This is fine… just not a top pick for me.

I love historical fiction and if I hadn’t read so many other terrific books/series similar to this and/or in this genre I think I would have liked it better.

My main issue was how repetitive the writing was, which also made the book very slow. If an editor came along with big scissors ✂️ I think this book could improve greatly. The actual story itself is good and I liked the MC.

Here’s what I mean about repetitiveness. The MC notes that because the night shift had just ended, those girls would be at the canteen and she can sneak into their room. Okay fine. However she gets to their dorms and makes this same statement again—they just got off shift and are thus at breakfast so no one is around to catch her in their room.

Likewise because they work underground they are required to go to do UV light therapy and every character (I’m not exaggerating) says this. Sometimes they say it multiple times. ✋🏼 so many characters kept saying the same exact thing other characters said. I started to wonder if the author thought I had memory problems or if the author had memory problems.

Thanks netgalley for my ARC ALC

I loved this murder mystery book set in WW2. It was sharp and well done, with plenty of historical details to add to really bring WW2 London to life. The audio was well done and easy to binge listen :). I will checking out Kelly's other books! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was such a fun and captivating book. It started out with a bang and did not let go, I could not read/listen fast enough. I really love Evelyn's character; she is smart and savvy, and does not back down to bullies no matter who or where she encounters them. I loved the setting of the CWR and all the secrecies involved, which made it feel more like a locked door mystery where everyone had a secret to hide and Evelyn had to figure out whose secret was worth killing for. I am a sucker for historical novels and this WWII-era story had all the pieces and characters to be a quick read.  I also love her partnership with David and how she stands up for herself and demands respect despite how people want to treat her as a woman.  I am so glad this is a series so we can see more of Evelyn and what else she can uncover!

The audiobook was so well done and such an easy listen, I enjoyed the narration so much!

An enjoyable start to a new historical fiction WWII cozy mystery series featuring Evelyne Redfern, aka the 'Parisian Orphan' who gets caught up in a murder mystery and the hunt for a mole within Winston Churchill's cabinet. Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn or AJ Pearce and good on audio, this was fun with a strong female lead. I'm excited to see where this new series goes next! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I received a copy of the title form the publisher; all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. A Traitor in Whitehall is the first title to feature Evelyne Redfern. Evelyne is known to many as the Paris Orphan after her parents' bitter divorce played out in public when she was a child with all kinds of salacious details appearing in newspapers. Tired of working in a munitions factory, Evelyne takes advantage of an opportunity to work in Winston Churchill's war rooms as a secretary given to her by a friend of her estranged father. When one of co-workers is killed, it becomes clear that there is a traitor as well as a murder in the war rooms who must be caught before more of England's secret plans can be revealed to the enemy. I really enjoyed this title and found the historical details to be engrossing. I wasn't familiar with the war rooms prior to reading this book, but will definitely be visiting if I get to London in the future. There are hints of a mystery regarding the death of Evelyne's mother and her father's current where abouts that I am hoping are explored in future titles. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough to everyone who enjoys a good WWII era mystery featuring a strong female lead.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this title.
I’m sure I’ve read or listened to all of Julia Kelly’s historical novels, and each is ‘the best so far’. That assessment certainly includes this, the most recent. Her books always feature a dauntless and not-entirely-conventional female character who has to constantly prove herself in a historical setting where men dominate. Often the immediate setting, in this case the Special Investigations Unit of the British government, is entirely commanded by men who treat the female staff, without whom they would be unable to complete their assignments, with gentlemanly disdain. And sometimes not so gentlemanly. No matter how highly educated, trained and skilled, they are all just ‘typists’. The larger historical setting of the Second World War is equally a masculine one, making essential female labour in munitions factories, on farms, and in government war work, merely the secondary support that the war effort requires. Except for working class women who have to work, especially if their men have enlisted, the majority in all sectors were single women. In the civil service, many were upper class and university educated at a time when a woman with a degree was rare even in that elite class.

When the story begins, Evelyn Redfern is herself a recent University of Edinburgh graduate, sharing a room at a London boarding house with her best friend Moira, and thoroughly bored with her job at an artillery factory. The Blitz hasn’t started yet, she has no boyfriend and doesn’t want a ‘regular fellow’, and still has a chip on her shoulder about the scandalous divorce of her beautiful Parisian mother and her rogue-adventurer father, the celebrity author Sir Reginald. The divorce was bitter and the custody battle was sensationalized in the press. Evelyn, dubbed ‘the Parisian orphan’, had to live with the notoriety, especially after her mother’s death and her subsequent removal from Paris to the cold halls of an elite British girls’ academy. It was there that she met the fearless Moira and learned vital lessons in standing up for herself and refusing to be cowed by gossip.

Evelyn doesn’t spend a lot of time where her talents are wasted. Thanks to family connections, she is offered what at first seems to be little better, a job in the typing pool of the wartime cabinet, carefully sequestered and heavily guarded in an underground bunker. Winston Churchill makes a few cameo appearances. The ‘girls’ are rigorously vetted and monitored to ensure that they let no scrap of information slip. The dullness of that routine, in which she itches to use her ability but is required above all to ‘know her place’, is also only temporary. An avid reader of contemporary British ‘detective fiction’, especially the hugely popular female authors Dorothy Sayres and Agatha Christie, Evelyn’s secret longings to do some sleuthing of her own are realized—just a few days into her job. The rest of the story has her showing up her male associates, and one in particular who grudgingly agrees to let her work with him to solve a case with huge military implications, turning for guidance to her beloved books. She can not only match the men in charge with her quick-wittedness and intellect, she frequently surpasses them. The pace is fast, the writing and characterization are first-rate in Kelly’s inimitabile style, and Marisa Calin’s energetic reading is excellent. Sir Winston even offers his personal thanks at the end, at least on the phone. The ending also hints that Evelyn Redfern may yet reappear, in a sequel or a series. This would be very much something to look forward to for historical fiction/mystery fans!

I really enjoyed this story set in London during WWII. It features a female MC in the secret bureau of intelligence in London. The MC is really observant and an excellent amateur sleuth, and I enjoyed her interactions with the more traditional male counterparts, especially during that time in history. The narration was really good too. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review.

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.

Marisa Calin did a great job with this story. Each character came to life in this story and I really enjoyed the audio.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the ALC. All views are my honest opinion.

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.

The audio version of this was great-- good narrator and it moved along at a nice pace.

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 listened to the audibook version and the narrator did a great job portraying all the characters.

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

Set in WWII London, Evelyne Redfern, known as the “Parisian Orphan”, is asked to work as a secretary in Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms. Upon her arrival, she discovers one of her coworkers was murdered. Evelyne is an avid reader of English sleuths. She puts her own skills into action when she joins David Poole, a minister’s aide to investigate. Together, they discover who is selling England’s secrets and who murdered the secretary.

I love that this is a series, and we will hopefully get to see Evelyne and David’s next adventures. I listened to the audiobook, and Marisa Calin brought these characters to life. The first chapter draws you in with the murder and then provides the backstory on how Evelyne was there. The pace is perfect to discover the killer and the attraction that begins between David and Evelyne.

I would recommend this book. Put it on your TBR list. It comes out on October 3, 2023!

Thank you, @NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the ARC.

I enjoyed this book! Evelyne's character is an amateur detective and I really enjoyed how she followed a case of a woman murdered at her work. From the very beginning we are plunged into her world and I wondered who to trust and who was a mole or not trustworthy! I love that this book is the start of a new series and I will definitely look for future books to read! I listened to part of this book as an audiobook. The narrator is fantastic! Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the early copy of this great book! It is out Oct 2023!

I was provided both a print and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this! It is the first book in a new mystery series called the Parisian Orphan. This follows Evelyne Redfern, daughter of an English Royal and a French woman who had a very public and scandalous divorce. Now Evelyne is doing her part supporting the war effort working in a munitions factory, when an old family friend offers her a position as a typist working in Winston Churchill's secret underground. She is to report back to him anything strange she notices while on duty, yet on one of her first days one of her fellow typists is murdered and she becomes embroiled in an investigation to solve the murder and find out who is selling secrets to the Germans with one of the Prime Ministers most trusted aides. Evelyne has a way with people, and she is able to get potential suspects and witnesses to divulge information about the victim and potential suspects that the other investigators were not able to uncover. Paired with the aide, David Poole, the two are able to piece together a timeline and list of suspects for the murder and the mole within a few days.

This has a bit of a cozy mystery feel to it which I really enjoyed. It has moments of total convenience that don't always seem plausible. This is fairly common in cozy mysteries, and something you have to accept for the plot to work. This is set during WWII, however it isn't set on the front lines so it isn't quite as bleak as some of the other historical fiction from that time period that I've read. Evelyne and her friends make the best out of their situation and are still able to have a bit of fun here and there despite the conditions in London. This lightens up the mood in the book. There is also a hint at a budding romance between the two main characters in future installments of the series.

Overall, if you enjoy historical fiction and cozy mysteries give this a try. I really liked Evelyne and David as a team and look forward to seeing them team up in the next installment. This mystery wraps up, and gives hints to what David and Evelyne will get up to in their next investigation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
What a great historical listen. It was interesting learning about the war rooms and the jobs that women had there during World War Two. I learned a lot about the strange job that they had of re typing reports, having to live here during their shifts and just how strict the regulations were.
Add in a murder and things get really complicated. Great job by the narrator. Well written book. It looks like this might end up being a series so I’m looking forward to more from this author.

I want to thank Julia Kelly and Macmillan audio for gifting an audio arc of this book!!

Evelyn discovers at 16 not only does she love to read but loves cozy mysteries. She found a love for Agatha Christie that has carried on in to her adult life. At 22, during WWII, now working for the prime minister she finds herself in the middle of a real life murder mystery!

Evelyn is curious, strong, smart, resilient, and stubborn! She makes for a great FMC. can’t wait to follow more of her adventures!

The audiobook was read by Marisa Calin and let me tell you she did amazing! I felt like I was right there and could picture everything! The accents were so so so good even for the male and other side characters!

Definitely pick this up is you love historical fiction and/or cozy mysteries!

Julia Kelly is a well-known author but this was my first book of hers that I’ve had a chance to read. It’s a historical mystery set in London in 1940, as the Blitz begins. Evelyne Redfern has been “doing her bit” by working in a munitions factory when an old friend of her father’s sees her at a party and offers her a different wartime job: as a typist in the Cabinet War Rooms (later known as the Churchill War Rooms or CWR). Even though she has no experience as a secretary, she does know how to type. She is asked to keep an eye open for anything unusual and to report back to him regularly. After only a few days on the job, she discovers the body of a fellow typist with a knife sticking out of her neck.

I didn’t find the story very believable. I don’t know why people working in such a secure and secret situation would willingly open up to a new fellow employee, one who seems to be acting as an investigator - rather than the two official military police officers assigned to the case. But they do. She winds up working with David Poole, whose role at CWR was never quite clear to me, to uncover both the murderer and a mole who has been leaking information to the enemy - whether they are one and the same person or not.

Kelly does a good job of conveying what life was like in London at this time. It seems to have been full of contradictions - ration books alongside fancy clubs and hotels still able to serve good food and liquor; scarce petrol, but there seemed to be plenty of cabs around; and so forth. The typists working in the CWR also slept there, only being able to leave every few days. They worked and slept in shifts. There is a room with a sun lamp that the “girls” are required to use now and then, since they spend so much time underground.

Evelyne’s family background plays a part in the book. Her father was a famous British adventurer, her mother was French and died when Evelyne was 12. Evelyne was brought up in Paris. Her parents’ sordid custody battle was covered widely in the newspapers and Evelyne got the nickname of the “Parisian Orphan.” Her absentee father then sent her to an English boarding school.

She is a fan of British detective novels, and always has a book at the ready. David Poole also likes detective novels but prefers the Americans, which becomes a joke between them.

Apparently this is the first book in what will be a series, with Evelyne learning how to actually become a spy, rather than pretending to be one.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook. Marisa Calin did a fine job with all the characters and accents. All opinions are my own.

With so many recently published books set in London during World War II, its been a hard sell for me to put another one on my bedside stack. But "Traitor in Whitehall" managed to catch my interest with its setting in the Cabinet War Rooms.

I've visited the War Rooms, and their cramped claustrophobia was a sharp reminder of the difficulties of the time. In "Traitor in Whitehall", Evelyne Redfern is a secretary, hired by a family friend to keep an eye on her colleagues. Secrets are leaking out, and the other girls are suspects.

I listened to the audio of this book, and thought Marisa Calin did a great job of narrating. She was both engaging and inobtrusive.

This book is labeled "Paris Orphan #1", and Julia Kelly seems to be laying the foundation for an ongoing series with Evelyne. I look forward to it!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The year is 1940. Evelyne Redfern is a bookworm and her favorite genre is British mysteries. She loves nothing more than being immersed in a cozy by Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, and others of that golden age of crime novels. Then she finds a dead body on the job. Now she is plunged into the midst of her very own whodunit. She channels her inner Agatha Christie and calmly carries on with her work while assisting with the investigation. The police inspectors are not impressed with her skills until they start to see results. There is one man working for the Ministry of the Interior (so he says) who does take her seriously and they make a good team. Since this is the first in the series, we get to look forward to seeing their relationship evolve in the next book. I can't wait!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARCS in exchange for an honest review.

Very entertaining historical fiction! The young female protagonist has an interesting family background, and ends up being recruited to work in the cabinet war rooms of Winston Churchill. Evelyne is bright, clever, and personable. She quickly stumbles onto a murder and sets about to solve it. Her colleague, David Poole, and she make a good team as they gradually unravel the puzzle. I believe that plans are that this book be the first in a series, and like that the book was complete by itself, yet still felt as if these interesting characters could continue their adventures. The audiobook was well done.