Orphaned by the age of thirteen, there was no way Alix St. Pierre could have known what her future held in store for her. And, what a future it was. During WWII, her position in the OSS changed her life. Working with Italian partisans and a German informant, what she saw and experienced left her a changed person. A few years after the war, she returned to Paris to accept a position with the soon-to-open House of Dior. Quickly it became clear that someone wanted revenge and she was in danger. How do you defend yourself from someone you have never seen and whose real name you don't know?
Natasha Lester has crafted a spellbinding, multifaceted, and intriguing story in THE THREE LIVES OF ALIX ST. PIERRE, told in dual timelines set in the past and present. The characters are vividly brought to life. Alix is a fascinating woman. She is insightful, realistic, and brave. She will never accept the confines of a traditional life no matter what the cost. The rest of the characters are an eclectic group from all walks of life. Post-War Paris is brought to life, as well as the horrors of the war. Every aspect of this fast-moving narrative blends together perfectly. Of special interest is the Author's Note, which gives readers insight into how this story was constructed. Impeccably researched, memorable, and skillfully told, this work of historical fiction is well worth reading. Highly recommended.
An unforgettable and “fascinating tale” of an orphan turned WWII spy turned fashion icon in Paris (Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye). Alix St. Pierre. An unforgettable name for an unforgettable woman. She grew up surrounded by Hollywood glamor, but, as an orphan, never truly felt part of that world. In 1943, with WWII raging and men headed overseas to fight, she lands a publicity job to recruit women into the workforce. Her skills—persuasion, daring, quick-witted under pressure—catch the attention of the U.S. government and she finds herself with an even bigger assignment: sent to Switzerland as a spy. Soon Alix is on the precipice of something big, very big. But how far can she trust her German informant…?
After an Allied victory that didn’t come nearly soon enough, Alix moves to Paris, ready to immerse herself in a new position as director of publicity for the yet-to-be-launched House of Dior. In the glamorous halls of the French fashion house, she can nearly forget everything she lost and the dangerous secret she carries. But when a figure from the war reappears and threatens to destroy her future, Alix realizes that only she can right the wrongs of the past …and finally find justice.