As is my wont, my January book column is a look back at my favorites among books I read in 2019. My tastes tend to run to history or for fiction thrillers, and this year is no exception.
First up are the history books. A Woman of No Importance is the fascinating story of Virginia Hall, an American who ran one of the most successful spy networks in Nazi-occupied and Vichy France during World War II and with a wooden leg and limp, no less.
A fresh look at the Normandy invasion is given by Soldier, Sailor, Frogman, Spy by Giles Milton. Some important facets of the invasion which are rarely included in D-Day accounts are brought out in the book.
