Member Reviews
A very good idea for a story and it was told with minimum fuss, however I don’t think there was much attention to detail.
I will read Pam Lecky books again, but my expectations will not be high.
After losing her family to a Nazi bomb attack back home in Ireland, Sarah Gillespie joins the British Secret Service to bring them justice. Partnered with American undercover agent Lieutenant Tony Anderson, Sarah embarks on s dangerous mission that takes her from war-torn London into the black mountains of Wales. But when one of her team is revealed to be a German mole, and enemies begin to close in, what price will Sarah have to pay to save her country - and herself?
There's lots of information about the IRA and their dealings with the Nazis. Sarah is working for MI5. Her father was involved with the IRA. Sarah is trying to come o terms with the disappearance/presumed death of her boyfriend. She is partnered with an American Intelligence Officer, Lieutenant Tony Anderson. I liked that we were learning about the Irish perspective during WWII. The pace is steady throughout with elements of danger, secrets, suspense and betrayal. I did enjoy this book a little more than I did the previous book in the series, Her Secret War, even though they were both good books to read. Do yourself a favour, if you haven't already, read the books in the order they are written in. You won't be disappointed.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUk and the author #PamLecky for my ARC of #HerLastBetrayal in exchange for an honest review.
The Mission
Exciting and suspenseful this story is a fast paced page turner. Espionage, spies and danger all around. Even when you don't know if you can trust your partner on a mission...who can you trust?
Once again we join the Irish girl from the tracing factory Sarah Gillespie on another dangerous mission for the British secret service. She is sent to Wales paired with an obnoxious American Lt. Tony Anderson. She soon learns there is a mole on the team, but who could it be? Is it Anderson or someone else?
We follow her on her mission through close calls, faked identities, and even a bit of romance. She's sassy, independent and always gets herself into trouble. Dodging bullets, following spies and working undercover she brings a lively and spirited presence to the story.
I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Pam Lecky for writing an enjoyable story, to Avon books U.K. for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.
I wasn't aware that this was a sequel, but not reading the first novel didn't detract from my reading enjoyment. Yes, this is yet another WWII historical fiction, but it comes at it from a unique (at least to me) vantage point, the IRA's involvement in pro-Nazi activities. Was entertained and also felt like I learned a little. Recommended
HER LAST BETRAYAL
by Pam Lecky
Avon Books UK, Avon
Pub Date: Apr 14
Her Last Betrayal is a compelling sequel in the WWII series about Irish-born Sarah Gillespie, forced to become an MI5 agent to help track down her father, an IRA member suspected of aiding pro-Nazi sympathizers in the UK.
She's paired with Lieutenant Tony Anderson, an American spy, and together they undertake a hazardous assignment that covers embattled London and the Welsh mountains. Only Sarah finds herself deeply suspicious, even of Tony, with whom she begins to feel something more than collegiality.
What I especially love about this series is the Irish vantage point of the war, nearly unique in the genre, and so beautifully handled. The character development is strong and true, and I found the action-packed narrative held my attention. I wanted to know if Sarah and Tony would identify her father as an enemy, what the impact would be if he were caught, and if Tony could, indeed, be trusted.
Can't wait for the next book in this absorbing series!
Thanks to Pam Lecky, Avon Books UK, Avon, and NetGalley for the digital ARC. All opinions are mine.
#HerLastBetrayal #PamLecky #AvonBooksUk #NetGalley #IrishWWIIfiction
#IRAinWWII #historicalfictionnovels #bookstagramcommunity
Sarah is a Mi5 operative during the Second World War. She is Irish but very good at her tasks for the secret service. This is not the first time Sara is involved in an adventure but you don’t need to have read the first as this one can stand on its own. However her last betrayal is so exciting and well written that you will want to read the first adventure Sarah had. In her last betrayal Sarah has to work with an American to find out if Sarah’s traitorous IRA father is still alive and if so what problems he poses for the British war effort. We soon realise along with Sarah that he is but it is such a well constructed story it keeps you guessing right until the end. Sarah has lost her love but will the American secret agent become closer to her if there is another story about her and I hope there is. The role of the Ira in the Second World War has not been covered in many stories so Pam Lecky has presented the situation really well. It has been well researched and told. This is an exciting spy story set the dangerous time of war.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I invariably gravitate to WWII era novels and was very excited to read this one. However, I have to be honest, the story did not resonate with me at all. I found the story did not draw me in at all. Perhaps, it is because I found the premise improbable.
Although this novel didn't work for me, I appreciate the opportunity to read it.
A gripping and thrilling tale about one woman’s bravery in WW2 Britain. The writing was INCREDIBLE! I’ve never highlighted so many sections of a book before, but there were just so many beautifully written passages that I knew I indeed to save to come back to.!
This was a good and entertaining read! I had read the first novel Her Secret War, had enjoyed it and when I saw the next book as an ARC on NetGalley, I quickly requested it! In this second novel, we meet Sarah again as an M15 agent looking for her IRA father for revenge.... I learned quite a lot about IRA doings with the Nazis, which I was not aware of! A lot of action, with many questions answered only at the conclusion evolved in a very good plot. Romance is in the air (for me a bit too much!), the two main characters involved were predictable in that regard, but did not disturb the story line. I will definitely read more books written by Pam Lecky!
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this novel for free in exchange for an honest review!
Her Last Betrayal is a historical fiction book about Sarah, an Irish woman who gets roped into working for MI5 during the war, due to her father's involvement in the IRA and potential collaboration with the Nazis. I didn't realize until I was fairly well into the book that it's a sequel, I still enjoyed it but probably would have more if I'd read the first one. Sarah, reeling from the disappearance and presumed death of her boyfriend and the news of her father's betrayal, goes from being a naive girl to a talented and worldly spy, and is partnered with an American intelligence officer - but can she trust him? It's a little unrealistic how quickly her transition is, but it's fun to read. At some point I'll go back and check out the first one.
“Ireland might still be neutral, but Sarah Gillespie was not.”
Author Pam Lecky’s unique lens with which to view WW2 allows her historical fiction to stand above many others in the same genre. When we think of wartime fiction, Ireland and the IRA rarely, if at all, enters our thoughts. The sequel to Her Secret War, this narrative continues with Sarah Gillespie’s story. She now works for MI5 alongside US Naval Intelligence officer and undercover agent, Lieutenant Tony Anderson as they track down IRA members who are helping British fifth columnists and Abwehr agents enter and exit the UK. Her dangerous missions created tense moments as one of the team is revealed to be a German mole.
Although I didn’t care for the girly sections with her cousin Judith and friend Gladys, I did note that they were important in Sarah’s character arc. I loved following the development of Tony and Sarah’s relationship; finally, an author who shows us that not all relationships are love at first sight.
Full of suspense, betrayal, secrets and danger, this sequel has a wider scope than the previous one. Yes, it’s about espionage and yes, it’s about the wartime experience, but it’s also about learning to cope with stress and loss as well as learning to rely on close friends and learning to balance work with romance. I don’t think Lecky has completely mined this untapped part of wartime history and I suspect we’ll see more of Sarah and or Ireland’s role in wartime history. I sure hope so, as she has created a niche for herself with a unique setting and descriptive, tension filled prose. I’m sure I’m not the only one who believes this author could write great mysteries or thrillers.
I was gifted this advance copy by Pam Lecky, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Another great book by Ms Lecky! Couldn’t wait for this sequel to Her Secret War and really hope there will be more parts to the series.
The story follows on from Sarah’s life in Her Secret War. Sarah has travelled to London to join the MI5 in the hunt for her father. She is out for revenge for her sister, her ma and herself.
There is a new character introduced Tony Anderson, an American serviceman on secondment to MI5. Sarah and he become partners in the hunt for her father and their initial dislike for each other soon changes.
There is so much to like about this book- the espionage and spy rings with the intrigue and mystery; the camaraderie between all the workers within MI5; the sisterly relationships with Sarah’s cousin Judith and her friend Gladys; and the growth of Sarah’s character throughout the story.
A really enjoyable read.
This is a great book for spy lovers. A novice MI5 is paired with an American who has previous experience.
It is personal for Sarah Gillespie, because it is her father they are after. Intrenched in the IRA, Joe Gillespie will side with anyone whom he believes will aid his cause, even the Nazis.
The story is well written, full of suspense, betrayal, and suspicion as the spies wonder just who is a double agent and who they can trust.
I wanted to like this book so much more than I did.
Maybe it's because I got this as an ARC from NetGalley and it has yet to be formatted and edited but I felt like the reading was very jumbled. Language seemed stilted and all over the place.
The story itself is decent. I feel like it wasn't fully fleshed out like it could have been, though, and even with all that the ending left you kind of hanging. I think this might be a second book with this main character so I am guessing that is why I was struggling with this one, and also probably why the ending is so open.
Lots of potential but also leaves much to be desired.
"Ireland might still be neutral, but Sarah Gillespie was not."
This book was so so soooo much better than the first one and I've read it in less than a day. It was a total page turner and I've enjoyed it immensely, really looking forward to any other future installments from this series.
"Sarah smiled sadly, welcoming back the old bedfellow: revenge. It was all that was keeping her going."
After agreeing to work for MI5, Sarah moves to London where she gets the chance to form a better connection with her cousin Judith and to continue the friendship she had developed with Gladys, as she also chooses to follow Sarah to England's capital. After a short training with MI5, she and her new partner, Tony Anderson, are sent to Wales for a secret mission where Sarah learns to question everything and everyone, especially after discovering a mole in their midst.
It's not only a book about espionage during the WW2, but also about dealing with loses, understanding love and finding friendship and comfort even when everything seems hopeless.
"Life would be easier if the baddies wore badges, wouldn't it?"
I liked a lot Sarah's relationship with Gladys and Judith. It was a nice touch that lightened the atmosphere and it portrayed a beautiful female friendship between the three girls, showing how, even in times of war, life goes on and things have to follow their natural course. It was funny and light, with girlish scenes and talks.
'I even contemplated burning some of your awful dresses.'
'You would be doing me a favour.'
'I aim to please,' Gladys said with a bow.
Something that definitely heated thing up a bit was the new character: Tony Anderson. Completely opposed to working together, despising each other and exchanging taunts constantly, they were not really an enemies to lovers trope came alive but close enough. It was beautifully written, the way their relationship evolved from deep mistrust and competitiveness to admiration, respect and maybe the tiny blooms of love. Their story is definitely not over and I'm wondering if the author meant to leave us with an open ending or if more books will follow.
'We have to grab happiness when we find it.'
'Are you always this philosophical when you drink brandy?' she asked, when what she really wanted to ask was had he found any happiness with her.
The best part of the book, however, was Sarah herself. She really did evolve a lot, the war giving her tougher skin and sharpening her instincts and wits. She may have lost her innocence, but, even after everything she went through, she still kept a way of believing in goodness, even when learning to look at everything with caution.
"At this rate, working for MI5 was going to destroy her fate in human nature. Trusting anyone was proving to be a fool's game."
Something I didn’t like was the death of a certain character, who will not be named. It was an important enough character in the first book to make this sudden death feel rather pointless and cruel, meant just as another blow at Sarah. But it also gave me the impression the author wasn't sure what to do with the character, that it had outlived its usefulness and death was the quickest option. Just my personal feelings on this matter, but I'm still hoping for a plot twists in future books where I'm proven wrong about this.
'So, what kind of day have you two had?'
Judith laughed. 'Dull as dishwater!'
'Boring as hell!' Sarah joined in.
'You two have been up to mischief, I can just feel it.'
It's a great quick read, with emotions and strong character, spying, plot twists and betrayal at the very center of things. Very enjoyable and definitely worth a chance.
I didn't realise this was the second in a series but I found it can be easily read as a stand-alone. I found it interesting and well written.
Just as good as the first book! I hope there are more adventures with Sarah to come as she navigates through WWII as a spy for England and finds her happy ending.
I didnt realise that this was a sewuel so I read this as a standalone and it took nothing away from the story. I really enjoyed this book, it is set in a period of history that is heavuly written about and yet this didnt feel like recycled material. It was a fresh interesting storyline that was well written with well developed characters. I really enjoyed this book.
This book was sent to me for review by Netgalley…war torn nation…mystery and intrigue…female protagonist who wants to help…friends…the setting is familiar in WWII books…enjoy this one.
HER LAST BETRAYAL by PAM LECKY follows on after Her Secret War, but it can easily be read as a stand alone. It is a gripping story of courage. Sarah Gillespie has been seconded to MI5 in London to try and find her father, an avid member of the IRA, and stop him before he does any more harm.
She and American naval Lieutenant Tony Anderson are sent into Wales, disguised as Dougie Fisher and his secretary Catherine Cavendish, to check out the munitions factory at Glascoed and find Jim Gillespie and his sidekick Jenny McGrath who were last seen in Wales.
With a bad start to her relationship with Anderson, German moles in MI5, and the war generaly bringing out the worst in human nature, Sarah does not know who to trust.
It is good to come across characters from the first novel, for example Sarah’s bubbly friend Gladys and her cousin Judith, who works for the Home Office and has troubles of her own. I like the author’s portrayal of emotions and her understanding of the pressures of war torn Britain in 1942 and 1943.
I am not going to tell you any more as I do not want to spoil things for you. It is a great read for anyone who enjoys WW11 stories.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Avon Books. The opinions in this review are completely my own.