"A richly-detailed caper that effortlessly blends historical fiction, mystery and romance. Readers will be particularly charmed by the high jinks of the senior sisters, whose joie de vivre makes this book memorable." — Washington Post Book World
"Irresistible...Filled with surprise, poignancy, and excitement, this is a surefire winner." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Utterly charming and engrossing." — Jenny Colgan, New York Times bestselling novelist
"An absolute treat of a novel—a glorious, rip-roaring adventure, so funny and charming, yet laced with unexpected moments of real tenderness and reflection. Penny and Josephine are heroines in every sense of the word, being both ordinary and extraordinary, and their personalities leap off the page so energetically that I missed them the moment I finished the final line." — Lucy Dillon, Sunday Times bestseller of Unexpected Lessons in Love
"The Excitements is a rip-roaring adventure that is both tremendously intriguing and wonderfully engaging. In Penny and Josephine, CJ Wray has created two marvelously endearing and daring National Treasures in waiting. Not all heroes wear capes, some wear M&S cardigans! A triumph!" — Mike Gayle, author of All the Lonely People
“Funny, thrilling and brilliantly researched. From the SOE to dodgy knees, its heartwarming description of the adventures of the redoubtable Penny and Josephine, past and present, made me want them, absolutely, as great aunts of my own.” — SJ Bennett, bestselling author of The Windsor Knot
“A joy from beginning to end. I loved the jovial adventures of two fearless female nonagenarian war veterans set alongside their intriguing and often thrilling wartime experiences. It’s utterly wonderful.” — Annie Lyons, author of The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett
“I’m a huge fan of Richard Osman’s books, but after reading this all I can say is, ‘Move over Richard Osman, The Excitements are in town!’ It’s just so good—funny, heartwarming, wise and just so incredibly well-researched.” — Alexandra Potter, author of Don’t You Forget About Me
★ 01/19/2024
Wray (a pen name for the prolific romance novelist Christine Manby) writes a hilarious and touching novel that spans time and crimes. Josephine and Penny Williamson are sisters and nonagenarian World War II veterans living in England. When they are invited to receive the Légion d'honneur in Paris, they travel there with their nephew Archie. The trip is more than it seems. Returning to Paris resurfaces old memories for both sisters, who have some secrets of their own from their time serving in the war. Will one last heist be their downfall? Or will they finally get revenge on those who have wronged them in the past? This novel offers a fascinating look into the lives of women who served in Britain's Women's Royal Navy and the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry during World War II. The snappy dialogue, both spoken and in Morse code, and the hijinks of Penny especially, will delight readers. However, the novel also touches on more serious topics, like lost love and familial relationships, with compassion. Penny and Josephine shine through as tough and capable in spite of, or perhaps because of, their age and experience. VERDICT An unconventional mystery with heart and wit, perfect for readers who love historical fiction, heists, and cunning elderly protagonists.—Tristan Draper