Basing Book 2 of Kelly's Evelyne Redfern series on the English Country House mystery motif, our protagonist Evelyne ventures forth on her first assignment for the Special Investigations Unit. Combining the stately manor from Agatha Christie and the gritty reality of WWII, Book 2 picks up where A Traitor in Whitehall left off. The novel works well as a standalone title. Kelly has created characters who live within their time period. There are no anachronisms, and the setting grounds the reader in a time of major change and peril. Evelyn is an homage to the unsung women of that period. Still blocked by gender discrimination, her personality is self-assured, observant, and quick of thought. The plot combining historical, romance, and mystery takes careful plotting, and Kelly succeeds. Her mystery follows the rules of 'fair play,' and all the pieces are there for the careful reader to solve. Full disclosure: here I fell for a red herring (a misleading clue). I look forward to discovering more of the espionage intrigue of the characters from the Ungentlemanly Warfare sector. Recommended for all audiences, especially those unfamiliar with this time period.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity."

Betrayal at Blackthorn Park by Julia Kelly – Intrigue and Mystery During WWII

If you enjoy a good story with mystery and intrigue, Betrayal at Blackthorn Park by Julia Kelly may be the book for you. This is the second book in the Evelyne Redfern Mystery series.

Evelyne Redfern completed her training at the finishing school for the Special Investigations Unit. She has been summoned to headquarters to receive her first assignment. On her way, Evelyne encounters David Pool whom she had previously worked with. Evelyne is assigned to investigate an anonymous report that things have gone missing at Blackthorn Park, a facility that develops weapons. David has also been assigned. This time he will be Evelyne’s handler and not a field agent.

Under the cover of night, Evelyne makes her way through the grounds to the manor house. After picking the lock Evelyne hears a gunshot. She dashes up the stairs and enters Sir Nigel’s office and finds the man dead of what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Or is it? Is it connected to the report of missing supplies?

I love reading historical fiction, especially from the timeframe of WWII. Betrayal at Blackthorn Park was filled with mystery and intrigue.

I enjoyed reading this book because of the main characters Evelyne and David. Both characters were very likable and had an interesting relationship. There was some attraction between the two. But they were both professional and respected one another. The author did a good job in describing the scenes and characters so the reader can visualize them. There were lot of characters and many twists and turns. I was trying to guess whodunit based on the evidence and possible suspects. The book kept me guessing to the end.

I really enjoyed reading Betrayal at Blackthorn Park by Julia Kelly and recommend it. This was the second book in the Evelyne Redfern Mystery series, but it worked well as a standalone book. Now I want to go back and read the first book in the series, A Traitor in Whitehall, and look forward to reading more of Julia Kelly’s books. If you like historical fiction, mysteries, intrigue, and WWII history, be sure to read this book.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Betrayal at Blackthorn Park by Julia Kelly. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

BETRAYAL AT BLACKTHORN PARK by Julia Kelly features the same two characters – trained operatives Evelyne Redfern and David Poole -- as her earlier WWII historical mystery, A Traitor in Whitehall. This time the action takes place primarily in the English countryside where Blackthorn Park is being used as a weapons research facility. Due to concern about missing materials, Redfern and Poole set out to investigate, but quickly confront a death – suicide or murder of Sir Nigel, the brilliant but brusque scientist who leads the engineers? All of this is a bit confusing initially because so many characters are introduced, but then the relationships and motives crystallize; plus, suspense develops further as newly manufactured weapons malfunction just prior to a visit from Winston Churchill. I agree with Publishers Weekly who said, "Most readers will be able to ferret out the culprit well before Evelyne and David do, but their simmering romantic chemistry and Kelly's talent for brisk pacing win out in the end." I also thoroughly enjoyed the AUDIO BOOK for BETRAYAL AT BLACKTHORN PARK which was narrated by Marisa Calin with her soft British accent and expressive voice. Looking forward to more in this series.

Evelyne's first assignment as a spy during WWII is to Blacktorn Park where alternative bomb making and testing is taking place. Some of the supplies have been reported as missing and Evelyne is assigned to see if she can find out anything. But when she gets there, she comes across an administrator who's been murdered but it was covered up as a suicide. Evelyne, with the help of her handler David, must figure out what is going on at Blacktorn Park before the bombs manufactured there hurt more people or it becomes a wider problem.

This is a cozy historical fiction mystery and it actually the second in the series. I don't know that reading them in order is a must, but it did certainly give character insight into this one to have read
A Traitor at Whitehall first. I love the mix of historical fiction with a mystery angle, and I hope Julia Kelly keeps writing these! They are not too heavy or bloody while also being good.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

This book is set during WWII, in England. Evelyne Redfern has been training to spy and to detect spies, and has been given her first assignment as a field agent. She was disappointed to see that Blackthorn Park - the place she was assigned - was a sleepy country estate. She quickly realizes that the estate is real, but also camouflage. Blackthorn Park's numerous outbuildings are places where new weapons are being developed and tested, and is important enough in the war effort that Winston Churchill is coming to visit.

Evelyne has a room on the estate but her handler, David Poole, has taken lodgings in the village. Then, two men are murdered, including the chief engineer. Since Evelyn and David just arrived and had alibis, the two of them begin the detective work of establishing where people were when the two men were killed. For those of us who love romance, there was a very tiny inkling of it. .

I enjoyed this book very much. This is the second book in a series, but it works well as a standalone book. I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher St. Martin's Press, and voluntarily read and reviewed it

I was so happy to see another Evelyne book! I thoroughly enjoyed the first and am quite happy with her return.

Newly trained spy Evelyne views her first assigned task as a disappointment but little does she realize that there is more than she could imagine at Blackthorn Park. Murder ensues and it is a race to discover who the killer is. It was great to welcome back David...I can't wait to see where this partnership goes!

An enjoyable who-done-it and I am anxious for more.

Thank you to Minotaur for my complimentary arc and to MacMillan Audio for my complimentary ALC of Betrayal at Blackthorn Park. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am happy to have Evelyne and David back!! They work well together. I really like how they interact and how David allows her to take charge on the investigation. Many things have changes since we last them, but it is a good change.

Just like an Agatha Christie novel, there are many twists and turns. You think you have it all figured out and BAM there is a twist.

Perfect if you enjoy:
Historical Fiction and mystery combined
WWII secret weapons
Strong Women
Agatha Christie Novels

Looking forward to the next installment, because that ending !! This is the second book in the series and made be read as a standalone. But do yourself a favor and read A Traitor in Whitehall.

Marisa Calin did a fabulous job with the narration.

Evelyne Redfern was a typist in Churchill’s war rooms when she was introduced in A Traitor in Whitehall. After solving a murder and proving her abilities she was chosen to join the Special Investigative Unit (SIU). In Julia Kelly’s second book in the series she has completed intensive training and is ready to serve. As a new and untested agent her first assignment is less than exciting. An anonymous tip suggested a theft of materials from Blackthorn Park, a weapons research facility. She is to enter the facility at night to test their security. Her handler is David Poole, who worked with her on her murder investigation. As she enters the manor house through the servants’ area there is a gun shot. Dr. Nigel, the head of the project, is found dead in his office with his gun clutched in his hand. While everyone accepts it as a suicide, Evelyne suspects murder, which is confirmed by the coroner. Winston Churchill has a visit scheduled in three days, so Evelyne and David are under pressure to find answers.

Dr. Nigel was demanding and difficult to work with. He was also critical of his engineers’ designs. When he was contacted by the head of a training area where one of their inventions malfunctioned, he demanded an inventory of materials and a review of their suppliers. Whoever killed Dr. Nigel was familiar with the facility, leading Evelyne to believe that it was an employee. As she and David retrace Dr. Nigel’s steps in the days before his murder, question the staff and pour over reports, invoices and personnel files, another murder is staged as a suicide. The victim had also requested some of the files, where Evelyne believes they will find some of their answers to their investigation. The clock is ticking and they fear for Churchill’s safety. Evelyne and David work well together. Even though he has been assigned as her handler, he is more comfortable in the field. He treats Evelyne as an equal and recognizes her abilities. While he shows his concern for her and there is a hint of affection, they keep their relationship on a professional level. Kelly keeps you guessing to the end with her wartime mystery. It is atmospheric and moves at a brisk pace with a solid conclusion and a hint at what is to come, something that I am looking forward to. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur for providing this book.

I enjoyed the second book in this series! Just as good as the first. I like the characters a lot. I like that David never overpowered Evelynne, he was a true partner. I sped through this in just over a day. Can’t wait for the next one!

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is the 2nd book in the series but it was good as a stand alone book.

Taking place in WWII, Evelyne Redfern is eager for her first assignment as a field agent. She isn't happy that her first assignment is doing a security review of Blackthorn Park. A place where they are building explosives for the war. While there she stumbles into what at fist appears to be a suicide but ends up being a murder. Soon her handler, David, is there and the two are set on solving the murder. Can they solve it and another one before Churchill is expected to visit?

It was a fun read and was easy to keep up with the pace. I look forward to more in this series and reading her first one.

A solid 4/5 stars

When I heard there was a second book coming from Julia Kelly in her Evelyne Redfern (Parisian Orphan) series, I couldn’t wait to read the new installment!

In book 2, we meet up with Evelyne freshly graduated from a rigorous training program in all things spy craft and eager for her first assignment as a field agent. She is once again teamed up with her erstwhile partner David Poole but is disappointed to learn her only task is to perform a simple security test at Blackthorn Park, a requisitioned manor house in the sleepy Sussex countryside during WW II. At Blackthorn Park, however, there is more than what meets the eye. Mystery and intrigue are ever present as Evelyne’s simple assignment is complicated by a double murder.

I thoroughly enjoyed following Evelyne and David as they worked together to solve another mystery. Evelyne is smart and clever and quick on her feet, and I love how David is supportive and really plays second fiddle to Evelyne as they begin to unravel the mysteries. The story is never heavy handed, making this more of a light, cozy mystery in a historical setting. Kelly does a great job of balancing both fact and fiction to keep the story moving quickly along.

I highly recommend this one to historical fiction fans of all stripes. And for readers feeling a bit burned out on WW II fiction, although this one is set during the war, it really isn’t about the war. Rather, it offers a peek at some of the behind-the-scenes work that was done to help England protect itself and its allies during the war.. 4.5 stars

Betrayal at Blackthorn Park by Julia Kelly is a mystery which is taking place in England during 1940, while London is being bombed. Evelyn Redfern couldn’t believe the difference when she returned from her training. The city was a shambles. She was called to work immediately to go to a place called Blackthorn Park and investigate missing components to weapons being built there. It was supposed to be over night. That’s all. Her handler was to be her former partner, David Poole. Neither of them was happy with the assignment, but it was all arranged. She was to pretend to be the cousin of a woman who lived there and stay in her cottage. She and Poole made a plan after they carefully studied all the blueprints they had. When she got there, more was going on, including a murder, a clever one. Poole came down immediately and they started investigating together. It was all very hurried because Churchill, himself, was coming on Thursday to view weapons exhibitions and it was Monday. There couldn’t be any problems.

Evie is a terrific character. The product of a mother who loved her and a father she hadn’t seen in years. He sued for custody simply to hurt her mother and when she died, she no longer heard from him. She went to live with her aunt, well, except when she was at boarding school. She was the perfect person to work on spying missions and investigations. She had just finished her training and was anxious to begin. David Poole is also an excellent character. He is a more seasoned agent and ready for promotion, although he loved being in the field. The plot was quite good: war always provides plenty of fertile material for crime. Evie really wanted to go overseas, but realized she had to earn her stripes. As always, it was all about money, which they quickly learned. It was a good read, full of twists and turns and people who weren’t who they seemed to be. Thanks, Julia Kelly!

I was invited to read Betrayal at Blackthorn Park by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #JuliaKelly #BetrayalAtBlackthornPark

The second installment in this most enjoyable historical mystery series brings us to Blackthorn Park, in 1940, where weapons are being developed for use during the war. Evelyn is on her first official mission for the Special Investigations Unit, sent to uncover a possible theft of materials. When a murder occurs, the investigation begins with many red herrings and characters. Kelly dies a great job combining history and mystery with humor and absorbing story lines. I am looking forward to the next installment. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Title:  Betrayal at Blackthorn Park  
Author: Julia Kelly  
Genre:  Historical fiction, mystery
Rating:  4.5 out of 5

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.

When Evelyne discovers Blackthorn Park’s chief engineer dead in his office, her simple assignment becomes more complicated. Evelyne must use all of her—and David’s—detection skills to root out who is responsible and uncover layers of deception that could change the course of the war.

I’ve enjoyed all of Julia Kelly’s books that I’ve read so far, but this series is a perfect binge-read. I enjoy watching Evelyn and seeing how her mind works as she’s making connections and putting things together. It’s kind of like watching someone work a Rubik’s cube. The way she and David play off each other makes them a great pair, and I was invested in their case from the beginning.

Julia Kelly is a bestselling author who lives in London. Betrayal at Blackthorn Park is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

This is the first time I've read a Julia Kelly book and it will not be the last. What a great book! The author captivated my attention from the very beginning and it continued to the very end. The storyline was great and the characters were very well written. You can't go wrong with reading "Betrayal at Blackthorn Park". It has it all, mystery, suspense, and a great time period.

I received this complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.

A wartime whodunnit with spies, romance and witty banter. I didn’t read the first in the series but never felt lost. I enjoy historical fiction and this one offered some history with lighter content than other WW2 novels and entertaining characters. 3.5

,Great second in series, in fact to my mind better than the opener.
Evelyn’s first solo assignment with David as her handler - what could go amiss? Of course another murder mystery is about to unfold.
I felt I got to know and like the main characters with this book and the mystery itself really held my interest.
I like the author’s straightforward writing style.
The portrayal of the setting and the historical details included make this book a great choice for historical fiction fans.
Definitely looking forward to the next in series - for a new mystery and to see how the relationships Evelyn has progress.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC to read and review.
Love a new series to follow!

Great second installment in the Redfern mysteries! I think I’m a little in love with David myself. Thanks for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

Real Rating: 4.25* of five
After the four-star detail-filled atmospheric romantic thriller that was A TRAITOR IN WHITEHALL, my expectations and hopes were high for this second read featuring Evelyne and David.

I got the period details I wanted, I got the relationship development I expected (minimal), and the mystery element was interesting. But the second time is so often just a bit...samey...isn't it? We've been here, now we want something to happen. Author Kelly chose to meet that desire fairly late in the proceedings, setting us up for a sequel.

The fact that this is a romantic suspense novel far more than a puzzle-solvong one is just fine by me. Evelyne and David are well-matched, though not perfectly mated. That would get a bit dull. Instead they're given enough friction by their shared career as confidential agents of The Powerful at a tremendously consequential crossroads in history to keep their focus clear and mutual; there's an enemy to fight, a reason to keep fighting, and a lot of work to put into that fight.

Witty banter is a risky narrative strategy in a book without an explicit romance. David and Evelyne are clearly headed that way, but at times their palaver gives the future of the game away. This results in oddly reducing the tension that so many series stories rely on. Just ask Moonlighting's producers how letting that drop works out...yet, despite this (I suppose inevitable) middle space in a series being unsettled, the way Author Kelly words things is enough fun, the period evocation is so skillfully interwoven, and the history treated with such respect that I can't help but bump this fun book two of more to come up a quarter star. I'm especially calling out Evelyne's character-appropriate, but period-shocking, willingness to chafe against what she sees as unfair boundaries set for her because little is expected of her in terms of ability. This is something I suspect many intelligent people from disrespected groups and backgrounds relate to. Events transpire that give Evelyne reason to reassess her responses...sometimes training wheels save the savant from a bad fall.

All in all, a series I'm enjoying more as it unfolds. An increasingly rare experience that I genuinely appreciate.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It picks up shortly after the first book. I hope there are more books to come. Thank you, Netgalley!