A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly: Book Review

A Traitor in Whitehall is the first in a new historical mystery series from Julia Kelly. With an October 3, 2023 publication date, A Traitor in Whitehall transports readers to London during World War II. Evelyne is offered an opportunity to work in the government offices in Whitehall. While there, she is tasked with sharing any unsavory information she comes across. Soon, she finds herself tangled up in two different investigations, and working near David. Will they be able to work together to solve the case?

I want to thank St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of A Traitor in Whitehall. All opinions presented here are solely mine.

Synopsis from Goodreads

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 Opinions

A Traitor in Whitehall is a super fun read. It is one that you will find hard to put down. Trust me, I found myself annoyed when I had to stop reading because of life. I had to know what was going to happen next.

Evelyne Redfern is a young woman from a well-connected family. She grew up with the world, especially in England, knowing her family’s story. But instead of hiding who she was, she owned it. There are times that Evelyne feels a bit immature or naïve, but she grows throughout the book and uses her experiences to help in the investigation.

David Poole is a handsome man that Evelyne is warned to stay away on her first day at the job. Within a few days, the two are working together to solve their separate investigations. There are plenty of will they won’t they kiss moments, and I can’t wait to read more in the series to see their relationship grow.

Do you enjoy reading historical fiction? What about starting a new series? Or books featuring characters that enjoy reading? What about reading mysteries? If you’ve answered yes to any, and especially all, then you should give A Traitor in Whitehall a read!

Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.