The Echo of Valor
Codename Rose
Inspired by the real-life story of SOE agent Eileen Nearne, this dual timeline historical fiction novel explores the legacy of a forgotten heroine.
Torquay, 2007
Dr Mia Thompson is no stranger to silence. But when a new client—reclusive and enigmatic—invites her into a quiet seaside home, Mia uncovers something extraordinary: a past veiled in secrecy and bravery.
Her client is Eileen Nearne, once a radio operator for Churchill’s Special Operations Executive. Dropped into Nazi-occupied France, Eileen risked everything to support the Resistance. Her story—marked by betrayal, capture, torture, and resilience—is one of extraordinary courage. Yet after the war, she was dismissed, interrogated, and left in the shadows.
As Mia digs deeper, determined to bring Eileen’s truth to light, she partners with Sebastian Stone, a skeptical local journalist with demons of his own. What begins as a tribute becomes a journey—into the heart of quiet heroism, family ties, and the wounds war leaves behind.
The Echo of Valor: Codename Rose is a gripping WWII and dual timeline novel. Set between modern-day England and wartime France, it honors the forgotten stories of female spies, post-war healing, and the enduring power of recognition and remembrance.
Endorsed by Eileen Nearne’s family. Contains realistic depictions of war.
What readers say
“A wonderful dual timeline historical fiction story of WWII and the resistance women of the SOE. This book tells the story of Eileen Mary Nearne and her brave resistance and survival of her life as wireless operator, her capture and her determination to survive in the face of her captors.
I will forever hold Eileen Nearne and her braveness close to my heart.”
“This is a very powerful book, so much so because it is based on a real SOE agent, and it has the blessing of the surviving relatives of Eileen. The book is not shying away from the details of the war, and of Eileen's work, the dangers, the always living on edge, or the horrors of the concentration camp.”
“Ms. Byron's books are always extremely well researched, making the reader feel like being inside the story and part of the joy, horror, hope.
Even though this is a book with a very hard subject, it is also a book about human resilience and the power of always fighting for the good and the right.”
Explore the dual-timeline series Timeless Spies where the lives of modern heroines intertwine with the courageous journeys of WWII's female agents. Discover how their resilience and bravery still inspire us today. Amidst tales of daring resistance and intelligence gathering, a tender love story emerges, echoing the universal hope of women across generations.
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