Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

"The Traitor Beside Her" by Mary Anna Evans, narrated by Kimberly M. Wetherell, is a gripping historical fiction novel that plunges readers into the tense atmosphere of World War II espionage. Set within the walls of Arlington Hall, a former women's college turned U.S. Army code-breaking facility, the story follows Justine Byrne, a woman tasked with an almost insurmountable mission: to uncover a traitor among the ranks of America's brightest minds.

Evans masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue, where every character is a potential suspect, and trust is a luxury Justine can ill afford. The narrative is rich with historical detail, immersing the reader in the era's social and political nuances. The backdrop of war and the critical role of code-breakers provide a compelling stage for the unfolding drama.

Justine is a character of remarkable depth and complexity. Her sharp intellect and unwavering determination are matched only by her vulnerability in a world where a single misstep could be fatal. The supporting cast, including Justine's best friend Georgette, a Choctaw code talker in training, adds layers of diversity and perspective to the story.

Kimberly M. Wetherell's narration brings an added dimension to the experience, with a performance that captures the urgency and emotional undertones of the narrative. Her voice becomes the conduit through which the tension and stakes of Justine's mission are felt, making the audiobook a captivating listen.

"The Traitor Beside Her" is more than just a spy novel; it's a testament to the unsung heroes of war, the intellects who fought battles in the shadows with pencils and papers. Evans's novel is a thrilling ride that doesn't just entertain but also honors the legacy of these individuals. It's a must-read for fans of historical fiction and mystery alike, offering a unique glimpse into a lesser-known aspect of wartime history.

In summary, Mary Anna Evans delivers a powerful story of courage, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of truth. "The Traitor Beside Her" is a novel that will stay with you long after the final page is turned, a poignant reminder of the silent wars waged behind enemy lines and the personal sacrifices made in the name of freedom.

I enjoyed this one. I’ve read a few books about code breaking women, but I liked that there was another layer to this one.

Justine is sent into Arlington Hall undercover to find a traitor. She risks her safety to find out who is behind the secrets being leaked.

I had the pleasure of listening to this one thanks to my ALC from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media. Kimberly did a great job with the narration.

This book was good! I liked the characters and the setting. The author writes good too!!
I hope to read more by this author in the future! Looking forward to it!

Justine Byrne is working as a spy in Arlington Hall, trying to determine who among the code breakers is secretly working as a spy for the Axis. There is no one she can trust except her best friend Georgette, a native Choctaw speaker who has also been sent there to search out the spy. Justine attempts to befriend each suspect, but soon an attack makes her realize that someone is onto her, and she will have to race to uncover the spy before it costs her her life.

This was a riveting read; it was fun to read about the cryptanalysts. I did not realize this was a sequel to <i>The Physicist’s Daughter</i> until after I read it; this novel works as a standalone, but reading TPD first would give a better understanding of the main characters. I hope there will be a follow-up book to make this a trilogy. I recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction and mysteries!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

Great historical fiction! I really enjoy books set in DC and this one really took me into the World of the CIA during WWII. Love women in STEM!

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the early listen.
The characters in this book were interesting but the story was a bit YA for what I was anticipating. This was my first time with this narrator and without trashing the story or narrator, I'll just say it wasn't for me...

Wow! Not your typical WWII novel. Interesting and entertaining. Very much enjoyed on a long road trip.

Mary Anna Evans newest Justine Byrne novel, The Traitor Beside Her, will keep you guessing. After Justine successfully helped find someone sabotaging the US Army in the last story, she is recruited, along with her friend Georgette, to work in espionage. They find themselves together in Arlington Hall, trying to find a code breaker who is sending US secrets during WWII to the enemy. This was a good story. I didn't realize until I was almost done that it was a second book in a series. Luckily I had read the first, although I don't think it was necessary. I didn't know what to expect from this one and was surprised at the ending. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to listen and review. The narrator did a great job again.

Trust No One

A spy story of WWII. Justine is sent to Arlington Hall to spy on the Cryptanalysis's because it is suspected there is an enemy spy within the ranks. She is given a false identity, however, before she can even begin her job at Arlington Hall she is recognized by an old family friend. He thinks she has been sent to be his assistant. Since this gives her better access to records and the other departments she is allowed by the organization to work for him.

Since her cover is blown a new agent is sent to take her place in the Cryptanalysis department. The new agent just happens to be her best friend Georgette. Together they work to try and find the spy within Arlington Hall.

They can trust no one, not their boss, not the girls they befriend at Arlington Hall and not even their fellow spies from the organization that they are working for. Girls have gone missing and one named Betsy is dead. They need to find the spy before anyone else goes missing.

A great story with a lot of suspense and detective work by Justine and Georgette. Many suspects to follow and not much to go on. Is the spy one of the workers in the department or is it one of their own? When the truth comes out, the spy is not who they suspected.

I really enjoyed the audio presentation of this story, the narrator did a wonderful job and the different characters were very well defined. It was a good story of danger, friendship and a touch of romance thrown in.

Thanks to Mary Anna Evans for writing a great story, to Kimberly M. Wetherell for the wonderful narration, to Dreamscape Media for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of the audio book to read and review.

I enjoyed the setting in Arlington Hall, Virginia, the headquarter for US army intelligence cryptography department. Part of the plot is a bit fantastical involving young girls sent to the hall, after a brief espionage crash course, to infiltrate and eventually expose suspected traitors. They are equipped with spy gadgets à la James bond and a cold-hearted handler who is a master disguiser able to pop up when least expected. The light romance with the handler is poorly written and frankly not necessary. The author would have been better served focusing on adding more complexity to the spy plot.

Narration was okay, although the voice for Georgette is rather odd.

Engaging story of ordinary people called on to do exceptional things during WWII. The main character, Justine, is tasked with finding a traitor at her work in Washington, DC. I found interesting the restrictions on young women of that time period, their means of protecting themselves, the tasks of code breakers - including the Choctaw language. There was plenty of action and intrigue as one might expect in a spy novel. It was an enjoyable read.

I was happy to discover another historical fiction book based on WWII. I was drawn in from the beginning and was held captive until the very end. The characters are well developed and the focus on how the people working in Arlington Hall were challenged to help end the war. The fact that the book was based in the U.S. made it a different read for me. Lots of mystery and intrigue, learning more about intelligence gathering and code breaking, and a sprinkle of romance. It is evident that the author did an amazing job with researching the details. You will come away with knowledge and an appreciation for the efforts made to help the U.S. win WWII.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

This is the first book I’ve read by this author so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I really enjoy historical fiction so I decided to give it a try.
I loved the storyline, great plot! The author did an awesome job with the characters. I really liked most of the characters but there were a couple that I didn’t care for. But I believe it was the authors intention to make those characters unlikable so it worked perfectly for the story. I won’t give a plot synopsis, that’s what the book blurb is for. I will just say that it was a spy story where you are meant to try and figure out who the bad guys were. I was able to pick out one of the spies but was surprised by another. I won’t give spoilers but I loved how creative this author was when it all comes to light and you learn how messages were being sent by these spies. The only negative issue I had with the book is the pace. It was a bit slow for me. But it did keep me interested all the way to the end.

I didn’t want to put this book down! I read it in one day. :) It kept me trying to figure out who and what. I enjoyed it a lot. The characters are great and endearing. I’m off to find more from this author!!

3 stars

I enjoyed this WWII domestic espionage mystery. The story is engaging & the MC is mostly likable. I’ve never read a novel about the SSA code breakers in DC, so that was nice to learn more about. I wish the romance subplot was either nonexistent or better written, though.

[What I liked:]

•Justine (the MC) is smart, determined, & pretty brave. She annoyed me at points, but I liked her overall. It’s always nice to have woman characters in historical fiction who break some gender norms (being good at math, e.g.) without being the most tomboy to ever tomboy. (Tomboys are great, I just think they are overrepresented in historical fiction.)

•The story is definitely exciting. Justine & her sidekick Georgette are in mortal danger while trying to unmask a traitor. They get to use physical fighting prowess as well their wits to defend themselves & complete the mission.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•The very ending, which seems like it might be a set up for a sequel, seemed annoyingly contrived. If the location of Georgette’s next mission was *so* top secret that her *handler* wouldn’t even know she had been reassigned, why would she write it down in a library book for Justine to find? Wouldn’t that be breaking security protocol? And if Georgette had enough advance notice to go to the library & leave coded message, why not just tell Justine who lived next door? Or just leave a coded note under her door?

•Also, if field agents got reassigned, wouldn’t their handlers be told? It seems silly to have them waste time & resources searching for agents they think are missing and in danger when they could just be told, “yeah, your direct report has been reassigned; we can’t tell you more, but don’t worry”.

•I feel very meh about Justine & Paul’s romance. We see barely any interaction between them, & Paul is Justine’s boss, yet Justine is convinced from the start of the book that he’s madly in love with her & she resents him for keeping the relationship professional. Picking up on the fact that someone might be into you is pretty different than having them declare their love to you. Justine seemed very immature for this reason, & it just made me annoyed when they became a couple by the end (after only a few more interactions & zero talking about the relationship).

CW: racism, sexism, ableism, murder, suicide, sexual assault

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

I love that this is a follow-up to the Physicist's Daughter! We get to follow Justine & Georgette while they are working to find a traitor! This was a great book that kept me hooked right from the beginning, I really felt like I could feel their tension and fear. I definitely want more of these two unlikely spies!
#TheTraitorBesideHer
#NetGalley

The Traitor Beside Her is an incredibly interesting take on being a female spy during WW2. I love that this gives not only a females perspective in WW2 but also a woman who has a chance to fight for her country, which is something that is really touched upon. Although I did feel that some parts dragged slightly this was an interesting and suspenseful story full of really great, interesting characters I could read loads more of. Overall I really recommend this.

This one was just OK for me. I had a hard time listening to the narrator's voice and just couldn't get into the story line.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced digital audio book.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Justine can't trust anyone as someone out there is a spy and is working for the other side. It is during World War II when she is assigned to work in Arlington Hall, the base for the US Army and this is where several young men and woman are going through several documents to review communications and to try and decipher the German codes. As stated, trust no one. I really enjoyed this quick read and look forward to reading more from this author. Enjoy!!!

It’s been way too long since I’ve read Historical Fiction. I’ve missed it. And this book had me scrambling to NetGalley and Libby to request more WW2 HF.

🕵️‍♀️WW2 Historical Fiction
🕵️‍♀️Brilliant Women
🕵️‍♀️Undercover
🕵️‍♀️Epic Friendships

Reading about women in World War 2 is a favorite for me. Maybe because they had to step up. Maybe because of how brave they were. Maybe because they put themselves in unimaginable danger because they believed in something so strongly they were willing to lay down their lives. I’m not sure what it is necessarily, but I love it and this book checked all my boxes.

The Traitor Beside Her gives us brilliant women with the bare minimum amount of training. Justine is thrust into a world of espionage and treason to try and save lives. Going undercover is dangerous but necessary. And we even get a tiny bit of a love story (I NEED a love story. Always. It’s a requirement 😆😅) but it doesn’t detract from the harrowing tale of bravery and cunning and sacrifice.

I truly got lost in this story and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing the many characters to life.

Thank you @netgalley for the ALC

4.5/5