The Lost Orphans of Lyon
- Author Helen Parusel
- Narrator Karen Cass
- Publisher Boldwood Books
- Publish Date 16 May 2026
- Run Time 9 hours and 53 minutes
- Format x-book®
- Genre Family life fiction, Fiction: mashup, Fiction: narrative themes, Historical fiction, Historical romance, Narrative theme: Coming of age, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss, Narrative theme: Displacement, exile, migration, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Narrative theme: Interior life, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Narrative theme: Sense of place.
Flexible Pricing & Rewards For Listening
At xigxag, the more you read, the less you pay* on select audiobook and x-book® titles, as in the table below. Pricing updates automatically in the app and resets one year after your first purchase. And you can always find a selection of brilliant titles available for only £3.99.
Titles Purchased
- 1-5
- 6-10
- 11-15
- 16-20
- Over 20
Price per title
- £8.99
- £7.99
- £6.99
- £5.99
- £4.99
*Only the full price titles you buy count toward your personal pricing tier. Full price titles don’t include Listen for Less or other books bought with a voucher or discount code.
Listen to a sample
What to expect
A BRAND NEW heartbreaking WWII novel set in Occupied France from Helen Parusel. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, Mandy Robotham and Gill Thompson!
‘An absolutely beautiful tale of secrets, love, and courage.' Amanda Geard
'Grabbed me from the first page and barely let me come up for breath until the very last word.' Deborah Carr
A hidden tunnel. Two frightened children. One woman who must risk everything.
Lyon, Occupied France, 1942
When Yvette Dubois’s husband inherits a remote chateau, she reluctantly leaves Lyon behind – only for Armand to abandon her there to manage the vineyard alone. Isolated among unfamiliar staff, Yvette feels trapped in a life she never wanted.
Everything changes the day she hears a mysterious knocking in the library. Behind a tapestry, she discovers a hidden tunnel – along with two frightened orphans. Yvette learns the chateau once acted as an escape route for Jewish children and others fleeing Nazi persecution.
Yvette vows to continue the important work, wanting to honour the legacy. But Armand insists their safety depends on appeasing the occupiers. And defying him could destroy their future – and their freedom.
As German patrols tighten their grip on the area and whispers of betrayal grow louder, Yvette must risk everything to protect the innocent – even if the day may come when she’ll need to use the tunnel to save herself...
'The story is poignant and compelling - and what an ending: wow!' Gill Thompson
'The hardships of occupied France are brought to life in this brilliant gripping story packed with historical detail.’ Clare Marchant
'this is one poignant book … just stunning and heartbreaking to read. It brought both tears and strength to my eyes and heart' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
'The Lost Orphans of Lyon grabbed me from the first page and barely let me come up for breath until the very last word … An expertly woven story that I can highly recommend.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
'Gorgeous, well-written book with great plotting, impeccable vibes, and a unique type of format' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
'Utterly compelling and beautifully poignant plot. … I felt joyous and cheerful for the good and sadness and shame for the bad. A wonderful story of courageous actions.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
'The story is extremely heartfelt and powerful! I really got engrossed in this book, swept away by every emotion they were feeling. … A fantastic read full of courage , strength, survival bravery, trust and human connection. Ive a feeling this book will stay with me for a long time!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
| Author | Helen Parusel |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Karen Cass |
| Duration | 9 hours and 53 minutes |
| Release Date | |
| ISBN | 9781805577782 |
| Format | x-book® |
| Publisher | Boldwood Books |
| Genre | Family life fiction, Fiction: mashup, Fiction: narrative themes, Historical fiction, Historical romance, Narrative theme: Coming of age, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss, Narrative theme: Displacement, exile, migration, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Narrative theme: Interior life, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Narrative theme: Sense of place |
| Availability | AU, GB, IE, US |
More from the same
About xigxag and the x-book®
Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.
A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.
Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.
Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.