by MK French
Ginevra Bishop went to Oxford in 1951 as her mother once did to prove she's more than a debutante. Sidney Braithwaite is studying there to avoid the mining village of his childhood and the nightmares of war. The two clash in just about every possible way, but MI5 needs their help. A Soviet spy is at the college, and their agent was poisoned. Gin and Sid now must join forces to track down the spy, if the sparks between them don't ruin the operation first.
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| September 2026; Minotaur Books; 978-1250424105 audio, ebook, print (352 pages); historical romance |
Ginevra and Sidney are both highly observant and studious, and had liked the librarian who died in front of them. Working as a spy will give Ginevra an income that will help her keep her family home; her father leveraged it and her hand in marriage to a rich family to get money for repairs, and thinks she's silly to avoid marriage to study. Sidney had previously worked as a spy in WWII and was shot, so he's not eager to repeat the experience. There really isn't anyone else available, and it starts with observing a bookstore, then escalates from there. Fellow students and professors are possible spies, and it takes time and potential exposure to figure out who it really is.
The story dives into the system of privilege that made the aristocracy officers and the poor the working class during wartime. After the war ended, there are still opportunities for spycraft between major world leaders, and the academics at Oxford are positioned to gather that information. We learn a little more about Ginevra's family and Sidney's, so I hope there will be follow-up books in this world. The tension between them is great, and I enjoyed seeing how they interact with friends as well as each other. All of the story threads regarding the spy were tied up at the end, with a round of theatrics that would do their Dramatics Club proud.
Buy The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies at Amazon
Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.
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