Inspired by true events, Melanie Benjamin has given readers another historical fiction novel that focuses on women. She highlights the life of a less well-known woman, who is intimately involved with more famous individuals and with historical events. Focusing on the life and marriage of Blanche and Claude Auzello and spanning years from 1923 to 1945, the novel details the courage and resourcefulness of those who opposed the Nazi occupation of Paris. Shifting between chapters focusing on Blanche and her husband, “The Mistress of the Ritz” is a personal look at the two individuals’ relationship, its development, eventual deterioration, and then its reinvigoration. Blanche’s insecurities were a large part of the attraction to Claude, the manager of the Ritz Hotel in Paris. Nevertheless, she managed to rise above them when a sense of duty and defiance thrust her into the role of a Resistance supporter. In the end, both acknowledge their dependence on one another and the part each played in the other’s triumphs and tragedies. Throughout “The Mistress of the Ritz,” Melanie Benjamin alternates scenes between Blanche and her husband, Claude. This allows the reader to understand the psychological bonds that held them together and that the Nazi occupation of Claude’s beloved Ritz placed on the marriage. It also highlights how she came into her own once she decided to commit to a cause and live her own life. Melanie Benjamin is extraordinary as she develops the characters and depicts the times in which the story occurs. Melanie Benjamin highlights each of the Auzellos’ strengths, yet neither is made to seem infallible. Dialog is realistic and, at times, heartbreaking. The portion of the novel dealing with Blanche’s imprisonment by the Nazis and the disclosure of her secret will bring tears to your eyes. The final chapter, narrated by Blanche’s friend Lily, takes place in 1969 and brings this tale to its tragic conclusion.“The Mistress of the Ritz” is not difficult to read; it is engaging and the characters, are interesting. The narrative will keep you reading straight through to the book’s final chapter. Language and scenes are appropriate for most readers, regardless of age.