Tessa Arlen Follow

Poppy Redfern is level headed and a determined young lady with a sense of duty who looks like Katherine Hepburn. I loved her right away. Lieutenant Griff O'Neal of the American Army Air Force is the potential romantic interest. Alice, Poppy's grandmother, is a darling-but old fashioned and doesn't like Poppy being an air raid warden. Jasper, Poppy's grandfather, is a spitfire in his late seventies and he is a commanding officer in the local home guard.

The first little bit is Poppy finishing training in London, but the rest is set in Little Buffenden. The small town is perfectly rendered and you feel the gossipy environ with its small town suspicions of the Americans at the nearby base. The sense of isolation permeates, too.

The plot of girls being murdered in the middle of the night and the insistence that it has to be the American pilots meant to aid in defending Britain's skies is a good premise. The atmosphere of the town really heightens this tension. The pacing was steady and kept me glued to the pages, anxious to read on.

I love the harrowing killer reveal and this delivered beautifully. Tip of the hat on that score! Great wrap-up and the hint of adventures to come in London.

I am partial to fiction books set in this time period. But, that also means I can be a little picky about them as well. This book excelled on all counts. Rich characters, compelling mystery, delightful writing style with atmospheric touches, and a hint of romance. I am already turning to the next book in the series. I highly recommend.

Rating: Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.