The Huntress by Kate Quinn is a WWII historical fiction novel that follows Jordan, Ian and Nina. The book shifts POV and spans 1942-1950 weaving back and forth during WWII and then exploring the aftermath.
Jordan, an aspiring photographer, is living in Boston in 1945 when her dad brings home Anneliese, a woman that he's begun seeing and her young daughter Ruth. Her backstory is a little cloudy and Jordan grows suspicious of her true identity after she catches a glimpse of a Nazi relic hiding amongst Anna's things. Jordan grows weary and senses something dangerous about her that she can't quite pinpoint...
Ian is overseas in Europe, a former war correspondent, now hunting Nazi war criminals and trying to avenge his brother's murder. He was murdered during the war by a lethal woman who became infamously known as The Huntress. Famous for murdering children in cold blood, Ian will search the ends of the Earth to find The Huntress and bring her to justice.
Nina is the only victim to ever escape The Huntress alive. The Russian former pilot who flew bombers for the USSR during the war is just as determined to find the woman who tried to kill her. She teams up with Ian and his team to hunt her down while also flashing back to her time in the war flying with the Night Witches, the women Soviet pilots who bombed the Germans.
The book weaves back and forth through time and between perspectives as Jordan, Ian and Nina's lives intersect in pursuit of The Huntress. Could the devil be living in plain sight?
I LOVED this one! I listened to it almost exclusively on audio and if you are a fan of audiobooks this one is INCREDIBLE! I love WWII historical fiction and this one was beautifully written. The book paced along as you learned more about Jordan, Ian and Nina. The book isn't simply about their tracking of The Huntress. Kate Quinn take's her time and develops the three main characters exquisitely as you feel how the war impacted each of them differently. If you're looking for a fast-paced war story brimming with action cover-to-cover, you'll have to slow down with this one. Instead, you'll find a beautifully plotted exploration of the impact of war on all of us with the deliciously paced pursuit of The Huntress coming to a satisfying conclusion. If you love WWII-era books, this is a different take that is a total MUST READ!
Thank you to William Morrow Books for sending me a complimentary copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
