I've long enjoyed Mr. Black's Quirk series, and so was interested when I saw The secret guests listed on NetGalley. Although I did enjoy the book, I didn't feel it was his strongest work. The princesses were actually almost peripherals, existing as a reason for all the other characters to be where they were, and for the action taking place, but not fleshed out as characters themselves. Although the central characters, Celia Nash and Detective Strafford, were a bit better defined, I never really felt much for them as characters. Interesting mostly in terms of what was happening in Ireland during WWII.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for the opportunity to read The Secret Guest in return for an honest review.

Wow! The Secret Guests is a truly special novel. I read the whole book in one sitting. It is an exceptional historical suspense novel; a well thought out, very entertaining story. The author has a wonderful talent for establishing the relationships of all the characters. I look forward to reading more books from this author. I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Many readers will know that literary fiction author, John Banville, uses the pen name Benjamin Black. As Mr Black he has written a well regarded series of mysteries that take place in 1950s Ireland.

This historical/suspense novel also takes place in Ireland. It is a dark time for Britain as bombs regularly fell in London. Based on what the author thinks happened, this novel posits that fourteen year old Elizabeth and ten year old Mary were sent to Ireland to keep them safe.

This slow burn of a novel imagines how this was done, what it was like for the princesses and who the people were who ensured their safety. They are challenged.

Margaret, renamed Mary, to keep her identity hidden, is a particularly vividly drawn character. She is inquisitive and a bit of an imp. Elizabeth/Ellen as the older, more staid sister is also brought to life.

There is a plot against the princesses. Who knew they were there? Who is responsible? We all know that Margaret and Elizabeth survived so the reader knows the ending. Nonetheless, the unraveling is suspenseful.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

The Secret Guests
My thanks to #NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review. Benjamin Black explored the relationship between England and Ireland during WWII as he fictionalized the story of the King’s daughters Margaret and Elizabeth. It has been rumored that the young princesses had been secreted away in a safe house in Ireland during the Blitz. The Secret Guests takes many liberties, but also gives the reader an inside look at the ravages of war.

The Royal Family Margaret& Elizabeth sent to Ireland to protect them during ww2.A fascinating idea a story that drew me in so well written so involving Benjamin Black always writes literary fiction at its best.#The Special Guests #henryholt

The novel begins with the king's daughters, Margaret and Elizabeth, being secretly sent to Ireland for their safety during the Blitz. Based on a rumored-to-be-true story. Assigned to protect them are quiet Anglo-Irish detective Strafford and MI5 agent Celia Nashe. Nothing much happens for awhile as the girls become acclimated to the fusty old manor house they're billeted in. Then a man turns up dead with a newspaper clipping in his pocket with a circled picture of the royal family, and it is apparent that the girls' cover is blown. Black has a particular affinity for the willful Margaret.

I have loved all of Benjamin Black's novel and this did not disappoint. A real page turner, this will appeal to both men and women.

Interesting read about the protection of the Royal family members during World War II. I was not aware that the Elizabeth and Margaret were moved to neutral Ireland during the war. Good historical information about the relationship between Ireland and England and some of the differences in how they viewed the war. One doesn't hear much about Ireland in terms of their participation or stand during the war.

A known fact about actions by British families taken during the period of the Blitz of London by Germany during World War II was the sending of their children out of the city to the country to escape those raids. Mr Black's book is an account, which he indicates is substantiated by information he received, that the Royal family sent their two daughters Elizabeth later Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret out of London for the same reason.
The novel begins with the sending of the girls to Edenmore a castle located in than neutral Ireland. They were accompanied by Celia Nashe a British secret service agent and Garda Strafford a young Irish detective. In addition they were protected by a company of soldiers that patrolled the grounds of the estate on a 24 7 basis.
Characterizations are extremely well done beginning with the young Princesses. Two young ladies that have been raised to always project a royal visage but are still girls that are away from home for the first time. They miss their family and feel hemmed in by the constant supervision they are subjected to. While at Edenmore they are to use names other than their real ones and keep their identities secret. Celia wants to do well in this, her first important assignment, but as a pretty young woman is subject to male admiration and her own interest in developing a romantic relationship. Strafford is also a young man involved in his first important assignment. While doing so he struggles with feelings or no feelings towards Celia.
The period described is relatively close to the war of Independence waged between Ireland and England and there are people described that suffered losses during that period to the British army. The author's style and the story make the novel into one that is read with the reader's interest kept up wanting to know how it ends.

The Secret Guests by Benjamin Black is a creative novel about Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret and their time in Ireland after being sent there “under the radar” for their safety during the Blitz that occurred in London during WWII.

What I found most fascinating was a behind the scenes, closer look at relations between Ireland and England at this time, and as close as the two countries were geographically, that they were far apart in regards to inter government and political differences and healing wounds that are still fresh in minds at that time.
I had not read a novel that had brought that angle to life as of yet. Very interesting and the author definitely sets himself a part in this market with this angle.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I enjoyed this book. The premise is that Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are sent to Ireland for safety during the early part of World War II. They pose as ordinary girls in an old country house, hosted by a Duke friendly to the crown. But, of course, someone realizes who they really are.

The pacing of this book was a bit odd. It's slow in places, and the last part seems hurried. Chapter or section breaks would have been helpful in sorting out the elements of the plot.

I found this book by Man Booker Prize-winning novelist John Banville writing under a nom de plume a compelling twist on the rash of WWII novels out today. It focuses on young British princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, sent for safety during the Blitz to Ireland, neutral during the war but not entirely supportive of England due to the long oppression of the Emerald Isle. The author has a wry poetic style which I loved and his “take” on English-Irish politics played out against the backdrop of the war was illuminating. Highly recommend for history buffs and for those who love good yarns spun by fine Irish writers. 5/5

Pub Date 14 Jan 2020.

Thanks to Benjamin Black, Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#TheSecretGuests #NetGalley

This is an interesting piece of historical fiction taking place during World War II. As the bombs are falling on London, the King and Queen arrange for their daughters to take shelter at a dilapidated castle in the Irish Republic. They are sent with a minder, MI5 agent Celia Nashe as well as a member of the Irish Garda, Saint john Strafford, neither of whom are thrilled with this assignment, to look after them. The story of the girls and their time there is interesting, but it is the depictions of Irish history and the clashes between the Irish and the British that make this an extraordinary book. I learned a lot of history and I thoroughly enjoyed the story.