Where to Start reading Clara Vine
The recommended starting point for this series is the debut novel, Black Roses. Because character dynamics, historical tension, and Clara's espionage career develop chronologically, reading the books in order is highly recommended for the best experience.
Clara Vine Books in Order
The publication order of the Clara Vine novels aligns perfectly with their internal chronology, tracking the historical progression of Nazi Germany from its rise in 1933 through the heights of World War II. Please note that several books were published under different titles in the UK and US markets.
- Black Roses (2013) – Set in 1933 Berlin
- The Winter Garden / Woman in the Shadows (2014) – Set in 1937 Berlin
- A War of Flowers / The Scent of Secrets (2014/2015) – Set in 1938 Paris and Munich
- Faith and Beauty / The Pursuit of Pearls (2015) – Set in 1939 Berlin
- Solitaire (2016) – Set in 1940 Berlin, Paris, and Lisbon
- The Judgement of Stars (2025) – Set in 1942 Berlin, Hamburg, and Vienna
Clara Vine Book Summaries
Black Roses (2013)
Set in 1933. Clara Vine, an Anglo-German actress with Jewish heritage, moves to Berlin to work at the famous Ufa film studios. She quickly attracts the attention of the Nazi elite, forging a close connection with Magda Goebbels. Recognizing her unique access, British intelligence recruits her to spy on the regime.
The Winter Garden / Woman in the Shadows (2014)
Set in 1937. Clara is tasked with investigating a prestigious bride school designed to train women for marriages to prominent Nazi officers. When a young bride-to-be is found dead, Clara has to navigate dangerous secrets that threaten to blow her cover.
A War of Flowers / The Scent of Secrets (2014 UK / 2015 US)
Set in 1938. As the Munich Agreement looms and Europe edges closer to war, Clara is sent to Paris. Her new target is Hitler's mistress, Eva Braun, pulling her deeper into the personal and political secrets of the Nazi high command.
Faith and Beauty / The Pursuit of Pearls (2015)
Set in the spring and summer of 1939. Berlin prepares for Adolf Hitler's fiftieth birthday while Clara becomes entangled in the secrets surrounding the Nazi 'Faith and Beauty' society for young women, trying to trace a missing friend under heavy Gestapo surveillance.
Solitaire (2016)
Set in 1940. With WWII officially underway, Clara's operations expand from Berlin to occupied Paris and neutral Lisbon. Her mission centers on the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, as she works to thwart Nazi propaganda plots involving the former British monarch.
The Judgement of Stars (2025)
Set in 1942. Clara is starring in a propaganda disaster film in Berlin while tasked by MI6 with tracking down a physicist and former lover who has been accused of being a double agent. The investigation leads her into a web of wartime betrayals and the Nazi regime's obsession with astrology.
Related Series and Further Reading
For readers who enjoy Jane Thynne's blend of wartime atmosphere and historical espionage, she has also written the Harry Fox & Stella Fry series, starting with Midnight in Vienna (2024). Set in 1938 Vienna, this companion series offers a similar gripping experience of espionage and historical detail.