Beattie Cavendish and the Highland Hideaway by Mary-Jane RileySynopsis: “1949. The Cold War is tightening its grip, spies lurk in every shadow, and the race for the atomic bomb is reaching a deadly pitch.

When GCHQ operative Beattie Cavendish is sent to a pivotal listening station in a remote corner of the Scottish Highlands, she finds a base in chaos – its commander missing, its mission compromised, and whispers of a German spy ring closing in. But Beattie’s task takes a darker and more personal turn when her uncle vanishes nearby, leaving behind a chilling note: I know who you really are.

With private detective Patrick Corrigan at her side, Beattie must uncover the truth before snow and secrecy seal them in. For here, betrayal runs deep, and no one is who they seem.”

My Review

I really enjoyed Beattie Cavendish and the White Pearl Club, last summer, and was thrilled to be invited by the publisher to read this second book in the series.

As soon as I started reading I felt like I was back amongst friends, as Beattie was sent up to Scotland on her latest mission. Just like in the first book she has to put on a different personae, this time checking up on the typists welfare at a listening station, rather than finding out why the Commander has disappeared.

Of course as a young woman in the 1949 she’s dismissed as a nobody, even though she’s a lot more qualified than the man standing in. She’s infuriated by him, but carries on regardless with the mystery. Meanwhile her new boss back in London mentioned that she should check up on her Uncle Howard who just happens to live nearby. That’s when thinks started to go awry, and she calls in Patrick Corrigan, her Irish private detective friend who helped in the first book.

I loved that Beattie and Patrick were together again, as colleagues, obviously, as he’s engaged to a school teacher! They worked brilliantly as a team again, saving each others lives in this very twisty story, where no-one is quite as they seem.

The setting of a very snowy Scotland was great, especially as there didn’t seem to be any rationing going on! 

Highly recommended if you enjoy spy thrillers set in post war Britain.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for my digital copy.