Carl receives a letter that he has inherited from a stranger in another country. He quickly packs and goes to Paris. But he finds no one is dead and he has landed into a funny group of spies. A humorous story full of crazy characters, each with their own part to play. Entertaining story.

Red Lily is a book that is hard to define. It is a little bit mystery, but mostly it is family drama and oddly enough, coming-of-age for a man in his 30s. Aunt Lily has mysteriously died and left Carl Box with an inheritance and a first-class ticket to Paris to claim it. When Carl arrives, things are not as they seem. He meets people who are enigmatic. And he discovers things about himself that he would have never found had he not made the trip out of Orlando. I found the book good, and at times great, but I couldn't bring myself to go higher than 3.5 stars. This would make a good summer read, though. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

RED LILY by Janice Graham
The comparison to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride holds true for this strange, funny adventure. Carl Box is perfectly content working as a paint consultant at Epcot, “world travel” all within the confines of the park, friends, and the sweet, two-legged dog Billy he rescued from a ‘gator. Then he is summoned to Paris to deal with his Aunt Lily’s estate, and he is plunged into family secrets and international intrigue. It’s wild and crazy, and filled with humor and love. Perfect travel from the comfort of home, and yet, it might make one crave a bit of real travel as well. Historical events reminded me of friends’ stories of being at the point of history in the making, and of the human kindness that prevails on behalf of travelers. This is a perfect summer literary romance-adventure-intrigue, to be enjoyed with lemonade or perhaps champagne.

A totally enjoyable novel. Carl is just a guy who owns a business choosing paints colors for Epcot. He likes his job and his business. He gets news that an estranged aunt has died in Paris and he must go and clear her apartment. Not knowing much about her, other than his father didn't get along or approve of her, he's obligated as her only living relative, so he goes. So begins the adventure...
The twists and turns are so well done. I loved the characters. All of them were so complex and had so many layers. There was no predicting what could happen next or who he would meet. What began as a simple chore, clearing out his deceased aunt's Paris apartment, took the Carl on the adventure of his life.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Read it! You'll love it.

There is a moment in Red Lily where Janice Graham references Cary Grant in To Catch A Thief. It's not the only pop culture reference here, our protagonist Carl Box is a paint and colour consultant at Disneyworld after all, but it's a key one, even if the the book actually has a little bit more in common with the everyman flung into spy shenanigans films like North By Northwest or Charade. These touchstones help keep the action light in a broadly daft unfolding of fake deaths, and the smuggling into and out of Russia of people and literature. Box has been summoned to Paris to sort out his Grandmother's affairs and manages to bring his dog on wheels with him, and he blunders around in Ugly American fashion and quickly discovers that there is much more going on than he expected, and that his aunt is not, in fact, dead. But starved of parental love (his father is dead, his mother left when he was very small), he allows himself to get mixed up in what can only be described as a caper, picking up his own femme fatale along the way.

The joy in Red Lily is to see quite an old genre be revived with the right amount of vim and tongue-in-cheek. I wonder to what degree the book is aimed at a younger audience who may be a little spotty on this moment of European history, as the book starts in 1989, and as the story gets towards it final audacious attempt to smuggle someone out of East Germany, I had a definite eye on the calendar. And yet the book never treats the actual difficulties of culture in Russia with disrespect, it is interesting when it discusses the creation of samizdat copies, and the heroism in keeping art alive. That does mean that the more obvious aspects of the book didn't always square with how clever it was elsewhere (this kind of plot is tricky to write effectively) and if it lost steam for me, its only really because I was quite far ahead of the characters with the impact of real life history on the fictional story. And the final reveal, I think, is supposed to be obvious from the outset; it is a book that flatters its readers by making them feel clever. And it was rather nice to visit 1989 Paris again.

Courtesy of The Book Whisperer and Netgalley, I received the ARC of Red Lily by Janice Graham. Each chapter of this delightful book was like peeling back the layers to unearth secrets, meet eccentric characters, and enter the Cold War era. This historical novel captured the atmosphere of Epcot and the special ambience of Paris. With witty writing and great scenes, the mystery and espionage come to life. I loved this story!

It took me until Chapter 4 to get properly hooked into the novel, but once I was it was great fun, and I enjoyed the romp. It may be too stereotyped for some readers, but fits the genre well. I was aware of some of the twists as they came, but still enjoyed the language getting there. I think Graham had a good time writing this book, and it shows.
A bit more depth of writing comes through at times, as when our main character( who is relatively complex, in spite of a desire of the reader and the character himself to simplistically define himself), in Chapter 17 at the beginning- I really liked this.
Enjoy Red Lily - it’s a bit up and down but worth the read.

Thanks to Book Whisper and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was hesitant to start this book—I thought it would be too heavy, and honestly, I wasn’t in the right mindset for something emotionally intense. But it completely surprised me. The story was engaging, easy to read, and much more uplifting than I expected. By the end, I felt inspired and left with a warm, hopeful feeling.

The book follows a man who’s grown comfortable in a quiet, safe life—one shaped more by other people’s decisions than his own. He’s not unhappy, but he’s definitely not living fully.
Everything changes when he learns that an aunt he never knew—whom his father clearly disliked—has passed away in Paris, leaving him her entire estate.

Once he arrives in Paris, things start to shift. He’s faced with unexpected challenges that push him far beyond what he thinks he’s capable of. But in the process, he discovers strength, resilience, and a side of himself he’d never had the chance—or the courage—to explore. He realizes that while he’s been surviving life, he hasn’t really been living it.

While I had an inkling about how the story might end, the events that unfolded along the way were surprising and emotionally rich. One part of the story touches on a significant moment in history, and experiencing it through the characters’ eyes was both moving and impactful.
At the end, the author shares what inspired her to write about two supporting characters, and I found that part just as fascinating. It tied everything together beautifully.

I had fun in reading this quirky mix of spy story and thriller. Plenty of humour, good storytelling, a main character that grew on me
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I had no idea what to expect when I received an advanced copy of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised, especially by the ending.
Carl Box is working for Disney at Epcot Center in 1989 when he is informed that his estranged aunt has died and left him her home in Paris. He takes his dog Billy, who he has rescued from a pond where an alligator has eaten his back legs.
In Paris, there are some crazy occurrences, and it turns out his aunt isn't dead but is pretending to be as she thinks the KGB is after her.
Carl has never met his aunt because his father never talked about her. Carl learns a lot about himself and goes way out of his comfort zone.
This book is full of crazy characters, and it is a fun ride. The city of Paris is a character in itself, and Aunt Lily is wonderful.
Without giving anything away, the ending takes place in Berlin in 1985, and the historical significance is important.
Thanks to the Book Whisperer, NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book and review it. The author is new to me and I shall read more of her works. I highly recommend this book.

Janice Graham's 'Red Lily' is a pleasant and engaging read that effortlessly draws you in. With likable characters, a mysterious story, and nice cultural touches, this book is a delight. The writing is witty and the pace is easy, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a captivating story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Book Whisperer publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book as an Advance review copy.

“Red Lily” is a charmingly captivating novel by novelist and screenwriter Janice Graham. This is the first of her books that I’ve read, but some of her previous titles sound intriguing. Thank you to Ms. Graham, NetGalley, and Vendome Books for providing me an advanced reader’s copy of “Red Lily” to read. My opinions are voluntary.

I enjoyed it thoroughly. I was caught up in the madcap intrigue of it and its various over-the-top characters. It’s a spy thriller, a family drama, a love story, and a historical tale, all rolled into one rollicking adventure, complete with disguises, misdirection, attempted murder, and improbable circumstances. I laughed out loud at some of the happenings and escapades, and I was thrilled by the happy ending. I would be delighted to read another, similarly upbeat tale by Ms. Graham.

Not my usual read. A bit of a crazy satire.

Lily has been involved with smuggling KGB secrets in Paris. She fakes her death. Her nephew is contacted to inherit property and summoned from his career in the painting business in Florida. Chaos ensues.

Takes place around in the late 1980's.

I decided to just enjoy this one and let the book take me on this adventure.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Book Whisperer and author Janice Graham for approving my request to read the advance reader copy of Red Lily in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is May 26, 2025. Approx 388 pages.

My first book from Janice is an ambitious, intriguing blend of Cold War espionage, family secrets, and European atmosphere, with a big dose of nostalgic charm. The story is set across locations like Paris and iconic Cold War landmarks and it aims high and mostly delivers, while delivering a few bumps along the way.

The story is told through Carl, a middle-aged man investigating the life of a woman who may have been his deceased aunt. At first, the frequent shifts pushed me, but the story's grounded, mature perspective ultimately works in the novel’s favor, especially as the plot jumps between decades and unpacks themes of identity, loyalty, and sacrifice.

One of the novel’s strengths lies in how it ties personal family history to real-world espionage. Inspired in part by the true defection of a KGB archivist, the story captures the paranoia and tension of the Cold War. The journey is more than a spy hunt, it’s a dive into legacy, truth, and self-understanding. The emotional layers hit hardest when the global and the personal collide.

On the flip side, the book doesn’t always find its rhythm. The pacing feels uneven with parts of the plot dragging while others leap forward. The time-jumping adds depth but also causes issues. The romantic threads and red herrings do not work. Still, there’s a satisfying payoff in seeing how Janice gradually peels back the layers of mystery. The story’s music references and pop culture nods from the 1980s are a fun touch but may not connect with readers of newer generations.

Overall, the book is an intriguing, stylish read that doesn’t quite stick its landing with me but still offers a lot to admire. If you're drawn to spy novels with heart and don’t mind a meandering structure, this one might be worth your time.
I will try at least one more book by Janice.

Set in Paris shortly before the Cold War ends and the Berlin Wall falls, Alice Graham's Red Lily is a brilliantly written, wacky spy thriller.

It's 1989 summertime. Carl Box is a paint and varnish consultant from Disney Florida who finds out about the death of his Parisian aunt, who is the family's black sheep but whom he has never seen. Aunt Lily is still alive after someone tried to poison her with iced tea, and he finds out this when he flies to Paris. The two then go out to find a smuggled stockpile of KGB dossiers while Aunt Lily poses as her nephew's mother. Box narrates the events as he and Lily avoid suspicious cops, dangerous spies, and cunning assassins in a crazy trip filled with spy craft.

A cast of quirky, engaging characters, such as a debonair French police investigator, a seductive environmental activist, and a false priest, keep readers interested in this unhurried book.

The protagonist's opening statement of Paris is just one example of the book's exquisite prose and numerous literary and historical allusions. “Paris languished in the August heat, the streets deserted except for the usual tourists and a few remaining Parisians plodding slowly along their routine paths.”

—This sets the atmospheric tone of late-summer Paris in 1989.

Carl’s affection for Billy a two legged dog is evident throughout the story, including a humorous moment when he observes: “Billy had taken to his Prussian blue dog bed like an overwrought lady in a Victorian melodrama.”

For admirers of the genre, Red Lily is an enticing offering because of its accurate portrayal of the time period and its witty, convincing dialogue.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND PUBLISHER VENDOME BOOKS FOR AN ADVANCE COPY FOR MY HONEST REVIEW

Real Rating: 3.5* of five

Thank goodness for the great middle-class Prufrock! He is that scion of privilege who's niggled by the sense of Something More being somewhere out there, though he can't really say where or why. He's a fixture in Graham Greene's Cold War novels: Our Man in Havana's Wormold and Travels with my Aunt's Pulling. Enough privilege and wealth to leave his quotidian life behind. It's never examined from the standpoint of his privilege, his white-male unquestioned freedom to just...chuck it all, no blame or manhunts pursuing him.

Aunt Lily is meant to be a Mame-like figure, a woman who wasn't shunned by her family for trivial reasons but for her utter unwillingness to conform. A sister to a man who left his son a paint factory and the surname Box, she's really more of an Ethel Rosenberg figure to me. She knows what she's doing, and that there are consequences, but she believes she's Right so she does it anyway. Best to keep family far away. Except when they come in handy, as her Prufrock-meets-Babbitt nephew does now.

There's enough action, enough entertaining woman-spy-trades-on-femaleness to make its more cozy aspects of forming found family and taking care of the people in your life (who aren't there from some societal pressure) to the bitter end to make it feel like a weirdly cozy thriller. Running around there is, but more importantly bonds are formed, forged, and honored.

Box himself is slow on the uptake. It frustrated me that Aunt Lily could run rings around him yet HE was the narrator. It was also more than a little effort to keep track of who's who, which is fine in a thriller but not usually part of the reading experience in a cozy, so a bit of the luster got dimmed for me there too.

All in all, though, I'm not mad at the read, nor especially mad for it either. Fun was had, smiles were smiled, and five hours were not wasted in reading it. Need something to wile some time away that still repays giving it your attention?

Seven bucks and it's yours.

Carl Box is a great character and his voice adds amazing depth to this fun story set in a vividly drawn Paris. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters, especially the dog, as the unravelling of the mystery took place. Not your average mystery, this is a fun read which balances light and dark to make for a plot which has depth and colour beyond what you might expect.

This charming tale of espionage takes place in Paris in 1989, before the fall of the Soviet Union. The CIA, MI6, and other Western intelligence agencies are still doing battle with the KGB.

Back in Florida, however, protagonist Carl Box—a paint-color consultant for Disney’s Epcot Center—likes his life just fine, thank you very much. He’s well-fixed financially and has no wife or dependents except Billy, his small dog, who lost both back legs to a gator. When Carl learns a long-lost aunt has bequeathed to him her apartment in Paris, he has very little interest. Who will take care of Billy? And who needs to go to Paris when Epcot offers all of Europe, not to mention the rest of the world? But there’s a first-class ticket on Air France (who would welcome Billy with open arms) and the temperatures in Paris promise to be cooler.

When Carl arrives in Paris, nothing is as he expected. His aunt Lily--whom his parents shunned for reasons he never knew--has faked her own death. There is no inheritance—yet. And instead readying an apartment for sale, he finds himself embroiled in a scheme to obtain information on Soviet plans and capabilities, in exchange for which--Lily hopes--CIA/MI6 will rescue her lover from a Soviet gulag.

Willing or not, Carl is in for the adventure of a lifetime, dodging spies, police, and other characters of low repute. Along the way, he'll learn more about himself and his family than he ever thought possible.

It's a good story, well told with both literary and comedic flair. The characters are fun to spend time with. Their relationships are absorbing. The Paris setting … well … who doesn’t love Paris? The mystery is intriguing, and there are plot twists to keep readers guessing.

All in all, a very entertaining novel which I thought reminiscent of some of the novels of Graham Greene, especially “Our Man in Havana” (although not as satiric) and “Travels with My Aunt.”

My thanks to NetGalley, author Janice Graham, and publisher Book Whisperer for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.

Janice Graham takes us back to 1989 in this light espionage tale. The main character, Carl Box, starts off admitting he leads a dull, ordinary life, but as the story progresses his character develops into someone with a talent for quick thinking and the ability to figure out who is trying to stop the publishing of resistance literature from the USSR. The author does a good job of returning to that time period and adds interesting characters (Carl's aunt, whose death starts off the story, a potential love interest for Carl, and assorted spies, police officers, and dissidents). At times a bit difficult to hold all of the threads of the story together, but the author ties them together by the end. Thank you to Vendome Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

I was initially drawn to this book by its Cold War setting—an era I haven’t explored much in fiction. The opening had me hooked, and I was eager to see how the story would unfold. However, as I progressed, I found the writing style a bit difficult to engage with, despite the intriguing premise.
While Carl, the central character, didn’t resonate with me, I appreciated many of the other characters. Unfortunately, many of them didn’t get enough page time to hold my interest, and I found myself wishing for a stronger focus on their arcs.

Ultimately, I struggled to stay invested. The mystery surrounding the plot and characters felt overly ambiguous, making it hard to determine who to root for or how different elements would fit into the larger story. While I can see how this approach might appeal to readers who enjoy unraveling a spy network, it left me feeling too disconnected to continue.

Special thanks to Book Whisperer and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.