Set across a German-occupied 1940s Venice and modern-day London, this is a fascinating tale of the unspeakable bravery of everyday women in the darkest corners of WWII. The world is at war, and Stella Jilani is leading a double life: by day she works in the lion's den as a typist for the Reich office; by night, she risks her life as a messenger for the Venetian resistance – imparting Nazi secrets, transporting essential supplies across the city, and, most crucially, producing an underground newspaper on her beloved typewriter. But when German commander, General Breugal, becomes suspicious, it seems he will stop at nothing to find the mole, and Stella knows she faces an uncertain future... Years later, grieving Luisa Belmont finds a mysterious old Olivetti with a dropped e in her attic. Determined to find out who it belonged to, Luisa delves into the past, and soon uncovers a story of fierce love, unimaginable sacrifice, and, ultimately, the worst kind of betrayal... "A powerful, haunting debut." KATE QUINN, author of The Alice Network