ARC Review: A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly

A Traitor in Whitehall
Author: Julia Kelly
Series: The Parisian Orphan (Book 1)
Publication: Minotaur Books (October 3, 2023)

Description: From Julia Kelly, internationally bestselling author of The Last Dance of the Debutante, comes the first in the mysterious and immersive Parisian Orphan series, A Traitor in Whitehall.

"Kelly spins an Agatha Christie-esque mystery . . . thoroughly delightful and well-researched."—Susan Elia MacNeal

1940, England: Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, is working on the line at a munitions factory in wartime London. When Mr. Fletcher, one of her father’s old friends, spots Evelyne on a night out, Evelyne finds herself plunged into the world of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.

However, shortly after she settles into her new role as a secretary, one of the girls at work is murdered, and Evelyne must use all of her amateur sleuthing expertise to find the killer. But doing so puts her right in the path of David Poole, a cagey minister’s aide who seems determined to thwart her investigations. That is, until Evelyne finds out David’s real mission is to root out a mole selling government secrets to Britain’s enemies, and the pair begrudgingly team up

With her quick wit, sharp eyes, and determination, will Evelyne be able to find out who’s been selling England’s secrets and catch a killer, all while battling her growing attraction to David?

My Thoughts: Evie Redfern is working at a munitions factory in London in the mystery set in 1940. She is a university graduate who had been working in advertising before the war began. As a child she was known as the Parisian Orphan because the custody battle between her English father and French mother made headlines. After her mother's death when she was thirteen, her father dumped her into an English private school and more-or-less abandoned her. 

One evening Evie meets Mr. Fletcher who was a friend of her parents during their Parisian days. He offers her a job working in the Cabinet War Rooms in the typing pool. He wants to get an undercover viewpoint of what is going on there. Very soon after her arrival, she discovers the body of one of her fellow typists and, not having a high opinion of the men sent to investigate the murder, decides to investigate herself. After all, she has had the experience of reading countless mysteries by such luminaries as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. 

She also finds herself working with David Poole who has been sent to investigate a number of leaks that have made their way to Germany. It seems apparent to both of them that the murder and the leaks are related.

The story was well written and engaging. I liked the World War II setting complete with nightly bombings, ration books, and other privations. I liked Evie's intelligence and curiosity. I liked the way she worked with David Poole and the banter between them. 

Since this seems to be the start of a new series, I am looking forward to more adventures for Evie and David. 

Favorite Quote:

I shuddered at the thought. Had Hercule Poirot, Lord Peter Wimsey, or Detective Chief-Inspector Roderick Alleyn ever felt the same unsettled sense when they realized that they might be in the presence of a killer? Probably not, for they were all men, and no man I'd ever met had displayed that level of natural common sense. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.