The character of Evelyn Redfern is such an epic addition to the lady sleuth group. I absolutely loved how the character grew in this book from book 1. The mystery itself was such a good time. I was on the edge of my seat!

I found this to be very interesting but a bit too much historical fiction for my personal reading taste! I love the way the subject was written, but it needed more in the plot for me personally.

Another great Historical Fiction from Julia Kelly. Mystery and Romance is her thing and mine. Loved this novel and Julia's writing.

Synopsis:
Freshly graduated from a rigorous training program in all things spy craft, former typist Evelyne Redfern is eager for her first assignment as a field agent helping Britain win the war. However, when she learns her first task is performing a simple security test at Blackthorn Park, a requisitioned manor house in the sleepy Sussex countryside, she can’t help her initial disappointment. Making matters worse, her handler is to be David Poole, a fellow agent who manages to be both strait-laced and dashing in annoyingly equal measure. However, Evelyne soon realizes that Blackthorn Park is more than meets the eye, and an upcoming visit from Winston Churchill means that security at the secret weapons research and development facility is of the utmost importance.

Thoughts:
This was an amazing, fast paced historical fiction set around World War II. I loved the main character, Evelyne, and seeing as she takes on her first assignment! Also I didn’t know that this was the second book in a series. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying this book! I highly recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction!

Fans of historical mysteries like the Maggie Hope series and Maisie Dobbs must get your hands on this series, you will not be disappointed. Start with book one (A Traitor in Whitehall) and I highly recommend these on audio, as the narrator is great. Here readers find Evelyne ready for her mission as a spy and while at first it doesn’t seem like much of a mission to Evelyne, she and David soon find themselves working together to solve a murder that has big ties back to the war work. Such likable characters–Evelyne is strong and smart and also has a lovely sense of humor. The plot is tightly woven and wonderfully researched. There’s also a great hook at the end that has me ready for book three. This is a great series!

Though World War 2 British spies are involved, I was pleasantly surprised that it's more of a standard mystery, albeit with spies involved.

Fast-paced, interesting location and premise. An absolutely enjoyable mystery.

I note that I didn't read the first book in the series before this second book but still followed along just fine (though I picked up a copy of book one right after I finished this one).

I'd highly recommend this to someone who wants to read a different kind of mystery set during World War 2.

I am totally in love with any Julia Kelly books. This second instalment of the new series is mysterious and intriguing. Keep her going!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin for my advance readers copy!

The second installment with Evelyne Redfearn was as enjoyable as the first! I really enjoyed the genre mix of mystery and historical fiction. It feels as though this could read as a stand alone, yet the character development strengthened further in this second novel.

Intriguing and would recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Betrayal at Blackthorn Park
By: Julia Kelly
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Published: 10/1/24
Julia Kelly has quickly become one of my favorite historical writers and this one didn’t disappoint!
This is the second book in the Evelyn Redfern mystery series. It picks up with Evelyne returning from training and David Poole being promoted to handler instead of agent. Evelyne is sent to investigate a theft at Blackthorn Park a secret weapons plant in Sussex. With David acting has her handler, she believes she will only be gone over night, that quickly changes when a gunshot is heard and a dead body found. It will take Evelyne and David, coming back in to the field to solve this one.
The working relationship that’s developing between the main characters is spot on and always leaving me wanting the next book right away!
This one could be read as a stand alone but the first book really introduces the characters.
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I was excited to grab this one after reading the first book in this series. Julia never disappoints. Evelyne is a great spy character. She may be young and a bit naive, but she’s super observant and puts pieces together in ways others can’t. A murder is definitely more than she expected when she took the assignment at Blackthorn Park, but she’s determined to find the answers that her bosses are looking for.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my copies of this book.

Evelyne Redfern is back, and this time, she has to figure out what is really going on at Blackthorn Park, a secret area where the English are building weapons for WWII. I flew through this book. I loved the suspense, Evie working with David, and the way the story played out. So many suspects were possible, and in the end, it really made sense. I also love that Evie is part of a secret network of agents and the details that go into each novel. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite mystery series, and I love that it's set during WWII.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Betrayal at Blackthorn Park by Julia Kelly!

I enjoyed this! But there's a good chance I should have re read the first book in the series before starting this one, I was lost for a while and it took a bit to catch back up to what was going on in the story. In the end, Julia Kelly is such a talented Historical Fiction Author, and this was a really good, intriguing, un-put-downable read!

Great for readers of Historical Fiction who want to look at things through a new lens.

I'm a sucker for a good historical mystery - my streaming apps are full of British historical mysteries from all sorts of time periods. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series when I read it a couple of years ago, so was very happy to see that book two was available. And it did not disappoint - Evelyne Redfern, formerly a secretary in Churchill's war rooms, is now a trained agent and ready to get to work as a spy for the British war effort. I enjoyed this one - Evelyne is the type of heroine we'd all like to think we'd be. Spunky, determined, quick-witted, and not necessarily the best at following orders, she's adept at getting herself into and out of sticky situations, sometimes with the help of David Poole, who's now her handler. The audiobook is ably narrated by Marisa Calin, she does a terrific job of giving characters their own voices.
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing copies for an unbiased review.

Another great Historical Fiction from Julia Kelly! I love how she combines mystery and romance into a thrilling HS novel.

"Betrayal at Blackthorn Park" is a great second installment for the Evelyne Redfern mystery series.

Set in WWII, Miss Redfern has just finished her training in spycraft, and David Poole has been assigned to be her handler. But what is supposed to be a simple reconnaissance mission to determine how routine theft is being perpetrated at a government facility turns into something much more deadly. And David is far from content with staying in the background as he rushes to Evelyn's side to assist her in solving the murder.

This expertly crafted story kept me engaged from beginning to end as I followed along with the clues Evelyn and David were finding, trying to figure out whodunit. And the ending...! Let's just say, I can't wait for Book 3!

Thank you to Julia Kelly, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Using a tight tight timeline and an impending visit by Churchill, author Julia Kelly crafts a tense and fast-moving second Evelyn Redfern story.

Returning from six weeks of intensive training in parachuting, combat and other critical skills she'll need in her espionage work, Evelyn returns to her flat in London, and her best friend Moira's questions about her absence. Bound by the Official Secrets Act, Evelyn is unable to divulge her activities, but is happy to be back with her friend. And soon on to her first assignment, as determined by Mrs. White and Mr. Fletcher of the Special Investigations Unit. She is to make a survey of the outside of a secret research and development facility at the Blackthorn Park estate. The facility is developing clandestine weapons, such as a particular type of small bomb that Churchill is very interested in. In fact, Churchill will be at Blackthorn for a demonstration, and Evelyn must perform a security assessment prior to his arrival and report on how easy it is to enter and exit the facility with no one there the wiser. There has been word of theft at the facility, and the Special Operations Executive, of which the Special Investigative Unit is part, wants answers. David is to be Evelyn's handler, something he is uncomfortable with as he's happier being a field agent.

Evelyn arrives in the small town, meets the officious head of the Home Guard, Mr. Sherman, who will later provide her with a critical piece of data , and begins her clandestine work. Finding an opening in the fence, she enters, and begins a quiet tour of the grounds, and then hears a gunshot. This is Evelyn, so of course she runs into the building it came from, only to find the head of the facility, brilliant engineer Sir Nigel Balram dead, seemingly of suicide. Evelyn knows something is off, and calls David in, and her plan for a quiet assessment is now gone.

She and David immediately begin investigating, roping in the green, young constable of the village. They learn enough about the staff and the workings of the facility to understand that there are jealousies and angers amongst them, and problems possibly with the manufacturing. With each set of questions they ask, Evelyn and David get a little closer to unravelling what is happening, but not fast enough to prevent another death, and the worry increasing over the ever closer visit of the prime minister.

Evelyn and David spend a lot of time seemingly spinning their wheels, but each new fact determined, and revelations about the potentially volatile secrets about the myriad relationships amongst the people at the facility keep things interesting.

I like Evelyn's determination, and her statement that she's never met a rule she didn't want to break tells us a lot about her. It's not surprising that she diverts from her stated assignment pretty fast, and is eager to solve Sir Nigel's murder, especially after all the action-oriented training she's just received.

I liked the swift pace, and the great way Evelyn and David work together, especially the way he's willing to follow her lead, which often proves beneficial to their investigation.

This was fun, and based on that ending, the next Evelyn Redfern story should be very interesting.

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

I loved this book! After reading the first book in this series and wishing for a second book to be released I was so excited to get my hands on an arc for this book! This story was just as captivating and enjoyable as the first book was! I loved the development the characters made in this book and all the new information we learned about them! The plot was entertaining and I can’t wait for what comes next in this series!!!! Definitely worth reading this book and series!

In this second installment of the Evelyne
Redfern series, Evelyne takes on her
first official assignment following
her spy training to assist her country during WWII.

I'm enjoying this series very much, especially Evelyne she is just wonderful. The plots are engaging, and the mysteries are well thought out. The writing is a pleasure to read, and the banter and developing relationship between the main characters is delightful

I'm looking forward to more books in this series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the 2nd installment of Julia Kelly's Evelyne Redfern mystery series. I enjoyed the mystery and the sleuthing in this book. The banter and camaraderie between Evelyne and David is fun to read about and it will be interesting to see how their relationship grows throughout the series. My only issue was the large cast. I struggled a little to keep everyone straight, especially since we didn't really know anyone's first names. I know it is the proper for the time period to call everyone Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. and Sir, but it kind of made my head spin a little. The ending was interesting and obviously prepping for book #3.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book for my honest opinion.