“Unforgettable . . . a powerful, page-turning tale of two extraordinary heroines who risk their lives rescuing stolen masterpieces during the Nazi occupation of Paris. A stunning read!” —Chanel Cleeton, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Our Last Days in Barcelona

From internationally bestselling author Bryn Turnbull comes a breathtaking novel about art theft and forgery in Nazi-occupied Paris, and two brave women who risk their lives rescuing looted masterpieces from Nazi destruction.

Sophie Dix fled Stuttgart with her brother as the Nazi regime gained power in Germany. Now, with her brother gone and her adopted home city of Paris conquered by the Reich, Sophie reluctantly accepts a position restoring damaged art at the Jeu de Paume museum under the supervision of the ERR—a German art commission using the museum as a repository for art they’ve looted from Jewish families.

Fabienne Brandt was a rising star in the Parisian bohemian arts movement until the Nazis put a stop to so-called “degenerate” modern art. Still mourning the loss of her firebrand husband, she’s resolved to muddle her way through the occupation in whatever way she can—until her estranged sister-in-law, Sophie, arrives at her door with a stolen painting in hand.

Soon the two women embark upon a plan to save Paris’s “degenerates,” working beneath the noses of Germany’s top art connoisseurs to replace the paintings in the Jeu de Paume with skillful forgeries—but how long can Sophie and Fabienne sustain their masterful illusion?

Bryn Turnbull is a writer of historical fiction with a penchant for fountain pens. Equipped with a master's of letters in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews, a master's of professional communication from Ryerson University and a bachelor's degree in English literature from McGill University, Bryn focuses on finding stories of women lost within the cracks of the historical record. She lives in Toronto. The Woman Before Wallis is her first novel. 

Bryn Turnbull's profile page

“Turnbull effectively combines fascinating background on winemaking and art restoration and forgery with plenty of wartime suspense and some appealing dollops of romance. This will be a page-turning delight for anyone who loves tales of women in the resistance, especially Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale (2015).” —Booklist

“The Paris Deception deceives, intrigues, and enthralls! Two desperate women—one a runaway painter hell-bent on escaping the defunct champagne house of her upbringing, the other a wallflower art restorer at a Parisian museum—cook up an audacious scheme as the Nazis take over France: smuggle ‘degenerate’ modern art destined for a bonfire out of the city, and substitute forgeries in its place. Bryn Turnbull's best book yet!” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

“Another unforgettable novel from Bryn Turnbull! The Paris Deception is a powerful, page-turning tale of two extraordinary heroines who risk their lives rescuing stolen masterpieces during the Nazi occupation of Paris. A stunning read!” —Chanel Cleeton, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Our Last Days in Barcelona

“A tense and thrilling tale of wartime art thefts, the bond of friendship and lost loves. 1940s Paris is as exquisitely rendered as the stunning paintings Sophie and Fabienne risk their lives to protect. The stakes are high and the plot crackling – and the two women at the centre of the story have the kind of heart, courage and compassion that makes you cheer for them and worry for them in equal measure as they try to outwit the Nazis and save dozens of priceless paintings. You won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough.” —Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Orphan

“Bryn Turnbull has such a gorgeous way of writing and her details of the art world, especially during WWII, were nothing short of a masterpiece in their own right. The Paris Deception is a story of incredible bravery as two women use clever tactics and incredible talent to save priceless art from being looted. Art enthusiasts and historical fiction readers alike will be drawn into this powerful story.” —Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London

“The Paris Deception is a moving and intimate look at two sisters-in-law whose friendship has fractured as the Second World War exacts its catastrophic moral, physical and emotional toll. In devising a way to save modern masterpieces of art stolen from Jewish owners, Sophie and Fabienne must overcome the pain of the past and combine their strengths as restorer and painter to deceive the Nazis and pull off an impressive heist of their own. Another thought-provoking, impressively researched and richly realized work from one of Canada's best historical fiction authors.” —Natalie Jenner, internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society

“Evocative and compelling, Bryn Turnbull’s The Paris Deception is a story of two women fighting to save not only artistic masterpieces from the Nazis, but also the freedom of thought, celebration of beauty, and new ideas represented in their paint and canvas. Fraught with the complications of love, the nuance of friendship, and the moral ramifications of resistance to tyranny, this is a fresh and fascinating tale. Historical fiction fans will love this book.” —Kristin Beck, author of The Winter Orphans

“The Paris Deception is an engrossing tale filled with art, intrigue, and champagne. Turnbull has gifted readers with a complex heroine they can’t help cheering for in the end.” —Kaia Alderson, author of Sisters in Arms