1613. Fabiola Ruber is been wed to a man she does not know and must live in a country with a new language and different customs. The memories of a lost love in her hometown Malta haunt her, and she sets out to find an artist who can do her portrait and recapture the feelings she had when she once modeled for a renowned Italian master painter.
1944. Four years into World War II, art historian Soli Hansen works with the Norwegian resistance to locate significant artwork and safeguard the pieces from the Nazis. When she finds out the Germans are after a hidden baroque depiction of a seventeenth century woman, she must muster all her courage and skills to decipher encrypted codes and preserve the mysterious art before it’s too late.
Both women are determined to do what they can to bring healing and redemption to their otherwise ominous future. Through tangled, bewildering clues and an eye for detail, Soli’s bond to Fabiola grows closer by the day. She must find the missing painting before the enemy does.
Ranging from a privileged life in seventeenth century Antwerp to Oslo during the German occupation of the second world war, this dual timeline is a historical mystery thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.
My Review
I have not read a novel set during World War 2 for quite a long time, so when I was given a chance to read The Other Cipher by Heidi Eljarbo, I jumped at the chance. Most books, during this era, are set either in Germany, Britain, France and Italy. I don’t think I have ever come across a World War 2 book set in Norway before. This novel was certainly an insight into what it must have been like living under occupation in Norway.
This novel is part historical fiction and part mystery. The historical aspect of this novel has been well researched and came across as very real in the telling. The mystery part of this novel is what it made it such a page-turner, and an unputdownable one at that. This novel grabbed my attention right from the start, and I found myself swept away in the adventure.
If you are a lover of quality historical fiction that will keep you turning those pages well into the night, then this novel should most definitely be on your ‘to-read’ list. I thought it was fabulous from start to finish.
Buy this Book you won't be disappointed.
Heidi Eljarbo
Heidi Eljarbo is the bestselling author of historical fiction and mysteries filled with courageous and good characters that are easy to love and others you don't want to go near.
Heidi grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and she never truly imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, all of which have come in handy when working as an author, magazine journalist, and painter.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have a total of nine children, thirteen grandchildren--so far--in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier.
Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter.
Heidi's favorites are family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.
Social Media Links:
Website • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Pinterest
I am so glad you enjoyed The Other Cipher.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting today's tour stop.