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Maryka Biaggio

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The Model Spy: Based on the True Story of Toto Koopman’s World War II Ventures Kindle Edition

by Maryka Biaggio (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 46 ratings

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Celebrated model Toto Koopman had beauty, brains, and fame. Born to a Dutch father and Indonesian mother, she took up the life of a bon vivant in 1920s Paris and modeled for Vogue magazine and Coco Chanel. But modeling didn’t satisfy her. Fluent in six languages, she was adventurous and fascinated by world politics.

In London she attracted the attention of Lord Beaverbrook, the William Randolph Hearst of England. She soon became his confidante, companion, and translator, traversing the Continent and finding herself caught in the winds of impending war. Beaverbrook introduced her to influential people, including a director at the British Intelligence Service, who schooled her in espionage.

When Germany invaded Poland, Toto came face to face with reality: either fight the Axis powers or lose the world she loved. She moved to Florence, joined the Italian resistance, and began sending intelligence to London. But Mussolini’s Blackshirts and the Nazi’s military intelligence had her in their crosshairs and, as they pursued her, her courage was tested to the limit.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Model Spy, based on the true adventures of Toto Koopman, is not only an engrossing story, it is also a fascinating study in character. Biaggio's economical prose sets a fast pace, and the result is riveting. No matter how much we learn about what happened during the Second World War, there always seem to be fresh horrors and unsung heroes. Toto is one of those heroes." -- Trish MacEnulty, Historical Novel Review

About the Author

Maryka Biaggio, Ph.D., is a psychology professor turned novelist specializing in historical fiction based on real people. She enjoys the challenge of starting with actual historical figures and dramatizing their lives-discovering what motivated them to behave as they did, studying how the cultural and historical context may have influenced them, and recreating some sense of their emotional world through dialogue and action. Doubleday published her debut novel, PARLOR GAMES, in 2013. EDEN WAITS and THE POINT OF VANISHING were published by Milford House Press in 2019 and 2021. She lives in Portland, Oregon. You can visit her website at marykabiaggio.com.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09WMBXY18
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Milford House Press (March 27, 2022)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 27, 2022
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 698 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 333 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,181,233 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #2,135 in Historical World War II Fiction
- #6,712 in War Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #7,520 in Espionage Thrillers (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 46 ratings

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Maryka Biaggio

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Maryka Biaggio is an award-winning novelist who specializes in historical fiction based on real people. She enjoys the challenge of starting with actual figures, dramatizing their lives, and recreating a sense of their emotional world. Doubleday published her debut novel, PARLOR GAMES, in 2013. EDEN WAITS (Sunbury Press, 2019), is based in the true story of a utopian community founded in the 1890s and was an Editors' Choice in Historical Novels Review (February 2020). Her third novel, THE POINT OF VANISHING (Sunbury Press, 2021), tells the story of child prodigy writer Barbara Follett. THE MODEL SPY (Sunbury Press 2022) is based on the true story of intrepid World War II spy Toto Koopman.

She is an avid opera fan and enjoys gardening, art films, and, of course, great fiction. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Visit her website or sign up for her newsletter at marykabiaggio.com.

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Claudia Oltean

Gripping WWII Heroine’s Story

Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2023

Verified Purchase

I’m grateful Author Maryka Biaggio wrote this gripping, provocative book that introduced me to Toto Koopman, a WWII heroine I, and probably most of us, have never heard of.

Written in the first person, this masterful work of fiction reads like the journal of the protagonist, Toto Koopman, born in Java of a Dutch father and Indonesian mother. Her life as a fashion model, high-society denizen, speaker of 5 languages, and world traveler before the war is fascinating. Once the war is upon Europe and Toto decides to spy for the Allies from Florence under the nose of Mussolini and his fascist machine, the story tightens to the near breaking point.

Beautifully told at the perfect pace, “The Model Spy” is first-class historical fiction. I highly recommend it!

3 people found this helpful

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mmk

A compelling story

Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2022

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This is one of the best reads I’ve had in a long time. The story is truly compelling and manages to balance a page-turning tale with a three-dimensional character study.
The heroine is genuinely sympathetic and I was drawn into her journey from the very beginning. I cared about her fate and felt invested in whether/how she survived her ordeal. This is a deeply moving narrative and a powerful portrayal of courage in the midst of unimaginable horrors.
Clearly, this is a thoroughly-researched story, conveyed with rich detail and a strong sense of the period.
I really loved this book. Highly recommended.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

A captivating blend of glamour, espionage, and resilience

Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024

"The Model Spy" is a captivating blend of glamour and espionage set against the backdrop of World War II. Through the eyes of Toto Koopman, a Dutch-Javanaese model turned spy, readers are treated to a riveting first-person narrative that immerses them in her extraordinary life.

Toto's journey begins with hardship and displacement, but her resilience and determination propel her from the catwalks of Paris to the corridors of power in London and Italy. Along the way, she captivates everyone she meets with her charisma and intellect, all while secretly gathering intelligence for the Allies.

What sets "The Model Spy" apart is its portrayal of Toto as a multifaceted character whose experiences shape her evolution from a carefree model to a courageous spy. As she grapples with the moral complexities of her role, Toto's humanity shines through, driving her to risk everything in pursuit of a greater purpose.

Throughout the novel, Toto's voice feels authentic, her choices believable, and her resilience in the face of adversity inspiring. Whether she's navigating the treacherous world of espionage or facing imprisonment and danger, Toto remains steadfast in her commitment to freedom and justice. I highly recommend this compelling story.

One person found this helpful

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Liza

Fascinating and well-researched!

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2023

What a fascinating story about a real woman. Maryka Biaggio brings Toto to life in a novel with suspense, mystery, and vivid history.

One person found this helpful

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Januari M Works

Strange times call for strange behavior?

Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2024

Verified Purchase

This is a well written story of a strong, self motivated woman's actions before and during WWII. Driven by circumstance and personal convictions, she used her beauty along with her numerous acquaintances to provide valuable intelligence to the British. This is not a book for the faint of heart, nor for a reader looking for any recognition of God's presence in these circumstances. Everything she did is presented as her own initiative.

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Bookwoman10

Story of intrigue and courage

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2022

The dedication to The Model Spy reads: “To the brave and dedicated, then and now, who fight and continue to fight for democracy,” which certainly compelled me to read on. I had never heard of Toto Koopman till reading this book. With her background, Koopman seemed an unlikely person to join the fight for democracy in the 1930s and '40s. She was the toast of Paris and London, well known as a model, and had excellent prospects for a film career. Then she decided to spy for England and for Italians opposed to Mussolini’s regime. She couldn't be anonymous because of her fame, so she quickly attracted the attention of Mussolini’s Blackshirts and the Nazis. Toto shows what true bravery is. I loved her story of intrigue and courage. She deserves a place in history.

One person found this helpful

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Vividana Craig

Entertaining and Informative

Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2022

This is an excellent read. A beautiful, exotic woman, a model and living in high society with the approach of World War 2. Her incredible inner strength and belief in what is right and wrong take her on a journey of years of spying for England and being captured and put in "work camps" in Italy and finally a concentration camp in Germany. How she survives, her mindset and strength makes you question how well you'd stand up to the terrible things she experienced. It's not only a good read but I learned some things about the war I wasn't aware. I certainly recommend this book.

One person found this helpful

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Sheila

fascinating!!

Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2024

Mesmerizing and fascinating story!

In the 1930s, Toto Koopman was a famous biracial (and bisexual) model, traveling extensively, hanging out with the likes of designer Coco Chanel, Winston Churchill’s son Randolph and other influential celebrities, and just generally living the life of a bon vivant.....

So how did she become a spy for the Allies during WWII, an Italian Resistance fighter, an inmate in the German Ravensbruck concentration camp, a noted art patron? Truly, I’m not sure as the book does not explain her sudden (it seems) political & moral convictions. Still, this is an astounding and captivating story about a fascinating and courageous woman.

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