Summary: The Other Cipher (Soli Hansen Mysteries book 2) by Heidi Eljarbo
1613: Fabiola Ruber has been wed to a man she does not know and must live in a country with a new language and different customs. The memories of a lost love in her hometown Malta haunt her, and she sets out to find an artist who can do her portrait and recapture the feelings she had when she once modeled for a renowned Italian master painter.
1944. Four years into World War II, art historian Soli Hansen works with the Norwegian resistance to locate significant artwork and safeguard the pieces from the Nazis. When she finds out the Germans are after a hidden baroque depiction of a seventeenth century woman, she must muster all her courage and skills to decipher encrypted codes and preserve the mysterious art before it’s too late.
Both women are determined to do what they can to bring healing and redemption to their otherwise ominous future. Through tangled, bewildering clues and an eye for detail, Soli’s bond to Fabiola grows closer by the day. She must find the missing painting before the enemy does.
Ranging from a privileged life in seventeenth century Antwerp to Oslo during the German occupation of the Second World War, this dual timeline is a historical mystery thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end (from Amazon).
My review of this exiting WWII historical mystery
In German occupied Oslo, art shop owner and art historian Soli Hansen and her resistance friends risk their lives on a mission to protect valuable paintings from being stolen by the Nazis.
The Other Cipher is book 2 in the Soli Hansen Mysteries series written and published by Heidi Eljarbo. The dual time plot is set in Oslo 1944 and Antwerp 1613. We follow art historian Soli Hansen and her resistance friends in their effort to keep Jewish owned art from being shipped to Gernany. Soli puts her life in danger to prevent the Nazis from stealing the valuable painting for Hitler’s planned museum in Austria. The underground deciphering group help decrypt secret messages which help her stay ahead of the Germans.
Main character, Soli, Hansen is the art shop owner
and member of resistance. She is a shy, introvert who struggle to collect
information the resistance needs. I feel she is a relatable and well put
together character for a Norwegian woman of the 1940s.
Supporting character is Hedvig, Heddy, Vengen is
the leader of the resistance group The Art Club. She seems idealistic, forceful
and prepared to live a lonely life on the run from the Nazis for the duration
of the war. She seems to struggle to find people to trust but really appreciates
the good people around her, which is why she is my favorite of this story.
I feel the plot is captivating and entertaining, written in a down-to earth manner anyone can follow. I love that the story is based on, which I have not come across in any other historical before. The story easily reads as a standalone including the intriguing and unique art element. Readers of book 1, Of Darkness and Light, will recognize characters as well as get to know new ones. Continuing is Soli’s charming friendship (or relationship) with Detective Nikolai Lange and her fear of ruthless German Lieutenant Colonel Heinz Walter. Walter’s presence in the story makes an excellent dramatic element and I got a knot in my stomach every time he appeared. I enjoyed the surprising element of the disappeared young cryptographer and what he had discovered. This made a vital contribution to the progress of the plot. The tid-bits of information about life in war-time Oslo and the vibe of looming danger and uncertainty while in the process of finding and hiding the art, made the story come alive for me. They were my favorites, as I felt these parts were particularly well written.
Readers of historical fiction in general and WWII plots in particular, will enjoy this one. As will readers of Heidi Eljarbo’s previous works. Similar authors to explore might be Andrea Penrose or Mimi Matthews. Thank you to @heidieljarbo for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Conclusion: The Other Cipher is the captivating dual-time mystery about art historian Soli Hansen who collaborates with Norwegian resistance in a dangerous race to keep valuable art from being stolen by the Nazis. I am already looking forward to Soli’s next mystery in wartime Oslo.
Rating: 4 stars / 5
You can get your copy here
Book Details
Publisher : Independently published (November 27, 2020)
Paperback : 247 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8572286533
About The Author
Heidi grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and she never truly imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, all of which have come in handy when working as an author, magazine journalist, and painter.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have a total of nine children, thirteen grandchildren--so far--in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier. Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter. Heidi's favorites are family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical (from Amazon). Check out author's website: https://www.heidieljarbo.com/
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