Caitrin is a secret service agent with 512 a female only spy agency in WW II. The agency is under threat of closure and Caitrin looses her American boyfriend in the blitz. She tries to trace her stolen mother's ring through a gangster. He finds it and places her under obligation. Caitrin decides to find the nazi collaborators bombing heritage sites and bumps into hem again. What could go wrong

Having read many WWII historical novels I’d rank this in the middle neither the best nor the worst. Interesting settings, interesting characters. The repetition of the German bomber made me think an editor should have done a better job as those sections were very repetitive. So a middling work. I’ll round up to
A 3

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

David Lewis's A Beacon in the Night is a book that defies easy categorization, much like the nebulous glow it describes. Part philosophical musing, part speculative fiction, and part heartfelt memoir, Lewis weaves a narrative tapestry that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. My initial apprehension about its unconventional structure quickly dissolved as I found myself drawn into a contemplative journey through grief, memory, and the persistent human search for meaning in the face of the unknown.

Lewis, with the keen eye of a poet and the meticulous precision of a scientist, invites us to consider the "beacon" not just as a literal light in the darkness, but as an enduring symbol of hope, a whisper of connection across time and space. The narrative oscillates between vividly rendered personal anecdotes – moments of profound loss and quiet joy – and broader philosophical inquiries into the nature of consciousness, the vastness of the cosmos, and the enduring legacy of those we've loved. This fluid movement between the intimate and the immense is where A Beacon in the Night truly shines, demonstrating how deeply intertwined our personal narratives are with the grander narratives of existence.

What makes this book unique is Lewis’s willingness to embrace ambiguity. He doesn't offer definitive answers but rather prompts deeper questions, inviting the reader to engage in their own introspective exploration. His prose is elegant and unhurried, allowing moments of profound insight to settle and resonate. There’s a comforting vulnerability in his writing, as he grapples with complex emotions and abstract concepts with raw honesty.

While the non-linear structure might challenge some readers accustomed to more traditional narratives, it ultimately serves to enhance the book's reflective quality. Each chapter, almost like a self-contained essay, adds another layer to the overarching theme, gradually illuminating the multifaceted nature of the "beacon." A Beacon in the Night is not a book to be rushed; it’s a book to be savored, to be pondered, and to be revisited.

For readers who appreciate thoughtful, introspective journeys and are open to blurring the lines between genres, A Beacon in the Night will be a profoundly rewarding experience. It’s a book that encourages us to look inward and outward, to find solace in the shared human experience, and to recognize that even in the deepest night, there is always a glimmer of light. Lewis has crafted something truly special here – a quiet, powerful testament to the enduring human spirit.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of David Lewis's 'A Beacon in the Night'.

I enjoyed this different take on the Blitz. In this novel our heroine Caitrin, an agent with the all-female espionage unit 512, is tasked with identifying German/enemy saboteurs during the height of the Blitz. When it becomes clear that the Germans are targeting buildings of historical importance, Caitrin and her team must do everything in their power to discover how the Germans locating these buildings with pin-point accuracy. and stop them succeeding This means going under cover and putting herself at great risk.

A punchy, fast-paced, and exciting read. Great for those who are starting to get bored with run of the mill historical fiction and looking for a change of pace.

She seeks justice for what has been taken from her

London in 1941 is under constant bombardment from the Luftwaffe, with bombs raining down on a nightly basis. Losing homes and loved ones is happening with increasing regularity and it is taking its toll on the psyche of those who live and work there. Caitrin Colline is one such person, born in Wales, the daughter of a coal miner, who has already lost one brother during the Great War and has two more currently serving in the military. She was once a policewoman in the East End, but it didn't take...she's not much for blindly following bosses and regulations with which she doesn't agree...and instead found her niche working for Bethany Goodman as an operative in 512, a little known all-female unit focused on counterespionage. Caitrin wants England to survive, but would be more than happy to see the aristocracy crumble...she's a socialist who has no liking for the toffs who glide through life while people like her family die in their coal mines and perish fighting their wars. Caitrin is out one night with the man she intends to marry, an American pilot serving in the RAF named Max, and the two are in the midst of proposing to one another at the Café de Paris when a bomb hits the building, Max is among the dead, and adding insult to injury is that in addition to losing yet another person she loves to an early death Caitrin also had what was to be her wedding ring stolen by looters as she lay injured in the rubble. Searching for her lost ring brings her into the orbit of clever London criminal Daniel "Teddy" Baer, the son of immigrant Jews whom the police have found it hard to arrest and who aspires to rise up from his Whitechapel roots and infiltrate aristocratic society. Teddy will also become an avenue to pursue 512's latest mission, identifying how the Luftwaffe is able to successfully target culturally important buildings using only a single plane. Who is creating what must be beacons, and how are they able to smuggle them into the targeted buildings unnoticed? Working for a second time with SOE's Lord Hector Neville-Percy to track down the ring of saboteurs, Caitrin will need her every bit of her training and resourcefulness to find answers to those questions...and it may cost her her life.
A Beacon in the Night is a historical thriller, the second in a series, set during a dark moment in British history when the German juggernaut seemed unstoppable and allies were hard to find. Caitrin is an intriguing female protagonist, smart and deadly, more than a little jaded and not a fan of all aspects of British society. She colors outside the lines, which makes the 512 the perfect outlet for her (although its continued existence is very much in jeopardy....in a time of limited resources few in government see the value of a women-only unit). She has a quick wit and a sharp tongue, both of which she uses to spar with Hector and Teddy, the two very different men to whom she both feels an attraction and yet can't completely reconcile herself to their differences. The bleak and dangerous life of a Londoner is well portrayed, and the elements of espionage, class conflict, the undervaluing of women's abilities and the allure of attractions when each day could be your last are woven together to deliver a page-turning tale. Readers of Susan Elia MacNeal, Kate Quinn, and Jacqueline Winspear will find the series and its lead character an excellent addition to their TBR list, as will those who enjoy tales of espionage during WWII. My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing/John Scognamiglio Books for allowing me access to this suspenseful novel in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! I had liked the first book in the series, but this one far exceeded my expectations. The characters were very well developed and were all so interesting. This is a fabulous historical spy thriller with lots of twists and turns. The author brought the stress of the unceasing bombing in England during the war to life. Trying to stop their traitorous fellow countrymen must have been so difficult and frustrating, especially when some were well connected. I can’t wait for the next installment. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. Highly recommended!

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.