The Socialite Spy is a novel in which Lady Pamela More is recruited by MI5 to report on the policial activities of her social contacts, in particular Wallis Simpson.
The book is a fun and entertaining read which kept me absorbed throughout. I loved the descriptions of the 1930's world, in particular the fashions of the period. The book is well-researched and the inclusion of real historical figures brought the story to life.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
Highly recommended for readers of historical fiction.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me this arc.

Every time I picked up "The Socialite Spy", I was whisked back in time, and simply could not put this book down!

Sarah Sigal's writing is visceral, evocative, powerful, and this novel is incredibly well-researched. She brought the past to life right before my eyes, and there are many historical figures present throughout the book. Ms. Sigal's world-building is spectacular and haunting, and her storytelling is gripping and intriguing. From high society parties, to so much more, each location is described in detail, and I could envision every moments.

Lady Pamela, who is a high society writer, is approached by MI5 to spy on and report on Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII. I do not want to say too much about the plot due to spoilers, but, I will say, this novel has so much in it. Full of spying, intrigue, glitz and glamour, secrets, lies, politics, foreboding, and so much more, this novel truly has so much in it. Many moments had me on the edge of my seat.

If you enjoy Historical Fiction, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lume Books for the e-ARC of this novel, and to Lume Books and Joffe Books for the finished copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Wow what a thriller!! This was totally absorbing and the detail had me reading into the small hours. It was fast paced with so much espionage.
It was so well written. I will certainly be looking for more titles from this author

Loved this historical fiction set in London in 1936. Lady Pamela More is a society writer for the Times and is recruited by MI5 to pass on intelligence about Wallis Simpson and the King. We dive into a world of parties, Nazi sympathisers, and Europe just before the tipping point. Great pace, interesting characters and will keep the pages turning late into the night.

I don't know how much of this story is fact, and how much fiction, but it has certainly sparked my interest in reading more about Wallis and the King. Although, this story became way bigger than their scandalous relationship.

Pamela is a woman ahead of her time. Smart, keenly observant and somewhat of a rebel. And fatally, she's bored of reporting on society and fashion. So when she's recruited by MI5, she dives right in to the role.

At society parties and on glamorous yachts, she charms - and elicits a lot of alarming information regarding the rise of Nazism and fascism. With links to our own sovereignty.

But paranoia and the fear of double crossing agents makes it an anxious time for Pamela, particularly after the suspicious death of another female journalist.

A thoroughly enjoyable glimpse into a time of great glamour and scandal. It was rich with political detail, entertaining and the female lead was an awesome woman.

A nicely set novel with some interesting and likable/unlikeable characters. The Socialite Spy follows Lady Pamela, a comfortably off young women, from a good background and lots of connections, but married to an older man with not much joy in the relationship.
After taking a job following Wallis Simpson around for a piece for her column, Lady Pamela is unexpectant recruited by MI5 to see what she can learn for them about Wallis and the Prince of Wales Edward VIII, and more importantly their knowledge and involvement with Hitler.
It also explores the involvement with Germany at this time of other real life characters .
An easy and entertaining book to read and I did somewhat enjoy it. However not a great deal happened until towards the end, and I didn't feel any conclusion was made or an ending achieved.
It was left however with the possibility of a second novel. A solid 3 out of 5 from me.

Gertrude Leigh was known as "a straight-laced, tight-lipped,woman in her late-forties,"She is writer of a newspaper advice column called "A Word in Your Ear,". Not evening is what they see as by night Gertrude is an intrepid WWII spy. In January 1936 after after we was finished spying, , M15 replaced her with another female columnist from The Times: Lady Pamela More, 29-year old wife of MP Francis More, and fashion writer of a fashion and gossip feature called "Agent of Influence." Less interested in current events than she was being perceived as witty and pretty, Lady More's successful foray into the underworld of espionage, subterfuge, and surveillance surprised no one more than her own self. The shady characters she spies on are all brilliantly characterized, from Wallis Simpson and the king, to fascists and Nazis and hangers-on; and Pamela's crazy family members too are loud and colorful and entertaining.

This was such a fun historical read . There is pre-war intrigue that classes with the society world. This was a great read. There were certain issues of morality it took on but otherwise it was a fun read. This is the first book of a series so it will be fun to eventually read what comes next.

A piece of historical fiction set pre WW2 IN 1936. This drew my attention due to the subject matter Wallis Simpson and her relationship with King Edward VIII. A socialite and gossip columnist Pamela Moore is recruited by MI5 to spy on the couple and their connections with Nazi Germany. Somehow this didn’t hold my attention perhaps due to the numerous characters and its lightweight nature. I didn’t feel invested in her character and struggled to finish the book

Thanks to Netgalley and the author and publishers for a gifted copy of this book.

3 stars.

It is a pretty exciting, thrilling story itself, or it would be that way. I was enjoying the atmosphere set by Sarah Sigal, but I had a hard time getting into the book and was finding myself pushing through it. The plot didn't help much as well, as it was a little all over the place for me. I enjoy historical fiction, maybe this book was just not my cup of tea. Maybe some readers with more patience will appreciate this book for what it has to offer.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sigal brings readers to 1936 London, a glamorous world inhabited by the rich, the elite, and the royal. Lady Pamela More is a society journalist with her column “Agent of Influence,” and little does she know that an interview with a certain Wallis Simpson will put her on MI5’s radar for recruitment and assignment. Readers follow Pamela’s journalistic endeavors, all on His Majesty’s Secret Service’s orders, across London high society, brushing shoulders with fascists, royalty, and other spies alike. Sigal’s novel combines mysteries, spy thrillers, and historical fiction, and she fills her world with real and fictional figures, from the Prince of Wales to Pamela’s husband and former fiance. The characters are charmingly vague, with true loyalties and allegiances unknown to readers who operate off Pamela’s uninformed, novice spy view of the world. Sigal’s characters, their relationships, and their loyalties all add to the “socialite spy” atmosphere of the novel, bringing the title of the novel to the forefront of the plot and designing the world accordingly. Sigal’s most recent novel is a fascinating, exciting, high-stakes venture into the 1930s and Europe’s fraught political situation, and readers are sure to enjoy following Pamela across London society.

A very well written entertaining story. The author perfectly intertwined real life historical figures with fictional characters. A very interesting look at this time in history particularly the social & political aspect of life.

Lady Pamela More is attractive and intelligent but in 1930s Britain her social status means that her ambitions are limited to writing about fashion. She is approached by MI5 to monitor Wallis Simpson as her society contacts mean she is invited to all the right parties. However as Pamela understands more about the politics of Germany and Russia, she realises that Britain is on the edge and that the king doesn't really care. Moreover Pamela begins to suspect that there are parties with vested interests involved.
I really enjoyed this book. It's fairly lightweight but does romp along very well. The political tensions on 1936 are explored from a different perspective and that works really weel. Despite its rather lightweight appearance, this is a book with a bit of substance behind it.

Lady Pamela is a journalist whose Agent of Influence column covers the fashions and social events in 1930s London. She is assigned to interview Wallis Simpson after the reporter originally assigned is involved in an accident. MI5 recruits her to enter Simpson’s social circle, where she is to encourage the relationship with King Edward. He never wanted the crown and has been neglectful of his duties at a time when Hitler is coming to power. With no training in spy craft, Pamela must hide her activities from family and friends. Her husband is a government official but she has never concerned herself with his opinions, preferring clubs and parties. Now she finds herself associating with Nazis, Mosley’s followers and Russian emigres. It is difficult to know who to trust, including her MI5 handler.

Sarah Sigal’s novel is filled with designer dresses and glittery jewels. It also deals with the government’s attempts to work toward peace with a Germany that is growing more restrictive and aggressive. One of Sigal’s stand out characters is Aunt Constance. With an arrest warrant for her political activities, she ran to India. Now she is back in London after once again getting into trouble protesting the British presence there. She is one of the few people who know about Pamela’s activities and supports her decisions. This was an interesting look at the social and political activities in pre-war England, filled with familiar historical figures and some unexpected twists. It also lends itself to a possible sequel, which I would love to see. I would like to thank NetGalley and Lume Books for providing this book or my review.

I reaaally wanted to like this book as I'm usually a huge historical fiction fan, but I couldn't get into the story at all. I was confused through most of the beginning chapters, there was a lot of back and forth between conversations with people, and names, and I didn't really keep up.
In theory, the premise is a great one, but in practice, it missed the mark in several places, there was just something missing.

Note: received a free ARC in exchange for an unbiased review

This book is historical fiction which is my favourite genre. I have never read a book related to this history before though and certainly not one that includes Wallis Simpson. I can see why this book was written as it is believe Wallis Simpson was an Nazi sympathiser along with Edward.
The book centres on this.
I like how Lady Pamela, a journalist, is tasked to dig into the relationship of Wallis and Edward. This was very interesting.
However, it was slightly confusing in some places.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lume Books for an ARC of this book.

This could make a series. I would like to read more.

A great historical novel with the perfect level of intrigue and unexepected twists. The focus is on the upper class in Britain in the years leading up to the WWII told from the perspective of Lady Pamela More, a fashion and high society journalist for The Times who is approached by MI5 due to her access to Wallis Simpson whilst writing an article on her. It is interesting to learn how the British press protected the King and Mrs Wallis keeping the British public in the dark about their relationship whilst the rest of the world was following it!! The opinions of those around her regarding the Nazi party, the BUF and Communists is an eye opener.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read The Socialite Spy.

After interviewing Wallis Simpson, consort to Edward, former King of England, Lady Pamela is tasked by MI5 to spy on the activities of the royal couple. Becoming part of their inner circle may put Lady Pamela in more danger than she is comfortable with.

I received this advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. I had a hard time getting captivated with this story and the protagonists, even though I am usually a passionate historical fiction fan. I enjoyed the interesting first introduction scenes of our protagonists, but overall the engagement of the story was lacking for me. I am sure this novel would be a great selection for most fans of historical fiction, but it missed the mark for me.

Lady Pamela makes a lively, spirited and entertaining protagonist whose keen eye for fashion and witty take on the social scene has made her a successful columnist. But she feels unfulfilled and that her talents are being overlooked. ‘When she was younger, Pamela had harboured secret dreams of becoming the next Rebecca West (minus the illegitimate child), Virginia Woolf (minus the crippling depression) or Katherine Mansfield (minus the tubersular death).’ No wonder then when the opportunity of adventure arises she grabs it with both exquisitely manicured hands. And what could be more of an adventure than spying? Her social connections and observational skills – she can spot the difference between a genuine couture gown and a cheap copy a mile off – see her make an excellent start to her mission to get close to Wallis Simpson. After that, it all gets a little more complicated, and quite a lot more dangerous. And not just for Lady Pamela.

There is an enormous cast of the real life great and good of the period including Winston Churchill, Noel Coward, Cecil Beaton, Harold Nicolson, Diana Vreeland and Evelyn Waugh. And the not so good, such as Oswald Mosley. But behind all the fun of Lady Pamela’s espionage activities there’s some serious stuff about the prevalence of Nazi sympathisers in the higher echelons of society in the run-up to the Second World War. In fact it’s chilling to be reminded how many downplayed, even actively supported, the horrific acts being carried out against Jewish people and other sections of society in Germany at the time. A secondary plot line involving Lady Pamela’s formidable Aunt Constance underlines how dangerous it can be to speak out against injustice and discrimination.

I developed rather a soft spot for Francis, Pamela’s husband who seemed to me the epitome of loyalty, steadfastness and patience in the face of his wife’s increasingly risky escapades, especially since he faces struggles of his own. Sadly, Lady Pamela doesn’t always treat him very well – in fact, particularly badly at one point. Having said that, the pair lead quite separate lives a lot of the time: Francis at his club or attending a shooting party, and Lady Pamela immersed in a social whirl of glamorous parties and fancy dinners in which a never-ending supply of cocktails and cigarettes is the order of the day.

The Socialite Spy is a really entertaining read but one with a nugget of something more weighty at its heart. A luxury Charbonnel et Walker chocolate with a praline centre, if you like. Judging by the book’s conclusion I get the feeling this is not the last we’ve heard of Lady Pamela. How absolutely delightful, darling, let’s have another martini to celebrate.

I’ve mentioned recently that I’ve got a ‘thing’ just now for books set in the 1920s and 1930s so when I saw @sarahsigal’s debut novel The Socialite Spy available on #netgalley, I applied. I’m grateful to them and #lumebooks for a copy in return for an honest review.

Lady Pamela More is a well connected society girl. Wife of a member of the House of Lords, she’s what you might call ‘an influencer’ - she writes a fashion/society column (Agent of Influence) for The Times. When she’s asked to write an article on Wallis Simpson, the mistress of Edward VIII, MI5 recruit her to spy on Wallis and the King and to find out which members of high society are sympathetic to the Germans (those with leanings towards the Italians and Russians would be a bonus). And so Pamela finds herself - sometimes uncomfortably - spying on family, friends and acquaintances. She attends dinners and weekend house parties in stately homes and fashionable resorts. Real life historical figures like the Duke of Westminster, Nancy Astor and Joachim von Ribbentrop are mingled with fictional characters in this fast moving story. The fashion of the times and priceless jewels are described in fine detail.

I enjoyed the book up to a point; it could have been so much better. I felt that there was too much in it. Its subtitle is In Pursuit of a King but the Wallis Simpson/Edward VIII story was frequently sidelined by too many other subplots to the detriment of them all. The book opens with a death which could have been a murder or a tragic accident and is then ignored for most of the story before being brought back but never resolved.

There is also a lack of detail. There are frequent references to the king as His Royal Highness interspersed with the correct title, His Majesty. Lady Pamela is said “to bow” to the king whereas she would have curtsied. And sorry, back on my American English soapbox, this book is set in high society 1930s London, “parse”, “envision” (I particularly dislike this verb) and throw a “rock” don’t feel natural to me.

However, the book ends with the possibility of a sequel and I’d be up for that.