? What did you love this year? Happy New Year and I’ll see you all in 2025!