The Boy in the Attic

Anna opened the letter with trembling hands. ‘My darling, if you’re reading this, I haven’t managed to unravel my parents’ secret. But you can. Will you finish the search for me, find out who they were, and who you really are?’

Nazi-occupied Holland, 1944. As soldiers patrol the streets, nursing student Ilse is only just surviving the terrible famine and increasingly violent German occupation. Though exhausted by her demanding work at a hospital far from home, she can’t help but notice strange noises coming from the attic above her bedroom late at night… Investigating after curfew one evening, she discovers Levi, a terrified young Jewish man who begs her not to give him up to the Nazis, not to make him follow his family’s awful fate…

Protecting Levi will mean great danger for her. With starvation setting in, and the Nazi regime becoming ever more violent, Ilse must make the most difficult decision of her life. Can she risk death herself, to save an innocent life? As she looks into Levi’s dark, soulful eyes, she knows she must. But, as the war worsens, keeping Levi a secret becomes almost impossible, even as their mutual affection grows. And when a local German soldier becomes obsessed with Ilse, they fear their time – and luck – has run out…

London, present day. When Anna’s father dies, he leaves her a ticket to Amsterdam, a bent silver sixpence on a delicate silver chain, and a note begging her to complete the journey he was never able to. To the town where he was born, to find out once and for all who his parents were, and to discover their wartime fate.

Based on the author’s incredible family history, a totally devastating and ultimately uplifting story about a girl who risked everything, including her life, to save the man she loved. Heart-breaking and timely, this powerful tale will be loved by fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and Fiona Valpy.

Readers love Imogen Matthews:

‘Literally gave me shivers… Absolutely heart-breaking… Gripping… This one really got to me, I was in tears… Will stay with me for a very long time.’ Echoes in an Empty Room, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I couldn’t put it down… I read it in a day… From the first chapter you are engaged with the characters and I even found myself warning them when they were due to be raided – OUT LOUD!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Couldn’t put this book down… I was transported through time and space and felt as if I was right there.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Heart-wrenching… My heart was in my mouth.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Unbelievable… Drop everything as you will not want to put this down.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Powerful, inspiring, heart-breaking… An inspiring story about the bravery and kindness of ordinary people… It had me in tears.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Truly heartbreaking and emotional… Tear-jerking… Glued to the story… A page-turner and unputdownable, will make you cry till the end!’ Tropical Girl Reads Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Absolutely captivated me from the first to the last page!… Heartbreaking… This five-star read needs to be top of your list – especially if you are a lover of historical fiction!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow! Where do I begin?… An inspirational read and one of hope… Loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A moving story of courage and betrayal.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐