This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced, historical fiction, mystery novel. It is set during WWII, and has a likable, intelligent female protagonist, an engaging and supportive male protagonist, wit, a touch of humor, murder, intrigue, suspense, twists and turns, and a satisfying conclusion. The author's acknowledgements contain interesting and enlightening information, and a beautiful message to her husband. This is the second entry in Ms. Kelly's outstanding Evelyne Redfern series, and it can be read as a stand alone. I am looking forward to reading the next installment with great anticipation. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Ms. Kelly, from whom I received an advanced reader copy of this delightful novel. This is my honest opinion.

Betrayal at Blackthorn Park is the second novel in a series following Evelyne Redfern and her prim-and-proper partner David Poole. Set in World War II Britain, Evelyne has finished her spy training and is on her first mission in the English countryside. What started as a security test turns into much more than she bargained for.

Our main character Evelyne is a headstrong and clever woman with a strong sense of morality. She picks up on things quickly and uses her strengths to solve the investigations. It's empowering to read a story about a woman who can admit her mistakes and grow with each obstacle in her path (and not in a cheesy, over-done way).

This novel had good pace and everything was clearly resolved by the end; an impressive feat given the number of characters and plotlines that were ongoing in the middle of the story. Julia Kelly is starting to master the art of crime-solving mysteries as she continues to improve with each book. I'm excited to see what she comes up with next for Evelyne (that ending was the perfect little cliff-hanger!).

If you enjoy historical fiction and/or crime solving novels, I recommend this book. It's a fresh take on World War II fiction and keeps the reader engaged throughout. Maybe keep a notepad near you if you're a reader who needs the details at hand- there's a lot to muddle through but it's worth it for that ending!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

The second in a new series by this prolific writer, Betrayal at Blackthorn Park is a clever mystery that takes an historical fact from WWII and turns it into entertaining fiction.

The main character, Evelyne Redfern, narrates with a clear, direct voice, as she describes her first official case as an agent of the SIU (Special Investigation Unit), whose remit is to figure out what happens when things go wrong in any branch of Britain’s war-related services. She and agent David Poole resume their partnership as they solve mysterious murders at a high-level weapon-making site in the countryside.
Surrounded by a large but believable cast of other characters, this well-paced book can be read as a “stand-alone,” but tantalizing references to Evelyne’s past encourage going back to the first book to even better understand this strong, committed woman.

I plan on reading the first, and look forward to the third in this series.

Another “must read” from Julia Kelly for fans of WWll historical women’s fiction and mystery!

Evie Redfern is back, now an SIU agent ready for assignment after completing Special Investigations Training. Questions about suspicious activity involving the barnacle bomb production send Evie off to Blackthorn Park for a short reconnaissance mission. Of course, it is not short, simple or straight forward!

Set in 1940 England, there are a lot of different characters and storylines to keep straight and it does get confusing. A few dangling questions, where does Evie sleep at night? Why does she never eat? Overall it is an enjoyable read that leaves you looking forward to Evie's next adventure.

This is the second story featuring Evie, and her handler/partner David Poole, but it can easily be read as a standalone.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for an eArc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Evelyne Redfern, fresh from her training to be a spy, is assigned to investigate thefts at Blackthorn Park where unique new weapons are being developed to help England win the war. Since her first case involved solving a murder, she is a bit disappointed. She's even more disappointed to discover that David Poole is to be her handler.

Things go wrong almost from the first. She arrives for her first scoping of the scene to discover the very recently shot Sir Nigel Belram, the chief engineer, in his office. The death was staged to look like a suicide, but Evelyne doesn't believe it. She immediately calls David who rushes to the scene. He isn't pleased to leave fieldwork to become a handler.

As the two try to unravel the strange happenings at Blackthorn Park, the clock is ticking. Sir Winston Churchill is expecting to attend a weapons demonstration in just a few days. Since many of the weapons are failing to perform adequately, the pair need to find out why and unravel which of the scientists might have wanted Sir Nigel dead.

There are a lot of suspicious characters at Blackthorn Park. The place seethes with professional jealousies and some romantic jealousies too as Sir Nigel was a rather noted cad.

This was an entertaining mystery. I like that Evelyne is a mystery lover herself and well-read in the genre. She does manage to get some hints to help her solve her current crime from some of the books she has read. David is also a mystery fan, but he prefers the hard-boiled American variety.

Fans of mysteries set during World War II will enjoy meeting Evelyne and David.

Blackthorn Park, an English estate, has had glory days; during WWII, however, the estate is converted to a factory for secret weapon development. Unfortunately, a thief has been reported and two agents of the SIU are assigned to investigate. Both David Poole and Evelyne Redfern who have worked together in a previous case expect a quick solution, but when Evelyne discovers the dead body of the head of the project, an esteemed scientist, the two find themselves in the midst of a deadly serious problem involving faulty weapons that appear to have been the work of a saboteur. As in her previous novel involving this couple, Julia Kelly provides many complex suspects along with twists and turns to thwart the investigation. Once again people are rarely who they appear to be. Unlike the previous work, however, this storyline dragged a bit for me.

Second in a series but I think new readers could easily jump in. The pacing is better in this story than the last but there’s less character development. New spy Evelyne is a Mary Sue, but she’s such a likable one. She did so much her handler David didn’t even have much to do. Still, I’m eager for the next installment where we might get more of Evie’s backstory.

The chemistry between Evelyne and the dashing David Poole adds a delightful spark to the suspenseful plot. With its captivating historical setting and intricate twists, this book keeps you hooked from start to finish. A perfect read for fans of clever espionage and layered storytelling!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
This is the second installment in the Evelyne Redfern Mystery Series. I had read the first one, so I was happy to continue reading this intriguing series. In this book, Evelyne has just completed her training as a field agent for Britain. She is sent on her first assignment-a simple security test at Blackthorn Park. This is a manor home that has been requisitioned for creating and testing weapons for the war. Things are going fine until she discovers the body of the chief engineer. Why has he been killed and who killed him? I like this series because it is well written, and it is based on real historical events. I learn about history, and also get to read a great mystery. The characters are believable and seem real for this time period. I highly recommend this fascinating series if you like historical mysteries!

This second entry in the series doesn't disappoint. There is some background given, but do yourself a favor and read Traitor in Whitehall first to get the full back story.

Evelyne Redfern has just finished covert operations training in the British countryside. In the last book, she was recruited to work in the secret underground war rooms during WWII and solved a murder. She is smart, feisty, with a big chip on her shoulder and a lot of impatience when people try to dismiss her because she is female.

But she has persevered and successfully completed training in everything from codes to hand to hand combat. Because she is new, she has been paired with a handler, David Poole, whom we met in the first book. Neither is terribly happy about the situation although they have a lot of respect and (sometimes) affection for each other. There are concerns coming from a wartime top-secret manufacturing facility regarding possible theft of materials. The scientists assembled there are an odd and temperamental bunch.

Evie's assignment is supposed to be a quick recon, but after she makes it inside the compound, she is first on the scene of a dead body. And it's pretty obvious to her it's murder, although the killer has tried to make it look like suicide. The recon assignment becomes a murder investigation with she and David as partners.

These characters are fun to watch as their relationship develops. Lots of action and an entertaining read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

****Publishing October 1, 2024*****

Julia Kelly continues Evelyne Redfern’s story. Evelyne has just finished training as a highly trained Special Investigation Unit agent with extensive knowledge of surveillance, weapons training, hand-to-hand combat, and many more. Evelyne has been assigned to investigate at an estate called Blackthorn Park. There is a thief who is trying to steal restricted materials used for war to sell on the black market. Therefore, her job is not to catch the thief, but to figure out how they are doing it. What will she discover? Will it lead her to the next job? When she is assigned a new handler, David, and she is asked to trust him, can she do it for the success of her job?

A Historical Fiction Mystery that captures your attention from the start! I loved reading more about Evelyne and friends about their integral role that they played in the war. It shines light on the important impact women played during WWII. I love how Julia Kelly depicts the women in this book as smart, strong, resourceful, and supportive, which contributed to their success. It made for an intriguing and entertaining read. A perfect book for those who love Historical Fiction!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) I was provided an ARC of Betrayal at Blackthorn Park by Julia Kelly via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book of a series – a historical murder mystery that takes place during WWII.

Evelyne Redfern has returned this time with a special investigation where weapons are tested. There is a concern that some of the supplies may be missing and it’s her job to find the leaks or moles. It seems rather simple to her at the quiet Blackthorn Park in Sussex. As an agent, she has been trained in surveillance, with weapon, hand-to-hand combat and parachute training. Yet, she needs to take this assignment seriously as it could lead to more complex jobs. She is under a time constraint as Churchill is scheduled to visit in a few days.

All of Julia Kelly’s books have a well-thought-out plot with the right amount of characters. Evelyne is working on her assignment with her handler, David Poole, who insisted on being by her side. It feels like in future books, there might be more of a romantic connection between the two. She lives in a boarding house with her best friend, Moira, in London. David told her that it’s lonely working with the Special Investigation Unit as you can’t say a word about what you’re doing or where you are…ever. Of course, her friend wants to know everything especially about the handsome man, David. How can she keep this quiet?

Churchill depends on good weapons and that’s what this research facility and manufacturing plant is all about: the creation of urgent warfare. It’s history, it’s suspense and there’s a murder. At times it feels frustrating as it can be slow trying to piece together all of the clues. While there were hints along the way, I didn’t discover the murderer until the end. Was it believable? Absolutely.

My thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of October 1, 2024.

Evelyne Redfern returns in the second installment of The Parisian Orphan series. Fresh out of Spy school, former typist and detective book aficionado is ready to do her part to help Churchill win the war.

Evelyne and her new handler David are sent to a weapon making estate to investigate some missing inventory when it turns deadly.

Mystery, intrigue and a blush of romance are hallmarks of Julia Kelly’s writing and she does an exceptional job here. The small details she incorporates into the story plop the reader into wartime England and make for a very fun read.
Maggie Hope fans will feel right at home here.

“Betrayal at Blackthorn Park” is the second book in the “Parisian Orphan” series by Julia Kelly. In this book, once again we follow Evelyne Redfern, now just returned from an espionage training program, sent on an easy assignment - testing security at an estate. Her handler, also from the first book, is David Poole. While the assignment may have been planned as being an easy one, it’s not. Once again, the two main characters try to figure out what is going on (and by whom). Ms. Kelly, once again, has done her research into England during WWII.

Thank you to @netgalley and @MinotaurBooks for this ARC. Julia Kelly's second book in the Evelyne RedFern series though can be read as a stand alone. Evelyne was promoted to a secret agent during the war by Churchill. After a successful first mission, she is sent to Blackthorn Park to investigate the theft of items related to the building of small bombs. Her first night undercover, the scientist in charge of the project is found shot. Let the investigation begin. I love this character and her partner David. Cute series! #BetrayalatBlackthornPark #JuliaKelly #MinotaurBooks #Oct2024

Julia Kelly is one of my favorite authors. She did not disappoint with this book. Loved, loved, loved it. Can't wait for the next book in this series.

Julia Kelly is a historical fiction author that you can depend on to deliver a well written and well researched story. This is not the first book in the series and although I did not read the first book you can easily pick up with the characters and get right into the story. Looking forward to more! Highly recommended!

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel.

This is the second volume in Julia Kelly’s Evelyne Redfern series. The first introduced the ´Parisian Orphan,’ so dubbed in childhood by the scandal sheets of the day after her French mother’s death. Returned to England, birthplace of her just as notorious father, the enterprising Evelyne grows up to join Winston Churchill’s typing pool as the Second World War begins. She soon crosses swords with David Poole, assigned to solve a mystery that only ends with Evelyne’s astute assistance. That novel closes with their official pairing in the Special Investigations Unit.

This one opens just as Evelyne has completed her six weeks of top-secret SIU training. Almost as soon as she has resettled in Mrs Jenkins’ London boardinghouse and reunited with her best friend Moira, she is called to her first assignment. She and David, now her ‘handler,’ are given what seems a relatively un-thrilling task: to assess the security of Blackthorn Park, a former country estate turned into a weapons testing headquarters for the duration. Naturally this proves a much more complicated job from the start. No sooner has Evelyne set foot in the place than a shot is fired and the head engineer is found dead. She and David, united by their fearless loyalty to Churchill and the war effort, banter and squabble their way through every twist and turn of an enthralling plot. Moreover, they have to get to the bottom of it and restore security before Churchill arrives—in three days.

Kelly, as a veteran historical fiction writer, is adept in making those plot developments both unpredictable and logical. I was never lost in detail nor too aware of what was coming. Both of the main characters are admirable in their own strengths, and their evident attraction spices up their work partnership. The writing, as always, is excellent and there is enough ‘background’ in this book to make it work as a stand-alone.

2nd in the series, it's a quick and convincing immersion in Evelyne’s world of SOE, Britain's WW2 Special Operations Executive. This time Evelyne's been through the special agent training program to learn to pick locks, infiltrate suspicious locations, and survive in enemy territory.

Dashing David Poole from their first, almost accidental op is back, newly promoted to be her handler for her first post-training assignment. It’s supposed to be a simple test of security at one of the many rural estates turned over to various aspects of war work. In and out with no-one the wiser. But best laid plans rarely survive contact with the enemy, in this case a sneaky thief who is making off with essential supplies (and possibly plans) for the building of small bombs and other weapons essential to the work of SOE saboteurs in France. Soon Evelyne's facing a corpse and David's dashing to her rescue... even though he's not really needed. Evelyne draws on her previous experience and training to instruct the constable who must secure the scene while waiting for more experienced officers to arrive.

The writing is crisp and clear, the settings economical and easily visualized. The plot moves along at a good clip without sacrificing the credibility of relationships between not only Evelyne and David but with other characters as well. Indeed, one of this book's great strengths is how well it portrays the world of wartime Britain, where any cottage in any village might be housing staff for some secret research facility nearby and nobody can tell even their best friend what their war work really consists of. Britain may never be tested like that again, and that's a good thing, because the green and pleasant land that banded together with enduring fortitude and wry humour to withstand the onslaught of one of the largest armies Europe has ever seen is barely imaginable today.

Any fan of Golden Age mysteries will thoroughly enjoy the contemporaneous crime novels that Evelyne reads on train trips and in other idle moments..

If you've chosen the audiobook, you too may find the narration very uneven. The first phrase of a sentence flies out with tween-girl speed and inflection, while the rest is slow and portentious as a wartime speech by Winston Churchill: stirring to hear for 15 minutes in an emergency but wearing on the ear, and the patience when it goes on for hour.s, regardless of which character is speaking and whether their content is deep and serious or debating a new haircut.

This is the second book in a series in which two highly trained agents embark on a mission to investigate a theft at Blackthorn Park. During the investigation, one of the employees is murdered. This complicates the investigation and takes it in a different direction, towards the barnacle bombs. Evie and David work hard to complete the investigation before Churchill visits the facility.

The investigation is a slower process in which we learn about a secret government research facility used for the development of weapons during the war.

Evie and David have created a spectacular team in which they complement each other. It was a mystery where you don’t know who to trust and who to believe, and in the end the suspect turns to be someone you least expected. The investigation was a bit too slow for my taste, but the mystery behind the story held my attention.

This book will appeal to readers who like mysteries and crimes.