Claire Gradidge has written a series of three, so far, novels set during WW2 and featuring Josephine Fox. Josephine comes from a local family in this rural area but after a poor childhood she fled and has recently returned where she picks up a childhood friendship with Bram who was much disfigured by burns in WW1. She has also fled an unfortunate marriage. I haven’t read the first book in this series but started with book 2 Treachery at Hurseley Park House and have also read book 3 A Conflict of Interests – I usually don’t have any problems dipping in and out of a series of books but in this case I felt that my lack of understanding of the background which was probably outlined in the first book did cause me a few problems in understanding everything in its two sequels.
Each book adds to the overall story about Josephine, her family problems and her broken marriage. By book 3 she has a relationship with Bram which goes beyond employee/employer – Bram is a solicitor and she works for him. This is the element of the books that would have been enhanced had I read the first volume.
Each book also has a plot that stands on its own where Josephine and Bram end up investigating something or become involved in espionage on behalf of their country. There is a death and a possible theft of secrets from a research institution in Book 2 and in Book 3 Josephine must investigate some unexpected deaths to exonerate Bram from an accusation of murder and treachery. These stories are completed and resolved and are interesting to read. The author has obviously undertaken a lot of research about living conditions for ordinary people during the period and the book is full of interesting detail. Josephine is an intrepid heroine who is determined to work out what is happening despite possible danger to herself.
I enjoyed these books well enough but would advise potential readers to start with The Unexpected Return of Josephine Fox which is the first volume in the series – I shall be searching out a copy of it myself in the future.
Anne Is Reading 