She is back! Newly trained operative, Evelyne Redfern, is sent to investigate reported theft at a secret weapons development country manor house. David Poole is back but as her handler this time. He ends up in the field with her when the theft turns into murder. Evelyne and David have to use all of their investigative skills to peel back the layers of subterfuge to figure out what really was going on at Blackthorn Park.
Historical fiction and mystery are my two favorite genres and when they are blended together, I love it! I was excited to read this next adventure for Evelyne after reading the first book in the series, A Traitor in Whitehall. Evelyne is such a strong and intelligent woman that was not satisfied with being just a secretary or other typical female job at the time. She is cunning and fearless and wants to do her part for the war effort. I like that David doesn't treat her as helpless or incapable but more as a partner, which she is. The author lets you know in the Acknowledgments that the story is entirely fictional, but you know she did the research about what it would be like to live in the country outside of London at the time and what types of creative weaponry could be developed to defeat the enemy.
If you are looking for an entertaining story with amazing characters, check this one out!!

#BetrayalatBlackthornPark #NetGalley
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Kelly has some of the best historical cozy fiction around. Redfern and Poole are on the case again as they have stumbled upon another murder during what was supposed to be a simple security investigation. Secrets are hidden everywhere at Blackthorn Park, and my interest was piqued as Redfern and Poole worked to uncover them all in time for the Prime Minister's visit to the testing site. I couldn't put this book down as it seemed a new secret and new information was uncovered at the turn of every page. And one of the best parts is that Kelly was able to throw several twists into the story that left my jaw on the floor. What an incredible series, and I'm ready for more!

Julia Kelly has done it again!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I very much enjoyed Julia Kelly's first novel of this series, and the follow-up didn't disappoint. The writing is smooth, the mystery genuinely kept me guessing, and information was doled out at a steady pace.

If I have a complaint, it's that the characters - particularly David - felt a bit flat in this volume compared to their more dynamic portrayal in the first of the series. I also would like to feel more the of the tension between the main two - Evelyne and David. There is a comfort there but their interactions felt a bit more flat this time around.

That said, this was a well-written sequel, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.

I highly recommend this for anyone interested in historical mystery.

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

As with the other novels by Julia Kelly I’ve read (including the first in this series), this was an absorbing book of historical fiction. Evelyne is an engaging protagonist who is in the vein of Maisie Dobbs, Electra McDonnell, and Maggie Hope. This is a fast-paced mystery, and I look forward to more in the series.

This is the second book in the Evelyne Redfern stories (after A Traitor in Whitehall, which I also read and enjoyed) and it definitely reads like part of a series, not a stand alone. I would have had a lot of questions and missing background information if I hadn't read the first book, although you would still be able to enjoy the mystery. But there are a lot of references to past events, especially between Evelyne and David (who is supposed to be her handler, but ends up being more like her colleague). It's a great World War II read that seems to be historically accurate (at least as far as I can tell). It also feels believable for the time which sometimes is a stretch for historical fiction.

I enjoyed learning more about and revisiting some of the characters from the first book and the mystery was compelling as well. There was a satisfying twist before the solution was revealed and it was well done!

I was so excited to be accepted for this book!! I loved the first book and loved Evelyne as a character and sleuth. No that she is an agent her character just gets better and better! I devoured this book just like the first one, and truth be told, many of this author’s other books. I cannot wait to get it in print!! And I cannot wait to see what adventure we get into with the next book!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley

I was so excited to be given an ARC of this book! I really enjoyed the first one and this one did not disappoint either. Freshly graduated from SOE training, Evelyne is back and her first mission is to complete a security check at Blackthorn Park. However, her simple job does not go as planned and she is soon investigating a murder with her handler, David. They quickly realize there is a lot more going on at Blackthorn than they initially realized and they must hurry to solve the murder before it leads to damage to the war effort. The mystery has many turns and twists to keep the reader guessing. We also get to see how Evelyne is managing to keep her work life separate (and secret) from her personal life.
*4.5 stars*

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC of this novel.

While I enjoyed the banter and the relationship between the two main characters, I didn't enjoy this title as much as the first one in the series. The conversations about the murders grew a bit repetitive.

Betrayal at Blackthorne Park by Julia Kelly is the second entry in the series and we see the return of WWII Special Agents Evelyne Redfern and David Poole with a mystery that quickly turns into murder. The first book was set in the Cabinet War Rooms in London at Whitehall and in this setting they are investigating suspicious reports from a secret weapons development center outside of London.
Their investigation has great urgency because the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, is due to visit and will expect a demonstration of the new weapons being developed. The mystery is compelling and the characters are very likeable and engaging. I really enjoyed the two main characters bantering with each other. I enjoyed this book and will highly recommend it. I really appreciated the Author's Acknowledgments explaining how she created this story and these fun characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This had a great romance element to it and the historical fiction element worked well overall. I enjoyed going on this journey and meeting the characters in this story. It had everything that I enjoyed about historical fiction and I was never bored when reading this. Julia Kelly has a great writing style and I enjoyed the spy element to it.

I have read a few Julia Kelly books. The main character here is a young woman and I found her to be engaging. The plot, however, did not seem all that strong and a bit derivative.

I jumped at the chance to read this novel, having enjoyed the plot of the first book in the series. I enjoyed much of this book as well: the fascinating characters (both new and returning), intriguing mystery, rich setting, literary allusions, and snappy dialogue. Julia Kelly does good research and has a great writing style, including the dynamic between David Poole and Evelyne Redfern.

However, I had the same qualms with this book that I had with the last. Evelyne has to know better than everyone, especially men, with the exception of Mr. Fletcher and occasionally David. It's not "pompous" for a man at a secure facility to be suspicious of a trespasser, and it seems strange for Evelyne to know better than a constable just because she reads mystery novels and trained with the SOE for 6 weeks (not in solving murders). Additionally, a lot of the plot points and reveals were the same as the first novel.

Overall, I still enjoyed the book and recommend it to others who enjoy historical mysteries. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC! I will publish this review to Goodreads and Amazon closer to the book's publication date.

If you're a fan of historical fiction; intrigue; and strong, smart, stubborn women, this novel is for you.

Evelyne Redfern is back for her first official SOE mission with the enigmatic David Poole as her handler. Fortunately for readers, what is supposed to be a straightforward fact-finding operation quickly turns into a more complex murder investigation, one that has wide-reaching consequences for Britain's war efforts. As Evelyne and David interview witnesses and comb Blackthorn Park for clues, it becomes apparent that more than one employee at the secret facility has something to hide.

Kelly does a masterful job of crafting believable twists and turns while also doing her best to draw developed, well-rounded characters. On her own, Evelyne appeals to almost any reader with the story of her complex childhood, her struggle to hide her new life from her close friends, and her determination not to be underestimated. Her chemistry with Poole is undeniable, but it never feels like their budding camaraderie and potential romantic relationship take over her story.

I can't wait for book three!

Betrayal at Blackthorne Park presents WWII SIU agents Evelyne Redfern and David Poole with another mystery that quickly spirals into murder. Julia Kelly’s tightly woven tale will keep readers guessing not only about who but also why. Their investigation has great urgency because the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill is due to visit shortly and be given a demonstration of new weapons being developed onsite. This reviewer loved meeting Evelyne and David in “A Traitor in Whitehall,” and was excited to see Ms. Kelly continuing their story. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

A good historical mystery that continues the escapades of Evelyne Redfern, newly minted British field agent sent on an “easy” first mission to a Sussex manor house where secret weapons research is underway. This is book two of Kelly’s new series launched with A Traitor in Whitehall.

In truth, I prefer Kelly’s straight historical fiction as they feature more human stories of the day, but this series has everything you could reasonably want from a historical cozy — dead bodies, genuine historical characters, some decent research of the time, and a set of clues that lead to the “bad guy.” It was easy and entertaining to read but not more much than that.

Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Betrayal at Blackthorn Park by Julia Kelly in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the second book in this series! It is a definitive improvement upon the first in that Evelyne has gained confidence and skill thanks to her six week spy training - her actions are by the book and she is able to spend time making deductions and solving crimes in a way that seems very natural and empowering as compared to her sort of being thrust into a role haphazardly in the first book.

In this book, Evelyne's training is done and she is sent on her first mission with David now serving as her handler. It is meant to be a one-night job, but when Evelyne chances upon a murder during her security testing at Blackthorn Park, she and David are thrust into solving the mystery before Winston Churchill comes to review the munitions testing in four days. Is it spys? Sabotage? Treason? Evelyne and David are on the case and put all their skills together to try to find the truth.

We get a few glimpses into Evelyne's life, including a delightful evening with her Aunt (cats with gemstone collars, jazz - this whole scene was hilarious). We also see how Evelyne is trying to balance all that she must keep secret from her roommate and best friend, Moira. I do still worry about Evelyne in this respect - she is great with mysteries and deductions, but her secret keeping skills when it comes to her loved ones still remain to be seen and might be a matter for future books (just like the slow burn mystery of her father's whereabouts which I wish we knew more of!).

Evelyne and David work well together in this book - they have really ironed out the partnership issues from the first book and treat each other with much respect and humor.

Overall this was just a really delightful read with great pacing, character development and action. I look forward to the next!

I had enjoyed A Traitor in Whitehall, so I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of the next book in the series, thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. Evelyn has now been trained to do covert work, and Evelyne and David's latest assignment involved both suspicious activities at a munitions factory and deaths which took place there. The main characters are very likeable, and the author does a great job creating the wartime atmosphere, especially the difficulty of people needing to keep their work activities secret from even their closest friends and family. It was interesting to see how their investigation progressed with many possible suspects and motives. This was a very quick read, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I think this book could be read as a stand-alone. I highly recommend this book and the series, and I look forward to the next installment.

This WWII-set mystery series about new British agent Evelyne Redfern is proving to be a real delight. This second entry in the series sees newly trained Evelyne and her partner David investigating suspicious reports from a secret weapons development center outside London. As with the first book, which was set in the Cabinet War Rooms in London, the setting and historical context are very well done. Both are convincing and rich without ever being distracting. The mystery is compelling and has a sense of urgency, and the characters are likeable and engaging. I look forward to the next in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. My review is entirely my own freely offered thoughts.