Calling all fans of Maggie Hope and Maisie Dobbs! I loved, loved, loved A Traitor in Whitehall! Julia Kelly’s latest introduces a plucky and smart amateur sleuth/crime fiction enthusiast named Evelyne Redfern in a brilliantly plotted and paced, obviously well researched, and otherwise well crafted mystery in which the “locked room” setting is the Churchill War Rooms. Kelly utterly transports the reader to World War II London. And while the initial murder mystery is of course solved by the final page, she has so well developed the characters of Evelyne and several others in the cast that I am already eagerly awaiting the next in the series to become better acquainted with them. I’ve not been so excited about a new mystery series since I discovered Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope tales a decade or so ago.

Highly recommended to fans of Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope series, Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs stories, and other intelligent and independent woman sleuths, including Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily novels, Anna Lee Huber’s Lady Darby books and Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness and Molly Murphy series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly is an excellent WWII-era historical mystery that was just beyond amazing from beginning to end.

I have read my fair share of serialized historical mysteries, especially those set in England during WWII, but this is special.

I was initially drawn to it due to the fact that I have read three previous HF novels from Ms. Kelly and have loved every one of them (The Light Over London, The Last Garden in England, and The Whispers of War).

Evelyn Redfern is a fabulous MC, and her partnership with David Poole on this investigation is spot on. The dialogue, the banter, the quips, the seriousness, the pacing, plot, and historical detail were all perfect.

The murder-mystery was engaging, interesting, complex (yet not too much so), and it left me with a satisfying conclusion. I loved the full character cast, and I truly hope that this becomes a continuing series.

I cannot recommend this book enough and I think Ms. Kelly has hit a home run.

5/5 stars enthusiastically

Thank you NG and Minotaur Books/ St Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/3/23.

A Traitor in Whitehall has all the elements of a classic, locked-room murder mystery. (Security is tight in Winston Churchill’s underground bunkers after all! Or is it…?) Well researched, this novel is an engaging and entertaining read for fans of books like Mr. Churchill’s Secretary or the Maisie Dobbs series.

Evelyne Redfern is an exciting new addition to the world of amateur sleuths. Tenacious and brave, she has great intuition and is also a skilled interrogator – getting almost anyone to open up to her. The motivation for her to investigate (and continue investigating) the murder was also really strong given her backstory, the reason she was hired as a typist, and her love for detective fiction. All this made for a really fun read with a plausible, intricately crafted storyline.

During her investigation, Evelyne begrudgingly teams up with David Poole (who has been tasked with uncovering a mole leaking vital secrets to Germany.) This was a really entertaining pairing with an energetic dynamic and witty, lighthearted banter. It's the sort of start to a series that leaves you excited for book two, because you can't wait to see what's going to develop between this duo in the future.

While the final reveal felt a little complicated and took me a bit to figure out who was doing what and why, the pieces of the mystery all fit together nicely. There were some excellent red herrings, along with a whole host of suspects. As the first book in a brand new series, Julia Kelly is off to a tremendous start with her first mystery novel. I cannot wait to follow along with all of Evelyne Redfern’s future adventures!

This was so close to a perfect mashup of historical fiction and mystery in my opinion. This story takes place during WWII in England, so it has the historical element that I thoroughly enjoy, and sees its main characters work together to solve two mysteries. As someone who does not lean toward mystery works so much, I feel that this was a great way for me to dip my toes into the genre.

I loved that the lead characters worked together so well without having a strong “romantic undertone”, if you will. You could make assumptions that maybe there were some feelings of intrigue but the story solely focused on their working relationship which to me was more interesting.

I also think this story is a good way for readers to try out the historical fiction genre, especially stories about WWII, as it is not so much about the fighting or the Holocaust. Yes, the story describes in a little bit of detail some air raids, but not any actual fighting or the Holocaust.

Overall, I really enjoyed all of the characters in this story and would absolutely read a sequel should there be one!

I definitely would recommend this work to other historical fiction fans out there!

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book, which I requested based solely upon the summary provided. I’m so glad I did; I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping story set mainly in the Cabinet War Rooms in London in the early days of the Blitz. The main character is smart and confident, and the situation seamlessly blends character development with historical detail. The mystery is well-plotted and engaging. I very much hope there are more books in this series. Highly recommended, especially if you like a mystery set in WWII.

I went into this book having no idea what to expect, and perhaps feeling even a little skeptical whether I'd like it or not. Kelly blew me away. Evelyne was a wonderful character and her teaming up with Poole made for one heck of a good ride! I absolutely loved the story of secrets and treason and the twists and turns kept me guessing. I loved how Kelly set readers up to make their own guesses as to the conclusion, then delivered the final answers in a tension-heightening way. I already can't wait to see what will be next for Evelyne and Poole and absolutely will be snagging book two as soon as it's available!
If you like Anna Lee Huber, you'll love this new series!

Review in progress and to come.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

A fantastic, thrilling WWII novel that is unputdownable. Authentic details and superb writing raise this book above the rest. I really enjoyed it and will read anything this author decides to write!

I confess...I read mostly for enjoyment. I found this to be an easy read that is well written, has a decent plot, and likeable characters. If you like the genre, read mostly for entertainment, then you would enjoy A Traitor in Whitehall.

The start of a new mystery series (and her first stab at the mystery genre, no pun intended) by one of my favorite historical fiction writers — Julia Kelly. WWII - London - 1940. There is a body, there is a mole in Whitehall, and there is a smart, sharp heroine who insists on equal billing with the agent assigned to ferret out the answers. Best of all — the action takes place in the Churchill War Rooms with a detailed and accurate (as far as my two fascinating visits to the place informs) depiction of the environment and activities within. As always, she really brings it all to life! A nice complicated plot, characters with good backstories, and of course, a time period and place that is rife with opportunities for mystery.

Right at the beginning of WWII, Winston Churchill moved his command center into a secret bunker constructed under government buildings in Whitehall, which he dubbed his Cabinet War Rooms. From here Churchill, his cabinet, and some 500 civil servants worked around the clock in the war effort.

It’s in the CWR that Evelyne Redfern lands, placed as a secretary in the typing pool by the mysterious Mr. Fletcher, an old friend of her father’s. While not quite sure what she’s meant to be keeping an eye on and reporting back to Mr. Fletcher about, Evelyne is quickly caught up in the murder of another typist, a woman named Vera who was both feared and hated by the other secretaries for her tendency to root out everyones’ secrets and ruthlessly use them to her advantage. An avid reader of mysteries herself, Evelyne sets out to do a bit of sleuthing on her own. This brings her to the attention of David Poole, supposedly just a minister’s aide but in actuality investigating a mole who’s sharing secrets with the enemy. Evelyne and David team up, albeit reluctantly on his part, to discover the truth about Vera’s murder and the traitor amongst the CWR staff.

This was a liked, but didn’t love, book for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Just absolutely loved this novel! The characters are so well developed and their personalities well defined. Evelyne Redfern is a tenacious, intelligent, and a woman who knows her own mind and takes no prisoners. She is terrific! The story line unfolded creatively. I look forward to reading the next book in the series of “The Parisian Orphan.” # ATraitorInWhitehall, # St.Martin’sPress.

A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly was a wonderful mystery thriller. Evelyn Redfern is hired as a typist in Prime Minister Churchill’s war rooms during World War Two. They are a group of basement offices that served as the center of Britain’s war effort. Evelyn, along with other typists, works round the clock transcribing coded messages that may be important to the war.

She has not been there long before she finds a murdered girl. Someone in the offices is committing treason by sending the Germans information about the military strategies and plans that the British government ministers discuss in secret meetings. Typists take notes which are then transcribed. These actions are treasonous, but it could be anyone at Whitehall who is pilfering the information.

Because Evelyn reads mysteries and thrillers, she is determined to find out what she can about the murder and the sabotage. Her sleuthing includes working with a minister’s aide to find the answers. I enjoyed this novel and couldn’t put it down because the author wrote in such an exciting way that kept me involved. I love Julia Kelly’s books and have read quite a few of them.

Thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC of A Traitor in Whitehall and the opportunity to offer a review. My opinion is solely mine.

I have long been a fan of Julia Kelly's historical novels and was curious to see how she would handle a mystery. Well, move over Maisie Dobbs, there's a new sleuth in town, albeit an unwitting one.

Set in London in 1940, just as the Blitz was beginning, Evelyne Redfern was recruited from an ordnance factory to work as a typist in the Cabinet War Room, the bunker underneath 10 Downing Street and headquarters of Churchill's war machine. After only a day or so on the job, she stumbles over the murdered body of one of her co-workers, setting off a chain of events leading to the hunt for a mole inside the Prime Minister's own inner circle. Evie accidentally teams up with a handsome MI5-type agent, David Poole to ferret out the murderer and the traitor.

A Traitor in Whitehall is an entertaining yarn that employs enough plot twists to keep the reader guessing. Lovers of Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs and Susan Elia McNeil's Maggie Hope won't be disappointed. Evie is smart, funny, gutsy and determined to succeed in a man's world. I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Kelly's first foray into the historical mystery genre. I hope it won't be her last.

A well done murder mystery set during WW2. The plot and characters are well developed and the story will keep you in suspense. A interesting read and I hope the author plans on doing further books with the main characters. This could be the start of a great series!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

"I could go without many things during a time of war, but I could not abide the thought of being without books."

#ATraitorinWhitehall is delightful. I really enjoyed Evelyne's journey from typist to detective, esp. since she was so keen to be one! Everything was authentic - the wartime setting (loved reading about life in the CWR), the characters, the mystery and its conclusion.

This was Ms. Kelly's first mystery, and I hope she writes more!

P. S. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. This was my first book by the author, and I loved it. It reminded me of the Maggie Hope books by Susan Elia MacNeal. I hope that this will be the beginning of a new series, and I'll be sure to continue reading it. The author did a great job bringing to life the atmosphere of the time period, and she created an interesting cast of characters and a clever mystery. I appreciated learning more about the need for secrecy when working for the British government during wartime, and the stress it created. Inspired by this book, I look forward to reading Kelly's previous books. I highly recommend this book to mystery lovers.

This is the first book by Julia Kelly that I’ve read, and I have to say I’m impressed and very much enjoyed
A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly.

This was a great read with well developed characters and very interesting relationships.
The story itself was engaging and I didn't want to put it down!
It’s well-written with great characters.
The mystery was engaging with phenomenal historical elements.
After reading ATIW I will defiantly pick up this writer's next book.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

this was such a great start to a mystery series, it had what I was looking for from the description. It has a great historical aspect to it and I enjoyed getting to know Evelyne Redfern. Evelyne Redfern was a great main character and as a detective. It worked well and I enjoyed the concept overall. Julia Kelly has a great style for a mystery novel and I look forward to more.

"I thought Irene might tell me that it was time to return to the typing pool, but instead she crossed her arms and looked me up and down. “You know, usually the new girl ends up working nights with a floating desk. You ended up with a day shift and a permanent desk. You must know Churchill himself.”

Wow! I just finished A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly. What a rollicking ride! In fact, I was so pleased to get this ARC from NetGalley, I stopped reading a brand new mystery by a bestselling author. I was completely engrossed in this story from the first page.

This is Julia Kelly’s first mystery, but I have enjoyed her historical fiction in the past. The setting, historical references, and characterization are as spot on as her earlier novels. I also learned lots of tidbits of life in London during the Blitz, such as the use of sunlamps in the bunkers.

In this case, Evelyne, the main character, is the child of a British playboy aristocrat and a French party girl. As an adolescent, she was caught in a fierce custody battle between her parents and the subject of tabloids. Now an adult, a chance meeting with an acquaintance of her father leads her to be a typist and an observer in the Cabinet War Rooms as there have been leaked secrets. When she stumbles upon a murdered colleague, her intelligence and vociferous mystery reading help her solve the case.

She is partnered along the way with a mysterious government official. No real romance yet, but plenty of banter. Any mystery reader will love the arguments between the two about the merits of American mysteries versus those of British authors. Actually, all the dialogue among the characters is witty and fun to read.

This is the first book of a series, and I will be eagerly awaiting the next. In fact, this was one book i did not want to end.