What a stunning follow-up! This has all the charm of Ashley Weaver meets Foyle's War

I love Olive and Jamie and their burgeoning romance

I had the opportunity to interview Stephanie about this recent release on fb live:

https://www.facebook.com/rachkmc1/videos/999921573940498

Usually I always love the first book in a mystery series the most. But in this case, I thought this book was even better than the first one in the series. Olive has settled more into herself, and the slightly annoying qualities she had in the first book have toned way down. The mystery element was stronger and better plotted in this book. I think Stephanie Graves did an excellent job advancing Olive's personal life and relationship with Captain Aldridge and crafted a very satisfying mystery for us armchair sleuths to try to solve. The entire premise of this series is just so creative and well-researched and adds fascinating historical layers to the plot.

I highly recommend this series to fans of Susan Elia Macneil, Ashley Weaver, Anna Lee Huber, Charles Todd and Sara Rosett. I can't wait to see what Olive gets up to next!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending a free digital copy my way. All opinions are my own.

This novel is the second in a series, following on Olive Bright, Pigeoneer. This interesting historical mystery features an intrepid, occasionally naive heroine. The author highlights the important role that pigeons played in the war effort which adds an interesting twist to the tale. Think about the next time that you are annoyed by one of these city birds.

Olive is helping/hoping to transmit information that will help the Belgians via her birds when one of her military acquaintances is killed. Was it murder? Will Olive solve the case? Will her birds help the Resistance? Will Jamie and Olive manage to get along well enough to work together? Read the story to find out. Those who fancy cozy mysteries and WWII novels will enjoy this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pipley, Hertfordshire 16 August 1941.

Olive Bright is a twenty-two-year-old pigeoneer and would-be spy. In Olive Bright, Pigeoneer (Olive Bright Mystery #1) Captain Jameson Aldridge conscripted Olive and the Bright Lofts’ pigeons to help in the fight against the Nazis. Homing pigeons greatly aided the war effort on both sides of the Atlantic, making A Valiant Deceit historically accurate.

It had only been a few months since he’d shown up at her dovecote to assess her pigeons and her character. Upon inspection, he’d been seemingly unimpressed with both. In the end, he’d grudgingly enlisted her to work for a hush-hush government organization, one so secret it was known to insiders only as Baker Street. She’d been conscripted for Station XVII, in particular: the special training school for sabotage, housed at nearby Brickendonbury Manor.

Olive reports to intelligence officer Jamie Aldridge. Her training of the racing pigeons is covert so when she and Jamie spend time together in the countryside—getting the pigeons ready for their missions—the Pipley villagers wonder what’s up. To satisfy their curiosity, Jamie and Olive concoct a romance. Olive is ambivalent about being “tethered indefinitely to a make-believe relationship with her superior officer,” because truthfully, although she quite likes Jamie, the ruse is stifling her social life.

It is also stifling Olive’s ambitions to be trained as a spy. She has a good nose for suspicious activity and like her literary hero Hercule Poirot, she enjoys making lists of evidence. Because Olive endangered her life in Olive Bright, Pigeoneer, Jamie wants her to dial back her Mata Hari tendencies. Olive disagrees with him—she knows she has more to contribute to the war effort.

There’d been so many changes in the months since she’d ferreted out the murderer among them, and yet so much still remained the same. Like a child, she made a wish in the moment. A wish for something exciting, magical, and wonderful to happen to her.

Be careful what you wish for because something tragically exciting happens in nearby Balls Wood. During a ramble, a troop of Girl Guides discover the body of Lieutenant Jeremy Beckett. Jeremy was an instructor at Station XVII. After his demise, his top-secret status is not revealed to the public, and the police label his death accidental. Olive does not agree with the verdict. Based on clues she finds at the woodland scene, she’s sure a spy is amongst the crew at Brickendonbury Manor. Olive wonders how a spy might impact the mission of her precious pigeons. Might the Belgians who have been training in England to be underground agents be betrayed when they return to their homeland? “The German troops overran Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France in six weeks starting in May 1940.” It is poignant when the Belgians beg Olive for pigeons with Belgian ancestry. The Nazis destroyed countless Belgian dovecotes when they invaded—it’s personal. Olive is touched by their sincere patriotism and their willingness to partner with her.

All her efforts in breeding and training her birds increased the Belgians’ chances of undermining the Nazi war machine. Any message they carried home could be pivotal. These agents had placed their trust in her, and she was determined not to let them down.

If there’s a cat aka spy among the pigeons, Olive’s pigeons will be in danger once they land in Belgium. Olive is very skilled at picking up subtle clues and deciphering who doesn’t belong and why so she resents Jamie doling out information to her in a miserly fashion. How can she ferret out the spy if she’s not in the know?

When Olive is at home in Pipley, her pigeon-centered activities can’t be shared with her veterinarian father because she is bound by the Official Secrets Act. Everyone is involved with the war effort. There’s no sugar coating—a dreadfully burned young airman is recuperating in the village—and the village ladies are determined to raise his spirits by involving him to raise money for the war effort. It’s not just raising money-raising spirits is also vital to keep morale high in a war-torn world. It’s not surprising that the motto “Keep Calm and Carry On,” was created in 1939 by Britain’s wartime propaganda department.

Stephanie Graves’s author’s note resonates: “Historical fiction is constructed with a scaffolding of truth.” A sturdy foundation bolsters the fictional events of A Valiant Deceit. I liked the story for its historical accuracy and for the clever way Olive’s investigative techniques mirror the ways of Agatha Christie’s heroes. To put Olive’s age and place in the home front’s war effort in context, she, like Queen Elizabeth II, is a member of Great Britain’s fast-disappearing Greatest Generation. Their bravery and constancy are worth remembering and honoring.

t's 1941 in Hertfordshire, England, and Olive Bright has been asked by her superior officer, Capt. Jameson Aldridge to help the war effort by using her trained pigeons as messengers into Belgium. As Olive is out walking to think and make her decision, she comes across the Girl Guides who have discovered the body of Lt. Beckett. Once again, Olive can't miss playing detective and discovering the murder even if it means her own life may be in jeopard.

This is the second book in the Olive Bright mystery series, but it reads very well as a standalone. I loved the small town feel, and there were plenty of quaint characters to keep me interested. I thought the work of the pigeons and pigeoneers was very interesting to learn about, and it was a new twist on a World War 2 plot. This was a new-to-me author, so I would like to read book 1 in this series.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

A VALIANT DECEIT by Stephanie Graves, Kensington Books. Love book #2 in this fab WWII series about young Olive Bright, a pigeoneer also trained by FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry). Her pigeons help the Belgian resistance; the enticing tale also includes intrigue, murder, romance, and such an endearing protagonist. Out Jan 25.

Thanks to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.

#AValiantDeceit #NetGalley

Something's afoot at Station XVII, where Olive Bright is working as a FANY but really as a pigeoneer. It's WWII and Captain Jamie Aldridge has enlisted her pigeons to receive messages from saboteurs in Belgium. But, then the Girl Guides find Lt. Beckett murdered in the woods outside the village of Pipley and Olive funds she must solve the crime. There's also been a theft from the base- is that connected? What about the odd messages coming back from Belgium? Mixed in with the mystery is life on the Homefront- the pigs project, the vegetable garden, the WI, and the recovering soldiers. Then there's Olive's stepmother Harriett, who has MS, and Jonathan, the evacuee and all around helper. I very much enjoyed the first book but don't worry if you missed it- this will be fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Fans of historical mysteries and of the WWII Homefront genre will enjoy this one for the good storytelling, unique premise, and wonderful characters.

Bullets and bombs were not the only weapons in use during WW II. During war, information is extremely valuable and the distance between the British Isles and European mainland is very small in some locations.

Olive has been using and training pigeons for racing and sport. Small packets of information attached to a pigeon’s legs are usually undetectable. The birds were often dropped into enemy territory where vital troop movements and concentrations could then be sent back to England via these birds. Olive was very proud of her flock and their accomplishments.

She became very attached to her aviary friends and gave each of them a name. As they were shuttled into Belgium and France, she would look for them to return to their cages. The messages helped to win the war and protect some of the inserted spies and combatants.

Stephanie Graves added a valuable piece of war history and memorabilia to this entertaining tale. Her commanding officer is skeptical of the entire mission and continually questions her and her birds’ abilities to help in the war effort.

Grudgingly he admits to her accomplishments but keeps a close rein on her activities, as she tends to get herself into trouble with her constant delving into other people’s affairs. The story is fun and imaginative. I really enjoyed the author and her repartee between the characters. Overall, a very fun and engaging read. 5 stars - CE Williams

Firstly, I thought the book slow to get going but once it did it just took off. Olive is a Pigeoneer stationed at Station XVII. Olive is assigned to cpt Jamie Aldridge the ruse to be that they are a couple, an idea that grows on her. Olive is assisting with dropping the birds into Belgium to help the agents there in the work with the resistance.
When she is walking through Balls wood she comes across the guides who have found a man’s body. On inspection it is Lieutenant Beckett, the police are called to the scene and decide it’s a terrible accident but Olive is not convinced and decides to probe further putting herself in danger. Olive is fearless. It’s very interesting how the clues are solved along the way.



I found the book confusing to start with. In fairness to the author this was probably due to me not having read the first book as initially I hadn’t realised that there was one. I do apologise.

First, I want to apologize to the author. I didn't know there was a first book. I didn't pay attention when the book blurb sucked me in. I will be rectifying that after I am done with this review. Thankfully, she does an amazing job of giving this naive reader the information necessary to not get lost along the way as Olive finds herself knee deep in a mystery.

I had heard stories about the pigeoneers that helped the British in the war effort. I had even read a book on it in the past. A Valiant Deceit increased my knowledge while peeking my curiosity. I got a better understanding of how important the pigeons were in the war. Just what I want in a Historical Fiction.

Olive Bright is working with Captain Aldridge to use her pigeons as away to communicate with the Belgian Resistance. I loved how they have a relationship as a cover-up. I have never read such a slow-building romance. I don't even think they know what is going on. Some of my favorite moments were reading Jaime's irritations with Olive. AWESOME!!!!!

Captain Aldridge's irritations grow after Lieutenant Bennett is found floating in a creek. Olive, the amateur detective, can't keep her nose out of what was declared an accident. I can picture Jaime grasping his forehead in frustration.

I really enjoyed learning more about village life during the war. I enjoyed imagining all the women joining together the help in any way they can. The village has a military base close by where Olive and Jaime work.

My imagination went wild as I read about the going-ons of the FANYs. Olive's detective work gave me such insights into the offices and those that worked on the base. Olive gets herself into so many interesting situations. Holy Moly!!! She seems to be clueless about the possible dangers which makes for a fun read.

A Valiant Deceit is set during World War 2 in rural England with quirky characters that bring the book to life.

Olive and Jamie maintain their cover as Olive continues so to send her pigeons off on dangerous missions for all involved.

When an officer is found dead in the woods , Olive once again sets out to solve the case much to the chagrin of Jamie.

I love the Agatha Christie references and I followed the clever clues but was not as smart as Olive.

Although this book 2 in the series ( I had not read Book 1) you can easily follow the story and the characters.

I am eager to read the next book in the series and will be first in line.

Take time to read the author's notes on pigeons in the War , it was fascinating.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a great read and a series I will follow for hopefully a long time to come.

This is the second installment of a new historical mystery series centered around Olive, a 22-year-old woman living with her parents in the small village of Pipley during WW2. Her family’s racing pigeons have been conscripted by a nearby top-secret training base to serve in the war.

The body of a training instructor at the top-secret training base near her home (and where she serves as a FANY) is discovered in the nearby woods along with some possible clues that could indicate foul play. Olive suspects a spy at work, either the instructor or someone he found out. Could it be connected to the secret mission in place for which Belgian resistance agents (along with her pigeons) are risking their lives? And if so, is one of their own at Brickendonbury Manor (the location of the training facility) the spy/murderer?

A good follow-up to the initial book, with some good sleuthing on the part of our intrepid, tenacious pigeoneer. There are also more subtle hints of some “real” romance to come with her liaison Jamie. While I like and admire Olive, there is sometimes a fine line that she crosses in her nosiness and stubbornness that frustrates and annoys me. But I’m hoping this will happen a little less often as she becomes more involved/at ease with Jamie (and he with her).

My thanks to #NetGalley , #KensingtonBooks , and the author for providing me the free early arc of #AValiantDeceit for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Set in rural England during WWII, this is the second in the delightful Olive Bright series. The first book was immensely enjoyable so I was eager to read A Valiant Deceit and happily anticipate the next.

Olive Bright is a young woman eager to contribute her all to the war effort. As a passionate owner/trainer of racing pigeons, her new assignment is her wheelhouse...she is tasked with selecting her top three to provide aid to the Belgium resistance; discovering secrets and plans is crucial. Meanwhile, Lt. Jeremy Beckett is discovered dead, also Olive's wheelhouse (she fancies herself as a sleuth and uses her little grey cells as her hero Hercules Poirot did). However, there is more to the story in the form of Captain Jameson Aldridge with whom she has a unique relationship, feigning a romantic relationship when in certain circles. They enjoy a great deal of exasperating bickering and bantering.

Characters including Hen and Jonathon from Olive Bright, Pigeoneer return which made my heart glad. Stephanie Graves also writes in new characters seamlessly so there is a great blend of "old" character growth and "new" story lines and antics. Though not necessary to enjoy this book, I highly recommending the first for the pure joy of it.

My favourite aspect of the story is the fascinating carrier pigeon information and their important role in the war., an element which for me elevates the story to a 5 star. The murder mystery elements are fun as well. I did prefer Olive's character a tiny bit more in the first book.

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this treasure. If you seek a refreshingly clean and original Historical Fiction series, this is for you.

I enjoyed the first book in this series when I read it a year ago and have been looking forward to the next one ever since. It did not disappoint! I got the same comfortable feeling reading this book as I did the first, but some elements were different here.

While there was still very much a home front feel, Olive had more work to do for the war, so much of her time was spent with her fellow FANYs rather than with the townspeople. The mystery here seemed to have bigger stakes than the one in the first book, and I appreciated that. I loved Harriet, Jonathon, and Hen in the first book and was happy with there part in this one. As for the new character, Max, I really hope he's a part of the next book too.

Olive's relationship with Jamie was more complicated this time, and sometimes she acted too impulsively. Still, the same kind heart and faith in others was there.

And for a second time, I was surprised to be so caught up in the fate of the pigeons. I love that aspect of this series.

Looking forward to number three!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Kensington books for the early read.

Olive Bright and her pigeons are back and they have another mystery to solve. The mystery of murder of Lieutenant Beckett. With her usual barge in attitude Olive falls headfirst into the investigation of the murder. She elicits help from some of the other FANY members, while training her pigeons for their next mission as couriers during WWII. All of this while trying to hide her blooming feelings for Captain Jamie Aldridge and trying to hide everything from her father.
Even though some of Olive's escapades are a little far-fetched I enjoyed tis second book in the Olive Bright Pigeoneer series as much, maybe more than the first and am looking forward to the third. This mystery is filled with clues, red-herrings and a sprinkle of romance, a little something for everyone. It is a fast paced cozy mystery good for a Sunday afternoon read!
Thank you to Kensington Books and Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series and I liked this one even more.

Olive Bright is a FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry), but also a pigeoneer, secretly training her pigeons to carry messages and intelligence to help the allies during WWII. To help maintain her cover, she’s pretending she’s engaged to Captain Jaime Aldridge, even though Olive has unrequited feelings for him.

The mystery of the book is who killed a Lieutenant, who had a coded message with him. Olive starts to investigate why he was killed, sometimes enlisting the help of her fellow FANYs. She also has to pick her first set of pigeons to carry out their mission, all while hiding it from her father.

Olive is determined, smart and brave. The only thing I really didn’t always like about Olive is her ability to act first, sometimes defying direct orders, and thinking about the consequences later. Overall, she seems to be turning into a good sleuth. I continue to enjoy the theme of training pigeons, it adds a different look to WWII historical fiction. I’m looking forward to seeing what may happen between Olive and Jaime’s possible relationship too.

I’m absolutely looking forward to the next book in the series and I recommend this book along with book one to anyone who likes historical mysteries.

A mystery with a glimpse into using pigeons during WWII.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed the investigation and more action in finding Lieutenant Beckett's killer. Some of the clues that helped identify the killer were well thought out and placed perfectly. I felt like it took a little bit to get going since the beginning had me really trying to figure out the main plot points since I didn't quite know how the pigeons and other characters fit in.

Olive and Jamie's relationship was complicated, but I felt they played off eachother well. I think that some of Olive's actions were a bit far fetched and wouldn't fly in a real situation. She was a bit too much of a loose cannon.

I really liked the book in the end once it got going into a lot of the clues and I got past the slow start.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

I was very excited to read this sequel to “Olive Bright, Pigeoneer,” which I enjoyed immensely and awarded 4 stars. I also gave “A Valiant Deceit” 4 stars but felt it was actually worth 3 1/2. The characterizations in particular are well-done: Olive is well-described as are her commanding officer Captain Jamie Aldridge, the Women’s Institute members as well, but my favorites are the loveable evacuee Jonathon and his good friend Hen (Henrietta). All have character quirks that are generally enjoyable and play a role in the narrative. I could imagine them all clearly.

The story revolves around solving the death of a Lieutenant Beckett, whose body is found in Balls Wood. There are many clues to be explored, some meaningful, some not. Olive takes on a very active role in investigating his death, sometimes ignoring the instructions of Captain Aldridge. She elicits information from her sister FANYs and others in ways that cause her superior to become “grumpy” in her eyes and order her to stand down. She consistently ignores or stretches his rules, i.e., is insubordinate. In my eyes, as a retiree professional from “the business,” I found Olive a “loose cannon” in the way she ignores orders and jeopardizes others, sometimes causes untoward events, and is annoyed when Jamie calls her out. In real-life, she would have been let go from her duties.

Nevertheless, the story is entertaining in the way the murderer/spy is uncovered and overall a good read.

My thanks to #Netgalley and #Kensington Books for an advance copy of this book.

I was delighted to be offered this as an advance reader copy, the second book in the Olive Bright series, which I enjoyed much more than the Barnes & Noble-marketed "Poppy Redfern" series, which has a similar theme (young British woman during the second World War who wants to do her bit). I really enjoyed the first book, OLIVE BRIGHT, PIGEONEER, and have just bought a hardcopy!

In this entry, Olive must pick out three pigeons to accompany three Belgian informants being smuggled into occupied Europe; the birds will be vital in sending back information about the Belgians' efforts to mislead and sabotage the Nazi war effort. The Belgians are all pigeon fanciers, reassuring Olive that even though the birds will be in danger from enemy fire, they will be well cared for. She also has to cope with the pretend romance she's set up with her superior, Captain Jameson Aldridge, which she feels doesn't look realistic enough. Then one of the officers at the top-secret Station XVII facility is found murdered in a nearby wood. Olive can't help wondering who killed the young man, although Aldridge warns her off.

If anything, this is better than the first book because the storyline is now established and the missions involving the pigeons can be begun. There's also an affecting subplot involving RAF officers who have been disfigured in plane crashes undergoing rehabilitation at what once was Miss Husslebee's home (she was the victim in the first book). Olive befriends one of the pilots and is determined that these men be reintroduced into society without people making unkind comments about their appearance. Even though Olive makes one serious mistake, her instincts are sound, especially about the pigeons and their handlers.

“A Valiant Deceit” by Stephanie Graves paints an interesting picture of the how women were able to get into the war effort during World War II. The main character, Olive Bright, is a member of the F.A.N.Y. (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry) who is also a budding sleuth in the fashion of an Agatha Christie novel. She is also a keeper of homing pigeons in her area of England. During this time, it is very hard for women to be taken seriously in “real” work outside of being a secretary or nurse. Olive is determined to help change this.

Olive, because of her skills with the birds including their breeding and training, is a fringe player in the British/Allies using them to be dropped into Europe so intelligence can be “flown” back to England on the Nazi efforts on the Continent. She has a cover story that she is romantically involved with one of the British Army officers, Jameson (Jamie) Aldridge. She actually does have feelings for him that seem to always be unrequited on his part.

The story, based on history, has a lot of twists and turns and involves some explosives being stolen, a murder of a young lieutenant all of which seem to point to a spy having infiltrated the area. Of course, Olive wants to be in the thick of things and ferret out the culprit or culprits. You get to follow her logic of who it must be and why.

Not until the very end does it become totally clear who it might be and this only after a Nazi bombing raid, an attempted murder, and a few other intervening activities. Olive is required to put all her survival and detective skills to work to make sure that the spy does not keep sending information back to handlers in Germany.

The story starts rather slowly and seems to be in what I term English slowness but as the reader progresses through the story it becomes better and better. So, if one is a bit put off at first, please keep at it –it will be better!!

The historic nature of this story is also inspiring to read, and the author does a great job in the “Author’s Note” at the end describing what is fully true and where she took some liberties for the sake of the story. A most enjoyable book.