This has the historical charm of a Kate Quinn bestseller, with characters you'll love and loathe and a rich plot that leaves no room for holes. When I tell you I cannot wait to read the next book in this series, I mean it.

Oxford, 1951. A society girl with sharp wit and red lipstick. A working class veteran carrying the weight of the war. And an MI5 recruitment that forces them to find a Soviet spy hiding somewhere within the university.

Gin and Sidney could not be more different. Watching them become partners — and possibly something more — is an absolute pleasure.

Slow-burn chemistry, layered mystery, and a cast full of secrets. A debut to watch.

Westbury conjures post-war Oxford with real atmosphere and fills it with clever misdirection, class tension, and a romance that earns every moment. The mysterious figure known only as the Rook ensures you'll be desperate for the next book before you've finished this one. A confident handsell for fans of historical mystery, British espionage, and opposites-attract done properly.

What a debut! When does the next one come out?! If this is not the start of a series, I really don't know what to say. This is PERFECT for anyone who loves Grantchester (or has Britbox)

This little ARC landed in my inbox and has surprised and completely charmed me. If you like Masterpiece Mystery shows, particularly Endeavor or Granchester, you are going to love this. My only issue is with an ending like that I’ll need more Gin and Sidney immediately!

This was a great quick read—lighthearted, charming, and the perfect blend of mystery and espionage. It’s exactly the kind of book I’d toss into a carry‑on for a flight or read while relaxing on the beach. I really enjoyed how the story wove together elements of historical fiction, a mystery/spy adventure, and a touch of romance without ever feeling heavy.

The opposites‑attract dynamic between the two main characters, Gin and Sidney, was especially well done. Their personalities played off each other in a way that felt natural and engaging, adding both humor and tension to the plot. Watching their relationship develop against the backdrop of intrigue made the story even more compelling.

Overall, this book delivered a delightful mix of adventure and heart—fun, fast, and full of charm.

A gripping post-WW2 mystery I absolutely fell in love with the characters and setting! It was the perfect blend of academic aesthetics mixed with Cold War-intrigue. Gin and Sidney's tentative friendship I really loved, if it did suffer at some points due to the mystery taking more precedence over the characters. Their slow change to enemies to reluctant co-workers to friends to being mutually enamored with each other really compelled me!

If your a fan of historical fiction, mystery novels, and espionage then you'll find this book a super enjoyable read like I did!

This was more plot heavy than my usual romance but I really enjoyed it! Sidney and Gin's relationship was a background slow burn on the foreground of a spy mystery that kept me turning pages all night.

The post WWII setting was unique and pretty refreshing - I'm not a history buff but it felt real while I was reading, and so vivid.

Sidney and Gin started as not-quite-enemies turned unwitting partners and their relationship was developed with exceptional chemistry and depth. They were fully dimensional characters and it made their relationship development all the sweeter.

A fun historical mystery romp! It sucked me in, while keeping me entertained. It leaves you guessing until the very end!

Really enjoyed the development between the characters, with some twists to keep you on your toes, fun read! :) definitely check this one out!

Ginevra and Sidney do not disappoint! I love historical fiction and mysteries and this is a charming combination of both. Beginning in Oxford University in the 1950s we meet these characters, along with the mysterious Rook, and their adventure never stops. I look forward to a wonderful series starring them both.

I ADORED this! I loved being transported to 1950s Oxford. And following Genievra and Sidney was a true delight. A historical mystery with added elements of espionage was EVERYTHING I didn’t know I needed. A must read!!!

I really enjoyed this book and getting to know Gin and Sidney. The story was able to maintain a nice balance of mystery and romance and the relationships between the two main characters progresses in a way that is believable and has me rooting for them. By the end, the perpetrator was pretty easy to figure out, but there were a couple red herrings that kept me guessing. Only sad that I didn't realize this isn't a standalone and now I will have to wait for the second book which I am eager to read.

Fantastic! This is a great start to a new series with Sidney and Ginerva set in Oxford. They are both studying at Oxford and go from adversaries to partners working to solve a murder to maybe eventually more. The plot is complicated, twisting and will keep you reading and looking forward to the next book. I really enjoyed the character development that continued throughout the entire book instead of quick introductions to the characters. I look forward to the next book! Thank you Net Galley for the advanced readers copy.

A classic murder mystery/spy thriller with well crafted twist and turns and a great sequel hook. I was enthralled from beginning to end and I'm excited to see what else this author has coming in the future.

This was so good! Set in Oxford, 1950, with a cast of characters who lives have been impacted by the war. It's a good old-fashioned mystery, complete with espionage and murder. The main character Gin is delightful and spunky, a quick thinker despite her fairly sheltered life. Sidney comes from another class and has a checkered past. When these two work together, it seems like there's nothing they can't do.
The fact that the ending alluded to a sequel excites me!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. This one was a particularly good one.

This book was an unexpected delight, and such a refreshing read! The Oxford Guide to Scandals and Lies is a cozy, historical mystery for fans of Britbox TV and nostalgic murder mysteries reminiscent of Agatha Christie but with more banter and romantic tension. I enjoyed our main characters, Gin and Sydney, their chemistry had my toes curling in delight more than once. The list of suspects and side characters were varied and enjoyable, too, and the mystery was a fun one to unravel with our two intrepid spies. The biggest mystery of all, however, is what is going to happen to Gin and Sydney in what I'm assuming will be at least one more book? When I picked this up, it was with the assumption that it was a standalone, but the ending made me believe it's part of a series which . . . hooray!
An easy 5 stars for me, I'm excited to see where author Kate Westbury takes this series.