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Red Lily
From the New York Times bestselling author of Firebird comes a delightfully funny and tender tale of family secrets, reluctant spies, and one unforgettable woman!
Paris 1989.
A cold war is ending.
A new family is beginning.
And one dog is about to save the day.
Carl Box has never met his Aunt Lily. She was the family scandal — exiled, disgraced, and never spoken of. So when he’s named the heir to her Paris estate, he packs a bag (and his two-legged dog, Billy) and prepares for paperwork, not espionage.
But Lily is very much alive. And very much in trouble.
What begins as a simple inheritance turns into a Cold War caper filled with coded messages, eccentric operatives, and secrets that could still get people killed. Carl soon finds himself in the role of spy — dodging agents, covering for Lily, and wondering what exactly she’s been hiding all these years.
Red Lily is a warm, witty historical suspense about unexpected heroism and the mysteries of family ties — perfect for fans of Killers of a Certain Age, Jacqueline Winspear, and Only Murders in the Building.
Paris 1989.
A cold war is ending.
A new family is beginning.
And one dog is about to save the day.
Carl Box has never met his Aunt Lily. She was the family scandal — exiled, disgraced, and never spoken of. So when he’s named the heir to her Paris estate, he packs a bag (and his two-legged dog, Billy) and prepares for paperwork, not espionage.
But Lily is very much alive. And very much in trouble.
What begins as a simple inheritance turns into a Cold War caper filled with coded messages, eccentric operatives, and secrets that could still get people killed. Carl soon finds himself in the role of spy — dodging agents, covering for Lily, and wondering what exactly she’s been hiding all these years.
Red Lily is a warm, witty historical suspense about unexpected heroism and the mysteries of family ties — perfect for fans of Killers of a Certain Age, Jacqueline Winspear, and Only Murders in the Building.
Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2025
68 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Janice Graham
16 books36 followersThe Official Take:
Janice Graham was raised in Kansas and obtained her M.A. in French literature before pursuing graduate film studies at USC and English literature at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. Her screenplay Until September, a romantic comedy situated in Paris, was picked up by MGM and made into a film starring Karen Allen and Thierry Lhermitte. Her first novel, Firebird, became a New York Times and international bestseller.
After a series of contemporary women’s fiction, she turned to historical fiction--The Tailor's Daughter set in Victorian England, and Romancing Miss Bronte, written as Juliet Gael, a highly acclaimed novel about Charlotte Brontë. Red Lily, a Cold War era historical fiction, is due out in spring 2025. She divides her time between Overland Park, Kansas and Paris.
For What Really Happened - see her website: janicegraham.com/about-janice
Janice Graham was raised in Kansas and obtained her M.A. in French literature before pursuing graduate film studies at USC and English literature at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. Her screenplay Until September, a romantic comedy situated in Paris, was picked up by MGM and made into a film starring Karen Allen and Thierry Lhermitte. Her first novel, Firebird, became a New York Times and international bestseller.
After a series of contemporary women’s fiction, she turned to historical fiction--The Tailor's Daughter set in Victorian England, and Romancing Miss Bronte, written as Juliet Gael, a highly acclaimed novel about Charlotte Brontë. Red Lily, a Cold War era historical fiction, is due out in spring 2025. She divides her time between Overland Park, Kansas and Paris.
For What Really Happened - see her website: janicegraham.com/about-janice
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May 20, 2025I was at 56% when I DNF’d due to profanity. Extra offense since the Lord’s name in vain was used. I really was enjoying the story and both of the main characters. I was given an ARC to read. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
March 31, 2025
4.5 stars
Red Lily is a book that mixes family fiction, mystery and culture, all set in Paris against the Cold War era and the drama of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The story opens with news of Carl’s Aunt Lily’s death. The task of sorting out her effects falls to Carl; Lily was a relative rarely mentioned by his parents.
However, once in Paris Carl finds Lily is still alive, but in hiding. The more he discovers about his aunt, the further he is pulled into her colourful life; she was a romance writer, a small publisher of obscure works by Russian authors and a suspect wanted by both the KGB and a French detective.
Carl and his two legged dog Billy join a diverse cast of characters as Lily reveals her plans to smuggle sensitive materials out of Russia and to reconnect with her long lost love.
Never a dark tale of cold war times, this book is a story where little is as it seems with curling layers wrapped around delightful places and interesting people. Yet man’s struggles are always there, niggling away but written with empathy, be it about communism, free speech or the concerns of Greenpeace.
A gently paced tale; this was a delight to read.
Red Lily is a book that mixes family fiction, mystery and culture, all set in Paris against the Cold War era and the drama of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The story opens with news of Carl’s Aunt Lily’s death. The task of sorting out her effects falls to Carl; Lily was a relative rarely mentioned by his parents.
However, once in Paris Carl finds Lily is still alive, but in hiding. The more he discovers about his aunt, the further he is pulled into her colourful life; she was a romance writer, a small publisher of obscure works by Russian authors and a suspect wanted by both the KGB and a French detective.
Carl and his two legged dog Billy join a diverse cast of characters as Lily reveals her plans to smuggle sensitive materials out of Russia and to reconnect with her long lost love.
Never a dark tale of cold war times, this book is a story where little is as it seems with curling layers wrapped around delightful places and interesting people. Yet man’s struggles are always there, niggling away but written with empathy, be it about communism, free speech or the concerns of Greenpeace.
A gently paced tale; this was a delight to read.
May 25, 2025
Janice Graham's 'Red Lily' is a pleasant and engaging read that effortlessly draws you in. With likable characters, a mysterious story, and nice cultural touches, this book is a delight. The writing is witty and the pace is easy, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a captivating story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Book Whisperer publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book as an Advance review copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Book Whisperer publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book as an Advance review copy.
June 1, 2025
There is a moment in Red Lily where Janice Graham references Cary Grant in To Catch A Thief. It's not the only pop culture reference here, our protagonist Carl Box is a paint and colour consultant at Disneyworld after all, but it's a key one, even if the the book actually has a little bit more in common with the everyman flung into spy shenanigans films like North By Northwest or Charade. These touchstones help keep the action light in a broadly daft unfolding of fake deaths, and the smuggling into and out of Russia of people and literature. Box has been summoned to Paris to sort out his Grandmother's affairs and manages to bring his dog on wheels with him, and he blunders around in Ugly American fashion and quickly discovers that there is much more going on than he expected, and that his aunt is not, in fact, dead. But starved of parental love (his father is dead, his mother left when he was very small), he allows himself to get mixed up in what can only be described as a caper, picking up his own femme fatale along the way.
The joy in Red Lily is to see quite an old genre be revived with the right amount of vim and tongue-in-cheek. I wonder to what degree the book is aimed at a younger audience who may be a little spotty on this moment of European history, as the book starts in 1989, and as the story gets towards it final audacious attempt to smuggle someone out of East Germany, I had a definite eye on the calendar. And yet the book never treats the actual difficulties of culture in Russia with disrespect, it is interesting when it discusses the creation of samizdat copies, and the heroism in keeping art alive. That does mean that the more obvious aspects of the book didn't always square with how clever it was elsewhere (this kind of plot is tricky to write effectively) and if it lost steam for me, its only really because I was quite far ahead of the characters with the impact of real life history on the fictional story. And the final reveal, I think, is supposed to be obvious from the outset; it is a book that flatters its readers by making them feel clever. And it was rather nice to visit 1989 Paris again.
The joy in Red Lily is to see quite an old genre be revived with the right amount of vim and tongue-in-cheek. I wonder to what degree the book is aimed at a younger audience who may be a little spotty on this moment of European history, as the book starts in 1989, and as the story gets towards it final audacious attempt to smuggle someone out of East Germany, I had a definite eye on the calendar. And yet the book never treats the actual difficulties of culture in Russia with disrespect, it is interesting when it discusses the creation of samizdat copies, and the heroism in keeping art alive. That does mean that the more obvious aspects of the book didn't always square with how clever it was elsewhere (this kind of plot is tricky to write effectively) and if it lost steam for me, its only really because I was quite far ahead of the characters with the impact of real life history on the fictional story. And the final reveal, I think, is supposed to be obvious from the outset; it is a book that flatters its readers by making them feel clever. And it was rather nice to visit 1989 Paris again.
May 26, 2025
I had no idea what to expect when I received an advanced copy of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised, especially by the ending.
Carl Box is working for Disney at Epcot Center in 1989 when he is informed that his estranged aunt has died and left him her home in Paris. He takes his dog Billy, who he has rescued from a pond where an alligator has eaten his back legs.
In Paris, there are some crazy occurrences, and it turns out his aunt isn't dead but is pretending to be as she thinks the KGB is after her.
Carl has never met his aunt because his father never talked about her. Carl learns a lot about himself and goes way out of his comfort zone.
This book is full of crazy characters, and it is a fun ride. The city of Paris is a character in itself, and Aunt Lily is wonderful.
Without giving anything away, the ending takes place in Berlin in 1985, and the historical significance is important.
Thanks to the Book Whisperer, NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book and review it. The author is new to me and I shall read more of her works. I highly recommend this book.
Carl Box is working for Disney at Epcot Center in 1989 when he is informed that his estranged aunt has died and left him her home in Paris. He takes his dog Billy, who he has rescued from a pond where an alligator has eaten his back legs.
In Paris, there are some crazy occurrences, and it turns out his aunt isn't dead but is pretending to be as she thinks the KGB is after her.
Carl has never met his aunt because his father never talked about her. Carl learns a lot about himself and goes way out of his comfort zone.
This book is full of crazy characters, and it is a fun ride. The city of Paris is a character in itself, and Aunt Lily is wonderful.
Without giving anything away, the ending takes place in Berlin in 1985, and the historical significance is important.
Thanks to the Book Whisperer, NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book and review it. The author is new to me and I shall read more of her works. I highly recommend this book.
May 2, 2025
What a delightful and mysterious story! I was on the edge of my seat
trying to keep up with and look ahead to the next corner we’d take.
I adore books with French backdrops, and throughly enjoyed the
clever road and interesting plot~this is a book everyone can enjoy.
My thanks to Vendome Books via NetGalley for the download
of the book for review purposes.
trying to keep up with and look ahead to the next corner we’d take.
I adore books with French backdrops, and throughly enjoyed the
clever road and interesting plot~this is a book everyone can enjoy.
My thanks to Vendome Books via NetGalley for the download
of the book for review purposes.
October 19, 2025
This was a fun and entertaining read, a real page- turner. It kept my interest, the characters were fleshed out, and I learned a lot about Russia and the events happening in Europe in 1989. I would have given it 5 stars but some of the plot twists were a bit implausible. 4-5 stars
December 13, 2025
Carl Box and his disabled dog, Billy, travel to Paris from Florida after he receives a letter informing him that his aunt has passed away and that he is her sole heir. He soon discovers that she wasn’t just an editor of Russian texts but also something of a spy and that she might not be as dead as he initially believed. It is a solid read with good characters.
This was an interesting read, inspired by a true story and set in 1989 in France and Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall. Having lived in those areas at the time, I especially enjoyed those elements. I’ve been to Harry’s Bar and Checkpoint Charlie, so revisiting those places through the book added an extra layer of fun.
Thanks to Netgalley for the E-Arc.
This was an interesting read, inspired by a true story and set in 1989 in France and Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall. Having lived in those areas at the time, I especially enjoyed those elements. I’ve been to Harry’s Bar and Checkpoint Charlie, so revisiting those places through the book added an extra layer of fun.
Thanks to Netgalley for the E-Arc.
June 2, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What an absolutely wonderful book! We have the story of Carl Box who had received notice that his aunt Lily had died in Paris. Carl had not idea she was still alive. She was estranged from his parents due to her being a Communist, hence the name of the book.
He travels to Paris to deal with her estate. After arriving, he finds out that she is very much alive. She faked her death because she thought she was being targeted by various intelligence agencies such as the KGB and the French intelligence agencies. She wrote romance novels as a cover to her real work. She smuggled information from the Soviet Union written by dissidents. She was in the middle of bringing documents transcribed by her ex-lover Maxim when she faked her death. He was an archivist for the Soviet state and was privy to all sorts of secrets. He had become disillusioned due to his being demoted for activities considered anti-government. He wanted to expose the evil that was the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Carl becomes involved with his aunt’s activities. He meets a truly motley crew of accomplices. We have the brother, Pym, of her ex-lover who hates his brother because Maxim was considered the epitome of the true socialist man. Pym was in a wheelchair due to polio. We get to meet Greta, who becomes Carl’s girlfriend, and her father who is British intelligence agent pretending to be an Anglican priest when Carl first meets him. They’re estranged due to Greta’s activities with Greenpeace. The book is set in the mid 80s. Greta lost her previous boyfriend to the sinking of the boat, the Rainbow Warrior, by the French intelligence agencies.
We have Billy who is Carl’s dog. Billy is also in sort of a wheelchair. Carl rescued him from an alligator at Disney World. He lost both back legs and uses a cart to get around. The dog does play a role in the plot.
I don’t want to give away the plot because it’s just too good. So many interesting twists and turns. The author really brings these characters to life. I highly recommend this book.
What an absolutely wonderful book! We have the story of Carl Box who had received notice that his aunt Lily had died in Paris. Carl had not idea she was still alive. She was estranged from his parents due to her being a Communist, hence the name of the book.
He travels to Paris to deal with her estate. After arriving, he finds out that she is very much alive. She faked her death because she thought she was being targeted by various intelligence agencies such as the KGB and the French intelligence agencies. She wrote romance novels as a cover to her real work. She smuggled information from the Soviet Union written by dissidents. She was in the middle of bringing documents transcribed by her ex-lover Maxim when she faked her death. He was an archivist for the Soviet state and was privy to all sorts of secrets. He had become disillusioned due to his being demoted for activities considered anti-government. He wanted to expose the evil that was the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Carl becomes involved with his aunt’s activities. He meets a truly motley crew of accomplices. We have the brother, Pym, of her ex-lover who hates his brother because Maxim was considered the epitome of the true socialist man. Pym was in a wheelchair due to polio. We get to meet Greta, who becomes Carl’s girlfriend, and her father who is British intelligence agent pretending to be an Anglican priest when Carl first meets him. They’re estranged due to Greta’s activities with Greenpeace. The book is set in the mid 80s. Greta lost her previous boyfriend to the sinking of the boat, the Rainbow Warrior, by the French intelligence agencies.
We have Billy who is Carl’s dog. Billy is also in sort of a wheelchair. Carl rescued him from an alligator at Disney World. He lost both back legs and uses a cart to get around. The dog does play a role in the plot.
I don’t want to give away the plot because it’s just too good. So many interesting twists and turns. The author really brings these characters to life. I highly recommend this book.
June 14, 2025
What a fun espionage/thriller novel – with added elements of historical fiction, reconciliation, mystery, adventure and romance. The characters are quirky and very well-developed – I was a big fan of Carl, Lily, Greta and Billy (the two-legged dog) especially.
I don’t read a lot of mystery/thriller/espionage books - I’m more of a women’s fiction/historical fiction reader. But I must say that the author’s skill at bringing everything full circle was amazing. There was a LOT going on in this book and just as Aunt Lily thought Carl was clever, I thought Janice Graham was extremely clever in fashioning the ruses and ploys in the story. And she had to have researched so many topics!
Red Lily is extremely well-written; it’s clever, it’s thought-provoking; it’s humorous at times; and the characters and plot are very intriguing.
"Thanks to the author and Vendome Books for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review."
I don’t read a lot of mystery/thriller/espionage books - I’m more of a women’s fiction/historical fiction reader. But I must say that the author’s skill at bringing everything full circle was amazing. There was a LOT going on in this book and just as Aunt Lily thought Carl was clever, I thought Janice Graham was extremely clever in fashioning the ruses and ploys in the story. And she had to have researched so many topics!
Red Lily is extremely well-written; it’s clever, it’s thought-provoking; it’s humorous at times; and the characters and plot are very intriguing.
"Thanks to the author and Vendome Books for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review."
May 24, 2025
Rating: 3.5* of five
The Publisher Says: From the New York Times bestselling author of Firebird comes a delightfully funny and tender tale of family secrets, reluctant spies, and one unforgettable woman!
Paris 1989.
A cold war is ending.
A new family is beginning.
And one dog is about to save the day.
Carl Box has never met his Aunt Lily. She was the family scandal — exiled, disgraced, and never spoken of. So when he’s named the heir to her Paris estate, he packs a bag (and his two-legged dog, Billy) and prepares for paperwork, not espionage.
But Lily is very much alive. And very much in trouble.
What begins as a simple inheritance turns into a Cold War caper filled with coded messages, eccentric operatives, and secrets that could still get people killed. Carl soon finds himself in the role of spy — dodging agents, covering for Lily, and wondering what exactly she’s been hiding all these years.
Red Lily is a warm, witty historical suspense about unexpected heroism and the mysteries of family ties — perfect for fans of Killers of a Certain Age, Jacqueline Winspear, and Only Murders in the Building.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Thank goodness for the great middle-class Prufrock! He is that scion of privilege who's niggled by the sense of Something More being somewhere out there, though he can't really say where or why. He's a fixture in Graham Greene's Cold War novels: Our Man in Havana's Wormold and Travels with my Aunt's Pulling. Enough privilege and wealth to leave his quotidian life behind. It's never examined from the standpoint of his privilege, his white-male unquestioned freedom to just...chuck it all, no blame or manhunts pursuing him.
Aunt Lily is meant to be a Mame-like figure, a woman who wasn't shunned by her family for trivial reasons but for her utter unwillingness to conform. A sister to a man who left his son a paint factory and the surname Box, she's really more of an Ethel Rosenberg figure to me. She knows what she's doing, and that there are consequences, but she believes she's Right so she does it anyway. Best to keep family far away. Except when they come in handy, as her Prufrock-meets-Babbitt nephew does now.
There's enough action, enough entertaining woman-spy-trades-on-femaleness to make its more cozy aspects of forming found family and taking care of the people in your life (who aren't there from some societal pressure) to the bitter end to make it feel like a weirdly cozy thriller. Running around there is, but more importantly bonds are formed, forged, and honored.
Box himself is slow on the uptake. It frustrated me that Aunt Lily could run rings around him yet HE was the narrator. It was also more than a little effort to keep track of who's who, which is fine in a thriller but not usually part of the reading experience in a cozy, so a bit of the luster got dimmed for me there too.
All in all, though, I'm not mad at the read, nor especially mad for it either. Fun was had, smiles were smiled, and five hours were not wasted in reading it. Need something to wile some time away that still repays giving it your attention?
Seven bucks and it's yours.
The Publisher Says: From the New York Times bestselling author of Firebird comes a delightfully funny and tender tale of family secrets, reluctant spies, and one unforgettable woman!
Paris 1989.
A cold war is ending.
A new family is beginning.
And one dog is about to save the day.
Carl Box has never met his Aunt Lily. She was the family scandal — exiled, disgraced, and never spoken of. So when he’s named the heir to her Paris estate, he packs a bag (and his two-legged dog, Billy) and prepares for paperwork, not espionage.
But Lily is very much alive. And very much in trouble.
What begins as a simple inheritance turns into a Cold War caper filled with coded messages, eccentric operatives, and secrets that could still get people killed. Carl soon finds himself in the role of spy — dodging agents, covering for Lily, and wondering what exactly she’s been hiding all these years.
Red Lily is a warm, witty historical suspense about unexpected heroism and the mysteries of family ties — perfect for fans of Killers of a Certain Age, Jacqueline Winspear, and Only Murders in the Building.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Thank goodness for the great middle-class Prufrock! He is that scion of privilege who's niggled by the sense of Something More being somewhere out there, though he can't really say where or why. He's a fixture in Graham Greene's Cold War novels: Our Man in Havana's Wormold and Travels with my Aunt's Pulling. Enough privilege and wealth to leave his quotidian life behind. It's never examined from the standpoint of his privilege, his white-male unquestioned freedom to just...chuck it all, no blame or manhunts pursuing him.
Aunt Lily is meant to be a Mame-like figure, a woman who wasn't shunned by her family for trivial reasons but for her utter unwillingness to conform. A sister to a man who left his son a paint factory and the surname Box, she's really more of an Ethel Rosenberg figure to me. She knows what she's doing, and that there are consequences, but she believes she's Right so she does it anyway. Best to keep family far away. Except when they come in handy, as her Prufrock-meets-Babbitt nephew does now.
There's enough action, enough entertaining woman-spy-trades-on-femaleness to make its more cozy aspects of forming found family and taking care of the people in your life (who aren't there from some societal pressure) to the bitter end to make it feel like a weirdly cozy thriller. Running around there is, but more importantly bonds are formed, forged, and honored.
Box himself is slow on the uptake. It frustrated me that Aunt Lily could run rings around him yet HE was the narrator. It was also more than a little effort to keep track of who's who, which is fine in a thriller but not usually part of the reading experience in a cozy, so a bit of the luster got dimmed for me there too.
All in all, though, I'm not mad at the read, nor especially mad for it either. Fun was had, smiles were smiled, and five hours were not wasted in reading it. Need something to wile some time away that still repays giving it your attention?
Seven bucks and it's yours.
May 26, 2025
Carl Box is a pretty average guy leading a pretty average life. He's a paint consultant for Disney, and he spends his days enjoying faux European destinations at Epcot. He has only his two-legged dog, Billy, for companionship, he's financially well off, and he's pretty content. So learning he's inherited the Parisian estate of an aunt who was persona non grata to his family doesn't thrill him. After all, who needs Paris when all of Europe is right there in Epcot? But he takes the first-class plane ticket and goes to settle his unknown aunt's estate, or so he thinks.
Surprise! Aunt Lily is very much alive, having faked her death in efforts to avoid an unknown assassin. Carl learns that Lily trafficks in information under the guise of publishing works by Russian authors that the Russian government won't allow. In exchange for a sizable cache of smuggled information that all the big intelligence agencies - CIA, MI6, and the like - want, Lily is hoping to persuade them to spring her Russian lover from a Soviet gulag. And since her life is at stake, suddenly Carl Box, paint consultant, finds himself thrust into the role of somewhat reluctant spy - swept up in mysterious meetups, banned books, an inter-intelligence agency clash, and even suspected of his aunt's murder (you know, the one that didn't happen).
The story felt slow early on. It meandered, and various characters in Paris - none of whom were Lily - were introduced. But then it picked up, and the rest of the book was quite entertaining! There were flashes of humor and a good bit of witty dialogue that made me chuckle. And found family is one of my favorite tropes, so I loved seeing it used to good effect here.
I grew up during the Cold War, and Janice Graham used that time period as her story's historical background quite effectively. The historical events portrayed were realistic, and the fictional events made up around the history blended well. It might be worth noting that there's a fair bit of profanity in the story. If that's a problem, this might not be the best book for you.
And while there were moments of tension, this is not one of those nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat thrillers. The stakes felt relatively low even with a potential assassin looking for Lily and a political prisoner hoping for release. To me, that makes this book an excellent choice for those times you want something engaging, but still light and easy to read.
Recommended for summer reading adventures!
This review first appeared on Reedsy Discovery, and I received an advance copy of the book from them. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Surprise! Aunt Lily is very much alive, having faked her death in efforts to avoid an unknown assassin. Carl learns that Lily trafficks in information under the guise of publishing works by Russian authors that the Russian government won't allow. In exchange for a sizable cache of smuggled information that all the big intelligence agencies - CIA, MI6, and the like - want, Lily is hoping to persuade them to spring her Russian lover from a Soviet gulag. And since her life is at stake, suddenly Carl Box, paint consultant, finds himself thrust into the role of somewhat reluctant spy - swept up in mysterious meetups, banned books, an inter-intelligence agency clash, and even suspected of his aunt's murder (you know, the one that didn't happen).
The story felt slow early on. It meandered, and various characters in Paris - none of whom were Lily - were introduced. But then it picked up, and the rest of the book was quite entertaining! There were flashes of humor and a good bit of witty dialogue that made me chuckle. And found family is one of my favorite tropes, so I loved seeing it used to good effect here.
I grew up during the Cold War, and Janice Graham used that time period as her story's historical background quite effectively. The historical events portrayed were realistic, and the fictional events made up around the history blended well. It might be worth noting that there's a fair bit of profanity in the story. If that's a problem, this might not be the best book for you.
And while there were moments of tension, this is not one of those nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat thrillers. The stakes felt relatively low even with a potential assassin looking for Lily and a political prisoner hoping for release. To me, that makes this book an excellent choice for those times you want something engaging, but still light and easy to read.
Recommended for summer reading adventures!
This review first appeared on Reedsy Discovery, and I received an advance copy of the book from them. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
May 23, 2025
This charming tale of espionage takes place in Paris in 1989, before the fall of the Soviet Union. The CIA, MI6, and other Western intelligence agencies are still doing battle with the KGB.
Back in Florida, however, protagonist Carl Box—a paint-color consultant for Disney’s Epcot Center—likes his life just fine, thank you very much. He’s well-fixed financially and has no wife or dependents except Billy, his small dog, who lost both back legs to a gator. When Carl learns a long-lost aunt has bequeathed to him her apartment in Paris, he has very little interest. Who will take care of Billy? And who needs to go to Paris when Epcot offers all of Europe, not to mention the rest of the world? But there’s a first-class ticket on Air France (who would welcome Billy with open arms) and the temperatures in Paris promise to be cooler.
When Carl arrives in Paris, nothing is as he expected. His aunt Lily--whom his parents shunned for reasons he never knew--has faked her own death. There is no inheritance—yet. And instead of readying an apartment for sale, he finds himself embroiled in a scheme to obtain information on Soviet plans and capabilities, in exchange for which--Lily hopes--CIA/MI6 will rescue her lover from a Soviet gulag.
Willing or not, Carl is in for the adventure of a lifetime, dodging spies, police, and other characters of low repute. Along the way, he'll learn more about himself and his family than he ever thought possible.
It's a good story, well told with both literary and comedic flair. The characters are fun to spend time with. Their relationships are absorbing. The Paris setting … well … who doesn’t love Paris? The mystery is intriguing, and there are plot twists to keep readers guessing.
All in all, a very entertaining novel which I thought reminiscent of some of the novels of Graham Greene, especially “Our Man in Havana” (although not as satiric) and “Travels with My Aunt.”
My thanks to NetGalley, author Janice Graham, and publisher Book Whisperer for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.
Back in Florida, however, protagonist Carl Box—a paint-color consultant for Disney’s Epcot Center—likes his life just fine, thank you very much. He’s well-fixed financially and has no wife or dependents except Billy, his small dog, who lost both back legs to a gator. When Carl learns a long-lost aunt has bequeathed to him her apartment in Paris, he has very little interest. Who will take care of Billy? And who needs to go to Paris when Epcot offers all of Europe, not to mention the rest of the world? But there’s a first-class ticket on Air France (who would welcome Billy with open arms) and the temperatures in Paris promise to be cooler.
When Carl arrives in Paris, nothing is as he expected. His aunt Lily--whom his parents shunned for reasons he never knew--has faked her own death. There is no inheritance—yet. And instead of readying an apartment for sale, he finds himself embroiled in a scheme to obtain information on Soviet plans and capabilities, in exchange for which--Lily hopes--CIA/MI6 will rescue her lover from a Soviet gulag.
Willing or not, Carl is in for the adventure of a lifetime, dodging spies, police, and other characters of low repute. Along the way, he'll learn more about himself and his family than he ever thought possible.
It's a good story, well told with both literary and comedic flair. The characters are fun to spend time with. Their relationships are absorbing. The Paris setting … well … who doesn’t love Paris? The mystery is intriguing, and there are plot twists to keep readers guessing.
All in all, a very entertaining novel which I thought reminiscent of some of the novels of Graham Greene, especially “Our Man in Havana” (although not as satiric) and “Travels with My Aunt.”
My thanks to NetGalley, author Janice Graham, and publisher Book Whisperer for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.
June 10, 2025
You receive notice that the aunt you never met has died in France. You need to come take care of her estate. Do you go? Do you stay? Set in the late 1980s, Carl gets such a notice and decides to go to France. Once he is there, things start to get a little odd. Okay, a lot odd. He has more questions than he has answers as he meets the friends of his aunt and discovers who this mysterious relative is that he grew up being told was a very bad person. Things are not always what you're told.
Let's discuss the setting first. I had to keep reminding myself of the time period it was in. Sadly, so few books are set in the 1980s, but it helped that I grew up in that period and recognized so much. Keep that in mind as you read. There are no cell phones and no internet, yet you'll see important history in the story.
Now, on to the story.
It's a mystery. What happened to his aunt? Murder? Who could be behind it? What does all the stuff in her apartment mean? Is she really the woman his father had described? Carl finds himself challenged at many levels as he dives into his family's past as well as that of the Western world. Things are not as they seem. In the process, he discovers parts of himself that he has suppressed. Routine doesn't satisfy him as it did. A little adventure does wonders for his soul.
While this is a mystery with spies, murder, and more, it has deep character. The actual characters are spirited and give you cause to laugh and contemplate. They are characters I'd love to meet in real life. They complete Carl and the reader as well. Life doesn't have to be so regulated that we miss out on all that life offers around us even when one is not in the midst of history being made.
I couldn't put the book down once Carl got to France and began exploring his aunt's life. Wasn't disappointed once. Even when I guessed the ultimate mystery, there was no disappointment as I read. It was tempting to just dive into the book and live the rest of my life with such people.
Let's discuss the setting first. I had to keep reminding myself of the time period it was in. Sadly, so few books are set in the 1980s, but it helped that I grew up in that period and recognized so much. Keep that in mind as you read. There are no cell phones and no internet, yet you'll see important history in the story.
Now, on to the story.
It's a mystery. What happened to his aunt? Murder? Who could be behind it? What does all the stuff in her apartment mean? Is she really the woman his father had described? Carl finds himself challenged at many levels as he dives into his family's past as well as that of the Western world. Things are not as they seem. In the process, he discovers parts of himself that he has suppressed. Routine doesn't satisfy him as it did. A little adventure does wonders for his soul.
While this is a mystery with spies, murder, and more, it has deep character. The actual characters are spirited and give you cause to laugh and contemplate. They are characters I'd love to meet in real life. They complete Carl and the reader as well. Life doesn't have to be so regulated that we miss out on all that life offers around us even when one is not in the midst of history being made.
I couldn't put the book down once Carl got to France and began exploring his aunt's life. Wasn't disappointed once. Even when I guessed the ultimate mystery, there was no disappointment as I read. It was tempting to just dive into the book and live the rest of my life with such people.
May 24, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My first book from Janice is an ambitious, intriguing blend of Cold War espionage, family secrets, and European atmosphere, with a big dose of nostalgic charm. The story is set across locations like Paris and iconic Cold War landmarks and it aims high and mostly delivers, while delivering a few bumps along the way.
The story is told through Carl, a middle-aged man investigating the life of a woman who may have been his deceased aunt. At first, the frequent shifts pushed me, but the story's grounded, mature perspective ultimately works in the novel’s favor, especially as the plot jumps between decades and unpacks themes of identity, loyalty, and sacrifice.
One of the novel’s strengths lies in how it ties personal family history to real-world espionage. Inspired in part by the true defection of a KGB archivist, the story captures the paranoia and tension of the Cold War. The journey is more than a spy hunt, it’s a dive into legacy, truth, and self-understanding. The emotional layers hit hardest when the global and the personal collide.
On the flip side, the book doesn’t always find its rhythm. The pacing feels uneven with parts of the plot dragging while others leap forward. The time-jumping adds depth but also causes issues. The romantic threads and red herrings do not work. Still, there’s a satisfying payoff in seeing how Janice gradually peels back the layers of mystery. The story’s music references and pop culture nods from the 1980s are a fun touch but may not connect with readers of newer generations.
Overall, the book is an intriguing, stylish read that doesn’t quite stick its landing with me but still offers a lot to admire. If you're drawn to spy novels with heart and don’t mind a meandering structure, this one might be worth your time.
I will try at least one more book by Janice.
My first book from Janice is an ambitious, intriguing blend of Cold War espionage, family secrets, and European atmosphere, with a big dose of nostalgic charm. The story is set across locations like Paris and iconic Cold War landmarks and it aims high and mostly delivers, while delivering a few bumps along the way.
The story is told through Carl, a middle-aged man investigating the life of a woman who may have been his deceased aunt. At first, the frequent shifts pushed me, but the story's grounded, mature perspective ultimately works in the novel’s favor, especially as the plot jumps between decades and unpacks themes of identity, loyalty, and sacrifice.
One of the novel’s strengths lies in how it ties personal family history to real-world espionage. Inspired in part by the true defection of a KGB archivist, the story captures the paranoia and tension of the Cold War. The journey is more than a spy hunt, it’s a dive into legacy, truth, and self-understanding. The emotional layers hit hardest when the global and the personal collide.
On the flip side, the book doesn’t always find its rhythm. The pacing feels uneven with parts of the plot dragging while others leap forward. The time-jumping adds depth but also causes issues. The romantic threads and red herrings do not work. Still, there’s a satisfying payoff in seeing how Janice gradually peels back the layers of mystery. The story’s music references and pop culture nods from the 1980s are a fun touch but may not connect with readers of newer generations.
Overall, the book is an intriguing, stylish read that doesn’t quite stick its landing with me but still offers a lot to admire. If you're drawn to spy novels with heart and don’t mind a meandering structure, this one might be worth your time.
I will try at least one more book by Janice.
July 8, 2025
It's 1989, and Carl is happily consulting for Disney about paint colours, when he’s notified that his estranged aunt is dead. Carl travels to Paris with Billy, his two-legged dog to wrap up Lily's affairs, and is eager to return home. But, things don’t work at all as he expected.
He meets a colourful cast of oddballs, and discovers his aunt Lily is actually still alive, and in hiding. Carl's father had disliked Lily for unknown reasons, and kept Carl and Lily separated. Carl finds he likes the woman, and she slowly lets him into her life of publishing works by dissidents from Soviet Russia. Carl quickly becomes entangled in Lily’s affairs, and shows a surprising ability to think on his feet and dissemble, and lie when necessary, as Lily brings him into her clandestine activities, by having him pick up items, pass materials to others, and aid her in retrieving secret documents.
Carl not only gains a lot of appreciation for Lily and her associates and friends, but finds himself growing beyond the narrow behaviours and attitudes acceptable to his deceased father.
There are moments of quiet humour, surprising escapes and unexpected rendezvous with spies, police, and others as Carl travels around Paris helping Lily and unexpectedly finding romance.
The pacing is slow (sometimes too slow), but I appreciated the humour, as well as the historical details of Paris in the late 1980s, Russian dissidents and the process of secreting of documents from the KGB.
There is a mystery that Carl gradually unravels about why Lily was on the outs with his father, and though this is set during the Cold War, this is a warm and cozy book.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Book Whisperer for this ARC in exchange for my review.
He meets a colourful cast of oddballs, and discovers his aunt Lily is actually still alive, and in hiding. Carl's father had disliked Lily for unknown reasons, and kept Carl and Lily separated. Carl finds he likes the woman, and she slowly lets him into her life of publishing works by dissidents from Soviet Russia. Carl quickly becomes entangled in Lily’s affairs, and shows a surprising ability to think on his feet and dissemble, and lie when necessary, as Lily brings him into her clandestine activities, by having him pick up items, pass materials to others, and aid her in retrieving secret documents.
Carl not only gains a lot of appreciation for Lily and her associates and friends, but finds himself growing beyond the narrow behaviours and attitudes acceptable to his deceased father.
There are moments of quiet humour, surprising escapes and unexpected rendezvous with spies, police, and others as Carl travels around Paris helping Lily and unexpectedly finding romance.
The pacing is slow (sometimes too slow), but I appreciated the humour, as well as the historical details of Paris in the late 1980s, Russian dissidents and the process of secreting of documents from the KGB.
There is a mystery that Carl gradually unravels about why Lily was on the outs with his father, and though this is set during the Cold War, this is a warm and cozy book.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Book Whisperer for this ARC in exchange for my review.
May 5, 2025
Red Lily by Janice Graham takes place in Paris in 1989 at the end of the Cold War. Carl Box leads a basically boring life. He has inherited his father’s paint company upon the death of his parents. He is now a consultant for them and is not overly busy. He is sent a plane ticket to Paris to settle the estate of his Aunt who has died and left all to him. His parents had absolutely no contact with her and he has never met her before. He decides to take a chance and go. Of course he has no idea that his Aunt is not really dead and has a problem with which she needs his help. However, as he finds out, this problem involves spies, KGB, as well as British Intelligence.
Upon arriving, he finds out his Aunt is not dead and that she needs him to help get the rest of the Cold War documents out of Russia, and to help her get the love of her life out of his imprisonment there. He meets a lot of her crazy friends, a priest that is not really a priest, and a girl he falls for who is involved with Greenpeace protests. He winds up running all over Paris and beyond, is followed and questioned by the authorities a number of times.
For the most part, I had a hard time keeping track of what was going on as well as the people that were involved. There were, however, many scenes in the story that had me laughing at the crazy things that were done. The writing was good and there was a lot of description, but for quite some time I was unsure of the point of the story. I did find the end to be a complete surprise.
I would like to thank Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
Upon arriving, he finds out his Aunt is not dead and that she needs him to help get the rest of the Cold War documents out of Russia, and to help her get the love of her life out of his imprisonment there. He meets a lot of her crazy friends, a priest that is not really a priest, and a girl he falls for who is involved with Greenpeace protests. He winds up running all over Paris and beyond, is followed and questioned by the authorities a number of times.
For the most part, I had a hard time keeping track of what was going on as well as the people that were involved. There were, however, many scenes in the story that had me laughing at the crazy things that were done. The writing was good and there was a lot of description, but for quite some time I was unsure of the point of the story. I did find the end to be a complete surprise.
I would like to thank Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
May 28, 2025
I was hesitant to start this book—I thought it would be too heavy, and honestly, I wasn’t in the right mindset for something emotionally intense. But it completely surprised me. The story was engaging, easy to read, and much more uplifting than I expected. By the end, I felt inspired and left with a warm, hopeful feeling.
The book follows a man who’s grown comfortable in a quiet, safe life—one shaped more by other people’s decisions than his own. He’s not unhappy, but he’s definitely not living fully.
Everything changes when he learns that an aunt he never knew—whom his father clearly disliked—has passed away in Paris, leaving him her entire estate.
Once he arrives in Paris, things start to shift. He’s faced with unexpected challenges that push him far beyond what he thinks he’s capable of. But in the process, he discovers strength, resilience, and a side of himself he’d never had the chance—or the courage—to explore. He realizes that while he’s been surviving life, he hasn’t really been living it.
While I had an inkling about how the story might end, the events that unfolded along the way were surprising and emotionally rich. One part of the story touches on a significant moment in history, and experiencing it through the characters’ eyes was both moving and impactful.
At the end, the author shares what inspired her to write about two supporting characters, and I found that part just as fascinating. It tied everything together beautifully.
Thanks the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
This is my honest and voluntary opinion.
The book follows a man who’s grown comfortable in a quiet, safe life—one shaped more by other people’s decisions than his own. He’s not unhappy, but he’s definitely not living fully.
Everything changes when he learns that an aunt he never knew—whom his father clearly disliked—has passed away in Paris, leaving him her entire estate.
Once he arrives in Paris, things start to shift. He’s faced with unexpected challenges that push him far beyond what he thinks he’s capable of. But in the process, he discovers strength, resilience, and a side of himself he’d never had the chance—or the courage—to explore. He realizes that while he’s been surviving life, he hasn’t really been living it.
While I had an inkling about how the story might end, the events that unfolded along the way were surprising and emotionally rich. One part of the story touches on a significant moment in history, and experiencing it through the characters’ eyes was both moving and impactful.
At the end, the author shares what inspired her to write about two supporting characters, and I found that part just as fascinating. It tied everything together beautifully.
Thanks the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
This is my honest and voluntary opinion.
July 21, 2025
In this fascinating Cold War thriller novel, readers discover the fascinating story of the presumed dead Lillian de la Perouse alongside her American nephew Carl Box and his disabled dog Billy. However, when Carl discovers that Lillian is alive and hiding from her would-be killer, Lillian reveals that while she was a Dior model, romance writer, and small press publisher, she was also smuggling KGB archives from Moscow to Paris with the intent of using them to free her lover from prison, and Carl’s arrival has only helped sell the story of her death. Bringing Carl into this high-stakes and dangerous world of Cold War espionage, Lillian introduces him to some secrets but keeps others close as their lives are totally changed by this adventure. With an intense and complex plot, this book is a fascinating and entertaining book that readers will really enjoy. The characters are particularly interesting and complex, and Lillian and Carl’s relationship is definitely unique because of her many secrets -- and Billy the dog is definitely a highlight in this book! Both complicated and straightforward, this book is both entertaining and thought-provoking, and readers will really enjoy this atmospheric historical fiction novel and the character studies of Lillian and Carl.
Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the advance copy.
May 23, 2025
Carl and his disabled dog Billy take a trip to Paris to collect an inheritance passed on by his Aunt Lily. On arrival, things aren't quite what they seem, and Carl is sent on a wild goosechase across the city. Lily eventually reveals herself, alive and well, and the pair starts to bond. Lily is part of a cold war banned book publishing scheme, and old-fashioned spy tactics and smuggling are all part of the fun!
Carl finds a new lease of life in Paris. With Lily and his new found-family, he starts to question his previous "safe" life choices and wants to build something bigger for himself.
Whilst this isn't the most exciting read, it's very much a cosy historical mystery, light, and comedic with some cute and fun elements. I loved Billy, the dog, with his little set of wheels. I enjoyed the Parisian setting and how alien it first felt to Carl as an American. The twist at the end was really well done, and it all made for a very sweet final few chapters.
Themes
🕵♀️Spies and Espionage 📖Banned Books
🇫🇷Parisian Setting 🫂Found Family
⏳️Historical Fiction 🧱Cold War
With thanks to the author and Book Whisperer for access to this eARC.
Carl finds a new lease of life in Paris. With Lily and his new found-family, he starts to question his previous "safe" life choices and wants to build something bigger for himself.
Whilst this isn't the most exciting read, it's very much a cosy historical mystery, light, and comedic with some cute and fun elements. I loved Billy, the dog, with his little set of wheels. I enjoyed the Parisian setting and how alien it first felt to Carl as an American. The twist at the end was really well done, and it all made for a very sweet final few chapters.
Themes
🕵♀️Spies and Espionage 📖Banned Books
🇫🇷Parisian Setting 🫂Found Family
⏳️Historical Fiction 🧱Cold War
With thanks to the author and Book Whisperer for access to this eARC.
June 23, 2025
I'm usually not a fan of first-person narration, but this book may well have changed my mind. The main character, Carl Box, is exceptional, not because he's flawless, but because his imperfections and personality make him genuinely endearing. I loved the dry wit, the tone, and the easy-to-read writing style.
I haven’t read many novels set during the Cold War, which made Red Lily all the more enjoyable. The historical backdrop adds just the right amount of tension, and it’s easy to get swept up in the intrigue of the spy story.
One of the things I appreciated most was the subtle but heartfelt use of the found family trope. Watching the characters gradually warm to one another, building trust, forming unlikely bonds, and becoming something close to a makeshift family, added unexpected emotional depth to the narrative, making the reader cheer for the characters.
Red Lily caught me by surprise in the best way. It’s sharp, quietly emotional, and full of humanity, a spy novel for readers who care as much about character as they do about plot. I’ll definitely be looking out for more of Janice Graham’s work.
Thank you to the publisher Book Whisperer who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
I haven’t read many novels set during the Cold War, which made Red Lily all the more enjoyable. The historical backdrop adds just the right amount of tension, and it’s easy to get swept up in the intrigue of the spy story.
One of the things I appreciated most was the subtle but heartfelt use of the found family trope. Watching the characters gradually warm to one another, building trust, forming unlikely bonds, and becoming something close to a makeshift family, added unexpected emotional depth to the narrative, making the reader cheer for the characters.
Red Lily caught me by surprise in the best way. It’s sharp, quietly emotional, and full of humanity, a spy novel for readers who care as much about character as they do about plot. I’ll definitely be looking out for more of Janice Graham’s work.
Thank you to the publisher Book Whisperer who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
June 23, 2025
Red Lily
By Janice Graham
Carl Box is a paint color expert living in Florida working for Disney. Both of his parents are dead and he has no siblings. He is alone in the world except for his Aunt Lily, who has been estranged from his family for as long as Carl can remember – although what caused the estrangement is a mystery to him.
One day, he receives a letter from a lawyer in Paris informing him that his aunt is dead and he is her sole heir. Enclosed in the letter is a first class plane ticket to Paris. Against his better judgment, Carl decides to go to Paris looking for answers about his family's dynamics.
From here the story gets more and more bizarre, with a cast of characters who are almost unbelievable – almost. Strangely, the author has you believing in spite of yourself. By the time you reach the crescendo - the fall of the Berlin Wall - you will find yourself rooting for Carl, Greta, Aunt Lily, Maxim and all the rest of the motley crew.
This is a delightful book. It's fantastic and fun at the same time. Well worth a read.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
By Janice Graham
Carl Box is a paint color expert living in Florida working for Disney. Both of his parents are dead and he has no siblings. He is alone in the world except for his Aunt Lily, who has been estranged from his family for as long as Carl can remember – although what caused the estrangement is a mystery to him.
One day, he receives a letter from a lawyer in Paris informing him that his aunt is dead and he is her sole heir. Enclosed in the letter is a first class plane ticket to Paris. Against his better judgment, Carl decides to go to Paris looking for answers about his family's dynamics.
From here the story gets more and more bizarre, with a cast of characters who are almost unbelievable – almost. Strangely, the author has you believing in spite of yourself. By the time you reach the crescendo - the fall of the Berlin Wall - you will find yourself rooting for Carl, Greta, Aunt Lily, Maxim and all the rest of the motley crew.
This is a delightful book. It's fantastic and fun at the same time. Well worth a read.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
May 25, 2025
“Red Lily” is a charmingly captivating novel by novelist and screenwriter Janice Graham. This is the first of her books that I’ve read, but some of her previous titles sound intriguing. Thank you to Ms. Graham, NetGalley, and Vendome Books for providing me an advanced reader’s copy of “Red Lily” to read. My opinions are voluntary.
I enjoyed it thoroughly. I was caught up in the madcap intrigue of it and its various over-the-top characters. It’s a spy thriller, a family drama, a love story, and an historical tale, all rolled into one rollicking adventure, complete with disguises, misdirection, attempted murder, and improbable circumstances. I laughed out loud at some of the happenings and escapades, and I was thrilled by the happy ending. I would be delighted to read another, similarly upbeat tale by Ms. Graham.
I enjoyed it thoroughly. I was caught up in the madcap intrigue of it and its various over-the-top characters. It’s a spy thriller, a family drama, a love story, and an historical tale, all rolled into one rollicking adventure, complete with disguises, misdirection, attempted murder, and improbable circumstances. I laughed out loud at some of the happenings and escapades, and I was thrilled by the happy ending. I would be delighted to read another, similarly upbeat tale by Ms. Graham.
June 3, 2025
RED LILY by Janice Graham
The comparison to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride holds true for this strange, funny adventure. Carl Box is perfectly content working as a paint consultant at Epcot, “world travel” all within the confines of the park, friends, and the sweet, two-legged dog Billy he rescued from a ‘gator. Then he is summoned to Paris to deal with his Aunt Lily’s estate, and he is plunged into family secrets and international intrigue. It’s wild and crazy, and filled with humor and love. Perfect travel from the comfort of home, and yet, it might make one crave a bit of real travel as well. Historical events reminded me of friends’ stories of being at the point of history in the making, and of the human kindness that prevails on behalf of travelers. This is a perfect summer literary romance-adventure-intrigue, to be enjoyed with lemonade or perhaps champagne.
The comparison to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride holds true for this strange, funny adventure. Carl Box is perfectly content working as a paint consultant at Epcot, “world travel” all within the confines of the park, friends, and the sweet, two-legged dog Billy he rescued from a ‘gator. Then he is summoned to Paris to deal with his Aunt Lily’s estate, and he is plunged into family secrets and international intrigue. It’s wild and crazy, and filled with humor and love. Perfect travel from the comfort of home, and yet, it might make one crave a bit of real travel as well. Historical events reminded me of friends’ stories of being at the point of history in the making, and of the human kindness that prevails on behalf of travelers. This is a perfect summer literary romance-adventure-intrigue, to be enjoyed with lemonade or perhaps champagne.
May 23, 2025
Janice Graham takes us back to 1989 in this light espionage tale. The main character, Carl Box, starts off admitting he leads a dull, ordinary life, but as the story progresses his character develops into someone with a talent for quick thinking and the ability to figure out who is trying to stop the publishing of resistance literature from the USSR. The author does a good job of returning to that time period and adds interesting characters (Carl's aunt, whose death starts off the story, a potential love interest for Carl, and assorted spies, police officers, and dissidents). At times a bit difficult to hold all of the threads of the story together, but the author ties them together by the end. Thank you to Vendome Books and NetGalley for the eARC.
July 22, 2025
I’ve been a fan of Janice Graham’s work ever since I read The Tailor’s Daughter and I was wondering how she would handle a subject so different from that one. I wasn’t disappointed. In fact I found it to be her best yet - but maybe that’s because I’m still a little under the spell of Red Lily and it’s characters. I won’t bother with a summary since others have already done that (and I wish people wouldn’t give away so much of the story). I’ll just say that she weaves together wonderful characters, a thrilling plot and great Paris locations with none of the violence and gore that you generally find in the genre, which makes it an exception. I also really liked the theme of family reconciliation. I highly recommend.
August 12, 2025
This was quite an intriguing read set at the end of the Cold War in 1989. Carl Box heads off to Paris, following being told his estranged aunt has died, and finds himself embroiled in the espionage world.
I really loved the characters in this book, with both some quirky and strong characters, in a very light-hearted story. It was an interesting story overall, which although fiction, had a strong historical back-drop to it. However at times I found it struggled to maintain my interest, and was more of a struggle to keep reading. I was pleased I finished it, as it had a good ending.
If you enjoy quirky stories I would recommend it, although I feel there are better stories in this genre out there.
I really loved the characters in this book, with both some quirky and strong characters, in a very light-hearted story. It was an interesting story overall, which although fiction, had a strong historical back-drop to it. However at times I found it struggled to maintain my interest, and was more of a struggle to keep reading. I was pleased I finished it, as it had a good ending.
If you enjoy quirky stories I would recommend it, although I feel there are better stories in this genre out there.
August 31, 2025
“Red Lily” takes place in 1989, introducing Carl Box. Carl’s never met his Aunt Lily, but news of her recent passing brings up all kinds of questions.
Overall, I enjoyed this tale. The story is told through the POV of Carl. I really kept forgetting that Carl was a male. There was something about how this character was written or the speech patterns that had a feminine air to it. It didn’t really matter to the overall story, just something of note. Carl was an overall intriguing protagonist. He was initially very reluctant, moving into more apprehensive and suspicious and then eager and accepting. Find the full blog post at heatherlbarksdale.com
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
Overall, I enjoyed this tale. The story is told through the POV of Carl. I really kept forgetting that Carl was a male. There was something about how this character was written or the speech patterns that had a feminine air to it. It didn’t really matter to the overall story, just something of note. Carl was an overall intriguing protagonist. He was initially very reluctant, moving into more apprehensive and suspicious and then eager and accepting. Find the full blog post at heatherlbarksdale.com
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
May 4, 2025
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
“Red Lily” is a mystery book by Janice Graham. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the publisher’s summary, but I decided to take a chance. This book has it’s wonderful moments - what is family, why are people pushed to the outside. It was an adventure through Paris, but after a while for me it felt like the book was a bit “too smart” for my reading preference (a lot is going on and, like the main character Carl, I didn’t always connect the dots). I think this was an interesting idea - and cleverly executed.
“Red Lily” is a mystery book by Janice Graham. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the publisher’s summary, but I decided to take a chance. This book has it’s wonderful moments - what is family, why are people pushed to the outside. It was an adventure through Paris, but after a while for me it felt like the book was a bit “too smart” for my reading preference (a lot is going on and, like the main character Carl, I didn’t always connect the dots). I think this was an interesting idea - and cleverly executed.
May 24, 2025
Red Lily by Janice Graham is a cold war mystery that is kinder and gentler than a hard-core thriller. It is more of a cozy mystery but also not exactly that either. What it is a nephew who has more excitement then ever in his life after his “black sheep of the family” aunt has supposedly died. Thich of course, she is hiding. There is action, secrets and things that are not as they seem.
Some of this story is quite unbelievable but a fun read, nonetheless. I loved the 2-legged dog. I found the Pais backdrop and the whole espionage plot entertaining. What a fun movie this would make with Helen Mirren as Carl’s aunt.
Some of this story is quite unbelievable but a fun read, nonetheless. I loved the 2-legged dog. I found the Pais backdrop and the whole espionage plot entertaining. What a fun movie this would make with Helen Mirren as Carl’s aunt.
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