I’m delighted today to be joining the blog tour for the new book from Deborah Lawrenson, The Secretary: published by The Book Guild on 28th February, it’s now available for kindle and in paperback via Amazon in the UK and US, and also in paperback via Waterstones and the publishers. My thanks, as always, to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the tour invitation and support.
I was so excited when Rachel’s email dropped into my inbox – this was a book I really wanted to read and review – but frustration followed when I realised there was no way I could squeeze it into my reading list (but I have purchased a kindle copy so I can catch up later!). I’ve read and very much enjoyed Deborah’s books before – many years ago, I remember loving The Art of Falling (first published in 2003 – and I sadly can’t find a review I can share), and a little later being enthralled by Songs of Blue and Gold, a work of fiction based on the life (and what a life…) of Laurence Durrell, and told from a number of fascinating perspectives (available at just £1.99 for kindle, should you be intrigued…). All her other books are sadly still waiting, deep in the depths of my kindle – I really must give her writing another try, and I think this might be the book I’ve been waiting for….
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.
Do you want to read this one as much as I do? Well, you might be able to win a paperback copy…
Giveaway
With thanks to Deborah and Rachel, I’m delighted to offer two readers the chance to win a paperback of The Secretary by Deborah Lawrenson – entry open to UK readers only. Here’s the rafflecopter for entry:
Terms and Conditions
UK entries welcome. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
About the author
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.
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