The Paris Orphan

Based on the true story of a female journalist who covered World War II, this novel follows two timelines. In 1942, American model Jessica May arrives in Europe to work as a photojournalist for Vogue. While most soldiers resist her presence, three relationships transform her experience: journalist Martha Gellhorn encourages her to bend the rules, Captain Dan Hallworth protects her in dangerous situations so she can document important stories, and a young orphan named Victorine provides her with strength. However, Jess's success comes at a cost. In 2005, D'Arcy Hallworth is hired to curate a collection of famous wartime photographs by a reclusive artist at a French chateau. What begins as an opportunity of a lifetime becomes a journey that uncovers decades of secrets about her mother, Victorine, and fundamentally changes D'Arcy's understanding of her own life. The novel weaves together these dual timelines with historical detail and explores themes of wartime journalism, family secrets, and personal discovery.