Reviewed by Emma Crowley
Egypt, 1942. After her husband and baby son are killed, Nadia flees to Villa Eden in Cairo. The gorgeous scents of the blooms and calming water garden soothe her aching heart… and give her the strength to keep fighting.
With a group of other young Europeans at the villa, she works undercover against the Nazi threat to Egypt. Friendships form as they host extravagant parties for ambassadors and generals – and gather vital information whispered in quiet corners.
Until betrayal snatches yet another person she loves from Nadia. And the villa’s high walls may be the only place to keep a dark wartime secret safe…
Cairo, present day. After the death of her fiancé, Sophie arrives in Egypt, clutching an old photograph of her aunt. Sophie always loved her stories, but all Aunt Nadia would say about the villa was that she could never return.
Sophie hopes that solving the mysteries of her aunt’s past will help her deal with all the loss in her life. But when she finds a note in her aunt’s handwriting, tucked in the villa’s library, it seems Nadia has lied to her for her whole life…
Sophie is left questioning everything. Will the truth from the war tear her apart, just as it did her aunt? Or will facing these secrets help heal not just her own heartbreak, but also one from decades ago?
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of The Key to the Island House to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
Without doubt the latest book by Amanda Lees, The Key to the Island House, is the best book that she has written. Right from the opening pages, I got the sense that this was a story very different from what she had written before and that I was in for a dramatic read, full of tension, mystery and numerous twists and turns and it lived up to those expectations. The cover is absolutely stunning and suits the themes and setting of the book. Prior to publication the book underwent a title and cover change having previously been known as Secrets of Villa Eden. I’m a little puzzled as to the reasons for these changes because I thought both were perfect as is.
This is the first book from Amanda that hasn’t been set in Europe during World War Two. Instead, this time around the setting is the warm and exotic climate of Egypt. It is told in the dual timeline format which I love in books and the timelines deftly move back and forth between 1942 and the present day. This all worked perfectly, as at no point did it feel as if I was been dragged abruptly from one era to the next. Although, I will say at the time of reading I wished the chapters could have been longer for I found them quite short but on reflection I think this did keep in line with the fast pacing of the book and it meant I was turning the pages rapidly always eager to discover what would happen next.
I haven’t read that many books set in Egypt or on the African continent during the war but those that I have I loved and this is no exception. Amanda nails the atmosphere of the time and the descriptions of Cairo, its busy streets, the temperature, the hustle and bustle and the unease and suspicion that was around every corner was evident on every page. It was a time so different to the world we live in today and with such a varied and intriguing cast of characters and a plot that was expertly developed this was a story that made the book an intense page turner. It became almost like a thriller/mystery as a race to suss out just who was the rat in the espionage group ensued as well as the romantic and heart rending aspect that made itself known too.
The brief but stirring prologue introduces us to Nadia who knows she is nearing the end of her life but she has one last task to do. The Villa Eden in the heart of Cairo, the place which had stolen her heart still has secrets it has to share. It’s time for Nadia to set a few things straight and she calls upon her great nieces fiancée Ben to help her. A letter containing a photograph will initiate a quest which will have many dangerous encounters and have things developing at break neck speed. For what Nadia has held close to her heart for many years must now be brought out into the open. The book then moves forward to three years later where we meet Sophie. She is lost and bewildered. Nadia has passed several years ago and Ben too lost his life. The very day he set off to a post box to send the letter Nadia had left him. Sophie has travelled to the chaotic and vibrant city of Cairo as Nadia has left her Villa Eden. This was the place where Nadia worked and partied during the war but also where she met the love of her life Tom.
Sophie struggles to locate the villa but a chance encounter with Josh leads her to David the son of one of Nadia’s colleagues at the time. Josh is writing a book about David’s life and soon he is engaged with helping Sophie uncover the secrets of Villa Eden. Sophie feels that Ben’s death was not some random incident and it soon becomes apparent that Nadia was involved in a lot more than Sophie could ever have bargained for during the war. She has a strong desire to uncover the truth and finding the letter that Ben sent lying unopened at Villa Eden for several years sets in motion a train of events that takes Sophie on a journey back to the past which she undertakes with grit, strength and great fortitude. She is someone who can’t rest until the truth ultimately reveals itself and the wrongs of the past are righted. Herself and Josh join forces and the layers of intrigue are pulled away with the most surprising of results.
Amanda Lees created a rich tapestries of layers of suspicion and danger. I loved the excitement and daring and sense of urgency that was ramped up chapter by chapter. There was an air of delving right back into the past and piecing together the subtle clues which ultimately led to an incredible yet heartbreaking story unravelling. Sophie was uncovering crimes whilst at the same time learning of a tragic love story where the ultimate sacrifices were made as a group of unbelievable people did their bit for the war in the most turbulent and dangerous of times.
Nadia’s story was slightly slower getting off the ground but once it did again it took on a rapid and exhilarating pace. Brief glimpses are given regarding her backstory which led to so many questions. In fact her prior story as to how she came to be working for intelligence in Egypt could have been a book in itself and I did wonder at one point had Amanda written about this before but when I double checked her back catalogue I realised she hadn’t but wished that she had because I found it fascinating. Nadia existed at a time when Cairo was a hot bed of espionage, danger, threats and complexities. She is a woman hell bent on revenge, the reasons for which I will not reveal. Villa Eden is where a group are located whilst they undertake the most dangerous of missions. One of which will prove a vital turning point in their war experiences. Glamorous parties are held at the villa but work is always been done and the group of Nadia, Collette, Tom, Jim, Freddie and Nico now know that there is a rat amidst them intent on spilling secrets regarding the information they have and their planned manoeuvres and deeds. The rat must be rooted out but at what cost?
Nadia was fearless in her quest and I thoroughly enjoyed how she put herself in dangerous situations and wasn’t afraid to do so. One thing alone was driving her forward and she would never stray from her ultimate goal no matter the consequences or repercussions. To say much regarding the specifics regarding Nadia’s situation would give away far too many spoilers. Suffice to say I was engrossed by it all and I loved the real sense of mystery unfurling and how connections soon become apparent between the past and the present. No one is to be underestimated. Every character has a role to play and I did have my suspicions as to who that rat could be but I was proven wrong. Upon the reveal and the reasons for it I felt guilty for who I had suspected and was glad it didn’t go the way that I had been thinking because that would have been too heartbreaking to bear. But the dramatics and the climax of everything was brilliantly written and I read it with my heart in my mouth constantly wondering what the eventual outcome would be knowing that all good couldn’t come from it all.
The Key to the Island House was a brilliant read from start to finish. I couldn’t get enough of it. It’s packed full of secrets, romance, betrayal, espionage and deception all set against the backdrop of the events of WW2 unfolding in Egypt and the surrounding countries. There is superb character development with each character portrayed as being strong and fearless and all have the same ultimate end goal although there are many obstacles thrown in their path. The last few chapters were fantastic as the element of suspense grew until everything came to a dramatic climax with all the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. So powerful and emotional was everything that was unfolding I kept thinking to myself this would make an excellent film or TV series. This is definitely one of the best books that I have read this year in the historical fiction genre and I hope that Amanda chooses to write her next book in an exotic setting. Maybe the Far East during WW2? I feel this is where her forte lies and with the mystery running throughout and the way she developed the characters creating two strong female alongside a rapid fire, engaging and enthralling plot this all combined into a vibrant and terrific read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
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