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A Bishop & Gallagher Mystery #1
Under the Paper Moon
It’s 1942, and as far as her father knows, Evelyn Bishop, heiress to an aeronautics fortune, is working as a translator in London. In truth, she has joined the Office of Strategic Services as a spy. Her goal is to find her brother, who is being held as a POW in a Nazi labor camp. Through one high-risk mission after another she is paired with the reckless and rebellious Nick Gallagher, growing ever close to him until the war’s end brings with it an act of deep betrayal.
Six years later Evelyn is back home in Los Angeles and working as a private investigator. The war was supposed to change everything, yet she feels stifled by convention. Then the suspected cheating husband she’s tailing is murdered, and suddenly Evelyn is back in Nick’s orbit again. Teaming up for a final mission, Evelyn and Nick begin to uncover the true nature of her case—and realize the war has followed them home.
Six years later Evelyn is back home in Los Angeles and working as a private investigator. The war was supposed to change everything, yet she feels stifled by convention. Then the suspected cheating husband she’s tailing is murdered, and suddenly Evelyn is back in Nick’s orbit again. Teaming up for a final mission, Evelyn and Nick begin to uncover the true nature of her case—and realize the war has followed them home.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2024
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April 21, 2024
In 1942. Evelyn's father Logan is the owner of Bishop Aeronautics, in Los Angeles and he thinks she’s working as a translator in London and it’s a ruse. Evelyn is a spy for the Office of Strategic Services, and while parachuting in France she wants to try find her brother Matthew who’s a POW.
Agents are not meant to form feelings for each other, but after being together twenty four hours a day for three years, Evelyn and Nick Gallagher do. Both have scars to prove how dangerous being a spy is, on their last mission, Nick notices something, he chooses not to share what he’s seen with Evelyn and afterwards she thinks he’s betrayed her.
In 1948. Evelyn is home and working as a private investigator in Los Angeles. Evelyn has been dating her childhood friend James, she knows it’s getting serious and she’s not sure what she will say if he proposes and will she have to give up her independence and job? Evelyn's current client is a woman who thinks her husband is cheating on her, when he’s killed and Nick Gallagher is a witness.
Once again Evelyn and Nick are working together, trying to solve the case, could it be his wife, sister, and daughter, someone who works for him or a jealous business competitor who's responsible? Evelyn and Nick slowly put the clues together, it dangerous and they don’t know who they can trust and not all is what it seems!
I received a digital copy of Under the Paper Moon by Shaina Steinberg in exchange for an unbiased review from Edelweiss Plus and Kensington Publishing Corp. What a wonderful debut novel by Ms. Steinberg, the narrative is full of intrigue, secrets, lies, corruption, blackmail, treason and links to the black-market.
A historical mystery, the author wanted to write a story with a strong female role and she achieved this, it will have you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next, and at the same time humming the popular wartime song Under the Paper Moon ( I looked it up on YouTube) and four stars from me.
Agents are not meant to form feelings for each other, but after being together twenty four hours a day for three years, Evelyn and Nick Gallagher do. Both have scars to prove how dangerous being a spy is, on their last mission, Nick notices something, he chooses not to share what he’s seen with Evelyn and afterwards she thinks he’s betrayed her.
In 1948. Evelyn is home and working as a private investigator in Los Angeles. Evelyn has been dating her childhood friend James, she knows it’s getting serious and she’s not sure what she will say if he proposes and will she have to give up her independence and job? Evelyn's current client is a woman who thinks her husband is cheating on her, when he’s killed and Nick Gallagher is a witness.
Once again Evelyn and Nick are working together, trying to solve the case, could it be his wife, sister, and daughter, someone who works for him or a jealous business competitor who's responsible? Evelyn and Nick slowly put the clues together, it dangerous and they don’t know who they can trust and not all is what it seems!
I received a digital copy of Under the Paper Moon by Shaina Steinberg in exchange for an unbiased review from Edelweiss Plus and Kensington Publishing Corp. What a wonderful debut novel by Ms. Steinberg, the narrative is full of intrigue, secrets, lies, corruption, blackmail, treason and links to the black-market.
A historical mystery, the author wanted to write a story with a strong female role and she achieved this, it will have you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next, and at the same time humming the popular wartime song Under the Paper Moon ( I looked it up on YouTube) and four stars from me.
June 7, 2024
Under the Paper Moon by Shaina Steinberg
Historical fiction, mystery.
Evelyn Bishop, heiress to an aeronautics fortune, joined the an office of Strategic Services as a spy in 1942 to find her missing brother. She is often paired with Nick Gallagher on different missions and the two grow close.
Six years later, Evelyn is back home in Los Angeles, working as a private investigator. The war was supposed to change so much, but Evelyn is feeling old rules encroaching on her previous years of personal freedoms. A murder case brings Nick back into her orbit and they realize they can’t escape parts of the war that has followed them home.
The difference from war time to immediately after had to be a difficult transition. Women had power and had to hand it back to the men afterwards. For Evelyn, that doesn’t work.
The chemistry between Evelyn and Nick is interesting. The book has an old fashioned hard boiled edge to it with a strong female. Almost a noir feeling.
Tracking secondary characters is important to appreciate the subtlety.
It was missing a likable edge for the characters for me. I understood them but didn’t like them which is unusual for me.
Historical fiction, mystery.
Evelyn Bishop, heiress to an aeronautics fortune, joined the an office of Strategic Services as a spy in 1942 to find her missing brother. She is often paired with Nick Gallagher on different missions and the two grow close.
Six years later, Evelyn is back home in Los Angeles, working as a private investigator. The war was supposed to change so much, but Evelyn is feeling old rules encroaching on her previous years of personal freedoms. A murder case brings Nick back into her orbit and they realize they can’t escape parts of the war that has followed them home.
The difference from war time to immediately after had to be a difficult transition. Women had power and had to hand it back to the men afterwards. For Evelyn, that doesn’t work.
The chemistry between Evelyn and Nick is interesting. The book has an old fashioned hard boiled edge to it with a strong female. Almost a noir feeling.
Tracking secondary characters is important to appreciate the subtlety.
It was missing a likable edge for the characters for me. I understood them but didn’t like them which is unusual for me.
April 27, 2024
Enthralling post WWII Thriller!
Evelyn Bishop is the daughter of a wealthy American aeronautics industrialist.
Evelyn is totally out of step and bored by the expectations her social strata has for women. When her brother Matthew, fighting in Europe, (pre the US’s entry into the war) is captured by the Nazi’s she can’t sit quietly at home.
Evelyn goes to London and ostensibly becomes a translator. Evelyn speaks five languages.
In reality she joins the Office of Strategic Services, a clandestine US organization and becomes an intelligent officer. She spent the war parachuting out of planes behind enemy lines, over France. Evelyn is always searching for any news of her brother Matthew’s whereabouts.
She works closely with Nick Gallagher, who’s the leader of the Intelligence Team Evelyn’s assigned to. The chemistry between them is volcanic. So it’s all the more shocking when something happens after Victory Day, something that ruptures their relationship.
Returning back stateside after the war Evelyn can’t settle down She becomes a detective. Her’s and her brother’s childhood friend James is there waiting for her. Evelyn is prevaricating about marriage though. Does she want that?
Nick returns back to the States, working with the LAPD, and of course drinking too much. When that fails he too becomes a detective, still climbing into the bottom of a cheap bottle of whiskey.
Now fate throws them together once more. It seems they’re both working on the same case, but for different parties.
What neither expects is the growing number of bodies strewn across their path and a dark mystery emerging, reaching back into their OSS days.
I loved the chemistry between Nick and Evelyn. Their repartee is often sharply laconic and understated. The contrast between their characters charges the pages in the best possible way.
The action moves between 1942 London and France, and 1948 Los Angeles, inserting the important back story into the now.
Parts verged on the predictable but that didn’t any anyway lesson my enjoyment.
A very readable thriller that smacks somewhat of Sam Spade. I must admit to seeing flashes of Bogart and Lauren Bacall. I loved it!
A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Evelyn Bishop is the daughter of a wealthy American aeronautics industrialist.
Evelyn is totally out of step and bored by the expectations her social strata has for women. When her brother Matthew, fighting in Europe, (pre the US’s entry into the war) is captured by the Nazi’s she can’t sit quietly at home.
Evelyn goes to London and ostensibly becomes a translator. Evelyn speaks five languages.
In reality she joins the Office of Strategic Services, a clandestine US organization and becomes an intelligent officer. She spent the war parachuting out of planes behind enemy lines, over France. Evelyn is always searching for any news of her brother Matthew’s whereabouts.
She works closely with Nick Gallagher, who’s the leader of the Intelligence Team Evelyn’s assigned to. The chemistry between them is volcanic. So it’s all the more shocking when something happens after Victory Day, something that ruptures their relationship.
Returning back stateside after the war Evelyn can’t settle down She becomes a detective. Her’s and her brother’s childhood friend James is there waiting for her. Evelyn is prevaricating about marriage though. Does she want that?
Nick returns back to the States, working with the LAPD, and of course drinking too much. When that fails he too becomes a detective, still climbing into the bottom of a cheap bottle of whiskey.
Now fate throws them together once more. It seems they’re both working on the same case, but for different parties.
What neither expects is the growing number of bodies strewn across their path and a dark mystery emerging, reaching back into their OSS days.
I loved the chemistry between Nick and Evelyn. Their repartee is often sharply laconic and understated. The contrast between their characters charges the pages in the best possible way.
The action moves between 1942 London and France, and 1948 Los Angeles, inserting the important back story into the now.
Parts verged on the predictable but that didn’t any anyway lesson my enjoyment.
A very readable thriller that smacks somewhat of Sam Spade. I must admit to seeing flashes of Bogart and Lauren Bacall. I loved it!
A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
February 17, 2024
Two former spies who shared more than just missions during WWII reunite in 1948 Los Angeles. Evelyn is now a PI not ready to settle into the white picket fence life and Nick is still drinking and doing private security for the man Evelyn is hired to tail.
Excellent scene setting with a compelling mystery, but I could have used a deeper POV to know Evelyn and Nick a little better. They often seemed like the same person, but maybe that was on purpose and because of the film noir-style of the unnatural fast and short dialogue.
The whole thing is very film noir. There’s a femme-fatale, a washed up detective, post-war disillusionment, and an LA location. The real difference is this has a strong female lead.
If you like disaffected heroes and hard boiled style mysteries, then you’ll like this one.
The readalikes mentioned in the description aren’t accurate. Just because you like light historical mysteries or histfic doesn’t mean you’ll like this hard boiled take. Know you’re getting more along the lines of Dashiell Hammett and not Ashley Weaver, Allison Montclair, or Jaqueline Winspear.
I received an arc from NetGalley
Excellent scene setting with a compelling mystery, but I could have used a deeper POV to know Evelyn and Nick a little better. They often seemed like the same person, but maybe that was on purpose and because of the film noir-style of the unnatural fast and short dialogue.
The whole thing is very film noir. There’s a femme-fatale, a washed up detective, post-war disillusionment, and an LA location. The real difference is this has a strong female lead.
If you like disaffected heroes and hard boiled style mysteries, then you’ll like this one.
The readalikes mentioned in the description aren’t accurate. Just because you like light historical mysteries or histfic doesn’t mean you’ll like this hard boiled take. Know you’re getting more along the lines of Dashiell Hammett and not Ashley Weaver, Allison Montclair, or Jaqueline Winspear.
I received an arc from NetGalley
May 29, 2025
In 1948, Evelyn Bishop operates a thriving private investigation firm, Evelyn Bishop Investigations, in the glamorous locale of Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles, California. Her firm specializes in aiding women. In her personal life, she resides with her father, Logan, and cherishes the companionship of James Hughes, a childhood friend who has been a loyal employee at Bishop Aeronautics since his Army discharge.
Reconciling her wartime experiences with the Office of Strategic Services has taken time for Evelyn. However, a pivotal moment arrives when the carefully guarded secrets of the men in her life—secrets they kept to protect her—begin to unravel. Secrets of war that you were not privy to directly affected everything you thought you knew, everyone you loved.
I loved the intermingling of flashbacks to 1942 London and Northern France that revealed Evelyn’s experiences during the war, the purpose behind her choice of service, and navigating the delicate balance between working and loving a man named Nick Gallagher. The complexities of relationships during the war are creating tension and drama in the present. With long-held secrets in jeopardy of being revealed, there is history, romance, suspense, and mystery with each turn of the page.
A Reading Group Guide at the end of the novel will be an invaluable resource for book clubs that enhances their reading experience and fosters engaging discussions.
Thank you to the Kensington Books BTC Staff for recommending this title as a Staff Favorite, offering a great alternative for the 2025 BTC Reading Challenge in April. I’m so glad I didn’t miss it!
Reconciling her wartime experiences with the Office of Strategic Services has taken time for Evelyn. However, a pivotal moment arrives when the carefully guarded secrets of the men in her life—secrets they kept to protect her—begin to unravel. Secrets of war that you were not privy to directly affected everything you thought you knew, everyone you loved.
I loved the intermingling of flashbacks to 1942 London and Northern France that revealed Evelyn’s experiences during the war, the purpose behind her choice of service, and navigating the delicate balance between working and loving a man named Nick Gallagher. The complexities of relationships during the war are creating tension and drama in the present. With long-held secrets in jeopardy of being revealed, there is history, romance, suspense, and mystery with each turn of the page.
A Reading Group Guide at the end of the novel will be an invaluable resource for book clubs that enhances their reading experience and fosters engaging discussions.
Thank you to the Kensington Books BTC Staff for recommending this title as a Staff Favorite, offering a great alternative for the 2025 BTC Reading Challenge in April. I’m so glad I didn’t miss it!
August 26, 2025
Very interesting post WWII mystery set in 1948 Los Angeles, California, with ties to WWII in Europe.
Lots of plot twists in this story of two former OSS operatives who were wartime lovers until he pulled a nasty trick on her at war's end. Now, their paths have crossed in LA, and it looks like they will have to work together again.
Evelyn Bishop and Nick Gallagher are great characters and I liked them a lot. There is definite chemistry between them. I also enjoyed the peek at the post-war LA landscape, both the physical and the political.
Looks like this is the start of a series. I already have the second book,An Unquiet Peace, on my radar.
Lots of plot twists in this story of two former OSS operatives who were wartime lovers until he pulled a nasty trick on her at war's end. Now, their paths have crossed in LA, and it looks like they will have to work together again.
Evelyn Bishop and Nick Gallagher are great characters and I liked them a lot. There is definite chemistry between them. I also enjoyed the peek at the post-war LA landscape, both the physical and the political.
Looks like this is the start of a series. I already have the second book,An Unquiet Peace, on my radar.
April 15, 2024
If you are looking for a light read or listen with hints of superhero universes and film noir, this book could be for you!
While this book is marketed to readers of Jacqueline Winspear and Kate Quinn, it is far less grounded in reality than I find those authors works to be.
WWII has ended and left Evelyn and Nick, former OSS agents and former lovers , adrift without their former mission-driven lives. They have both returned to LA to become private detectives. Their paths cross while on the job, and they reluctantly begin to unravel a wartime mystery together.
The twists and double-crosses of the story are somewhat predictable and the villains are a little mustache-twirling. The climax broke any sort of tenuous relationship the story had with real life and physics. That said, it is a fun read. Spy-turned-PI Evelyn seems to be an LA born and bred version of Agent Peggy Carter of Marvel fame, down to her motivation to join the war effort. Nick, her former lover and commanding officer, is a stereotypical Noir detective, complete with an office in shambles and a weak spot for femme fatales. Their wartime relationship told via flashbacks that had me questioning how they could be elite field operatives whilst also being seemingly crippled by their worry for each other during missions.
The audiobook narration is well done.
HighBridge Audio provided this audiobook for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
While this book is marketed to readers of Jacqueline Winspear and Kate Quinn, it is far less grounded in reality than I find those authors works to be.
WWII has ended and left Evelyn and Nick, former OSS agents and former lovers , adrift without their former mission-driven lives. They have both returned to LA to become private detectives. Their paths cross while on the job, and they reluctantly begin to unravel a wartime mystery together.
The twists and double-crosses of the story are somewhat predictable and the villains are a little mustache-twirling. The climax broke any sort of tenuous relationship the story had with real life and physics. That said, it is a fun read. Spy-turned-PI Evelyn seems to be an LA born and bred version of Agent Peggy Carter of Marvel fame, down to her motivation to join the war effort. Nick, her former lover and commanding officer, is a stereotypical Noir detective, complete with an office in shambles and a weak spot for femme fatales. Their wartime relationship told via flashbacks that had me questioning how they could be elite field operatives whilst also being seemingly crippled by their worry for each other during missions.
The audiobook narration is well done.
HighBridge Audio provided this audiobook for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
April 4, 2024
This book was right up my alley. I adore the 1940s and love to read anything set in that era. This had it all. Intrigue, suspense, a bit of violence and romance. Who could want anything more! Easy, fun read.
March 14, 2024
I went back and forth between giving this 3 or 4 stars, but ultimately settled on 3 (consider it more of a 3.5). I love a good spy story, and this occupies a middle ground between war-based espionage adventures (it’s marketed to Kate Quinn readers, of which I am one) and mid-century noir mysteries.
Evelyn, the leading lady with secrets from her time at war, is the driving engine of the story by far. The characters around her, though, leave something to be desired at times. The love triangle between Evelyn, her wartime ex Nick, and her childhood sweetheart James didn’t quite get to me emotionally, and I called most of the “twists” far in advance. Still, it’s a satisfying read for fans of the genre and well worth the time!
Evelyn, the leading lady with secrets from her time at war, is the driving engine of the story by far. The characters around her, though, leave something to be desired at times. The love triangle between Evelyn, her wartime ex Nick, and her childhood sweetheart James didn’t quite get to me emotionally, and I called most of the “twists” far in advance. Still, it’s a satisfying read for fans of the genre and well worth the time!
September 21, 2024
I think this was a great debut novel, and I would read Steinberg again. Entertaining story, strong characters in Evelyn and Nick. Fanciful at times as the author went from OSS activities in WWII to post-war Los Angeles, but I followed her all the way to the end.
April 5, 2025
Thank you, Shaina Steinberg and goodreads, for a copy of this in exchange for my honest review!
I really loved this story, and I can appreciate what a bad@$$ Evelyn is. With that being said, there were some parts of the story that jumped around a bit that confused me. For instance, the first, however many chapters, they are searching for her missing brother Matthew, who is being held captive as a POW. Then there's a chapter where Nick is telling us that Evelyn has changed since certain things have happened, and he lists Matthew's death as one of the things. I had to jump back through the last few chapters to see if I missed it, but then it goes on to explain a couple of chapters later what happens to him. I was truly surprised by James and his fate. That seemed so unfortunate 😭 and my goodness, how many times could Katie slip away?! She was like a talking cockroach 🤣
In closing, I thought this was a great read, even if it was a bit slow moving at times/hard to follow.
I really loved this story, and I can appreciate what a bad@$$ Evelyn is. With that being said, there were some parts of the story that jumped around a bit that confused me. For instance, the first, however many chapters, they are searching for her missing brother Matthew, who is being held captive as a POW. Then there's a chapter where Nick is telling us that Evelyn has changed since certain things have happened, and he lists Matthew's death as one of the things. I had to jump back through the last few chapters to see if I missed it, but then it goes on to explain a couple of chapters later what happens to him. I was truly surprised by James and his fate. That seemed so unfortunate 😭 and my goodness, how many times could Katie slip away?! She was like a talking cockroach 🤣
In closing, I thought this was a great read, even if it was a bit slow moving at times/hard to follow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2024
Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for the ARC of Under the Paper Moon by Shaina Steinberg.
First, I listened the audiobook version, and the narrator Carrie Coello was fantastic. She made me feel like I was listening to movie audio with her portrayal of the main character, Evelyn. The story as a whole, on the other hand, was not my favorite.
To call this book historical fiction and to compare it to others such as The Rose Code and The Lost Letter would be completely inaccurate. There is actually not much mention of the actual war in this book at all. It is set almost entirely in post war Los Angeles, where the characters are paying the price for their contributions to the Nazi's. The best thing I can compare this book to, is a 1950's spy movie. All the twists and turns, but completely predictable. It had all of the big hitters: murder, mystery, a love triangle, lies, cheating, you name it!
I would recommend this book to others who are interested in a historical crime suspense type of book, especially ones who enjoy a happy ending.
First, I listened the audiobook version, and the narrator Carrie Coello was fantastic. She made me feel like I was listening to movie audio with her portrayal of the main character, Evelyn. The story as a whole, on the other hand, was not my favorite.
To call this book historical fiction and to compare it to others such as The Rose Code and The Lost Letter would be completely inaccurate. There is actually not much mention of the actual war in this book at all. It is set almost entirely in post war Los Angeles, where the characters are paying the price for their contributions to the Nazi's. The best thing I can compare this book to, is a 1950's spy movie. All the twists and turns, but completely predictable. It had all of the big hitters: murder, mystery, a love triangle, lies, cheating, you name it!
I would recommend this book to others who are interested in a historical crime suspense type of book, especially ones who enjoy a happy ending.
April 7, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and High Bridge Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I have been going between 3 and 4 stars. It really for me is a 3.5⭐️ bit in this case I am going to round up which I don’t typically do. I am doing so as others that like this genre will probably like it better than I did.
It is a decent Film Noir-esque spy story. The description makes it seem like historical fiction but it is not really. More like historical crime suspense which is not my go-to.
It has a strong female protagonist, the tropes of film noir murder & spies and sprinkled with a little WWII history.
The dialogue between characters at times got frustrating which was distraction. It wasn’t realistic at all and the over use of “ he said” “she said” was maddening.
I didn’t really enjoy the narrator when she tried to do any voice but the main 3rd person narration so I am going to recommend the physical book and. It the audiobook.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
I have been going between 3 and 4 stars. It really for me is a 3.5⭐️ bit in this case I am going to round up which I don’t typically do. I am doing so as others that like this genre will probably like it better than I did.
It is a decent Film Noir-esque spy story. The description makes it seem like historical fiction but it is not really. More like historical crime suspense which is not my go-to.
It has a strong female protagonist, the tropes of film noir murder & spies and sprinkled with a little WWII history.
The dialogue between characters at times got frustrating which was distraction. It wasn’t realistic at all and the over use of “ he said” “she said” was maddening.
I didn’t really enjoy the narrator when she tried to do any voice but the main 3rd person narration so I am going to recommend the physical book and. It the audiobook.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
April 12, 2024
Under the Paper Moon, by Shaina Steinberg, is fast-moving novel of two intelligence agents who served together during WWII. Set in L.A. after the war, with wartime flashbacks, it reads like the film I hope it becomes. Evelyn is smart, talented and an accomplished heroine. If you are of a certain age, you might imagine Katherine Hepburn cast in the role. If you are younger, maybe Jessica Chastain or Jennifer Lawrence? Heavily layered with physical action, this plot mixes a love triangle, espionage, and mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. Amidst all those elements, it raises questions of love, duty, loyalty and to whom each is owed. It was an enjoyable and quick read with moments of introspection as I contemplated those questions. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC. Publication date is April 23, 2024.
May 26, 2024
Evelyn Bishop, a former OSS spy during the war, now a private investigator, is doing what she knows best - investigating & working a case. She’s also torn between a childhood sweetheart & an epic love from during the war that’s reemerged. How do you pick between your head & your heart? Between what makes sense & what you can’t get out of your head?
Thrilled that I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. I loved loved loved this one! Mystery, thriller, & historical fiction all wrapped into one. So good!
Thrilled that I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. I loved loved loved this one! Mystery, thriller, & historical fiction all wrapped into one. So good!
April 11, 2024
I just finished the audiobook version of Under the Paper Moon by Shaina Steinberg. I love historical fiction and this was a little different than the typical book I would choose. I thought this was a great crime/suspense/spy post WW2 type of novel. I am used to more character development from any historical fiction early on in the book but I was pleasantly surprised that about 3/4 of the way through, I couldn’t stop listening. I wasn’t drawn to any specific character but the twist at the end made for a great story. The narration for this audiobook was great, perfect for the time period. I am the type of person that likes to go into a story and not know too much about the story line, so I am going to leave it at that! It was a 3 ⭐️ read for me!
Thank you to NetGalley and High Bridge Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review
Thank you to NetGalley and High Bridge Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review
October 13, 2024
Clunky, but you will want to find out how it ends…
November 20, 2024
3.5 rounded up
October 10, 2025
I read book 2 first. Big mistake. I found the book slow and almost put it down. Glad I did not. The last 30 pages filled all the blanks.
August 19, 2025
I could not get into this one. It was dull, no character development, boring.
May 24, 2024
I was lucky enough to win this book from Goodreads and Kensington Publishing
My first thought when I saw the cover was "Film Noir." It had that 1940's look about it and after reading the synopsis, I was excited to read it:
Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets The Thin Man ’s Nick and Nora Charles in this intrigue-filled debut from film and television writer Shaina Steinberg, as two former spies who shared more than just missions during WWII reunite in 1948 Los Angeles. Can they let go of heartbreak long enough to team up for one last operation?
It’s 1942, and as far as her father knows, Evelyn Bishop, heiress to an aeronautics fortune, is working as a translator in London. In truth, Evelyn—daring, beautiful, and as adept with a rifle as she is in five languages—has joined the Office of Strategic Services as a spy. Her goal is to find her brother, who is being held as a POW in a Nazi labor camp. Through one high-risk mission after another she is paired with the reckless and rebellious Nick Gallagher, growing ever close to him until the war’s end brings with it an act of deep betrayal.
Six years later, Evelyn is back home in Los Angeles, working as a private investigator. The war was supposed to change everything, yet Evelyn, contemplating marriage to her childhood sweetheart, feels stifled by convention. Then the suspected cheating husband she’s tailing is murdered, and suddenly Evelyn is back in Nick’s orbit again.
Teaming up for a final mission, Evelyn and Nick begin to uncover the true nature of her case— and realize that the war has followed them home. For beyond the public horrors waged by nations there are countless secret, desperate acts that still reverberate on both continents, and threaten everything Evelyn holds dear...
It really did have that "Film Noir" feel to it at times and wasn't really a bad read. I enjoyed how the author gave us a look at the present and some events in the past that helped to move the story line and the mystery along. It all fits together by the end.
Honestly, whenever I read a spy novel set in this period of time, it is hard for me to not read the dialogue like something out of a movie. That being said, I always read the character of Nick like a Humphrey Bogart sounding guy. Evelyn was Veronica Lake-ish to me. The character, Katie, I read like an annoying school girl because that what she reminded me of.
The story took a minute to get going, but when someone is killed it begins to move at a pretty decent pace. There were some twists in the story that I didn't see coming and I probably would have rated it a bit higher if I hadn't been put off by some "over the top" and almost unbelievable things that happen toward the climax of the story. That was the only downfall to the story for me.
Over all, it was a nice Historical Fiction read. The overall rating on Goodreads is 4 stars, I gave it 3.5 stars.
Thanks to the folks at Kensington Publishing for choosing me as a winner on Goodreads and sending me a copy.
#underthepapermoon, #betweenthechapters
My first thought when I saw the cover was "Film Noir." It had that 1940's look about it and after reading the synopsis, I was excited to read it:
Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets The Thin Man ’s Nick and Nora Charles in this intrigue-filled debut from film and television writer Shaina Steinberg, as two former spies who shared more than just missions during WWII reunite in 1948 Los Angeles. Can they let go of heartbreak long enough to team up for one last operation?
It’s 1942, and as far as her father knows, Evelyn Bishop, heiress to an aeronautics fortune, is working as a translator in London. In truth, Evelyn—daring, beautiful, and as adept with a rifle as she is in five languages—has joined the Office of Strategic Services as a spy. Her goal is to find her brother, who is being held as a POW in a Nazi labor camp. Through one high-risk mission after another she is paired with the reckless and rebellious Nick Gallagher, growing ever close to him until the war’s end brings with it an act of deep betrayal.
Six years later, Evelyn is back home in Los Angeles, working as a private investigator. The war was supposed to change everything, yet Evelyn, contemplating marriage to her childhood sweetheart, feels stifled by convention. Then the suspected cheating husband she’s tailing is murdered, and suddenly Evelyn is back in Nick’s orbit again.
Teaming up for a final mission, Evelyn and Nick begin to uncover the true nature of her case— and realize that the war has followed them home. For beyond the public horrors waged by nations there are countless secret, desperate acts that still reverberate on both continents, and threaten everything Evelyn holds dear...
It really did have that "Film Noir" feel to it at times and wasn't really a bad read. I enjoyed how the author gave us a look at the present and some events in the past that helped to move the story line and the mystery along. It all fits together by the end.
Honestly, whenever I read a spy novel set in this period of time, it is hard for me to not read the dialogue like something out of a movie. That being said, I always read the character of Nick like a Humphrey Bogart sounding guy. Evelyn was Veronica Lake-ish to me. The character, Katie, I read like an annoying school girl because that what she reminded me of.
The story took a minute to get going, but when someone is killed it begins to move at a pretty decent pace. There were some twists in the story that I didn't see coming and I probably would have rated it a bit higher if I hadn't been put off by some "over the top" and almost unbelievable things that happen toward the climax of the story. That was the only downfall to the story for me.
Over all, it was a nice Historical Fiction read. The overall rating on Goodreads is 4 stars, I gave it 3.5 stars.
Thanks to the folks at Kensington Publishing for choosing me as a winner on Goodreads and sending me a copy.
#underthepapermoon, #betweenthechapters
April 17, 2024
Wow! Not sure where to even start with this one!
As I’m reading the synopsis on Goodreads, I realized there were SO MANY intricate plot lines in this one…that I actually forgot a few!
This once again goes back to the 1940’s… Told via dual timelines, Evie (Evelyn) and Nick are the two main characters.
During war times they were working together for the OSS. While Evie’s Dad thought she was doing translation work, she was actually undercover and breaching enemy lines to gain intel…and fight! And, in my eyes, she’s like Wonder Woman….during the war!
And Nick is her handsome, steady sidekick!
They’ve experienced so much together through both the good and bad times…that they thought they’d always be together…but just then, the unthinkable happens…and they are separated.
Fast forward to the late 1940’s and Evie is working as a PI. She has just nabbed a case where the wife thinks her husband is cheating on her. As she’s investigating, the ‘cheater’ is killed…right in front of her!
And who’s his chauffeur?? Nick!! 😮😮😮
Needless to say, an entire HUGE CAN OF WORMS has been opened, and they end up working together to try to figure out what on earth is going on??!!
Without giving anything much away, I will share that this is just the BEGINNING of the book! So much more going on from here! Absolutely ACTION PACKED and full of mouth-hanging-open surprises!
Loved this one! And from what I’ve read, this is a debut book, so hopefully many more to come!!
#UnderThePaperMoon by #ShainaSteinberg and narrated beautifully by #CarrieCoello.
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HighbridgeAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which is due for release on 4/23/24…one week away!
4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 5!
⭐️. Historical fiction at its best!
⭐️. Love that continues through time, despite the will to try to stop it!
⭐️. FMC who can kick butt big time!!
⭐️. Family, friends, love… vs. war, trying times, treason…
💫. Good over evil in the end… We can only hope… 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.
Thanks so much for reading! And if you 'liked' my review, please share with your friends!! 📚⭐️
As I’m reading the synopsis on Goodreads, I realized there were SO MANY intricate plot lines in this one…that I actually forgot a few!
This once again goes back to the 1940’s… Told via dual timelines, Evie (Evelyn) and Nick are the two main characters.
During war times they were working together for the OSS. While Evie’s Dad thought she was doing translation work, she was actually undercover and breaching enemy lines to gain intel…and fight! And, in my eyes, she’s like Wonder Woman….during the war!
And Nick is her handsome, steady sidekick!
They’ve experienced so much together through both the good and bad times…that they thought they’d always be together…but just then, the unthinkable happens…and they are separated.
Fast forward to the late 1940’s and Evie is working as a PI. She has just nabbed a case where the wife thinks her husband is cheating on her. As she’s investigating, the ‘cheater’ is killed…right in front of her!
And who’s his chauffeur?? Nick!! 😮😮😮
Needless to say, an entire HUGE CAN OF WORMS has been opened, and they end up working together to try to figure out what on earth is going on??!!
Without giving anything much away, I will share that this is just the BEGINNING of the book! So much more going on from here! Absolutely ACTION PACKED and full of mouth-hanging-open surprises!
Loved this one! And from what I’ve read, this is a debut book, so hopefully many more to come!!
#UnderThePaperMoon by #ShainaSteinberg and narrated beautifully by #CarrieCoello.
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HighbridgeAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which is due for release on 4/23/24…one week away!
4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 5!
⭐️. Historical fiction at its best!
⭐️. Love that continues through time, despite the will to try to stop it!
⭐️. FMC who can kick butt big time!!
⭐️. Family, friends, love… vs. war, trying times, treason…
💫. Good over evil in the end… We can only hope… 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.
Thanks so much for reading! And if you 'liked' my review, please share with your friends!! 📚⭐️
June 18, 2024
Under the Paper Moon by Shaina Steinberg
As I began to read, I felt I had stepped into a black and white “noir movie” with a Bogart-Bacall vibe. The book flips from 1948 back to 1942 chapter by chapter until the two timelines merge and the story continues. I have to admit that at first I had mixed feelings about the story but the more I read, the more I wanted to read. I had to know how it would end.
What I liked:
* Evelyn Bishop: wealthy, privileged, raised in Los Angeles, tomboy, lost her mother early, loves her family, is on a mission to find her POW brother when she joins the Office of Strategic Services, multi-lingual, lethal, intelligent, loves deeply, private investigator, adrift at the end of WWII
* Nick Gallagher: poor as a child, abusive parents, abandoned as a preteen, survived on the streets, grew up in Los Angeles, always dreamed of one day having loving home and family, in charge of the OSS team, talkative, loves deeply, made a decision that upset his life, adrift at the end of WWII
* Carl Santos: on Nick & Evelyn’s team, good friend, skilled, became a detective for LAPD when he left the army
* The plot, pacing, setting, mood, era, and writing of this story
* The glimpse into WWII behind enemy lines
* That I came to feel I knew the characters and could like them even with their flaws…well…most of them anyway
* That I understood and believed in the strength of the love Evelyn had for both men in her life and how she finally determined which man was her forever
* How all the threads came together and left me feeling okay at the end
* Having grown up in Los Angeles, I found myself enjoying revisiting places I had been
* All of it really except…
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Drexler and his female colleague and the way they corrupted the people they did
* Thinking about how loving someone can sometimes make good people make bad choices
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
As I began to read, I felt I had stepped into a black and white “noir movie” with a Bogart-Bacall vibe. The book flips from 1948 back to 1942 chapter by chapter until the two timelines merge and the story continues. I have to admit that at first I had mixed feelings about the story but the more I read, the more I wanted to read. I had to know how it would end.
What I liked:
* Evelyn Bishop: wealthy, privileged, raised in Los Angeles, tomboy, lost her mother early, loves her family, is on a mission to find her POW brother when she joins the Office of Strategic Services, multi-lingual, lethal, intelligent, loves deeply, private investigator, adrift at the end of WWII
* Nick Gallagher: poor as a child, abusive parents, abandoned as a preteen, survived on the streets, grew up in Los Angeles, always dreamed of one day having loving home and family, in charge of the OSS team, talkative, loves deeply, made a decision that upset his life, adrift at the end of WWII
* Carl Santos: on Nick & Evelyn’s team, good friend, skilled, became a detective for LAPD when he left the army
* The plot, pacing, setting, mood, era, and writing of this story
* The glimpse into WWII behind enemy lines
* That I came to feel I knew the characters and could like them even with their flaws…well…most of them anyway
* That I understood and believed in the strength of the love Evelyn had for both men in her life and how she finally determined which man was her forever
* How all the threads came together and left me feeling okay at the end
* Having grown up in Los Angeles, I found myself enjoying revisiting places I had been
* All of it really except…
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Drexler and his female colleague and the way they corrupted the people they did
* Thinking about how loving someone can sometimes make good people make bad choices
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
June 2, 2024
UNDER THE PAPER MOON by Shaina Steinberg
The First Bishop and Gallagher Mystery
Evelyn Bishop is no stranger to danger and death having served in the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Working as a private detective in 1948 Los Angeles Evelyn is following an old family friend, a munitions dealer during the War, who's suspected of adultery. She's stunned when she runs across Nick Gallagher, the man who led her close knit band during the War. The man she loved. The man who betrayed her. When George is killed, it seems that more is going on than just a cheating spouse. With signs pointing back to the War Evelyn refuses to let the matter rest. Teaming up with Nick one more time the pair will hunt for answers, and hope they survive the outcome.
World War II was a time when women stepped out of the home and came into their own, taking on jobs previously only held by men and finding their place in the world. Evelyn Bishop is such a woman. Unwilling to be a socialite planting a Victory Garden she instead joins the OSS. Not content, or competent, to be a secretary in London, instead she joins an elite team going on missions behind enemy lines risking life and limb...and heart. After the war, like so many soldiers, she has difficulty reassimilating to civilian life.
What lengths would you go to for someone you loved? Would you do the same for your country? How far would you go to forget? I appreciate the gritty realism found in UNDER THE PAPER MOON, from the war torn countryside of France to the hardboiled streets of LA. Loyalty, secrets, and betrayal are the key themes of the first Bishop and Gallagher Mystery. Twists, turns, and shocking surprises kept me enthralled while dark humor, finely drawn characters, and as exquisite backdrop kept me entertained.
Pulse pounding action, heart wrenching drama, and an intricately plotted mystery make UNDER THE PAPER MOON an outstanding novel. Learning it's the first of a series is icing on a wacky cake. I look forward to seeing how the characters develop and what challenges they'll face next!
The First Bishop and Gallagher Mystery
Evelyn Bishop is no stranger to danger and death having served in the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Working as a private detective in 1948 Los Angeles Evelyn is following an old family friend, a munitions dealer during the War, who's suspected of adultery. She's stunned when she runs across Nick Gallagher, the man who led her close knit band during the War. The man she loved. The man who betrayed her. When George is killed, it seems that more is going on than just a cheating spouse. With signs pointing back to the War Evelyn refuses to let the matter rest. Teaming up with Nick one more time the pair will hunt for answers, and hope they survive the outcome.
World War II was a time when women stepped out of the home and came into their own, taking on jobs previously only held by men and finding their place in the world. Evelyn Bishop is such a woman. Unwilling to be a socialite planting a Victory Garden she instead joins the OSS. Not content, or competent, to be a secretary in London, instead she joins an elite team going on missions behind enemy lines risking life and limb...and heart. After the war, like so many soldiers, she has difficulty reassimilating to civilian life.
What lengths would you go to for someone you loved? Would you do the same for your country? How far would you go to forget? I appreciate the gritty realism found in UNDER THE PAPER MOON, from the war torn countryside of France to the hardboiled streets of LA. Loyalty, secrets, and betrayal are the key themes of the first Bishop and Gallagher Mystery. Twists, turns, and shocking surprises kept me enthralled while dark humor, finely drawn characters, and as exquisite backdrop kept me entertained.
Pulse pounding action, heart wrenching drama, and an intricately plotted mystery make UNDER THE PAPER MOON an outstanding novel. Learning it's the first of a series is icing on a wacky cake. I look forward to seeing how the characters develop and what challenges they'll face next!
May 9, 2024
This story begins in 1942 during WWII. Evelyn Bishop, the heiress to an aeronautics fortune, has told her family that she working as a translator in London. The reality is that she has joined the British Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and is operating in France in an attempt to find her brother who has been captured by the Germans and is being held in a Nazi labor camp. Her “boss” is Nick Gallagher and the closeness of their working relationship has also brought them close personally. Fast forward to 1948. Both Evelyn and Nick are living in Los Angeles and working as private investigators. Evelyn is investigating a cheating husband who is murdered and Nick is a witness -and although she is romantically involved with a long-time friend, their dramatic relationship is rekindled. As they investigate, they uncover much more than could have ever been expected. Now, they must use both the mental and physical skills from the war to get to the bottom of a conspiracy that goes back to the war.
First, I requested this book because it was classified as historical fiction. While it certainly has connections to WWII, it is basically a mystery. The story rotates back and forth between the war years and 1948, slowly but surely uncovering a plot line that the author keeps under wraps for much of the book. There is plenty of tension, plot twists, and action, but there is also plenty of relationship stuff that I didn’t bargain for. It was not a bad read but not great either.
I am reviewing this novel as an audiobook, and, as always, the narrator is critical to enjoying the “read.” Carrie Coello’s narration was very good. My thanks to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the ARC of the book.
First, I requested this book because it was classified as historical fiction. While it certainly has connections to WWII, it is basically a mystery. The story rotates back and forth between the war years and 1948, slowly but surely uncovering a plot line that the author keeps under wraps for much of the book. There is plenty of tension, plot twists, and action, but there is also plenty of relationship stuff that I didn’t bargain for. It was not a bad read but not great either.
I am reviewing this novel as an audiobook, and, as always, the narrator is critical to enjoying the “read.” Carrie Coello’s narration was very good. My thanks to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the ARC of the book.
April 23, 2025
Rather than repeat once again a summary of the story, I think by the time you have read this review, you will have a good idea of the storyline. Instead, let me first thank the author and Kensington for choosing me as a winner of the book and then explain why I really liked this novel. First of all, I am not drawn to books about WWII, but this one sounded as if it would focus on a part of the war I was not familiar with. (And it did.) I actually enjoyed the historical depictions in this book. I didn’t find myself feeling depressed about the downside of war but instead had hope that Evelyn would come out on top.
As simple as it sounds, I think we all really like a book that has some type of struggle between “good” and “bad.” In this novel I was caught up in the struggle of life vs death (war and prisoner-of-war); the greedy vs those who care (those taking control of Bishop Aeronautics vs Evelyn’s father and later Evelyn); the two men who are in love with Evelyn (Nick and James); and the struggle of Evelyn to be a free spirit rather than take on the role of traditional homemaker. And then there was always a mystery to solve as well as a good many secrets to unravel. Both made me want to keep reading so I could find the answer.
I really liked the idea that the author didn’t tell us everything; she showed us and let us guess what might happen. I found myself actually looking forward to my reading time each day when I could return to Under the Paper Moon. I would like to give the book a 4.5, but there is no such rating. It is a light story compared to some of my favorite historical fiction that is more labyrinthine. Would I read the next book written by Shaina Steinberg? Absolutely!
As simple as it sounds, I think we all really like a book that has some type of struggle between “good” and “bad.” In this novel I was caught up in the struggle of life vs death (war and prisoner-of-war); the greedy vs those who care (those taking control of Bishop Aeronautics vs Evelyn’s father and later Evelyn); the two men who are in love with Evelyn (Nick and James); and the struggle of Evelyn to be a free spirit rather than take on the role of traditional homemaker. And then there was always a mystery to solve as well as a good many secrets to unravel. Both made me want to keep reading so I could find the answer.
I really liked the idea that the author didn’t tell us everything; she showed us and let us guess what might happen. I found myself actually looking forward to my reading time each day when I could return to Under the Paper Moon. I would like to give the book a 4.5, but there is no such rating. It is a light story compared to some of my favorite historical fiction that is more labyrinthine. Would I read the next book written by Shaina Steinberg? Absolutely!
August 11, 2024
Shaina Steinberg's work of historical fiction, "Under the Paper Moon," moves back and forth between Europe during the Second World War and Los Angeles in 1948. Evelyn Bishop is an heiress whose father owns a large aeronautics company, but she has no desire to be a pampered socialite. Instead, this unique woman—who is fluent in five languages, an expert markswoman, and skilled in hand-to-hand combat—joins America's Office of Strategic Services. She and her fellow agents carry out perilous missions behind enemy lines. After the war is won, one of Evelyn's greatest regrets is that she parted from her lover and fellow OSS operative, Nick Gallagher, on unpleasant terms.
In 1948, Nick and Evelyn are both private investigators in L. A. who are handling different aspects of the same case. Nick has been hired to protect George Palmer, a successful munitions supplier who has been threatened, while Evelyn tries to obtain information for George's wife about a young woman who has been seen with him on more than one occasion. Nick and Evelyn do not have a warm reunion, but when a murder occurs, they collaborate on an investigation that will lead to shocking revelations.
Although Evelyn and Nick are appealing protagonists, they cannot carry this novel by themselves. The author's prose is riddled with clichés, and the villains are cookie-cutter baddies. On the plus side, there are some amusing passages, a diverting romantic triangle between Nick, Evelyn, and her childhood sweetheart, James Hughes, as well as some dramatic physical and psychological confrontations. Too often, however, Evelyn and Nick are viciously attacked, but miraculously bounce back with few ill-effects. "Under the Paper Moon" had promise, mostly thanks to the spunky and unconventional Evelyn, but this story is neither nuanced nor realistic enough to be truly gripping.
In 1948, Nick and Evelyn are both private investigators in L. A. who are handling different aspects of the same case. Nick has been hired to protect George Palmer, a successful munitions supplier who has been threatened, while Evelyn tries to obtain information for George's wife about a young woman who has been seen with him on more than one occasion. Nick and Evelyn do not have a warm reunion, but when a murder occurs, they collaborate on an investigation that will lead to shocking revelations.
Although Evelyn and Nick are appealing protagonists, they cannot carry this novel by themselves. The author's prose is riddled with clichés, and the villains are cookie-cutter baddies. On the plus side, there are some amusing passages, a diverting romantic triangle between Nick, Evelyn, and her childhood sweetheart, James Hughes, as well as some dramatic physical and psychological confrontations. Too often, however, Evelyn and Nick are viciously attacked, but miraculously bounce back with few ill-effects. "Under the Paper Moon" had promise, mostly thanks to the spunky and unconventional Evelyn, but this story is neither nuanced nor realistic enough to be truly gripping.
December 27, 2024
Bishop Aeronautics in Los Angeles is one of many defense contractors that jump into the war effort when WWII breaks out, and CEO Logan Bishop is soon supplying critical airplanes for the Allied front. His son Matthew and daughter Evelyn head to Europe as part of the enormous American military effort. Matthew's captured by the Germans, but where's Evelyn? She told her father she had a clerical assignment in London, but she's actually joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) as a spy.
Smart, daring, a crack shot and fluent in five languages, she's a huge asset to the service, though her personal mission is to find - and rescue - her brother. Her compatriot is Nick Gallagher, a fellow spy who's a bit too impetuous but always has her back.
Six years later, Evelyn's back in Los Angeles and working as a private investigator when she bumps into Nick again. Now she's engaged to her childhood sweetheart and Nick, well, he's a bit of a mess, one of many servicemen who didn't land on their feet post-war. When Evelyn's hired to investigate whether a friend of her father's is having an affair, things get dicey and it's not long before the War is rearing its ugly head again, to everyone's alarm.
I quite enjoyed this breezy summer read that has a dash of Ludlum mixed into a lot of romance. They're all quite likeable characters and the story zips along in a somewhat noirish manner, including femme fatales, criminal kingpins, underlings with itchy trigger fingers, and more. Co-starring is the post-war city of Los Angeles, as memorialized in so, so many films.
Highly recommended. I'm already reading the sequel from Steinberg!
Smart, daring, a crack shot and fluent in five languages, she's a huge asset to the service, though her personal mission is to find - and rescue - her brother. Her compatriot is Nick Gallagher, a fellow spy who's a bit too impetuous but always has her back.
Six years later, Evelyn's back in Los Angeles and working as a private investigator when she bumps into Nick again. Now she's engaged to her childhood sweetheart and Nick, well, he's a bit of a mess, one of many servicemen who didn't land on their feet post-war. When Evelyn's hired to investigate whether a friend of her father's is having an affair, things get dicey and it's not long before the War is rearing its ugly head again, to everyone's alarm.
I quite enjoyed this breezy summer read that has a dash of Ludlum mixed into a lot of romance. They're all quite likeable characters and the story zips along in a somewhat noirish manner, including femme fatales, criminal kingpins, underlings with itchy trigger fingers, and more. Co-starring is the post-war city of Los Angeles, as memorialized in so, so many films.
Highly recommended. I'm already reading the sequel from Steinberg!
April 17, 2024
After WWII, as after any way, many who served in the field or even as undercover operators found it difficult to resume civilian life. Evelyn Bishop served in the OSS as a spy throughout the war, not that her father was aware of that fact. Her father, Logan Bishop, owns an aeronautics company back in California. Evelyn's brother, Matthew, is a POW and Evelyn desperately hopes she can find him.
Flipping back and forth between the war and the aftermath, Steinberg tells us how the how the war affected what comes after. Evelyn has difficulty settling into the expected role of a woman in the 1940s. Instead of marrying her childhood sweetheart and starting a family, she opens her own detective agency to track down cheating husbands. During the war, she had partnered with Nick Gallagher and they were close until the end of the war when she felt he betrayed her.
When one of her suspected cheating husbands turns up dead, Nick is back on the scene and the two of them end up working together. Getting deeper into the investigation, the two realize the murder was a result of wartime happenings. Events with which Evelyn's father is deeply entwined. Evelyn is forced to confront issues involving her family and fortune as well as adjusting her own life to include her desires and society's expectations.
Narrated by the versatile Carrie Coello, character voices are brought alive.
Recommended for those who enjoy WWII stories and light romance.
Note: I received an advance copy from NetGalley.
Flipping back and forth between the war and the aftermath, Steinberg tells us how the how the war affected what comes after. Evelyn has difficulty settling into the expected role of a woman in the 1940s. Instead of marrying her childhood sweetheart and starting a family, she opens her own detective agency to track down cheating husbands. During the war, she had partnered with Nick Gallagher and they were close until the end of the war when she felt he betrayed her.
When one of her suspected cheating husbands turns up dead, Nick is back on the scene and the two of them end up working together. Getting deeper into the investigation, the two realize the murder was a result of wartime happenings. Events with which Evelyn's father is deeply entwined. Evelyn is forced to confront issues involving her family and fortune as well as adjusting her own life to include her desires and society's expectations.
Narrated by the versatile Carrie Coello, character voices are brought alive.
Recommended for those who enjoy WWII stories and light romance.
Note: I received an advance copy from NetGalley.
June 16, 2024
If a strong female lead, cozy mystery vibes, and a WWII time setting are your catnip, this book is for you. Under the Paper Moon gave me just what I needed with those ingredients.
Evelyn Bishop works well as the female main character. Despite a privileged upbringing, she seeks out work in the war effort that is dangerous and dirty. As a spy for OSS, she parachutes from planes, infiltrates POW camps, and treks through the French countryside while on mission. It is her patriotic duty—and one she misses when the war is over and she returns home to an upper-class lifestyle in Los Angeles.
Evelyn’s newest case, however, is far from simple. What starts out as a “Is my husband cheating on me?” situation becomes far more complicated, pairing her again with her colleagues from OSS, threatening her father and his friends, and leading her to question those tenets she’s held for years. It’s messy, and dangerous, and—ultimately—heartbreaking.
If I have a criticism of this story, it would be that the mystery sometimes seems to lean in too far towards cozy. Yes, there is blood and death, but I expected a wartime setting to feel grittier, darker, and bleaker. There is something about the writing that feels too light-handed for the grimness of the plot. Some revelations are almost too easy, too neat. With that said, if there is a sequel (a series?), I would happily return to these characters to see what happens next.
I was able to read this book because of a Goodreads giveaway. My thanks to Goodreads and Kensington Books to enjoy this novel and share my thoughts.
Evelyn Bishop works well as the female main character. Despite a privileged upbringing, she seeks out work in the war effort that is dangerous and dirty. As a spy for OSS, she parachutes from planes, infiltrates POW camps, and treks through the French countryside while on mission. It is her patriotic duty—and one she misses when the war is over and she returns home to an upper-class lifestyle in Los Angeles.
Evelyn’s newest case, however, is far from simple. What starts out as a “Is my husband cheating on me?” situation becomes far more complicated, pairing her again with her colleagues from OSS, threatening her father and his friends, and leading her to question those tenets she’s held for years. It’s messy, and dangerous, and—ultimately—heartbreaking.
If I have a criticism of this story, it would be that the mystery sometimes seems to lean in too far towards cozy. Yes, there is blood and death, but I expected a wartime setting to feel grittier, darker, and bleaker. There is something about the writing that feels too light-handed for the grimness of the plot. Some revelations are almost too easy, too neat. With that said, if there is a sequel (a series?), I would happily return to these characters to see what happens next.
I was able to read this book because of a Goodreads giveaway. My thanks to Goodreads and Kensington Books to enjoy this novel and share my thoughts.
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