Betrayal at Blackthorn Park
by Julia Kelly
With mystery, intrigue, and the hints of romance international bestselling author Julia Kelly is known for, Evelyne Redfern returns in Betrayal at Blackthorn Park.
Freshly graduated from a rigorous training program in all things spy craft, former typist Evelyne Redfern is eager for her first assignment as a field agent helping Britain win the war. However, when she learns her first task is performing a simple security test at Blackthorn Park, a requisitioned manor house in the sleepy Sussex countryside, she can’t help her initial disappointment. Making matters worse, her handler is to be David Poole, a fellow agent who manages to be both strait-laced and dashing in annoyingly equal measure. However, Evelyne soon realizes that Blackthorn Park is more than meets the eye, and an upcoming visit from Winston Churchill means that security at the secret weapons research and development facility is of the utmost importance.
When Evelyne discovers Blackthorn Park’s chief engineer dead in his office, her simple assignment becomes more complicated. Evelyne must use all of her—and David’s—detection skills to root out who is responsible and uncover layers of deception that could change the course of the war.
My review of Betrayal at Blackthorn Park
I absolutely loved Betrayal at Blackthorn Park. After reading the first book in the series, A Traitor in Whitehall, I couldn’t wait to experience another adventure with Evelyne and David. I would highly recommend reading these books in order. Though you could read this book as a stand-alone, you won’t know the characters’ backgrounds, and it adds to the enjoyment when you do.
Evelyne is tasked with her first assignment as a trained field agent, and David is assigned his first job as a handler…Evelyne’s handler. He’s not thrilled with not being in the field, but you don’t argue with the boss. It’s supposed to be a simple assignment, but, of course, nothing can be simple in a mystery! Instead of getting in and out of Blackthorn Park with the information she’s supposed to find, Evelyne finds a dead body. Not that this is a good thing, but David gets to be out in the field again which makes him much happier. What was supposed to be a one day assignment turns into several days worth of investigating and finally solving the crime.
David and Evelyne are such great characters. I feel as if I know them personally, but since the story is set in WWII, I don’t….oh, and the fact that they’re fictional doesn’t help. Oh well. I adore them. They work well together and can match wits easily. The charming English village setting as well as the large Blackthorn Park “complex” give the novel both a cozy feel and a spy novel feel. It was fun guessing whodunit, and I did figure it out before the reveal.
I highly recommend this historical mystery for its well-written characters, charming setting, humor, and heart. I give it 5 stars, and I cannot wait to see what Evelyne and David are tasked with next!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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