A historic fiction thriller set during World War II, A Beacon in the Night (2025) by David Lewis features Caitrin Colline. Caitrin works for an independent, British female counterespionage unit - 512. A smart, feisty hero, Caitrin is a socialist and daughter of a Welsh miner. Caitrin is tasked with identifying enemy saboteurs as the Blitz bombing rages. Having not read the first book of the Secret Churchill Files series, makes this a standalone review, as no knowledge of previous events are known. The story makes interesting use of historical figures, notably Winston Churchill and Ian Fleming, giving the narrative an authentic, believable feel. So, if you like great spy drama then this novel is itself a beacon, with a four and a half star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Kensington Publishing and the author for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

London, 1941. As the Blitz winds down the Nazis begin a series of terror-bombings focused on British churches, stately homes, hospitals, and other emotional landmarks in an attempt to destroy cultural heritage and demoralize the British. Can Caitrin Colline, agent of the all-female 512 counterespionage, unit track down the source of the beacons that lead the planes to the bomb sites?
 
Despite Caitrin’s success in saving the Crown Jewels almost single-handedly in the first book in the series, Churchill is threatening to improve his budget by absorbing the 512 into the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Head of the 512 Bethany Goodman is determined to prove her unit’s usefulness by sending Caitrin to track down the source of the homing beacons.
 
Caitrin is intelligent, determined, and well-educated but does not hide her working-class resentment of the aristocracy, even though she is attracted to her fellow counterespionage agent Lord Marlton, Hector Neville-Percy (aka “Hecky”). Hecky embodies all that is good about British aristocracy. He’s clever, handsome, willing to do what it takes to get the job done, and, most importantly (and unlike most the other men in the book), sees women as his equals. Although they are from different social classes, Caitrin and Hecky’s interactions show they are intellectual equals with a mutual attraction expressed in verbal jibes backed up by a deep trust in one another.
 
In contrast to Hecky is Daniel “Teddy” Baer, a Jewish Whitechapel crook who aspires to become part of the British aristocracy regardless of the cost. Caitrin needs Teddy’s help to solve a personal crime that leads her to suspect his criminal network spreads beyond Whitechapel to something even more nefarious. Is Teddy somehow related to the beacons that are being set on British landmarks? As Teddy evolves from a slum crime lord to potential aristocrat, his contrast to Hecky becomes clearer. While Teddy acquires the veneer of aristocracy, Hecky is the real thing. Teddy’s lack of scruples to get what he wants destroys any charm he had when Caitrin first met him.
 
The somewhat tongue-in-cheek tone of the series sets it apart from other WWII mysteries. Despite her loyalty to Britain, Caitrin makes her views on Socialism clear as well as her resentment of the aristocracy and men who are too blind to see the value of women as espionage agents. Some of her one-liners are laugh-out-loud funny, as is her meeting with Commander Ian Fleming. Yes, THAT Ian Fleming. Caitrin’s realistic contradictions, such as her attraction to Hecky despite her belief in Socialism, make her a complex, believable protagonist.
 
Before reading this book, I had never heard of the Nazis using homing beacons on British landmarks. To me, this is even more terrifying that the Blitz. In London, there was plenty of warning, shelter in the Underground, barrage balloons, and ant-aircraft guns. Yes, it was awful but at least countermeasures were taken. In the country, there was no warning, no place to hide, and little anti-aircraft protection. One minute you might wonder if you heard a plane, the next minute your stately home cum hospital had been bombed. (Imagine Downton Abbey being bombed!)
 
I really enjoyed Caitrin’s confidence and independence, the contrast of Hecky and Teddy, and the supporting characters. Although I haven’t yet read A Jewel in the Crown (the first book in this series), I agree with the publisher’s statement that fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Susan Elia MacNeal will probably like this series.

I enjoyed reading stories about the history of WWII, until they all started to sound the same. When I started A Beacon in the Night I was unable to put it down. It is a totally different look at London during the Blitz, when Great Britain is fighting nearly alone. 5I2 was a counter espionage unit made up entirely of very brave women, “like MI6 but much smarter.”

Bethany Goodman is the commander of 5I2. She believes women make the best operatives, because “they are either ignored or invisible in our society.” Her first and best recruit was Catrin Colline, former police officer.
Bethany and Catrin are doing their best to prevent 5I2 being absorbed by other agencies with male operatives and continue their anti spy work. A chance meeting with Max Evarts, American fighting with the RAF, brings some laughter and romance to Catrin’s life.

The author’s description of London’s days and nights of bombing, fires, lack of food and so many deaths is heartbreaking. There are so many twists and turns to this story with Catrin, it glued my attention to every page. After I finished I immediately bought A Jewel in the Crown. It is the first book in the Secret Churchill Files. And I’m sure equally as entertaining even though I’m reading out of order.
I highly recommend this Five Star read.

This second installment in the Secret Churchill Files series exists in a harsher emotional environment than its predecessor, “A Jewel in the Crown.” Whereas the first book included a lot of humorous banter between its leads, the Welsh socialist/former police constable Caitrin Colline and the English aristocrat Hector Neville Percy, as well as conspiracies and various dare-devil feats, the new novel introduces deep loss and grief. It could hardly be otherwise, since it opens on December 31, 1940, with the Battle of Britain in full swing. Caitrin’s section of London has been demolished by relentless attacks from the Luftwaffe, and even 512, the all-female intelligence operation that recruited Caitrin early in “Jewel” is under pressure to accept incorporation into one of the other secret services. As 1941 dawns, things only get worse.

When it becomes clear that the Nazi pilots are homing in on beacons planted by British sympathizers with Hitler’s cause—a group known as Die Brücke (the Bridge)—512 dispatches Caitrin to find out who’s responsible. Hector, on loan from the Special Operations Executive (SEO, another intelligence agency), acts as backup. But the novel focuses primarily on Caitrin, since it’s her contacts and experience with the London underworld that prove most important in moving the mission forward. There are also many scenes featuring Winston Churchill himself, as well as the occasional reversion to the lighthearted tone of book 1 (a humorous scene featuring Ian Fleming—yes, the creator of James Bond—is a personal favorite of mine).

I enjoyed finding out more about Caitrin’s family, especially her parents, and the coal-mining town in Wales where she grew up. Although she experiences sadness here, that too enriches her character. Her interactions with Hector are snippier and less satisfying, as if each of them is stuck in a rut and neither knows how to get out. The fundamental mission of the story—to find the mastermind responsible for the targeting beacons—ends with a satisfying twist, however, so if you enjoyed the first book, I would definitely give this one a try.

You can also find out more from my blog interview with the author (link below) in late June, when the book appears.

I really enjoyed this: it had purpose and Caitrin’s quick wit and sense of humour were a delight. Well crafted, set in England during WW2, the author’s focus is on a small secret service group comprised of females in their hunt to find and stop Nazi saboteurs from destroying English historic buildings. The characters from different classes and society backgrounds was a good blend as the story unfolded in pursuit of their quarry.

Brilliant! I must read more books by this author as his style was perfect. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.