Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I picked this book as my February read from the Kindle First offer because I knew something of the author’s other work. This is a ‘stand alone’ novel, so anyone not yet familiar with Rhys Bowen will find it a good introduction to her style of writing. It is a quick, fun read that includes actual historical events, romance, mystery and humor. I’ve read a fair amount of WWII fiction of late; this was unique for two streams of narrative. One is the “fifth column” where anyone of any foreign birth or difference was immediately under suspicion. The other was the role of the aristocracy who began to lose privilege, property, power and an entire way of life during the war and their willingness to embrace fascism to hold on to that. The story is well told, although some characters (there is a dauntingly long cast of characters at the front of the book – best to ignore that and plunge in, in my opinion) are stereotypical and thinly drawn. It took a little bit to get started, but once it started rolling, I found I couldn’t put it down. I did sort of guess who the “bad guy” was, though not completely, but it did not diminish my enjoyment of this novel. I must say, this is the best “Kindle First” novel I’ve read in a long while. And the first one I’ve finished in the month I received it. I would recommend it. It has put Rhys Bowen’s novels higher up on my TBR list.