A forgotten manuscript threatens to unravel the past ...

Fresnes Prison, 1940: Margot Bisset, a former maid from the Riviera, finds herself in a prison cell with writer and French Resistance fighter, Joséphine Murant. Together, they are transferred to a work camp in Germany, where the secrets they share will bind them for generations to come.

Present-day Paris: Evie Black lives above her botanical bookshop with her teenage son, Hugo. Nursing a broken heart, Evie receives an unexpected letter; she clutches at an opportunity to spend a magical summer with her son on the Côte d’Azur.

It’s here, on the Riviera, that the past envelops them and Evie attempts to unravel the official story of a famous novelist. If she succeeds, a murder from a lifetime ago may be solved.

Inspired by the true story of iconic French Resistance fighter, Agnès Humbert, whose secret journal shed light on a little-known aspect of World War II, The French Gift will captivate readers from beginning to unforgettable end.

PRAISE FOR THE LOST JEWELS

‘A tale of transferred wealth, power, and passion, Manning’s novel will appeal to fans of Penny Vincenzi, Paula McLain, and Elizabeth Kostova.’ Booklist

‘An historical fiction author whose stories travel and touch the world.’ HEATHER MORRIS, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz