Review : The Paris Notebook by Tessa Harris

We’re delighted to be sharing Elena’s thoughts about The Paris Notebook by Tessa Harris.

Waterstones

Amazon

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ HQ Digital (13 April 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0008564442
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008564445

A secret big enough to destroy the Führer’s reputation. . .

January 1939:

When Katja Heinz secures a job as a typist at Doctor Viktor’s clinic, she doesn’t expect to be copying top secret medical records from a notebook.

At the end of the first world war, Doctor Viktor treated soldiers for psychological disorders. One of the patients was none other than Adolf Hitler. . .

The notes in his possession declare Hitler unfit for office – a secret that could destroy the Führer’s reputation, and change the course of the war if exposed. . .

With the notebook hidden in her hat box, Katja and Doctor Viktor travel to Paris. Seeking refuge in the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, they hope to find a publisher brave enough to print the controversial script.

But Katja is being watched. Nazi spies in Paris have discovered her plan. They will stop at nothing to destroy the notebook and silence those who know of the secret hidden inside. . .

The Paris Notebook is based on a true story.

Book Review

This story is set in the years building up to WW2 when Hitler was rising to power and the Nazi ideology was becoming widespread.

Katja works for Dr Viktor, typing up a very important manuscript. As she works for the psychiatrist she realises that the notes she’s typing up describe Adolf Hitler.

Years before (after Hitler fought in WW1) he saw a psychiatrist, Dr Viktor. He took copious amounts of notes detailing his treatment and discoveries and he realises that they are explosive and can expose the world to the danger that is Hitler.

Katja has her own reasons why she wants to write up the notes. Her father was killed by the Nazis and she has hated them ever since.  They ruined the lives of both herself and her mother. She knows the notes she’s typing are dangerous in the wrong hands but she will stop at nothing to get the notes published.

On her trip to Paris to find a publisher she meets Daniel, a journalist. The attraction is instant as they both have heartbreak to deal with.

Can Katja and Dr Viktor get a publisher without being caught with the notes? And what will become of Katja and Daniel?

The Paris Notebook is epic in scope and totally addictive.

I was immersed in the story and enjoyed the blossoming relationship between Katja and Daniel.

I hoped the notes could be published before they were found out and that the truth about Hitler would come out eventually.

As the book came to an end the pace quickened, I couldn’t put it down wondering what would become of them all.

There were some truly awful characters and I hoped they would get what they deserved.

The Paris Notebook is really beautifully written and I could imagine seeing the story play out on the screen.

I loved it and thoroughly recommend it.