Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

She thinks he’s either a stalker, a nutcase, or a harmlessly eccentric Oxford professor. He thinks she’s the long-lost descendant of Henry VIII’s last Queen, Katherine Parr. Amy is living a cautious life as a London private banker to wealthy oil sheikhs, but her quiet solitude is upended by the sudden appearance of two people: a half-sister who is virtually a stranger to her, and Oxford don Leo. Both need something from Amy, who has been emotionally frozen for years and isn’t sure she has anything left to give. She also harbors deep secrets—as does Leo. Even so, the two join forces to investigate the mystery of Queen Katherine’s lost baby, and soon long-suppressed emotions start to surface—and enemies start to close in. As they crisscross Europe in a quest for answers, Amy and Leo find themselves in danger of losing control of their secrets, their hearts—and maybe even their lives.

Review:

I wasn't really sure what this book was about when I was first offered an advance copy by the publisher.  But the description, and the whole not knowing if Leo was a stalker or a professor thing intrigued me.  I'm really glad I read this book.  This was a thriller with espionage, shady bank deals, and secret identities with an unreliable narrator, to boot!  Throw in some steamy romance , and you've got a fun, fast-paced read!

What I Liked:

Set up:

I loved the set up of mousy Amy being pursued by Leo.  Is he a stalker?  It certainly looks that way, at first.  He seems to show up everywhere she goes: her office, her gym, her apartment building.  It almost seems like he has secret methods to track her every movement.  Is he just really good at researching?  Or could he be a operative of Mossad (the Israeli version of the CIA)? And why would anyone want to track Amy.  Well, she is a private banker for rich foreigners.  Could she be involved with money laundering?  This set up sucks you in as you are trying to figure everything out. 

Characters:

Amy seems to be a very quiet, introvert.  She doesn't have many friends, and seems out of her depth working with a bunch of twenty-somethings in the high-end world of personal banking. But there are signs that Amy is not what she seems to be.  With a father who has taken her across the globe on numerous adventures, Amy has hidden talents.

Leo is also a man of many layers.  He is an Oxford professor, but he is also the head of a rich and powerful family of art dealers.  He is also extremely sure of himself.  This annoys Amy to no end, but also fans her growing attraction to him.  Every woman loves a man of mystery, and Leo is certainly that.  I also liked that he was devoted to his sisters, and showed lots of concern for their welfare.  This made him even more appealing.

Side Characters:

I have to mention the hilarious group of characters who work in Amy's office.  They are funny mostly because they are such caricatures of entitled twenty-somethings.  Her running commentary (in her head) of how ridiculous they are is highly entertaining.

Secret Identities:

Without giving too much away, there are several people who are not what they seem in this book.  I loved the methods the author used to slowly reveal who they were.  These were surprising and super fun.  I had several "Ah ha!" moments while reading this book.

Romance:

The romance was also really fun.  I appreciated that the author didn't get too graphic with the sex descriptions, but, instead, slowly built up the sexual tension between Amy and Leo.  I keep saying this is so fun to read, because it really was!  The sex between them made sense.  Tor two people who keep avoiding truths, I loved it when they finally put their cards on the table and where hones with each other.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  August 3rd, 2021

Author:  Jane Elizabeth Hughes

Publisher:  Spark Press

Genre:  Thriller

Page Length:  352 Pages

Source:  Publisher

Format:  Paperback ARC

Recommendation:  This was a thoroughly entertaining book.  I really hope there is a sequel!  A must read for fans of thrillers.

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

LISBON, 1943. After escaping from Nazi-Occupied France, SOE agent Elisabeth de Mornay, codename Cecile, receives new orders: she must infiltrate high society in neutral Lisbon and find out who is leaking key information to the Germans about British troop movements. As Solange Verin, a French widow of independent means, she will be able to meet all the rich Europeans who have gathered in Lisbon to wait out the war. One of them is a traitor and she must find out who before more British servicemen die.

Complications arise when 'Solange' comes to the attention of German Abwehr officer, Major Eduard Graf. As they get to know each other, she struggles to keep her lies close to the truth.

But in a city that is filled with spies, how can she tell who is friend, or foe?

Review: 

When I read the description for City of Spies, by Mara Timon, I got very excited.  It's an historical fiction set in neutral Portugal during WWII.  At it's center is a female SOE agent named Elisabeth who is a literal femme fatale.   I've read several books lately about these SOE agents recruited during the war.  The level of danger they willingly welcomed is hard to fathom, which is why I find novels about them so fascinating.  With the intrigue of spies, rich expats and threats from all sides, this novel was an exciting page turner, and highly entertaining.

What I Liked:

Setting:

Strangely, I have recently set my sights on visiting Portugal as my first big trip post pandemic, so I was really happy that the setting was in Lisbon.  It's 1943, and in theory, Portugal is supposed to be neutral, welcoming both Allied and Axis sympathizers.  But the reality is that the government seems to sway to whichever side is winning the war at any given time.  This makes it a tricky political climate for the rich expats living there.  The book only hints at the local unrest of the ordinary citizens.  But, it's the motivation for the tight control the government has over everyone.

Historical Details:

I especially loved the details of clothing, and the lack of technology in 1943 Portugal.  As a spy, Lisbet (Elisabeth) has an array of  disguises and I loved all the details about how she was able to make herself look like a variety of different people. Using wigs, changing outfits, and even using pads inside her cheeks helps her to become different people.  Because Lisbet has this background, she take special notice of how others dress and can glean all sorts of information from details such as how worn a person's shoes may be, or how they carry themselves.

Due to the time period (and the distinct possibility of phones being tapped), the character used various methods of communication that was indicative of the time.  Letters, dead drops, and secret code were used by the spies to pass along information.  But what struck me was how people could easily lose track of loved ones in the chaos of a war.  How do you locate someone who isn't listed on a public record?  If a family member disappears while you have to evacuate, will you ever be able to reconnect?

Story:

There are plots, conspiracies, and hidden agendas that make this a very complex story.  Add to this an array of people who are not what they seem to be, and this becomes a novel that keeps the reader enthralled.  As Lisbet navigates Lisbon high society, she has to decide what side each person is on.  She can't trust anyone.  But, using disguises, safe houses, and her training as a spy,  Lisbet finds ways to get useful information to the British.  She is always just on the edge of being discovered.  This tension is what makes the book so fun.

What I Was Mixed About:

Ending:

While I was glad that the main plot point in the book was resolved, the book didn't answer many questions.  I hope that this means that this might be the first book in a series.  But when I checked on Goodreads, there was no mention of a sequel.  This was a frustration.  

Rating: 

Release Date:  September 17th, 2020

Author:  Mara Timon

Publisher:  Zaffre

Genre:  Thriller

Page Length:  453 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  A tense spy thriller set in WWII Lisbon.  Highly entertaining.