I am excited to share the news that my fourth novel will be published by Allen & Unwin in May 2022. It’s another Second World War story and this time I have taken inspiration from the untold story of the extraordinary life of Esther Simpson, who helped rescue thousands of academic refugees from death and persecution, and yet struggled to save the man she loved. I’m looking forward to sharing more about Esther and her life and work in the lead up to publication but here is a little about the story.
From the picturesque streets of pre-war Vienna to Britain’s atmospheric cities in the grip of war, Esther’s Children is the perfect read for fans of Kate Quinn’s The Alice Network, and Kelly Rimmer’s The Warsaw Orphan.Austria, 1936: Esther ‘Tess’ Simpson works for a British organisation that rescues academics from the threatening Fascist and anti-Semitic regimes taking hold in Europe. On a dangerous trip to Vienna to help bring aid to Europe’s threatened Jewish scholars Esther meets Harry Singer, a young Jewish academic and musician, and they fall in love.
Tess works tirelessly to rescue Jewish academics and scientists from across Europe, trying to find positions for them in Britain and America. In 1938 she secures employment for Harry at Imperial College. Their love affair intensifies as the world heads into war, yet they are separated once again as Britain moves to intern European refugees.
With Harry detained on the Isle of Man while still waiting for news of his parents, Esther and the Society plead with the government for the interned scientists’ release. When Harry is eventually liberated, he discovers that his parents have fought their own path to freedom in America and he is forced to make an impossible choice: stay with Esther and turn his back on his parents, or follow them to reunite his family.
A gripping novel of love, courage and an indomitable woman.
Praise for Finding Eadie:
‘A riveting, heart-stopping read that features fascinating insight into London’s wartime publishing world.’ – Woman’s Day
‘[Beecham’s] characters are likeable and real, her writing is engaging and the subject matter is gripping.’ – The Weekly Times
‘This moving story of Alice’s fearless pursuit of her baby contains all the ingredients of a spy thriller…A wonderful page-turner with great relevance for our times.’ – The Chronicle
Preorder the novel at bookshops and online.
It’s less than a week until I head to Victoria for a book tour that’s going to take me from Shepparton, Kerang and Echuca Libraries in northern Victoria, down to Melbourne’s Frankston Library and Dymocks Camberwell’s First Tuesday Book Club in Hawthorn. I will certainly be clocking up some kms (and drinking lots of coffee)…