We are very pleased to be giving away two copies of SL Beaumont’s book ‘The War Photographers’, to our GrownUps members.
All you need to do to enter the draw is be a GrownUps member, make sure you’re signed up to our newsletter and fill in your details near the bottom of the page!
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About The War Photographers
A gripping historical novel with a dual story that links WWII and the Cold War, where people’s singular beliefs can lead to them doing things that have unintended and far-reaching implications.
1943 – Bletchley Park, England
Mae Webster, immersed in the clandestine world of codebreaking at Bletchley Park, is recruited to help unveil a spy who’s on the brink of exposing Britain’s most guarded secret: the cracking of the Enigma code. As war rages around her, Mae’s life takes an unexpected turn when she falls in love with the enigmatic New Zealand war photographer Jack Knight. Their relationship develops at pace, but tragedy strikes when one of Jack’s photographs risks unmasking an elusive double agent.
1989 – Berlin, Germany
Rachel Talbot, a globetrotting photojournalist, ventures into the heart of a fractured Berlin in search of the Stasi officer whom her beloved grandmother Mae blames for betraying their family. Rachel finds herself entangled in the East German uprising and is irresistibly drawn to a charismatic activist. As the Cold War threatens to boil over, Rachel races to expose a traitor before it’s too late.
Author Notes
History Almost Lost:
I’m interested in WWII and the contribution of women. Bletchley Park has long fascinated me – this place where all of these unique individuals came together. It’s estimated they cut the war in Europe by at least two years, and then all of that achievement was nearly lost due to a combination of factors, not least of which was the fact that all participants who signed the Official Secrets Act, took it so seriously that many took their war roles to the grave, never telling family or friends what they did. Many suffered the indignity of scorn because they weren’t fighting at the front, but still kept quiet. At its peak 9,000 people worked around the clock at Bletchley Park, yet the secret of their achievements never got out. Amazing!
Overcoming Oppression:
The fact that the fall of the Berlin Wall happened by accident also interested me. No one predicted that it would happen so quickly. The Soviet Union seemed to have such a strong hold on Eastern Europe, but within a few months, the Wall was down, and everything opened up. A series of rumbles in Europe throughout 1989 came together: the rise of the Polish Solidarity Party, the Pan-European picnic between Austria and Hungary, the Hungarian authorities cutting of a hole in the border fence with Austria, East Germans holed up at the West German embassy in Prague were allowed to leave for the West, and through TV and radio, the success of the peaceful Leipzig protests spread to other East German cities.
Changing Roles of Women:
Women took over many previously male-only jobs during World War II and made a significant and sometimes overlooked contribution to winning the war. But after the war, many were forced to give up their newfound freedoms that working had provided and return to being housewives to allow jobs for the returning soldiers. By the 1980s, many industries were still male-led and dominated despite the feminist progression of the 1960s and 70s. Many women, such as Rachel, found themselves butting against a glass ceiling in their careers.
About the Author
Sheryl Beaumont is an award-winning mystery and crime writer with a passion for travel and history.
She lives in beautiful New Zealand, which is only problematic when the travel bug bites (which it does fairly often)! Her love of travel has seen her take many long-haul flights to various parts of the world. Her enjoyment of history helps determine the destination and the places she visits are a constant source of inspiration for her.
Prior to becoming an author, SL Beaumont worked in banking in London and New York, and is now a partner of a chartered accounting firm in Auckland.
Shadow of Doubt won the 2020 Indie Reader Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Award and was long-listed for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel. Death Count was a semi-finalist for the Publisher’s Weekly BookLife Prize.
GrownUps Review
“The War Photographers has been on my book pile for some time but I have a cataract and I had to read it when the light was good and I had time to devote to it. The wait has been worth it, I loved this book.
S L Beaumont, a New Zealand author, has written a historical novel set in two time lines -1943 and 1989, but the difference to many set around WW2, is the novel highlights war photographers role in the conflicts during the timelines.
New Zealander Jack Knight is a war photographer when he meets Mae Webster who works at Bletchley Park in England. Both have secrets they are unable to share with one another but shortly after their marriage Jack leaves for Paris on another assignment.
Moving on to 1989 the reader is introduced to Rachel Talbot, a photojournalist based in London, but she ventures into Berlin searching for the traitor who her grandmother, Mae, believes caused the death of Jack and we are soon caught up in the drama of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The book flows well, even when there is a change of timeline, the pace continues and I found it easy to keep up with the storyline.
This is the first book by the author I have read, but I will be checking out more of her work, as I felt a real connection with this novel as I live in Oamaru, the New Zealand town where Mae settled following the death of her husband
A five star rating from me.” – Lesley McIntosh, GrownUps member
Terms and conditions
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- You must be a GrownUps member and receive our newsletter to be eligible to win.
- Competition closes on the 6th March 2024, winners will be notified via email by 7th March 2024.
- It is your responsibility to ensure you correctly enter a New Zealand postal address where the prize can be sent. GrownUps will not take responsibility for prizes sent to incorrect addresses.
- Winners are drawn at random by the GrownUps administration team.
- GrownUps employees and family are not eligible to enter.
- By entering the giveaway, you approve for GrownUps to use your name on social media as winner of the competition.
- One entry per household.
- Prize in non transferrable.
- You must reside in New Zealand – the prize can only be redeemed within New Zealand.
- You must be over 50 years of age to enter, please check your details are correct in your membership dashboard.
