Most of the action in "The Spy's Wife" is set just before WW2, when some of the powers that be in the west are struggling to believe that Germany is intent on starting another war, having been punished so much after WW1. Evie is a stationmaster's daughter from Yorkshire, living a quiet life with her father and sister. Everything changes when Evie falls in love with regular traveller Max. The German authorities have coerced Max in to working as a spy by effectively holding his half Jewish son a prisoner. Can Evie and Max get his son Jonas out of Germany before the start of the Final Solution? Dachau had already been set up in 1936, when the Germans were trying to entice athletes and spectators to Berlin for the Olympics.

This is a gripping tale of espionage, deception and what true love can achieve. Thankyou to Fiona McIntosh for this novel set at a decisive time in world history.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This story is filled with suspense, romance and human suffering at the hands of ideology that leads to war. It portrays the power of trust, or lack thereof, and the power of someone going after what s/he wants, for both good and bad reasons. It is a pre-WWII story.

The prologue takes us to 1933 Germany and the growing concerns of a loving couple, Max and Rachel. They have a son, Jonas, and a second child soon to be born. Rachel is Jewish, and the emerging ideas/plans promoted by Hitler are the source of concern for Max and his father-in-law.

Chapter One brings us to 1936 and a village in England and the family of a station master. We are introduced to Evie Armstrong, a hard working young widow, her boy-crazy sister Rosie and their father Alf. As I read the first several chapters, I kept wondering how the characters in the prologue fit into the story; why were they mentioned? My questions were eventually answered.

I found that the pace or intensity of the story fluctuated throughout the book. For me, the prologue moved at a moderate pace and then picked up when the action took place in England. When the action moved to Germany, there were times when I scanned over some of the descriptions in order to move on in the story. It’s possible this fluctuation in pace and engagement in the story was a function of what was being relayed. Although it was interesting to read about human emotions and reactions to Hitler’s rise in power, it was also disturbing material that I’d just as soon not linger over. I also skimmed over some of the environmental descriptions. Scenes in England, at least in the first part of the book, felt more upbeat and charged with energy. Supporting England in the WWII conflicts could have made the pace of those parts of the book seem to move along at a better pace than the Hitler portions.

There are moments filled with suspense in both countries, and these keep the reader engaged. Wondering what will happen kept me reading, although some outcomes seemed a bit implausible to me. They made for a good story, though.

There are characters to like and characters to dislike in this story. There are a variety of interpersonal conflicts and loving connections as well. It’s a story about human nature and the lengths one might go in order to support or save what is dear to that person. The book paints a picture of what a common person’s experience in the pre-WWII era might be.

Each book I read by this author, I think it’s my favourite, this was no exception.
Beginning in 1936 in sleepy Levisham where Evie Armstrong assists her father, who is stationmaster. Evie is a favourite with customers for her cherry cake. When Evie becomes romantically involved with “the southerner” she would have no idea where this may lead!
When life/war events happen, Evie is suddenly put in a position where her quiet life is about to be thrown into turmoil.
Thankfully she is rather resourceful and pulls up skills from childhood to assist her.
It’s a book that will keep you page turning, even when your eyes tell you to go to sleep.

I enjoyed the relaxed beginning, leading you into the excitement.
The lip-reading was inspired. My favourite character was Evie, for her bravery & front, least favourite was Cecille who generally got what she wanted, regardless of who she hurt/upset on the way.
I really enjoyed the backstory of car manufacturers and the way it was written into the story.
Totally recommend. Look forward to next one.

I absolutely loved this book. It’s not my usual genre but I perhaps need to open myself up to new authors and books if this one is anything to go by.
This book is a difficult read, particularly because of the time period and knowing those things, or similar, actually happened. I was on the edge of my seat, shed tears, laughed, and honestly felt every emotion whilst reading it to the point I didn’t want to put it down.
Go out and read this one, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to everybody!

This is a such a lovely book. It is quite gentle in the way the plot unfolds, and yet covers some pretty horrific topics as it goes through the interwar years and looks at what life was like. The relationship between two sisters is pivotal to moving the plot on from idyllic life running a station to the war years. Under it all is love and care and gentleness despite the atrocities going on around, and this is quite beautiful. Well worth a read.

3* Love against the odds

The Spy's Wife is set in Yorkshire, before the outbreak of the Second World War. Max is a regular railway passenger from London to Levisham, where he set off to walk on the moors. A romance springs up between Max and Evie, the station master’s widowed daughter. With tension rising due to threats of war, there’s already suspicion of strangers, Max is arrested as a german spy the day he and Evie become engaged. To help Max, who claims he was forced to spy, Evie agrees to move with him to Germany and spy for Britain.

So far so good. From then on my cynicism took over and I couldn't take the plot seriously. Evie receives about 30 minutes training for working as an undercover agent, yet manages to steal important documents under the nose of a suspicious Nazi supporter.

The majority of the story is set in pre-war Germany during 1936, with an epilogue in 1945, yet no mention of the intervening war years.

There were definitely some gripping moments, and the epilogue was a tear jerker, sorry, it just wasn't for me.

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

This was an easy, enjoyable read, even if it was pretty far-fetched at times. The main character was a bit too perfect, and I definitely rolled my eyes at some of the clichés (falling for the mysterious stranger and going all-in way too fast).

It’s part romance, part spy story—but doesn’t lean fully into either, so it felt a bit light overall. That said, I did learn more about pre-war persecution in Germany than I expected, and the story did get better as it went on.

Not super believable, but still fun if you’re in the mood for something simple with a dash of drama. Bonus points for the little Volkswagen Beetle origin story!

A very enjoyable read, a bit different from the usual stories surrounding the Second World War. We meet Evie, a young widow, enjoying life living and working at a beautiful little country railway station in Yorkshire. Living a peaceful life with her father and sister - although she and her sister have some sibling rivalry and are very different characters. Roger Hall comes into their life as he stops at the station to ramble in the Yorkshire countryside, enjoying tea and cake with Evie before returning to London but their lives are turned upside down when Roger is accused of being a German spy. I’m not going to give anything further away but the story takes off from there as Evie finds she has to step out of her comfort zone to save not only Roger but his small son too.
Believable and likeable characters and a well paced storyline kept me reading this novel to a satisfactory conclusion, I would thoroughly recommend not only this one but any of Fiona McIntosh’s work, a great author.

THE SPY’S WIFE by FIONA McINTOSH is a beautiful love story told against the backdrop of the horrors of WW11.
We meet Evie Armstrong in 1936, the stationmaster at Levisham in Yorkshire’s widowed daughter,. Evie has lost all hope of finding love again until she is swept off her feet by a handsome railway engineer from London who has the same interests as she does……..
There is suspicion surrounding this man, betrayal by a jealous sister, and the very real threat of execution when he is found to be a German spy, albeit one who has been coerced into spying for the Germans in order to save his six year old son, Jonas, whose late mother was Jewish……..
Evie takes on the head of the British Secret Intelligence Service by offering to go to Germany as Max’s wife and becomes a spy for Britain.
Both Max and Evie show incredible courage and sacrficial love as they live in Munich, mingling with a society that is led by Hitler and his minions…….
I do not want to spoil the read for you by telling you any more.
I cannot recomend this amazing and unputdownable novel highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Storm Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The Spy's Wife is a captivating read from the first to the last page and is historical fiction at its best.

Evie and Rosie are the station masters daughters at train station in Yorkshire Moors. It is 1936 and there is a sense of unrest in the air as Hitler is making his move towards war.

It is here Evie meets the attractive stranger known as The Southerner. Things dont go smoothly and Roger is arrested as being a German spy.

I loved Evie: I cheered for her, cried for her, worried about her but most of all I admired her tenacity and strength.

Fiona McIntosh takes the reader on a tense journey that will have you turning the pages as quckly as possible.

My only complaint is I did not want the book to end and I certainly will be adding Fiona McIntosh's books to the top of my TBR list

The Spy's Wife was a fantastic read and one I wont soon forget.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the privilege of reading and reviewing The Spy's Wife.

Oh wow. I love historical fiction and this was an amazing read!!!! I didn't want to stop reading. Evie a widow and stationmasters daughter, finds second love and then all sorts of things start happening. I laughed, I cried, I was anxious and nervous for her and all the things. One twist, then a turn, another turn, another twist that makes you want to not stop reading until you know what happens! And then the ending - it wasn't what I thought and It was oh so good! I was in tears and giddy with joy and all the things at the end! I felt like I was in the story with Evie the whole way. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy WW2 historical fiction second chance romance. ❤️

Thank you to Storm Publishing for the ARC of The Spy's Wife
Evie, a widow and stationmaster’s daughter, helplessly looks out for the weekly visit of the handsome man she and her sister call The Southerner on their train platform in the wilds of northern England. When polite salutations shift to friendly conversations, they become captivated by each other’s reticent manner. After so much sorrow, the childless Evie can’t believe love and the chance for her own family has come into her life again.
Roger is the man of her dreams, recently widowed but what Evie then discovers puts her whole life in jeopardy.
This was a pulse rating book, lots of tension. and excitement.
And all the historical information shows how much time and effort went into this book.
It was incredible as I read it with my heart in my mouth, worrying for Evie
Kerry Kennedy Author

This turned out to be a really enjoyable read. The characters came alive in the early chapters and the reader is able to create a bond, as if they were real people. At the beginning of the book it is 1933, and the growing changes in German society are evident. All this before moving to Yorkshire in the middle of the decade. One of the themes running through the whole story involve trains and railways but it doesn't hinder your enjoyment if you don't hold similar enjoyment of trains and railways. Soon we have romance between Evelyn and a traveller through the station where she works. The romance develops into an engagement and then the whole story is turned upon its head with his arrest.
The situation moves to London and there is intrigue and more. Next the drama moves via Paris to Munich in 1936 in the lead up to the Munich Olympics. At this point the reader is pulled in and the book cannot be put down. The pace is quick and all this happens infront of the back drop of Nazism.
Thank you Storm Publishing for publishing this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a real page turner, edge of seat read. I couldn’t put it down as the tension ratchets up as the story progresses.

The story starts in 1936, with the young widow, Evie, Rosie her younger sister, and their dad Alf living an uneventful life in a charming village on the Yorkshire Moors. (The author obviously loves the moors as they are vividly and beautifully described) They run a railway station, dad being the station master, Evie runs the small café and makes delicious cakes and snacks and loves helping her dad, while Rosie sulks resenting having to do any chores and flirts with the next handsome traveller to alight on the platform.

One fine day a handsome stranger, whom they nickname ‘The Southerner’, arrives to do a ramble over the moors. He keeps returning and despite Rosie’s best efforts, he falls for Evie who feels they are kindred spirits. So start the complications. Who really, is this wonderful stranger. He says he is called Roger. Where has he come from and more importantly, where do his loyalties lie. The world is on the brink of disaster and suspicion is everywhere; even Evie is suspicious of him even though she is convinced they are soul mates. After official warnings to be on the lookout for ‘suspicious people’ Roger is arrested and, it turns out his story is not straight forward. He is about to be executed until Evie has a remarkable, properly mad idea to try and save him.

From there onwards the story and the setting change to one of terrible danger for all concerned, with death perhaps not even being the worst outcome. The twist towards the end is somewhat startling and although I sort of expected it, it didn’t detract from the shock.

The author’s easy style makes the narrative flow and her characters are fully fleshed out and believable so we care about Evie and we read on hoping she will be OK. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me a copy to review. This is my honest review after a complete read of the book.

A great WWII story of a woman trying to help gather secrets. Very well researched. Deep and believable characters. Loved the story!

The train station certainly has some romance brewing. The bravery of the characters shines bright. The secrets and dealings had my heart in my throat.

This is a different spin on intrigue during World War II. The book starts out in 1936, as there are rumblings about Hitler’s regime in Germany. Young widow,. Evie Armstrong, lives a quiet life in England helping her railroad station master father. She is drawn to a regular rider, and they fall in love. After rumors of a there being a German spy in her town, she begins to suspect her new love. Before he is arrested, she realizes he actually is a good guy, but when the British authorities don’t realize it, the only way for her love to avoid execution is that the couple ends up in Germany, spying for the British.

What I loved about this book: the intelligence, bravery, and practicality of the MFC. I loved the descriptions of village life in England and the romance of the train station and all of its visitors. When the setting changes to Germany, I couldn’t put the book down with all the intrigue and role playing of the spies. It was suspenseful and thrilling. Other than the villains in the story, the characters are likeable, and the reader roots for them. I also loved the ending. A great read!