Betrayal at Blackthorn Park: An Evelyne Redfern Mystery

by Julia Kelly

Overview

With mystery, intrigue, and the hints of romance international bestselling author Julia Kelly is known for, Evelyne Redfern returns in Betrayal at Blackthorn Park.

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250865533
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/01/2024
Series:	Evelyne Redfern , #2
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

JULIA KELLY is the international bestselling author of historical novels about the extraordinary stories of the past. Her books have been translated into 14 languages. She has also written historical romance. In addition to writing, she’s been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home before settling in London.
JULIA KELLY is the international bestselling author of emotional historical fiction about extraordinary women and intriguing historical whodunnit mystery novels. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages. In addition to writing, she’s been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home before settling in London with her husband.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Betrayal at Blackthorn Park

“Tautly plotted, with layered historical detail and plenty of dry wit, Evelyne's second adventure is a satisfying mystery and a slice of (nearly) top-secret wartime history.” –Shelf Awareness

“Fans of Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope series will delight in following the adventures of a promising new World War II spymaster.” –First Clue

“A surprising denouement caps a budding romance in a country torn by war.” –Kirkus Review

"[Evelyne and David's] simmering romantic chemistry and Kelly's talent for brisk pacing win out in the end. Historical mystery fans will make quick work of this one." –Publishers Weekly

Praise for A Traitor in Whitehall

"An exceptional historical murder mystery." –Wall Street Journal

“If you like to mix history with your mystery, then this propulsive novel set in World War II London should be on your TBR list. . . This is a superbly constructed whodunit that pays homage to Agatha Christie’s locked-room mysteries.” –Oprah Daily

“Kelly's narrative zips along. . . a well-plotted start to an entertaining new series.” –Shelf Awareness

"Romance, feminism, and historical detail combine in an exciting new series." –Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2024-08-17
In World War II Britain, a newly minted agent for the top-secret Special Investigations Unit finds her routine first assignment anything but.

InA Traitor in Whitehall (2023), Evelyne Redfern went from typing to sleuthing when one of her workmates was murdered. Reluctantly teamed up with the attractive David Poole, she solved the crime, protected government secrets, and was recruited as an agent for an unofficial but vital intelligence group. Now, fresh out of training, Evelyne is sent, with David as her handler, to infiltrate Blackthorn Park, a secret government installation developing clandestine weapons, to try to figure out why some materials have gone missing. Prime Minister Winston Churchill is due to arrive there in a few days for a demonstration, and tensions are high. Evelyne arrives in the village of Benstead, where Blackthorn Park is located, pretending to be visiting a relative, and does enough snooping on her first day to convince herself that the facility is far from secure. Slipping into the grounds of Blackthorn Park that night, she finds the dead body of Sir Nigel Balram, the brilliant but unpopular engineer who heads the project. Suspicious of his apparent suicide, Evelyne takes charge until David can arrive. David poses as a police detective investigating the death and seeks to discover whether material is being stolen or sabotaged, since several of the devices made at Blackthorn Park have proved unreliable. Apart from his differences with his team, the short-tempered Sir Nigel had made enemies through his habit of sleeping with other men’s wives. Checking alibis and snooping through Sir Nigel’s paperwork open up several promising leads. So does another murder staged to look like suicide. Now Evelyne and David must find the reason for the weapon malfunctions and determine whether the murders are connected.

A surprising denouement caps a budding romance in a country torn by war.

Kirkus Reviews