The Spy's Wife in Aussie Readers

Dec 26, 2021 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aussie-authors, sent-by-publisher, 2021-release, reviewing-by-request, 5000-2021, historical-mystery, own-read, arc

Sisters Evie and Rosie Armstrong and their father Alf, looked after the railway station at Levisham in northern England. Alf had been stationmaster for many years and when Evie’s husband Ron had died, Evie joined her sister and father to control the station, serving tea and cakes to the tourists as they stepped off the train, keeping it all running smoothly when the trains were not in the station. The beautiful cherry blossom surrounding them was Evie’s peaceful place, her muse. But it was The S ...more

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Dec 09, 2021 Helen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: review-copy-from-publisher

What a brilliant story this one is, I savoured every word in this beautifully written story set in 1936, it captivated and enthralled me from page one, there were times when my heart was in my stomach at the things that strong, determined and beautiful Evie Armstrong does for the man she loves and her country, I never stopped cheering her on. This story flows with emotion, danger and suspense and I was left crying bucket loads, this is one book that I think is a must read for anyone who loves hi What a brilliant story this one is, I savoured every word in this beautifully written story set in 1936, it captivated and enthralled me from page one, there were times when my heart was in my stomach at the things that strong, determined and beautiful Evie Armstrong does for the man she loves and her country, I never stopped cheering her on. This story flows with emotion, danger and suspense and I was left crying bucket loads, this is one book that I think is a must read for anyone who loves historical fiction.

Evie Armstrong has grown up on a railway station in Levisham, Yorkshire England the stationmaster’s daughter and she loves it, she is a keen cook as well and runs the tea room at the station, Evie is widowed and when her and her sister Rosie take interest in the Southerner who visits to walk the moors in their area soon Evie and Roger are talking and making friends and getting to know each other, love grows and Evie is thrilled to have found love again with her handsome rambler Roger.

With the thought that Germany might be stirring up war again, the local constabulary are advised to be on the look- out for strangers suspecting that a German spy might be seeking information on the railways even Evie becomes suspicious of the man she is falling in love with.

When the worst happens and Roger is arrested for treason Evie is not going to take it lying down he has told her the truth and she is more than determined to prove him right, but this in turn sees her volunteer to go to Germany as Roger, now Max’s wife and do the spying. Evie finds herself in the middle of the Nazis and their push for supremacy where there is danger around every corner and who does she trust?

Fiona McIntosh again has taken me on a fabulous journey this time from the Yorkshire Moors to Munich Germany, as Hitler is growing his ranks and ammunition to fight another war and Evie is a strong and determined heroine, the love she has for Max is so strong and what she does left me gasping in her need to get the information, I was on the edge of my seat, but wondering what would happen had me turning the pages, I wanted to get to the end, but I didn’t want it to end, and when we get to the end I was crying so much the ending is amazing. This is a book that I would highly recommend, it is a beautiful love story, heart-wrenching at times but a must read. Fiona McIntosh never disappoints a must read author, don’t miss this one.

My thanks to Penguin Books Australia for my copy to read and review.
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Dec 05, 2021 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it

Shelves: aussie-author, provided-by-publisher, arc-are

Set in 1936 in England and Germany as rumours of a second world war begin to surge, The Spy’s Wife is an engaging historical novel from consummate storyteller Fiona McIntosh.

Young widow Evie Armstrong is running a small cafe at the Levisham railway station in northern England where her father serves as station master when a handsome traveller attracts her interest. Within weeks Evie and Roger, a widowed engineer from London, profess their love for one another, but when Roger (aka Max) reveals a Set in 1936 in England and Germany as rumours of a second world war begin to surge, The Spy’s Wife is an engaging historical novel from consummate storyteller Fiona McIntosh.

Young widow Evie Armstrong is running a small cafe at the Levisham railway station in northern England where her father serves as station master when a handsome traveller attracts her interest. Within weeks Evie and Roger, a widowed engineer from London, profess their love for one another, but when Roger (aka Max) reveals a secret he has been keeping from her, and then is arrested, accused of being a spy for Germany, Evie will be forced to make a dangerous decision to save his life.

Shifting from a rural hamlet in the Yorkshire Dales to the bustling city of Munich, McIntosh merges historical fact with fiction to present an absorbing story of love, betrayal, espionage and sacrifice.

The Spy’s Wife capitalises on the recent interest in the role of women as spies during WWII, but McIntosh cleverly approaches it from a new angle. Having convinced MI6 to release Max and allow them both to travel to Germany as spies for England, Evie needs to muster courage, cunning and resourcefulness as she pretends to be Max’s empty headed new bride while gathering the intelligence that will free them. It’s not only their own lives at stake, Max’s young son by his late Jewish wife is essentially being held as a hostage by one of Hitler’s true believers, and she wants Max for herself. There are plenty of tense moments as Evie and Max, viewed with some suspicion by friends and colleagues, take big risks to gather information about Hitler’s plans for war.

Evie is an appealing heroine, naive and vulnerable but also brave and determined. Trusting Max, with both her heart and her life, is a gamble few would voluntarily take. Once in Germany, with no real experience of subterfuge Evie finds her position increasingly stressful and I really felt for her as she realised just how grim a fate she would meet if she was caught.

Despite the limitations placed on McIntosh’s usual research strategies due to the global pandemic lockdown, the details of the era, and the settings feel authentic. Though I was vaguely aware the VW beetle was designed to meet Hitler’s demand for a ‘people’s car’, I wasn’t aware Porsche was responsible for its production. I found the information about the company’s involvement in the war to be an interesting element of the novel.

Written to McIntosh’s usual high standard, The Spy’s Wife is a captivating read with a stunning conclusion. ...more

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Nov 21, 2021 Tien rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, australian-author

I adore these war novels featuring strong female protagonists. And that gorgeous cover!! I have enjoyed a number of books by this author too so I wasn't going to miss out of reading this new release. The Spy's Wife is a love story that sweeps you off your feet and carries you through the gorgeous European backdrop with a glamorous tease of the 1930s.

Evie was an absolute joy to get to know. She was easy to like, from the very beginning, and then when she showed her claws (pretty early on), I was ...more

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Feb 01, 2022 Kathryn rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-stars, fiction, australian-authors, owned, 2022-reading-list

It's been a while since I read a Fiona McIntosh, and this was an enjoyable read! ...more

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May 14, 2022 Rhoda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Thank you to Penguin Australia for sending me a copy of this book to review!

Evie is a young widow and stationmaster’s daughter living in a beautiful small town in the north of England with her father and sister. When a young man starts frequenting the area on the train, Evie is intrigued and their polite greetings shift to friendly conversations.

At around the same time, rumours start spreading that Hitler may be preparing for war again and local authorities begin to warn locals against spies. E ...more

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