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Parisian Orphan #1
A Traitor in Whitehall
From Julia Kelly, internationally bestselling author of The Last Dance of the Debutante, comes the first in the mysterious and immersive Parisian Orphan series, A Traitor in Whitehall.
1940, England: Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, is working on the line at a munitions factory in wartime London. When Mr. Fletcher, one of her father’s old friends, spots Evelyne on a night out, Evelyne finds herself plunged into the world of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.
However, shortly after she settles into her new role as a secretary, one of the girls at work is murdered, and Evelyne must use all of her amateur sleuthing expertise to find the killer. But doing so puts her right in the path of David Poole, a cagey minister’s aide who seems determined to thwart her investigations. That is, until Evelyne finds out David’s real mission is to root out a mole selling government secrets to Britain’s enemies, and the pair begrudgingly team up.
With her quick wit, sharp eyes, and determination, will Evelyne be able to find out who’s been selling England’s secrets and catch a killer, all while battling her growing attraction to David?
1940, England: Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, is working on the line at a munitions factory in wartime London. When Mr. Fletcher, one of her father’s old friends, spots Evelyne on a night out, Evelyne finds herself plunged into the world of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.
However, shortly after she settles into her new role as a secretary, one of the girls at work is murdered, and Evelyne must use all of her amateur sleuthing expertise to find the killer. But doing so puts her right in the path of David Poole, a cagey minister’s aide who seems determined to thwart her investigations. That is, until Evelyne finds out David’s real mission is to root out a mole selling government secrets to Britain’s enemies, and the pair begrudgingly team up.
With her quick wit, sharp eyes, and determination, will Evelyne be able to find out who’s been selling England’s secrets and catch a killer, all while battling her growing attraction to David?
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2023
About the author
Julia Kelly
21 books2,175 followersJulia Kelly is the international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical mystery novels about the extraordinary stories of the past. Her books have been translated into 13 languages. In addition to writing, she’s been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia has called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home. She now lives in London with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 707 reviews
April 23, 2024
I was so excited to win Julia Kelly's latest novel on a first-reads giveaway. She's one of my favourite Historical Fiction writers. I love her easy style storytelling. This book is the start of a new Historical Fiction mystery series titled, "Parisian Orphan."
The story begins in 1940 during the Blitz in London. Ever since she was a little girl Evelyne Redfern has been called, "The Parisian Orphan" after her French mother dies and her British father abandons her and sends her off to be raised by an Aunt. Evelyne is now doing her bit and working in a munitions factory when she comes upon her father's old friend who recruits her as a secretary for Winston Churchill's, Cabinet War Rooms (known as CWR.) She begins work underground but in her first days of work she stumbles upon her co-worker's dead body and becomes involved in the investigation. As a mystery book lover and a keen mind she is teamed together with the mysterious David Poole. Together they are out to solve the crime.
I enjoyed the story very much and it's a great start to Ms. Kelly's first series. The story has a cozy mystery feel to it. I really enjoyed Evelyne and David's interactions. Can't wait to see how that relationship will progress in the second book. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
The story begins in 1940 during the Blitz in London. Ever since she was a little girl Evelyne Redfern has been called, "The Parisian Orphan" after her French mother dies and her British father abandons her and sends her off to be raised by an Aunt. Evelyne is now doing her bit and working in a munitions factory when she comes upon her father's old friend who recruits her as a secretary for Winston Churchill's, Cabinet War Rooms (known as CWR.) She begins work underground but in her first days of work she stumbles upon her co-worker's dead body and becomes involved in the investigation. As a mystery book lover and a keen mind she is teamed together with the mysterious David Poole. Together they are out to solve the crime.
I enjoyed the story very much and it's a great start to Ms. Kelly's first series. The story has a cozy mystery feel to it. I really enjoyed Evelyne and David's interactions. Can't wait to see how that relationship will progress in the second book. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
November 3, 2023
I have had the pleasure of reading most of Julia Kelly’s books over the past many years. All of her previous books that I had read were historical fiction and stand-alone books. A Traitor in Whitehall (Parisian Orphan #1) was definitely written as a historical fiction detective mystery. It was set during World War II in the war rooms of Winston Churchill. In my opinion, it read more like a cozy mystery. It was definitely a good blend of the two genres. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by Marisa Calin. This was the first book in a series that I have had the opportunity to read by Julia Kelly.
Evelyne Redfern was the daughter of Reginold Redfern, a prominent and successful businessman who happened to also be a known adulterer. Her estranged father deceived her mother at their custody battle over her. Evelyne was sent to an all girls boarding school. When Evelyne returned to London she discovered that her mother had died and her father had vanished from her life. In all ways, Evelyne was an orphan. She did not want to be associated with her unscrupulous father so she hid her real last name and took an inconspicuous position at a munitions factory. The work was mundane but Evelyne felt that she could hide her real identity in this setting. After all, she was helping the war effort and that was her main intention. She shared a flat with a good friend and continued to enjoy her favorite pastime of reading detective mystery books.
One evening on her way home she met up with an old acquaintance of her now estranged father. She recalled that his name was Mr. Fletcher. To Evelyne’s surprise, Mr. Fletcher proposed that Evelyne be given the opportunity to work as a typist in the war rooms of Winston Churchill. Evelyne was excited about this turn of events. The munitions factory served its purpose but working in the same building as Winston Churchill was so much better and exciting. Mr. Fletcher also asked Evelyne to be extra vigilant and observant of anything that might appear suspicious or questionable as she worked in the typist pool.
Shortly after starting her new job as a typist, Evelyne discovered the dead body of one of her coworkers. For a few tense moments, Evelyne found herself locked in the same room with the dead body. Someone had intentionally locked her in the room, but who and why?
Evelyne somehow managed to get herself assigned to assist in the murder investigation. After all, it was she that found the body. She ended up assisting someone from the Ministry of the Interior. All those years reading Murder Mystery books was about to pay off. The man from the Ministry of the Interior soon realized that Evelyne was very perceptive and had good instincts. He began to trust her and her abilities to help solve this murder.
There were many suspects and twists and turns throughout this investigation. I adored Evelyne as the female protagonist in this book. She was insightful, intelligent, systematic, thoughtful and caring. The Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly was suspenseful and engaging. The ending was not at all what I had guessed but it was believable and satisfying. Julia Kelly proved once again what a masterful storyteller she is. A Traitor in Whitehall (Parisian Orphan, #1) was a gripping murder mystery that read somewhat like a cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series now. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of A Traitor in Whitehall (Parisian Orphan, #1) by Julia Kelly through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Evelyne Redfern was the daughter of Reginold Redfern, a prominent and successful businessman who happened to also be a known adulterer. Her estranged father deceived her mother at their custody battle over her. Evelyne was sent to an all girls boarding school. When Evelyne returned to London she discovered that her mother had died and her father had vanished from her life. In all ways, Evelyne was an orphan. She did not want to be associated with her unscrupulous father so she hid her real last name and took an inconspicuous position at a munitions factory. The work was mundane but Evelyne felt that she could hide her real identity in this setting. After all, she was helping the war effort and that was her main intention. She shared a flat with a good friend and continued to enjoy her favorite pastime of reading detective mystery books.
One evening on her way home she met up with an old acquaintance of her now estranged father. She recalled that his name was Mr. Fletcher. To Evelyne’s surprise, Mr. Fletcher proposed that Evelyne be given the opportunity to work as a typist in the war rooms of Winston Churchill. Evelyne was excited about this turn of events. The munitions factory served its purpose but working in the same building as Winston Churchill was so much better and exciting. Mr. Fletcher also asked Evelyne to be extra vigilant and observant of anything that might appear suspicious or questionable as she worked in the typist pool.
Shortly after starting her new job as a typist, Evelyne discovered the dead body of one of her coworkers. For a few tense moments, Evelyne found herself locked in the same room with the dead body. Someone had intentionally locked her in the room, but who and why?
Evelyne somehow managed to get herself assigned to assist in the murder investigation. After all, it was she that found the body. She ended up assisting someone from the Ministry of the Interior. All those years reading Murder Mystery books was about to pay off. The man from the Ministry of the Interior soon realized that Evelyne was very perceptive and had good instincts. He began to trust her and her abilities to help solve this murder.
There were many suspects and twists and turns throughout this investigation. I adored Evelyne as the female protagonist in this book. She was insightful, intelligent, systematic, thoughtful and caring. The Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly was suspenseful and engaging. The ending was not at all what I had guessed but it was believable and satisfying. Julia Kelly proved once again what a masterful storyteller she is. A Traitor in Whitehall (Parisian Orphan, #1) was a gripping murder mystery that read somewhat like a cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series now. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of A Traitor in Whitehall (Parisian Orphan, #1) by Julia Kelly through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 2, 2023
Julia Kelly is one of my go-to historical fiction authors so I jumped at the chance to read this. And let me tell you this did not disappoint.
The setting is WWll London during The Blitz and I loved that it features a strong female heroine. 🇬🇧🕵🏻♀️
Evelyn Redfern is a newly recruited British spy that teams up with minister aide, David Poole, to solve a problematic murder mystery that involves finding a traitor inside Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s underground war rooms.
It has all the feels of a cozy mystery.. there’s intrigue along with slowly dialed up tension + red herrings.. and follows the quite interesting background of our feisty Agatha Christie-esqe sleuth.🔎 This was slow at the beginning introducing/setting up Evelyn’s character.. but no need to worry as it soon picks up and how.
I recommend A TRAITOR IN WHITEHALL if you’re interested in starting a brand new series that is entertaining + fun with a great historical mystery to solve. This is the first book in what will be a new series for Julia Kelly. ♥️📚 4.5 stars — Pub. 10/3/23
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary arc. Opinions are my own.
The setting is WWll London during The Blitz and I loved that it features a strong female heroine. 🇬🇧🕵🏻♀️
Evelyn Redfern is a newly recruited British spy that teams up with minister aide, David Poole, to solve a problematic murder mystery that involves finding a traitor inside Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s underground war rooms.
It has all the feels of a cozy mystery.. there’s intrigue along with slowly dialed up tension + red herrings.. and follows the quite interesting background of our feisty Agatha Christie-esqe sleuth.🔎 This was slow at the beginning introducing/setting up Evelyn’s character.. but no need to worry as it soon picks up and how.
I recommend A TRAITOR IN WHITEHALL if you’re interested in starting a brand new series that is entertaining + fun with a great historical mystery to solve. This is the first book in what will be a new series for Julia Kelly. ♥️📚 4.5 stars — Pub. 10/3/23
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary arc. Opinions are my own.
September 4, 2024
This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced, historical fiction mystery novel. It is set during WWII in Winston Churchill's cabinet war rooms, and has vividly described settings, a likable, intelligent female protagonist, murder, mystery, secrets, and a satisfying conclusion. I am looking forward to reading the next installment of this outstanding new series with great anticipation. I listened to the audio book, and the narrator, Ms. Marisa Calin, has a lovely voice and does a wonderful job depicting the characters and their personalities.
July 10, 2023
Being a history geek, I’ve always regretted not putting more importance on visiting the Churchill War Rooms whenever I’ve been in London. As a result, I eagerly read books with this setting. One day I’ll get there, in the meantime, Julia Kelly’s Traitor at Whitehall, is a fantastic armchair travel to a bucket list experience as well as a great mystery to solve!
“The cabinet war rooms had security protocols, shift patterns, air raid and ground invasion warnings. Working there was like being dropped into a foreign land without a dictionary.”
This is Kelly’s first historical murder mystery and it’s amazing! It features a plucky heroine and is the first in a brand-new series featuring Evelyne Redfern. Unbeknownst to her colleagues, Evelyne is there at the request of Mr. Fletcher who has placed her there to uncover a mole. When one of her colleagues is murdered on Evelyne’s first shift, she teams up with one of the Minister’s Aides, David Poole, to investigate both the murder and the mole.
The first third of the book introduces readers to Evelyne’s background giving them insight into her nickname. The second third focuses mainly on her time employed in the typing pool at Prime Minister Churchill’s secret underground bunker and gives readers an understanding of life underground as well as the colleagues (suspects) she works alongside. The final third focuses on wrapping up the investigation and setting up the sequel.
I loved (1) Evelyne’s need to have a book with her at all times, (2) her sense of humour/wit (3) the Agatha Christie-esque whodunit style (4) and the perfect blend of history and mystery. I enjoyed the setting and learning about Evelyne’s experience. I was intrigued learning about the possible risk of sunburn underground and I see a lot of myself in Evelyne.
While not my favourite Kelly novel, I still loved this cozy mystery and would recommend it to others.
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
“The cabinet war rooms had security protocols, shift patterns, air raid and ground invasion warnings. Working there was like being dropped into a foreign land without a dictionary.”
This is Kelly’s first historical murder mystery and it’s amazing! It features a plucky heroine and is the first in a brand-new series featuring Evelyne Redfern. Unbeknownst to her colleagues, Evelyne is there at the request of Mr. Fletcher who has placed her there to uncover a mole. When one of her colleagues is murdered on Evelyne’s first shift, she teams up with one of the Minister’s Aides, David Poole, to investigate both the murder and the mole.
The first third of the book introduces readers to Evelyne’s background giving them insight into her nickname. The second third focuses mainly on her time employed in the typing pool at Prime Minister Churchill’s secret underground bunker and gives readers an understanding of life underground as well as the colleagues (suspects) she works alongside. The final third focuses on wrapping up the investigation and setting up the sequel.
I loved (1) Evelyne’s need to have a book with her at all times, (2) her sense of humour/wit (3) the Agatha Christie-esque whodunit style (4) and the perfect blend of history and mystery. I enjoyed the setting and learning about Evelyne’s experience. I was intrigued learning about the possible risk of sunburn underground and I see a lot of myself in Evelyne.
While not my favourite Kelly novel, I still loved this cozy mystery and would recommend it to others.
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
November 2, 2023
The Publisher Says: From Julia Kelly, internationally bestselling author of The Last Dance of the Debutante, comes the first in the mysterious and immersive Parisian Orphan series, A Traitor in Whitehall.
1940, England: Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, is working on the line at a munitions factory in wartime London. When Mr. Fletcher, one of her father’s old friends, spots Evelyne on a night out, Evelyne finds herself plunged into the world of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.
However, shortly after she settles into her new role as a secretary, one of the girls at work is murdered, and Evelyne must use all of her amateur sleuthing expertise to find the killer. But doing so puts her right in the path of David Poole, a cagey minister’s aide who seems determined to thwart her investigations. That is, until Evelyne finds out David’s real mission is to root out a mole selling government secrets to Britain’s enemies, and the pair begrudgingly team up.
With her quick wit, sharp eyes, and determination, will Evelyne be able to find out who’s been selling England’s secrets and catch a killer, all while battling her growing attraction to David?
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Period details FTW. I was reading along thinking how little I actually knew about life in WWII when the main character finds a body in a place I had no vaguest awareness of the need for or existence of: A sun treatment room.
A what now? Sun-treatment? What on Earth is that?
It was about that time that my interest and pleasure in the read sharpened to the point of reading past my bedtime. I'm a mystery fan anyway, being a big believer in ma'at and the scales of justice needing to be balanced. The victim of the murder wasn't a lovely person, as is customary in series mysteries set in the Halls of Power. It was a lovely grace note, the first of several, that the victim was discovered in the sun-treatment room. This afforded the author a perfect opening to reveal this very interesting, perfectly sensible detail's existence. It gives the story an extra gloss of period authenticity, as does Evelyne's Agatha Christie-reading habit. The author's an experienced historical novelist and it shows in these sorts of unexpected moments that firmly root the story in time without becoming stodged up like a research paper gone metastatic.
Evelyne, our main character, is an oddball in the world where she's been plonked because nothing in her background suggests she's a prospect for Greater Things...an unwanted daughter placed in a boarding school by her always-absent father after her mother's death when Evelyne was thirteen, she's been given few solid opportunities to develop her intellect beyond the ordinary. As is typical for series mysteries, as fans of the genre know, she's got the most important character trait of a sleuth: Ungovernable curiosity, starting from when her Maman (a French lady, who raised her daughter mostly in France) supposedly committed suicide. Luckily her absent rich-bastard father's friend circle includes powerful people who need that precise characteristic in a woman of presentable lineage (if always stained by the loucheness of her foreignness), adequate education, fluency in French, and unexceptionable looks.
Evelyne's sudden arrival in the bunkers...referred to by the acronym "CWR" or "Cabinet War Rooms"...of busy workers surrounding the Prime Minister isn't cause for anyone to take much notice, exactly as the Powers That Be need it to be. She blends into the scenery. As her job is to ferret out a traitor who's already established in those hallowed halls, everything's proceeding acording to plan.
Until someone's murdered. (There's a reason I'm being coy about who's been murdered. If you know too soon, there's no way you won't know who the titular traitor is.) The murder makes everything higher stakes and involves Evelyne with the inevitable love interest, David. Another facet of the series mystery is the de rigueur presence of a love interest or interests. David's clearly being positioned for this. This is, for me, the least interesting facet of the story. How would David, a senior aide established in the hierarchy, even think to team up with Evelyne, a mere girl and of known-but-stained ancestry? In 1940s Britain? That high in the Government (even if it's not quite the way we're led to believe)? Hmm, said my inner skeptic. Most especially I find the borning relationship between them Doomed because David prefers American thrillers to Evelyne's beloved Mrs. Christie. This is a less bridgeable gap than between a reader and a mundane.
While the usual first-mystery flaws are present, eg too much information comes too easily into Evelyne's grasp for her position in the hierarchy and people "grit" and "roar" things far too often, the author is clearly a skilled storyteller. The TV adaptation unspooled before my eyes, in six-part ITV period-mystery glory. It's the kind of book one reads with keen pleasure in its strengths, and forgives its lapses readily. At least this picky one did.
If you're in the market for historical mysteries, this one will scratch the itch. Nothing too deep, nothing too fluffy, just the right level of interesting background and emotional investment possibilities. Bring the sequel!
1940, England: Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, is working on the line at a munitions factory in wartime London. When Mr. Fletcher, one of her father’s old friends, spots Evelyne on a night out, Evelyne finds herself plunged into the world of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.
However, shortly after she settles into her new role as a secretary, one of the girls at work is murdered, and Evelyne must use all of her amateur sleuthing expertise to find the killer. But doing so puts her right in the path of David Poole, a cagey minister’s aide who seems determined to thwart her investigations. That is, until Evelyne finds out David’s real mission is to root out a mole selling government secrets to Britain’s enemies, and the pair begrudgingly team up.
With her quick wit, sharp eyes, and determination, will Evelyne be able to find out who’s been selling England’s secrets and catch a killer, all while battling her growing attraction to David?
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Period details FTW. I was reading along thinking how little I actually knew about life in WWII when the main character finds a body in a place I had no vaguest awareness of the need for or existence of: A sun treatment room.
A what now? Sun-treatment? What on Earth is that?
It was about that time that my interest and pleasure in the read sharpened to the point of reading past my bedtime. I'm a mystery fan anyway, being a big believer in ma'at and the scales of justice needing to be balanced. The victim of the murder wasn't a lovely person, as is customary in series mysteries set in the Halls of Power. It was a lovely grace note, the first of several, that the victim was discovered in the sun-treatment room. This afforded the author a perfect opening to reveal this very interesting, perfectly sensible detail's existence. It gives the story an extra gloss of period authenticity, as does Evelyne's Agatha Christie-reading habit. The author's an experienced historical novelist and it shows in these sorts of unexpected moments that firmly root the story in time without becoming stodged up like a research paper gone metastatic.
Evelyne, our main character, is an oddball in the world where she's been plonked because nothing in her background suggests she's a prospect for Greater Things...an unwanted daughter placed in a boarding school by her always-absent father after her mother's death when Evelyne was thirteen, she's been given few solid opportunities to develop her intellect beyond the ordinary. As is typical for series mysteries, as fans of the genre know, she's got the most important character trait of a sleuth: Ungovernable curiosity, starting from when her Maman (a French lady, who raised her daughter mostly in France) supposedly committed suicide. Luckily her absent rich-bastard father's friend circle includes powerful people who need that precise characteristic in a woman of presentable lineage (if always stained by the loucheness of her foreignness), adequate education, fluency in French, and unexceptionable looks.
Evelyne's sudden arrival in the bunkers...referred to by the acronym "CWR" or "Cabinet War Rooms"...of busy workers surrounding the Prime Minister isn't cause for anyone to take much notice, exactly as the Powers That Be need it to be. She blends into the scenery. As her job is to ferret out a traitor who's already established in those hallowed halls, everything's proceeding acording to plan.
Until someone's murdered. (There's a reason I'm being coy about who's been murdered. If you know too soon, there's no way you won't know who the titular traitor is.) The murder makes everything higher stakes and involves Evelyne with the inevitable love interest, David. Another facet of the series mystery is the de rigueur presence of a love interest or interests. David's clearly being positioned for this. This is, for me, the least interesting facet of the story. How would David, a senior aide established in the hierarchy, even think to team up with Evelyne, a mere girl and of known-but-stained ancestry? In 1940s Britain? That high in the Government (even if it's not quite the way we're led to believe)? Hmm, said my inner skeptic. Most especially I find the borning relationship between them Doomed because David prefers American thrillers to Evelyne's beloved Mrs. Christie. This is a less bridgeable gap than between a reader and a mundane.
While the usual first-mystery flaws are present, eg too much information comes too easily into Evelyne's grasp for her position in the hierarchy and people "grit" and "roar" things far too often, the author is clearly a skilled storyteller. The TV adaptation unspooled before my eyes, in six-part ITV period-mystery glory. It's the kind of book one reads with keen pleasure in its strengths, and forgives its lapses readily. At least this picky one did.
If you're in the market for historical mysteries, this one will scratch the itch. Nothing too deep, nothing too fluffy, just the right level of interesting background and emotional investment possibilities. Bring the sequel!
October 9, 2023
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Julia Kelly, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Wanting to try some historical fiction, I turned to this new series by Julia Kelly. Its focus is England in the middle of the Second World War, where Evelyne Redfern is pulled from working on the munitions line and into the middle of Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms. When Evelyne discovers that one of the women in the typing pool has been murdered, she becomes an amateur sleuth and tries to find the killer, sure that it must be someone with whom she works. While she might be a woman in the 1940s, Evelyne is ready to face the arduous task of piecing it all together to stop a killer. A great piece by Julia Kelly, set against the wartime backdrop.
Evelyne Redfern has earned the moniker, ‘The Parisian Orphan’, after her mother’s death and father leaving. Now living in London, Evelyne is working in a wartime munitions factory in 1940, when she is approached by one of her father’s friends. Mr. Fletcher has a task for her, one that puts country before everything else. She is being seconded as a secretary for Winston Churchill’s War Cabinet Rooms.
During one of Evelyne’s first days on the job, another of the women working there is murdered, a knife through the neck. Evelyne loves a good murder mystery novel and takes on the role of amateur sleuth to locate a killer without disrupting too much of what is going on around her. As she begins, David Poole crosses her path, intent not only to distract her romantically, but stymie her work. This minister’s aide is surely working on an agenda of his own, which Evelyne cannot dismiss. David’s true mission is soon revealed, as there is not only a killer, but a mole within the government trying to sell secrets to the Axis powers.
Working together, David and Evelyne must uncover the truth before Britain is placed in a precarious position, with the war at its must tumultuous stage for the country. Loyalty fuels them both and a killer’s desire for more victims proves to be their impetus to solve things quickly. Julia Kelly paints quite the picture with this series debut, which had me intrigued to see where things are headed.
While Second World War novels have lost their lustre for me, this one had some of the key elements I enjoyed. Embedded within the strong narrative is a theme of espionage and mystery, rather than guns and bloodshed. Kelly weaves a story around her well-established foundation and keeps the reader guessing until the final pages in this book.
The characters are well presented and develop effectively, keeping the reader eager to learn more about Evelyne, David, and the rest of those who cast a shadow on the pages of this book. Kelly has a way of breathing some great energy into her characters without being too blunt. Both David and Evelyne interact well and Kelly paves the way for more in the upcoming novels of the series, leaving the reader hungry for additional breadcrumbs.
The plot proves strong, working first with a murder investigation, but soon morphing into treasonous activities, making both seem plausible and realistic in their description. That things are not entirely linear helps the story and keeps the reader focussed on twists, rather than predictable storytelling. I am eager to see where things re headed, as the war is just getting interesting and Churchill’s glory days are coming to fruition.
Kudos, Madam Kelly, for piquing my interest with this one.
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Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/a-...
Wanting to try some historical fiction, I turned to this new series by Julia Kelly. Its focus is England in the middle of the Second World War, where Evelyne Redfern is pulled from working on the munitions line and into the middle of Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms. When Evelyne discovers that one of the women in the typing pool has been murdered, she becomes an amateur sleuth and tries to find the killer, sure that it must be someone with whom she works. While she might be a woman in the 1940s, Evelyne is ready to face the arduous task of piecing it all together to stop a killer. A great piece by Julia Kelly, set against the wartime backdrop.
Evelyne Redfern has earned the moniker, ‘The Parisian Orphan’, after her mother’s death and father leaving. Now living in London, Evelyne is working in a wartime munitions factory in 1940, when she is approached by one of her father’s friends. Mr. Fletcher has a task for her, one that puts country before everything else. She is being seconded as a secretary for Winston Churchill’s War Cabinet Rooms.
During one of Evelyne’s first days on the job, another of the women working there is murdered, a knife through the neck. Evelyne loves a good murder mystery novel and takes on the role of amateur sleuth to locate a killer without disrupting too much of what is going on around her. As she begins, David Poole crosses her path, intent not only to distract her romantically, but stymie her work. This minister’s aide is surely working on an agenda of his own, which Evelyne cannot dismiss. David’s true mission is soon revealed, as there is not only a killer, but a mole within the government trying to sell secrets to the Axis powers.
Working together, David and Evelyne must uncover the truth before Britain is placed in a precarious position, with the war at its must tumultuous stage for the country. Loyalty fuels them both and a killer’s desire for more victims proves to be their impetus to solve things quickly. Julia Kelly paints quite the picture with this series debut, which had me intrigued to see where things are headed.
While Second World War novels have lost their lustre for me, this one had some of the key elements I enjoyed. Embedded within the strong narrative is a theme of espionage and mystery, rather than guns and bloodshed. Kelly weaves a story around her well-established foundation and keeps the reader guessing until the final pages in this book.
The characters are well presented and develop effectively, keeping the reader eager to learn more about Evelyne, David, and the rest of those who cast a shadow on the pages of this book. Kelly has a way of breathing some great energy into her characters without being too blunt. Both David and Evelyne interact well and Kelly paves the way for more in the upcoming novels of the series, leaving the reader hungry for additional breadcrumbs.
The plot proves strong, working first with a murder investigation, but soon morphing into treasonous activities, making both seem plausible and realistic in their description. That things are not entirely linear helps the story and keeps the reader focussed on twists, rather than predictable storytelling. I am eager to see where things re headed, as the war is just getting interesting and Churchill’s glory days are coming to fruition.
Kudos, Madam Kelly, for piquing my interest with this one.
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June 8, 2024
June 2024: I have the ARC of the second book in this series and had to circle back to reread this one. I can now see where little details are in this story to allow more information to come about Evelyn’s family. I enjoyed the team of Evelyn and David.
April 2023: You know a book is good when you wish that it was the start of a series. After following Evelyn Redfern and David Poole through a fascinating investigation, I want more! {Note: This was written before it clear that this book IS the start of a series. Hooray!}
A Traitor in Whitehall follows Evelyn Redfern as she joins the typist pool in an underground bunker that serves government officials during World War 2. The man who hired her wants her to keep her eyes open for a suspected leak, but when she discovers a colleague dead, she decides to investigate murder and look for a mole. Along the way, she discovers that another person working in the warren of tunnels, the aforementioned David Poole, is doing the same and they team up.
The first quarter of the book gives insight into Evelyn's childhood, during which she was at the center of a custody battle that was widely reported and resulted in her nickname, The Parisian Orphan. She's estranged from her eccentric, globe-hopping aristocrat father and her mother died in a Paris hotel room when Evelyn was a child. An Aunt and a friend made in school are her most stable relationships outside of the bunker. By the mid-point of the book, the scores of people inside the bunker are laid out and the suspect list is quite long. The pace speeds up in the second half of the book as Evelyn and David explore leads and narrow down the suspects. This all coincides with The Blitz.
There is a lot going on in this book, but the writing is clear and unencumbered. It's not difficult to keep track of the large cast, though some members of the typing pool blend together at first. Evelyn is smart, but believably so. You don't have to suspend disbelief, as she encounters some of the typical obstacles that you'd expect a working woman to face in the time.
There are some seeds planted for this to be a series. Evelyn's Aunt seems to have a back story to explore and Evelyn's father lurks as a mysterious figure. David's background is mostly unknown. Evelyn definitely has a future in sleuthing and I hope we get to go along for the ride!
April 2023: You know a book is good when you wish that it was the start of a series. After following Evelyn Redfern and David Poole through a fascinating investigation, I want more! {Note: This was written before it clear that this book IS the start of a series. Hooray!}
A Traitor in Whitehall follows Evelyn Redfern as she joins the typist pool in an underground bunker that serves government officials during World War 2. The man who hired her wants her to keep her eyes open for a suspected leak, but when she discovers a colleague dead, she decides to investigate murder and look for a mole. Along the way, she discovers that another person working in the warren of tunnels, the aforementioned David Poole, is doing the same and they team up.
The first quarter of the book gives insight into Evelyn's childhood, during which she was at the center of a custody battle that was widely reported and resulted in her nickname, The Parisian Orphan. She's estranged from her eccentric, globe-hopping aristocrat father and her mother died in a Paris hotel room when Evelyn was a child. An Aunt and a friend made in school are her most stable relationships outside of the bunker. By the mid-point of the book, the scores of people inside the bunker are laid out and the suspect list is quite long. The pace speeds up in the second half of the book as Evelyn and David explore leads and narrow down the suspects. This all coincides with The Blitz.
There is a lot going on in this book, but the writing is clear and unencumbered. It's not difficult to keep track of the large cast, though some members of the typing pool blend together at first. Evelyn is smart, but believably so. You don't have to suspend disbelief, as she encounters some of the typical obstacles that you'd expect a working woman to face in the time.
There are some seeds planted for this to be a series. Evelyn's Aunt seems to have a back story to explore and Evelyn's father lurks as a mysterious figure. David's background is mostly unknown. Evelyn definitely has a future in sleuthing and I hope we get to go along for the ride!
July 2, 2023
3.5 stars
This is the first book in a new series by Julia Kelly, whose previous novels have focused on historical fiction, also set in England. However, this is more of a cozy mystery. And, like all new series, this book spends a good amount of time laying the groundwork for future books and outlining the backstory of the main characters.
Evelyn Redfern, who loves reading mysteries, takes a job in the typing pool in the underground tunnels of Churchill's cabinet war rooms in 1940 during WWII. She was actually hired to be a secret inside observer and report back to Mr. Fletcher, who is an old friend of her father's and a part of the Intelligence community.
Within days of starting her new job, Evelyne, finds the body of one of her coworkers who has been murdered. What seemed odd to me was that Evelyne, who was a new hire, joined forces with David Pool who is trying to ferret out a mole in the government who is leaking secrets to the Germans. Together they make lists of suspects, motives and alibis. They share important information when they hardly know each other, question suspects together and attempt code breaking. Before long, everyone is confiding in Evelyne, the amateur sleuth, and revealing their hidden secrets.
I don't mean to suggest that I disliked this book. I thought that it was very well written and the characters were likable, but at times I found some of the elements of the story to be implausible and the suspense to be lukewarm. Fans of light mysteries may appreciate this novel more than I did.
If all it took to be a detective and solve a murder was a love of mystery books, many of my Goodreads friends would now be very successful private investigators.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in a new series by Julia Kelly, whose previous novels have focused on historical fiction, also set in England. However, this is more of a cozy mystery. And, like all new series, this book spends a good amount of time laying the groundwork for future books and outlining the backstory of the main characters.
Evelyn Redfern, who loves reading mysteries, takes a job in the typing pool in the underground tunnels of Churchill's cabinet war rooms in 1940 during WWII. She was actually hired to be a secret inside observer and report back to Mr. Fletcher, who is an old friend of her father's and a part of the Intelligence community.
Within days of starting her new job, Evelyne, finds the body of one of her coworkers who has been murdered. What seemed odd to me was that Evelyne, who was a new hire, joined forces with David Pool who is trying to ferret out a mole in the government who is leaking secrets to the Germans. Together they make lists of suspects, motives and alibis. They share important information when they hardly know each other, question suspects together and attempt code breaking. Before long, everyone is confiding in Evelyne, the amateur sleuth, and revealing their hidden secrets.
I don't mean to suggest that I disliked this book. I thought that it was very well written and the characters were likable, but at times I found some of the elements of the story to be implausible and the suspense to be lukewarm. Fans of light mysteries may appreciate this novel more than I did.
If all it took to be a detective and solve a murder was a love of mystery books, many of my Goodreads friends would now be very successful private investigators.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2024
2.5 stars.
Too cutesy for me. I was expecting a thrilling historical fiction mystery, but this failed to deliver that. Recommended to cozy mystery readers, which is not my preferred reading genre.
Too cutesy for me. I was expecting a thrilling historical fiction mystery, but this failed to deliver that. Recommended to cozy mystery readers, which is not my preferred reading genre.
August 28, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: October 3, 2023
Julia Kelly’s newest foray into historical fiction, “A Traitor in Whitehall” features intrigue, suspense, clandestine meetings, treason and murder, all set in London during World War Two.
Evelyne Redfern’s family is notorious. Her father, Reginald Redfern, is known for being an adulterer and a cad, betraying Evelyne’s mother after a highly publicized custody trial that left Evelyne sent to an all-female boarding school and leaving her mother behind. Now, Evelyne’s mother is dead and her father has, for all intents and purposes, disappeared from her life. Evelyne is doing what she can to keep her last name, and her family history, a secret from those around her, working a mundane job in a munitions factory to help the war effort. But when a friend of her family’s offers her a position in the basement of Whitehall, part of the secret war rooms of Prime Minister Churchill, Evelyne quickly becomes involved in a murder investigation much like the ones she reads about in her beloved detective novels. Not only has Evelyne’s colleague been murdered, but there is a mole in Whitehall, someone who is secretly sending confidential information to the enemy, and Evelyne is convinced the two may be connected.
“Traitor” is the first in a new series by Kelly, which becomes apparent as the novel reaches its end. Unfamiliar with Kelly, this was my first experience with the historical fiction novelist, but Kelly is now an author that will immediately be added to my “one-to-watch” list.
Evelyne is the sole protagonist in the story and she’s an instant charmer. Full of poise, bravery and intelligence, it is easy to see why she immediately gains the interest of secret government officials. Her independence from a childhood of dealing with life on her own adds its own elements of likability to her character, and she is easy to sympathize with as she tries to deal with the recent death of her beloved mother. Plus, she’s a devout reader, always carrying a book with her and eager to share her opinions on her favourite novels, and you can’t help but form an instant bond on that factor alone.
The novel flows seamlessly and it was so engrossing that I reached its end without realizing it. Kelly pulled me right in with her descriptive settings and dramatic story line. There are multiple suspects right from the start, but I was still left guessing until the final pages, when all of the powerful twists and turns led to a gripping reveal of the murderer that was both unexpected and believable. Consider me a new fan of Julia Kelly’s historical fiction and I am eager to see what comes next for Evelyne and her friends!
Expected publication date: October 3, 2023
Julia Kelly’s newest foray into historical fiction, “A Traitor in Whitehall” features intrigue, suspense, clandestine meetings, treason and murder, all set in London during World War Two.
Evelyne Redfern’s family is notorious. Her father, Reginald Redfern, is known for being an adulterer and a cad, betraying Evelyne’s mother after a highly publicized custody trial that left Evelyne sent to an all-female boarding school and leaving her mother behind. Now, Evelyne’s mother is dead and her father has, for all intents and purposes, disappeared from her life. Evelyne is doing what she can to keep her last name, and her family history, a secret from those around her, working a mundane job in a munitions factory to help the war effort. But when a friend of her family’s offers her a position in the basement of Whitehall, part of the secret war rooms of Prime Minister Churchill, Evelyne quickly becomes involved in a murder investigation much like the ones she reads about in her beloved detective novels. Not only has Evelyne’s colleague been murdered, but there is a mole in Whitehall, someone who is secretly sending confidential information to the enemy, and Evelyne is convinced the two may be connected.
“Traitor” is the first in a new series by Kelly, which becomes apparent as the novel reaches its end. Unfamiliar with Kelly, this was my first experience with the historical fiction novelist, but Kelly is now an author that will immediately be added to my “one-to-watch” list.
Evelyne is the sole protagonist in the story and she’s an instant charmer. Full of poise, bravery and intelligence, it is easy to see why she immediately gains the interest of secret government officials. Her independence from a childhood of dealing with life on her own adds its own elements of likability to her character, and she is easy to sympathize with as she tries to deal with the recent death of her beloved mother. Plus, she’s a devout reader, always carrying a book with her and eager to share her opinions on her favourite novels, and you can’t help but form an instant bond on that factor alone.
The novel flows seamlessly and it was so engrossing that I reached its end without realizing it. Kelly pulled me right in with her descriptive settings and dramatic story line. There are multiple suspects right from the start, but I was still left guessing until the final pages, when all of the powerful twists and turns led to a gripping reveal of the murderer that was both unexpected and believable. Consider me a new fan of Julia Kelly’s historical fiction and I am eager to see what comes next for Evelyne and her friends!
October 15, 2023
Evelyn Redfern comes from a notorious family that had Evelyn in the middle of a child custody case.
When her mother died, and her father didn’t want her, she became known as the Paris Orphan.
To ease her situation, Evelyn found solace in reading mysteries.
It was good she liked to solve mysteries, because as she was working in Winston Churchhill‘s Cabinet War Rooms as a secretary, she became involved in the investigation of a murder of one of her fellow typists since she was the one who found her dead.
Evelyn and David Poole teamed up to do investigating .
It dragged on a bit, but we had the pleasure of being treated for a longer time to Ms. Kelly's descriptive writing and enjoyable story line. 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
When her mother died, and her father didn’t want her, she became known as the Paris Orphan.
To ease her situation, Evelyn found solace in reading mysteries.
It was good she liked to solve mysteries, because as she was working in Winston Churchhill‘s Cabinet War Rooms as a secretary, she became involved in the investigation of a murder of one of her fellow typists since she was the one who found her dead.
Evelyn and David Poole teamed up to do investigating .
It dragged on a bit, but we had the pleasure of being treated for a longer time to Ms. Kelly's descriptive writing and enjoyable story line. 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
October 3, 2023
WWII London. Evelyne Redfern has not been a secretary at Whitehall long when she makes a shocking discovery: One of her coworkers has been murdered. Dissatisfied with the investigation being done, she starts to look around on her own and is soon joined by David Poole, a minister's aide. Together, David and Evelyne begin to uncover secrets, but will it put them in danger?
This is a nice beginning to a series, and the mystery has some interesting twists and turns. There are plenty of red herrings, and the ending is clever and compelling. There is a touch of romance but it does not take over the story. I liked that Evelyne was independent and determined, even in the face of often blatant sexism from some of the men around her.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
This is a nice beginning to a series, and the mystery has some interesting twists and turns. There are plenty of red herrings, and the ending is clever and compelling. There is a touch of romance but it does not take over the story. I liked that Evelyne was independent and determined, even in the face of often blatant sexism from some of the men around her.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
October 13, 2023
The last thing I wanted to do was to get hooked on another serial! I didn’t know this was a book 1 until I opened the book. I carried on hoping against hope it would be a dud.
So much for hope!
Our heroine Evelyne Redfern has snuck in and made me really, really like her. She is a fan of mystery novels such as those of Ms. Christie.
It’s 1940 and Evelyne is plucked from a mindless job in a munitions factory and selected to work as a typist in Churchill’s War Room located underground. She was especially selected by a friend of her estranged father and her mission is to keep her eyes open as it is suspected that some funny business is going on in this most secret of locations.
Evelyne is on the job less than a week when she discovers the body of a co-worker who has been murdered!
Evelyne is one smart cookie and decides that she must be the one to find the killer because there is obviously more to this murder mystery than meets the eye.
This puts her in the direct path of a minister’s aide David Poole and she must agree to work with David who is investigating a suspected mole in the CWR.
Evelyne is not only smart she is funny and sharp as a tack and determined to do what she must to catch both the murderer and the mole.
So, there you have it, I’m stuck. Should there be a book 2 I’m going to have to read it.
So much for hope!
Our heroine Evelyne Redfern has snuck in and made me really, really like her. She is a fan of mystery novels such as those of Ms. Christie.
It’s 1940 and Evelyne is plucked from a mindless job in a munitions factory and selected to work as a typist in Churchill’s War Room located underground. She was especially selected by a friend of her estranged father and her mission is to keep her eyes open as it is suspected that some funny business is going on in this most secret of locations.
Evelyne is on the job less than a week when she discovers the body of a co-worker who has been murdered!
Evelyne is one smart cookie and decides that she must be the one to find the killer because there is obviously more to this murder mystery than meets the eye.
This puts her in the direct path of a minister’s aide David Poole and she must agree to work with David who is investigating a suspected mole in the CWR.
Evelyne is not only smart she is funny and sharp as a tack and determined to do what she must to catch both the murderer and the mole.
So, there you have it, I’m stuck. Should there be a book 2 I’m going to have to read it.
July 14, 2023
Being honest here, Julia Kelly’s writing is not slaying me. This genre, London, WWII, is typically one of my favs and I’ve literally read at least 50 or so novels set in this era. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to read anything by Ms. Kelly that strikes me as anything other than trite. This latest is no exception, but it will be the last one I bother wandering into. The characters are all pathetically cliched and unrealistic, the dialogue is silly and the plot is ridiculous.
Nutshell summary: Evelyne Redfern is a young British gal, raised in Paris. She comes from a dysfunctional, yet somewhat privileged family. Somehow she received a uni education. She is living in a woman’s boarding house, working in a munitions factory. Out of the blue, at a party obviously, an old family friend recruits her for a job as typist/spy to work at Whitehall. Once she gets started there, she is first on scene to discover a murder of a coworker. She then somehow is taken into the confidence of a male coworker/investigator/secret agent and yet being absolutely n body special, she takes over the investigation, yada yada yada. It’s just so fantastically far fetched. The dialogue includes conversations between the two investigators, discussing highly confidential information at restaurants and other public places. And the murder investigation is all mushed up with the leak/traitor sub-plot…. The entire thing is a mess. It truly doesn’t come close to other books tackling the time period, events, or personalities. Sorry.
Thanks as always to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for a timely review.
Nutshell summary: Evelyne Redfern is a young British gal, raised in Paris. She comes from a dysfunctional, yet somewhat privileged family. Somehow she received a uni education. She is living in a woman’s boarding house, working in a munitions factory. Out of the blue, at a party obviously, an old family friend recruits her for a job as typist/spy to work at Whitehall. Once she gets started there, she is first on scene to discover a murder of a coworker. She then somehow is taken into the confidence of a male coworker/investigator/secret agent and yet being absolutely n body special, she takes over the investigation, yada yada yada. It’s just so fantastically far fetched. The dialogue includes conversations between the two investigators, discussing highly confidential information at restaurants and other public places. And the murder investigation is all mushed up with the leak/traitor sub-plot…. The entire thing is a mess. It truly doesn’t come close to other books tackling the time period, events, or personalities. Sorry.
Thanks as always to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for a timely review.
October 27, 2023
4 stars for this promising start to a new mystery series.
The author returns to WWII London for her newest book, introducing Evelyne Redfern, a bright young woman, doing her bit in the war effort. The time is 1940 and the Blitz has not yet begun. Evelyne is bored to tears by her work in a munitions factory , so she is open to suggestion when an old family acquaintance offers her the possibility of a very different job.
And what a job it is! Sure, it's secretarial--but in the Cabinet War Rooms! (A big 'thank you' to the author for avoiding the temptation to have her heroine work directly for Churchill.) We readers get a nice look at the inner workings of this bit of the vast bureaucracy involved in running the war. We follow along as Evelyne meets the other typists and supervisors on her shift, with their different personalities, and encounters the vast font of gossip that bubbles through their work place.
I really liked Evelyne, with her fondness for mystery books. She has a chance to put on her amateur sleuth hat when she finds the body of a co-worker. Jean, the victim, was the 'mean girl' of their group but was that enough to get her killed?
The mystery is nice and twisty, with a satisfactory solution. I liked her co-investigator David Poole and the dynamic between them. There's a good group of supporting characters including several women Evelyne boards with--her BFF Moira, an actress, and Jocelyn, a newspaper writer.
There's a surprise development at the end, which sets up the next book and hints of the direction the series is going to take. I'll be along for the ride.
The author returns to WWII London for her newest book, introducing Evelyne Redfern, a bright young woman, doing her bit in the war effort. The time is 1940 and the Blitz has not yet begun. Evelyne is bored to tears by her work in a munitions factory , so she is open to suggestion when an old family acquaintance offers her the possibility of a very different job.
And what a job it is! Sure, it's secretarial--but in the Cabinet War Rooms! (A big 'thank you' to the author for avoiding the temptation to have her heroine work directly for Churchill.) We readers get a nice look at the inner workings of this bit of the vast bureaucracy involved in running the war. We follow along as Evelyne meets the other typists and supervisors on her shift, with their different personalities, and encounters the vast font of gossip that bubbles through their work place.
I really liked Evelyne, with her fondness for mystery books. She has a chance to put on her amateur sleuth hat when she finds the body of a co-worker. Jean, the victim, was the 'mean girl' of their group but was that enough to get her killed?
The mystery is nice and twisty, with a satisfactory solution. I liked her co-investigator David Poole and the dynamic between them. There's a good group of supporting characters including several women Evelyne boards with--her BFF Moira, an actress, and Jocelyn, a newspaper writer.
There's a surprise development at the end, which sets up the next book and hints of the direction the series is going to take. I'll be along for the ride.
September 19, 2023
Miss Redfern had worked in a royal ordnance factory before being offered a job in the typing pool for Prime Minister Churchill’s secret underground bunker by one of her parent’s friends.
When Miss Redfern is instructed to go for the required sun lamp treatments, she finds Jean dead, a fellow typist, and when she tries to leave, the door is locked. When Miss Redfern screams to get the door to open, the police are called to investigate. When she informs her boss, Miss Wilkes, she doesn’t seem surprised. Could she be linked or know who killed her?
When Miss Redfern is asked to carry out some of Jean’s duties, will she get some insight into who killed her? This book will have you turning the pages as the secrets are revealed to find out who killed Jean!
Julia Kelly’s writing just draws you into the story. Her research into the characters and storyline are evident as she creates a well thought out and entertaining mystery, while including what it was like to be a woman working during WWII, especially as a typist in Churchill’s secret underground bunker. What will be next for Miss Redfern? I look forward to reading the next book in the series! A highly entertaining book that is hard to put down and should be added to your TBR list! A great book club pick as well as it will lead to many great discussions!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) I was provided an ARC of A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Miss Redfern is instructed to go for the required sun lamp treatments, she finds Jean dead, a fellow typist, and when she tries to leave, the door is locked. When Miss Redfern screams to get the door to open, the police are called to investigate. When she informs her boss, Miss Wilkes, she doesn’t seem surprised. Could she be linked or know who killed her?
When Miss Redfern is asked to carry out some of Jean’s duties, will she get some insight into who killed her? This book will have you turning the pages as the secrets are revealed to find out who killed Jean!
Julia Kelly’s writing just draws you into the story. Her research into the characters and storyline are evident as she creates a well thought out and entertaining mystery, while including what it was like to be a woman working during WWII, especially as a typist in Churchill’s secret underground bunker. What will be next for Miss Redfern? I look forward to reading the next book in the series! A highly entertaining book that is hard to put down and should be added to your TBR list! A great book club pick as well as it will lead to many great discussions!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) I was provided an ARC of A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary copy of this novel! This novel is the first in the Parisian Orphan Series. If you love a good mystery and historical fiction, this is THE perfect book because it has both !!!
The book takes place in England at the time of WW2. Evelyne Redfern gets hired as a secretary in the underground cabinet war room. Not long after she arrives there, one of the typists is found murdered by Evelyne. She sees herself as an amateur sleuth, so she works to find the killer. Besides, she has her own agenda she’s been tasked with. However, David Poole,who works as an aide to the minister, is also tasked to find the killer. Evelyne does not really trust him, but the two pair up and seem to make an unlikely team. Mr. Poole eventually admits to Evelyne that Winston Churchill has personally tasked him to uncover a mole selling British government secrets to the enemy in their underground war rooms. Will they be able to catch a killer and find the mole before it is too late? Is the killer and the mole the same person, or is there something more going on?
I really enjoyed the cozy mystery feel to this novel! I love that it has a very strong female lead character who loved to read a good mystery. I look forward to reading other books in this upcoming series! 5 stars for me
A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly, Book 1 in The Parisian Orphan Series will be available to purchase October 3, 2023.
The book takes place in England at the time of WW2. Evelyne Redfern gets hired as a secretary in the underground cabinet war room. Not long after she arrives there, one of the typists is found murdered by Evelyne. She sees herself as an amateur sleuth, so she works to find the killer. Besides, she has her own agenda she’s been tasked with. However, David Poole,who works as an aide to the minister, is also tasked to find the killer. Evelyne does not really trust him, but the two pair up and seem to make an unlikely team. Mr. Poole eventually admits to Evelyne that Winston Churchill has personally tasked him to uncover a mole selling British government secrets to the enemy in their underground war rooms. Will they be able to catch a killer and find the mole before it is too late? Is the killer and the mole the same person, or is there something more going on?
I really enjoyed the cozy mystery feel to this novel! I love that it has a very strong female lead character who loved to read a good mystery. I look forward to reading other books in this upcoming series! 5 stars for me
A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly, Book 1 in The Parisian Orphan Series will be available to purchase October 3, 2023.
September 30, 2023
I want to thank St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of A Traitor in Whitehall. All opinions presented here are solely mine.
4.5 stars round up to 5
A Traitor in Whitehall is a super fun read. It is one that you will find hard to put down. Trust me, I found myself annoyed when I had to stop reading because of life. I had to know what was going to happen next.
Evelyne Redfern is a young woman from a well-connected family. She grew up with the world, especially in England, knowing her family’s story. But instead of hiding who she was, she owned it. There are times that Evelyne feels a bit immature or naïve, but she grows throughout the book and uses her experiences to help in the investigation.
David Poole is a handsome man that Evelyne is warned to stay away on her first day at the job. Within a few days, the two are working together to solve their separate investigations. There are plenty of will they won’t they kiss moments, and I can’t wait to read more in the series to see their relationship grow.
Do you enjoy reading historical fiction? What about starting a new series? Or books featuring characters that enjoy reading? What about reading mysteries? If you’ve answered yes to any, and especially all, then you should give A Traitor in Whitehall a read!
4.5 stars round up to 5
A Traitor in Whitehall is a super fun read. It is one that you will find hard to put down. Trust me, I found myself annoyed when I had to stop reading because of life. I had to know what was going to happen next.
Evelyne Redfern is a young woman from a well-connected family. She grew up with the world, especially in England, knowing her family’s story. But instead of hiding who she was, she owned it. There are times that Evelyne feels a bit immature or naïve, but she grows throughout the book and uses her experiences to help in the investigation.
David Poole is a handsome man that Evelyne is warned to stay away on her first day at the job. Within a few days, the two are working together to solve their separate investigations. There are plenty of will they won’t they kiss moments, and I can’t wait to read more in the series to see their relationship grow.
Do you enjoy reading historical fiction? What about starting a new series? Or books featuring characters that enjoy reading? What about reading mysteries? If you’ve answered yes to any, and especially all, then you should give A Traitor in Whitehall a read!
September 4, 2023
A strong series launch featuring a plucky heroine with a great backstory, a complicated murder, and plenty of war secrecy.
This was an ARC.
This was an ARC.
September 24, 2023
Intrepid, intelligent woman takes on Whitehall!
Fantastic. A great new series set in World War II with a strong female lead. I know there’s been a plethora of these cropping up but let me tell you I read this into the wee hours of the morning.
Evelyne Redfern is a brilliant character. A character with a past established early on. The ‘Paris Orphan’ the newspapers called her as a child. She was part of a high profile custody battle that raged across the Chanel divide for two years, until her mother died supposedly by suicide. As a child Evelyne always felt something was wrong, but who listens to a thirteen year old child? Maman was French. (And yes, Evelyne is fluent in French) Her father was Sir Reginald Redfern, a high society adventurer and womanizer, who didn’t change his spots once he was married.
After her mothers death Sir Reginald gathered up Evelyne and dropped her at an exclusive Boarding School. Evelyne maybe saw her father twice after that. He’s still alive and apparently somewhere in Mexico.
Through fortuitous circumstances Evelyne comes to work and observe in Whitehall. She’s due for sun lamp treatment. When she goes there she discovers a body in the lamp room. I know! (I was interested to read about why people would need such treatment when working in Whitehall.)
One thing leads to another and Evelyne finds herself investigating alongside David Poole, although at first he thought she was taking notes. Ha! Not our girl! Did I mention that she’s a fan of Agatha Christie et. al. David’s more a fan of the American gumshoe type detective like Sam Spade. Makes for some light hearted exchange!
The ending was not surprising, although what was going on was.
Evelyne is a character easy to relate to.
I foresee endless possibilities for further titles in this series, so here’s hoping more follow!
A Minotaur invitation ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
Fantastic. A great new series set in World War II with a strong female lead. I know there’s been a plethora of these cropping up but let me tell you I read this into the wee hours of the morning.
Evelyne Redfern is a brilliant character. A character with a past established early on. The ‘Paris Orphan’ the newspapers called her as a child. She was part of a high profile custody battle that raged across the Chanel divide for two years, until her mother died supposedly by suicide. As a child Evelyne always felt something was wrong, but who listens to a thirteen year old child? Maman was French. (And yes, Evelyne is fluent in French) Her father was Sir Reginald Redfern, a high society adventurer and womanizer, who didn’t change his spots once he was married.
After her mothers death Sir Reginald gathered up Evelyne and dropped her at an exclusive Boarding School. Evelyne maybe saw her father twice after that. He’s still alive and apparently somewhere in Mexico.
Through fortuitous circumstances Evelyne comes to work and observe in Whitehall. She’s due for sun lamp treatment. When she goes there she discovers a body in the lamp room. I know! (I was interested to read about why people would need such treatment when working in Whitehall.)
One thing leads to another and Evelyne finds herself investigating alongside David Poole, although at first he thought she was taking notes. Ha! Not our girl! Did I mention that she’s a fan of Agatha Christie et. al. David’s more a fan of the American gumshoe type detective like Sam Spade. Makes for some light hearted exchange!
The ending was not surprising, although what was going on was.
Evelyne is a character easy to relate to.
I foresee endless possibilities for further titles in this series, so here’s hoping more follow!
A Minotaur invitation ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
November 2, 2023
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A young woman gets a job in Whitehall, during WWII. Located in an underground bunker, life there isn't a bed of roses, but compared to many at the time, is pretty good. Then one of her fellow typists is murdered. She shoehorns herself into the investigation by the good looking intelligence agent, also searching for leaks.
Enjoyable, doesn't let the drama of the was get in the way of the actual story.
A young woman gets a job in Whitehall, during WWII. Located in an underground bunker, life there isn't a bed of roses, but compared to many at the time, is pretty good. Then one of her fellow typists is murdered. She shoehorns herself into the investigation by the good looking intelligence agent, also searching for leaks.
Enjoyable, doesn't let the drama of the was get in the way of the actual story.
January 13, 2024
A Traitor in Whitehall apparently is Book #1 in a series - Parisian Orphan - and having read Book #1, I'm on board with queuing up for Book #2 - which is a title only for now: Betrayal at Blackthorn Park.
Our heroine, Evelyne Redfern, is possessed of a very straight up, no-nonsense and mature-for-her-age presence. She had a mother whose fond memories, usually referenced in French, was the preferred parent, although she died in Evelyne's childhood. Her papa seems to be a persona non grata, not present in her Book #1 life, but with enough mentions that I suspect/hope a future book will feature him. I enjoy those kind of hints in a series. . . dropping in people who we'll hear about later.
Set in the beginning of WWII, London, Evelyne loves detective novels and reading - so we bond right off! She starts out applying for a typing pool job, and because of her perceived potential is boosted into something quite like a Bletchley situation, and that's all you get from me. . .a great read, with all the voices in my head adopting English accents. Very cozy on a January night reading past midnight. . .
*A sincere thank you to Julia Kelly, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.* #ATraitorinWhitehall #NetGalley
Our heroine, Evelyne Redfern, is possessed of a very straight up, no-nonsense and mature-for-her-age presence. She had a mother whose fond memories, usually referenced in French, was the preferred parent, although she died in Evelyne's childhood. Her papa seems to be a persona non grata, not present in her Book #1 life, but with enough mentions that I suspect/hope a future book will feature him. I enjoy those kind of hints in a series. . . dropping in people who we'll hear about later.
Set in the beginning of WWII, London, Evelyne loves detective novels and reading - so we bond right off! She starts out applying for a typing pool job, and because of her perceived potential is boosted into something quite like a Bletchley situation, and that's all you get from me. . .a great read, with all the voices in my head adopting English accents. Very cozy on a January night reading past midnight. . .
*A sincere thank you to Julia Kelly, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.* #ATraitorinWhitehall #NetGalley
August 11, 2023
The first in a new series by the author of The Last Dance of the Debutante, featuring MCs Evelyne Redfern and David Poole from Churchill's cabinet war rooms, who hunt a killer and a mole selling British secrets to the enemy. Histfic mystery fans will rejoice!
October 2, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
An enjoyable start to a new historical fiction WWII cozy mystery series featuring Evelyne Redfern, aka the 'Parisian Orphan' who gets caught up in a murder mystery and the hunt for a mole within Winston Churchill's cabinet. Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn or AJ Pearce and good on audio, this was fun with a strong female lead. I'm excited to see where this new series goes next! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
An enjoyable start to a new historical fiction WWII cozy mystery series featuring Evelyne Redfern, aka the 'Parisian Orphan' who gets caught up in a murder mystery and the hunt for a mole within Winston Churchill's cabinet. Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn or AJ Pearce and good on audio, this was fun with a strong female lead. I'm excited to see where this new series goes next! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
July 18, 2023
I really wanted to like this historical novel. It takes place in World War II London, inside Winston Churchill’s underground cabinet war rooms (the CWR) just as Germany begins its bombing campaign known as “the Blitz.” What could be more potentially exciting? Unfortunately, despite its historic and dramatic setting, “A Traitor in Whitehall” is actually no more than a cozy mystery—a “whodunnit”—and not a very compelling one at that.
The novel begins well enough. Heroine Evelyne--a near-orphaned university graduate working a deathly dull job at a munitions factory--has just been hired by a family friend to work as a pool typist/stenographer at the CWR. Before she even has a chance to acclimate to her new surroundings and co-workers, she stumbles onto the body of another typist stabbed to death. Military police detectives quickly decide this to be no more than a crime of passion. But Evelyne suspects something more sinister. Highly independent and intrepid, and a lover of mysteries and detective fiction, she begins to investigate, ultimately joining forces with co-worker David Poole who has been assigned to catch a traitor “leaking” information to the Germans. So, the hunt is on for a murderer and a mole. Whether they are one and the same, or have any connection, is anyone’s guess.
It’s an interesting premise, but the resulting story seemed more a tepid soap opera than the “clever “Agatha Christie-esque mystery” promised on the cover.
For one thing, the stakes never seem very high. Yes, someone’s leaking information, but the quality of that information doesn’t seem all that vital. And yes, someone is murdered, but she’s so thoroughly disliked by all her co-workers that it’s a challenge to become immersed in who did it or why.
The range of suspects is large and includes a number of Evelyne’s fellow typists, none of whom we get to know very well and all of whom are difficult to keep straight.
There are few important inter-character relationships—and none to get really excited about.
Main character Evelyne, while clever and likable—maybe even admirable to some--often strains credulity. For example, it’s hard to believe that someone just beginning work as a typist in Mr. Churchill’s CWR would or even could become the de facto lead investigator into a murder on the premises, especially in a place where chains of command and doing what one is told and not acting outside the scope of one’s duty are necessities. Evelyne is repeatedly told to cease her investigation, and yet she persists.
Author Julia Kelly does not make the fullest or best use of either wartime London amidst “The Blitz” or Churchill’s underground complex. In fact, we barely see Churchill much less any of his more famous cabinet members such as Lord Beaverbrook or Anthony Eden. While we are told that the CWR produces blizzards of paper, that’s about all we learn about the place where some of the most momentous decisions of the war were made. And while there are scenes involving the bombings, and citizens taking shelter, almost no mention, if any, is made of the overriding threat faced by everyone: namely that the Germans may soon invade and occupy Great Britain.
Readers looking simply for a light, mildly entertaining mystery may well enjoy “A Traitor in Whitehall.” But those hoping for an exciting historical novel involving a legendary world leader attempting to save his nation from defeat and ruin—and a citizenry facing imminent occupation and withstanding all manner of dangers, hardships, and sacrifice--may wish to look elsewhere. Two and a half stars rounded up to three.
My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for providing me with an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.
The novel begins well enough. Heroine Evelyne--a near-orphaned university graduate working a deathly dull job at a munitions factory--has just been hired by a family friend to work as a pool typist/stenographer at the CWR. Before she even has a chance to acclimate to her new surroundings and co-workers, she stumbles onto the body of another typist stabbed to death. Military police detectives quickly decide this to be no more than a crime of passion. But Evelyne suspects something more sinister. Highly independent and intrepid, and a lover of mysteries and detective fiction, she begins to investigate, ultimately joining forces with co-worker David Poole who has been assigned to catch a traitor “leaking” information to the Germans. So, the hunt is on for a murderer and a mole. Whether they are one and the same, or have any connection, is anyone’s guess.
It’s an interesting premise, but the resulting story seemed more a tepid soap opera than the “clever “Agatha Christie-esque mystery” promised on the cover.
For one thing, the stakes never seem very high. Yes, someone’s leaking information, but the quality of that information doesn’t seem all that vital. And yes, someone is murdered, but she’s so thoroughly disliked by all her co-workers that it’s a challenge to become immersed in who did it or why.
The range of suspects is large and includes a number of Evelyne’s fellow typists, none of whom we get to know very well and all of whom are difficult to keep straight.
There are few important inter-character relationships—and none to get really excited about.
Main character Evelyne, while clever and likable—maybe even admirable to some--often strains credulity. For example, it’s hard to believe that someone just beginning work as a typist in Mr. Churchill’s CWR would or even could become the de facto lead investigator into a murder on the premises, especially in a place where chains of command and doing what one is told and not acting outside the scope of one’s duty are necessities. Evelyne is repeatedly told to cease her investigation, and yet she persists.
Author Julia Kelly does not make the fullest or best use of either wartime London amidst “The Blitz” or Churchill’s underground complex. In fact, we barely see Churchill much less any of his more famous cabinet members such as Lord Beaverbrook or Anthony Eden. While we are told that the CWR produces blizzards of paper, that’s about all we learn about the place where some of the most momentous decisions of the war were made. And while there are scenes involving the bombings, and citizens taking shelter, almost no mention, if any, is made of the overriding threat faced by everyone: namely that the Germans may soon invade and occupy Great Britain.
Readers looking simply for a light, mildly entertaining mystery may well enjoy “A Traitor in Whitehall.” But those hoping for an exciting historical novel involving a legendary world leader attempting to save his nation from defeat and ruin—and a citizenry facing imminent occupation and withstanding all manner of dangers, hardships, and sacrifice--may wish to look elsewhere. Two and a half stars rounded up to three.
My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for providing me with an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.
October 4, 2023
3.5 rounding up
I wanted to give this book a try since I knew it was going to turn into a series and while it was a very good effort, this book wasn’t for me. I still think I’m suffering from WW2/HF fatigue and the story took a little too long to get going for me. The opening chapter was great but the setup and middle felt like they dragged.
There is no question the author is talented and did her research. I found the information surrounding Churchill’s Underground Bunker fascinating and thought it was very clever to place a mystery in that setting.
The main character kind of annoyed me a bit. Things just kind of fell into place a little too easily. I don’t think I will continue on with this series, but that’s more because it’s a me problem. Plenty of people loved this book and I wish the author every success.
I found the best format for me was print versus audio. I had trouble finding a speed that worked for me to help keep my interest. The narrator was very good though so again - I think this was just the wrong book for me at the moment.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the gifted egalley and audiobook.
Review Date: 10/03/23
Publication Date: 10/03/23
I wanted to give this book a try since I knew it was going to turn into a series and while it was a very good effort, this book wasn’t for me. I still think I’m suffering from WW2/HF fatigue and the story took a little too long to get going for me. The opening chapter was great but the setup and middle felt like they dragged.
There is no question the author is talented and did her research. I found the information surrounding Churchill’s Underground Bunker fascinating and thought it was very clever to place a mystery in that setting.
The main character kind of annoyed me a bit. Things just kind of fell into place a little too easily. I don’t think I will continue on with this series, but that’s more because it’s a me problem. Plenty of people loved this book and I wish the author every success.
I found the best format for me was print versus audio. I had trouble finding a speed that worked for me to help keep my interest. The narrator was very good though so again - I think this was just the wrong book for me at the moment.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the gifted egalley and audiobook.
Review Date: 10/03/23
Publication Date: 10/03/23
June 15, 2023
I have enjoyed a number of Julia Kelly books so I was thrilled when this one landed on my netgalley shelf. Unlike her other books, Kelly uses this one to dive into her love of mystery.
Evelyne Redfern's family history is filled with story and scandal. The stories of her mother and father's tumultuous relationship - in a time where that didn't happen - will forever stain her reputation. Would it be too much to ask to work and be known for who she is? Here she is, it seems, having her wish. She spends her days in wartime London working in a munitions factory, doing her part, and in the evening ready cozy mystery novels.
Until, it seems, her notoriety works for her advantage. An old friend of her father's spots her and selects her to work as a secretary (with a secret agenda) in the underground war rooms of Prime Minister Churchill. When one of the girls is murdered, she is plunged into mystery, intrigue and betrayal not that dissimilar from the mysteries she loves.
Along with David Poole, she uses all the Agatha christie-esque sleuthing skills she has to uncover the traitor in Whitehall.
And it was Christie-esque. Obviously inspired by works of that era and genre, this was a cozy historical mystery that kept me turning pages. It had Kelly's typical attention to historical detail with a beautiful layer of mystery and intrigue. The ending left me hoping that this will end up with a sequel, at least, as I'd love to see what becomes of our heroine and her trusty partner in crime, or at least partner in solving it.
Evelyne Redfern's family history is filled with story and scandal. The stories of her mother and father's tumultuous relationship - in a time where that didn't happen - will forever stain her reputation. Would it be too much to ask to work and be known for who she is? Here she is, it seems, having her wish. She spends her days in wartime London working in a munitions factory, doing her part, and in the evening ready cozy mystery novels.
Until, it seems, her notoriety works for her advantage. An old friend of her father's spots her and selects her to work as a secretary (with a secret agenda) in the underground war rooms of Prime Minister Churchill. When one of the girls is murdered, she is plunged into mystery, intrigue and betrayal not that dissimilar from the mysteries she loves.
Along with David Poole, she uses all the Agatha christie-esque sleuthing skills she has to uncover the traitor in Whitehall.
And it was Christie-esque. Obviously inspired by works of that era and genre, this was a cozy historical mystery that kept me turning pages. It had Kelly's typical attention to historical detail with a beautiful layer of mystery and intrigue. The ending left me hoping that this will end up with a sequel, at least, as I'd love to see what becomes of our heroine and her trusty partner in crime, or at least partner in solving it.
September 17, 2023
Mysterious, atmospheric, and engaging!
A Traitor in Whitehall is a suspenseful tale that takes us back to 1941 London and into the life of Evelyne Redfern who, after stumbling upon the body of a fellow secretary on her first day working in Winston Churchill’s war rooms, finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation that’s a little more complex than it originally appears, and for which she may have to join forces with the enigmatic, handsome David Poole who seems to be secretly working on a case of his own.
The prose is descriptive and light. The characters, including the intelligent, independent heroine, are multi-layered, intriguing, and well-developed. And the plot is a well-paced whodunit full of red herrings, duplicity, amateur sleuthing, deduction, attraction, and, of course, a touch of the unexpected.
Overall, A Traitor in Whitehall is the first book in the Parisian Orphan series, and if you love historical mysteries, this one won’t disappoint. It’s an entertaining, cosy, satisfying tale by Kelly that is not only a real treat to read, but a great start to what could be a fantastic new series in a slightly different genre than the author is predominantly known and revered for.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
A Traitor in Whitehall is a suspenseful tale that takes us back to 1941 London and into the life of Evelyne Redfern who, after stumbling upon the body of a fellow secretary on her first day working in Winston Churchill’s war rooms, finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation that’s a little more complex than it originally appears, and for which she may have to join forces with the enigmatic, handsome David Poole who seems to be secretly working on a case of his own.
The prose is descriptive and light. The characters, including the intelligent, independent heroine, are multi-layered, intriguing, and well-developed. And the plot is a well-paced whodunit full of red herrings, duplicity, amateur sleuthing, deduction, attraction, and, of course, a touch of the unexpected.
Overall, A Traitor in Whitehall is the first book in the Parisian Orphan series, and if you love historical mysteries, this one won’t disappoint. It’s an entertaining, cosy, satisfying tale by Kelly that is not only a real treat to read, but a great start to what could be a fantastic new series in a slightly different genre than the author is predominantly known and revered for.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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