The Mistress

"A fine wicked book . . . full of life's guiltier pleasures . . . altogether enjoyable."-The New York Times Book Review

Set in Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II, The Mistress is an enthralling tale of jealousy, love, betrayal, and one woman's cunning revenge. The characters-Dr. Emile Bastien, a physician who treats Parisians and Germans alike from his office on rue de Maubeuge; Simone, his nurse and illicit lover; and Bastien's sour wife and two scheming children, tucked away on a French country estate-all share a deep and suspicious desire. As Bastien's mistress, Simone knows all of his most dangerous secrets-except the one that he and his family are trying desperately to keep from her. But clever Simone, always one step ahead, manages to conceal her greed while weaving a web of deception that will ensnare those who have turned against her and ensure her singular reward. The Mistress is darkly atmospheric and erotically charged-a tour-de-force with stunning twists and turns that will haunt readers long after its secrets have been revealed.

"Terrific . . . Tapon tells his story in swift, taut, graceful prose."-Los Angeles Times