“An Unlikely Spy” by Rebecca Starford is a historical novel set in the early days of WWII, and then in 1948, mostly in London. Although I love historical novels and tales of espionage, I found this offering sorely lacking.

Evelyn, a small town girl from modest circumstances is smart enough to gain scholarships to boarding school and Oxford and to get herself befriended by a very well-off, well-connected family. She moves to London and, through the family’s contacts, is hired by MI5 where, eventually, she works in counterintelligence against those seeking to align Great Britain with Nazi Germany. Early in the novel, we are led to believe a serious betrayal has taken place—which is the hook meant to keep us going.

Clearly, “An Unlikely Spy” has the makings for a cracking good story that keeps readers turning the pages. And author Starford knows how to put words on a page. Her sentences are clear and professional. You don’t feel as though you’re in the hands of a rank amateur, which is so often not the case these days.

But instead of a great story, “An Unlikely Spy” turned out to be a muddled, confusing tale that left me not caring very much about the characters, not learning anything about what it was like to live in war-time London, never believing anyone was in any real danger, and not wanting to read anything more by Ms. Starford.

The main problem, for me, was Evelyn. It’s tough to care about a character who is repeatedly described as cold and aloof and thinking of herself as better than others and who, by her actions, seems driven, not by any sense of patriotism or right and wrong, but by her own ambition and desire for meaning and excitement. And its tough to care about a character who continually complains about how tired and stressed she is; and who, while supposedly very intelligent, makes some pretty bad mistakes, including disobeying orders, her reasons for which just don’t make sense.

The structure of the novel is also problematic. To begin with, the first 40% consists almost entirely of set-up and backstory. Plot-wise, nothing much seems to happen and actual points of conflict—the stuff that keeps readers turning the pages—are few and far between. Indeed, during that first 40%, I felt like I was on a very slow plane moving down a very long runway wondering when-oh-when would it ever take off. The author’s choice to keep switching back and forth between 1940 and 1948, all the while continuing to set up and fill in backstory, often makes things very confusing.

And the reveal of the betrayal, the hook meant to keep us going, when we finally get to it, does not really hang together or make a lot of sense. I was left with the feeling: “I came all the way here for this?”

And not to nitpick, but near the beginning there’s a pretty huge historical inaccuracy. Evelyn turns to a friend and says about some people she doesn’t like: “Well you know what they say: ‘Keep your friends close …’” Unfortunately, that quote “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer,” originated with “The Godfather, Part II,” which came out in 1974, and thus could not have been what they were saying in the 1930s or 40’s.

All in all, “An Unlikely Spy” was very disappointing.

I love the cover, time period and description for Rebecca Starford's novel An Unlikely Spy, so I dove in head first and read every chance I could. Evelyn Varley is a bright and clever girl from a poor family in Lewes, She attends a school on scholarship, meeting her best and very wealthy friend. Evelyn goes on to Oxford and eventually is recruited by MI5, starting with office work and transcribing notes. She receives her first assignment in counterintelligence and must infiltrate a dangerous secret society allied with Germany. Posing as a Nazi sympathizer, she ultimately must choose between friendship and country.

This novel goes back and forth between 1940 and 1948, and despite my aptitude for WWII spy novels featuring female spies, I felt like I missed something through 80% of the story, sometimes swiping back to try to figure out that missing piece or detail. Without spoiling anything, there comes a point near the end where everything starts making sense--a huge, long aha. The author's note at the end explains how much of An Unlikely Spy was based on real people and real events, and I almost wish that was placed at the beginning.

All in all, An Unlikely Spy is a solid spy novel you will want to add to your TBR pile.

The cover is what drew me in from the beginning, everything in this book worked out really well. I loved the use of the time period and the characters.