The Nightingale question

The author kept it vague on purpose - I don't think we were supposed to know until the end.

No, it was not just you, cometstrike. I changed my guess as to who was narrating several times during the reading of the book. That it was Vianne was a bit of surprise but then until the end, the information that Isabelle and Sophie had died was not available. It was a nice twist and also that the baby boy had been a healing factor for the family. I also like that the young boy that went to family in US was there so we knew he did well also.

I changed my guess throughout as well!
The "guess the narrator" bit was a nice twist on the suspense aspect of the book.

I thought it was Isabelle at first as well, until the chapter in which Vianne was talking to her son and saw the invitation. She started telling about the man she shouldn't have killed and the man she should have. Once she killed Cpt Beck and then Von Richter moved in I understood what she meant and who was telling the story. But yes, the author did a good job of keeping me guessing!

It wasn't just you, cometstrike. I thought it was Isabelle who was the narrator too, right up to the speech at the end. When it became clear that it was Vianne, I was gobsmacked. LOL!

I loved that twist at the end...it was a nice reward. Pretty sure I read a review that alluded to a twist at the end, but I was not thinking about that when I reached the end of the book. It was a very satisfying ending.

I went back and forth, looking for clear clues throughout the book as to the identity of the narrator. At first I was sure that this was Isabelle's story, her memories of the events. But there were times that I began to rethink that conclusion.
I agree that it was a great addition to the story line, and loved the way things wrapped up with reveals at the end! Such a fantastic read!

I thought it might be Vianne all along, but then I'd change my mind. It was genius of the writer. The reader keeps trying to figure out who is the hero. It worked hand in hand with the very complex relationship between the sisters.

I agree with previous posts. I was unsure throughout the book as well, but now that I've finished it is clear that the author kept the identity of the narrator vague on purpose. It's almost as if we were kept in the dark about the narrator's true identity... much like the French population was kept in the dark about the Nightingale's true identity. That's the parallel I experienced anyway!

I thought it was Isabelle THE WHOLE TIME and I kept thinking that I already knew that Isabelle would survive because she was the one in 1995- so I was never worried about her death. When she began the speech about "her sister Isabelle" I immediately stopped reading and started flipping back through pages to figure it out. I was so shocked. But, the author did hide this narrators identity on purpose, and she did a good job.

This was deliberate. Readers were meant to think its Isabelle (there’s a son not a daughter); there is Isabelles ID card that she looks at in the attic, and the invitation is in celebration of The Nightingale’s work, etc. We were meant to think it is Isabelle and that’s why we think she will survive. I loved this book, and the ending did not disappoint. It left a hole in my heart.

I kept thinking it was Isabelle as well... even after Vianne began the speech about "her sister Isabelle". i thought to myself: was Isabelle pretending to be Vianne so she wouldn’t need to face the past??

Shows what I know, I thought the POV switched back and forth throughout the book...

This was one of the few 5-star books I've read lately. I was kept on the edge of my seat a number of times. It's amazing what the resistance did during that war!! I have never before been interested in reading any book to do with the Nazis, but I have recommended this book to my "bookish" friends along with The Book Thief, which I also gave 5 stars to.

I was excited to be kept guessing, gave me goosebumps towards the end when we found out who it was... most of the time expecting Isabelle would make it through as she is such a fighter.