Unforgettable!
THE RUNDOWN: SYNOPSIS & Media Reviews
“A heart-wrenching exploration of the decisions women must make when their loyalties are put to the test in the most unimaginable of circumstances.” —Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary.
In her latest novel, Pam Jenoff immerses readers in the daring activities of a WWII resistance network dedicated to helping downed Allied airmen evade capture and find safety. At the heart of the story is Hannah Martel, a talented artist who uses her skills to create satirical anti-Nazi cartoons with her lover Isaac for an underground newspaper in Berlin. But Hannah’s life is turned upside down when the Nazis kill Isaac.
It’s 1942, and Hannah Martel has just narrowly escaped Nazi Germany after her fiancé was killed in a pogrom. Desperate to escape the danger, she flees to Havana on MS Brittany, hoping for a chance to start anew. Upon arrival, Hannah and the other refugees are met with disappointment. Denied entry into Cuba and unable to enter America due to its closed borders, the ship is forced to return to Europe. Hannah has nowhere to go but to her cousin Lily’s home in occupied Brussels.
In a city where danger lurks around every corner, Hannah must navigate a treacherous landscape to stay alive. But despite her best efforts, she can’t escape the underground work she thought she’d left behind. With no safe way to leave occupied Europe, Hannah turns to the Sapphire Line, a secret resistance network led by the mysterious Micheline and her enigmatic brother Matteo.
As Hannah becomes more deeply involved in the Sapphire Line’s work, she begins to realize the true cost of resistance. With every mission and every decision, she puts herself and those she loves in greater danger. And when a critical mistake threatens to expose the Sapphire Line and put Lily’s family at risk of deportation to Auschwitz, Hannah finds herself torn between her loyalties. How much is she willing to sacrifice to save the people she loves?
The story’s final act is full of unexpected twists and turns.
Code Name Sapphire is a powerful novel about love, family, and the unshakable resilience of women in even the hardest of times. Inspired by true stories of courage and sacrifice, this gripping tale of survival and loyalty will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. With vividly drawn characters and heart-stopping suspense, this is a story you won’t be able to put down.
“From the opening scene to the final page, Code Name Sapphire will not let you go… This is a heart-racing and inspiring story of courage, family, and deep love.” —Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pam Jenoff was born in Maryland and raised outside Philadelphia. She attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and Cambridge University in England. Upon receiving her master’s in history from Cambridge, she accepted an appointment as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army.
The position provided a unique opportunity to witness and participate in operations at the most senior levels of government, including helping the families of the Pan Am Flight 103 victims secure their memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, observing recovery efforts at the site of the Oklahoma City bombing and attending ceremonies to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of World War II at sites such as Bastogne and Corregidor.
Following her work at the Pentagon, Pam moved to the State Department. In 1996 she was assigned to the U.S. Consulate in Krakow, Poland. It was during this period that Pam developed her expertise in Polish-Jewish relations and the Holocaust. Working on matters such as preservation of Auschwitz and the restitution of Jewish property in Poland, Pam developed close relations with the surviving Jewish community.
Agent Susan Ginsburg
Writers House
21 W 26th Street
New York NY 10010
(212) 685-2400
I am so very grateful to you!
— PamJenoff (@PamJenoff) November 23, 2022
“Pam Jenoff brings her storytelling talent to Belgium with this fast-paced, heart-pounding tale of love, family, and the perils of resistance. Get your tissues ready for the final few chapters; Code Name Sapphire will break your heart and, at the same time, remind you of the courage and resilience of the human spirit.”
— Kristin Harmel
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