Title: Secrets and Showgirls
Author: Catherine McCullagh
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, WW2
Release Date: 16th February 2021
Rating 🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
Le Prix d’Amour, a vibrant Paris cabaret, is caught in the crossfire of the occupation. Everyone is being watched, and some of Le Prix’s colourful performers are hiding dangerous secrets. Monsieur Maurice manages Le Prix d’Amour, a successful Parisian cabaret, which boasts glitzy performers and sassy showgirls. But with the German occupation in June 1940, Maurice treads a fine line between his German patrons, the French police, and the Gestapo as he hides the dark secrets of his performers.
Two of his lively showgirls, Lily, and Poppy, soon join Maurice in the hunt for an informer who threatens to betray them. With the Allied landings, the tension builds, and Maurice is pushed to his limits as his performers finally take the fight to the invader in their own flamboyant way. Secrets and Showgirls portrays an occupied Paris in which exotic cabarets existed uneasily under the heel of the invader. It follows the antics of Maurice, Lily, and a glittering array of characters, but never loses sight of the battle to survive that characterised the life of the everyday Parisian.
Review
Paris France 1938, Le Prix d’Amour is where everyone is welcome, the cabaret is about to play host to some not-so-welcome Germans as The City of Lights finds herself under German rule. France is now occupied by Germany and everyone is suspicious, the walls have ears, home of the successful cabaret Le Prix d’Amour is in danger as the performers who work there are hiding secrets.
Monsieur Maurice the cabaret manager takes on the unwanted but necessary task of peacekeeper between the French police, Gestapo, and his new frequent patrons the Germans all in the hopes that the dark secrets his showgirls keep aren’t exposed landing him in and his employees in hot water, that no bribe could possibly fix.
Will the show and performers at Le Prix d’Amour go on or will it be forced into darkness along with the rest of the city?
The minute I read the tagline on the cover Occupied Paris… A Glitzy cabaret where nothing is as it seems… I knew I had found a book I couldn’t wait to dive into these pages, the element that kept me returning to Le Prix d’Amour was the author didn’t use just one main protagonist to bring the story to life and this makes for a unique reading experience, especially for this genre.
Secrets and Showgirls has plenty of characters to entertain the reader Author Catherine McCullagh has done a superb job in shaping three-dimensional characters that bring the story to life, the reader is able to craft a crystal-clear picture of each character in their mind and their individual struggles were sympathised over, I will say some characters roles held much more interest to me than others. I personally developed a soft spot for Gloria and Crecy as they certainly added the sparkle during the darker and tense moments in this novel in which there are a few.
Secrets and Showgirls has plenty of stories to get lost in with its 400 pages, this was a bonus for this reviewer as I can never find a book big enough in the Historical Fiction genre to satisfy me, it does at times feel a little repetitive hence my 3-star rating. This reviewer believes the print size could be made larger and would also like to see an audiobook version of this title available soon.
Without giving away spoilers there was some details this reviewer personally believed the conflict resolution chapters left underdeveloped but overall, a satisfying ending for this book.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced from start to finish read in the Historical Fiction genre this might not be the book for you it does have moments where the reader will feel like they are gaining momentum, especially in the beginning chapters, but the conflict and resolution chapters slowed considerably in this reviewer’s opinion; after finishing this book I believe this might have been a purposeful writing tactic
on the authors part? Perhaps to shine a spotlight the toll the occupation really took on France and her many occupants at that time.
If you’ve been reading my reviews for some time, you’ll know that the Historical Fiction genre especially Wartime Fiction is my go-to genre and subject, Australian author Catherine McCullagh’s Secrets and Showgirls is no exception, especially considering some people hear the word Wartime they immediately think battles and eventual death, so to be able to add some glitz, glamour and feathers and scandal! Make for a truly unique read.
Secrets and Showgirls kept me guessing right up until the final page happy to say there was only one tiny detail I had pieced together before it took place but this in no way made for a predictable read, I’m certain this book is one I’d highly recommend to avid and new readers of this genre.
Sub plots for Secrets and Showgirls include:
- Acquiring food items from the black-market
- Identification of a potential informant to the Gestapo
- Acquiring false identification papers
- Establishing an underground protection ring for people the Gestapo deems unfavourable
Tropes included in Secrets and showgirls
- Characters ahead of their time
- The well-documented period in history
- Historical Figures mentioned
Upon writing this review I’ve found a whole new appreciation for this book it left me feeling satisfied. I highly recommend this book to mature readers no doubt if you’re a fan of this genre you’ll want to add Secrets and Showgirls to your bookshelf.
With continued thanks to big Sky Publishing, Simon, and Schuster for sending a copy to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.