About the book, Dragonfly

• Genre: Historical / WWII / Espionage
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Date of Publication: July 9, 2019
• Number of Pages: 576
• Scroll down for giveaway!

From the New York Times bestselling author of Roses comes a gripping new novel about five young spies embedded among the highest Nazi ranks in occupied Paris

At the height of World War II, a handful of idealistic young Americans receive a mysterious letter from the government, asking them if they are willing to fight for their country. The men and women from very different backgrounds-a Texan athlete with German roots, an upper-crust son of a French mother and a wealthy businessman, a dirt-poor Midwestern fly fisherman, an orphaned fashion designer, and a ravishingly beautiful female fencer-all answer the call of duty, but each for a secret reason of her or his own. They bond immediately, in a group code-named Dragonfly.

Thus begins a dramatic cat-and-mouse game, as the group seeks to stay under the radar until a fatal misstep leads to the capture and the firing-squad execution of one of their team. But…is everything as it seems, or is this one more elaborate act of spycraft?

Praise for Dragonfly:

“Meacham’s impeccable pacing and razor-wire tension evoke the daily drama of life under a Reich whose French reign might have lasted little more than four years but felt like the thousand years that it threatened to endure.” ―Bookpage

“Meacham’s nail-biting tale will please fans looking for an intricate story of spycraft and deception.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Meacham ratchets the suspense ever tighter, while providing fascinating backstory on the intrepid five [American spies] as well as delivering a detail-rich portrait of Paris during the Occupation.” ―Booklist

“Complex, epic, and rich in historical detail-an uplifting story of finding friendship behind enemy lines.” ― Kirkus

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

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About the author, Leila Meacham

Leila Meacham is a writer and former teacher who lives in San Antonio, Texas. She is the author of the bestselling novels Roses, Tumbleweeds, Somerset, and Titans.

Connect with Leila:

Website | Bookbub | Facebook | Goodreads

My Thoughts

Mystery. Intrigue. War. Nazis. Leila Meacham’s epic novel Dragonfly is an immersive tale of espionage and evil, but more than that, it examines what we humans are willing to do for the causes we believe in, just or not.

Her tale opens in 1962, but we’re quickly propelled back in time, to memories of occupied France, where the author’s vivid descriptions were so visceral that there were times I literally jumped when shots rang out or people were jostled in the streets.

With five POV characters – all of whom we initially meet as tender twenty-two-year-olds – Dragonfly could be confusing. Instead, it’s a richly woven tapestry of character and plot, detail and description. I was particularly entranced with the author’s use of language, which was neither affected nor overly simple but captured the era perfectly.

Other reviewers have commented that this novel captures the echoes of today’s political culture as well as the period in which it was set, and I agree, but I have to wonder if it’s not so much that the novel’s tone is echoing the time, as that our culture has not progressed as much as we would hope.

At 576 pages, Dragonfly is a novel to savor, a book for slow, summer nights of pleasure-reading. You could rush through it if you tried, but you’d be doing yourself, and Ms. Meacham’s lovely prose, a great disservice.

Goes well with salad Nicoise, baguette, and peach iced tea.

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