1943. After spearheading several successful advertising campaigns in New York, PR wizard Alix St. Pierre comes to the attention of the U.S. government and finds herself recruited into a fledgling intelligence organization.

Enlisted as a spy, Alix is sent to Europe where she is tasked with getting close to a Nazi who might be willing to help the Allied forces–but there’s also the chance he might be a double agent.

1946. Following the war, Alix moves to Paris and takes a position as head of publicity for the yet-to-be-launched House of Dior. 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 bring him to justice.

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre is a thrilling, sumptuous work of historical fiction told in three timelines: before, during and after WWII. This completely immersive story takes readers from the dangerous, intrigue-filled rooms in Switzerland where elites of both sides mingled and schemed during the war, to the glamorous halls of the House of Dior in the golden age of French fashion and journalism.

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre (Amazon US) (Amazon UK) (Audible) (AbeBooks Used Book Marketplace)

My bosses gifted me with a bookstore gift card in January and I chose three books. One of them was The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre because the original cover caught my attention, and then the synopsis on back hooked me. While I am getting a little tired of World War II historical fiction because there’s so much of it, I thought this was a different take on the subject.

I was swept away by the writing. This is my first Natasha Lester book, but it probably won’t be the last. She has a way of bringing characters and settings to life. Of course, there’s an emphasis on fashion, which I don’t mind; I often imagine I was born in the wrong time because I much prefer the clothing of the past.

There are three timelines, which are all handled well. The structure of the story was balanced, and I really felt I got to know the main characters as fully fleshed out human beings. While I couldn’t figure out how and why the timelines would converge, when they did about 3/4 of the way through the book, it all made sense.

The combination of historical fiction, mystery and romance was also handled well. I sometimes find that one part of a genre dominates, but that isn’t the case with this book. I’d highly recommend this book for anyone interested in fashion or World War II history.

For more reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com

Never miss a post! Subscribe to my email list below.

I’m also on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr. Check it out!

Join our Facebook page Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews or join our book group here.

This post contains affiliate links. That means I may earn a few pennies if you purchase any books mentioned in this post, at no additional cost to you. Monies earned offset the costs of web hosting.