The Lines We Leave Behind

I have read numerous novels set during WWII and have thoroughly enjoyed most of them, but I never really connected with "The Lines We Leave Behind". Having the main protagonist a patient in a mental asylum a few years after the war made for an interesting plot, but it never delivered. Must of the book was slow and I didn't trust Robert from the start. I felt that the author glossed over Maud/Amber's training before her deployment to Yugoslavia as well as the danger she faced once there. I also didn't fully understand why no one questioned Maud's subsequent internment, especially her parents.

For me, "The Lines We Leave Behind" was never a compelling read and the fact that Maud languished in a hospital for 50 years didn't ring true to the show more character who risked her life during WWII. Amber was a fighter, courageous and unafraid to do the right thing, but Maud was a defeatist and gave up too willingly. A disappointing read. (less) show less

THE LINES WE LEAVE BEHIND by Eliza Graham
Maud/Amber is a young woman in a secure mental facility charged with a crime. As she speaks with her psychiatrist we learn what led her to the hospital as she “remembers” the past. She was a special agent for the Allies in the Balkans during WWII ….. or was she?
Told in flashbacks, this very interesting tale winds itself out in drips and drabs. The infighting between the Partisans, the Chetniks, the Home Guard and the Germans for control of multi-ethnic Yugoslavia is clear as Maud/Amber carries out her assignments. Modern day ethnic strife is foreshadowed as the various parties and their doctrines become clear.
The land and peoples of the Balkans are well developed and made clear. The show more personalities of the various players clash believably. Well researched and well written, this tale is enjoyable and engrossing as the reader tries to determine what is true and what is result of trauma.
Family ties, partisanship, politics, spying, secrets, women in war, and mental health treatments are all topics for discussion by book groups.
4 of 5 stars show less

Loved the book!!! After I read the description of the book, I knew I had to read it and it definitely didn't disappoint. From the moment I started reading the first chapter about Maud being in an asylum, I was hooked and didn't want to put the book down. I needed to find out why she was there. Woodlands Asylum actually seemed like a nice place, not the usual scary asylums you might see on American Horror Story. I loved Maud. She was so strong and brave. She endured a lot in such a short time, especially with regards to Robert.

Maud finds herself in Woodlands Asylum. She has two identities- Maud and Amber. Amber was who she was during her war service. She is working with her doctor to recover her memories. Pretty much everything that show more happened to Maud revolves around Robert. Robert is the reason Maud ended up doing service in Yugoslavia during World War. Robert was was a dangerous, manipulative man with many secrets. Eventually Maud's memories come back. She remembers her training, Yugoslavia and how she ended up in the asylum. Finally all the secrets are revealed and Maud learns the truth about what happened.

I loved the story, characters and writing style. I loved that it centered around Yugoslavia during WWII. I also loved Maud's interaction with Naida and Esma. For the way Maud risked her life and saved so many other people, it was sad to see where she ended up and how she was ultimately treated. She missed out on so many things.

I definitely recommend this book, especially if you enjoy historical fiction with a bit of a mystery. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author, Eliza Graham, for a free electronic ARC of this novel. show less

An enjoyable distraction from my usual reading.