NOTE: I received early access to this manuscript in exchange for writing an impartial review. Thank you netgalley and Avon Books. Scheduled Publication: November 1, 2022.

One of the most suspenseful and engrossing historical fiction books I've read in years.

HER LAST BETRAYAL is Irish author Pam Lecky's sequel to HER SECRET WAR (2021), which I have not read yet. But will now. Each book stands alone though I did discover a lot of what happened in the first book by reading the second. I recommend reading #1 BEFORE #2 because I wish I could have witnessed the story unfolding sequentially. Now, though difficult, I will make sure my review below AVOIDS spoilers -- for BOTH books.

The entire book takes place between mid December 1941 and mid February 1942 -- most of action over the last 18 days. At the center of this historical novel about World War II is Sarah Gillespie, the adult daughter of a dedicated Irish Republican. Sarah is asked to help the British government's war effort by participating in some espionage work.

Unfortunately, she winds up being partnered with a nightmare of a more experienced American naval officer, Lt. Tony Anderson. A chauvinist at heart, he doesn't miss a single opportunity to question Sarah's competence or demean her. So, establishing trust between the two as they head into potentially dangerous work looks like an impossible goal.

As the plot unfolds, and despite their personal issues, Tony and Sarah are both dedicated to getting the job done. Their story is fresh and mostly unpredictable, with imaginative twists and turns. Because, after all, in espionage work, you can't always know WHO you can trust?

A fast, enjoyable read I recommend, especially to all World War II enthusiasts.

This isn't a bad WWII espionage novel, but it's not a great one either. The first few chapters do so much telling and so little showing, they could have been written by Basil Exposition. For someone who's supposed to be so clever, the protagonist carries the idiot ball one too many times for my liking, and the romance element is the ultimate in predictable. Some of the dialogue is wonderful, however, and the pacing snappy. This is a sequel, which excuses some of the introductory exposition, but I didn't enjoy it enough that I want to read the first installment. If you like your spy novels on the light side, however, this may do you nicely.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper 360, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable WWII spy story, second in a series. I like Pam Lecky’s other books, though I had not read the first in this series. I found I didn’t need to have read it to understand this one because Lecky gives enough of the background. Sarah faces danger and personal tragedy as she helps MI5 track down her father, who is involved in an IRA plot that overlaps with German war aims. The plot moves quickly, and Sarah’s relationship with her new partner is intriguing. The ending relies on quite a coincidence, but a thoroughly enjoyable book overall.