I was enthralled by this book from the very first chapter. Evelyne Redfern, “The Parisian Orphan” as she was labeled by the press, is the daughter of a beautiful French mother and a rakish British aristocrat who rarely had a place in Evie’s life. With the start of World War II, Evie took a job at a munitions plant and did her part for the British war effort. Then everything changed when an old friend of her parents, Mr. Fletcher gave her a very special job. She was to become a typist in a very classified group who worked for Winston Churchill’s government in a bunker deep under Whitehall Palace. She would spend her time working and living in the very classified Cabinet War Room, or CWR, trying to uncover the source of the leaks that have provided Hitler’s army with important data.

Within days of beginning her new job, Evie discovers the murdered body of one of her fellow secretaries, Jean. As a fan of mystery novels, Evie decides to find a murderer who must be one of the closed society of people living and working in the CWR. That led her into to meet and join forces with David Poole, an undersecretary in the Office of Information, who is also looking to plug the leaks.

What follows is a wonderful, well laid out journey to find both Jean’s murderer and the traitor or traitors who were sending classified data to Britain’s enemy. One of the keys to a great mystery is to have a closed society with a limited number of suspects. Setting this novel in the midst of the London Blitz of 1940 would normally make this task difficult, but the CWR was great. But while it limited the number of suspects, the pool of possibilities leaves the reader with a broad canvas of players to keep track of.

I loved this book and highly recommend it! Miss Redfern and Mr. Poole make a great team and the really good news is that this has all the makings of the first book of many with the two of them as characters in it. This reader certainly hopes so!

A Traitor in Whitehall is the first book in Julia Kelly's historical mystery series Parisian Orphan. If I had to give a one-word review, it would be "Squeeeeeeeeeeee!" (That's a word, right?) Historical mystery & thrillers may very well be my favorite genre now, and I'm thrilled to have a brand-spanking-new series to follow. This first volume had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

Evelyne Redfern was known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, after she lost her beloved glamorous mother, and her globetrotting father had no time for her and took off on adventures. Now in 1940 wartime London, she works in a munitions factory, which is both nerve wracking and dull as dirt. One evening out, Evelyne runs into Mr. Fletcher, an old friend of her father's, and suddenly finds herself working in Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms as a secretary in the typing pool! Evelyne's new role, however, gets off to an inauspicious start when she finds a co-worker who was murdered. Evelyne is determined to use all of her amateur sleuthing skills to find the killer. Her investigation is hindered by David Poole, an alleged minister's aide, whose true goal is rooting out a mole selling government secrets to Britain’s enemies. The two reluctantly begin working together to find the traitor. Will Evelyne be able to find the killer, root out blackmailers, survive the Blitz and work with a very attractive man before it's too late to save England?

I just loved everything about this story! Evelyne is such a terrific, likable and well-rounded character. I was tickled pink that she was a dedicated reader like me. She had to have a book ready to go at all times. Who wants to get stuck in a bomb shelter with nothing to read?! Evelyne especially adored mysteries and preferred those written by Brits. (David, however, argued that American mysteries were superior.) Her fondness for mysteries really seemed to give her insights into what to look for in her investigations. She was smart, witty, resourceful and a good friend. Her best friend was Moira, with whom she attended boarding school; she lived in a boarding house with her when she wasn't sleeping in the Dock of the cabinet war rooms. She occasionally liked to go out, but really preferred to read. (Yep, loved this girl!) She was very close to her mother and loved her dearly. Her father? Not so much. He left Evelyne in the care of her Aunt Amelia, who put her through school. I'd like to know more about Amelia; methinks she's got a bit of a secret past! I simply adored David! He was a good foil for Evelyne. At first he presented himself as a minister's aide, but eventually had to reveal himself as an investigator as he attempted to root out a traitor. At first Evelyne and David preferred not to work with each other, especially David. However, he eventually had to acknowledge that Evelyne was clever and had a knack of getting people to talk, and she had good instincts. They were good alone, but worked better together. It was eventually revealed that he was MUCH more than he appeared. I loved the chemistry between them...here's hoping there's an eventual romance! The supporting characters were entertaining; they all appeared to be keeping secrets. The mystery was well plotted, but I don't want to give anything away! This was an excellent beginning of the series, and I can't wait to revisit Evelyne as she starts her new job with David. If you're a historical mystery fan, you'll be in heaven!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Assigned to find a traitor during WWII, Evelyn is an amateur detective who’s teamed up with David Poole in Whitehall. This mystery has a host of interesting characters and I enjoyed learning about everyone’s motives as the plot twisted and spun around. A definite page turner for anyone who loves mysteries and historical fictions.

Thank you Minotaur Books for the gifted ARC!

This is a great historical fiction. Evelyne Redfern is willing to do her part to aid the war effort. She is placed in Whitehall to find a traitor. David Poole is on special assignment in Whitehall. Together they make a formidable investigative pair. The story is interesting and has wonderful characters that will keep you guessing as to their motives. The setting adds to the mystery of the story. As the start to a series the author has given readers a lot to anticipate in the upcoming books.

I absolutely loved A Traitor in Whitehall, and I’m so happy that it’s a series! Historical mystery books, especially those set in WWII, are some of my favorites. It’s sort of a cozy mystery in that Evelyne is an amateur “detective”, but there is one f word near the very end…important to know if you don’t want that in books you read.

Evelyne is extremely intelligent, quick-witted, and observant. David has those same characteristics, and he’s quite handsome, something Evelyne’s fellow typists are quick to point out.

This book really kept me turning the pages. I had to find out who the killer was…I was right. If you enjoy historical mystery books, I think you will enjoy A Traitor in Whitehall.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

A great history/mystery that centers around WW2 London and a stellar main detective. Evelyne was clever and brilliant without being obnoxious, there were actually several laugh out loud moments, and it felt like a good mystery that was thought out and carefully constructed.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

My favorite genre is historical fiction and I was looking forward to reading the novel. Historic fiction generally focused on WWII and the location often in Germany. Interestly, this novel is centered in 1440 England, during the Blitz.The novel could be both historical history and a cozy mystery. The duality opens the pool of readers.

Evelyne Redfern, was a strong and independent young woman. She was asked to be a part of the typing pool housed into an underground bunker. As a result, Evelyn was asked to pay attention to any and all that may occur. Most often, Evelyn was asked to over hear all discussion and report to Mr. Faylon, the Assistant Secretary to the Minister of War, the assignment was to mainly listen to any information mentioned concerning Winston Churchill.

Jean Plinkton who was also in the typing pool was found dead in a room “the body’ Was this a crime of passion? Evelyne was labeled an amature detective, she was aware of what was going around her.

From the first chapter, the novel held my attention. The characters are engaging, especially Evelyne, she was an intelligent and strong female heroine. Although there was a lot to unpack in the story, it does distract from the story.

Thank you Julia Kelly, Minotaor Books, NetGalley for the privilege of reading the novel.

A Traitor in Whitehall is a good start to a new series by this talented author. Set in one of my favorite historical periods, full of intrigue, espionage, danger, murder and relationships between people that are not always what they seem. Women who are pushed out of their comfort zones and learn they are remarkably brave, strong and capable. References to actual figures in history like Winston Churchill that bring depth to the story.

Evelyne Redfern has barely gotten past the notoriety of being “The Parisian Orphan” and has settled into a boring job supporting the war effort, living in cramped but acceptable lodgings with her roommate and friends. Out of nowhere an old friend of her father’s swoops in and recruits her for a hush-hush position which on the surface is merely a secretary but is really to be “the eyes and ears” in the world of Prime Minister Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.

A Traitor in Whitehall is fast-paced and populated with interesting characters, taking Evelyne from the drudgery of her old job to an exciting though dangerous position right in the middle of things. She doesn’t know who she can trust and when one of her co-workers is mysteriously murdered things heat up. Everybody seems suspicious, especially newcomer David Poole, a minister’s aide who seems determined to butt heads with her and disrupt her investigative progress at every turn. But is there also some attraction there?

Thanks to St. Martin’s Minotaur MacMillan for providing an advance copy of A Traitor in Whitehall via NetGalley. I enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in the series. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this delightful mystery!

The story is set in London during World War 2, just as the Blitz is beginning. Evelyne Redfern is the main character. She is the Parisian Orphan - but that happened long before the war began. Now she is a young woman, living in a London boarding house with her best friend, Moira, and doing her bit for the war effort by working in a munitions factory. One evening when she and Moira are out on the town, she runs into an old friend from her past. He asks her where she's working and - since loose lips sink ships, etc. - Evelyne is properly vague. He hands her his card and asks her to come for an interview for a more interesting job. Her interview is slightly bizarre - she can tell she is being tested - but she ends up working in the typing pool at Whitehall - Churchill's top secret war organization. And soon after that, one of her co-workers is rather gruesomely murdered and Evelyne is the first person to stumble upon the body. A rather avid fan of British mysteries, Evelyne is quite intrigued with tracking down the murderer. Soon she is working alongside David Poole to not only find the murderer but also the mole who is leaking secrets from Whitehall to Germans! Between their investigation and the German bombs falling out of the sky, there's a lot going on!

Despite the seriousness of the crime and the leaking of sensitive information, this was a fun book. I liked Evelyne and I'm interested in learning more about her and the rest of her family - her intriguing aunt and her deadbeat father. Plus to find out what sort of relationship develops between Evelyne and the dashing Mr. Poole!

This reminded me a bit of the Electra McDonnell series by Ashley Weaver. I am looking forward to a second book!

A Traitor in Whitehall is a super fun read. It is one that you will find hard to put down. Trust me, I found myself annoyed when I had to stop reading because of life. I had to know what was going to happen next.

Evelyne Redfern is a young woman from a well-connected family. She grew up with the world, especially in England, knowing her family’s story. But instead of hiding who she was, she owned it. There are times that Evelyne feels a bit immature or naïve, but she grows throughout the book and uses her experiences to help in the investigation.

David Poole is a handsome man that Evelyne is warned to stay away on her first day at the job. Within a few days, the two are working together to solve their separate investigations. There are plenty of will they won’t they kiss moments, and I can’t wait to read more in the series to see their relationship grow.

Do you enjoy reading historical fiction? What about starting a new series? Or books featuring characters that enjoy reading? What about reading mysteries? If you’ve answered yes to any, and especially all, then you should give A Traitor in Whitehall a read!

A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly is one cozy mystery that the main character would have loved to have read. Instead she was living it and at times it was much more dangerous than cozy. Still it is an exciting WWII “Loose lips sink ships” mystery with an brief appearance by a major historical figure.

With a dead body found in an unlikely place right at the beginning by Evelyne Redfern, it is an attention-grabbing story. While it is cozier than thrilling it is a captivating read. Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child and the enigmatic David Poole team up after a while. These two together are simply charming and yet very effective in catching guilty parties thus doing their part in winning the war. I look forward to more from them along with a deepening development of their professional and personal relationship.

Fans of Anne Perry’s Elena Standish series will want to read A Traitor in Whitehall. It is a wonderful cozy mystery bringing into light the many who strived to help defeat Nazi. It is a marvelous, yet not gory story of the cleverness and bravery of unsung heroes.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story takes place in the early stages of the European WWII in England. Secret information is being leaked to Germany. This is how the traitor is tracked down. Enjoyable story.

A zippy start to what looks like a new historical mystery series! Set in the War Rooms just as the Blitz starts, it pairs Evelyne, a young woman with a tragic backstory, and David Poole, a man of mystery and together they find both a murderer and the source of a dangerous leak of British war information to the Germans. Evelyne is intrepid and smart and you like me might wonder about why exactly Mr Fletcher tracked her down (perhaps this will be explained in a subsequent book). Poole's got a quick mind and a secret. There are a couple of plot holes (the murdered colleague was supposed to be delivering papers but to who and none were found with her body) but no matter- I was thoroughly caught up in the story, which kept me guessing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is nicely atmospheric and complex- a good read for mystery fans.

Historical fiction books that are set in WWII are some of my favorites to read. And Julia Kelly has done an excellent job with this one. When I originally started listening to the audiobook version, I had no idea it was the first in a series. But this one was so good that I will look forward to reading additional books. I loved the Agatha Christie style of murder mystery that was sprinkled throughout the pages. The historical details were handled well and the wonderful storyline will pull you in and keep you invested in the story until the very end. Getting to know Evelyne (Evie) and David as they joined forces to try to ferret out a mole and eventually solve the murder mystery. The characters are well developed and the WWII setting in London during the Blitz was interesting. I felt like I was there in the middle of the bombings and the intense need for secrecy. Evie is a wonderful heroine and I hope she will be a factor in future books. She is smart, curious, able to do her share as a spy. Can’t wait to see what adventure she discovers in the next book.

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

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

This was so different from other Julia Kelly books I have read and I really enjoyed it.

I hope this is the start to a series because I would really like to follow along as Evelyne Redfern solved more crimes.

I also enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of this story with Evelyne working in Churchhill’s war rooms during WWII.

The espionage aspect and all of the levels of deception to find the person responsible for killing Evelyne’s coworker kept me invested to the end.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

While Julia Kelly’s debut mystery novel has merit, it also has a few shortcomings that require a mixed review. The setting is wartime London during the blitz. The mechanics of how the British government actually “carried on” underground during this tumultuous time is not widely known and certainly makes for a unique, yet claustrophobic, setting. The characters occasionally get out to enjoy their lives aboveground, but most of the action takes place in a warren of dark, vermin-infested, and smelly rooms where gossip and interpersonal tensions seem to be common. Kelly skillfully weaves in historical details and events, creating an immersive backdrop for her story. Her descriptions of the period, its politics, and locations in London are vivid enough to evoke the world that her characters inhabit.

With the exception of the protagonist, Evelyne Redfern, and her investigative partner, David Poole, the diverse bunch of minor characters does not seem nuanced enough to be very realistic. They are a straight up mix of allies and potential foes. While Evelyne’s journey from naivety to competence is a fascinating arc and a strength of the novel, some of her transformations and actions seem somewhat unbelievable. For instance, it is hard to see how an avid reader of detective fiction could acquire the skill set required to become a Clouseau of Poirot. It's crucial for readers to be able to connect with and believe in the protagonist's journey, and if that connection is lacking, it can mar the overall reading experience. This is particularly true for series novels that follow characters through multiple adventures. Clearly, Kelly has plans for such a series with these characters.

The teamwork between Evelynne and David Poole also seems problematic. It's essential for such collaborations to feel organic and not forced. If the teamwork feels contrived, it can undermine the credibility of the story. The chemistry or cooperation between Evelynne and David didn't resonate for me. They just seemed like a couple of young people on a first date, or scavenger hunt. He seemed a bit too dull, and she was way too smart.

The pacing was uneven at times, with the plot meandering in places and then rushing through others. I lost interest during the slower parts while others seemed too rushed to allow me to absorb important plot points. The resolution of the mystery is a case in point. It was hurried with key points seeming to have been cut from whole cloth. A couple of examples were the solution to the code, and the discovery of the love nest. Moreover, Evelynne’s opportunity for future work seemed farfetched, yet probably would be a necessary prerequisite since Kelly plans a series of novels based on a collaboration between Evelynne and David.

This book took me by surprise. It was a really enjoyable read! A complex mystery that had me guessing until the final pages. It took me a bit to be able to keep all the characters straight probably becaus of the sheer number of them, but the setting was well described and there was good character development for Evelyn and David. It feels like there may be opportunity for a sequel, which I would absolutely be excited about! I'd recommend this to anyone who likes WWII era fiction, or anyone with an affinity for British historical stories.

Thanks to Netgalley and Julia Kelly for an advanced copy to review

WWII London. Evelyne Redfern has not been a secretary at Whitehall long when she makes a shocking discovery: One of her coworkers has been murdered. Dissatisfied with the investigation being done, she starts to look around on her own and is soon joined by David Poole, a minister's aide. Together, David and Evelyne begin to uncover secrets, but will it put them in danger?

This is a nice beginning to a series, and the mystery has some interesting twists and turns. There are plenty of red herrings, and the ending is clever and compelling. There is a touch of romance but it does not take over the story. I liked that Evelyne was independent and determined, even in the face of often blatant sexism from some of the men around her.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

The first paragraph of the description of this book leads you to believe that this is a historical fiction book about Churchill's cabinet war rooms. Since I like historical fiction and I also enjoyed The Light Over London by Julia Kelly I though this would be a book I would enjoy. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the book, but that the book wasn't really what I thought it was about.

A Traitor in Whitehall is what others have described as a cozy mystery. A cozy mystery isn't really what I was interested in reading. Evelyne is hired to be a secretary for Churchill's War Room. Within days of being hired she is caught up in a murder mystery. The story takes place during WWII but the historical evenrts are secondary to the mystery. This book should be classified more as a mystery than historical fiction.

Evelyne is referred to as The Parisian Orphan in the book. I think an expansion of this story would have been one I would have enjoyed more than A Traitor in Whitehall.

I received an ARC of A Traitor in Whitehall in exchange for an honest review.

London - 1940

Evelyne Redfern is working in a munitions factory at the beginning of the war when Mr. Fletcher, a friend of her father's, recognizes her while she is out to dinner one night. His proposal to her is that he wants her to take a position in the war rooms beneath London where Prime Minister Winston Churchill has set up his base. Confused, but curious, Evelyne agrees.

Once she is settled in the underground set-up where Churchill and his cabinet are working to save Britain, Evelyne begins to befriend some of the women in the typing pool. Due to her background as "the Parisian Orphan" and her father's famous, or infamous antics, the staff is as curious about her as she is about them. But her assignment from Mr. Fletcher is to keep her eyes and ears open, so it's not just her fellow typists she must be aware of, but everyone in the secret areas. However, shortly after her arrival, one of the women is found murdered, and Evelyne's interest in mysteries surfaces.

While Evelyne secretly does her own sleuthing, a minister's aide, David Poole, appears on the scene, asking questions, and eventually joins Evelyne in the investigation. David reveals that he is really there to root out a person who is passing secret information from the war rooms, some of which have reached the Germans. Are the two mysteries linked? If not, just how many members are involved?

Evelyne's intelligence and observation skills prove to be vital in many ways, and she and David's teamwork are fascinating to see. A totally absorbing story with humor, witty discussions, and historical significance, A TRAITOR IN WHITEHALL is excellent.