Because
my mother lived in occupied Holland and because my grandfather was part of the
Dutch Resistance, novels about World War II and the resisters have always been
a favorite of mine. So I was eager to read Ms. Easley-Walsh’s debut novel, Flight Before Dawn.
The
novel tells the story of several members of the French Resistance through the
darkest days of the war until their liberation and does a lovely job of evoking
the French countryside, the ’40s ethos and the tension of living in an occupied
country.
In
the midst of a complex plot, filled with spies, lies, and a double agent, the
author deals with the nuances of the war and those involved in it, exploring what
it means to be ready to sacrifice your life for your country and strength to do
so. The novel is a poignant reminder that freedom has a tremendous cost.