THE SECRETARY.

 

THE SECRETARY by DEBORAH LAWRENSON.

Genre ... Cold War espionage, historical fiction, women’s history

Publication Date ... 28th February 2025

Publisher ... The Book Guild

Estimated Page Count: 320

Standalone Novel

Order Link ... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secretary-Deborah-Lawrenson/dp/1835741436

Moscow, 1958. At the height of the Cold War, MI6 secretary Lois Vale is on a deep cover mission to identify a diplomatic traitor. She can trust only one man: Johann, a German journalist also working covertly for the British secret service. As the trail leads to Vienna and the Black Sea, Lois and Johann begin an affair but as love grows, so does the danger to Lois.

A tense Cold War spy story told from the perspective of a bright young working class woman recruited to MI6 at a time when men were in charge of making history and women were expendable.

Authentic and historical details are provided by the 1958 diary kept in Moscow by the author’s own mother, who worked for British intelligence. 
Wow! Impressed by how much work has gone into this book. The descriptions of both Russian and embassy life for diplomatic workers in Russia at this time; the protocols, the culture, the power dynamics, the prejudices, the social class inequalities, the hierarchies, the un-written rules all impeccably explored ... and that's to say nothing of the impact of living your life as a lie, of not knowing who you could trust. Then there's that in the midst of this game of spies the lead character is a female from a working class background which adds a whole new dimension to this riveting tale of espionage, love, trust and betrayal.
A fan of well written female characters. I really got behind Lois who is skilfully portrayed; her character and relationships, both professionally and personally, wonderfully developed. In contrast, there is the equally well penned Sonia, Lois' unstable flatmate through whom the author introduces a glorious, at times almost breath-holding sense of tension.
Not that the author is capable of writing only fascinating female characters. Of equal note, there are not only Lois' love interest, the journalist Johann but also, amongst others, the enigmatic Tony Fielding.
Engaging on so, so many levels. I have little doubt that The Secretary will appeal to fans of 'traditional' spy fiction BUT by offering a whole new perspective that sets the book apart from the {dare I say it?} typical male-centred espionage narrative I think it will find a whole new audience.

Deborah Lawrenson spent her childhood moving around the world with diplomatic service parents, from Kuwait to China, Belgium, Luxembourg and Singapore. She read English at Cambridge University and worked as a journalist in London. She has written eight novels and her writing is praised for its vivid sense of place. The Art of Falling was a WHSmith Fresh Talent pick in 2005. The Lantern was published to critical acclaim in the USA, chosen for the Channel4 TV Book Club in the UK and shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year 2012. Her novel 300 Days of Sun, set in Portugal, was selected as a Great Group Read for the WNBA National Reading Group Month in October 2016 in the USA. Her novels have been translated into twelve languages.

Facebook ...   https://www.facebook.com/DeborahLawrensonAuthor

Twitter ...   https://x.com/deb_lawrenson

Instagram ...  https://www.instagram.com/deborah.lawrenson/

Website ... https://www.deborah-lawrenson.co.uk/

With thanks to Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for organising a paper copy. One of several bloggers participating in the Blog Tour of this book, agree or disagree with me, all opinions are my own; no financial compensation was asked for nor given; threats of violence towards my favourite teddy bear went unheeded as did promises of chocolate.
As well as on Pen and Paper this review {or links to it} has been shared on my personal FB page, other book sites on FB, Pinterest, GoodReads and Waterstones web site.

READ FOR THE 52 BOOK CLUB'S 2025 READING CHALLENGE.

{Information here}BOOK 13/52. PROMPT 49: SET IN A COUNTRY WITH AN ACTIVE VOLCANOE.Other Prompts It Might Have Been Used For ...Prompt 32: Includes A diary entryPrompt 33: A standalone novelPrompt 43: Explores social classPrompt 51: 300 - 400 pages longPrompt 52: Published in 2025

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