Review: The Lost Sister of Fifth Avenue

Title: The Lost Sister of Fifth Avenue (Daughters of New York Book 4)

Author: Ella Carey

Publisher: 7th July 2022 by Bookouture

Pages: 327 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre:  historical fiction

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Martha pulled the front door of her Fifth Avenue apartment closed and stood stock still, clutching the telegram, her heart thumping. Her beloved sister Charlotte was in France and the news told daily of the growing threat of the Nazis. Fearing what the telegram might contain, Martha hardly dared open it. But she knew she must.

New York, 1938: As Martha looks out of her bedroom window at the blossom-covered trees in Central Park, she is a world away from the threat of the Second World War. Working as a children’s librarian, she is happy with her quiet life in contrast to her adventurous sister Charlotte who moved to Paris and works at a gallery owned by close family friend Anita.

When a telegram from France arrives, Martha is shocked to discover that Anita has died and in that moment she has to make the bravest decision of her life. With the Nazi threat growing, she must travel to France to find Charlotte and Anita’s Jewish parents and bring them home to safety.

Arriving in Paris, Martha finds a city preparing for war. At Anita’s home, clutching her sister tightly, Martha knows that Charlotte has already decided to stay. As an American in Paris she believes she will be safe and will work for the Resistance carrying messages and hiding precious works of art. Through tears, Martha promises to get Anita’s parents to safety and join the war effort back in New York.

But as war rages across Europe, Martha and Charlotte’s determination will be tested like never before. And when Charlotte uncovers a shocking secret about her family, which threatens her own life, can she find the strength to protect those she loves the most?

From top ten bestselling author Ella Carey comes an utterly heartbreaking novel about the strength of sisterly love and the courage and strength of the women of the Resistance perfect for fans of The Nightingale, All The Light We Cannot See

My Thoughts

Ella Carey is always on my automatic read list. I love her books and the Daughters of New York series is pure gold. The Lost Sister of Fifth Avenue, the fifth in the series,  can be read as standalone but the experience is enhanced  if you have read them all -  especially when previous characters make cameo appearances. 

“We must all dance to the beat of our own drums. It is the only way to truly capture your fate in your own hands.”

Ella is a phenomenal author. On this occasion she alternates the story between Charlotte and Martha during the war and  their mother Chloe who died in Paris in the early 1920’s. This background helps provide context to the family friends and the current life of the girls and their father. The writing is sublime with plot lines of secrets, danger, family and love. Having three character viewpoints truly enriches this tale as all three are so very different - courageous Charlotte, steadfast Martha and kind Chloe.

“I shall stay and ensure everything is taken care of properly, until you return.” Charlotte grasped Élise’s hand. “I swear it. The Nazis will not touch your precious home.”

Having read all the books in this series I appreciated the minimal but significant inclusion of characters from previous books. It helped tie things together so beautifully. I was in awe once again learning of the lengths people went to in order to protect French art from the Nazis. The reference to Chloe working in Adrienne Monnier’s bookstore tied in beautifully with Kerri Maher’s, The Paris Bookseller and I love it when information from other books complement so well, like puzzle pieces coming together. 

‘Martha had adopted her usual routine: do what was necessary in the real world, and spend the rest of her time escaping from it.’

With strong and inspiring characters and a plot that is so gripping, Ella has completed another stunning addition to the Daughters of New York series. I could have kept reading about Martha and Charlotte (and was ever so grateful for the Epilogue) as their story really was heartbreaking. I can’t wait to see what Ella will offer her readers next as this one gave me all the feels. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.