Anyone who has read my reviews before knows that WWII is my era. A Traitor in Whitehall is set during that time and gives a unique look at the top-secret world that lived under the streets transposing minutes from top secret meetings.

I learned so much about the world that Evelyne lived in while working as a typist keeping top secrets while questioning those who work with her to find out who the killer is. I could picture the underground work areas, with the typewriters tapping and the women whispering. The bunk area with the bunk beds is a place that I can picture as I saw the women putting their personal items away and the gas masks kept close at hand. The jobs were not easy and it had to be hard to not talk about what you did for a living when you were allowed to go home, but these women were very important to the war and it was amazing what they were asked to do.

The mystery part of the story was the main part and I loved it. I loved that Evelyne made herself indispensable to Mr. Poole. She asked hard questions, put together clues, listened to the answers, and she never gave up. I never did guess who had dun it but I was thrilled with how it all came together as the story went on.

I have not been super into the last couple books Julia Kelly has put out, but this one has brought her back onto my must read list! Especially since it looks like this is the first book in a new series. I thought this was a fast-paced, well written story that had me guessing the whole time. Evelyn's character was well developed and likeable, I was rooting for her the whole time. I enjoyed that they didn't push the relationship with her and David too much. It seems as though they are laying the ground work though, and I am excited to see what happens!

I loved this first installment in the Parisian Orphan series!

I am a sucker for WWII historical fiction with a female main character. In this book, Evelyne works in Churchill’s War Rooms to help uncover a traitor. She stumbles on a murder and teams up with handsome David to solve the case and uncover the traitor.

The mystery was essentially a locked room mystery. It was a tricky one to figure out, but Evelyne and David worked it out in the end.

I can hardly wait to read more books in this series! Hopefully there will be more romance in the next installment.

A Traitor in Whitehall follows Evelyn Redfern as she joins the typist pool in an underground bunker that serves government officials during World War II. The man who hired her wants her to keep her eyes open for a suspected leak, but when she discovers a colleague dead, she decides to investigate murder and look for a mole. Along the way, she discovers that another person working in the warren of tunnels, the aforementioned David Poole, is doing the same and they team up. This was a cozy historical fiction mystery. The book was full of intrigue and interesting characters. I really loved the main character, Evelyn. She was so strong and brave and well developed. This one is the start of a series, so it included lots of world and character building. Personally, I could have opted for a little less in that regard as I tend to prefer my books to be plot focused. I did enjoy the elements of historical fiction that the book drew from. It is always interesting to read about different points in history through fictional characters, and this one did not disappoint in that regard. I did enjoy the ending and am excited for the next book in the series. I enjoyed this story and it shows the treatment of women when they stepped out of their place at this time frame.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher.

This is a new to me author, and it looks like this is the first in a series based on the main character of Evelyne Redfern.

The story is based in England during the beginning of the Blitz, and is based around Evelyne Redfern, also known as The Parisian Orphan due to her parent's scandalous divorce (and even though her father is very much alive). Evie is thrown into the world of espionage as she helps discover a mole in Churchill's central war rooms with the help of the dashing Mr. Poole. There's a good deal of set up in this story, but there's enough action and mystery to keep it interesting. I really enjoyed the whodunit, and look forward to reading more.

This was a great start to a fun new historical mystery series. The writing style and tone reminded me of the Amory Ames series, which is one of my all-time favorites. This was well-plotted, engaging, had an interesting premise and backstory, and I think it ended in a way that will see the series progress nicely. I’m looking forward to the second installment!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my complimentary digital copy.

I love Julia Kelly's novels and this WWII intrigue mystery was no exception. This one I read and listened to on audio. Highly recommend if you enjoy this genre!

I’ve been happily reading Julia Kelly’s historical fiction novels since the publication of The Whispers of War in 2020 - which I LOVED (review here). I’m always excited when she has something new being published but I was especially excited when I learned her 2023 release would be a historical mystery. A Traitor in Whitehall is the first in a new series and I absolutely devoured it. It was so good!

Here’s the book’s description:
1940, England: Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, is working on the line at a munitions factory in wartime London. When Mr. Fletcher, one of her father’s old friends, spots Evelyne on a night out, Evelyne finds herself plunged into the world of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.
However, shortly after she settles into her new role as a secretary, one of the girls at work is murdered, and Evelyne must use all of her amateur sleuthing expertise to find the killer. But doing so puts her right in the path of David Poole, a cagey minister’s aide who seems determined to thwart her investigations. That is, until Evelyne finds out David’s real mission is to root out a mole selling government secrets to Britain’s enemies, and the pair begrudgingly team up.
With her quick wit, sharp eyes, and determination, will Evelyne be able to find out who’s been selling England’s secrets and catch a killer, all while battling her growing attraction to David?
I’ve been learning more about what kinds of mysteries I enjoy as I’ve been reading more and more of them. I don’t always love amateur sleuths but this one worked for me. I think because I could tell Evelyne was being groomed for working as a spy for the government during the war. Truthfully, that’s one of my catnip stories - show me a book about a female spy during World War II and I’ll grab it right out of your hands. The mystery itself was, I felt, well-written. I was always a step behind Evelyne and David and had no idea how it was going to all wrap up and that’s the way I like it. I was invested and intrigued the whole way through.

The description hints at a romance between Evelyne and David but don’t let that detract you if you’re not a lover of love stories. A frisson of attraction is there but it is so not the point of this story. I have a feeling they tucked that in there to appease the (mostly female) readers of the current historical fiction fad (you know, the types of books I love!). I liked the inclusion of the will-they-won’t-they because, for most people, love is a part of life and it made the story feel more authentic. Am I hoping they get together romantically in a future book? Absolutely. Will I be mad if it doesn’t happen in the next one? Definitely not. I’m here for the history and the mystery, not the romance!



Evelyne was a great character to spend time with. She had a past that was intriguing but she didn’t let it bother her or get in her way. She was smart and had a wonderful and loyal best friend. She was thrust into a wild situation and handled it well - and when she struggled, she learned from her mistakes. I cared about her so much by the end of the novel and I’m so glad this book is just the first in a series. I cannot wait to read more about Evelyne and see what she gets into next.

If you’ve read Kelly before, you know she’s a great writer of history. She never falls into the dreaded info dump trap and always manages to make you feel like you’re right there in the story with the characters. The novel starts near the beginning of WWII and I found it weirdly difficult to know that the bombing that’s begun during this story is only going to get worse for the characters. I also enjoyed the peek into Churchill’s War Rooms because I’m planning on visiting when I’m in London later this year.

As I’ve been writing this review, I’ve realized something: this book reminded me a little of Iona Whishaw’s Lane Winslow mystery series, which I absolutely ADORE. It’s well-written with a focus on history and a well-crafted mystery. The main character isn’t actually an investigator but she has a background/future in spying and other types of sleuthing. And she’s smart and someone who you love to read about. So, if you’ve enjoyed Whishaw’s novels, you might want to consider Kelly’s latest.

I loved A Traitor in Whitehall so much and am really glad Julia Kelly decided to try her (talented) hand at historical mysteries. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Fans of mysteries will enjoy this novel just as much as historical fiction fans will. Pick it up - you won’t regret it!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Minotaur, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

A Traitor in Whitehall, by Julia Kelly, is a strong first entry in what should be an intriguing spy/mystery series. Set in wartime London, it combined many of my favorite features: a smart and funny female protagonist, historical detail during WWII, and an interesting mystery which I did not foresee. I confess that I do not try hard to guess or see beyond where the author wants me to go. Pick this one up if you can. The writing is not on the level of Louise Penny, but the characters and plot do combine for an enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read a digital ARC. It was a pleasure.

A fun historical fiction mystery that delves into the secret underground work being done by the Brits in WWII. Secrecy was key to finding a positive outcome for the war effort and now women are being called upon to help. However, when a new typist stumbles upon a number of things that don’t make sense while also stumbling upon a murder things become rather dire. Is there a traitor in their midst? Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the read.

During the war, everyone wants to do their part, and Evelyne Redfern is no different than anyone else. So when she's given the opportunity to work for the war effort as a typist, she jumps at the opportunity. What she doesn't anticipate is being pulled into a world of intrigue and espionage at the same time!

No sooner does she start her new job than one of her new colleagues is murdered, and Evelyne is determined to get to the bottom of things before anyone else gets hurt.

I loved Evelyne's intelligence, keen observation skills, and persistence and found this to be a riveting WWII read. The story is perfectly situated to be the start of a series, and I'm hoping it leads to more stories with Evelyne and her partner, David. They were wonderful together!

Thank you to Julia Kelly, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Truthfully, I’m a little over WWII historical fiction at the moment, but Julia Kelly’s A Traitor In Whitehall won me over. A historical fiction with a bit of mystery, backed behind Prime Minister’s Winston Church bill’s cabinet war rooms and it sucked me in. Recommend!

Thank you to #Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly is my fifth book by this author. I love Ms. Kelly’s writing style. Her writing is always clear and not weighed down with fluff. I am happy to report that this book is number one in a series called the Parisian Orphan. I am definitely excited for this series.

I will tell you there is a lot going on in this book. It is not difficult to keep track of the various characters. There are many but they make the story that much more intriguing. Ms. Kelly’s characters, even the minor ones, are terrific. She has a way with creating characters which are memorable and full of substance. You definitely know which ones you like and which ones you don’t.

The main character, whom the series revolves around is Evelyne Redfern. She is known as the Parisian Orphan as a child. Her famous father and mother have a horrible, contentious divorce. It is splashed all over the papers and problematically Evelyne becomes the child that everyone remembers.

The story takes place in 1940 London, England. Evelyne is working at a munitions factory. One of her father’s old friends, intentionally or not, speaks to Evelyne when he sees her out and about one night. From that night on, Evelyne finds herself wrapped up in the world of London’s finest. Evelyne is determined to do well at her new post. She is wonderfully smart and quick witted.

The story is intriguing and memorable. The settings are definitely well written as you can see yourself in each place. The office, the underground war rooms and the streets of London. You will feel transported to each and every place Ms. Kelly is sending you to.

There are definitely some intentional ideas planted for this to be a series. I am hoping that Evelyne's Aunt is explored more. She seems to have a back story that would be intriguing. Evelyne’s parents would also be a good spin off. Evelyne definitely has a future as a detective and I can’t wait for the next in the series! I can’t wait to see what Ms. Kelly has in store for us next. Well done.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press, Julia Kelly and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

1940, England: Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, is working on the line at a munitions factory in wartime London. When Mr. Fletcher, one of her father’s old friends, spots Evelyne on a night out, Evelyne finds herself plunged into the world of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.

I always look forward to Julia Kelly's new book. For quite a while her new book would be my first read on the new year. This year we had to wait a little longer for a new book. And it was worth the wait.

Kelly went in a slightly different direction with A Traitor in Whitehall as it is her first amateur sleuth murder mystery. I have always found elements of mystery and intrigue in her purely historical fiction (The Last Garden in England is my favorite Kelly novel), but in this book, she invents a murder. I'm pretty sure this is also her first series as everything else I've read by her has been stand-alone stories.

I really liked the characters. Evelyne Redfern and David Poole work well together and are quite likable so I'm pleased they will continue to be paired together in future novels in the series. The other characters we meet are also well-written and feel almost real (I think some personalities were a bit more exaggerated in order to push the story forward). I'm not sure how many of the secondary characters we will see again since I assume we won't have a murder in the PM's cabinet war rooms in every installment.

I don't think this story drew me in as much as her historical fiction. At times, I had to remind myself that Julia Kelly was the author as there seemed to be a change in her writing. Perhaps it is just because of the changed genre. It might also be that it was a bit similar to another WWII amateur sleuth series I read. I can't really point to anything specific to support the feeling. The closest I can come is that the level of historical accuracy and details seemed to be lacking compared to her historical novels. Again, it might be a result of having to make trade offs to move into the crime fiction genre.

Overall, it was still an enjoyable murder mystery and if you haven't given Kelly a chance because you don't read historical fiction, then know that she has writing chops and a knack for creating great characters. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Evelyne and David in future books (but I hope Kelly doesn't give up her purely historical fiction writing).

My review is published at Girl Who Reads Reads - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/10/Traitor-in-Whitehall-Julia-Kelly-review%20.html

Great debut mystery for Julia Kelly, love her branching out into this genre and can't wait for more in the series

A TRAITOR IN WHITEHALL by Julia Kelly is set in London during WWII and because much of the action takes place in the below ground Cabinet War Rooms, it is a locked room mystery of sorts. Young Evie Redfern is assigned to the typing pool where she comes across many important papers and wartime facts in her efforts to discover who might be leaking secrets. That all becomes even more real and dangerous when a generally disliked co-worker, Jean Plinkton, is murdered. Finding the local police to be rather inept and believing that the murder and treasonous leaks may be connected, Evie joins another colleague, David Poole, in the hunt. Together, they gradually eliminate suspects while discovering plenty of personal motives (gambling debts, high nursing home charges, clandestine affairs, lesbian tendencies) that could provide a basis for blackmail or bribery. A TRAITOR IN WHITEHALL is reminiscent of the WWII Maggie Hope series by Susan Elia MacNeal who has provided a "blurb" for the front cover of this latest historical fiction mystery. Clearly Kelly's characters have respect and affection for each other – it will be a fun adventure (Booklist describes A TRAITOR IN WHITEHALL as "a cross between a Nancy Drew mystery and an Agatha Christie tale") to see what other crimes these two investigators uncover.

When Evelyne is unexpectedly called to the house of an acquaintance of her father’s she does not know her life is about to change. Evelyne is given an undercover assignment as a typist in Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms. When Evelyne discovers a fellow typist murdered she takes it upon herself to find the killer with the reluctant help of minister’s aide David Poole. As the two work together to gather intel they discover everyone has something to hide, from affairs to the selling of government secrets. Will Evelyn and David be able to discover the murderer?

This book had me locked in wanting to learn the next uncovered secret! What a great read!

Evelyne Redfern, a young woman working in a munitions factory in London during WW II, is out for the night on the town when she runs into a friend of her father’s, who asks her to visit him next day in his office. She leaves that visit with a new job in the typing pool, in the underground War Cabinet rooms of Winston Churchill, and a vague mission to search out a possible mole.

On her first day, she meets a disagreeable woman named Jean who seems to be looking for a hold over her. Evelyne immediately disarms her. by sharing her family’s disreputable reputation with the group as a whole. Evelyne was branded the “Parisian Orphan” by the press as a child, when her French mother was divorced by her English father, a well-known member of the nobility. A few days later, when Evelyne is sent for a routine task, she finds Jean’s murdered body in the room. As she turns to shout for help, someone slams the door shut and bolts it from the outside.

The police are useless. Evelyne begins asking questions, never forgetting that she is also keeping her eyes out for a spy. This brings her again and again into contact with David Poole, a handsome minister’s aide who seems to think women have no brains! The interactions between the two of them grow warmer as they begin to mutually respect each other. By dint of some fast thinking and risk taking, they are soon making progress, they think. But each of their leads seems to not be quite enough. Not to mention that it is never the safest thing to track a murderer…

A Traitor in Whitehall is a really enjoyable book. A delightful read!

4.5 stars rounded up!

A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly is an immersive, clever mystery! It is September, 1940, London England. Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” because of her parents’ notoriety, is doing her part working in a factory to support the war effort. Then she is tapped to go undercover as a secretary/spy, looking for a traitor in Churchill’s underground bunker known as the Cabinet War Room. A fellow secretary is found murdered, and Evelyne, an ardent reader of period mystery novels, tasks herself with figuring out the who, when, and why of the circumstances of the woman’s death.
Julia Kelly’s other works feature strong women leads and this is no different. Evie is plucky and curious, intelligent and persistent—the perfect woman for this task. She teams up with a reluctant aide, David Poole, to find the killer and the mole in the cabinet war rooms, and an uneasy partnership morphs into a team with intelligence, humor and an easy camaraderie.
Kelly’s story-telling skills are top-notch, as this is a well-plotted locked-room mystery, reminiscent of the very writers Evie Redfern enjoys.
I have appreciated Ms. Kelly’s research and historical accuracy in previous novels, and here she brings the underground cabinet war rooms and the Blitz to life. This novel is imbued with a great sense of place and the sometimes little-known activities going on behind the scenes in World War II-era England.
This is an excellent, atmospheric mystery, and since it is subtitled Parisian Orphan #1, I can hope that there will be more novels to come featuring Evie Redfern and David Poole!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

I like the historical context in this book and the interplay between the main characters I fel that this was an engaging and well written book for fans of WWII and historical fiction.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book