War Brides is a historical novel by Helen Bryan. Most of the story takes place in England during the early days of World War II. Responsible Alice, partying Frances, resourceful American Evangeline, impoverished Elsie, and Jewish Austrian refugee Tanni are five girls in their teens or early twenties. They all come to live in the town of Crowmarsh Prior in Sussex, England, where they ultimately become friends and fall in love with men against the backdrop of war. As they all pitch in for the war effort, there are suspicions of a traitor among the locals. His name is Hugo de Balfort, and he targets Frances as she works for British Special Operations. As a result of his information, she is killed in France. Fifty years later in 1995, the four women reunite and confront Hugo, having carefully learned about his involvement with the Germans over time. They beat him with their canes, push him into an old smuggler tunnel, and seal him up inside.