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Operation Tulip

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About this listen

'This impeccably researched wartime thriller had me gripped from the opening pages – I loved it.' Eliza Graham

'A nail-biting read from start to finish … a must for WW2 fiction fans' Tessa Harris

Holland, 1944: Undercover British agent Nancy Callaghan has been given her toughest case yet. A key member of the Dutch resistance has been captured, and Nancy must play the role of a wealthy Nazi to win over a notorious SS officer, Detlef Keller, and gain crucial information.

England: Coding expert Tom Lockwood is devastated that the Allies have failed to push back the Nazis, leaving Northern Holland completely cut off from the rest of Europe, and him from his beloved Nancy. Desperate to rescue the love of his life, Tom devises Operation Tulip, a plan to bring Nancy home.

But as Nancy infiltrates the Dutch SS, she finds herself catching the eye of an even more senior member of the Party. Is Nancy in too deep, or can Tom reach her before she gets caught?

Inspired by the true events of occupied Holland during WW2, don't miss this utterly gripping story of love, bravery and sacrifice.

Readers have been gripped by Operation Tulip!

'Swift is such a good storyteller … thrilling' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'So hard to put down. I was completely immersed in Nancy’s world … will stay with me for a very long time' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The story shows humanity at its best and its worst' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A fantastic work of historical fiction' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

©2024 Deborah Swift (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers 20th Century Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction War & Military Women's Fiction

Critic reviews

'This impeccably researched wartime thriller had me gripped from the opening pages – I loved it. My pulse was racing and at times my heart broke as Nancy's intelligence operation in The Hague grew more dangerous by the day' ELIZA GRAHAM

'A fast-paced, exciting read … kept me reading late on several nights. Will appeal to all lovers of both romance and wartime novels' KATHLEEN McGURL

'Had me gripped from beginning to end … Swift portrays the last desperate months of the war in Holland so vividly I found it hard to put Operation Tulip down' EVA GLYN

'A nail-biting read from start to finish. Edge-of-your-seat action and a desperate romance make this a must for WW2 fiction fans' TESSA HARRIS

'Fast-paced, full of action, intrigue and threat … a story of extraordinary bravery and sacrifice in the face of adversity' ASPECTS OF HISTORY

'With real history in the raw, heart-pounding drama, bone-chilling cruelty, plot twists, and the sheer power of true love, this is a terrific finale to an unforgettable series.' YORKSHIRE POST

All stars
Most relevant
Treated the listener with having little knowledge of the time it was based on.should have been an excellent book

Based on what should have been a great story, but wasn’t in my opinion

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Too gushing and too many unlikely coincidences which began to make me cringe.
My father fought at Arnhem so it was interesting to see the terrible time for the Dutch civilians.

Interesting history

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Great story,gripping but with a happy ending.
There was one glaring inaccuracy though-when the arch villain was made to undress & out on a resistance members clothes-he was handed over to German troops. He maintained that he was an SS officer but wasn't believed by the Germans. He raised his hands but neither he nor the other Germans didn't spot that all SS members had their blood group & service number tattooed at the top of their right arm.
This not being spotted wouldnt , in reality, have not have been missed by the German soldiers. Besides which the SS villain would just have to tell them to check under his arm to prove his identity.

Very good

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Courage under the hardest circumstances. The talisman of the Gold St Christopher’s necklace is inappropriate as no SOE personnel was permitted to take anything that could be identified as not belonging to the country they were destined to serve. I grew up knowing several Dutch families who had immigrated after WWII, The horrors of the famine, Winter Hunger, can’t be exaggerated, it was truly horrific.

The loneliness of never being able to relieve your true self.

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I like this period of history and read the prequel to this audiobook sometime ago and remembered enjoying it. I have to say this was nowhere near as good. I’m not sure if it was the narration or story line that bothered me but it was all a bit naff and far fetched. There are better titles out there so save yourself a credit.

Not the best

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