The Bachelor Spy by Pepper Basham

 

Who is your favorite spy in literature or film?  I really liked George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John Le Carre, and now I can add Stephen Blake as a new favorite spy from this novel

Stephen Blake is a spy for England and his work is incredibly important for the war effort (WWI). After surviving a devastating betrayal and the sinking of the Lusitania, he finds himself assigned to his cousin’s home that is being used as a convalescence hospital, Havensbroke Hall.  His mission is to try to find the German spy known as the Midnight Angel.  Will he succeed?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was a delightful historical mystery and romance with espionage and spies set during WWI.

·       This is the fifth novel in the “A Freddie & Grace Mystery” series.  This is the first book I have read in the series.  It can be read as a standalone, but it would be great to read the series in order.  I was confused on Zahra and her background in the story. Is she adopted?  Is she Freddie’s biological child?  Something else? I need to read the rest of the series to figure it out. 

·       I read that this may be the last book in the series.  I definitely need to read the first four books!

·       I loved the banter and enemies to lovers romance between Stephen and Evie.

·       Grace is home alone at the estate trying to keep it and the convalesce hospital running while her husband, Freddie, is off fighting in WWI.  She begins to suspect that all is not what it seems and there is a spy or two in the midst.  How will she keep everyone safe and solve the mystery?

·       I loved that Freddie is in the royal engineers.  I enjoyed Freddie and Grace’s relationship and want to see the buildup in the previous books.

·       This was a fun story with even a treasure hunt involved.

·       I loved the characters, adventure, suspense, and humor in this novel.

·       It was also an inspirational, Christian, and clean read.

·       There were plenty of red herrings and the mystery kept me guessing.

·       I enjoyed the epilogue and conclusion of the story.

Overall, The Bachelor Spy by Pepper Basham was a delightful historical mystery and romance set during WWI with humor, suspense, spies, espionage, and great characters. 

Book Source:  Thank-you to @pepperbasham @barbourbooks @greatreadsbookpromo for a review copy of the novel as part of the Great Reads Promo Book Tour.

Mists Over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin

 

If you could choose a group of fictional friends, which characters would be a part of your group?  I would love to have the group of fictional friends and family found in Mists Over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin.

Dr. Ivy Picot is a new practicing doctor when her father, mother, and other family members evacuate Jersey island for England.  She stays behind with her sister and brother to help keep the family practice afloat during the German occupation of the Island during WWII.  She meets and is attracted to Dutch Civil Engineer Gerrit van der Zee, but as he works for the Nazis, she knows they cannot be together.  As the years pass, Ivy realizes that everyone must chose a side.  Will she side with the resistance or with the Nazis?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       Mists Over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin is a very engaging story.  I read this book quickly and greatly enjoyed it.

·       I enjoyed that characters from Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin made an appearance at the end of the novel.  I loved that book!

·       The setting was a unique and integral part of the story.  The Island seemed beautiful, but it was slowly marred by the concrete structures built by the Nazis to reinforce the island.  There was a great author’s note at the end that states that there are tours of some of the structures mentioned in the book.  I love to visit Jersey and see these structures!

·       I was sad to learn that all the diabetics on the island really did die due to lack of insulin.  The rations and doing without were very hard during the occupation on an island.  They only received five ounces of meat for an entire week!

·       The chemistry between Ivy and Gerritt was alive.  They were attracted to each other but couldn’t show it.

·       Ivy and her sister Fern’s relationship seemed very realistic.  Fern is the older sister and can’t accept that as the doctor, Ivy is the boss.

·       I didn’t know why Fern wouldn’t have left the island with her husband and sons.

·       I loved that Gerritt was a civil engineer.  I am an environmental engineer, and my husband is a civil engineer.  It makes sense that he would be the perfect person for espionage to get plans to the allies.

·       This was a clean read with Christian content.  The main characters struggle with finding the path that God wants them to follow, and how to treat all people with empathy and compassion when it is not allowed by the authorities.

·       There are great book club questions at the end.  This would be a good read for a book club that enjoys WWII fiction

·       I also enjoyed the excerpt at the end of the new Christmas WWII novella by Sarah Sundin at the end as well. It will be realized this fall and looks great.  I can’t wait – I love Christmas historical fiction!

Overall, Mists Over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin was an engrossing WWII historical romance with a unique setting, story, and characters.  It was a very enjoyable read!

Book Source:  Thank-you to @sarahsundinauthor @revellfiction @greatreadsbookpromo for the review copy of this novel as part of the Great Reads Book Promotion Tour.

The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie

 

Title:  The Seven Dials Mystery

Author:  Agatha Christie

Narrated by:  Emilia Fox

Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Length: Approximately 7 hours and 46 minutes

Source: Checked out with Hoopla through the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

What book are you excited about seeing as a movie or TV series this year?  The Seven Dials Mystery is going to be a new Netflix movie this year which should be interesting.

I am participating in the #ReadChristie2025 Challenge.  The challenge this year is exploring Agatha Christie’s works through her characters and their careers.  The theme for April was butlers and I read The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie for the first time.  Tredwell the butler at The Chimneys keeps our main characters updated on the investigation. This book was published in 1929 and is the second book to feature Superintendent Battle, although he is more of a side character.

A practical joke goes wrong at a house a party at the Chimneys estate, which is being rented by Sir Oswald and Lady Coote.  Gerry Wade has a hard time getting up in the morning.  His friends set up eight alarm clocks to wake him up on morning . . . only he doesn’t wake up.  He has been poisoned! Why is one clock missing?  Will the killer be found before the next victim is murdered? 

My thoughts on this novel:

·       Eilleen “Bundle” Brent is the main investigator and a very independent and spirited young women.  She is an amateur sleuth.

·       This novel was different than typical Christie mysteries and was more of an espionage thriller focusing on secret societies.  I do like how Christie was always trying out something new with her writing.

·       I usually love when Emilia Fox narrates novels, but this narration was just okay to me.   I think it was more the storyline which didn’t capture my attention as much as other Christie novels.

·       This novel can be read as a standalone or together with The Chimneys.

·       I loved Lord Caterham and his daughter Bundles’ conversations.  They were very funny.

·       I felt claustrophobic when Bundle hid in a cabinet in the Seven Dials club to observe the secret society.  It was especially creepy that the Secret Society members wore hoods with clocks faces on them.

·       The ending was very surprising.

Overall, The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie was an interesting read, but not my favorite Christie read.