Friday, March 3, 2017

In Farleigh Field: A Novel of World War II by Rhys Bowen

Kindle Edition, 398 pages
Expected publication: March 1st 2017 by Lake Union Publishing
World War II comes to Farleigh Place, the ancestral home of Lord Westerham and his five daughters, when a soldier with a failed parachute falls to his death on the estate. After his uniform and possessions raise suspicions, MI5 operative and family friend Ben Cresswell is covertly tasked with determining if the man is a German spy. The assignment also offers Ben the chance to be near Lord Westerham’s middle daughter, Pamela, whom he furtively loves. But Pamela has her own secret: she has taken a job at Bletchley Park, the British code-breaking facility.
As Ben follows a trail of spies and traitors, which may include another member of Pamela’s family, he discovers that some within the realm have an appalling, history-altering agenda. Can he, with Pamela’s help, stop them before England falls?
Inspired by the events and people of World War II, writer Rhys Bowen crafts a sweeping and riveting saga of class, family, love, and betrayal.

My Thoughts…
WWII is a wonderful time to read about.    In Farleigh Field we are in Britain and London.   There is a man who’s parachute didn’t open, a man who escapes from a German War Camp, spies, and a tad of romance.      There is also a mystery.    I can usually work to solve the mystery before the end of the story but with this one I changed my mind so many times and found myself surprised at the ending.     

The secret organizations and the characters unable to tell anyone else what their jobs are were intriguing.    There were times that I wondered if they were actually accomplishing anything or if they were just going in circles but Bowen did a great job of pulling it all together.    The friendships made within these organizations were fun.   Being in a time of war I would imagine having friends and keeping friendships was not easy. 
I found it obvious how much research was needed to be done to find the information to make this story real.     I was able to imagine how the coding would be done, how the messages were delivered, and how rough the living conditions could be.     These characters were mostly upper crust members who were not use to going without so the idea that they were being rationed on everything really made me think of how I would react to the ways they were living.   

This is my first Rhys Bowen book and I look forward to more from her.  
Purchase Links
Goodreads   |   Amazon     |   Barnes and Noble


Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of over thirty mystery novels. Her work includes the Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1900s New York City, and the Royal Spyness novels, featuring a minor royal in 1930s England, as well as the Constable Evenas mysteries about a police constable in contemporary Wales. Rhys’s works have won fourteen awards to date, including multiple Agatha, Anthony, and MacAvity awards. Her books have been translated into many languages, and she has fans from around the world, including the 12,000 who visit her Facebook page daily. She is a transplanted Brit who now divides her time between California and Arizona. Connect with her at rhysbowen.com.

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