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Lilac Girls cover art

Lilac Girls

Written by: Martha Hall Kelly
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Kathleen Gati, Kathrin Kana, Martha Hall Kelly
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Publisher's Summary

Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this powerful debut novel reveals an incredible story of love, redemption, and terrible secrets that were hidden for decades.

New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.

An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.

For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.

The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.

In Lilac Girls, Martha Hall Kelly has crafted a remarkable novel of unsung women and their quest for love, freedom, and second chances. It is a story that will keep listeners bonded with the characters, searching for the truth, until the final chapters.

Narrator List:
CAROLINE, read by Cassandra Campbell
KASIA, read by Kathleen Gati
HERTA, read by Kathrin Kana
With the Author's Note read by the author.

©2016 Martha Hall Kelly (P)2016 Random House Audio

What the critics say

“Harrowing . . . Lilac illuminates.”People

“A compelling, page-turning narrative . . . Lilac Girls falls squarely into the groundbreaking category of fiction that re-examines history from a fresh, female point of view. It’s smart, thoughtful and also just an old-fashioned good read.”Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“A powerful story for readers everywhere . . . Martha Hall Kelly has brought readers a firsthand glimpse into one of history’s most frightening memories. A novel that brings to life what these women and many others suffered. . . . I was moved to tears.”San Francisco Book Review

What listeners say about Lilac Girls

Average Customer Ratings
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  • 2018-01-13

Love and Kindness are always relevant

Deeply moving, horrific, frightening, but awash with love, kindness, and bravery! What an amazing gift Martha Hall Kelly has in turning words into images. The milk maids in the field looking up at the silver bellied plane firing on them. I was there, I could see it!

War of course leaves utter destruction, broken hearts, and broken families in it's wake. Despite the extremities the characters found themselves in, we see the human ability to love, care, to put others before themselves, and to sacrifice, even to death.

Lilac Girls is a testament of the human spirit, of love, kindness, and generosity in the worst of conditions.

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4 people found this helpful

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Really enjoyed despite it being a heavy topic

I loved the authors notes after the book was done. I was pleased to hear about all the research she did and that actual characters from real life were included.
Thank you A+

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3 people found this helpful

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Absolutely magnificent. Loved it.

An amazing journey into the events of that time. Excellent reading. I felt i knew each character personally.

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3 people found this helpful

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Amazing! Couldn't put it down!!!

I LOVED this book!! Enthralling story and captivating characters!!! The fact that it is based on a true story was incredible!!

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2 people found this helpful

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Hard to read - Impossible to put down!

Through historically researched characters in this story the veil is removed and an up close and personal witness to lives lived in the concentration camps is revealed.

Through the eyes of victims and perpetrators the story weaves its way through the darkest hours of humanity. At times so difficult to read and yet impossible to put down.

The narration of the audio book is English spoken through the characters French, Polish and German accents which adds a rich depth to the storyline.

It leaves you begging for the next story. Brilliant!

AAA+

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Interesting historical novel.

I really enjoyed this book. Impressed that the author researched the premise for the story with such accuracy. I look forward to reading the next book involving the historical ancestors of Carolyn Faraday. Great story and well performed. Recommend highly. Story takes place during World War Two. It focuses on three women and their struggles at the hands of the Germans. An American who makes enormous efforts to help the victims of the Germans. A feisty polish women who is a victim and prisoner and a German doctor who abuses without feeling or guilt prisoners of the only all women’s camp and is eventually punished for her crimes.

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1 person found this helpful

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wonderful

I could not put this story down. excellent character development made the story come alive

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slow start but so worth it

amazing! couldn't stop listening. I just about didn't see what all the fuss was about when I started. I found it kind of slow to get into but once you get into it you realize why it was so slow from the beginning! You had to have contact of their prior life before you understand the full story.

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  • Overall
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loved it

this was interesting and I did not want to put it down, narrators also great.

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Lilac Girls

I expected to like this book, but I stopped listening after an hour. It did not grab my attention.

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