Book Reporter—One of the Favorite Books of the Year
Aunt Agatha’s—One of the Best Historical Mysteries of the Year
"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
“A cast of opinionated side characters and a wealth of fascinating historical details add to the fun in this engaging, atmospheric series kickoff.” –BookPage
“This was a blast of a read. . . Pacing, suspense, and a wonderful mystery make this book a real stand out in a crowded field of WWII books.” –Aunt Agatha’s
“A cross between a Nancy Drew mystery and an Agatha Christie tale. . .its gentle humor, unexpected twists, clever heroine, and wartime setting make it a pleasurable read.” –Booklist
“Embedded within the strong narrative is a theme of espionage and mystery, rather than guns and bloodshed. Kelly weaves a story around her well-established foundation and keeps the reader guessing until the final pages of this book.” –Mystery and Suspense
"Julia Kelly masterfully weaves history into gripping intrigue in this riveting WWII murder mystery. Evelyne Redfern is exactly the kind of intrepid, plucky heroine I love to root for and the details of Churchill’s cabinet war rooms were spot on and fascinating."—Madeline Martin
"Call the Midwife meets Mr. Churchill's Secretary in this riveting and atmospheric mystery set in wartime London... Sharp, charming, and fast-paced, A Traitor in Whitehall marks a stellar debut for a winning and original heroine."—Mariah Fredericks
2023-08-12
A mystery-loving Englishwoman is thrilled to give up working in a munitions factory to take a job in Churchill’s war cabinet operation in a bunker under Whitehall.
Evelyne Redfern prefers not to mention her past, when she was known in the British newspapers as the Parisian Orphan. A nasty custody battle between her father, Sir Reginald Redfern, and her French mother resulted in her attending school in England. After her mother died, her father ignored her and she was given into the care of her aunt. Now she’s approached by Lionel Fletcher, a family friend from the Redferns’ years in Paris, who offers her a job that will change her life. The work itself is merely secretarial, but she lives part-time in an underground dormitory along with her fellow workers, some pleasant, others not. When she’s sent to get the required sunlamp treatment—“It helps keep us healthy, what with the amount of time we're underground”—she discovers Jean Plinkton, who’s much disliked by most of her fellow workers, dead in the treatment area. Her thoughts on the crime are rudely dismissed by the investigators; only David Poole, who found her with the body, gives any indication that she could possibly help. A sharp observer and great reader of mystery novels, Evelyne’s seen a number of things that might identify the person who’s leaked information to the Germans they could have gleaned only by working in the cabinet war rooms. Both Fletcher and Poole are investigating the leaks, and her knowledge of office gossip turns up many promising leads and sets her on the trail of a spy.
Romance, feminism, and historical detail combine in an exciting new series.