Tag: Spy Novels

Books, Reading

Special Feature: A Darker Reality (Elena Standish #3) by Anne Perry

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature: A Darker Reality (Elena Standish #3) by Anne Perry

There can be little denying that Anne Perry is a prolific storyteller and mystery writer. She has written a number of beloved mystery series and Elena Standish is just the latest series of hers which has quickly gained in popularity. I had purposely not read this series out of order. I have the first book queued up in my TBR list for October so I can devour the series in order!

I can’t believe the third book is already coming out and the cover is gorgeous not to mention the story sounds captivating. The main character’s grandfather is at the heart of a murder investigation and Elena Standish herself works for the British Intelligence as a spy. Now doesn’t that sounds like a winning combo? I cannot wait to dive into this series, I love lady spy novels and this book under Perry’s practiced hand cannot be a disappointment of that I am sure!

Today I am sharing all the details with you guys and I hope you all enjoy this latest novel as well as the series. If you are a fan of Perry then you will no doubt find lots to love in this one and I cannot wait to discuss it all with you guys! If you have read any of the Elena Standish books please let me know what you thought of the series thus far! I cannot wait to see how it develops—insert bad photograph pun intended here!

Continue reading “Special Feature: A Darker Reality (Elena Standish #3) by Anne Perry” →
Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: A Most Clever Girl: A Novel of an American Spy by Stephanie Marie Thornton

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: A Most Clever Girl: A Novel of an American Spy by Stephanie Marie Thornton

I started reading Stephanie Marie Thornton’s books years ago and absolutely feel in love with her story telling style! One of the things I found the most compelling was she wrote stories about women in antiquity. Women that wouldn’t be likely to have a ‘story’ that was well known. For example the Empress Theodora and the women of Genghis Kahn. I loved that she took well known women in antiquity, but were unlikely to generate mainstream stories, and then created a story for them. I adored her early books and when I saw that she was making the shift into the more modern era, I was a little sad.

That said, I have read her more ‘modern’ books which, I am happy to report, were all wonderful too! Although I am still waiting for a story about Boudica, but I have loved her modern novels. But this book was one I was looking forward to above all others to date! I have been really enjoying books set in a post WWII world that include early espionage. This book is set a little later than I was hoping (set in 1963) but still compelling in content and espionage!

This is more of a ‘Cold War’ era spy type novel rather than immediate post WWII, but the content and suspense was on fire and I absolutely loved this one! I devoured it in like a day. It was so good and Thornton’s storytelling style just keeps getting better and better. I still have a special place in my heart for the ancient history novels but this more modern novel has a lot to recommend itself!

Continue reading “Review: A Most Clever Girl: A Novel of an American Spy by Stephanie Marie Thornton” →
Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Re-share Review: The King’s Justice (Maggie Hope #9) by Susan Elia MacNeal

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Re-share Review: The King’s Justice (Maggie Hope #9) by Susan Elia MacNeal

The King’s Justice is out in paperback now and I am celebrating the release of the paperback by re-sharing my original review with you guys! When I first stumbled on Maggie Hope, it was early 2012. I was one of the first people to read and review Mr Churchill’s Secretary and I fell head over heals for Maggie right then and there!

I have adored many of the books in the series thus far and I can’t believe we are on the 9th book already! The 10th book is coming out in July 2021 and I cannot wait for that one to release to see what awaits Maggie across the pond as it were.

Obviously when this book came up for review, I was thrilled to be reading more about Maggie’s journey and checking in with many of my favorite characters in the series. After the last book, I had high hopes for this one as well! This is a series that you could jump around in but to fully appreciate Maggie and her personal journey of growth, you will want to start from the beginning. She’s a great heroine and her stories are all so wonderful. I can’t wait for the next one, but until then check out the paperback release and enjoy my original review!

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Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: A Pretty Deceit (Verity Kent #4) by Anna Lee Huber

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: A Pretty Deceit (Verity Kent #4) by Anna Lee Huber

I have been a long time fan of Anna Lee Huber and I have read every single one of her books. I never miss one of her new releases so obviously I had the next Verity Kent book on my calendar months before its release.

When I first started this series it felt different than Huber’s other books not just in time period but in characters too. Verity Kent has a lot more grit and grey area to her than some of Huber’s other heroines.

And don’t even get me started on Sidney. I have struggled with Sidney’s character since the first book and have in all honesty never quite warmed up to him based on some of his deception. But I have stuck out this series because it is excellent. Continue reading “Review: A Pretty Deceit (Verity Kent #4) by Anna Lee Huber” →

Books, Reading

Re Post Review: The Prisoner in the Castle (Maggie Hope Mystery #8) by Susan Elia MacNeal

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Re Post Review: The Prisoner in the Castle (Maggie Hope Mystery #8) by Susan Elia MacNeal

When I first discovered the Maggie Hope books back in 2012, I was overjoyed to find another new and exciting sleuth but this time with a new twist, she was more of a spy versus an amateur detective.

As time has gone by, I have grown incredibly attached to Maggie Hope and her author, Susan Elia MacNeal. I was one of the first readers of this series and one of the first people to openly love and rave about Maggie to anyone who would listen.

Since then, there have been eight books and each one so different from the other. Her character arc has gone in a number of different ways and while I haven’t loved every single change in her character, I am never bored and always come back to this series as an absolute favorite of mine.

I am thrilled to share with you guys that the eighth mystery is out now in paperback and I think could easily be read as a stand alone book. If you have been debating whether to pick up a Maggie Hope mystery or not, now is the time to pull the trigger! In honor of the paperback release this week, I have re posted my review of The Prisoner in the Castle for your enjoyment! Continue reading “Re Post Review: The Prisoner in the Castle (Maggie Hope Mystery #8) by Susan Elia MacNeal” →