DRAGONFLY
by
LEILA MEACHAM
Genre: Historical / WWII / Espionage
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Date of Publication: July 9, 2019
Number of Pages: 576
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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 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
PURCHASE LINKS:
◆ Amazon ◆ Barnes & Noble ◆ Indiebound ◆ Walmart ◆
I’m declaring it now, Dragonfly is one of my Top Five Reads of 2019. That’s saying something because as of this writing, I’ve already read 120 books. Utterly engrossing, highly suspenseful, and deeply evocative, this superbly-written book deserves a plethora of superlatives for how thoroughly I’ve enjoyed reading it. For two consecutive days, I had to drag myself to bed at 4 am because I couldn’t put it down. I kept saying, “One more chapter. Just one more.”
With a dual timeline of 1962 and 1942-1945, multiple major characters using three sets of names, varied secondary characters, several locations in the US and Europe, this novel could have gotten out of control, but Ms. Meacham masterfully crafted an engaging story of friendship, bravery, service, and love amidst the ugliness of war. Characters are fully fleshed-out, protagonists and antagonists clearly delineated, plus a couple of enigmatic ones who are neither. The young Americans were written so sympathetically, it is easy to feel for them as they embarked on their mission. Throughout the book, I feared for the members of Dragonfly, I cheered them on, and I teared up in the end as their story came full circle.
Dragonfly is by no means flawless. The book, although well-researched, requires the reader to suspend disbelief in some parts that I forgave and attributed to artistic license. I wouldn’t be surprised if this novel is optioned to be adapted to film. The gorgeous cover and the fantastic narration really take you where the action happens. For giving me many enjoyable hours of reading, Dragonfly receives five stars.
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.
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TWO SIGNED COPIES OF DRAGONFLY
August 7-17, 2019
(US ONLY)
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