When the Great War ends, former cryptographer Lady Jill Morgan has only two things to host a house party for her brother and to decide her future. That changes when she receives a warning from her one-time employer that her guests may not be as they seem.
Captain Richard Darnaway comes to Huntingtower with his own plans – plans that don’t involve tracking traitors like he did during the war. But he finds he needs all his old skills when a perhaps-not-so-retired fellow agent is murdered.
Now Richard and Jill have to navigate a guest list of war heroes and supposedly retired spies to find out which one is a murderer . . . and a traitor.”
— from Goodreads
My Review
The war is over, but the mystery is just beginning.
I loved all the espionage elements in the book, especially the botanical codenames!
Show spoiler
There were also some loose ends (Sidney’s motives, what happened to the Morgan treasure, how Sidney knew about the treasure to begin with, and Faust’s identity). But maybe those will be addressed in future books?
Getting to know the victim before his/her death made the murder hit that much harder. (S)he felt like a person, not just a plot device to get the story moving.
Overall, I’m looking forward to more of the Kingsmantle Crew.
See Content Notes
war, death of a parent (mentioned), someone is referred to as almost “clairvoyant,” mention of shooting and fighting, mention of witches being burned, some alcohol consumption, blood, death from a gunshot, mentions of death and dying, mention of ghost stories, some mild violence, mention of “indiscreet” letters, near deaths and murder attempts
Favorite Moments
🌼 the ball 🌼 love confession
Favorite Quotes
“They would all be too loyal. Wouldn’t they? But even the most loyal could turn. The war had taught her that. Jill couldn’t discount any of her guests, if Kingsmantle was right in his suspicions. And rarely was he wrong.“
Emma Donovan
“Eccentricity was part and parcel of the family reputation, but not poor hospitality.“
Emma Donovan
“‘Visionaries are in any generation, and arrest when needed…But one usually turns up sooner or later.’“
Emma Donovan
“None of them looked like a murderer. But then, murderers looked like ordinary men and women.“
Emma Donovan
“‘We’ll have to come back later to look around more thoroughly.’
Richard looked back at them. ‘Perhaps tonight?’
Jill smiled. ‘Now you sound like a thriller.’
‘You read thrillers. I only live them.’“
Emma Donovan
“Jill put a hand on his wrist to keep him with her and said the first thing that came to her mind. ‘Major Sidney said I was beautiful tonight. Isn’t that funny?’
He looked down and mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like, ‘I don’t think it’s funny at all.’
‘Don’t tell me you think I’m beautiful.’ That really would be too funny for words.
He caught her eyes. ‘You’re more than that. You’re breathtaking.’“
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