Tension, drama, romance – all perfectly balanced in a book I found it hard to put down.

I love a strong heroine, and Rebecca Westbrook is exactly that. Compulsive, maybe foolhardy even, but with a courage that was unusual for its time and I really enjoyed her story.

Writing as Maisie Thomas, Susanna Bavin excels at creating incredibly well researched novels of female friendship during the Second World War, and this book is no exception.

If you read only one First World War saga this year – make it Wartime on Sanctuary Lane.