The Spy Keeper of Marseille

By Roseanna M. White

In occupied France, a woman becomes a spy for the Resistance and rises to lead the largest intelligence operation in the country in this propulsive new World War II historical novel by bestselling author Roseanna M. White.

Marseille, France, 1941. Zelie Bellerose never fit the mold of an army officer's wife. She was too passionate in her convictions, too indifferent to societal expectations. After her husband is killed in the war, Zelie focuses on securing a brighter future for her children, hoping to help free her country from the Nazi regime by joining the Resistance. She is soon one of the most trusted operatives in Alliance, and when their leader is imprisoned, she takes command, hiding her identity from all but a few. With enemies closing in, Zelie must earn the trust of her network and prove herself to those who doubt a woman's place at the helm of France's largest spy ring.

Marcel Laurent was a renowned concert pianist before joining the French army and being sent to a POW camp. Freed in a prisoner exchange by a wealthy businessman with ties to the Resistance, Marcel agrees to spy for Alliance by conducting a youth orchestra, gathering intelligence from patrons who are loose-lipped Nazi sympathizers. Marcel's weekly radio broadcasts introducing the orchestra's performances give him the perfect cover to send coded messages over the airwaves.

As Zelie and Marcel grow closer through their shared love of music, she begins to rely on him. But betrayal from within Alliance puts everything they've fought for at risk. When a double agent infiltrates their ranks and the two are captured, their bond faces its greatest test . . . and any misstep could jeopardize not only Alliance but the very outcome of the war.

A thrilling, propulsive novel based on the real life of a female spy during World War IIPerfect for fans of WWII historical fiction by Ariel Lawhon, Lynn Austin, Martha Hally Kelly, and Kristy CambronA captivating romance featuring a strong female heroine and a musician heroIncludes discussion questions for book clubs

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FVTWMTNS
• ISBN13: 9798400501791
• Release Date: July 2026
• Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
• Length: 368 Pages

Customer Reviews

incredible WWII historical fiction

"How foolish he'd been, to think God had been trapped in those fences too." Roseanna M White is indeed a master of espionage and romance in historical fiction. I loved her WWI spymasters in Shadows Over England and The Codebreakers, her Edwardian spymasters in The Imposters, and her American spymasters in The Culper Ring. This book brings us the spymasters in the French Resistance during WWII as they dodge, outsmart, and outplan the enemy during the long years between 1941 and 1944. The author has a gift for enfolding the reader into her setting and atmosphere where befriending the characters is a true pleasure, rooting for them is second nature and reading beyond bedtime to find out what happens to them is a necessity. Zelie was a complex and wonderful heroine. She was a combination of a fierce leader with keen intelligence, a devoted mother whose sole purpose was her children's safety and freedom, a widow with a bruised heart and confidence, and a talented musician who has had her wings clipped. Zelie was a fascinating puzzle of strength, vulnerability, determination, tenderness, cunning, innocence, stubbornness and humility. Marcel was the perfect Roseanna M White hero the author is known for. Not physically intimidating but full of charm, intelligence, giftedness, faith, integrity, loyalty, and heart, Marcel won me over with his musical prowess and dedication to Zelie. Every time Marcel played piano on the pages, I could actually hear him; that's how good the descriptions of his playing were. I loved watching him conduct the youth orchestra and mentor the young men under his direction. There were plenty of plot twists, with betrayals upon betrayals, and fast-paced action that kept the plot moving at a good pace. Marcel's rock-solid faith was incredible and Zelie's moment of surrender was real and raw. If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, you will absolutely love this book. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers via Interviews and Reviews and NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.