Where to Start with Anna Stuart
For readers new to Anna Stuart, the absolute best starting point is her breakout bestseller, The Midwife of Auschwitz. This emotionally powerful novel launches her acclaimed Women of War series and perfectly showcases her signature style: meticulous historical research, deep empathy, and stories of women displaying incredible courage in the face of dark adversity. If you prefer codebreaking and espionage, starting with her duology, The Bletchley Girls, is another excellent option. For those interested in royal medieval history, her novels written under the pen name Joanna Courtney offer a fantastic entry point.
The Women of War Series
This is Anna Stuart's signature World War II series. While the publisher and author state that the books can be read as standalones because each contains self-contained plots, reading them in publication order is highly recommended. The first two books directly follow the survival and family aftermath of Ester Pasternak, and the subsequent books continue to weave interconnected themes of post-war recovery and resistance across Europe.
- The Midwife of Auschwitz (2022) – Inspired by the true story of midwife Stanisława Leszczyńska, the novel follows Ana Kaminski and Ester Pasternak as they secretly tattoo newborns in Auschwitz in hopes of future family reunions.
- The Midwife of Berlin (2023) – The direct sequel to the first book, picking up in 1961 as the Berlin Wall goes up, following Ester's search for her daughter Pippa, who was taken from her at birth in the concentration camp.
- The War Orphan (2024) – Focuses on young concentration camp survivors sent to rebuild their lives and heal in the Lake District of England.
- The Resistance Sisters (also published as The Secret Message) (2024) – A gripping story centered on the Polish resistance movement and courage in Warsaw.
- The Last Baby in Auschwitz (2026) – The latest installment continuing the powerful themes of survival and legacy.
The Bletchley Park Girls Series
This historical duology shifts focus to the women working behind the scenes of intelligence during WWII, detailing their secrets, relationships, and codebreaking endeavors at Bletchley Park.
- The Bletchley Girls (2022) – Introduces three different women who join the codebreaking efforts at Bletchley Park and must keep their vital work a complete secret from their loved ones.
- Code Name Elodie (2023) – Follows the efforts of a brave female agent sent into occupied France.
Standalone Novels
In addition to her main series, Anna Stuart has written several standalone historical novels focusing on prominent figures of the war era, alongside contemporary fiction under her own name and her pseudonym Jo Wilde.
Wartime Standalones
- The Secret Diary (2021) – A dual-timeline novel connecting a wartime gunner girl in 1945 with a grieving modern widow.
- A Letter From Pearl Harbor (2021) – A dual-timeline story centering on the pilot training programs and the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack.
- The Berlin Zookeeper (2021) – Set against the backdrop of the battle for Berlin and the struggle to protect the city's zoo.
- The English Wife (2025) – A fictionalized look at the life and resilience of Clementine Churchill during World War II.
- The President's Wife (2025) – A historical novel inspired by the life of Eleanor Roosevelt.
Contemporary Standalones
- Bonnie and Stan (2019) – A contemporary romance about a long-married couple facing a terminal diagnosis while looking back on their life together since the 1960s.
- Four Minutes to Save a Life (2021) – A heartwarming contemporary drama about a supermarket delivery driver who becomes a lifeline for his lonely customers.
- Just the Two of Us (2020) – Published under her pseudonym Jo Wilde, this is a heartwarming contemporary romance about a couple re-evaluating their marriage.
Writing as Joanna Courtney: Historical Royalty Series
Before achieving bestseller status with her WWII novels, Stuart wrote historical fiction under the name Joanna Courtney, focusing on reimagined stories of famous queens from medieval history and Shakespearean lore.
Queens of Conquest Series
This series focuses on the real-life women caught in the political conflicts surrounding the year 1066 in England.
- The Chosen Queen (2015) – The story of Edyth of Mercia, wife of King Harold.
- The Christmas Court (2015) – A festive historical novella set in Westminster during the Christmas of 1051.
- The Constant Queen (2016) – Focuses on Elizaveta of Kiev, wife of Harald Hardrada.
- The Conqueror's Queen (2017) – Follows Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror.
Shakespeare’s Queens Series
A trilogy that reimagines and humanizes the women behind William Shakespeare's most famous female characters.
- Blood Queen (2018) – Inspired by the real-life figure behind Lady Macbeth.
- Fire Queen (2019) – A reimagined history behind the character of Ophelia.
- Iron Queen (2021) – Inspired by the story of Cordelia from King Lear.