In the Shadow of the Pyrenees: The Freedom Trail to Spain

by Kathryn Gauci

From USA Today Bestselling author Kathryn Gauci comes a thrilling and emotional story of bravery and self-sacrifice, heartbreak, and revenge, set in one of the most dangerous and difficult of WWII escape routes.A compelling portrait of life, love, courage, and retribution.“A beautiful dark-haired woman dressed in the latest Parisian fashion stepped onto the platform. She was holding a small boy in one arm and her small suitcase and false documents in the other. A girl, about six years old, stood by her side clinging to her mother’s skirt and clutching a doll with blonde curly hair. Justine felt a surge of pity. They didn’t look strong enough for the journey ahead of them.”When France declares war on Germany, the villagers of the sleepy village of Mont-Saint-Jean have no idea how much their lives will be impacted. At first they find themselves helping a trickle of British soldiers and airmen heading into Spain, but within months, that trickle has turned into a never-ending flow. Desperate French and foreign Jews, together with ordinary men and women evading Vichy’s harsh laws in search of freedom, either attempt to flee and join de Gaulle’s Secret Army in North Africa, or hide and regroup in readiness for D-Day. Before they know it, they are drawn into the shadowy world of escape networks in one of France’s harshest and most dangerous mountainous terrains, where at every turn they face deportation or death if caught.Rich in detail and based on true events in Occupied France, In the Shadow of the Pyrenees weaves together a powerful and vivid tableau of characters, a tortured love affair, and the heroism of countless helpers. It is a story that conjures up the voices of the past and will take you on a journey in which the ensuing upheavals continue to resonate in the villagers’ lives long after the war has ended."A remarkable and moving story of true courage" — JJ Toner, author of The Black Orchestra."Gauci's beautiful, poetic prose drew me into the story from page one. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Beyond a moving, wonderful tale, In the Shadow of the Pyrenees brings WWII fiction lovers to yet another region of the world impacted by the war. Thoroughly researched and told through the eyes of memorable characters, this book is a satisfying MUST-READ!" — Alexa Kang, USA Today bestselling author of the Rose of Anzio series."In the Shadow of the Pyrenees by Kathryn Gauci is an extraordinary tale of bravery, love, and sacrifice heightened by the historical backdrop of World War II. Using first-person eyewitness accounts by some major characters to describe key events, the author keeps the reader focused on how extraordinary events affect the actions and motivations of ordinary people. You care about Justine, the daughter of Armand, who risks her life to help the many seeking escape through an arduous and dangerous route through the Pyrenees to avoid Nazi troops. The writing is crisp and clear and keeps the reader engaged. In the Shadow of the Pyrenees is historical fiction at its best." - Editorial Review. Reader's Favourite

Genres: Historical Fiction, France, Fiction

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2023

Reviews

[Sandy McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional!

When Kathryn Gauci writes a book, the reader is guaranteed that the background to the story has been thoroughly researched, and this is no exception.
When Armand, a retired school teacher returns to a quiet village in Southern France to sell his old family home; he reflects on the events of World War Two, and the effects on his family and friends.
Prior to D-Day, local villagers are assisting British soldiers and airmen escape to the relative safety of Spain through the dangerous and mountainous Pyrenees; very soon there are many others wishing to escape the atrocities on Vichy France.
Set in a valley surrounded by the Pyrenees, this story is based on actual events and locations. The characters are strong, credible and extremely heroic, the story is emotional, and I was gripped from the very first page. An exceptional read which I cannot recommend highly enough.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

France: Many years after the war, School Teacher Armand Joubert returns to his home village of Mont-Saint-Jean in the Donezan region of France. He has returned, not for himself, but to sell the house in the village where he had lived with his wife and daughter. When he meets the family who wish to purchase his property, Armand's memory is plunged once more into his life of danger as part of the French Resistance during the German Occupation of his country.
While he and his wife Colette remained in their village, their daughter Justine takes up a new job in Toulouse and is also part of the Resistance movement as much as she can whilst almost under the eye of the Germans.
The Donezan region is literally in the shadow of the Pyrenees and therefore on the track for evaders trying to escape from France to Spain.
Told in a series of memories by participants of the escape trail to Spain, once more this is a story which captivated me from the very start. This is a story about people, very much endangered by their desire to help wherever they can to move those persecuted for simply being who they are. This story gives us a closeup view of the humanitarian effort people, villages and communities experienced during a dangerous and oppressive time in our history.
Once again, Kathryn Gauci's comprehensive research has given us a story of heroism and sacrifice by countless people, many of whom are unknown to this day. This is a story of the past that still remains present and resonates with villagers long after the events of 1940-1944.
Thank you Kathryn, I loved this story and experienced the rather frightening feeling of almost 'being there'.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unsung Heroes

As always, this author's research is impeccable and she has written about a location in France that is rarely the subject of WW II novels. Although many books mention the escape routes over the Pyrenees to Spain, this is the first I've read that focuses on them and the people who made them possible. These villagers were courageous & resourceful as they tried to help Jews and allied soldiers escape their Nazi pursuers. I'm always in awe of the sacrifices made for strangers at great personal risk. The atrocities committed by the Germans are gutwrenching and difficult to read about. They are beyond extreme and actually happened here.

Kathryn Gauci always makes me care deeply for her characters...they feel like close friends. My overall emotion at the end of this book was a great sadness for the unbearable suffering and loss of so many. It was a privilege to read about these unsung heroes.

[Suzi Stembridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest excellent novel by Kathryn Gauci deviates from the usual WW2 locations but the author’s detailed research really takes the reader into the Pyrenees and little known areas of southern France and northern Spain. Quiet and beautiful areas of southern Europe are thrown into disarray by the arrival at first by frightened and disoriented people, Jews, British airmen and French people wanting to evade the harsh laws of the Vichy and then occupation by brutal German forces.
As with many of Gauci’s stories this isn’t a story of battles, more it is an account of human emotions, frailty, love affairs and heroism. Reading it I thought I had worked out the obvious conclusion but it is a clever author and I was actually surprised by ending!
A very sensitive book, full of pathos and in current times very topical.

[peter walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful book from Kathryn Gauci about the tribulations of WW2 , who manages to show the strengths & courage of ordinary people's endurance during this awful period of the world. Am so glad that evil is again & eventually overcome & beaten by people's goodness & beliefs

[H.M. Holten · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Shadow of World War II

Armand, schoolteacher and involved in rescuing Spanish refugees, doesn’t think twice when the stream of escapees from the Nazi terror needs help.

Colette, his wife lives in terror.

Their daughter, Justine, works from Toulouse to help rescue Jews and Escaped soldiers.
In the Shadows of the Pyrénées is a full-bodied narrative of a difficult period in France, which was divided between two zones and overrun by Nazis and their victims.

Kathryn Gauci always shows impeccable research in her books, and this is no exception. Told with respect and understanding, she rolls out a wide panorama. Not only the rough nature but also the villagers living in this environment come to life, as do the people who need help. Especially Hélène, a beautiful Jewess, springs to mind as a complex person.

A rollercoaster of emotions, danger, and a clandestine love affair, In the Shadows of the Pyrénées, ticks all the boxes.

[David Mccann · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Be Brave….

Like the challenging curving trails in the Pyrenees, this book goes back and forth, until reaching an unforgettable pinnacle. A pinnacle built upon bravery, and commitment.

[Debbie Trammell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book

These brave people one by one lost their lives in one way or the other. But compared to the thousands that they saved it is remarkable. Justine says she has no regrets. I so wished she could have lived. This book was well researched and very well written. I highly recommend this book to those interested in WW 2 and the aspect of lives saved and not lost.

[Margaret Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story and a very good read. Set in France in WW11 and the beginning of the French resistance. Heartbreaking in parts and the bravery is well mentioned here. How they dealt with the collaborators was very harsh but deserved when they betrayed friends neighbours etc. Would recommend

[Cathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Armand, if you took your nose out of your books for a while, you might understand what is really going on around you. What is taking place on our doorstep is inhumane.’ His eyes were moist with tears. ‘What you are about to see, you will not read in the newspapers… ”

Armand Joubert may have physically lived through the war, but emotionally he passed away forty years ago. He had left the village of Mont-Saint-Jean in the hope of moving forward, but he is a broken man. Tormented by grief and guilt, Armond had tried to forget. He had tried to carry on, to live his life. He wanted to put the past back where it belonged, and his psychiatrist had advised him to sell what was once his home in Mont-Saint-Jean. But, to do so, he had to travel back to the village where he had lost everyone he had ever loved, only to discover a shocking secret that he had been cruelly denied all knowledge of…

In the Shadow of the Pyrenees: The Freedom Trail to Spain by Kathryn Gauci is a captivating and beautifully haunting novel. Once you begin reading this book, you won't want to put it down, and the characters will leave a lasting impression on your heart.

In a classic Gauci manoeuvre, this novel kicks off by fast-forwarding to a time long after the events that will transpire, instilling a feeling of foreboding for the upcoming characters' the reader is about to meet. The story offers hints of an unfortunate outcome and certain characters' possible demise, yet the reader remains fascinated by these men and women who risk everything to save the lives of strangers. Their bravery in the face of such risks is astounding, and it certainly makes the reader pause for thought and marvel at how ordinary people can do extraordinary things in the face of such an adversary.

There is nothing outwardly heroic about Armand. He is an intellect, a teacher, but no one would know by looking at him that he led a secret life. Armand is a very brave man and one who seeks the truth. His friendship with Dr Théo Berdu opens his eyes to the suffering of those forced to flee as the Spanish Civil War came to an end. Armand was appalled by what he witnessed at the border and did all he could to help Dr Berdu. But what he witnessed was just a prelude, for when Germany invaded he would have to make some stark choices. Did he risk his and his family's lives by helping not only British soldiers and airmen but also French and foreign Jews? The decisions Armand makes, often leave him feel emotionally exhausted. He loves his family, his wife and his adult daughter, and yet he feels so much for the people he tries to help. He isn't a particularly conflicted character, until later in the novel when his emotions get the better of him and he goes down a path which would never end well. He comes across as very human in the telling. Armand is a very well drawn character whose courage is only eclipsed by that of his daughter, Justine.

Justine is young and yet so very courageous. She is a young woman in a very dangerous world and she risks so much to help those who are fleeing persecution. She is well aware of the dangers involved but she feels so moved to help these poor people that she continues to play a type of Russian roulette with her own life. Every time she intercepts a "parcel" the dangers to her increase tenfold. Of all the characters in this novel, Justine is the one that a reader will remember long after turning the last page. Her courage, her youth, and her beliefs in what she is doing make her so very likeable, and yet as strong as she is, there is an air of vulnerability about her. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster as you read her story. Bring tissues!

Hélène is another character who has been swept up in this terrible persecution of the innocent. She is a Jew and she loses everything, her husband, her children and at times, her sanity. She is a character that really tugs at the heartstrings. She isn’t strong, like Justine. She wants to be brave, but she isn’t, she is fragile and yet there is something very appealing about her character, but also dangerous as well. Hélène is like a loose cannon and yet so many people risk their lives to try and save her. She's like the purist mountain water that seeps into rock cracks and breaks it when it freezes. The reader fears that she will bring disaster upon the protagonists in this novel, And yet, she is a casualty in this war, and that is something the reader never forgets.

The characters in this novel experience horrors that stand in stark contrast to the picturesque snow-capped mountain ranges, rivers, and forests. Many are fleeing from the worst of humanity, but nature only adds to their struggle. Despite the unimaginable separation of families, the fear of being discovered, and the treacherous mountain passes, this novel remains grounded in historical fact. Gauci's ability to bring history back to life is remarkable, and despite being fiction, this story holds numerous truths, resulting in a captivating and thought-provoking read.

In the Shadow of the Pyrenees: The Freedom Trail to Spain by Kathryn Gauci is a historical fiction novel that will captivate your heart and earn a cherished place on your bookshelf.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde
The Coffee Pot Book Club

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a story! Extremely absorbing! Even though the beginning (modern timeline, both) didn't look promising to me (too much self-pity!), and the end felt hardly realistic, I really loved the historical timeline all through the novel! Good characterisation, accurate details of war events and maquis world, constant tension. Really compelling! My first novel by the author. I will read more!

[Bev Walkling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books that focus on the stories of those who lived in various parts of Europe during the Second World War. In some them there were individuals trying to escape from France via traveling to Spain. Descriptions of their journeys were limited at best, but in her latest novel, In The Shadow Of The Pyrenees, Kathryn Gauci, through her extensive research, has told the stories of those,who at great personal risk, did their best to guide escaped POW's, downed airmen and people of Jewish descent through the dangerous mountain trails from South Western France to Spain.

Although this book is classified as fiction, it was inspired by real individuals from the Donezan region in South Western France. Included are two maps which show the general area and also the different escape routes that were used by the locals.

The book begins with the first person memories of Armand Joubert who had been a school teacher in the (fictional) village of Mont-Saint-Jean during the war. In 1940, there weren't many Germans in the area and it was fairly easy for those who were interested in helping would be escapees to make arrangements and carry out their undercover activities. Money was a huge need as it helped make possible the various escapes. Spaniards who helped Guide accross the mountains preferred arms to money but in thexearlier stages of the war could be relied upon to take their job seriously. Just as the war had started, Justine, Armand's daughter had interviewed successfully for a position in Toulouse. Eventually she was recruited into war resistance efforts by her boss, little knowing that her own father was doing similar work.

As a reader it was fascinating to meet the various individuals involved in keeping the escape routes viable. As the war progressed and the Nazi's began establishing themselves in the area the level of danger increased exponentially. Unscrupulous individuals sometimes took advantage of desperate people trying to reach safety and would rob and murder them. As food became more scarce and fear built up, it was hard to know who could be trusted and who would speak against their neighbours to curry favouritism or to get back against those towards whom they held a grudge.

The stories told were gripping and in some cases highly emotional. They were also realistic of what one would expect in wartime. Not everyone survived. Some of those who did lived with a heavy burden of regret.
Gauci has done a marvelous job of telling their stories and although there are fictional characters, many events described did happen to real people.

This book is a little different from your typical wartime story. It is not a romance (though there are glimpses of relationships and even an adulterous one). There is adventure, action and a real sense of how vital the individuals involved were to saving so many people. You won't regret reading this novel. I know it will stick with me for a long time to come.

I received a copy of the book from the author but opinions are entirely my own.

[Katinka · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the earlier days of WWII many Jewish people were not able to flee from France before the German occupation began rounding up the Jewish people and sending them to concentration camps. Many of those people just couldn’t believe that France would allow it to happen to them. Some citizens were sent to German work camps, and there were many other atrocities taking place throughout the countryside. It was a rough time for everyone, not just those who happened to be Jewish.

In this book we followed the lives of some of the people helping those fleeing from this oppression as well as some of the members of the resistance. It was as dangerous for those trying to escape as it was for those trying to help them. In this book the escape routes talked about were very difficult routes going through the mountains and into Spain. Anyone caught was doomed to be tortured as the Nazis sought to find everyone involved in helping those trying to flee, whether they were Jewish or not. And many were either killed right away or were sent to concentration camps and prisons where they often died from disease.

Parts of this book were very intense emotionally. That is something that is unavoidable given the time period. It was a dangerous time, and no one was ever entirely safe. My eyes were teary as I read at some points in this book. The story was well written and I enjoyed reading it. Given the time period it takes place in, please be aware that this book does contain some violence. That is unavoidable in a book about WWII.

If you enjoy WWII stories about the people fleeing from the Nazis and the people/networks of people helping them, then you will enjoy this book. It was a fascinating look into why many chose to help despite the risks to them and their families, as well as what life was like for the average person living in the countryside at the time, whether or not they happened to be among those trying to either flee from the Nazis or helping them to escape. And be sure to read the notes at the end talking about the people and locations that this story was based on. It was as interesting as the rest of the tale.

[Cheryle · Rating 4 out of 5]

From USA Today Bestselling author Kathryn Gauci comes a thrilling and emotional story of bravery and self-sacrifice, heartbreak, and revenge, set in one of the most dangerous and difficult of WWII escape routes.

A compelling portrait of life, love, courage, and retribution.

“A beautiful dark-haired woman dressed in the latest Parisian fashion stepped onto the platform. She was holding a small boy in one arm and her small suitcase and false documents in the other. A girl, about six years old, stood by her side clinging to her mother’s skirt and clutching a doll with blonde curly hair. Justine felt a surge of pity. They didn’t look strong enough for the journey ahead of them.”

When France declares war on Germany, the villagers of the sleepy village of Mont-Saint-Jean have no idea how much their lives will be impacted. At first they find themselves helping a trickle of British soldiers and airmen heading into Spain, but within months, that trickle has turned into a never-ending flow. Desperate French and foreign Jews, together with ordinary men and women evading Vichy’s harsh laws in search of freedom, either attempt to flee and join de Gaulle’s Secret Army in North Africa, or hide and regroup in readiness for D-Day. Before they know it, they are drawn into the shadowy world of escape networks in one of France’s harshest and most dangerous mountainous terrains, where at every turn they face deportation or death if caught.

Rich in detail and based on true events in Occupied France, In the Shadow of the Pyrenees weaves together a powerful and vivid tableau of characters, a tortured love affair, and the heroism of countless helpers. It is a story that conjures up the voices of the past and will take you on a journey in which the ensuing upheavals continue to resonate in the villagers’ lives long after the war has ended.

[Marina Osipova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling, intense, gut-wrenching

As with all the other books by Kathryn Gauci I’ve read, I was instantly hooked. In the In the Shadow of the Pyrenees, the author takes her readers on a wild and dangerous ride through France under Nazi Germany control. Her main characters are ordinary people, mostly villagers who help the British airmen and French and foreign Jews to flee to avoid deportation to labor or concentration camps or to imminent death. The characters latch on to you and pull you with them from one “safe” place to another, through the Pyrenees’ dangerous mountainous areas. You’ll encounter all different people—patriots and collaborationists; uncover family secrets, feel their excitement at successful escape, or suffer with them their losses. They are so real you can’t help but sympathize with them. Their story is a roller coaster of success and catastrophe that left this reader feeling a little breathless at times.

There are heart-wrenching scenes: Pablo and Mercedes and her child, Armando’s unexpected feelings, Colette’s suspicion and suffering, and, of course, all the dangerous, clandestine missions of Justine aka Jacqueline. I don’t want to give away too much or it will rob you of the excitement you’ll experience while reading this captivating book.

The story moves at a quick pace as the plot plays out, thickens, and takes more than a few turns. While the ending held some tragic, twisty surprises, I loved how the author addressed and tied up all loose ends. I also fully appreciated how clues had been dropped throughout the storyline. A very cleverly written must-read for fans of historical fiction, especially of WWII. Highly recommended.

[Beth Haslam · Rating 5 out of 5]

France, World War II. Much of the country is Nazi-occupied, though at first, it doesn’t feel that way to citizens of the sleepy southern Pyrenean villages. That would change, along with their lives.

Based on actual events, the author tells a gripping story of resistance fighters, ordinary men and women, willing to give their lives to save the plight of others. Their role was simple. To help those persecuted by the Nazi and Vichy governments flee across the Pyrenees Mountains to Spain. It was the execution that was perilous.

Clandestine meetings, hazardous mountain crossings, spy networks and treachery aid and blight the rescuers’ efforts. For those who fail, unspeakable suffering and death often follow.

As always with Kathryn Gauci’s writing, this novel is outstandingly well-researched. Her immersive descriptive writing adds depth, enabling the reader to experience those same harrowing emotions and raw fear felt by her characters. The plot, superbly crafted, includes a masterful twist that adds a heartrending irony in the closing chapters.

I have no hesitation in recommending this excellent novel and will often think of the ‘Justines’ who fought so valiantly for freedom.

[J. Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the star rating is important to you please regard Kathryn Gauci’s ‘In the Shadow of the Pyrenees’ as 4½ stars. (Goodreads doesn’t seem to allow half stars.) Currently, I reserve the fifth star for the very rare read that leaves me speechless – probably a Nobel or Pulitzer winner.
Kathryn Gauci is a superb storyteller, with a talent for narratives that spring from convincing characters and real-life events. From the eye-catching, classy book cover that certainly set my mood, to the fascinating research notes at the end, which I thought were great, Gauci’s recent release, ‘In the Shadow of the Pyrenees’ has pretty much all one could wish for.
This story has a great plot, great characters, and a spectacular location. The constant danger from betrayal is offset by emotional moments that made me reach for the tissues. The time shifts, from real time to current, kept me guessing to the end. This is a powerful story not only about the people desperate to escape the Gestapo, but those who risked their lives to help them. I thoroughly recommend this book.

[Suanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Shadow of the Pyrenees is another of Kathryn Gauci’s impeccably researched historical fiction novels set during World War II. I’ve read many WW2 historical fiction books over the years, but never one set in along the French-Spanish border. France has fallen to the Germans, and the Vichy government, headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain, is ruling in Germany’s name. The Maquis Resistance, local guerrilla groups, are resisting German occupation. Also thrown into the mix are Spaniards who opposed Franco during the Spanish Civil War who have escaped to France.

Set against this taut backdrop, is the story of the Joubert family, told in several points of view. Armand Joubert was a schoolteacher in the village of Mont-Saint-Jean in the Donezan region of France. He and his daughter work for the French resistance. Gauci gives us a close view of the war as it influences the area as well as the humanitarian efforts and the work of the Maquis. Joubert and his daughter face immense danger in their efforts to help others, French maquis and Allied soldiers, to escape into Spain.

Gauci’s thorough research gives us a close-up view of daily heroism in the Pyrenees. The atrocities committed by Germans are neither glorified nor glossed over. An excellent read.

[DOUGLAS TAYLOR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi just thought you might like to know that Kathryn Gauci, recent book In the Shadow of the Pyrennes held me spellbound, I read it in less than twenty-four hrs, Kathryn did not only visit the area and meet with the local inhabitants.
but put in some amazing historical research about the area the times, customs,and the people who lived during this very dark and traumatic period, I adored the characters and the story and how it all came together into a very thrilling book, full of intrigue suspicion, and daring when that knock on the door could mean the difference between life and death, an utterly brilliant book will recommend it to others and so look forward to the next one.

[Valerie Sheffield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every minute of reading this book. I lived in the Pyrenees Orientales and had visited many of the places mentioned. As usual with Kathryn Gauci’s books they are well written with interesting characters and full of information. Reading the book I found myself holding my breath. I would highly tecommend In the Shadow of the Pyrenees .

[david · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Shadow of the Pyreness , The Freedom Trail to Spain.

A excellent story of what hardships people put themselves through in times of aggression , and how ordinary every day people pull together. More story's like this , by good author's like this one should be told , and told in schools.

[Laurel Joy Davar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

Most often, stories of the resistance during WWII the characters are created as composites and the story line is pieced together. Kathryn Gauci manages to make each character distinct and complete. Well researched and believable. I am captivated by their bravery and will continue reading Kathryn’s books.

[Sally Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storytelling and, like all Gauci's books, rich with the texture that only comes from meticulous research into the time and place.

[Jennifer Molyneaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this historical novel. According to the author's notes, the place names are true and the characters are based on actual people of the time.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathryn Gauci brings home the reality of life in German occupied southern France. The constant fear, the uncertainty of who to really trust and the danger is palpable. Based on true events, this is a story of those barave men and women who were willing to give their lives to help those fleeing from certain death in the concentation camps, those trying to reach De Gaulle's army in North Africa and other soldiers and airmen who need the help of the resistance.
It's a totally compelling story which has the reader gripped from the start to the end. My heart broke for those caught up in the horrors of WWII. A story of sacrifice, heroism, love and betrayal, it's a must read.