London, 1936. Edie Adler sits at the memorial of the woman she loves – and refuses to believe Vee is dead.

As politicians murmur condolences to Vee’s powerful husband, Edie can barely contain her fury. Vee's body was never found and and Edie knows things about this marriage no one in the room would dare speak aloud. She closes her eyes and she’s back in the warm Mediterranean water – Vee’s hands keeping her afloat, that voice in her ear: don’t worry, I won’t let you sink…

Malta, 1918. Edie, an officer in the newly formed WRNS, arrives on the sun-drenched island expecting cyphers, duty and discipline. What she doesn’t expect is Vee – a whip-smart nurse singing in the bathtub with a cigarette in one hand and a gin in the other. Vee teaches her to swim in secret coves, leads her astray in the basement bars of Valletta, and the two women forge a bond that will shape the rest of their lives.

Back in London, Edie swims in the Ladies’ Pond each morning, long days as a social worker in the London slums. Vee’s letters keep them bound – vivid, full of mischief, then slowly, they darken. And then they stop. Until a parcel arrives from Paris – three detective novels, all in French, no sender, no note – and Edie’s world shifts on its axis.

Spanning two decades from post-war Malta to the volatile Europe of the late 1930s, The Translator is a sweeping story of love, courage and quiet rebellion. Fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Kate Quinn will be captivated by The Translator.

What readers love about The Translator:

'I absolutely loved being swept into The Translator...Beautiful, emotional, atmospheric, and with just enough mystery to keep me turning the pages.’ Reader review, 5 stars

'At its core, The Translator is an exploration of quiet rebellion... Edie is a compelling heroine, grounded, fiercely loyal, and driven by an uncompromising devotion that propels the narrative through every twist. The Translator is richly layered, poignant, and gripping.’ Reader review, 5 stars

'It is truly one of the best books I have read in ages.’ Reader review, 5 stars

What readers say about Annabelle Marx’s novels:

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‘Completely fascinating… a tear-jearker… so beautifully written.’ Reader review, 5 stars

‘What a stunning historical fiction saga that completely swept me away. It's a story full of female empowerment, resilience and courage at a time where women were expect to be in the background.’ Reader review, 5 stars

‘INCREDIBLE and one I will be thinking about for a long time to come. It was beautifully written and I felt so attached to all the characters and was very sad to finish it.’ Reader review, 5 stars

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