Dawn of the Cold War mystery!

Gauloises smoking Beattie Cavendish ostensibly drove ambulances in France during the war. In reality she was a former Secret Operations executive, working with the French Resistance and translating intelligence from Russia, amongst other things.
It’s 1948 and the beginning of the Cold War. Beattie now works with the secretive Covert Operations Service and GCHQ, the Government Communications Headquarters. Her assignment is to find out what she can about the opposition conservative cabinet minister, and Shadow Foreign Secretary, Ralph Bowen.
Patrick Corrigan, is an handsome one eyed Irishman, an ex serviceman, a decorated and injured war veteran who is now eking out a living as a private detective. One of his clients is Edwina Bowen who wants him to follow her husband.
It seems the Honorable Member has been frequently the decidedly raunchy and decadent White Pearl Club.
Beattie and Corrigan meet under curious circumstances, a dead body and a break in.
This won’t be the only time.
They find themselves mired in mystery, danger and death.
Beattie suspects one of the various secret government organizations involvement.
A startling post war mystery thriller, complete with a strong female lead, a soulful Irish detective, the Russian mob and other players.

An Alison & Busby ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Gripping!

Beattie Cavendish 'did her bit' during WWII and now works at GCHQ when she is given the task of infiltrating the family of Ralph Bowen, a politician who is suspected of being a communist sympathiser. Posing as a girlfriend of his son, Beattie is there when the body of the housekeeper is found with her throat cut. Teaming up with war-weary detective Patrick Corrigan, the investigation leads them to the White Pearl Club - a veritable den of iniquity. Determined to follow the clues, is Beattie putting herself in danger?

This is a gripping read with plenty going on and a fair amount of tension between the pages. Hard to put down, I raced through it eager to find out who was guilty - and of what? With Beattie Cavendish's name in the title, it would be lovely to think that this may be the beginning of a series. Recommended and, for me, 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

After World War II, London struggles to return to some sort of semblance of normalcy in the midst of crushing pain and despair. It is 1948, on the cusp of the Cold War. Soldiers and others face challenges becoming civilians all over again, including Patrick Corrigan, now a private investigator. He teams up with former intelligence officer of the SOE, Beattie Cavendish to investigate a wealthy family with possible connections with the Communists. But they get more than they bargain for when the Bowen family's housekeeper is murdered. Both are keen to use their skills and knowledge to inveigle and infiltrate. This novel has it all...spies, snippets of romance, code breaking, intrigue and realistic historical details. Not only that but I could feel the despair, London fog, seedy clubs and the London underbelly. The sights and sounds came alive and the story was easy to envision and navigate. I like that Beattie is intelligent and feisty, yet empathetic. The mystery was fascinating.

I really enjoyed the mystery and some of the characters, especially Beattie and her relationship with Corrigan. Interwar years is one of my favourite eras to read about, including the Cold War. So happy this is the first in a spanking new series. I wonder what author Mary-Jane Riley has planned next! The potential is endless! Her writing pulled me in and kept my mind and heart held tightly. I believe this will become a great series. Well worth reading, a great Historical Fiction to start with if a reader is new to the genre, but also enjoyable to those like me who have read hundreds of them. I feel something fresh on the horizon!

This cozy mystery whisks us back to 1948, a world reshaping itself after the Second World War. Our heroine, Beattie Cavendish, is more than the society daughter her affluent family would like her to be—she’s a secret operative for British intelligence. Her mission? To observe the powerful Bowen family, especially the son of politician Ralph Bowen, who is suspected of harbouring communist ties.

When a grisly murder is uncovered, Beattie crosses paths with Patrick Corrigan, a private investigator and returned serviceman. Patrick, scarred by his wartime experiences and grappling with post-war expectations, makes an intriguing foil for Beattie. Together, they navigate intrigue, shifting political allegiances, and the changing roles of men and women in this new era.

The novel captures a fascinating historical moment—the early stirrings of the Cold War—while grounding the mystery in richly drawn characters. Beattie’s determination for independence and Patrick’s struggles to fit back into civilian life give the story emotional depth.

As the first in a series, this is a promising start: well-written, atmospheric, and layered with history. I’ll be interested to see how Beattie and Patrick’s partnership develops in future instalments.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars, rounded up to 4)

Thank you to NetGalley and Allison & Busby Publishers for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Dark, Gripping Spy Mystery with Plenty of Atmosphere





I really enjoyed this one! Beattie Cavendish and the White Pearl Club is set in post-war London, and the author does such a great job of pulling you into the smoky, shadowy world of 1948. You can almost smell the fog and hear the noise of Soho as Beattie dives into a dangerous undercover job that quickly spirals into murder and political conspiracy.



Beattie herself is a fantastic lead — clever, determined, and very easy to root for. I loved that she doesn’t just sit back and let things happen; she pushes forward, even when the odds are stacked against her. Her partnership with Patrick Corrigan, the weary detective, adds a nice dynamic too. They balance each other out in a way that makes you want to see where their relationship will go in future books.



The mystery at the heart of the story — a sinister gentlemen’s club hiding dark secrets — kept me hooked, and there were enough twists to keep things interesting. That said, the book isn’t perfect. Some sections dragged a little, especially when the political background got heavy, and a few of the side characters felt a bit thin compared to Beattie.



Overall, though, this is a strong start to what feels like it could be a really addictive series. If you like historical thrillers with a noir edge and a strong female lead, this is definitely worth picking up. I’ll be watching for the next Beattie Cavendish adventure.

Thank you to Allison and Busby for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

Beattie is an undercover intelligence officer working in the late 1940s in New York City. She is tasked with getting close to the son of a politician (Ralph Bowen) that may have Russian ties. She isn’t the only undercover operative that is surveilling the Bowen family and when Beattie finds their housekeeper murdered, she encounters a private investigator, Patrick Corrigan. She joins forces with him to find out how their different inquiries are related and to find the murderer. Beattie and Patrick have many close calls - someone is trying to stop their investigations. Through many twists and turns, they must continue to find out the truth. This was a fun read and always keep my interest. Beattie and Patrick are great complex characters and I am hoping this is the first of a series that find them joining forces to solve crimes. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

4/5 stars: This is Riley's Historical Mystery stand-alone set in England, 1948 and follows a former spy, who works translating foreign intelligence goes undercover to monitor a prominent politician's family, as she teams up with a war-weary Irish private detective to uncover how the family's Polish refugee housekeeper's murder, a dangerous web of spies and a shady Soho club all connect. As powerful forces try to bury the truth, the two will have to rely on their skills to survive a ruthless game of deception and the dawn of the Cold War. With plenty of twists and turns, Riley has crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Written in dual POV, Riley's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining likable. Beattie and Patrick are great characters who have been through a lot. Beattie worked for the British government with the French Resistance and her beloved brother went missing in the war. While Patrick served in Italy where he was injured: losing an eye, facial scarring and a limp. I really liked getting to know these two and the great cast of characters. I very much enjoyed Riley's take on post WWII intelligence gathering and I felt the historical details were well done. I love reading about the often forgotten roles women played in and after the war. Estes' touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and check the CWs. I enjoyed this a lot and hope to read more!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

A nice drift back in time and a book I really enjoyed. Would certainly recommend it to others who enjoy this type of book.

This was a great thriller. the main character, Beattie is intelligent, resourceful and underestimated, while her sidekick, Corrigan is a hardened wounded private detective. She is undercover attempting to prove links with a politician and the Soviets. A web of intrigue is sown with some unexpected red herrings on the way and some great incidental characters. The book brings to life the austerity bound London in 1948 before reaching an unusual end making this a thoroughly enjoyable read

A gripping, atmospheric dive into post-war Britain — espionage, murder, and secrets simmering beneath the glamour of Soho.

Beattie Cavendish is sharp, bold, and entirely incapable of sitting quietly on the sidelines. When she’s recruited to GCHQ and tasked with going undercover in 1948 Britain, what begins as a mission of political surveillance quickly unravels into something far darker. A brutal murder, a family with secrets to protect, and a shadowy Soho club with ties to power — Beattie Cavendish and the White Pearl Club delivers Cold War intrigue with a noir edge.

I loved the vivid sense of place: the smoggy London streets, the rising paranoia of early espionage, the post-war world still finding its footing. Beattie is a brilliant lead — resourceful, flawed, and unafraid to ask the questions no one wants answered.

Murder mystery meets spy thriller with a fierce female lead — and I’m already looking forward to her next case.

I do hope this is the first book in a new series because I love a good spy story. The sleuthing couple of a capable girl and a one-eyed war veteran sounds intriguing enough, and considering the baggage they both have, this set-up has so much potential.
It's a light-hearted but good-paced story with the right amount of mystery, action and a hint of a romance. I'll look out for more books from Mary-Jane Riley because she seems like just the right author for me.

An historic spy thriller, Beattie Cavendish and the White Pearl Club (2025) by Mary-Jane Riley is set in post WW2 Britian. It’s 1948, as Beattie Cavendish struggles with civilian life and is glad to go undercover, accepting a role in the GCHQ, a newly formed branch of British Intelligence. As Beattie infiltrates the rich and powerful Bowen family to discover whether Ralph Bowen, a politician has communist links. The murder of the Bowen Family housekeeper sees Beattie team up with detective Patrick Corrigan, as they investigate links to the Soho gentleman’s club, or aka the White Pearl Club. An enjoyable enough historical crime fiction, set in the beginnings of the cold war makes for a three star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Allison & Busby and the author for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

In 1948, the shadow of war still lingers over Britain. Beattie Cavendish, formerly of the Secret Operations Executive, refuses to settle into a conventional life. When offered an undercover role at the newly formed GCHQ, she eagerly accepts.

Oh but this was fun and I want to read more about the amazing Beattie
Spies, Private Investigators, isolated islands, murder, Russian gangsters, Russian plots, code breaking.
Just a great well told story.

what an exciting read that i never saw coming or new i needed to come into my life.
everything was so tight and clever in this book from the scene setting to the story and characters we were told about. i love books around the war times and was interested in this "what comes next" kind of look upon it.
getting to know Beattie was so interesting, her backstory and how it brought us to her what brilliant. we would all want her in uor corner or to be more like her id say.
her partner bought us a hint of a smile too. his story was equally bought to us with brilliant ease and descriptions so you could really picture for two of them.
Beattie worked undercover for the government during the war. and now being back with no war is something she didn't expect to feel so tough to adjust to. who is she in this new none spy like self? so when she is offered the chance to put her skills to the test once more she cant wait to begin.
but her job starts off with a bang and soon she is teaming up with a war weary Patrick Corrigan, a detective,and they must work together to find out just whats going on.
theres been a murder and it is down to the pair of them to work out what and why it all happened. there are people to trust and people to definitely not trust in this story but does that always make them capable of murder?
i love how we are transported right into the age this book was set in and with all the things that fit there from class, post war, rations etc. it all felt so real and immersive for the reader. Mary- Jane got her descriptions and language just right.
i would be so happy if this was part of a series. i know i could come to really love these two and see where they go next.
i love how this book started off strong with Beattie. she was everything i wished for going in.

I enjoyed this book, but it took a while to get into it.

Beattie works 'undercover' and teams up with private detective Patrick Corrigan.

Beattie is asked to form a liaison with the shadow Foreign Secretary's son who is suspected of spying for the Russians.....

All clues take her to the White Pearl Club which is run by Russians.

A good read

Beattie, an undercover intelligence officer, is tasked with getting close to Ralph Bowen, a politician suspected of having Russian sympathies, by befriending his son.
Meanwhile, Bowen's wife has hired jaded private detective Patrick Corrigan to spy on her husband.
The two investigations collide when Beattie and Patrick both chance upon the dead body of the Bowens' housekeeper. They are forced to work together when their enquiries lead them to the seedy White Pearl Club in Soho.
With this first mystery/spy story in the late-1940s-set Beattie Cavendish series, the author has a surefire hit on her hands.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
Upon publication I will post my review on my blog and on GoodReads.

Thanks Allison & Busby and NetGalley for ARC.

London 1948 is a tricky place to be a single woman of a certain class and age, trying to adjust to civilian life and traditional expectations of the roles one must fulfill. Beattie Cavendish may be luckier than most - she has taken a job at the newly formed GCHQ, although her first mission seems deadly dull and involves some very unsociable hours. She's also got a centrally located flat courtesy of an absent uncle so she needn't return to the family home or share digs with others.

When she stumbles across the body of the housekeeper of a titled and entitled family, she is warned off investigating over and above her role in surveying the family the late Sofia worked for. So is veteran soldier turned private investigator Patrick Corrigan, who has been finding that civilian life for Irishmen, even war heroes, is no picnic.

So of course they team up, despite reservations, and of course danger ensues. I found this started out a little slowly but soon gained pace and was overall thoroughly satisfying. I am hoping that this is the start of a flourishing career for both.

This book twists and turns, and keeps you highly engaged. I loved every minute of it -- it's thrilling, historically fascinating, and, above all, a great story. The writing is so fluid that you'll fly through it; I feel incredibly lucky to have had an advance copy, and cannot wait to read what this author does next. I often get bogged down in the logistics and specifics of historical fiction, but "Beattie Cavendish" had none of that: it immersed you in the world with ease. The mystery was incredibly compelling!

I'm so pleased this is the start of a series because I'm looking forward to reading book 2. The story line was full of surprises and I loved it. Beattie Cavendish and Corrigan had me rooting for them as characters. I almost wanted the book to be longer I enjoyed the story, the characters and the world building that much. The way the characters spoke sounded right too. Oh I will definitely look out for more from this writer and buy it when it comes out because the book was so engaging.

In short: if you liked the Rachel Savernake series by Martin Edwards, I suspect you'll enjoy this book.

Thank you to the publishers for a free copy in return for an impartial review. I'm buying this one when it comes out.

"1948. The shadow of war still lingers over Britain and Beattie Cavendish, former Secret Operations Executive agent, refuses to settle into civilian life. When offered an undercover role at the newly formed GCHQ, the nerve centre of Britain's intelligence network, she doesn't hesitate. Her first mission is to infiltrate the powerful Bowen family and find out what she can about politician Ralph Bowen, who is suspected of being a communist sympathiser.

Her mission takes a deadly turn when the Bowen's housekeeper, Sofia, has her throat cut. As the investigation spirals, Beattie teams up with war-weary detective Patrick Corrigan to expose a dangerous web of spies and secrets all leading back to The White Pearl Club, a Soho establishment that caters to gentlemen with dangerous appetites.

As powerful forces attempt to bury the truth, Beattie must survive a ruthless game of deception and the dark underbelly of 1940s Soho at the dawn of the Cold War."

You know, Britain after the war had a lot of sketchy and dangerous gentlemen's clubs... Definitely more than dukes in romance novels.