In "The Last Letter from London," Pam Lecky masterfully transports readers to the heart of World War II London, immersing them in the gripping world of espionage and counterintelligence. Through the eyes of MI5 agent Sarah Gillespie, we're thrust into the perilous realm of double-agent operations, where trust is a scarce commodity and loyalties are constantly questioned. Lecky skillfully navigates the intricate web of deception and danger that defines this era, capturing the tension and high stakes of military espionage with remarkable authenticity.

Central to the narrative is Sarah's pivotal role as the handler for a new double agent, Adeline, whose arrival from France introduces a fresh layer of intrigue. As the story unfolds, Lecky expertly crafts dynamic and enigmatic characters who inhabit their roles as spies with depth and complexity. Against the backdrop of war-torn London, the settings are vividly rendered, brimming with detail and life, while the darker aspects of war and espionage are handled with nuance and precision.

"The Last Letter from London" stands as a superb example of World War II historical fiction, offering readers a compelling blend of suspense, intrigue, and historical accuracy. Lecky's masterful storytelling ensures that the high stakes of the period and the intricate world of intelligence work during World War II will keep readers enthralled until the very last page.

This was a good read. I wasn’t aware before I read this that it was the third book in a series, however this read ok as a standalone and I may go and check out the previous books.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Sarah Gillespie is an MI5 agent in London during WWII. She’s assigned to handle a defector and double agent, Adeline. She gets information from her lover in Germany through the use of coded letters. However, Adeline is manipulative and Sarah is concerned that she’s double crossing the British. They undertake an operation in Lisbon, a city full of Nazi spies. Is Adeline telling Sarah the truth? Will they get back to Britain safely?
4 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Absolutely fantastic read. I will read every title Lecky writes. Riveting and characters are so well developed.

A very enjoyable book to read. Good storyline that captures you from the off. Characters that were enjoyable and that you liked.

What a captivating, refreshing read.
The whole time I was reading it, I was increasingly more in awe of the amount of research that had to go into writing this book.

Sarah is such a vivid, relatable character and sharing her adventures feels like a privilege. Not in the "I'd like to be in her shoes" way, nobody in their right mind would rather live in a War World two ridden world, when daily life includes walking around bombed buildings, hoping that rations will be enough and dreaming of the time when luxury items like stockings might become available again.

No, this book does an amazing job of transporting the reader into Sarah's world, into seeing things through an incredibly brave perspective. As an MI5 spy, Sarah is forced to walk the fine line of choosing to trust people or constantly question their motives or second-guessing every word exchanged between her and everyone she talks to, but especially Adeline - who is another well-rounded, eccentric character.

What I loved most about this book was how Sarah's questioning of everyone and everything rubs up on the reader. At some point I started feeling not like an external reader, but as a companion, wanting to protect her and advise her, anything I could do to help, I would have tried to do it. I couldn't help joining in her struggles and in her sorrows and I even went do far as to start doubting her boyfriend. Ah, the paranoia that sets in when reading about double agents...

Such a beautiful, refreshing read.

I have received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity

The Last Letter from London is the 3rd novel in a series by Pam Lecky. I personally hadn't read the others in the series (I'm not sure why if I'm honest...!) but it is easily read and understood as a standalone.

This installment sees Sarah Gillespie, MI5 agent responsible for Adeline Vernier, a mysterious double agent from Paris. From the beginning we know that Adeline is a double agent who M15 are keen to use to their advantage.

Sarah is never quite sure if she can trust her though, and its easy to understand why. Adeline is spoilt, petulant and above all, secretive. But Sarah knows that she must work with Adeline in order to gain the respect of her superiors.

Sarah is good at her job, and keen for more recognition, perhaps even promotion.

Adeline wants her boyfriend to be released from Nazi occupied France. Sarah makes no explicit promises, just does what she has to to get Adeline to agree to what MI5 want from her. When Sarah makes a discovery that could jeopardise Adeline's already questionable loyalty to Britain, she decides to keep it to herself.

Backed by her superiors, Sarah shouldn't question her own judgement. But she can't help it where Adeline is concerned. Her character is such that she makes Sarah question her very existence sometimes...

I can't really say much more, as I don't want to give anything away.

The Last Letter from London is an enjoyable historical fiction novel and I wouldn't hesitate to pick up the others in the series.

I was blown away by all the secrets and twists that kept coming… The ending completely blew me away. I raced through the pages as fast as I could

Another fantastic book in this gripping historical fiction series. I’ve been in a reading slump but then I picked this up this week and did not want to put it down. I love the character of Sarah Gillespie, following her journey from book one to this book she’s very strong and makes for a fantastic main character. Another 5 star read.

Even though I hadn't read the two books before, I found 'The Last Letter from London' to be a captivating journey through uncertainty and intrigue. As the war rages, MI5 agent Sarah Gillespie is tasked with handling Adeline Vernier, a double agent from Paris. Adeline's mission is critical to the Allies and could provide vital information to defeat the Germans, but she demands that her boyfriend be rescued from Nazi-occupied France in return. However, Adeline is a very volatile woman, and MI5 isn't sure if she will turn on them and destroy all they were hoping to achieve.
The plot is filled with uncertainty and suspense, keeping the reader engaged. The pacing is steady, and the story moves back and forth between the mission and Sarah's romantic indecisions. The emphasis on Sarah's romance and her struggles with her feelings for Tony might interrupt the flow of the story for some readers. However, the author masterfully creates tension and intrigue with Adeline's character. Her motives are unclear, and her credibility is questionable, which builds suspense and adds an element of danger to the story.
The descriptions of the locations are vivid and create an immersive atmosphere. The scenes in Lisbon are particularly engaging, with the ongoing threat of Nazi capture adding an extra layer of tension to the story.
'The Last Letter from London' is an excellent read for spy lovers in a WWII setting. The compelling plot, well-drawn characters, and tense atmosphere make this book an exciting addition to the genre. While reading the previous books in the series might be helpful, I didn't feel I was missing anything, as this story works well as a standalone novel.

The Last Letter from London is the third in Pam Lecky's Her Secret War series. I really like the Lecky's writing style...always have. This story is rife with danger, double agents, trickery and romance.

M15 agent Sarah has earned a new position and is therefore tasked with more demanding and dangerous assignments. She is in charge of Parisian double agent Adeline. The latter is a concern and must prove herself. The two women's work takes them to Portugal where problem after problem arises. Trust is on the line. Adeline is adept at coded letters which could betray or solidify allied information. Not only are there secrets but also romance.

Though I am not besotted with the romantic aspects of this novel, the writing reeled me in and held me captive. Spies and WWII intelligence are compelling to learn more about and the horrific effects of war are impossible to comprehend. The tangled webs the characters find themselves in are at times precarious yet there is always hope. The power and impact of one person's actions or inactions or one letter never fail to intrigue me, especially when lives are on the line all over the world during war.

My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this riveting novel.

The Last Letter From London is an exciting and well written WWII book. This is book 3 in the series but could be read as a stand alone novel too.

Sarah Gillespie, a MI5 agent finds herself stuck with a double agent to look after, which is a huge challenge. Can the women be trusted or is she playing Sarah for a fool. This is a spy thriller with a touch of romance to it.

The first two books in the series were good but I found this book was more exciting and held my interest more. This was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys WWII spy novels.

Thanks to NetGalley, Pam Lecky and Avon Books for an advanced copy of this book.

I loved the premise of this book; difficult to handle double agent with a feisty, female handler, but sadly this didn't deliver as I'd hoped.

Adeline, the French double agent, behaved like a whining, petulant toddler, while her handler, Sarah, was less feisty and more flaky. Running alongside the spy story though, was a lot of romance, which isn't my thing, as I prefer historical fiction, but if romance nooks are your thing, you will likely love this book.

Pam Lecky's writing is lovely, but I personally prefer a faster pace and more action than romance.

3 star. Thanks to Netgalley, Pam Lecky and Avon for an ARC in return for my honest review.

This was a REALLY fun and exciting read that gave me a whole new perspective on "spy games" during World War II. Sarah Gillespie is a loveable character and I now realize there are far more books from this author featuring this character which I will definitely be checking out.

As a lover of historical fiction and especially war time novels, this one brings all the danger and treachery of the setting to the forefront with those emotional and psychological dangers of double agents. Gillespie is responsible for being this woman's handler as a double agent, but their new asset is not making things easy. Nor is she easy to trust with her beguiling ways.

Things took a turn that I wasn't really expecting and that made it even more interesting, even if at times the book felt a little slower paced than I would have liked. The love interest of Gillespie was also a really fun addition to the overall feel of the story.

The talented Irish author, Pam Lecky, continues to bring a fresh perspective to WWII, in Book 3 of the gripping hist-mystery series featuring Irish-born spy Sarah Gillespie. As an M-15 agent in London, Sarah's task is to manage Aveline Vernier, a French woman who claims she works for the Nazis but wants to spy against them now. Can she be believed or will she turn against the Allies just before D-Day? Easily read solo, but will propel you to read the whole compelling series. Highly recommended!

Exciting and romantic

This is the third book in a series which can be read stand-alone but the series is better read in order. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Last Letter from London. The characters are strong and well written and the plot moves right along. Highly recommended for the ww2 historical fiction fan.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time limited e-arc via netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Yes, I have been following this series, and I’m enjoying them. Now, I don’t know if this will be the last, but since this story takes place in 1944, I have my doubts that Lecky will be giving us much more of Sarah Gillespie in the future. No matter, mostly because it feels like the conclusion of WWII for Sarah will be a bit more romantic than thrilling, and I prefer the latter. That said, Lecky did leave a few things open, so if there’s another book, that one will surely be the last (unless she decides to get into the Cold War era, which I find doubtful, but you never know). One way or another, I’m glad I’ve read these three, since I like Sarah a great deal, and there was far too much to her story to be contained in a single volume. Plus, it has been fascinating to watch Sarah grow, from book to book.

I must admit that this book gives us one very special character here, one which we’re never sure we can believe or trust. That is Adeline Vernier. This woman shows up in England, saying she’s running from the Nazis, who have occupied her home of Paris. She’s a true enigma (pun intended? Maybe) in that she’s originally from Russia, but has been living in France most of her life. The idea that she was recruited by the Nazis to spy for them, but now wants to defect, is a plausible one. The possibility that she might be used as a double agent against the Nazis is for Sarah to determine. But from the outset, Sarah is wary, and rightfully so. Lecky really went all out in making Adeline into a mysterious character, and just when we start to trust her, she gives reason for us to suspect her motivations. Then, only moment later, we’re thrown back into confusion by something that makes us want to believe she’s sincere. Lecky’s achievement in doing this was a real tour de force, and she deserves high praise for this, indeed.

I should mention that since this is the third in a series, I don’t think it would be a great idea to start with this book. Although Lecky does try to fill in some of the gaps from the previous books, I can’t really say that I’d have understood most of them if I hadn’t read the other two. So, if you’re looking for a book that’s also stand-alone, I’m afraid I can’t point to this novel. (Mind you, this only means that if I entice you to read this one, I’ll be helping Lecky sell the other two, and I’m always happy to do that!) You should also know that I also noticed how Lecky has become more confident in her literary voice, and this is certainly the best of the three novels.

In addition, Lecky was able to mix in one amazingly true story of a bit of trickery the British did, which helped win the war, was one of her better twists here. (Sorry, no spoilers, but trust me, it was a really good one.) That said, I’m afraid that some of the romance parts felt a touch strained for me, and slightly lessened my emotional connection to her. However, I’m happy to say that these scenes didn’t overwhelm the story, nor detract from the overall book. This is why I’m very much recommending this book (after you’ve read the other two), but giving it 4.75 stars out of five. (Now, if Lecky does write another book in this series, and she can make me cry… she could finally get that illusive last quarter of a star from me yet!)

When MI5 agent, Sarah Gillespie picked up Adeline Vernier, a double agent from France, Sarah had no idea how she would manage this volatile young woman. Demanding that MI5 rescue her boyfriend from France before she did anything to help them, vague promises were all they could offer. But Adeline - Agent Honey - continued to send her letters to the German, Haas, with the misleading information MI5 was directing her with. Sarah, as Adeline's handler, felt frustrated and constantly annoyed with the agent, but felt she could do nothing further.

When Adeline needed to go to Lisbon to meet with Haas, Sarah went with her. They went separately with Sarah's papers giving her a different identity. But with the danger of the Germans, plus the French police, it wasn't surprising when Sarah was arrested. Would she be released? Could she escape? Sarah wondered why she'd even thought she could get away with this mission in Lisbon...

The Last Letter from London is the 3rd in Her Secret War series by Pam Lecky and I was disappointed. I read and loved the first, missed the second and now with this third, there was too much emphasis on romance, and not enough on the war effort and defeating the Nazis. Plus Sarah seemed way too inexperienced to be a handler for a volatile double agent, who threw tantrums as a child would at times. Unfortunately, The Last Letter from London went in a direction I was not expecting, so was not for me.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Her Secret War #3

A double agent: As WWII rages, MI5 agent Sarah Gillespie is faced with her toughest challenge yet: handling Addine Vernier, a mysterious double agent from Paris.

A dangerous mission: Addine's coded letters could help the Allies defeat the Germand - nut, in return, she demands that her boyfriend is rescued from Nazi-occupied France, Addine is not above threatening to double-cross MI5 to get what she wants, leaving Sarah fearful for the millions of lives at stake.

This is more a tale of romance than a war story. Sarah Gillespie is a strong character. She has to face some crucial missions in her workplace and some hard challenges in her relationship with an American Navy Officer. The story is based on true events. This isn't a book that's easy to guess what's going to happen next. This is a well written and twist filled story.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #PamLecky for my ARC of #TheLastLetterFromLondon in exchange for an honest revoew.

Book 3 in the Her Secret War historical mystery series featuring Sarah Gillespie and whilst it’s always good to read the books in order for context this can easily be read as a standalone. It is the period shortly before the Normandy landings and the Allies are desperate to fool the German Army as to the actual date and location. Sarah’s relationship with Tony is still on but very volatile and quite a lot of the book is handed over to their romance.

Briefly, Sarah is working for MI5 in London and is asked to handle a French woman Aveline Vernier who has told them she is a German agent but wants to work as a double agent. Aveline becomes an important cog in the military deception, however, she wants something in return. Is she genuine or bluffing? It is up to Sarah to work out the truth.

As always with this author the research is clearly detailed and spot on and the book seamlessly integrates fact with fiction. The intrigue was good, it was hard to tell if Adeline was trustworthy and this helped maintain the suspense. I love how this series brings WWII history to people who may never have taken an interest in this period. A great read.

4.5⭐️