| Title | : | From the Ashes of Amiens |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | Published August 12, 2021 |
“In war, good men are not always good, and the bad ones are sometimes heroes.”
January 1944—a senior member of the French Resistance betrays his comrades to the Abwehr and Gestapo, but who?
Within hours, the Germans arrest hundreds of suspected resistance fighters and incarcerate them in the infamous Amiens prison.
When a Resistance spy inside the prison informs his leaders, Dominique Ponchardier and Boniface Monier, of German plans to conduct mass executions within weeks, they are helpless to respond.
In a last-ditch effort to free their Résistants awaiting death or deportation to labour camps, they turn to the British for help. Only a Royal Air Force strike can knock down the prison’s walls and free the inmates before it’s too late.
Will the British agree to the audacious request? Will a bomb attack kill more prisoners than it will save? Which squadron could carry out such a low-level precision bombing raid? As the RAF and MI6 debate these questions, the Germans are executing prisoners by firing squad.
“A suspenseful, compelling story of forbidden love and courage in the face of insurmountable odds.”
"Jana Petken brings an incredibly emotional, big screen feel to this heartbreaking WWII story."
From the Ashes of Amiens Reviews
-
I true appreciate well written historical fiction, especially when the story highlighted builds on historical facts. Thank you, Jana Petken, for taking this moment in history and making it painfully, poignantly real!!
-
Good Read
I had to read the book in snatches of time due to the holidays, but it was a very good read. Some characters were real and some fictitious The Allied bombing of Amiens was real as was the French Resistance of World War Two.
The groups of characters were Germans holding French prisoners of war in Amiens, France; the French Resistance, some free and some held as POW; the Royal Air Force which bombed the German camp in Amiens; and double agents. The bombing of Amiens was dicey because the Allies had to bomb the Germans while doing some fancy flying to get the POW out. The way that plan was carried out was good reading. Some Allies thought the RAF had ulterior motives in bombing Amiens, but when have the Allies and the populace ever thought there were no such motives about any happening of note?
Rose, a pretty, young French girl, fell for a German soldier having no clue that he was a spy for the Allies. She had no clue that her father was the head of the Resistance in Amiens. She was, again, clueless about two friends being part of the Resistance or why the three were arrested.
They were informed that they would be killed on a day certain. After the shock of impending death wore off,
Rose told her friends that she was in love with a German soldier, the enemy. In a tell it all moment, the friends advised Rose that they and Rose's father were part of the Resistance. They were on death row but the two friends got mad at Rose because she had not confided in them about a boyfriend. Rose got mad at her friends because they had not told her about the movement. In their snit over the boyfriend, they sounded like teenagers at a sleepover. Were I in a German POW camp about to die, I do not think a boyfriend and a movement would even be on my mind. That segment was not a good fit in the book, but it was funny. There were other places in the book where the writing was a bit juvenile.
Thank you, Ms. Petken, for a good read. -
This is an action-packed thriller about the French resistance during WWII. A trusted local, Cambron from Amiens is arrested and uses his status as a collaborator to give up a name. That name topples a network that has fought in secret for years. An Abwehr officer Dingler and the lead SS officer, Winter are at odds with each other but both use torture to gain information and ultimately plan to execute most of the prisoners. Their only hope is an embedded SS officer who gives information to the British for a planned bombing.
Petken isn't subtle; at times the scenes are gruesome and the outcome horrendous but it does highlight the risks the French people made when there was no army to fight for them. -
WOW!! A GREAT book!!
This was a great book!! Jana Petken tells a wonderful story!! It just kept getting better and better! I stayed up till 3:30 am to finish it. I just couldn’t wait to see how it ended. Many people to follow but the author does a great job of reminding us of whose who without repeating herself. Each character adds to the story. There were many surprises and twists. A wonderful book. I loved it. I can’t wait to read more from this author. I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone so I won’t say more about it. It’s one of the best WWII stories I’ve read, and I’ve read 100’s!! Thank you, Jana Petken for this wonderful book.
pamarella
PRCS -
One of the best WW2 Historical fiction stories I have read.
When an author puts his heart and historical facts together you get a novel that feels true. Marvellous character development, everyone fitting into this thrilling war time expose of German army evil. It can be a little slow when setting scenes and people for their parts, but it is wisely contained and critical to the story. It was never too slow. You will be glad you read this thriller. -
An enjoyable WWII novel.
I enjoyed this novel about the French resistance during WWII. I have read other novels and memoirs of both French and English "resistants" during this period so I was familiar with the activities, and this book was authentic in it's story content. High marks to the author. -
WORLD WAR II SETTING
I enjoyed this book, although it was a little long. While the imagery was excellent, I felt it dragged a little in places. While a great fan of this author, I don’t feel this was her best work. -
This author writes very compelling stories and this was another one.
-
What a great story! Do well written and reading this I was glued to the pages. Heart stopping stuff in parts but my goodness what a read,
-
How we indure
Perfect balance of good verses evil. And good won out in the end. The ending of the story wants you to read more about Erick and Rose
how will it end for them.
