As evidenced by the large section of notes and bibliography at the end, the author has done extensive research into the lives of the two women who became war heroes. Sometimes reading like a textbook and other times like a novel, it contains lots of interesting information with detailed descriptions. Sometimes the descriptions were long enough that I found myself zoning out on them, but it wasn't long until the story progressed.

This book is hard to read, partly because of these descriptions. The scenes involving the Nazis were the type of thing nightmares are made of--particularly since they really happened. I had never heard of the two ladies in the story, but I finished the book with utmost respect for them and what they had endured to help others.

I love a great WW 2 historical fiction, but this was so much more , as it tells the true story. This book moves away from the HF genre and goes right to the facts. Goodman introduces us to Kitty Bonnefous and Etta Shiber, two women who helped men escape from the Nazis in  Paris.  Shiber is a widow and moves from New York to Paris, and Bonnefous. a French woman,  is separated from her husband, when they meet. 
This book is told from the point of view of the two women , both in their 60's, describing their efforts to help soldiers escape occupied France during the war. Their secret missions were dangerous, scary and horrifying.  It was all very real. Their bravery was unbelievable. They were both arrested, in jail and the descriptions of those times were heartbreaking. 
The book then follows the story of Shiber's memoir that she writes later and the questions surrounding where is Bonnefous? 
The research that went into this book is amazing. Knowing that this is the story of these two brave, heroic women, is unimaginable. 

3 1/2 rounded up to 4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC .

Paris Undercover: A Wartime Story of Courage, Friendship, and Betrayal by Matthew Goodman

This was such a difficult story for me to read. There are the sections that are true, real people and real events, and that's what I want when I'm reading Nonfiction. But the details are so hard to take, the torture, but also the ravishing of  babies, girls, children, women of all ages, no matter how young or old, entire communities. And as I now know happens throughout the ages, the ravagers can be the army that is supposed to be the one that is rescuing those very people. 

Etta Shiber was a well educated American women who suffered from anxiety and shyness all of her life. She did well while her beloved cousin and husband were alive. At some point she met Kitty Bonnefous, a British women whose heart also belonged to France. Kitty was so different from Etta, a go getter, brave, daring, sometimes reckless, and willing to give everything she had to British and French soldiers trapped behind enemy lines. 

It's after the death of Etta's cousin and husband that she eventually moves into Kitty's flat in France and is present during Kitty's work to smuggle British and French soldiers to safety. In the first part of the book we see Etta's sometimes/often reluctant assistance of Kitty's efforts. Etta wanted to help but she was also rightly terrified of the real dangers the two women were courting in all that they did. That is why Kitty kept much of what she was doing from Etta. Kitty was involved in more than Etta would ever know. Eventually both women are imprisoned, Etta is finally released, and goes back to the United States. 

The second part of the book details what brought about the writing of Paris Underground, a memoir written by Etta Shiber in 1943. But we learn that so much of that book is fiction, so much is extremely embellished, and even Etta began to get fuzzy on the facts, when she discusses them, exaggerating how many men Kitty and Etta saved. It's sickens me that this 1943 book was published while the war was still on and while some of the people mentioned in the book (even though most names were changed, details altered) could still be alive in the hands of the enemy. But the fault lies less on Etta and mostly on those behind the actual writing and publication of this book. 

The third part of the book takes us back to Kitty, still imprisoned and suffering greatly on starvation rations, scant clothing, no heat, no amenities at all, often in solitary confinement. Kitty had already been beaten and tortured during her captivity but on the publication of Etta's "memoir" the beatings and torture was even worse. This part of the book also details the "rescue" of the prisoners but the rescuing army was no salvation, as they ravished everyone they could touch. I knew about these things, including in other areas of the world and even now, and I think this was the hardest part of the book for me to read. 

Overall, both women were brave and did save many. Kitty was willing to give her life for others but Etta did her part, a smart, gentle woman, not meant for heroics, very much wanting to live the part of the kindly old aunt, sitting in her rocking chair but instead thrust into the middle of the war in France. I'd really rather know the truth than to have a book such as the 1943 Paris Underground be published as a memoir when so much was made up and exaggerated. Seeing the process of how that book came about and why certain things were done (often just excuses), was interesting, but so wrong to the people still alive and in danger. 

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Paris Undercover is a story of courage, friendship, and betrayal. Etta Shiber and Kate Bonnefous are, an American widow and an English divorcée, are living quietly together in Paris. Under the eyes of the Nazis with the help of a French priest and others, they rescue British and French soldiers trapped behind enemy lines.
I was telling a friend about this book over brunch, and her reply was “this is nonfiction”. Yeah. It is quite a story! The book was a good read, but I feel could have been written more story like than report like. I do love a book that was birthed from research during the pandemic, and a lot of research there was. On my device there was close to 100 pages of citations! (Round of applause for that! I respect great research). 
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced reader copy. #ParisUndercover #NetGalley
 

Really incredible and thorough story, detailing Etta Shiber and Kate Bonnefous during WW2, what Kate, especially, accomplished, the impact of Etta’s book, and both of their captivity with the Nazis and afterwards. 

Both their stories, but especially Kate’s was heartbreaking and horrific. It was inspiring learning of Kate’s continued courage and determination despite everything she went thru, and her attitude during and after I can’t even comprehend. 

The writing of the book was really well done - despite being a nonfiction book, it was not dry and laborious to get thru like nonfictions often are, but really interesting and inviting. While there was a lot of detail about a lot of characters revolving around Kate and Etta, it built a very wholistic and invested picture in the people and not just the facts and events. It literally told a story. Part 2 with the details of Etta’s book and publishing itself got a little fact-laden but it was necessary to convey what was going on. 

Overall I enjoyed the book despite the heavy and difficult subject and I was very glad I learned of Kate’s bravery and heroism. Highly recommend. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.