Published by Henry Holt and Co. on January 14, 2020

It isn’t easy to come up with a new plot for a suspense novel. John Banville, writing as Benjamin Black, reimagines the history of England and Ireland during World War II in a thriller that blends politics with personalities. The royal family, worried about the safety of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose during the London Blitz, make a deal with the Irish government, with has remained neutral. The two princesses are taken to the Duke of Edenmore, a distant relative who has an estate in Tipperary, for safekeeping. The connection of the two girls to the royal family is supposed to be a closely guarded secret, but no secrets about the English are kept in Ireland.

The publisher’s blurb suggests that Black “has good information that the princesses were indeed in Ireland for a time during the Blitz.” Apparently, taking the princesses abroad was a contingency plan during the war, but at least officially, the plan was never implemented. The Secret Guests is a work of fiction so whether Black’s “good information” is accurate doesn’t really matter.

The girls, ages 14 and 10, are given new identities and a cover story to explain their sudden appearance at the Duke’s estate. The two princesses feel sisterly contempt for each other, but they have even less regard for Celia Nashe, an MI5 officer whose gender accounts for her assignment to babysit “a couple of girls.” Ireland’s contribution to the security team is Detective Garda Strafford, an uncomfortable Protestant whose religion seems to be his primary qualification for the job. Longing for a hero she can love, Margaret eventually turns her starry eyes to Stafford, but only after her early fixation on Billy Denton, a shabby groundskeeper who doubles as the Duke’s steward.

Denton is crucial to the novel’s political background. His mother was shot during the Irish War of Independence, although by which side is a matter of speculation. Strafford is worried that Denton may be sympathetic to the IRA, although Strafford, “as a descendant of the land grabbers who had flooded over from England three centuries before,” feels “suspended between two worlds, two sets of sensibilities, two impossible choices. Poor Ireland; poor divided little country, gnawing away at immemorial grievances, like a fox caught in a snare trying to bite off its trapped leg.”

The English are concerned that kidnapping a couple of princesses might be beneficial to the IRA. The fear is the IRA will trade the princesses to Hitler, who will hold them as hostages to destroy British morale, in exchange for allowing the IRA to rule Ireland as a puppet government. The local faction of the IRA, led by Boss Clancy, is generally regarded as harmless. Clancy lacks the resources to kidnap two girls from an estate that is loosely guarded by soldiers. But he does have contacts, and Belfast eventually supplies a couple of tough men who know to get things done.

As background to the political intrigue, various characters either backbite or sleep with each other. Sexual liaisons compete with the political undercurrent of a divided Ireland to hold the reader’s attention until action scenes drive the story to its ending. Black’s dependence on complex characters rather than chase scenes to carry the story gives The Secret Guests credibility that modern thrillers too often lack. As always, Black writes with graceful muscularity. With a good plot, strong characters, and a fascinating historical background, The Secret Guests pushes all the right buttons.

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Wasn't a fan. Definitely was expecting more from this novel. The synopsis *sounded* interesting, but it failed to keep my attention. I wish Ellen and Mary had been featured more (they basically were the title, after all).

The Secret Guests tells the story of the evacuation from London during the blitz of the royal princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret. In a remarkably poorly managed evacuation, the girls are sent to the estate of a distant relative under the guard of inexperienced and politically suspect bodyguards. The two girls, raised to be “royal” and thus stoic in the advent of unpleasant circumstances, are still just little girls.

I suspect this story was largely historically accurate, and as such it was an interesting look behind the royal curtain. Although believable, the characters were unfortunately unlikeable, and I consequently lost some interest in their story.

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

In The Secret Guests, we get an alternate history novel that reads like a slow-moving horror story.

The alternate history here is apparently minor—Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret take refuge in Ireland rather than staying home with their parents during World War 2. This gives the reader pause because the book’s plot otherwise creeps along and it’s hard to know what to expect. Even a small change can have a big impact and WW2 was nearly lost many times in our actual history.

This is more of a character-driven story, plumbing the depths of each person, figuring out what ache drives current behavior. It’s the ultimate slow burn, with hardly any plot until the last 25% of the book.

“Something they hadn’t realized was open had closed between them, and they were both aware of it shutting. It was something like a window, a thing that had been a space of possibility for a moment and now was a barrier, transparent but impenetrable.”

Every moment in this book became laced with terror on my part because one doesn’t read an alt-history novel with so little action as occurred in TSG. I was expecting zombies to come out and eat the heads of the young princesses at every turn, rather than discuss what different characters were reading. I did feel an affinity with the author, who is so Irish it hurts. We Irish do like our literature, even when a major plot line is a character checking out books from a library.

The princesses in this novel find an Ireland two and a half decades after the 1916 Easter Rising but four decades before The Troubles. The Irish War of Independence and Civil War are firmly in the rear view mirror. Yet, the Irish still mostly hate the British and have no interest in protecting two British princesses. The princesses give their names as Ellen and Mary, so similar to their real names as to be ridiculous, and they have a few different layers of security. When the mystery in the book pops up at the end, it becomes clear they’ve fooled no one with their attempts to disguise their identities.

You’ll have to read the book to find out just how far this book goes outside of the history we know today.

As you know I love WWII fiction and especially enjoy ones that delve into little known history about that time. So I was excited to read The Secret Guests. It sounded like it would be a great read - set in Ireland where the royal princesses were sent to escape the Blitz in London.

Ireland was neutral during WWII (I only know because of another book I read) and I had never thought about what the royal family did during the war. Princess Elizabeth, yes the current Queen of England, was a young teenager and her sister Margaret was a tween. I guess I assumed they had been sent to the countryside like most other London children. Benjamin Black believes that they spent a short period of time in Ireland.

Ireland and England has a tumultuous history. How would the IRA take giving refuge to the heir to the throne of England? A female member of the Security Service and an Irish detective are assigned to look after the girls at a rundown manor of a British aristocrat.

The scene sounds set for interesting WWII history tidbits, maybe a little romance, and some cloak and dagger danger. Unfortunately, none of that comes to fruition. I felt as bored as the royal children and their assigned guards.

We did get a little insight into Margaret's personality. I know next to nothing about the Queen's sister. Apparently, she had a flair for the macabre and was quite the romantic for a 10-year-old. We get little insight into Elizabeth who was well trained to hide for emotions behind royal professionalism.

Celia, the security service member, and Strafford, the Irish detective, largely came across as slightly incompetent. Celia mainly served as governess to the girls while Strafford read books about the Thirty Year War and Neo in the Duke's library. For some time the most illicit activity that appeared was him checking out a banned book from the local library.

The characters are all cold to each other which allowed for little interaction between them. We head jump a little between characters in order to learn about them and what they were doing during this dismally boring time. The characters felt largely devoid of emotion. The lack of connection to any of the characters, plus the lack of action, had me wondering if I would call it quits at the two-thirds mark. I didn't see any point to the story. Finally, a little drama was inserted with the shooting of a local man and the discovery that the identity of the girls was possibly known by the IRA.

The IRA thugs were almost comical in their gangster behavior. However, it was all wrapped up quickly with little tension.

If the author wanted the reader to feel the same boredom as the characters, then he succeeded.

I like when historical fiction writers share bits of their research with the reader, particularly on points where they diverged from the historical record. The summary for The Secret Guests ends by stating that Black "has good information that the princesses were indeed in Ireland". I wish he had shared more about his research in an author note so that I would know what is truth and what was purely fiction. It would have provided a bit more interest to this rather sedate story.

My review will publish at Girl Who Reads on January 13 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2020/01/the-secret-guests-by-benjamin-black.html

I had no idea that Benjamin Black is the pen name of John Banville! Considering he has written so many books I would have had some idea but clearly not. Oh well, you learn new things everyday.

I read a lot of thrillers but I love reading historical fiction as well and this was one was a really entertaining one. I am so glad I was sent an ARC.

The premise itself is so intriguing and the book didn't let me down. The story was very engaging, the characters unique and well written and setting atmospheric and creepy setting the tone for the story. The author went into detailed descriptions of the place which made me feel like I was right there. I was hooked and was fully invested.

Thoroughly entertaining story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book supposed that Elizabeth and Margaret, English princesses, were evacuated to Ireland during the War. In this story they are sent undercover, to live with a distant relation in a crumbling old pile in Ireland. The girls arrive with 2 people to guard them, but no one really knows each other or how to occupy their time and of course it is all a big secret.

As nightly bombings terrorize London, King George’s young daughters, Margaret, 10, and Elizabeth, 14, are secretly evacuated to the Duke of Edenmore’s dilapidated pile in the Irish countryside. But it’s not just the Germans who pose a threat: in the neutral Republic of Ireland, disaffected IRA members seek to use the girls to strike the British. A rich and atmospheric thriller.

I was so looking forward to this book based upon the description but unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype of multifaceted wartime thriller. For my review, I will make this short and sweet and lightly express my disappointment by listing bullet points.
1. The descriptions went way overboard, I don’t ever remember reading a book that went into the depth of describing every scene in detail as this one. Way to wordy on the scenes.
2. I wish we would have dwelt more on the children with their feelings and thoughts instead of spending so much time on Celia and Mr. Strafford (with an R). Of which I never really came to like either one of them.
3. The last of the story went way downhill, there was no need for several of the scenes that took place toward the end.
4. The story really never talks about the war, other than alluding to it, we never leave the Hall.
I don’t like to give bad reviews but sadly this was a disappointment.
I was given an advanced copy from Henry Holt & Company through Net Galley for my honest review, this one gets 2 stars.

I love WW2 fiction, but some of the storylines are repetitive and getting stale, but not *The Secret Guests*. I appreciated the new story and I liked the characters, but the story was a little slow at points and I was close to losing interest in the middle. Luckily I persevered and ended up really enjoying the reading experience. I thought the characters were well-developed and the setting was fresh.

I was drawn to this novel by the intriguing premise of an alternative history. While it is a well-known fact that the British Royal Family, including the young Elizabeth and Margaret, remained in London during the blitz, this novel proposes a “what if” scenario. Elizabeth and Margaret are secreted away to a rundown estate in Ireland belonging to a distant cousin. They are given the aliases of Ellen and Mary, and are accompanied by Celia Nashe, an MI5 agent, posing as their governess. Also charged with the protection of the two princesses is Detective Garda Strattford, an Anglo-Irish police officer. It does not take long for the real identities of the famous royals to be uncovered by the servants and townspeople and soon a kidnapping plot is developed by local members of the Irish rebellion. While the history and intrigue surrounding the relations between Great Britain and Ireland are interesting, the rest of the plot, including an unrealistic romance involving Celia, seem contrived and far-fetched. While the atmospheric descriptions of a crumbly Anglo-Irish estate and some of the historical elements may be enough for some readers, the anti-climactic ending and plot contrivances made this one a miss for me.

What if the Princesses Elizabeth, 14, and Margaret, 10, took shelter in neutral Ireland for safety during the Blitz? The girls, renamed Ellen and Mary arrive at Clonmillis Hall in rural County Tipperary along with an MI5 agent and a Detective Garda to protect them. They upset the sleepy routines of the household of their host, the Duke of Edenmore. The inconveniences start as amusing incidents and then turn dangerous when the identity of the two secret guests become an issue.

It is WWII and a decision is made to send the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret to stay in a crumbling mansion in the Republic of Ireland. I don't think this really happened but who knows? The Republic is a neutral country in the War and England agrees to ship Ireland coal in exchange for housing the girls.

The girls are guarded by a rag tag collection of adults in an effort to be incognito. There is a Secret Service agent who is one of the few females, Celia. Also there is Strafford, the only Protestant Garda, and Lascelles, an arrogant diplomat from the embassy. They are staying with the ancient owner of the manor and his irascible housekeeper. There is a very haphazard group of militia led by the son of the President of Ireland. The locals include the dreamboat groundsman, the local IRA contact, Clancy, and the ne'er do well drunk. The characters in this book are delicious.

I love that the Princesses are so well drawn. Margaret is a pill and a troublemaker. Elizabeth is old beyond her years and they are both so homesick. The story is lovely and could very well be true. It would make sense to separate the family for protection and to preserve the ruling class. I love the exploration of Ireland's role (or really lack of one) in the War. The ending blew my socks off. It's a wonderful read.

Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

As part of Germany’s attempt to destroy British war industry during World War II, German bombers dropped thousands of bombs on London and the country’s other key industrial and port cities. The concentrated bombing campaign that began in 1940 and ended in 1941 would ultimately see the destruction of more than one million homes and 20,000 civilian deaths in London alone. Roughly ten percent of those killed during the London Blitz were children despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of children were evacuated from the city. B.W. Black’s The Secret Guests wonders what it would have been like if the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret had been among those children sent to safer ground.

In this alternate history of events, not only are Elizabeth and Margaret evacuated from London, they are sent to Ireland - where they face a different kind of danger - rather than to a country like Canada where they would have been completely safe. The problem, of course, is that getting the girls safely to Canada is much more dangerous than getting them to “neutral” Ireland. Even as World War II progresses, the 1919-1921 Irish War of Independence (resulting in the creation of Northern Ireland and all of the problems to come from that partition) is still very much a factor in the relationship between Ireland and Britain. That Ireland has declared herself neutral in the war between Germany and Britain does not necessarily mean that the majority of the country’s citizens are secretly rooting for Britain to prevail. No, for their own political purposes, there are plenty in Ireland who would love to get their hands on the young princesses – and they are willing to kill to get them.

Elizabeth (age 14) and Margaret (age 10) arrive at the remote estate belonging to the Duke of Edenmore not knowing what to expect. By the time of their arrival, the girls have learned to answer to the names Emily and Mary but they are a little taken aback by the physical state of the large old house in which the Duke lives alone with his staff of servants. Joining the girls is newly minted British secret agent Celia Nashe, who is on her very first assignment, and a young Irish cop, Detective Garda Strafford. Before long, the girls and their protectors have resigned themselves to a routine of horseback riding, reading whatever is on hand or available in the village’s small library, quiet meals together, early bedtimes, and general solitude. The only one of them able to maintain much of a spark is young Margaret – who spies on everyone constantly and has a better grasp of what is really going on around her than any of the adults there.

But boredom breeds complacency, and in this case, complacency breeds danger.

Bottom Line: B.W. Black (pseudonym for Irish novelist John Banville) offers something here a bit different from the spate of World War II fiction of the past few months. Interestingly, the bulk of The Secret Guests is spent exploring everyday life on the estate and how the royal princesses settle into the dullness of their new world as they learn more about those secluded there with them. Black presents Elizabeth and Margaret as children already clearly exhibiting the personalities that would later define them as adults. Elizabeth is seen as aloof and proper; Margaret as impetuous and adventuress. As such, Margaret, the youngest person in the story, is often its driving force.

Review Copy provided by Henry Holt and Company

I was looking forward to reading this fictionalized account of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret and their decampment to rural Ireland during World War II.

The beginning of the book sets the scene well with Margaret watching the Blitz from her bedroom window at the Palace. I enjoyed the details involved in putting this whole plan into motion. Overall the princesses are pretty one dimensional and secondary to story. Strafford, the young Garda detective is the main character of this story.

The last third of the book seemed very rushed and a bit far fetched. Perhaps those events really happened? But it came across as a made up event in order to have some action in Ireland. It did bring back all the characters from the beginning of the book.

The epilogue was just odd. There were quite a few "pop culture" references (such as Mary Poppins) that seemed jarring and sent me off to research. The references do fit the timeline but they did distract me.

Overall the descriptions are detailed and paint a vivid picture of the characters persona and the environs; however the character development and the plot are less successful which is why I gave this book 3 stars.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*

When the bombing in London began during WWII, many Londoners looked for a safe haven for their children. The King and Queen of England were no different. Although they were determined to remain in London for the morale of the country, they did choose to remove their daughters from the threat of the London Blitz.

In this story, it was decided neutral Ireland was the safest place to send them. They were spirited out of London in the night to a distant relative’s estate in the Irish countryside. It was a top-secret endeavor and included a detective and a secret agent as the chaperones. What began as a dull and uneventful stay, soon became one of chaos and peril.

I enjoyed the unique characters portrayed in the story and the descriptive nature of Ireland and their conflicting views of the English during that time period. At times, the story lagged a bit, but overall I found it very entertaining. Black writes about some dark times, but does so in a way that doesn’t overwhelm readers with gloom.

Readers looking for a new perspective during World War II that illustrates the relationship between England and Ireland during those years will enjoy this new historical fiction by Benjamin Black.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

Interesting story based on (maybe) true events. Very good book. Kept my attention and I enjoyed thinking of the royals as kids.

Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret (ages 14 and 10) are evacuated to a country house in Ireland during the blitz of London. Despite this irresistible premise, not much happens for three fourths of the book, when it abruptly tries to become a thriller. The purpose of most of the characters in the narrative is unclear.

Margaret is suitably bratty, but the book lacks the gentle humor needed to soften her character. Elizabeth is nearly always as stiff as a poker. The plot focuses primarily on the flat and dull characters in charge of guarding the princesses: these two detectives are instantly forgettable. The book will be popular for light reading for those who like historical fiction, but many diehard lovers of the royal family will likely wish the princesses had been the main focus. I received an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book from the first chapter! A delightful read, with well-developed characters, and an air of suspense throughout the entire book. Not the mention, it involves British royalty, plus WWII, both a terrific combination for historical fiction lovers like myself. Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to review this book!

As London suffered the nightly attacks by German planes, the King and Queen chose to remain in the city in support of the people. Their daughters, however, were sent to neutral Ireland to a supposedly safe location. Under the names of Ellen and Mary, they are protected by Strafford of the Irish Gardai and Celia Nash, a British agent, but secrets are difficult to keep. Following years of oppression by the English, there are those who suffered the loss of loved ones during the Irish War of Independence, fostering resentment and placing the girls in danger. The arrangements negotiated with the Irish government reflect on the uneasy relations between the two countries.

While Elizabeth is only fourteen, Benjamin Black shows a young girl who has been trained for her future responsibilities. Margaret, at ten, is curious about the world around her and easily bored with the restrictions imposed on them. Confined to the estate, boredom is a problem shared by both girls. When they are granted a limited amount of freedom, things do not go well.

This story begins slowly as Black introduces his characters and takes you to Clonmillis Hall, an estate that is in need of much care. As the story progresses, the tension increases as more people suspect the girls’ identities, ending in a surprising showdown. This tale of the young princesses should appeal to fans of The Crown. I would like to thank NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for providing this book in exchange for my review.