Book Review: A Traitor in Whitehall, by Julia Kelly

I was reading a new thriller, and taking forever. After about 55%, I asked myself, "Do I really care about these characters? Can I live without knowing what the 'big twists' are?" The answers were "no" and "yes." So I gave up.  Sometimes I easily blame myself for not enjoying a book--not in the right mood, not enough time to read...you get the idea. But sometimes I just don't like the book! And I need to admit that. After reading over half the book I still couldn't keep the two main characters apart.

All of that is to say, I decided to try A Traitor in Whitehall, and I really enjoyed it. I read it in three sittings! It grabbed me from the beginning. It was an easy read. So I realized, I CAN read and enjoy a book! There's nothing wrong with me!!

It's 1940 in England and Evelyn is doing everything she can for the war effort by working in a munitions factory. When she runs into a friend of her father's, he gets her working as a typist in Winston Churchill's war rooms. Top secret stuff. She works three days and must stay at the underground facility. Then she gets two days off to go home.

She is trying to get to know the women she works with when one of them is murdered. And Evelyn is the one who finds the body. She can't help but begin investigating, but this causes her to butt heads with David, who is investigating for the government. She also finds out he's investigating a mole who is selling secrets to the enemy. Are the two crimes related? David allows Evelyn to help him in his investigation, and it turns out she's pretty good at it. 

The clues are interesting, and there are plenty of suspects. This is the first of the Parisian Orphan series, so as everything is solved, we find out more about David and his work. It seems Evelyn and David will be working together in the future. I'll be interested to read more of their adventures.

This one is a pleasant and easy read. The characters are likable and easy to root for. The historic setting is always a plus for me. Read A Traitor in Whitehall if you are interested in these types of stories.

Published by Minotaur, October 3, 2023
eARC obtained from Edelweiss+
304 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Audiobook Review: The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

I haven't been much up for World War II books, and The Librarian of Auschwitz about did me in, but I loved The Rose Code.

The Rose Code tells the story of three women who worked to help decode Enigma Machine messages at Bletchley Park in England. Osla, the debutante who is dating Prince Philip, can speak German. Mab came from a life of poverty and put herself through secretarial school. These two are recruited in 1940  because of their skills. They are billeted at a local home where Beth, who is the daughter of a domineering mother, is great at solving puzzles. So the girls recruit her, and she becomes one of the best cryptographers at Bletchley Park. These three become unlikely friends.

The other perspective is from 1947, and we are days from the Royal Wedding where Princess Elizabeth is to marry Prince Philip. And it soon becomes apparent that our three main characters are no longer friends, and actually hate each other. One of them is in an asylum, wrongfully, and sends a message to the other two for help.

As the two time periods converge, we realize the huge betrayals that caused their rift. And will the two come and help the third one get out of the asylum? As the story is told we also learn a lot about the operation at Bletchley Park and what was involved in the code-breaking -- some of it was quite complex and I didn't get it all, but it didn't matter. There is drama, romance, heartbreak, and of course a lot of secrets.

The epilogue and author's notes really brought it all together. The characters are all based on real people. Bletchley Park is now on my bucket list of places I want to visit. I found it all very fascinating, but also entertaining. I loved the characters and rooted for them. The tension builds nicely to the satisfying ending.

The audio version, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, was excellent. I highly recommend The Rose Code, even if you aren't really into war books right now.

Published by William Morrow, 2021, HarperAudio
Audiobook obtained from the library
656 pages

Rating: 5/5

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Book Review: Never by Ken Follett

I am so disappointed in Never, and it's because of the way it ended. So don't read any further if you don't want spoilers. 

Follett is a great writer. We get to know all the different people and become attached to them. There are budding romances and political drama. Spy stories. One woman and her child is trying to escape from Chad to build a better life, but must put her life in the hands of some very untrustable men. The president of the United States, a woman, is formidable and smart.

A few small things happen - a United States drone (that was stolen) bombs some Chinese interests in Chad. There is a small but growing uprising in North Korea that is threatening their control over nuclear bombs. South Korea is nervous. Japan gets involved. Little things keep escalating in the name of "appropriate response" by the different governments. We get to know a member of what is China's equivalent of the CIA. The influence of the Chinese "old guard" is significant. But as a reader, you feel that one of these leaders is going to see reason. See where all this is heading if they don't stop escalating. 

I couldn't wait to see how all the pieces come together. How was this woman from Chad and her soon-to-be lover, a US spy, going to influence the outcome? There is another romance of a CIA agent and her equivalent from France. They are deciding to give up their careers just so they can be together. So what is the great surprise that ties all these stories together?

But no. There is no tie-up. The story just ends with all these people in limbo when, after China bombs Hawaii, the United States president orders all the nuclear weapons we have to bomb China.

Are you kidding me???? What a waste of over 800 pages. Yes, it's realistic. Yes, it's well written. But not what I expected. Ughhhh. 

Published by Viking, November 9, 2021
eARC obtained from NetGalley
816 pages

Rating: 3/5

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Book Review: Immoral Code by Lillian Clark

For teen fans of Ocean's Eleven, this story, Immoral Code, about a group of smart teens undertaking a daring caper, will surely entertain. I'm not a teen, and it entertained me.

These five teens decide to take on Bellamy's (one of the teens) long-lost father. You see, she's never known him. Her mother gets a monthly check from his lawyers, but that is it. Bellamy is already a brilliant scientist who has been accepted to MIT. However, when her financial aid request is denied, she knows she will never be able to go. You see, her father is rich. Very, very, like Bill Gates rich. So his income was taken into account, even though he hasn't agreed to help Bellamy with college at all.

Her friends are seriously affronted by this. The hacker of the group, Nari, figures out a way to hack into Bellamy's father's accounts and skim enough so that Bellamy will have enough money for college, but her father will never know. The only problem is, they must break into his office to install some software on his computer.

There are five first-person points-of-view. One for each teen. Each teen is distinct, however some of the chapters are so short, I would forget which one was currently narrating.

The best thing about Immoral Code is the relationships between these five. There is an established romance, and a potential one in the group. You can tell they have spent a lot of time together because of the inside joke, games, etc. that are mentioned. And they are brilliant, so they do things like give each other points for great SAT Vocabulary words.  It's all very intelligent, and I loved that.

There is also tension, because one of the group has serious moral questions about what they are doing. And the ending, while turning out happily-ever-after, provides even more tension.

A charming book that took me only a couple of days to get through (which is refreshing in itself), I would recommend Immoral Code to those who enjoy fast-paced stories about high school friendships.

Published by Knopf BFYR, February 19. 2019
Copy obtained from NetGalley
320 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Orphan Monster Spy, by Matt Killeen @by_Matt_Killeen

Right before the holidays is probably not the best time to read Orphan Monster Spy, since it is a chilling tale about a child spying during World War II. It's a very compelling novel, but I'm glad I'm finished!

Sarah has nothing left. She's just witnessed her mother being shot as they were trying to escape. She's on her own, it is cold, she's hungry, and she has no papers. She gets some advice from a mysterious stranger as to how to get herself on the ferry to escape, but she ends up saving this stranger rather than saving herself.

An unlikely partnership begins, as she realizes this man is working for the resistance.  Sarah, although a Jew, is blond and blue-eyed, and she can help him.  After everything she's been through, what does she have to lose?

Orphan Monster Spy is an uncomfortable book. Sarah must decide to sacrifice--potentially everything--over and over again as she takes incredible risks to complete her mission. Her decisions are reckless and somewhat unbelievable, but they serve to mount the tension and danger to unbelievable heights.

Teens will get a different perspective of the war, and also see what a difference one person can make if committed to a cause. It is ultimately a story of triumph over all odds that is very satisfying. Orphan Monster Spy is written for teens but also recommended to adults who are interested in another perspective of WWII.

Published by Viking BFYR, March 20, 2018
eBook obtained from the library
432 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Book Review: Game of Secrets by Kim Foster

Game of Secrets is a magic book, but the historical setting is what really amped up the appeal.

Felicity is doing her best in Victorian London to keep herself and her little brother surviving. It isn't easy.  Her brother must stay hidden since he is Tainted. His special abilities, if found out, will get him caught by the Huntsmen, and he will surely be killed.

As Felicity herself is in danger of being taken by a Huntsman, a mysterious man, Hawksmoor, rescues her and takes her to a special school to be trained to serve Queen Victoria as a spy and assassin. You see, Felicity was unaware that she is also Tainted. Her magic powers are very desired by this organization.

The training is difficult, and it's a competition between these youth to be the next official spy.  In the meantime, Felicity is worried about her brother.  But she can communicate telepathically with him, and he is safe, taken by the same organization and being pampered until he is old enough to attend the school. Felicity doesn't trust Hawksmoor and continues to plot her escape, but soon she becomes a very successful spy and may be in the running to win the competition.

Game of Secrets was an enjoyable mix of a historical setting, spying, and magical abilities. There is plenty of adventures and danger, as the trainees are sent on small missions. The plot moves quickly, and I was surprised more than once. I did tire a bit of Felicity's subterfuge.  She keeps putting herself and others in danger by going rogue during their missions. You would think she would learn after almost being captured by the Huntsmen once (or even twice), but she keeps on risking it.

Game of Secrets is a quick read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of sleuthing in the Victorian Era.

Published by Sky Pony, July 3, 2018
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
368 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: The Cruelty, by Scott Bergstrom

The Cruelty is appropriately titled because this book is cruel!

Gwendolyn is a normal New York teen who has traveled extensively as her father gets posted to different places around the world for his job with the state department.  When he disappears, she finds out he has lied to her all these years because he is really a CIA agent.  And the CIA has quit looking for him, thinking he has disappeared on his own.

Gwendolyn refuses to believe this and takes it upon herself to find out what happened to her dad.  As she travels across the globe, she gets mixed up with some seedy people -- some are helpful and others not so much.

As she gets closer and closer to the truth about her dad, she gets herself into more and more danger. And she becomes a ruthless killer who will do anything to save her father.  This is the part I had some problems with.  I just don't think a "normal" 17-year-old can make such an about-face in a few short weeks.  Even with her supposed training.  Her entire personality and attitude totally and completely changes.

But....this book is exciting!  She encounters more and more danger as she goes.  She gets lucky a few times and makes some bad decisions. But mostly she is just relentless in her pursuit of her goal.  She's creative, resourceful, and very tough.  If you shy away from violence, you should know that Gwendolyn doesn't, and The Cruelty isn't your book.  It is very graphic.

And don't expect a complete "happy ever after" ending -- yes, Gwendolyn is in a safe place, but she's not the same person and never will be.  Which brings me to a possible sequel -- I'm ready!

Teens who are fans of high-octane action will surely love The Cruelty. And it's been optioned for a movie so it may become even more popular.

Published by Feiwel & Friends, February 7, 2017
eARC obtained from NetGalley
384 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: The Plot to Kill Hitler by Patricia McCormick

The Plot to Kill Hitler by Patricia McCormick is a nonfiction account of the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was part of a group of men, reaching to the top of Hitler's ranks, that were determined that the only way to save their country was to kill Hitler.

Bonhoeffer was one of eight children who, save for the one that died in World War I, were all part of the conspiracy to kill Hitler. Or, in the case of the girls, their husbands were involved.  Dietrich was an unlikely candidate, given he was a very devout pastor and committed to nonviolence.

As we know, all of their attempts (and there were several) were unsuccessful, and the lives of most of these men ended with horrible deaths because of their involvement.

What is most interesting about the story is the portrayal of the time leading up to the war.  McCormick does a great job of explaining how a man like Hitler was able to gain such absolute power.  He not only took over the government, but was able to get most of the clergy to let him take over the church!  During the time before the war, he slowly eeked away at personal freedoms, not only targeting the Jews, but every citizen of Germany. Hitler did a great job of keeping the inner workings of his government from the rest of the world.

The actual attempts on Hitler's life were sort of anticlimactic after the captivating build up of the tension, both at a national level and a personal level for Bonhoeffer.

We have purchased a class set of The Plot to Kill Hitler for our WWII Literature class.  The teacher found it to be such a great introduction to the war that she can use it and save significant time in class.

The Plot to Kill Hitler is easy to read.  The chapters are very short, and the book is short. Part of the formatting uses boxes of additional explanations about something mentioned in the text.  There are numerous pictures that add to the story. Even though it is accessible to grade school students, The Plot to Kill Hitler is a fascinating account that will appeal to anyone who is interested in history.

Published by Balzer + Bray, September 13, 2016
Copy obtained from the library (eARC also obtained from Edelweiss)
153 pages

Rating: 5/5

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