My Father's House: AS SEEN ON BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS (The Rome Escape Line, 1)

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Based on a true story, My Father’s House is a powerful thriller from a master of historical fiction. First of all, I’m excited that O’Connor brought to the forefront a little-known piece of wartime history.

You don’t understand the fact that hope, if it is ever encountered, is in the small things of the everyday, not an announcement from on high. They recount their experiences by means of transcripts of interviews recorded twenty years after the events in question allowing the reader to hear the distinctive voices the author has created for them.Based on an extraordinary true story, My Father's House is a powerful literary thriller from a master of historical fiction. Under the guise of a “Choir”, Monsignor Hugh and seven others, each from different walks of life, operate an “Escape Line”. Finally, the conclusion confirmed for me that God’s hand is in everything - even events we could never imagine happening. With his help, guidance and leadership thousands of Jews, Allied prisoners and diplomats were able to be smuggled out of Italy. How wrong they were, for the courageous Hugh tries to improve the conditions and raise the morale of the prisoners, many of whom were mere boys, whilst remorselessly castigating those running the nightmare camps.

He accomplished this by befriending several Italian people who shared his viewpoint and beliefs and were willing to risk their own lives to save others.I was held captive with O’Connor’s premise; a choir conductor and choir preparing for a performance! I also enjoyed the dialogue in the book, wjhich often has an natural, snappy quality, and O'Connor has a great turn of phrase ('If I backed the tide it wouldn't come in, ‘if he was a banana he'd peel himself’). Under cover of music they explore plans and escape routes, false names and addresses as they prepare for a major mission, codenamed the Rendimento. It is an unforgettable novel of love, sacrifice and what it means to be human in the most extreme circumstances. This is a well conceived novel which has a group of individuals led by Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty to find sanctuary and safety for escaped prisoners of war.