Book Review
Betrayal at Blackthorn Park by Julia Kelly
Mystery | Historical Fiction | WWII
After the first book in this series (A Traitor in Whitehall) hit my top ten favorite reads last year, Betrayal at Blackthorn Park quickly became one of my most-anticipated reads of 2024. So when the publisher reached out to let me know they were sending me an advance copy, I was over the moon to get my hands on this one before its pub date. And let me tell you — it absolutely lived up to expectations!
In this sequel, we find Evelyne Redfern and David Poole teamed up in the roles of handler and agent. Their first assignment? A simple security check at a secret weapons research and development facility. But when Evelyne discovers the chief engineer dead in his office, their simple assignment gets a little more complicated. And once again, Evelyne (and David) find themselves on the hunt for a murderer.
Historical mysteries are a favorite of mine, and Julia Kelly does a fantastic job transporting readers to 1940s, England. The author has a lovely way with words and gives us a story that (despite the gravity of the wartime work and the plot involving a murder) maintains a light and charming feel overall. The setting feels historically authentic, the characters are easy to follow along and root for, and the storyline provides a classic mystery feel. It’s the sort of read you want to cozy up with on a rainy day, hot cup of tea and biscuits in hand. (And I don’t drink tea, so, that’s saying a lot!)
Our main character, Evelyne is clever and, at times, impulsive, but with an instinctive knack for investigating. Throughout the two books in this series, we see her skills, character, and relationships evolve and it’s fun to see the direction that’s taking. Evelyn’s relationship with David is equally enjoyable as we get all the tension and banter between two individuals trying to deny their affection for each other.
While this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend starting with book one — A Traitor in Whitehall!
The author left us with a couple of hints as to what we might expect in book three, and I’m already saving a spot for it on my bookshelf. This series will certainly be a go-to favorite of mine and I look forward to however many more historical mysteries Julia Kelly has up her sleeve with these characters!
Recommended for:
Those who have read and loved Julia Kelly’s A Traitor in Whitehall
This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Advance copy of the book provided courtesy of the publisher, Minotaur Books. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the book:
(Form the publisher): 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.