About the Author

Alex Rosenberg is a professor of philosophy at Duke University, North Carolina, and he has written extensively in this field, most notably his 2011 book, The Atheist's Guide to Reality. As a novelist, Alex is the author of two historical thrillers, The Girl From Krakow and Autumn in Oxford. The Intrigues of Jennie Lee is his first novel from Top Hat Books. Alex lives in North Carolina, USA.

Reviews

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. A brilliant novel with a seamless blend of fact and fiction. The truth behind the breaking of the Enigma Code had, eventually, to be made public and the characters in this novel provided a good insight into the espionage of the nations involved. The character of Rita showed her as a young, intelligent, independent and resourceful woman and her fight for survival putting aside the horrors of her past. I found the novel compulsive reading and a 'sit on the edge of your seat' ending. For those who enjoy espionage thrillers, this should certainly be amongst those at the top of their reading list. I loved it.--Jill Walker "Netgalley"

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. I'd read The Girl from Krakow so was looking forward to reading another of Rosenberg's book with eager anticipation and I was not disappointed. Firstly, the quality of the writing style was reliably exquisite and I enjoyed reading the words, as much as the story. The story itself was a fascinating insight into the unique challenges of life in post-war Germany from the perspective of Rita, a victim/survivor and a woman. These identities were explored through experiences of her world-wide travel in attempts to escape the past, only to discover that the past cannot be avoided, or hidden from. I particularly liked the way that Rita was written as having immense agency at a time when women's lives (especially in Australia) were generally perceived to have very limited value beyond breeding and house-keeping. Through her quiet persistence and determination, Rita sloughs off whatever holds her back, whilst never really being overtly confrontational or aggressive. There is a theme of leaving, sacrifice and returning that is woven through the novel. I was gripped from beginning to end and only mildly disappointed the 'return' at the end left me with a sense that it was slightly unfinished. But that is personal, and my enjoying was undiminished by this. I can thoroughly recommend--Kate Kennett "Netgalley"

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. This book attracted me because of the title. I was not disappointed, on the contrary, although the book was far more different that I thought it would be. The emphasis is mainly on Rita's life, starting in 1948, although we learn a lot about her earlier life as she is frequently looking back. And Rita has a lot to look back on. Inexplicably, when living in Poland with her husband and her young son, she narrowly escapes being put on a transport to an extermination camp...................I just loved this beautifully written story which gives a fascinating insight in the lives of people in those difficult times after the war.........--Jannelies Smit "Netgalley"