The Heart of the Ritz Audiobook By Luke Devenish cover art

The Heart of the Ritz

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Heart of the Ritz

By: Luke Devenish
Narrated by: Jennifer Vuletic
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.49

Buy for $19.49

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

France, April 1940. Orphan Polly Hartford has been sent across oceans to her Aunt Marjorie, known only from letters. When Marjorie dies in suspicious circumstances, Polly is left with her aunt’s loaded pistol in a beautiful Hermès handbag ... and to the care of Marjorie’s three closest friends: an elegant Comtesse, a gutter-born film star and a big-hearted American heiress. Polly is taken to live at the Hôtel Ritz, where guests and staff believe wealth and prestige protect them from war. But when the Nazis invade, the illusion is shattered. As Paris deteriorates, Polly and her guardians face the horrors of the Occupation with daring, humour, style – even romance – and despite their dangerous secrets, they discover just what they are capable of. As the Liberation approaches, those who survive at the Ritz must face a day of reckoning, but one truth stands tall: at the heart of the Ritz is the soul of resistance.©2019 Luke Devenish (P)2019 Bolinda Publishing Historical Fiction Fiction France War
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

'Luke Devenish is a master of the dramatic cliffhanger.’ (Daily Telegraph)
This wartime story set in Paris starts in 1940 and ends after the city's liberation. Listeners will enjoy hearing narrator Jennifer Vuletic portray the denizens of the swanky Ritz Hotel during those dark days. The plot revolves around a 16-year-old Australian girl who becomes the ward of three quirky, stylish, and good-hearted women, all living in the glamorous hotel. Vuletic excels at making the odd assortment of wealthy women seem real. One hears the elegant French countess, with her refined diction; the less-than-genteel film star, who has a raspy timbre like that of someone on drugs; and the American heiress, whose loud and brassy voice features an exaggerated but authentic American accent. Other characters are distinctive as well. This warm account places listeners in a world of fashion, danger, and intrigue. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2019] (Luke Devenish)

What listeners say about The Heart of the Ritz

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Hated part of this and loved the other part

Almost quit listening the first ten minutes due to the one of the main characters very foul mouth taking the Lords name in vain. Glad I stayed with it cause the character development and story was good The author put the nazis in very bad light and never glorified them in any way unlike other authors I’ve read Loved the part of big fat pig goering in bathroom tub. I laughed so much so the author has a sense of humor. Will read more from mr devenish Fantastic narrator

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!