Evelyne Redfern Series: Book 1
Publication Date: October 2, 2023
From Julia Kelly, internationally bestselling author of The Last Dance of the Debutante, comes the first in the mysterious and immersive Evelyne Redfern 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?
It’s 1940, and the war is raging. Avid mystery reader Evelyne Redfern, or as the media have dubbed her, “The Parisian Orphan,” has been recruited to work in Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms by one of her father’s old friends in the first book in the Evelyne Redfern series, A Traitor in Whitehall by author Julia Kelly.
Evelyne is tasked with finding a leak in the war room and is eager to jump in and challenge her sleuthing skills. She starts by getting to know her fellow secretaries and their routines. It doesn’t take long to find things aren’t as secure in the war rooms as they should be. A few days into her new job, she discovers a dead body. Seconds later, the lights go off, the door slams shut, and she is locked in the room with the corpse. Splendid.
The murder catapults her investigation, and she teams up with David Poole, who is reluctant to call her his partner but concedes they work well together. However, she knows very little about him, who he works for, and what he does.
A Traitor in Whitehall starts with a killing in the Prologue, and the action is nonstop from there. Discovering Evelyne’s backstory from flashbacks is the perfect vehicle for giving insights into her personality, family life, and motivations without bogging down the plot.
Evelyne is quite the modern woman and is stuck with men who view her as nothing more than “just a woman.” She is delighted to dispel them of their biases. I loved her feistiness but cringed at her sometimes recklessness. It did, however, make for some great storytelling and leaves a great deal of a growth arc for Evelyne’s character. There is also a hint of what could be a romantic interest, but only time and more books will tell.
With strong, multi-dimensional characters, a solid mystery, and a plot that keeps the reader entertained, A Traitor in Whitehall is the perfect start to a must-read series!
JULIA KELLY is the international bestselling author of historical novels about the extraordinary stories of the past, including The Lost English Girl and Light Over London. Her books have been translated into 14 languages. In addition to writing, she’s been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home before settling in London.
