One of the breakout best-sellers of the year has been Lisa Barr’s Woman on Fire. Readers have thrilled to the adventures of journalist Jules Roth as she becomes embroiled in an international scandal involving an art masterwork that Nazis looted. If Woman on Fire is also one of your favorite recent books, here are ten more titles you will like.
1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Barr has established herself as a premier historical fiction author. One of the best books in that genre in recent memory is Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief. The story concerns life in a small town outside of Munich under Nazi rule. It’s a dark setting, to be sure, but ultimately The Book Thief is a love letter to books
2. Fugitive Colors by Lisa Barr
Lisa Barr first came to international attention with her 2014 debut novel, Fugitive Colors. If you loved Woman on Fire but missed Barr’s first book, you’re in for a treat. Fugitive Colors concerns spies and art in a Nazi Germany setting. Julian, a young American artist, leaves his conservative upbringing behind for the
3. Dragonfly by Leila Meacham
Several authors have used World War II as a backdrop for grand and sweeping epics, but few are as fascinating as Leila Meacham’s Dragonfly. Meacham’s gift for wonderfully detailed character development makes Dragonfly stand out from the pack. At the height of the war, a group of young Americans receives
4. The Lover’s Portrait: An Art Mystery by Jennifer S. Alderson
Woman on Fire is one of many books highlighting Nazi plundering and looting of precious artworks. The Lover’s Portrait is one of the better thrillers of recent times to explore this milieu. In the present day, American art history student Zelda Richardson discovers clues to the whereabouts of an art collection
5. The Huntress by Kate Quinn
World War II historical fiction doesn’t get much more gripping than Kate Quinn’s The Huntress. The eponymous character is a Nazi war criminal who has escaped justice by fleeing to America. A reporter who chronicled the war through the Nuremberg Trials teams up with the rare victim of The Huntress who
Bonus Picks! Watch and Listen to These Titles Similar to Woman on Fire
1. The Best of Women’s Fiction
If you enjoy any of the authors on this list, you’ll love The Best of Women’s Fiction podcast. Hosts Lainey Cameron and Ashley Hasty welcome a new best-selling author each week. Lisa Barr was even a guest at the time of Woman on Fire’s release. The show is available on Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.
2. The Americans
Fans of Woman on Fire and its intriguing wartime setting will love the Cold War espionage drama The Americans. Starring Keri Russel and Matthew Rhys, the show ran for six seasons on FX and can now be streamed on Hulu.
