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Back Behind Enemy Lines
1944 and Anna is parachuted into Normandy as a special agent working with Resistance Groups, spying on the Germans and wiring the information back to the Special Operations Executive, escaping capture and the inevitable torture that would follow.
She falls in love with Pierre, another SOE agent but finds he is not what he purports to be. Then there is the little matter of the Gestapo officer who has guessed her secret. Alone, Anna has to make some terrifying decisions to survive and to ensure the impending invasion remains secret.
It is 2006 in England, where her husband has died and Anna lives alone. Her children are spying on her and plot to put her in a home so that they can sell her house for their own ends. Anna is determined to retain her independence. She falls back on her wartime skills, recruiting Nathan and his girl friend Gemma to help her and becomes close to them as she never was with her own children.
But it is only when she returns to Normandy and confronts the ghosts of her past that she realises how the war had taken its toll on her loveless marriage and her children. She makes the ultimate sacrifice and finally finds the peace and redemption that had evaded her all these years.
‘A contemporary story which pits generation against generation … suspenseful, poignant and funny ... This was a world I didn't want to leave when I came to the end of the book.’
Helen Cadbury, To Catch a Rabbit
She falls in love with Pierre, another SOE agent but finds he is not what he purports to be. Then there is the little matter of the Gestapo officer who has guessed her secret. Alone, Anna has to make some terrifying decisions to survive and to ensure the impending invasion remains secret.
It is 2006 in England, where her husband has died and Anna lives alone. Her children are spying on her and plot to put her in a home so that they can sell her house for their own ends. Anna is determined to retain her independence. She falls back on her wartime skills, recruiting Nathan and his girl friend Gemma to help her and becomes close to them as she never was with her own children.
But it is only when she returns to Normandy and confronts the ghosts of her past that she realises how the war had taken its toll on her loveless marriage and her children. She makes the ultimate sacrifice and finally finds the peace and redemption that had evaded her all these years.
‘A contemporary story which pits generation against generation … suspenseful, poignant and funny ... This was a world I didn't want to leave when I came to the end of the book.’
Helen Cadbury, To Catch a Rabbit
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2014
About the author
Chris Bridge
6 books1 followerChris Bridge was born in Hull, England in 1947. He studied English and Philosophy at Nottingham University and became a teacher after graduating. He eventually became Headteacher of Huntington School, York, and finished his school career as a National Leader of Education. He has been a regular contributor to poetry magazines and his poems have featured in the winning lists of Hippocrates and Stanza poetry competitions. Back Behind Enemy Lines is his first novel. He lives in North Yorkshire.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 14, 2015
Back Behind Enemy Lines is a historical fiction, the first part is set in 1944 in Normandy during WWII, the second part is in 2006, England.
Anna Julen is about to be parachuted into Normandy as a special agent, she's part of a Special Operations Executive and from now on she is Marie-Claire Cardon, niece of Madam Desaint and milkmaid. Alone in a dangerous time she must hide her radio, blend in with the locals and start finding information to send back home. She works long hours, up early to milk the cows and goats delivering milk and cheese, eyes and ears open to everything. As Marie-Claire she cycles miles observing and mapping German gun placements and movements, always in danger of arrest.
To gather further information Marie- Claire must set up her own network of local spies and helping the resistance, her first recruit is seven year old Franck. Everyone is waiting for the allied invasion, both German and resistance activity is increasing. Marie-Claire's group help others sabotage railway tracks and communication lines. In May a new agent is sent out, Pierre, young and healthy he must be kept out of sight or he'll be questioned as to why he is not fighting at the front.
I loved reading about Marie-Claire, she showed such extreme strengths and bravery. In July the invasion came, the frontline moved and the British came to the rescue, Anna's job was over. I wondered what the rest of the book would be about and if it would keep my attention.
Part two is about Anna, it's now her ninetieth birthday, her husband Ronnie has died, she has three grown up children. They want to run her life, move her to an old folks home, remove her independence. But Anna resists, she's back behind enemy lines and her old dormant training re-ignites. She recruits two youngsters to help her and decides it's time to lay some ghosts to rest, re-turning to Normandy for answers and forgiveness. Part two kept me just as enthralled as part one and I was up late reading into the night to get to the end of this wonderful book.
Anna Julen is about to be parachuted into Normandy as a special agent, she's part of a Special Operations Executive and from now on she is Marie-Claire Cardon, niece of Madam Desaint and milkmaid. Alone in a dangerous time she must hide her radio, blend in with the locals and start finding information to send back home. She works long hours, up early to milk the cows and goats delivering milk and cheese, eyes and ears open to everything. As Marie-Claire she cycles miles observing and mapping German gun placements and movements, always in danger of arrest.
To gather further information Marie- Claire must set up her own network of local spies and helping the resistance, her first recruit is seven year old Franck. Everyone is waiting for the allied invasion, both German and resistance activity is increasing. Marie-Claire's group help others sabotage railway tracks and communication lines. In May a new agent is sent out, Pierre, young and healthy he must be kept out of sight or he'll be questioned as to why he is not fighting at the front.
I loved reading about Marie-Claire, she showed such extreme strengths and bravery. In July the invasion came, the frontline moved and the British came to the rescue, Anna's job was over. I wondered what the rest of the book would be about and if it would keep my attention.
Part two is about Anna, it's now her ninetieth birthday, her husband Ronnie has died, she has three grown up children. They want to run her life, move her to an old folks home, remove her independence. But Anna resists, she's back behind enemy lines and her old dormant training re-ignites. She recruits two youngsters to help her and decides it's time to lay some ghosts to rest, re-turning to Normandy for answers and forgiveness. Part two kept me just as enthralled as part one and I was up late reading into the night to get to the end of this wonderful book.
January 15, 2018
Thrilling, emotionally and morally engaging opening SOE action in WWII - then we move to same heroine as an old lady trying to protect herself from predatory family members. A most extraordinary contrast, but equally well written. Bridge could equally well develop as a thriller writer or a more domestic novelist analysing family relationships. How the two worlds tie up in the trajectory of one person's life is intriguing. Well worth a read.
October 26, 2018
Couldn't put it down!
Compulsive and from my own knowledge a very accurate interpretation of "what it was really like" during the war for some of our unsung heroes and heroines. Excellent seems to short a word for this entrancing read.
Compulsive and from my own knowledge a very accurate interpretation of "what it was really like" during the war for some of our unsung heroes and heroines. Excellent seems to short a word for this entrancing read.
May 10, 2021
So it’s a rather long blurb which normally I don’t like too much because I prefer to explore the book from a more secretive blurb however it does give a real feel of the story to come. The novel is set in two parts, the first in 1944 Normandy during WW1 and the second during 2006 in England. As the blurb writes, we follow Anna Julen as she is parachuted into Normandy as a special agent under the name of Marie-Claire Cardon. We follow her story as she attempts to blend in with her surroundings, the locals, hiding her radio and working long hours whilst trying to sneak in sending information back home. Later in part two we meet Anna again who is now ninety years old. Despite her age she rebels against her children who want to run her life and move her into a home but she will not stand for it; instead she returns to Normandy to find answers and also a little forgiveness.
So there’s a lot of plot to get your teeth into but now onto the more technical side. Firstly Chris Bridge is a really wonderful storyteller. He manages to weave the two plot lines succinctly and make the book a really intriguing and exciting narrative. I read this in around three days because I was so excited by where the narrative was going. I think his real strength as an author is seen in his creation of the world around the main character. The completely authentic reconstruction of war-time France in contrast to modern day Britain is really skilfully done. For me historical fiction is all about placing the reader some place new and this is done with skill and understanding.
This is further backed by the characters that are pulled into the narrative and the fact that throughout you’re not quite sure if you can trust any of them even Anna to some extent. She is a truly wonderful character, both gutsy and determined and also mellow and enchanting; I really adored her as a character. The book also conveys a really strong show of the authors utter love of writing I think. It has a sense of care and thoughtfulness and the constant play with the idea that you cannot presume anything about anyone is woven throughout creating a truly surprising story as a whole.
So I’ve gone on a little now but I really would recommend this book to everyone no matter your ideas on historical fiction as a genre. I think the strong writing style and the complicated used of plot and characters make this book highly appealing across the board. Bridge’s style is lyrical, evocative, descriptive and utterly captivating and throughout gave me a real insight into the lives of the characters as they were introduced. A brilliant warm book that I cannot help but recommend.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
So there’s a lot of plot to get your teeth into but now onto the more technical side. Firstly Chris Bridge is a really wonderful storyteller. He manages to weave the two plot lines succinctly and make the book a really intriguing and exciting narrative. I read this in around three days because I was so excited by where the narrative was going. I think his real strength as an author is seen in his creation of the world around the main character. The completely authentic reconstruction of war-time France in contrast to modern day Britain is really skilfully done. For me historical fiction is all about placing the reader some place new and this is done with skill and understanding.
This is further backed by the characters that are pulled into the narrative and the fact that throughout you’re not quite sure if you can trust any of them even Anna to some extent. She is a truly wonderful character, both gutsy and determined and also mellow and enchanting; I really adored her as a character. The book also conveys a really strong show of the authors utter love of writing I think. It has a sense of care and thoughtfulness and the constant play with the idea that you cannot presume anything about anyone is woven throughout creating a truly surprising story as a whole.
So I’ve gone on a little now but I really would recommend this book to everyone no matter your ideas on historical fiction as a genre. I think the strong writing style and the complicated used of plot and characters make this book highly appealing across the board. Bridge’s style is lyrical, evocative, descriptive and utterly captivating and throughout gave me a real insight into the lives of the characters as they were introduced. A brilliant warm book that I cannot help but recommend.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
February 8, 2015
The Last Word Review:
‘Captivating and Compelling’
Sometimes I come across a novel, that grabs hold of me and will not let go until I have completed the book and sometimes that book would do well set on the small screen as a TV drama. ‘Back Behind Enemy Lines’ by Chris Bridge has it on both accounts. This is an exceptional debut novel.
This is no ordinary wartime novel, Anna is one very brave woman that in the end I am just pleased she was on our side. There is the story of a determined brave British agent parachuted into Normandy in 1944 ahead of the D-Day invasions working with French Resistance groups. Anna’s role was to spy on German activity in the area ahead of the invasion. Trying to avoid capture and almost certain death. This in an insight to what life must have been like for British agents in France during the war.
During her time in Normandy she meets Pierre another Spy and falls in love, things don’t always go the way you believe and hope. Is Pierre all that he says he is? During this time she almost is caught this is where a ranked German officer comes in and another twist in a story that is highly believable. Then the D-Day landings take place, is the end of the story, no. The author then brings the reader to 2006 and Anna finds herself elderly and alone and another finds herself at war again and this time with her children who are spying on her this time as they want to put Anna in a home and cash in on the house. Recalling her wartime experiences Anna recruits Nathan and his girlfriend Gemma to help her stay in her home. They head back to Normandy and to where Anna was based as the British agent the past comes back to Anna and everything that took place during her time there. This is an emotional story packed with drama and passion that the author brings in his own style that makes the reader feel they are present with Anna. This is an exceptional book that delivers on all fronts and will not disappoint anyone reading this debut novel. I await with anticipation how Chris Bridge follows this.
HIGHLY RECOMMENED
‘Captivating and Compelling’
Sometimes I come across a novel, that grabs hold of me and will not let go until I have completed the book and sometimes that book would do well set on the small screen as a TV drama. ‘Back Behind Enemy Lines’ by Chris Bridge has it on both accounts. This is an exceptional debut novel.
This is no ordinary wartime novel, Anna is one very brave woman that in the end I am just pleased she was on our side. There is the story of a determined brave British agent parachuted into Normandy in 1944 ahead of the D-Day invasions working with French Resistance groups. Anna’s role was to spy on German activity in the area ahead of the invasion. Trying to avoid capture and almost certain death. This in an insight to what life must have been like for British agents in France during the war.
During her time in Normandy she meets Pierre another Spy and falls in love, things don’t always go the way you believe and hope. Is Pierre all that he says he is? During this time she almost is caught this is where a ranked German officer comes in and another twist in a story that is highly believable. Then the D-Day landings take place, is the end of the story, no. The author then brings the reader to 2006 and Anna finds herself elderly and alone and another finds herself at war again and this time with her children who are spying on her this time as they want to put Anna in a home and cash in on the house. Recalling her wartime experiences Anna recruits Nathan and his girlfriend Gemma to help her stay in her home. They head back to Normandy and to where Anna was based as the British agent the past comes back to Anna and everything that took place during her time there. This is an emotional story packed with drama and passion that the author brings in his own style that makes the reader feel they are present with Anna. This is an exceptional book that delivers on all fronts and will not disappoint anyone reading this debut novel. I await with anticipation how Chris Bridge follows this.
HIGHLY RECOMMENED
February 8, 2015
The Last Word Review:
‘Captivating and Compelling’
Sometimes I come across a novel, that grabs hold of me and will not let go until I have completed the book and sometimes that book would do well set on the small screen as a TV drama. ‘Back Behind Enemy Lines’ by Chris Bridge has it on both accounts. This is an exceptional debut novel.
This is no ordinary wartime novel, Anna is one very brave woman that in the end I am just pleased she was on our side. There is the story of a determined brave British agent parachuted into Normandy in 1944 ahead of the D-Day invasions working with French Resistance groups. Anna’s role was to spy on German activity in the area ahead of the invasion. Trying to avoid capture and almost certain death. This in an insight to what life must have been like for British agents in France during the war.
During her time in Normandy she meets Pierre another Spy and falls in love, things don’t always go the way you believe and hope. Is Pierre all that he says he is? During this time she almost is caught this is where a ranked German officer comes in and another twist in a story that is highly believable. Then the D-Day landings take place, is the end of the story, no. The author then brings the reader to 2006 and Anna finds herself elderly and alone and another finds herself at war again and this time with her children who are spying on her this time as they want to put Anna in a home and cash in on the house. Recalling her wartime experiences Anna recruits Nathan and his girlfriend Gemma to help her stay in her home. They head back to Normandy and to where Anna was based as the British agent the past comes back to Anna and everything that took place during her time there. This is an emotional story packed with drama and passion that the author brings in his own style that makes the reader feel they are present with Anna. This is an exceptional book that delivers on all fronts and will not disappoint anyone reading this debut novel. I await with anticipation how Chris Bridge follows this.
HIGHLY RECOMMENED
‘Captivating and Compelling’
Sometimes I come across a novel, that grabs hold of me and will not let go until I have completed the book and sometimes that book would do well set on the small screen as a TV drama. ‘Back Behind Enemy Lines’ by Chris Bridge has it on both accounts. This is an exceptional debut novel.
This is no ordinary wartime novel, Anna is one very brave woman that in the end I am just pleased she was on our side. There is the story of a determined brave British agent parachuted into Normandy in 1944 ahead of the D-Day invasions working with French Resistance groups. Anna’s role was to spy on German activity in the area ahead of the invasion. Trying to avoid capture and almost certain death. This in an insight to what life must have been like for British agents in France during the war.
During her time in Normandy she meets Pierre another Spy and falls in love, things don’t always go the way you believe and hope. Is Pierre all that he says he is? During this time she almost is caught this is where a ranked German officer comes in and another twist in a story that is highly believable. Then the D-Day landings take place, is the end of the story, no. The author then brings the reader to 2006 and Anna finds herself elderly and alone and another finds herself at war again and this time with her children who are spying on her this time as they want to put Anna in a home and cash in on the house. Recalling her wartime experiences Anna recruits Nathan and his girlfriend Gemma to help her stay in her home. They head back to Normandy and to where Anna was based as the British agent the past comes back to Anna and everything that took place during her time there. This is an emotional story packed with drama and passion that the author brings in his own style that makes the reader feel they are present with Anna. This is an exceptional book that delivers on all fronts and will not disappoint anyone reading this debut novel. I await with anticipation how Chris Bridge follows this.
HIGHLY RECOMMENED
May 26, 2015
The story starts in Normandy in 1944. Anna is about to begin an adventure and war mission for the resistance that would change her life forever. Working undercover and given a new identity to spy and pass on information, Anna had already been pushed to breaking point by a dreadful loss in the war. When things are about to take an even more tragic turn.
In the modern day and sixty years later, Anna is left broken by her extreme experiences in the war. She had married and had children but found herself isolated from them and unable to connect. They want to put her in a home and she feels they are conspiring against her. Reaching out she befriends a couple of young students and through their help she is strong enough to go back and revisit her past and face her demons.
A very haunting and moving story, there is an atmosphere which builds up so strong in the way this story is told, that surrounds the reader with the sadness and heartache that the leading character is experiencing. The reader feels Anna's pain and regret and the heavy burden she has carried around with her throughout the years and her need for closure.
In the modern day and sixty years later, Anna is left broken by her extreme experiences in the war. She had married and had children but found herself isolated from them and unable to connect. They want to put her in a home and she feels they are conspiring against her. Reaching out she befriends a couple of young students and through their help she is strong enough to go back and revisit her past and face her demons.
A very haunting and moving story, there is an atmosphere which builds up so strong in the way this story is told, that surrounds the reader with the sadness and heartache that the leading character is experiencing. The reader feels Anna's pain and regret and the heavy burden she has carried around with her throughout the years and her need for closure.
February 4, 2021
Very good book
A brilliant story, cleverly written in the past and then developing to the present day. Heart pounding story of war service, and then willing her to be recognised for her feats of bravery by her family. She won in the end.?.
A brilliant story, cleverly written in the past and then developing to the present day. Heart pounding story of war service, and then willing her to be recognised for her feats of bravery by her family. She won in the end.?.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews