Post war Sydney, Australia 1946

Billie Walker has just taken over her fathers Private Investigator business.
With a Colt revolver and assistant, Sam always at the ready, Billie is set for anything that comes her way.

Enter, Mrs. Nettie Brown who requests Billie’s services to find her son, Adin who has gone missing.
The story then evolves into a dark twisted tale of Sydney’s dark underbelly.

If you love a good Agatha Christie-esque story, willed with forties fashion and a storyline that gains speed with every turn of the page, grab the first book of the Billie Walker series, The War Widow out December 29th!

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the advance readers copy.

I really enjoyed this book in the Billie Walker series. The characters are well developed and the author has done a wonderful job of drawing you into their lives and making you care what is happening to them.

Billie Walker is a sassy lady private investigator and I look forward to future adventures with her. I loved the setting in Australia and the mystery and excitement that flowed through the pages. You never knew what would happen next to Billie.

Sam Baker, her assistant, was a great compliment to her personality. I liked his willingness to do the most mundane of tasks to the extremely dangerous assignments.

What a wonderful introduction to Billie and Sam and many of the characters who appear as you flip quickly through the pages and get lost in the mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own

This book was fantastic! Perfect for fans of Lady Sherlock and Veronica Speedwell. I loved the plucky lead lady private investigator and setting of post WWII Australia. I am really hopeful that this is the start of a series with more to come soon!

A special thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The War Widow is a well-written, meticulously researched novel with a strong female protagonist. Moss' writing is rich and descriptive and utterly captivating. It is perfectly paced and well-plotted. The icing on the cake is Billie's 'Fighting Red' signature lipstick—what gal doesn't love a great lippy?

Eagerly waiting for the next book in the series.

"You need to face facts, Billie. You are a war widow."

Smart, Strong and full of gumption, Billie Walker is a former journalist, now a private inquiry agent (P.I.), working in 1946 Sydney. Her father is gone and her husband, Jack is missing in Europe. But Billie is tough, she is a survivor and runs her deceased father's private investigation agency/business. The women of Sydney keep her busy investigation cheating spouses, but one day a woman appears and tells Billie that her son is missing and that none of his friends have seen him.

Billie and her assistant, Sam investigate the teenager's disappearance, and soon find that his disappearance is not as innocent as they first assumed it out be. The search for him leads them into the world of gangsters and treacherous individuals. Just how dangerous is this missing person's case? How much danger will Billie be in? Will Billie and Sam be able to find the teen? Will they make it out alive?

This book had an old feel to it for me. That is a compliment, btw as this book is set in 1946. Tara Moss did a great job with her setting and writing for that time period. I felt as if this book could have been written in the 40's. Again, a compliment.

I enjoyed Billie's character. She was both tough, stylish, strong, brave, and vulnerable all at the same time. She had a lot of on her plate - her own husband has been missing for quite some time, she is supporting herself and mainly working in a field which had very few females working in it. She is determined, and headstrong. She knows how to investigate and has learned how to get information out of people. But will that be enough to solve her current case?

This is the first book in a promising new series. I found this book to be well written, well researched and engaging.

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I've been trying to read more historical fiction and ended up really loving this one. This is the first historical fiction I read that actually had a really good mystery aspect to it. The ending really had me shocked.

THE WAR WIDOW is a very well-crafted period mystery set in post WWII Australia with a female private investigator and apparently the first in a new series by author Tara Moss. There is great scene and world building and the tale really draws readers into a world that has just barely survived a devastating war and still suffers from its aftermath. Australia sent soldiers to the war and families suffered losses that reverberate through the characters, especially the lead. The mystery itself, while not terribly hard to figure out, is nonetheless enjoyable to unwind; the pieces are interesting both historically and as parts of a puzzle. This is a good solid first in a series and well worth reading. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Post WWII was a turbulent time everywhere. Australia like most countries is recovering from economic restrictions and rationing is still in place. Gas coupons are still necessary because the worlds’ fuel supplies are still being sorted out. Silk stockings and fine clothing were at a premium.

Our protagonist is a former war correspondent returning home to find work for women very scarce. She took over a Detective Agency after her father died and is working in Sydney.

Like so many women after WWII she lost the love of her life. He disappeared somewhere in Austria. Not knowing his fate a cruel cross to bear and then a woman enters the detective agency and asks if she can locate her son. He is 17.

Tara weaves a very entertaining tale of mystery and intrigue in the Sydney area. The job won’t pay much but Billie needs to keep working to continue to pay her “Secretary” Sam Beaker. The trail leads to many interesting places in and around Sydney.

Taking the assignment and trying to locate the lost teenager takes many twists and both Billie and Sam are attacked many times. It is a real pleasure to read about the defensive tactics Billie employs. Never underestimate a woman with a well placed hatpin!

This entire book kept me spell bound and very entertained. I even fell in love with the heroine. I could see the rakish hats and Mode O Day dresses as she stepped out into the Sydney night life. These visuals so well presented by Tara engaged and satisfied the mental sequence of events. It is an immersive and entertaining look back in time. Read and see for yourself. 5 stars - CE Williams

If you’re wanting a glamourous private Australian private investigator as a intelligent protagonist set in the late 1940’s the Billie Walker series is for you. In searching for a missing boy, Billy and her assistant, Samuel, find themselves involved in the selling of Jewish antiques by former Nazi officers. This storyline meshes with the abdication of aboriginal girls who became sex slaves. Because of the title and references to her missing husband, I kept expecting a subplot where he suddenly shows up and Billie starts looking at other men romantically. I imagine more of this theme will appear in later books in the series.

OMG, I loved this book! A wonderful tale of a female private eye (or private inquirer, as they call it) in Australia just after the war has ended in 1946. A journalist during the War, Billie Walker finds that peacetime Australia is a challenging place for a woman, as the jobs they held while the men were fighting are no longer considered suitable for women. Billie’s late father was a PI, and she has taken over his business. As a woman its a struggle to build clientele, but Billie perseveres and finally gets a case that’s not documenting a philandering husband. A woman comes to her for help in finding her teenage son who has disappeared. The search to find him will take Billie into the world of those who profited from the Nazi spoils of war taken from their victims: artwork, jewelry, gold teeth and so on. Oh yes, and Billie has to deal with her mother the Baroness and the fact of her missing husband.

This book was a great read; a wonderful protagonist, with intelligent and courageous and spunky; a challenging mystery to solve; great writing, an interesting locale and time, this book has it all! And, it’s the first in a series, so there should be more to come!

I was attracted to this book thinking it takes place during the war (I read the blurb ages ago and kinda forgot a little), which actually it does with flash backs. As the title infers Billie is a widow from the war and these are the years following in Australia. I love that setting for a nice change, there is not too many countries immune from the effects those years caused. This locale brought the Sydney society together in various classes.

B. Walker, Private Inquiries - the B to not scare off possible men clients intimated by a female PI. Billie is a force and I loved her thought process, quick thinking and logic. Her assistant, mother (her maid) and Hank added that extra to the story, part of me wishing to see more of her mother and maid - hopefully in the next book. Billie's ahead of her time in terms of independence, actions and speaking her mind, it was refreshing along with her compassion and determination.

The War Widow is well researched with attention to details. At times a little repetitive with some of the details but all in all an enjoyable mystery with many layers that kept me on my toes. Definitely a series I recommend and one I will continue to read.

My thanks to Dutton Publicity for a digital arc (via Netgalley) in exchange for a honest review.

Trigger warnings: murder, torture, kidnapping, human trafficking, antisemitism, racism, antifeminism

Billie Walker is the daughter of a now-deceased PI and has taken over her father's practice. Her mother is an aristocrat of declining fortune who lives in Billie's building.

Billie's assignment in the novel is to find a missing seventeen-year-old boy. She is adept at uncovering the information she needs to find him, but the more she uncovers the more complicated the case becomes. It's clear that the responsible parties don't want the boy to be found, and they come after Billie.

The story occasionally switches to a man who is being held captive, but it isn't clear to the reader if this is the boy she is searching for or her MIA husband Jack. Jack Rake is a photographer who reporter Billie fell for during World War II, but she hasn't heard from him in years.

Author Tara Moss creates such a genuine world that the book almost seems written during the time it takes place. Her knowledge of Australia, cars, and the police force add to the authenticity.

While Billie's case comes to an eventual close, the whereabouts of her missing beau are unresolved. Readers will want to experience Billie's next case and learn what happened to Jack in the next book. This novel is recommended for fans of historical fiction and historical mysteries.

I am not usually one to read historical fiction books, however, when offered to read this book by the publisher and after researching it, I decided to give it a try. What caught my eye about the book while doing my research on it, was that even though it was a historical fiction it was also somewhat up my alley with it being a mystery and suspense novel as well.

I thought the book itself was written well and it is easy to follow. The author uses a lot of detail when describing the scenes that are unfolding in the story along with the setting and characters. However, I did find that sometimes that the use of detail went too far and that it became unnecessary and more "fluff" to the story than actually contributing to it. There were times that I find myself skimming over these parts in order to get back to the cases at hand that Billie was investigating.

Tara Moss uses some German in the book and for the most part, she does a good job with integrating the English translation into the story itself. Their are a few instances though where their is no translation and you either have to look up what was said or try to infer it from the story.

There is a ton of action in the story that keeps it moving at a consistent and fast pace. There is a lot of information regarding WWII and it is very clear that Tara Moss took her time in doing research for the book. According to the Acknowledgements at the back of the book, Tara Moss did two years of research for the book.

The characters are relatable for the time period that the story takes place in, post WWII. I really liked Billie and her assistant Sam. I was a little disappointed by the way the story ended around Billie and Jack as it felt unfinished.

Rating: 3 out of 5 because I found myself skimming over quite a bit throughout the entire book. I really liked the ending and I felt that it wrapped up the two cases that Billie had been working on. I did, however, feel that Billie and Jack's story was left unfinished and I also am left wondering what came of Moretti and his involvement. If you are a fan of historical fiction, than this is a book that I think you would most likely enjoy and would recommend picking up for your next book.

Billie Walker has overcome a lot of hardships in her life. From the loss of her father to the disappearance of her husband during the war to her reporting talents being cast aside. But Billie is not one to stay down for long. She decides to take over her late father's private investigation agency, and soon the women of Sydney are lining up for her services. What begins as trailing unfaithful husbands soon takes a turn when Billie is hired to track down the missing son of European immigrants. Her investigation takes her from Sydney's top society to its dark underbelly. When people who Billie's questioned about the missing young man start turning up dead, Billie joins forces with Detective Inspector Hank Cooper, but will he prove to more of a hinderance than helpful? As the danger rises, Billie realizes it's not just the life of one man on the line and despite what many think, the war is far from over.

I had never read anything by Moss before, and while I liked it, I found it didn't fully capture my attention. I thought Billie was an interesting character to follow and she did come off as that strong-willed woman in a male dominated field. I liked how she pushed boundaries and made her own way in the world. That being said, I didn't feel like I fully connecting with her. The writing style also wasn't my favorite. It almost felt as if Moss used a whole lot of words to say very little. There were times I was just skimming through to get to the point. That being said, there were a few things I did enjoy such as the setting. It did feel very atmospheric and I thought Moss captured the time period very well. The mystery was satisfying and there were some aspects that I totally didn't see coming, which is always what you look for in these types of books. Overall, why I didn't fully love this, it did still have its moments.

A different take on WWII historical fiction that was much more mystery focused and occurring after the war. Billie made the whole book for me. A GREAT character.

3.5 STARS - The War Widow is a well-researched novel that dives deep into historical details of post-WWII Australia. It is within this vividly described backdrop that the detective mystery featuring Billie Walker is set. Billie is a female PI whose ideals and independent nature make her an interesting protagonist. She is a woman ahead of her time and finds herself constantly pushing the boundaries that society has set for her - boundaries which she has no use for, thank you very much.

I enjoyed the Australian setting and how the story focuses on several post-war issues and its sassy female protagonist who has an interesting pedigree, a mysterious past and a take no guff attitude. There is an impressive amount of research and historical detail and I particularly liked the issues relating to women's rights and the aftereffects of war. But at times the inclusion of detailed descriptions of clothing, furnishings and atmosphere felt heavy handed and took away from the building tension of the detective story. I also found the repetition of the plot a bit excessive as was the repeated use of the term 'little woman in her gut/tummy' - referring to Billie's gut instinct.

In this first installment, readers are introduced to several secondary characters who greatly added to the plot. I suspect (and hope) that a few (namely Sam, Hank and Shyla) will make appearances in future books so readers can get a better feel for them. I'm also interested in more details about Billie's life as a war reporter and her brief marriage to her MIA photojournalist husband, Jack.

This is a great pick for readers who love a strong female main character and a hearty dose of history along with their mystery (it reminded me a bit of the Sawbones series by Melissa Lenhardt). I appreciate how Moss weaves interesting and important historical issues into this mystery that has a compelling array of characters and a couple of nail-biting action scenes which culminate into an impressive start to a new series.


Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Dutton Books for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, private-investigators****

Investigator Billie Walker takes over her late father's private inquiry agency in Sydney after returning from her wartime job as a reporter in Paris in 1946 without her missing and presumed dead husband. A distraught mother wants Billie to find her missing teenage son. Along with her trusty assistant Sam they start looking into the boy's last known movements. Then the danger becomes much too threatening and personal.
The story is told in flashbacks and switchbacks, not my favorite format. But it well told. This is best read in long stretches to avoid continuity issues.
I requested and reviewed a free ebook copy from PENGUIN GROUP Dutton via NetGalley.

Private investigator Billie Walker is back in Sydney, Australia after working as a journalist in Europe during WWII. With no word yet from her husband Jack, Billie carries on her father’s business as a PI. Business is slow, but Billie takes on a missing person’s case. She and her assistant, Sam, are plunged into the seedy underground of Sydney society in their journey to solve this case. Filled with danger and twists and turns, Billie Walker is the fictional heroine we all need.
Thanks so much to Dutton Books for the copy of this novel! I couldn’t put it down! This novel was so fun and filled with adventure, and I already can’t wait to read more about Billie Walker’s adventures.

Sydney, Australia 1946. WWII is over and Billie Walker has come back from Europe to take over her father's business after his death and she is now a PI (Private Inquirer/Investigator). During the war Billie worked with her photo journalist husband who has since gone missing and presumed dead. Working as a PI, she has stepped into a man's world with very few women in this field. She is smart, astute, sexy and trusts her inner intuition. Right from the get-go we're thrown into what becomes more than a mystery with enough twists and turns to keep you glued to the book. Her client, Mrs. Brown has a 17 year old son who is missing...and we are assured he is a "good" boy. She takes on the missing person's case -- we are off to a story you can't put down. With supporting characters, including gangsters and thugs, we come upon murders and violence, but Billie is more than able to handle her own. Her trusty assistant/secretary Sam works with her in the office and in the field, a man injured in WWII, but nevertheless a "good looker" adds to the charming side of this novel.

With excellent character development, a host of outstanding supporting characters and attention to detail, this is a book you can't miss. Ms. Moss has given us a book that is filled with intrigue, excitement and a mystery that proves worthy of any current mystery book out on the marketplace today. This is the first book I've read by this author but it won't be my last.

My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Penguin Group/Dutton and Net Galley for providing me with a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
For her 11th novel, Canadian/Australian author Tara Moss, starts a new mystery series which focuses on Billie Walker. Billie is a female Investigation Agent in Sydney, Australia, and this book is set shortly after the end of World War 2. She is an anomaly because it appears she is the only female Investigation Agent in Sydney. Luckily for Billie, her dad had been a policeman and then quit to open this agency, and after his death Billie takes over the business.
There is a lot going on in this book, in addition to having us get acquainted with all the supporting characters, including her male secretary (a wounded war veteran), her mother and mother’s maid, and a reluctant but decent police detective. All of these characters play a big part in her case of trying to find a young man who has disappeared. It might seem to be a case that will be easy to resolve, but the deeper Billie gets into the investigation there are more layers to this case than first meet the eye.
As a side case, Billie is friends with an aboriginal girl named Shyla and we learn how the aboriginals were treated at that time – being torn apart from their families and placed in schools where they are taught how to be domestic servants for wealthy Australian families. Shyla’s friends, however, were placed at a location far from Sydney, kept incommunicado, and fearing for their safety Shyla asks Billie’s help in locating them.
The action takes place in a little over a week, as Billie pursues leads at a local Dance Club, a high class auction house and even travels over three hours away to the famed Blue Mountains of Australia. The action and adventure never stops, as Billie seems to go from the frying pan into the fire, literally, as she exposes the truth behind both the disappearance of the young man, as well as the missing aboriginal girls.
What also makes this book so different from others is its setting. So many books on World War 2 and its aftermath are set in Europe or America, and it is absolutely refreshing to see a novel, such as this, set in Australia which has been overlooked for decades as a site of fallout from that war. Billie, herself, was a journalist during the war and covered events in Germany and Austria, and while there she fell in love and married a photographer who he was taken captive. Billie has no idea if he is dead or alive, thus her mother declares Billie a “War Widow” like so many other women in Australia and throughout the world whose husbands either are MIA or killed and whose bodies are never identified. It is a difficult world for these ladies, and Billie Walker is a struggling survivor who seems destined to take us on many more adventures and mysteries.

Bottom Line: For fans of Tara Moss, Billie Walker is a wonderful new character and takes us through both some history and mysteries in the overlooked setting of Australia.
This review was previously published at www.mysteryandsuspense.com