Julia Kelly’s A Dark and Deadly Journey is a gripping historical mystery set in the shadows of World War II espionage. The third book in the Evelyne Redfern series, it can easily be read as a standalone, thanks to Kelly’s skillful character development and self-contained plot.

Evelyne is dispatched to Lisbon to find a missing informant, only to stumble into a murder and a tangled web of wartime secrets. Vividly atmospheric and rich with historical detail, the novel balances intrigue with emotional depth. Evelyne’s intelligence and wit make her a standout heroine in this fast-paced, satisfying read.

Oh my ! What a cliff hanger! Will be closely watching for the next book in the series. Great characters , intricate plot and a Portuguese setting - finished it in one sitting .

WWII British agent Evelyne Redfern and her irritating but very handsome partner David are sent to Lisbon, the hotbed of wartime intrigue, to find a missing informant with critically important data for the Allies. This is my new fave WWII series now that Maggie Hope has retired, and I found this latest addition thrilling. A histfic must-read!

Synopsis: Evelyne Redfern returns in her third WWII spy adventure for all the historical mystery fans. Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is sending Evelyne and her partner David Poole to Portugal to search for a missing informant. When they land, Evelyne discovers that one of the passengers has been quietly murdered during the flight. Having attracted unwanted police attention, Evelyne and David endeavour to maintain their cover while searching for the missing informant among the sea of expats and spies in Portugal’s teeming nightclubs, cafés, casinos and parties.

Thoughts: I flew through this captivating account of Evelyne’s daring adventures with the reticent and handsome David Poole. I felt the series lost a little momentum with the second book, Betrayal at Blackthorn Park, but the duo was back on their game in this one. One quibble I did have, albeit a minor one, was that David, supposedly an experienced and intelligent spy, needed to have a plot twist explained to him by Evelyne because he failed to grasp it. The reader can see the plot twist coming and it just didn’t feel authentic that David would need this explained to him by Evelyne, a novice at the game.

The choice of location for this book was brilliant – Portugal during WWII was neutral and did not suffer the deprivations and destruction that was evident in Britain. It provides the novel with a perfect backdrop of glittering, seductive nightlife, escape routes for refugees and Allied soldiers, and deadly danger due to the presence of Axis agents and spies. Evelyne and David have a smoldering chemistry which adds romantic tension, and Evelyne finally faces off against her elusive father. True to form, the novel ends on a cliffhanger which promises more excitement to come.