Good Reads & Views

A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly
Fiction

What it’s about: Evelyne Redfern is glad to leave her WWII factory job to work in Churchill’s underground Cabinet War Rooms. She’s been recruited to work in the typing pool to uncover who is leaking information to the Germans. On her very first day she discovers the body of one of her fellow typists. An avid mystery-reader, Evelyn is less than impressed by the pair of military police assigned to the case and decides to investigate herself. But David Poole from the Ministry of Information is also investigating, and Evelyne is eager to join forces with him. This feisty heroine will keep you turning the pages of this one.

Reviewers say: “Romance, feminism, and historical detail combine in an exciting new series” (Kirkus);  “Kelly's story, a cross between a Nancy Drew mystery and an Agatha Christie tale, sometimes requires leaps of logic, but its gentle humor, unexpected twists, clever heroine, and wartime setting make it a pleasurable read” (Booklist).

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Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea
Fiction

What it’s about: This historical novel, spanning World War II from D-day to the liberation of Buchenwald, is based in part on the experiences of Urrea's mother, revealing the little-told story of the women of the American Red Cross Clubmobile Corps service. It’s a loving portrait of two of the “Donut Dollies” (but don’t call them that!) —Irene Woodward, a city girl escaping an abusive fiancée and Dorothy Dunford, a farm girl who lost her family and home—supporting the men on the battlefront, serving coffee, donuts, smiles, and a last word of encouragement before they enter the fray. Irene and Dorothy go where they are most needed, and that can land them in harrowing and dangerous situations—in the middle of a village bombing, running from foxhole to foxhole delivering mail, being chased by a German with a bayonet. There are also moments of quiet as the women’s friendship deepens, and as they develop friendships with the servicemen who flit in and out of the story. Powerful, uplifting, and heartfelt.

Reviewers say: “WWII fiction fans, who have an abundance of options, should embrace Urrea's vivid, hard-hitting novel about the valiant achievements of these unsung wartime heroines” (Booklist); “there’s plenty of grit, detail, and twists that make for both a fine page-turner and an evocation of war’s often cruel randomness. Top-shelf historical fiction delivered with wit and compassion” (Kirkus).

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Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Fiction  

What’s it about:  When 2 brilliant scientists, Elizabeth Zott and Calvin Evans, fall in love in the 1960s, she cooks him meals in exchange for sharing his home. When their relationship is tragically cut short, she lands a job as the chef of a television show, allowing her to support their daughter, Madeline. With the help of a forthright neighbor, a loyal TV producer, and an astute dog, Elizabeth forges a new path. 

Reviewers say: “[An] energetic debut...A more adorable plea for rationalism and gender equality would be hard to find” (Kirkus Reviews).

You might also like: Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict or Mr. & Mrs. American Pie by Juliet McDaniel.

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The Wolf and the Watchman by Natt Och Dag
Fiction

What it's about: When a mutilated corpse is discovered in a local swamp in 18th-century Stockholm, a disabled ex-soldier and a lawyer with tuberculosis work together to unmask the murderer and prevent another killing.

Reviewers say: "Natt och Dag writes sensory, horror-inducing descriptions of the lives and deaths of the poor inhabitants of Stockholm. At the same time, his characters almost spring off the page, they are so human and so fully realized. Natt och Dag doesn't apologize for human nature, nor does he excuse our crimes and basest cruelties, but his deep dive into the dark corners of our psyches, as well as this harsh time in history, is both chilling and thought-provoking. Relentless, well-written, and nearly impossible to put down” (Kirkus Reviews).

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Code Name Sapphire by Pam Jenoff
Fiction

What it’s about: This is a historical fiction story of two cousins, set in Brussels during WWII. It is based on the true story of the Belgian resistance fighters who stopped a train on its way to Auschwitz to help people escape from cattle cars. It also recounts a second true story of a ship of Jewish refugees refused landing in Cuba that had to then return to Europe.

Is it for you? If you enjoy historical fiction stories set in WWII that are about family, old loves, new loves, and forgiveness, you should read this book.

You might also like: The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin.

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Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz
Fiction

What it’s about: The story begins in Wisconsin during the winter of 1919. Young mom Mathilda is found dead in a lake, leaving behind her husband, young daughter Ruth, and sister. What enfolds is an exploration into the depths of secrets between family members and how it impacts them all.  

Why you might like it: A fast-paced psychological thriller that has readers going back and forth between viewpoints and time. If I say anymore, I would be giving it away so instead I will say, READ THIS BOOK! 

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Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson
Fiction

What it’s about: Witty, tender, and highly entertaining—like the nightclubs she writes about—Atkinson’s literary novels meet her crime series in this historical romp about the bright young people of 1920s London and the criminal world that regales them. This cat-and-mouse tale features a lively cast of characters who mingle on multiple levels: the infamous and decidedly crooked nightclub owner Nellie Coker and her six children; John Frobisher, the new police detective who is determined to bring Nellie down; Gwendolen Kelling, a librarian and former battlefield nurse who agrees to go undercover for Frobisher; and Freda and Florence, two young runaways with dreams of being on the stage. When the young girls disappear without a trace, Gwendolen risks her undercover job working in one of Nellie’s nightclubs to track them down before they end up in the river like many other missing girls. A triumphant celebration of Jazz Age London.

Critics say: “If Dickens had lived to write about The Jazz Age, he would have produced a novel much like “Shrines of Gaiety” (The Washington Post); “There is the perfect balance throughout of sweetness and heartbreak ... And, as always, there is the unmistakable zest of Ms. Atkinson’s dry wit” (Anna Mundow, Wall Street Journal).

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The Ludwig Conspiracy by Oliver Pötzsch
Fiction

What it's about: A rare books dealer and an art detective are forced to go on the run when they start investigating a diary, written in code, about Ludwig, the fairytale king of Bavaria, who was declared insane, disposed, and found dead the next day.

Reviewers say: "While readers will find broad parallels with Dan Brown's thrillers, Pötzsch's sophisticated plotting and good use of a real-life historical puzzle place this far ahead of most Da Vinci Code wannabes" (Publishers Weekly).

Good to know: This is very enjoyable on audio, read by the excellent Simon Vance, British accent included. Available from hoopla.

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Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini 
Fiction

What it’s about:  To help the Allies fight World War One, General Pershing calls for telephone switchboard operators to enlist in the Army Signal Corps. We follow Grace, Marie and Valerie, each with their own motivations for joining the Signal Corps, from training in the US, overseas to war-torn France. The male soldiers they replaced had needed one minute to connect each call. The switchboard soldiers could do it in ten seconds. The danger they face is real and leaves little time for private life, but each young woman has a brush with romance along the way. 

Reviewers say: “So much new information is packed into this story that becomes the best kind of history lesson" (Library Journal); “Chiaverini's story will strike a chord with history buffs . . . An eye-opening and detailed novel about remarkable female soldiers” (Kirkus). 

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Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Fiction

Read this if you like: Reuniting estranged siblings, family secrets, murder mysteries, and expert storytelling. 

What it’s about: Ocean scientist Byron and his sister Benny, a creative but lost soul, reluctantly reunite after their mother Eleanor’s death. She has left them an audio recording and a Caribbean black cake in the freezer, with instructions to listen to the recording together, and to “share the cake when the time is right. You’ll know when.”  Puzzled, confused, and grieving, they listen to their mother’s story—where she almost immediately reveals a deep secret, and then begins a tale of a young island woman, accused of murder, who escapes into the sea. This delectable family saga is told in tasty bites that change perspective and timelines. It is a rich and flavorful read, made with ingredients carefully chosen and mixed with care, like the black cake made by Eleanor. 

Book buzz: A Hulu TV series of Black Cake is in development by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films and Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment. 

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