Review: The Paris Dressmaker

The Paris Dressmaker

by Kristy Cambron

For several years, I’ve been a fan of Kristy Cambron. She has a great voice, and her stories are always absorbing and heartfelt. I also love that she highlights lesser known historical events in her novels. The same can be said for The Paris Dressmaker, detailing a seamstress turned Resistance member in WWII, as well as those who worked to preserve Jewish art which was being destroyed at the time. The novel is impeccably researched, giving it an authentic, 1940s setting. I liked both our heroines, though at times I found them to be a bit hard to connect with. Still, both were strong, admirable women who did incredible things for the greater good. I also found it fascinating to read about the French fashions and how they were used in the Resistance.

At times I did find it a bit hard to follow the novel. We’re given two heroines with their own unique plot lines, and each story switches between flashbacks prior to the occupation of Paris and the months leading up to the liberation of Paris. This, combined with lots of phrases in French and German had me struggling to keep up at times.

This is not a light-hearted tale. There are many encounters with Nazis, and that is never an easy thing to read about. I knew going in that this book was not going to be a “happy read” but I did wish there hadn’t been so much time spent on the Nazis.

All in all, I think The Paris Dressmaker has a fascinating plot with many interesting characters, though a bit too much violence for more sensitive readers like myself. World War Two buffs will definitely want to give this book a read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.