Here’s the scoop:

Poignantly drawing on the fascinating first-hand account of his mother-in-law’s lived experiences in the Dutch resistance, Robert Loewen’s historical fiction debut introduces the world to three brave every day women who defied societal expectations and fought against the Nazi Gestapo in World War II. With The Lioness of Leiden Loewen shines a light on the female spies and resistance fighters of the Netherlands.

When the Germans invade the Netherlands, Leiden University student Hetty volunteers as a courier for the resistance along with her roommate, the beautiful Mimi, and a local 17-year-old girl, Maria, the daughter of a slain resistance fighter. At great personal risk, the three women carry documents, secret messages, and cash to protect Jews, downed pilots, and others hiding from the Nazis. Challenged by a gauntlet of spies and betrayal, they heroically fight back and take on increasingly dangerous assignments.

Complicated family dynamics, the tragedies and triumphs of war, and strong female friendships animate The Lioness of Leiden, bringing these true events evocatively to life. Fans of Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale and Kate Quinn’s The Alice Network will love this compelling story.