X-Book

The Orphan Thief

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now £{{ price }} Send as a gift

Listen to a sample

What to expect

From the internationally bestselling author of The Secret Orphan, a must-read for fans of My Name is Eva

When all seems lost…

As Hitler’s bombs rain down on a battered and beleaguered Britain, Ruby Shadwell is dealt the most devastating blow – her entire family lost during the Coventry Blitz.

Hope still survives…

Alone and with the city in chaos, Ruby is determined to survive this war and rebuild her life. And a chance encounter with street urchin Tommy gives Ruby just the chance she needs…

And love will overcome.

Because Tommy brings with him Canadian Sergeant Jean-Paul Clayton. Jean-Paul is drawn to Ruby and wants to help her, but Ruby cannot bear another loss.
Can love bloom amidst the ruins? Or will the war take Ruby’s last chance at happiness too?

Critics Review

Readers LOVE The Secret Orphan:

‘Keeps you wanting to read into the small hours’ Lisa, Goodreads

‘The best and most beautiful book I’ve read in a long time’ Brid, Netgalley

‘Simply amazing’ Rikki-Doodlebug’s Book Reviews

‘Captivated from beginning to end’ Jessyca, Goodreads

‘A gripping, page turner set in WWI … Loved it’ Amanda, Netgalley

‘A real page turner … You will find yourself in England during the war with a story that will stay with you’ Lou, Goodreads

‘A stunning novel and one that should be recommended’ Postcard Reviews

‘A must read for WWII historical fiction fans’ Lizbeth, Goodreads

‘One of my new favourite novels … I love everything about this story’ Ashley Murphy Reads

‘The depiction of wartime life in the Coventry bombings and on a Cornish farm were realistic and compelling’ Vivien Brown

‘A story that I will remember for a long time to come’ Shirley, Goodreads Reviewer

‘Loved every minute of this hard to put down book … highly recommend putting this on your reading list – especially if you love historical fiction and WWII’ Roxane, Goodreads

‘A must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction (especially World War II fiction) or romance’ Kindred Connection Reviews

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.