Evelyn Bishop, now president of Bishop Aeronautics in Los Angeles, founded by her father, was an OSS operative during the war with her now fiancé, Nick Gallagher. The missions they went on together were dangerous and often deadly. It was late 1940s and when Evelyn heard scientist Kurt Vogel, a man they'd smuggled out of Nazi Germany, had received a postcard from his wife, Hannah, and daughter, he was cautiously hopeful it meant she and their daughter Sophie, were still alive. Not managing to retrieve Kurt's family was a failure Evelyn felt often; now was the opportunity to reunite the family.

Nick was a private detective after being with the LAPD, and when he was contacted by an old friend, Helen, and told an employee had gone missing, he was immediately on the case. Mixed in with the mob as well as other undesirables, Nick was determined to find Julie, as well as assist Evelyn in the case back in Berlin. But could he? The danger was ever present...

An Unquiet Peace is the 2nd in A Bishop & Gallagher Mystery series by Shaina Steinberg and I haven't read the first. This is also my first by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it, with everything I love - intrigue, plenty of twists, top class characters, and a fabulous mystery. I'll be looking for more by this author and recommend this one highly.

With thanks to NetGalley & Kensington Publishers for my digital ARC to read and review.

This book has an engaging voice and a fast-paced plot. The characters are interesting and well-rounded. If you like mid-century spy thrillers, this book is for you.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

I absolutely loved An Unquiet Peace. I didn't know this was part of a series (face plant) but my error has be rectified. I was fascinated by the way the main characters, Evelyn and Nick, are a couple but have their own identities. I would find them on different sides of the world Solving a mystery. I saw the wonderful dynamics when they were together. They are the epitome of opposites attract. They are their own unique people but they stronger together.

With every page I read; I was more excited to see what happened next. Evelyn and Nick met as members of th OSS during WW2. Evelyn's training will come in handy as she tries to correct a piece of her past. She finds herself back in Germany, reconnecting with her past. What happens next is shocking. Nick rushes to her side, determined to discover what happened.

Nick uses his training every day in his work as a Private Investigator in the Los Angeles area. He soon finds himself in the thick of things as he searches for a missing girl. Not everything is as it seems. Not everyone wants her found. I was stumped. I was shocked. I found his case entertaining me for hours. When he discovers the truth, it is with Evelyn by his side.

Together they are stronger. Their love is obvious. Following their romance, their plans for the future, had me hoping for an amazing happily ever after.

I hadn’t read the first book in this series, but now I want to search it out. Private detective Nick Gallagher and heiress and former WWII spy Evelyn Bishop are engaged and preparing for their wedding. But both get involved investigating mysteries arising from their pasts. They both encounter old friends that awaken painful memories. Meanwhile, Evelyn’s aunt tries somewhat in vain to get Evelyn interested in planning a fancy wedding. Evelyn is forced to travel to Berlin during the Berlin airlift to try to find out what had happened to the wife and child of a German scientist she had helped escape Nazi Germany during the war. It wasn’t a time that I’d read in other historic novels and I found the depiction of defeated Germany very interesting.

I really enjoyed this mystery and look forward to reading more in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Two people who faced danger during the war, working for the OSS, take up new work in peacetime. Evelyn Bishop, trained as an engineer, takes over her disgraced father's aeronautical firm, an unusual job for a woman; Nick Gallagher works as a private investigator. Despite their different backgrounds (Evelyn comes from money, Nick lived on the streets before joining the military) they are deeply in love and plan to marry, but a well-meaning aunt's enthusiasm for wedding planning gets in the way. So does a mission to find the missing wife and child of a scientist refugee that takes Evelyn to Berlin during the 1948 airlift. Meanwhile, Nick has to find a kidnapped bartender who worked for the woman who taught him how to survive as a child and now runs a high-class but dodgy gentleman's club.

I found this historical adventure fun to read, though there seemed to me to be a bit of a lack of balance between Nick's case, which is quite thoroughly developed and eventful, and Evelyn's rescue mission, for which she had to rely on informants and go-betweens rather than be the primary actor in some key scenes. It might be wise to read this after reading the previous two books in the series to understand the past events that shaped the characters' lives, but I didn't, and didn't find it confusing.

A Thrilling Blend of Espionage, Noir, and Old Hollywood Intrigue

An Unquiet Place by Shaina Steinberg is a masterclass in historical mystery, seamlessly blending the high-stakes tension of wartime espionage with the moody allure of 1940s Los Angeles noir. It’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets Code Name Verity with a razor-sharp wit and an undeniable cinematic flair—truly a novel that grabs you from the first page and never lets go.

Evelyn Bishop is everything I love in a protagonist—brilliant, fearless, and constantly underestimated by those around her. A former OSS operative turned reluctant aeronautics mogul, she refuses to be confined by the expectations of high society. Her relationship with Nick Gallagher, a former spy turned private investigator, crackles with chemistry, blending romance, banter, and mutual respect in a way that feels both timeless and fresh. Together, they navigate a world of double agents, Hollywood scandal, and Cold War paranoia, where nothing is as it seems.

Steinberg’s writing is electric. The dialogue is snappy, the pacing relentless, and the atmosphere impeccably crafted—whether in the smoky back rooms of a gentleman’s club, the tension-filled streets of post-war Berlin, or the sun-drenched glamour of LA. The mystery unfolds with intricate twists, keeping me guessing (and gasping!) until the final reveal. It’s a perfect mix of action, espionage, and noir-infused suspense, with just the right amount of heart to make it all matter.

Fans of historical thrillers, whip-smart heroines, and intricate spy games will devour this book. An Unquiet Place is a must-read for anyone who loves a little danger with their mystery and a lot of style in their storytelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shaina Steinberg for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

The 'A Bishop & Gallagher Mystery Series' should be right up my alley: daring historical adventures featuring intriguing mysteries and a slow burn romance. I just don't prefer the way Evelyn Bishop and Nick Gallagher carry themselves. They are a bit more brash and worldly than I am used to in a more cozy mystery. I know this is a personal preference, but I won't be continuing with this series. The writing style and scope of the plot is well executed though.

Special thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Not having read the first book in the Bishop and Gallagher Mystery series I missed some of the background information. This might have added more to An Unquiet Peace (#2) by Shaina Steinberg if I had read the first. It may have been my current mood, but I had trouble staying focused on the story. Add in some topics covered in the story that I did not anticipate, and I struggled reading the book. Mybe on another day I may have given it a higher rating.

Releases Apr 29th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#AnUnquietPeace #NetGalley

I saw this book was about an undercover operative during WWII and had to read it. However, it didn't quite turn out to be what I thought.
First, I didn't know it was the second book in a series. I hadn't read the first one. I think it worked as a stand alone fairly well, but there was definitely backstory that would have helped define the characters more.
Second, I thought there would be more historical context to this story. However, I felt the plot to the story could have taken place anytime and anywhere. There were a couple twists in the story that I didn't expect. The content was definitely mature, but overall it was a good mystery.
I like that the ebook included discussion questions at the end.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC! It was a 3.5 for me! The book is baed on post war WW2.

I adore Evie & Nick! Such the power couple! I love that they're both strong-willed, intelligent, capable individuals who work well together as a couple! We could use some more of that balance (especially in historical fiction). Add to that their spy background, and you couldn't ask for more inspiring main characters!

But you also get a twisty mystery! This is book 2 with the dynamic duo, and I think I liked it even more! Definitely more spy intrigue - and more justice for Evelyn!

"And you're saying this isn't the most open-minded welcoming city in the world." (Nick, such a sarcastic wit)

"You can't be a moral person in an impossible situation and not have regrets. If you feel nothing, that's when you should worry. Borrowed peace? Borrow anything long enough and it becomes yours." (wise Evie, wise author)

And of course, you can't help but love well-meaning Aunt Taffy, the wedding planner!

"An Unquiet Peace" is an unusual mix of after the WWII activities and a chance to right a wrong that occurred during the war. Evelyn Bishop, president of an aeronautical company, so called socialite, and war-time spy, is caught in that in between place of who are you after the war. Fellow OSS officer and now her fiance, Nick Gallagher, is a place of strength, friendship, and grounding. At once comfortable with the plane business and somewhat off-kilter at the sudden inheritance of the company, Evelyn see opportunity through her old contacts and the air-lift taking place in Berlin to accelerate her business endeavors and to actually participate in an active mission. She has the opportunity to re-unite German scientist Kurt Vogel with his long lost wife and daughter. He has received a letter supposedly from her and she is in Berlin. Suspiciously cautious, they fly to Germany and is part of a group both wary that this is a Russian ploy, and hopeful that Mr Vogel will soon see his family and bring them back to California with them.

Laced expertly through this story is one of Nick as a private detective. Caught while investigating a clients husband for adultery, Nick is taken into a house of entertainment for gentlemen. Some are there for the drinking, some for the gambling, some for something entirely else.
Run by a childhood friend, Nick is soon hired to find a young woman who has disappeared from the club.

This story has all of the "Noir" aspects, underworld patrons, crooked cops, well known celebrities, etc.

While this is the second novel in the "A Bishop & Gallagher Mystery" series, I was not lost at all in this book as it is understood that things happened in the previous novel which have been rectified. I liked it so much that I purchased the audiobook of the first novel "Under The Paper Moon".

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.

I enjoyed this WWII set mystery novel more than I thought I would but it wasn't a favorite it did keep me turning pages. I think I would have liked it better if I had read the series in order.

Unfortunately although I found the first one refreshing and fun, this installment felt lacking in its predecessors charms. I didn't end up finishing it. In an increasingly crowded field of historical romance Mysteries, this one should have stood out but didn't.

Evelyn is hard at work as president of Bishop Aviation but is able to fit in a search for the lost wife and daughter of a scientist she and Nick helped escape from Berlin. Nick is hired by an old friend to investigate the disappearance if their employees. Parts of the story were predictable, but the characters are engaging and the plot gives you just enough of an escape but isn’t too gritty. It’s also fun to get away to an imaginary world where you know everything will work out for the main characters.

Thank you Netgalley for a free ARC in return for an honest review.

I really liked that this book about post WWII. It was well written and well plotted and just an overall good book about the period after the war .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

A post WWII mystery. Even though the war is over, there are still illegal things going on. Very interesting and well written.

Los Angeles, late 1948, and our hero Evelyn Bishop is running Bishop Aeronautics like a champ while her father remains in exile. She's focused on the company but can't quite stop dipping a toe in the private investigator pool now and then. It's easy because her fiancé Nick Gallagher has taken over her PI agency. There's a wedding on the horizon (that is, if her aunt doesn't drive them crazy with too much planning) but much more interestingly there's a mystery afoot!

It seems that one of the missions that Evelyn, Nick, and their pals Carl and David undertook when they were all part of the Office of Strategic Services during WWII was the rescue of Kurt Vogel, a highly regarded German aerospace scientist. The rescue didn't go as planned and six years later Professor Vogel has just received some rather startling news. The Army calls in a few favors and soon Evelyn's heading to Berlin in the middle of the infamous Berlin Airlift (late 1948). Meanwhile, Nick has bumped into a woman from his past who he'd never expected to see again. She's running a gentlemen's club and things haven't been going as smoothly as she'd like.

Can Nick help her out? Can Evelyn figure out what's going on with Dr. Vogel? Will they manage to say "I do" before the book finishes?

I enjoyed this second Evelyn & Nick mystery quite a bit, finding it as charming and breezy as Steinberg's first novel. I wouldn't be surprised to find it turned into a popular - and romantic - TV series either. And I'd watch it. Recommended.

Logan Bishop was president of Bishop Aeronautics, but when he had to go into hiding his daughter, Evelyn, became president. She had served in the military with the OSS. That's where she met and fell in love with Nick, who had grown up on the streets.

Kurt Vogel was a German Jew and a scientist that the United States needed. Evelyn and Nick were tasked with the job of smuggling him into the United States. He had a family, a wife and a daughter. They separated him from his family to smuggle him out with the understanding that they would follow shortly. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. His family never showed up. There was a general who was responsible for getting his family out, but he failed. Kurt contacted Evelyn and asked her to go back to Germany to locate his family. He also wanted the general to go. While they were there, the Jeep they were traveling in exploded. Evelyn survived but the general died. It was clearly an attempt on someone's life.

Nick was a private investigator. He had grown up on the streets with his friend Helen, who had eventually opened a gentleman's club. One day, she showed up at Nick's agency and told him that one of her girls had been beaten badly. She wanted Nick to find out who had done it. And not long thereafter, another one of her girls was beaten practically to death. Nick assumed it was the mob and had one of them arrested. So now the mob was after Nick. Helen had hired Julia to be her bartender. Julia was a very decent young woman who never slept with any of the men that frequented the club. Julia was kidnapped and Nick was tasked to find out who was responsible.

All the while, Evelyn's saga continued. It turns out, the Jeep being blown up was an attempt to kill her and the general. There was yet another attempt on her life but she escaped. It seems someone drove a car into the door of her house and the car exploded causing the house to burn down.

This author's attempt at creating a book that was filled with suspense, espionage and even a decent love story was not lost on me. She did a stellar job telling the tale and her methodology of keeping the story fresh And inviting kept me coming back for more. I had a hard time putting this book down. I really like her style and would love to read more of her books. I gave it five stars. I wish I could have given it. 10.

This is a strong follow-up to the first in this series, and again it’s a thoroughly enjoyable look at the aftermath of WWII, both personal and political. You could read this as a standalone but it will make more sense and have more meaning if you have read the first. Evelyn and Nick are now engaged and get drawn into two separate cases, one leftover from their spy work during the war and one more local, with ties to Nick’s past. Both story lines are well done, and I like that the author never tried to make them overlap but instead kept both moving along at pace. The characters and their relationships continue to grow, and the details of the time period add a richness to the story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.