Olive Bright, Pigeoneer

I read this book not long after reading Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders, and the two of them have a little of the same vibe: young woman in her twenties living in a small English village as World War II rages—Poppy has trained as an air-raid warden, Olive is the 22-year-old daughter of a veterinarian and pigeon fancier. As much as I liked Poppy Redfern, I almost enjoyed Olive Bright more. The story opens as Olive's best friend George is just leaving the small village of Pipley to join the RAF, and she too wishes to do something for the war effort. Her father has volunteered their homing pigeons to the Army's National Pigeon Service's for courier duty; unfortunately the recruiters know of Dr. Bright's mercurial tempers and are avoiding the Bright loft. Instead, two other, secretive Army officers approach Olive, saying they would like to use the Bright pigeons, but for super-secret war matters they can't tell her about. Eager to get the pigeons in action and without asking her father, Olive challenges the two men to put the Bright birds to the test.

In the meantime, with the village women rallying around the war effort, overbearing busybody Miss Husselbee is being more of a martinet than usual. While everyone is annoyed by her, they're also shocked when she turns up murdered at the Bright loft, found by Jonathon, the Brights' young evacuee. Is her death tied to the secret movements of Jameson Aldridge and his partner, the officers who wish to use Olive's pigeons? And, if not, who in the village would want Miss Husselbee dead?

I really, really liked the fact that even to the end of the book there was no effort made to pair up Olive with Jameson Aldridge as Poppy Redfern had been paired with the American officer. They are contentious with each other through the end. There's a Welsh corgi in this story as well, and it's called a corgi, not "a Welsh herding dog." I thought the pigeon angle of the tale was a fresh one, something not involving spy training, American bases, or anything else that has been used in historical mysteries before, and enjoyed the fact that the birds are all named after book characters, and Olive herself is a devotee of Agatha Christie mysteries and still is a bit of an innocent at heart. There's also a subplot about Olive's late mother that turned out to be not what it seemed, and I liked that Olive had a good relationship with her stepmother, who is gamely battling multiple sclerosis. I'm not sure if the author plans a sequel, but if she did, I would definitely read it.

Unique, bright and delightful, this book takes the reader on a beautifully heartwarming journey during the trials of WWII Britain. Pipley, Hertfordshire, is the backdrop for a tantalizing murder mystery, war connections and valor, budding romance and bustling village life. The National Pigeon Services focus is brilliant and enthralling, one of my favourite topics in the book.

Olive Bright, a clever young woman who throws caution to the wind and has a predilection for Hercules Poirot, raises and trains racing pigeons, her passion. Due to her specialty she is approached to join a secret war operation. She agrees as she is passionate about helping her country. She and her boss Jameson Aldridge frequently have differences of opinions but work together with the same vision.

A woman's body is discovered near Olive's dovecote and Olive sets out to discover secrets to unlock the mystery. Her search causes her to suspect those she knows in her village and she has no qualms about questioning them, just as her idol Poirot did. In her search for clues she learns about those around her as well as herself.

I love that this story is not all roses. It is not dark or bleak, either, still a cozy mystery but one with oomph. The heroes of the story in my mind are actually the pigeons...I learned a lot about them. Be sure to read the notes at the back. Another smart touch is the notes (you'll see what I mean). The twists and turns kept me firmly engaged the entire time. So, if you enjoy these attributes, you will find this book truly worthwhile.

How marvelous it would be to have further books featuring these characters!

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this exceptional book!

Olive Bright, Pigeoneer by Stephanie Graves is an excellent historical fiction/cozy mystery that kept me thoroughly entertained.

This WWII, small village cozy mystery is just perfect in every way. Despite the seriousness of the time period and some of the subject matter, through witty dialogue and Olive's adorable characteristics and personality, the book seemed to feel lighter and more enjoyable. I really enjoyed the concept of adding the cozy murder/mystery plot within the overall WWII concept of pigeons as messengers and also some of the special operations units that were implemented during the war.

I really enjoyed the pacing, plot, the complexities that were added from the multiple facets, as well as the full cast of characters that lived within the village that added a great collection of potential suspects. The author definitely kept me guessing.

I loved Olive as the main character. She was fun, smart, stronger then she realized, intelligent, and feisty. She really kept me entertained with her witty dialogue, responses, one-liners, and banter. It added seamlessly to the fantastic plot. Olive was realistic, likeable, and overall just a great main character. A new series could definitely be created just from her character and the cast of villagers alone. I also enjoyed the character of Jameson Aldridge. I think that they make a good team of sorts and I look forward to the possibility of a further installment with them teaming up again.

I also enjoyed the addition of the concept of the NPS (National Pigeon Service) and learning more about how it fit in to the bigger picture of the war efforts. I enjoyed the author's note at the end to give more of a historic note in regards to the NPS and the SOE. I have already read quite a bit about both organizations in the past, but it is still nice to have a refresher and additional context.

An excellent book for anyone that enjoys cozy mysteries, historical fiction, and excellent female amateur sleuths.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

This is a World War II mystery set in Great Britain, but it is has most interesting feature - the role of pigeons in warfare. Olive Bright is a young woman, experienced as a pigeoneer, who is chafing at staying home in her village with her father. She hopes that their pigeons can be used in the war effort, but she finds that a more secret use of her pigeons by British intelligence is required. The shocking murder of a local busybody occurs at the same time, and Olive is determined to not only manage her pigeons but solve the murder. The fascinating use of racing pigeons to send wartime messages is explored here. Readers will enjoy another World War II mystery with this added twist.

Olive Bright, Pigeoneer
by Stephanie Graves
Kensington Books
Kensington
Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 29 Dec 2020 | Archive Date 01 Jan 2021

Excellent!! I hope we hear more from Olive Bright, Pigeoneer. This was a delightful story full of mystery and historical references. Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
Great book!

5 star