Betrayal at Blackthorn Park brings back spy, Evelyne Redfern in her latest adventures. Her first solo mission to gather intelligence inside a weapons research facility finds Evelyne stumbling over a dead body. When the supposed suicide turns into murder, Evelyne’s reconnaissance mission turns to murder investigation. David moves from handler to Evelyne’s co-investigator as the duo work to uncover and murderer and the secrets Blackthorn Park hide. The chemistry between Evelyne and David add an interesting romantic element that will hopefully be further explored in future books. I love the way Evelyne’s mind works to untwist all the facts. The mystery is both interesting and unpredictable with an unpredictable whodunnit for another page turning historical romance. My voluntary, unbiased, and non mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Julia Kelly’s Betrayal at Blackthorn Park is an atmospheric historical mystery that deftly blends romance, intrigue, and a web of secrets set in post-World War I England. With its evocative period setting and a plot full of twists and turns, Kelly delivers a captivating story that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and those who love a good, slow-burn mystery. I felt at times that I was watching an episode of 'Downton Abby'.

The novel opens with the return of Lily Watson to Blackthorn Park, a grand estate with a troubled history. Set in the aftermath of World War I, the narrative captures a world grappling with change, as society redefines itself after the devastation of the war. Lily’s return to Blackthorn Park is marred by suspicion and unrest—her former lover, Matthew Spencer, has been found dead under mysterious circumstances. Soon, Lily finds herself entangled in an investigation into his death that exposes secrets buried within the estate, its inhabitants, and even herself.

Kelly skillfully weaves a plot that balances suspense with emotional depth, slowly peeling back layers of deception. Each chapter builds the tension as Lily uncovers more about Matthew’s connections, the mysterious figures at Blackthorn Park, and her own complicated past. The suspense grows as Kelly unveils the dangerous and hidden motives behind the seemingly quiet lives of those around her.

One of the novel’s strengths is its immersive setting. Kelly excels at portraying the post-war English countryside, with Blackthorn Park standing as both a refuge and a symbol of the past’s inescapable weight. The descriptions of the estate’s grandeur, now faded and burdened by years of loss, add a gothic layer to the novel that enhances the mystery and unease that permeates the story.

Lily Watson is a compelling protagonist, marked by resilience and independence. Her determination to uncover the truth about Matthew’s death is driven not just by love or grief, but by a deeper desire for justice and closure. Throughout the novel, Kelly explores Lily’s inner struggles, particularly her feelings of guilt and betrayal as the truth about Matthew’s life begins to surface.

One of the more intriguing dynamics is Lily’s relationship with Matthew. Through flashbacks and conversations with those who knew him, Kelly unravels the complexities of their relationship—one marked by passion, deception, and unfulfilled promises. As Lily reflects on their past, the novel poses questions about love, loyalty, and the ways in which people can betray one another, either through intention or omission.

What sets Betrayal at Blackthorn Park apart from a typical historical mystery is its emotional core. While the novel’s plot revolves around solving a murder, the real heart of the story lies in its exploration of how people cope with loss, trauma, and the weight of past decisions. Kelly gives space for the characters, especially Lily, to process these emotions, which lends the story a level of introspection and depth beyond the typical whodunit structure.

Betrayal at Blackthorn Park is an engrossing and richly layered historical mystery that showcases Julia Kelly’s talent for weaving suspense with emotional depth. With a strong, resilient heroine at its center, and a plot full of secrets and revelations, the novel is a compelling blend of romance, intrigue, and historical insight. Kelly’s ability to evoke a vivid sense of time and place, combined with her attention to the emotional lives of her characters, makes this book a standout in the genre.

For readers who enjoy a well-crafted mystery set against a beautifully detailed historical backdrop, Betrayal at Blackthorn Park is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It captures the tension of post-war England while also delving into the complexities of love, betrayal, and the search for redemption.

Thank you to Minotaur and St. Martin's Press for my advance electronic version. My opinions are my own.

Now that Evelyne Redfern has officially entered the Special Operation Executive and passed training, her first assignment as a field agent is to investigate suspicious activity at a secret government R&D site, Blackthorn Park, in Sussex. The twist is that David Poole has been assigned as her handler, and his by-the-book approach clashes just as much as ever with her by-the-seat-of-her-pants technique. But when Evelyne discovers the chief engineer at Blackthorn Park dead, it quickly becomes obvious that there is more to the situation than they originally thought. And they only have a few days to find the killer before Winston Churchill himself arrives for a demonstration of the latest weaponry to be used in the fight against Germany and its allies in World War II.

I appreciated that this sequel explored how having to keep secrets and living a double life wears on operatives. That, and we got a glimpse of what spycraft looked like in that era. The idea of espionage, sabotage, reconnaissance, etc. wasn't fully embraced by everyone in the government in England, and many considered it to be "ungentlemanly." So not only did Blackthorn Park need to produce useful weaponry in order to maintain its funding, but it also had something to prove on behalf of spycraft in general (as did Evelyne and David). The attraction between the two continues, but is not the main focus of the story (which really works for this series so far). I felt that the book was a bit heavy on Evelyne's showing up David in pretty much everything, though, and I would have appreciated it if their discoveries and breakthroughs were less one-sided. I did like how well they communicated, though, and I hope that continues! One of my favorite things about this series is how historically immersive the stories are. I'm hoping that there will be a third installment soon!

Julia Kelly is a comfort read for me. Her HF novels are cozy and slow. And this new one is no exception as we go back to a murder mystery in the form of the board game ‘clue’ meeting Angela Lansbury of ‘Murder She Wrote’. And for fun, give it the cozy feels of ‘The Maid’ by Nita Prose.

Basically that’s how I felt the whole book. It was one of those 3 things that it reminded me of.

But it was fun to be back in the 40’s under covering suicides that show up as such… but clever Evelyne and David know something doesn’t add up. Why would lead scientist commit suicide? When he seems to have been a narcissist that would never do such a thing.

I will say that I think it was a bit long and slow. I know intentional for the cozy feel. But it was extra slow.

If you enjoy HF or the fabulous Julia Kelly, then you’ll enjoy this autumn read. Not my favourite of hers but still enjoyable

3.5 ⭐️

This is the second book in the series. Unfortunately, I hadn't read the first one, and when this book caught my eye, I was a little worried that my lack of knowledge about the main character's previous actions would affect my enjoyment of the reading experience.

Fortunately, the author provides enough information to smoothly integrate the reader into following the heroine's adventures. I spent a great time in the company of Evelyn and David.

Books set in WWII England, filled with secrets, intelligence battles, and talented agents, are my favorite light reading. *Betrayal at Blackthorn Park* did not disappoint in this regard. We had interesting characters, a romance hanging in the air, and an intriguing crime mystery. I could only sigh like Constable Lee, that there were no German spies.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this copy.

Historical Mystery set in England 1940 featuring a former typist turned spy and her handler team up to catch a weapons facility chief engineer's killer and uncover a deadly deception.

5/5 stars: This is the second entry in Kelly's Parisian Orphan series which is a Historical Mystery set in 1940 England featuring a former typist turned spy who winds up teaming up with her handler after her first mission to performing a simple security at a weapons facility ahead of a visit from Churchill takes a deadly turn after she discovers the chief weapons engineer dead. As the two investigate to murder they uncover a deadly deception that could change the course of the war. ith plenty of twists and turns, Kelly has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects and weaves in plenty of clues and red herrings that will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Additionally, Kelly's writing and character work are stellar; the main characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable and the secondary cast members are well crafted and uniquely voiced. It's great to catch up with Evelyne and learn more about her unique upbringing; her aunt Amelia is a definite character. Also I love Evelyne and David's working relationship and how it's budding into friendship and possibly more. Kelly touches on some sensitive subjects, so take care and the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, A Traitor in Whitehall.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Betrayal at Blackthorn Park, the second in a series, features avid reader of detective mysteries, Evelyn Redfern. Plucked from the typing pool, Evelyn is a newly trained spy for the Special Investigations Unit in London 1940. Her first mission is a security check at a country manor in Sussex, known as Blackthorn Park. Now a weapons research facility with a staff of engineers, administrators, and workers, it is the perfect setting for a mystery.
The focus of Evelyn’s mission changes from a security check for missing supplies to a murder investigation. Author Julia Kelly’s lifelong love for mysteries and detective stories lends credence to interviews of suspects, tricks of the detective trade, and summaries of clues before heading the search off in another direction.
Julia Kelly’s characters move with ease from Whitehall to Blackthorn Park. To Evelyn’s dismay her partner at Whitehall, David Poole, has been promoted to ‘handler’ in the SIU and follows her to Blackthorn. Kelly’s development of Evelyn’s view of David Poole evolves from mostly annoying to sometimes endearing, giving readers hope for a closer connection in the future. She uses clever pairings such as Mr. and Mrs. Sherman, stationmaster at Benstead and housekeeper at the manor, to make connections and confirm clues. To relax the frantic pace and drama of the mission Kelly isolates the interviews of suspects into chapters and switches to Evelyn’s London life with occasional telephone calls to best friend Moira.
Betrayal at Blackthorn takes place in one hectic week, with a day-by-day countdown to Winston Churchill’s visit for a weapons demonstration. Interviews, journal checks, letters and a secret hiding place keep readers piecing clues together until the last explosion at Blackthorn Park.

This book is a continuation of the first book in the series so I recommend reading them in order. The audiobook brought the story alive with good narration. I loved how strong the female protagonist is in this book.

I am a pushover for theses very Brit ish spy novels. I love the repartee and the formal dealings with the police and the background ops. It’s like being a fan of the Beatles or Perry Mason…. I am addicted. The novel was terrific. Witty, clever, old fashioned..on purpose… and I recommend it to any who are watchers of the BBC mysteries on TV. Here’s another character to love!

In Julia Kelly’s first book in this series, heroine Evelyne Redferne got a job as a clerk in Churchill’s war rooms only to discover a body on her very first day. As she’d been asked by a high up family friend to “keep her eyes open,” she ends up investigating. and solves the crime. In book two, she’s already been sent north for training as a member of the ultra secret Special Operations Executive, where she’ll be working as an investigator. Her maiden outing is to Blackthorn Park, which has been requisitioned by the government as a center for creating bombs for use in the field. The home office suspects some kind of theft is going on and requests that Evelyne travel there and assess how easily the property can be breached.

Her handler will be the man she worked with in book one, David Poole, and despite their slightly prickly relationship they function efficiently and intelligently together. All goes well as Evelyne checks into the cottage she’s to stay in and reconnoiters Blackthorn Park, but when she clandestinely returns there at night (easily breaking in) there’s a shot and she discovers a dead body, an apparent suicide. Readers, when is a suicide in a mystery novel a suicide? Close to never, and true to form, in this case it is a murder, and not only that, the victim is the man in charge of Blackthorn.

Much to the consternation of the higher-ups there, Evelyne and David quickly assume control of the investigation. They are under a tight deadline though, as Churchill is coming for an inspection in 3 or 4 days, and some of the bombs seem to be inconveniently exploding in the field when they shouldn’t, killing agents. This is a fairly standard story of a wartime investigation in some ways, but Kelly makes it sing with her characters and narrative verve, which really commands the reader’s attention. I didn’t think this installment was quite as good or unusual as the first, but it still has some fascinating threads to it.

The tangle of characters at Blackthorn and the way they relate – or don’t relate – to one another is a marvelous depiction of class interaction in a wartime setting, a time when people of different social classes are forced to work closely together. It’s also an interesting look at how the war was being waged behind the scenes in parts of rural England. The boys may have been at the front, but back home plenty was happening and the scientists and engineers at Blackthorn are hoping to be able to shorten the duration of the war through their work.

I very much enjoy Evelyne as a character. She’s more or less a poor little rich girl – when she lost her mother at a young age, her gad about father deposited her in the care of her aunt. A background in a British boarding school has stiffened her upper lip and her family history makes her want to simply get on with things. In this, she’s an incredibly British character, just carrying on with her war work and dealing with her complex relationship with handler David.

Although her central character is a brash American, these books very much remind me of Susan Elia MacNeal’s wonderful Maggie Hope series. Both women began their careers working in one way or another for Churchill, and from there moved to the Special Operations Executive. As MacNeal has recently wrapped the Maggie series, I’m thinking Evelyne may just satisfy my WWII reading cravings. While I didn’t love this book as much as the first, I still found it entirely enjoyable and look forward to the resolution of the tantalizing cliffhanger Kelly leaves dangling in front of the reader at the end of this book.

Evelyne Redferne returns to solve another mystery, but this time with the SOE supporting her efforts. After graduating from her training program where she learns how to be a spy, Evelyne is ready for her first field assignment.

When Evelyne is sent to Sussex to Blackthorne Park to perform a security check, she is disappointed assuming she would have been given a riskier assignment since she is a native French speaker. Not only is her assignment lackluster, but David Poole, whom she worked with to discover a mole in Churchill’s War Rooms is her handler and incredibly distracting. Regardless, she heads to the countryside shocked to discover the manor has been requisitioned as a weapons research and development facility. When the lead engineer turns up dead, Evelyne is determined to find out what is really going on at this facility before Churchill himself turns up for inspection in only a few days.

Betrayal at Blackthorne Park is a fun and quick whodunnit read, that keeps the reader guessing. The story is the second in what looks like to be an ongoing series, and A Traitor at Whitehall should be read first to understand Evelyne’s background.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and author Julia Kelly for the advanced copy of the book. Betrayal at Blackthorne Park is out on October 1st! All opinions are my own.

My thanks to St Martin s/Minotaur for allowing me to review this arc .

Eve Redfern and David Poole are back again and requested to solve a theft at Blackthorn Park. Instead, they wind up investigating the death of Sir Nigel, owner of the home. His death appears a suicide...but is it? When a second "death" occurs in a similar way Eve and David have a lot more on their hands then they realize.

This is my 2nd book featuring these characters I read and I look forward to more. Witty, charming, cozy, and a great period piece. Gave me a Masterpiece Theater mystery vibe. Highly recommend.

This is the second book in the Evelyne Redfern series. I did not read the first book, but this read easily as a standalone. Evelyne Redfern is newly graduated from training as a British secret agent in the early days of WWII. David Poole is her handler but wants to return to the field. There is chemistry between them that I am sure will develop as the series continues.

Sent to a secure ammunitions facility to secretly investigate some thefts, Evelyne becomes involved in investigating a suicide, or is it a murder? This is a light historical mystery with a strong story and vivid descriptions. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this novel. The comments expressed are my own.

Evelyne Redfern, freshly graduated from a spy training program, is initially disappointed when her first assignment is a simple security test at Blackthorn Park, a secret weapons facility in Sussex. However, things quickly become more complicated when she discovers the chief engineer dead, forcing her and her handler, David Poole, to investigate. As they uncover layers of deception, Evelyne realizes that their work could be crucial to the war effort, especially with an upcoming visit from Winston Churchill.

I have been waiting for this book! The first book was a delight, and I was eager to see what happened next for the indomitable Miss Evelyne Redfern. Although it would have been fun to see her training, we instead get to see her first assignment. She is eager to prove herself, and when a murder once again falls into her path, she jumps to work.

Seeing her interact with David Poole, who chafes at being a handler, was immensely fun. They work together so well, and of course there is the hint of romance between. And an appearance by Evelyne’s aunt was equally entertaining (she hints at her own past, which I am longing to know more about!)

Overall, this was a cozy and fun mystery. The narrator was a delight to listen to, and I enjoyed it so much, I read the ebook copy as well. I am very much looking forward to book three.

The follow-up to A Traitor in Whitehall finds Evelyne Redfern, fresh from her training as a secret agent, off to investigate suspected thefts of material at a clandestine facility for weapons research and manufacturing during the early days of WW2, with David Poole returning as her handler. They quickly find themselves in a murder investigation when the brilliant scientist who heads the lab is found dead - is it murder or suicide? A quick read with insight into Britain's attempts to stay ahead of Germany in the weapons race, the role of women in the war effort, and attempts by some to profit from the fighting. Evelyne and David complement each other well with each taking leading roles in the investigation. Hopefully Julia Kelly continues the series, as she has created appealing lead and supporting characters and built strong storylines around them. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC.

This is the second book in the Parisian Orphan series.

I really enjoyed the first book, and had assumed it was a stand-alone novel. I was delighted to find out that we would meet the characters again as a second book had been written.

Evelyne has been trained now as an agent for the SUI, and David has been trained as her handler. Her first assignment is to verify the security at Blackthorn Park, an estate in the countryside, while David remains behind in London. Shortly after Evelyne arrives, she finds the chief engineer dead in his office, and so a murder investigation begins. David arrives from London and the pair work together to solve the mystery.

Despite the serious subject, this war-time novel is a light and easy read, with excellent characters and great descriptions. This is not a romance, but Evelyne and David certainly have some chemistry as they complement each other with their skills. The author clearly did plenty of research and it shows, as this really makes you feel that you in the British countryside during the war.

We also get some more insight into Evelyne and her family, and her relationships with her friends. All of this gives us a well-rounded book with a great plot.

An enjoyable book, and I'm looking forward to more in this series.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for a complimentary copy of this novel!
This is the second novel in the Parisian Orphan series. I had a chance to review the first book in this series, A Traitor in Whitehall, last year! So of course I was excited when I saw the second book in this series up for review.
Betrayal at Blackthorn Park picks up not too long after the first book and WW2 is still ongoing. We see Evelyn Redfern coming back from an intense training program on how to be a proper spy and David Poole has just completed training on how to be a handler. As David and Evelyne’s first mission together, Evelyn is sent on a simple mission in the Sussex countryside where there is an anonymous report that parts are being stolen from a secret weapons research and development facility at Blackthorn Park. But not long after Evelyn begins to scope out the property, a death takes place. To make matters worse, Churchill is scheduled to tour the facility in a few days’ time. So, what was supposed to be a simple mission to gather information has now become a possible murder investigation. David Poole has now been called to come to the facility and along with Evelyn they must work together to solve the case before Churchill arrives. With the outcome of the war also at stake, Evelyn and David must race to untangle the lies and deception happening at Blackthorn Park. But when a second death occurs, it is clear someone is willing to do anything to keep their secrets hidden! Can they figure out everything in time?
I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy historical fiction mystery! I do hope there is a book 3 coming out! AVAILABLE October 1, 2024

Betrayal at Blackthorn Park is an Evelyne Redfern mystery set in England during World War II. Evelyne has just completed training as a field agent and hopes to do her part to win the War. She is sent to a secured facility to see what she can find out about some thefts. Evelyne infiltrates the facility and hears a shot - Sir Nigel is dead. It looks like a suicide but Evelyne doesn’t believe it.
This is my first time reading this series and I found it charming. I like historical mysteries and Evelyne and David are a refreshing duo.
Plan to read more.

Betrayal at Blackthorn Park is the second book in Julia Kelly’s new Parisian Orphan series, and if anything, it is even more enjoyable than the first one. The first installation, A Traitor in Whitehall, introduces us to Evelyne Redfern, a young detective novel aficionado who stumbles on a murder while working as a typist in Churchill’s underground war rooms. In this book, she is no longer an amateur, but instead has completed (and it is implied that she excelled in), the Special Investigation Unit’s grueling training course and is a fully fledged, albeit quite green, agent of the SIU.

Her first official case sends her to Blackthorn Park, a top secret weapons facility, where she is to investigate some irregularities - including possible thefts - in the lead up to a visit by Winston Churchill himself. At first grumbling at what she sees as too easy a task, soon Evie stumbles on a murder, and the case proves anything other than easy.

Perhaps a little more relaxing than the first one - Evie’s training means that she is equipped for anything and is never really in over her head - this book is nevertheless great fun, with intelligent, driven characters who work well together and are clearly passionate about the war effort. Her male partner, David Poole, a returning character from the first book, is briefly set up to be her handler at the beginning of the novel - a complication that is quickly jettisoned as it is clear to everyone that they work best as partners. Poole’s respect for Evie’s abilities is perhaps a bit anachronistic, but it makes for a much more enjoyable read, as the book has little to none of the usual arguments about women’s capabilities that can clog up a narrative. Poole is clearly being set up as a possible love interest, but any hints of romance remain merely hints, as the two agents prioritize the task at hand.

The mystery itself is a bit thin - the “who” is clear from the beginning - but the characters and story are enough to get you past this, and the pleasure of reading about likeable, smart, competent people ensures that I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

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.

After appreciating the first title so much, I was so happy to receive an early invitation for this and began it with interest.

The research is obvious in the writing and it’s one of the reasons I’ve enjoyed this series as much as I have since the first book.

The plotting and storyline, as well as the back and forth of Evelyne and David made Betrayal at Blackthorn Park a very easy to read and fun cozy mystery.

A solid second title and I will definitely read the next 🙂



Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the DRC