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Patrick Gallagher #2
The Spies of Hartlake Hall
She knelt beside the body and touched the man’s neck just in case there might still be a pulse. As she expected, there was none; the waxy face and blank eyes had already told their own story . . .
From the author of Death on the Lusitania, The Spies of Hartlake Hall by R. L. Graham is a gripping and evocative historical crime novel set in the closing stages of the First World War.
London, 1917. When a man’s body is found deep inside Room 40, a highly secretive organization within the Admiralty, intelligence agent Patrick Gallagher is brought in to investigate. The man has no identification and was discovered in a room locked from the inside with no other apparent exit. Moreover, found in his pocket is a highly confidential telegram which would be political dynamite if it were to fall into the wrong hands.
Few know about the death and, to avoid raising further suspicion, Gallagher invites those involved to his family’s home at Hartlake Hall for questioning. But they are not the only guests at the stately hall; members of a shooting party are also staying for the weekend. Over the course of three days, further bodies pile up as a ruthless killer continues to pull the strings from the shadows. As WWI rages on in Europe, many of the guests have secrets to hide, and Gallagher must move quickly in order to expose a deadly spy among them . . .
From the author of Death on the Lusitania, The Spies of Hartlake Hall by R. L. Graham is a gripping and evocative historical crime novel set in the closing stages of the First World War.
London, 1917. When a man’s body is found deep inside Room 40, a highly secretive organization within the Admiralty, intelligence agent Patrick Gallagher is brought in to investigate. The man has no identification and was discovered in a room locked from the inside with no other apparent exit. Moreover, found in his pocket is a highly confidential telegram which would be political dynamite if it were to fall into the wrong hands.
Few know about the death and, to avoid raising further suspicion, Gallagher invites those involved to his family’s home at Hartlake Hall for questioning. But they are not the only guests at the stately hall; members of a shooting party are also staying for the weekend. Over the course of three days, further bodies pile up as a ruthless killer continues to pull the strings from the shadows. As WWI rages on in Europe, many of the guests have secrets to hide, and Gallagher must move quickly in order to expose a deadly spy among them . . .
386 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2025
8 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Graham
3 books12 followersR. L. Graham is a husband-and-wife team of historians and writers with a broad range of interests in many periods of history, including the belle époque and the tumultuous years leading up to the First World War and the post-war re-ordering of the world.
They are very much drawn to the shadowy world of crime, espionage and political intrigue. They are particularly fascinated by historical mysteries: things which have happened but have no apparent explanation. Originally from Canada, they moved to a small village in Devon in the year 2000.
Marilyn Livingstone, one half of R. L. Graham, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while this book was being written. She passed away in September 2023.
source: Amazon
They are very much drawn to the shadowy world of crime, espionage and political intrigue. They are particularly fascinated by historical mysteries: things which have happened but have no apparent explanation. Originally from Canada, they moved to a small village in Devon in the year 2000.
Marilyn Livingstone, one half of R. L. Graham, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while this book was being written. She passed away in September 2023.
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 24, 2025
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher and ebook from NetGalley for this book. The cover and premise drew me in initially. I stayed for the characters (a lot of them ) a great story had me hooked from the start . Great book to cosy up with on a dark night .
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARCs
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARCs
August 29, 2025
When a man is found dead in a locked room at the Admiralty there is consternation. Britain is at war and the man was holding a potentially explosive telegram in his hand, one which the British, the Germans and the Americans would want to know about. Patrick Gallagher is brought in to investigate and realises that there is a German agent at the heart of the Admiralty. To expose the agent a disparate group are brought together at Hartlake Hall, a forbidding pile in Kent.
This story is based on a series of events around the Admiralty during 1917 where agents tried hard to expose traitors and to protect the 'special relationship' with the US, at that time not involved in the war. I loved the detail about this time, incorporating American politics as well as the beginning of the Russian Revolution. To that end the background was really interesting. Marrying that up with a twisty crime / spy thriller made this a fantastic book that really gripped all the way to the end.
This story is based on a series of events around the Admiralty during 1917 where agents tried hard to expose traitors and to protect the 'special relationship' with the US, at that time not involved in the war. I loved the detail about this time, incorporating American politics as well as the beginning of the Russian Revolution. To that end the background was really interesting. Marrying that up with a twisty crime / spy thriller made this a fantastic book that really gripped all the way to the end.
October 9, 2025
1917 A body is discovered in a locked room, with a telegram from the German Foreign Ministry. Patrick Gallagher of the British Secret Service, is called in to investigate, and so the possible suspects are invited to his family's current home, Hartlake Hall. Then it gets complicated.
An entertaining and interesting well-written historical spy mystery with its cast of diverse characters.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
An entertaining and interesting well-written historical spy mystery with its cast of diverse characters.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2025
An engrossing, Agatha Christie style, locked room espionage mystery set in 1917, this kept me gripped!
In the last but very tense year of WW1, a body is found inside a locked room in a clandestine code breaking section of the government. Patrick Gallagher is brought in to investigate as the dead body was also holding a secret telegram.
He takes all the suspects and more to his family home-Hartlake Hall, where they are joined by more suspects and murders and the plot thickens. Gallagher has to uncover the secret spy who may damage the war effort.
I really loved Gallagher as a detective and found his character richly drawn and although I haven’t read the first book, back stories were painted in well to understand his personality. Also really loved Mrs Vane who assisted remarkably.
The tense atmosphere of the investigation in a country manor echoed the tension of Britain’s position at this stage in the war. The historical detail was beautifully done and I loved learning about espionage and code breaking in WW1.
It was a well crafted mystery with lots of plot twists, Red herrings & suspects and kept me guessing to the end.
Read if you like locked room mysteries, WW1, espionage thrillers and Agatha Christie vibes.
Thank you to Random Tours and Pan MacMillan for the copy to review.
In the last but very tense year of WW1, a body is found inside a locked room in a clandestine code breaking section of the government. Patrick Gallagher is brought in to investigate as the dead body was also holding a secret telegram.
He takes all the suspects and more to his family home-Hartlake Hall, where they are joined by more suspects and murders and the plot thickens. Gallagher has to uncover the secret spy who may damage the war effort.
I really loved Gallagher as a detective and found his character richly drawn and although I haven’t read the first book, back stories were painted in well to understand his personality. Also really loved Mrs Vane who assisted remarkably.
The tense atmosphere of the investigation in a country manor echoed the tension of Britain’s position at this stage in the war. The historical detail was beautifully done and I loved learning about espionage and code breaking in WW1.
It was a well crafted mystery with lots of plot twists, Red herrings & suspects and kept me guessing to the end.
Read if you like locked room mysteries, WW1, espionage thrillers and Agatha Christie vibes.
Thank you to Random Tours and Pan MacMillan for the copy to review.
August 20, 2025
The Spies of Hartlake Hall by R. L. Graham is an interesting hybrid between historical fiction and mystery, set in 1917 during the crucial negotiations with America about WWI. The book opens with a body discovered in a room locked from the inside—an apparent suicide, plain as day… or is it? Intelligence agent Patrick Gallagher is brought in to investigate. From there, the story unfolds like a Sherlock Holmes–style thriller, but with the stakes set on victory against Germany.
Gallagher gathers all the key players for a weekend at an isolated estate. Yet, through their own means and motives, even those he never suspected to be involved manage to find their way into the gathering. From that point, the stage is set for the most intricate game of cat and mouse.
I really enjoyed this book. It was fascinating to read about WWI intelligence work: how agents decoded telegrams, forced counterparts to switch to wireless signals, and how the fate of the war seemed driven by money and influence. The story also highlights how wealthy men tried to play entire countries for oil, or how America could have been blindsided by focusing too much on Europe only to face a surprise attack at home.
This is a story rich in detail, names, and tactics—so not exactly a light read. I would recommend it to readers who are history fans first and thriller lovers second.
Gallagher gathers all the key players for a weekend at an isolated estate. Yet, through their own means and motives, even those he never suspected to be involved manage to find their way into the gathering. From that point, the stage is set for the most intricate game of cat and mouse.
I really enjoyed this book. It was fascinating to read about WWI intelligence work: how agents decoded telegrams, forced counterparts to switch to wireless signals, and how the fate of the war seemed driven by money and influence. The story also highlights how wealthy men tried to play entire countries for oil, or how America could have been blindsided by focusing too much on Europe only to face a surprise attack at home.
This is a story rich in detail, names, and tactics—so not exactly a light read. I would recommend it to readers who are history fans first and thriller lovers second.
August 21, 2025
When I read that in this historical thriller novel, the crime happened in a room with no way out like a locked-room mystery, I was gripped straight away.
Set in 1917, when WW1 was creating chaos and death, the story brings to life important historical details that help create the right mindset. From confidential telegrams, highly secretive societies to historical manors and renowned detectives, all is gathered for the perfect murder and the right killer to hide!!
Incredible storytelling, great characters, accurate historical information, this a book that I definitely recommend.
Set in 1917, when WW1 was creating chaos and death, the story brings to life important historical details that help create the right mindset. From confidential telegrams, highly secretive societies to historical manors and renowned detectives, all is gathered for the perfect murder and the right killer to hide!!
Incredible storytelling, great characters, accurate historical information, this a book that I definitely recommend.
September 4, 2025
This book is exactly as the blurb says, an immersive experience into the tragedy of WWI and an organisation whose history is very different from its modern incarnation. James Bond would not have recognised the incestuous contacts and clumsy procedures which got things done during WWI. No gadgets or fast cars either just a bunch of slightly confused privileged men trying to work out how to encourage the US into a war they don’t want and not be left at the mercy of either the Kaiser or Russia if it all goes horribly wrong and with an artfully clever appearance of the Zimmerman Telegram.
Naval Intelligence Officer Pat Gallager has the task of sorting out the villains from the high ranking but basically clueless bunch who run the embryo intelligence services who appear to be competing with themselves.
Patrick Gallager is not your usual man in a crisis hero. He has demons of his own which range from unrelenting grief to war-induced health issues and a tendency to being maudlin that threaten to be distracting. He’s not easily fooled though, and the reader soon discovers he and the unassuming, yet surprisingly astute Mrs Jonquil Vane will ultimately reveal the traitor or traitors in the house party.
I loved Murder on the Lusitania, and this second book required all my powers of concentration to keep up with the myriad and engaging characters, some sad and others despicable, but all of whom have something to hide.
Naval Intelligence Officer Pat Gallager has the task of sorting out the villains from the high ranking but basically clueless bunch who run the embryo intelligence services who appear to be competing with themselves.
Patrick Gallager is not your usual man in a crisis hero. He has demons of his own which range from unrelenting grief to war-induced health issues and a tendency to being maudlin that threaten to be distracting. He’s not easily fooled though, and the reader soon discovers he and the unassuming, yet surprisingly astute Mrs Jonquil Vane will ultimately reveal the traitor or traitors in the house party.
I loved Murder on the Lusitania, and this second book required all my powers of concentration to keep up with the myriad and engaging characters, some sad and others despicable, but all of whom have something to hide.
June 7, 2025
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher. This is the second book in this series. I hadn’t read the first but I felt like this novel succeeded as a standalone and I hadn’t suffered for not reading them in order. I guess the real success of this book was that I did find myself curious to go back and read the first book after I’d finished it.
This is a murder mystery novel set in the First World War that focuses around espionage. The main character Gallagher is called in to investigate the appearance of a dead body in a place it shouldn’t have been. This leads to a complex investigation taking place at a stately home. There are many characters which means many suspects and we find people keeping secrets of their own. I can’t say too much to avoid spoilers but there are many layers to this. I would recommend checking trigger warnings for this book as there were a couple of scenes that could be upsetting.
We meet a female agent early on and I would have loved to have seen a lot more of her! She was extremely capable and dedicated and her scenes were some of my favourites in the book.
This is a murder mystery novel set in the First World War that focuses around espionage. The main character Gallagher is called in to investigate the appearance of a dead body in a place it shouldn’t have been. This leads to a complex investigation taking place at a stately home. There are many characters which means many suspects and we find people keeping secrets of their own. I can’t say too much to avoid spoilers but there are many layers to this. I would recommend checking trigger warnings for this book as there were a couple of scenes that could be upsetting.
We meet a female agent early on and I would have loved to have seen a lot more of her! She was extremely capable and dedicated and her scenes were some of my favourites in the book.
August 28, 2025
Set in London and Tonbridge, Kent in 1917 and with the whole story spanning less than a week , this book gets straight down to business with a dead body found in a stationery cupboard. Within the mystery and secrecy of the Naval Intelligence division of the Admiralty, rumours and speculation are rife. Patrick Gallagher, an intelligence agent is requested to investigate the death and he convenes a group at Hartlake Hall. Here, supposedly on safe ground, more and more deaths occur. I really enjoyed this historical crime book. I liked the gothic setting, the deceit, the affairs, the pace and most of all the remarkable secretary extraordinaire and wonderfully named Jonquil Vane. I was transported in time and kept thoroughly entertained from the start to the very end.
September 17, 2025
It took me a little while to get around who was who in this book - but I found this quite similar to how I feel at the beginning of an Agatha Christie, so took that to be a good omen!
An unlikely group of people - some family, some strangers - meet up for a weekend at a country estate. There is an oil magnate, a survivor of the Luisitania, members of the military and services offices. While WWI rages all around them, there is a race against time to find out just who is who they say they are and who is hiding their true identity. And why?
I really enjoyed this classic mystery. Equal parts whodunnit and whydunnit, it reminded me of how fabulous thrillers can be without excess gore and blood. A good, old-fashioned read that - as always - had me guessing until the end.
An unlikely group of people - some family, some strangers - meet up for a weekend at a country estate. There is an oil magnate, a survivor of the Luisitania, members of the military and services offices. While WWI rages all around them, there is a race against time to find out just who is who they say they are and who is hiding their true identity. And why?
I really enjoyed this classic mystery. Equal parts whodunnit and whydunnit, it reminded me of how fabulous thrillers can be without excess gore and blood. A good, old-fashioned read that - as always - had me guessing until the end.
August 26, 2025
This is an incredibly interesting book and you can tell the authors are historians and the amount of research and detail that they've gone into with the book.
It's fully immersive and you can really imagine that you're there at the time. There are quite a few characters and it is relatively war heavy (That's a me problem rather than a problem with the book) but some of the war details were interesting and weren't things that I was aware of.
It is a fast paced book with lots of twists and turns and if you enjoy mysteries set in war periods you'll really enjoy it. It's a very well written and researched book.
It's fully immersive and you can really imagine that you're there at the time. There are quite a few characters and it is relatively war heavy (That's a me problem rather than a problem with the book) but some of the war details were interesting and weren't things that I was aware of.
It is a fast paced book with lots of twists and turns and if you enjoy mysteries set in war periods you'll really enjoy it. It's a very well written and researched book.
September 2, 2025
As a rule I tend to avoid espionage type thrillers, but the cover image and the 'Cluedo meets Agatha Christie' tagline won me over!
It's the second book in the Patrick Gallagher series and it turned out to be quite the enjoyable read.
More deliberate than fast, the pace allowed me to fully immerse myself into the story - it's addictive reading - and absorb every last little nugget of information being thrown my way. I still didn't work out who it was but that's a story for another day.
A gritty, engaging read with a fantastic cast of characters...what more could you ask for?
I'm now off to board the Lusitania to catch up on the first Patrick Gallagher book!
It's the second book in the Patrick Gallagher series and it turned out to be quite the enjoyable read.
More deliberate than fast, the pace allowed me to fully immerse myself into the story - it's addictive reading - and absorb every last little nugget of information being thrown my way. I still didn't work out who it was but that's a story for another day.
A gritty, engaging read with a fantastic cast of characters...what more could you ask for?
I'm now off to board the Lusitania to catch up on the first Patrick Gallagher book!
October 8, 2025
A locked room murder mystery tht also becomes a english manor house murder mystery. and stuffed full of murderous spies all double and triple crossing each other. The bit with the US tycoon being a boorish bully feels like a pointed comment on the current day political situation. It does feel refreshing to see that Churchill is not being idolized as a perfect heroic leader in this book.
I'm pretty sure that one message we are supposed to take away from this book is that politics and espionage are a dirty, ugly business that hurts a lot of people in many different ways including (for lack of a better word, the souls) of those who participate in it .
I'm pretty sure that one message we are supposed to take away from this book is that politics and espionage are a dirty, ugly business that hurts a lot of people in many different ways including (for lack of a better word, the souls) of those who participate in it .
September 1, 2025
I think I must have misunderstood the synopsis and the tagline “Agatha Christie meets Cluedo” as this was nothing like what I was expecting. I had a job keeping up at times too, so much spying and undercover characters - no one seemed to be who they said they were!
It was a really well written book with loads of details that must have taken hours to investigate but it wasn’t really my cup of tea. I enjoyed some aspects and wish there had been slightly less about the war and more about the murders, and we never found out any more about the journalist who seemed to just appear then go.
Overall, an interesting book but not what I was expecting.
September 15, 2025
Firstly can I just start saying this is perhaps one of the most stunning covers I have ever seen 😍😍. This story is a murder mystery with historical fiction woven in. Set in 1917 at the height of WW1 where the world was on edge regarding Americas indecision to join and Russia's potential inability to stay in the War! Set with the background of the rise of Communism and political intrigue, this book was a fun journey of figuring out who the enemy from within was!
I loved the ending and felt like all the murders were timed very well! If you like historical fiction with a great murder mystery then give this one a go 😍
I loved the ending and felt like all the murders were timed very well! If you like historical fiction with a great murder mystery then give this one a go 😍
November 26, 2025
This one is rich in historical detail and research. I love the cover art too, and the different characters and plotting were well done.
It's not really a cozy mystery, which I think it's marketing or basic description implies. This book is riddled with personal sadness and war, and the house itself, in the story, is badly heated and unfriendly. But it is a well realised story, if a little dry at times.
Thank you to the publisher for the copy of this book for review.
It's not really a cozy mystery, which I think it's marketing or basic description implies. This book is riddled with personal sadness and war, and the house itself, in the story, is badly heated and unfriendly. But it is a well realised story, if a little dry at times.
Thank you to the publisher for the copy of this book for review.
November 11, 2025
I’m not one for spies and espionage but I did quite like this. I’m not sure I knew exactly what was going on but I always find that with espionage. The characters were interesting, it was a case of who is doing what to who.
September 7, 2025
The Spies of Hartlake Hall is a compelling read that will keep you guessing from the beginning to end.
It is very much like an Agatha Chrisite closed door mystery and I can think of no other great compliment.
It is WW1 and a body is discovered in a locked room with a stolen code in his pocket that very few know about.
Patrick Gallagher is summoned to investigate and along with Mrs Vance the duo are determined to whittle down the vast list of suspects.
Who can they trust or believe.
Invitations go out to Hartlake Hall where all the suspects will gather.
R. L. Graham is a wonderful story teller and presents the reader with twists and turns, red herrings, characters you love, those you snarl at.
I highly recommend you grab your copy of The Spies of Hartlake Hall and settle in for a gripping read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan/Macmillan for introducing me to this great series and I cant wait for Patrick Gallagher's next adventure.
It is very much like an Agatha Chrisite closed door mystery and I can think of no other great compliment.
It is WW1 and a body is discovered in a locked room with a stolen code in his pocket that very few know about.
Patrick Gallagher is summoned to investigate and along with Mrs Vance the duo are determined to whittle down the vast list of suspects.
Who can they trust or believe.
Invitations go out to Hartlake Hall where all the suspects will gather.
R. L. Graham is a wonderful story teller and presents the reader with twists and turns, red herrings, characters you love, those you snarl at.
I highly recommend you grab your copy of The Spies of Hartlake Hall and settle in for a gripping read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan/Macmillan for introducing me to this great series and I cant wait for Patrick Gallagher's next adventure.
September 12, 2025
I enjoyed this. I hadn’t realised there is a previous book but I think this works without having read that, although I will seek it out! I guessed a couple of the twists so I have knocked off a star. Also the political manoeuvring aspects of the plot put me off a bit. However, I liked the way this was written and it beautifully showcases all the interesting historical points without lecturing.
August 22, 2025
🧡 Blurb-
From the author of Death on the Lusitania, The Spies of Hartlake Hall by R L Graham is a gripping and evocative historical crime novel which shines a light on the codebreakers and spies who helped avert disaster in WW1.
💜 Review -
This was such a brilliant read. Fans of Agatha Christie's work will love it. The story was fast paced and had lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. I loved the story and I enjoyed following and learning about all the different characters. It's the perfect book to read over the upcoming dark and cosy nights. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
From the author of Death on the Lusitania, The Spies of Hartlake Hall by R L Graham is a gripping and evocative historical crime novel which shines a light on the codebreakers and spies who helped avert disaster in WW1.
💜 Review -
This was such a brilliant read. Fans of Agatha Christie's work will love it. The story was fast paced and had lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. I loved the story and I enjoyed following and learning about all the different characters. It's the perfect book to read over the upcoming dark and cosy nights. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2025
First of all, what an absolutely beautiful cover. I love the colours used, the gorgeous purples and greens go so well together and highlight the orangey pinkish of the hall front. One of my favourite covers of 2025 up to now.
Next, onto the story. Set during the latter stages of WWI in 1917 London, a man's body is found in a locked room at the Naval Intelligence division of Admiralty and so Patrick Gallagher, an intelligence officer, is tasked with investigating. To do so, he convenes all involved at Hartlake Hall. But not all is as it seems, and further deaths occur.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
So all in all, a throughly enjoyable, entertaining mystery/ crime/ spy thriller.
Somewhat the slow burn for me, it's intricate and compelling, with a thrilling, intelligently written storyline that bobs along wonderfully.
Just brilliant.
5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
Next, onto the story. Set during the latter stages of WWI in 1917 London, a man's body is found in a locked room at the Naval Intelligence division of Admiralty and so Patrick Gallagher, an intelligence officer, is tasked with investigating. To do so, he convenes all involved at Hartlake Hall. But not all is as it seems, and further deaths occur.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
So all in all, a throughly enjoyable, entertaining mystery/ crime/ spy thriller.
Somewhat the slow burn for me, it's intricate and compelling, with a thrilling, intelligently written storyline that bobs along wonderfully.
Just brilliant.
5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
August 29, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
Historical crime thriller | Hardback book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC
Set in 1917, there is a murder at the Admiralty and Patrick Gallagher, a secret service agent is sent to investigate. I quite liked his sidekick Mrs Vance mostly because a lot of the other characters were pretty awful. Well, it is a murder mystery after all and all were suspect at some point, all with something to hide. As discretion is paramount Gallagher invites them all to a shooting party at his step father’s country house to interrogate them but a further murder is committed, a spy ring uncovered and affairs unveiled.
I love this type of fiction, lots of historical detail and a good who dunnit. Always like to learn something new whilst I’m reading and as a history teacher I found the conversations around the potential of the Americans entering the war in 1917 fascinating.
The authors wrote a previous book called Death on the Lusitania which features the same secret agent and the book did rather well.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own 😊
#thespiesathartlakehall #rlgraham @panmacmillan @randomthingstours #historicalfiction #historicalthriller #hardbackbook #booktour #bookreview #bookrecommendations #wwifiction #espionagefiction
Historical crime thriller | Hardback book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC
Set in 1917, there is a murder at the Admiralty and Patrick Gallagher, a secret service agent is sent to investigate. I quite liked his sidekick Mrs Vance mostly because a lot of the other characters were pretty awful. Well, it is a murder mystery after all and all were suspect at some point, all with something to hide. As discretion is paramount Gallagher invites them all to a shooting party at his step father’s country house to interrogate them but a further murder is committed, a spy ring uncovered and affairs unveiled.
I love this type of fiction, lots of historical detail and a good who dunnit. Always like to learn something new whilst I’m reading and as a history teacher I found the conversations around the potential of the Americans entering the war in 1917 fascinating.
The authors wrote a previous book called Death on the Lusitania which features the same secret agent and the book did rather well.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own 😊
#thespiesathartlakehall #rlgraham @panmacmillan @randomthingstours #historicalfiction #historicalthriller #hardbackbook #booktour #bookreview #bookrecommendations #wwifiction #espionagefiction
September 4, 2025
A weekend at a grand estate. A house full of secrets. And a killer among them…🕵️♀️
Set in 1917, this locked-room style mystery was such a fun surprise for me. I didn’t even realize it was the second in a series, but I loved intelligence agent Patrick Gallagher so much I’ll be going back to read the first book.
It has that perfect who done it feel—tension, twists, and pacing that keeps you guessing right up until the end. It gave me Agatha Christie vibes, so if that’s your thing, you’ll love this!
It was the cover that hooked me but what kept me turning the pages was absolutely the plot.
Set in 1917, this locked-room style mystery was such a fun surprise for me. I didn’t even realize it was the second in a series, but I loved intelligence agent Patrick Gallagher so much I’ll be going back to read the first book.
It has that perfect who done it feel—tension, twists, and pacing that keeps you guessing right up until the end. It gave me Agatha Christie vibes, so if that’s your thing, you’ll love this!
It was the cover that hooked me but what kept me turning the pages was absolutely the plot.
September 8, 2025
The middle was a bit draggy, but the beginning and end were good. I didn't realize it was Book 2 so now I am off to read Book `1.
August 19, 2025
I sat down expecting a cosy murder mystery in a country house during the Great War. What I got was an grossing gritty spy thriller slash murder mystery that captivated almost from the off and refused to let go.
The detail and dedication to the setting is top notch. Set during the early months of 1917 when both Russia and America are very much in play and their dedication to the war is causing anxiety on both sides. The real history of this time is artfully baked into the story.
Layers upon layers are woven into the tale, which starts with an impossible locked room murder and rapidly spirals into multiple deaths - past and present - at a country house where the food is bad and zeppelins pass overhead every night.
The house itself is as much a character as anyone else in the book. From the 'Cheese Room' where our main character stays - and where the servants unwittingly put on a never ending buffet for the mice - to the dripping pipes, creaking walls, cold rooms that refuse to warm no matter how many logs are added to the fire and those unsettling woods where so many secrets lurk... this house is a place to remember.
The cast of humans are equally interesting and varied. I wish we'd seen a little more of wife from the past scenes, as she was positively dripping with scandal and a breath of fresh air against the rest.
Proper page turner, once I was past about 10% in, I couldn't stop reading.
This was incredible and I'm amazed not more people are talking about it.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
The detail and dedication to the setting is top notch. Set during the early months of 1917 when both Russia and America are very much in play and their dedication to the war is causing anxiety on both sides. The real history of this time is artfully baked into the story.
Layers upon layers are woven into the tale, which starts with an impossible locked room murder and rapidly spirals into multiple deaths - past and present - at a country house where the food is bad and zeppelins pass overhead every night.
The house itself is as much a character as anyone else in the book. From the 'Cheese Room' where our main character stays - and where the servants unwittingly put on a never ending buffet for the mice - to the dripping pipes, creaking walls, cold rooms that refuse to warm no matter how many logs are added to the fire and those unsettling woods where so many secrets lurk... this house is a place to remember.
The cast of humans are equally interesting and varied. I wish we'd seen a little more of wife from the past scenes, as she was positively dripping with scandal and a breath of fresh air against the rest.
Proper page turner, once I was past about 10% in, I couldn't stop reading.
This was incredible and I'm amazed not more people are talking about it.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
August 18, 2025
An entertaining WWI spy thriller set in London in 1917. It’s the second book featuring secret service agent Patrick Gallagher but reads as a stand-alone, I hadn’t read the earlier book. When Mrs Vane, secretary to Rear-Admiral Hall, in a secret department in the Admiralty, goes to collect some stationary she little expects to find a dead body in the room. A call to the officer of the watch and a decision is made to call in Gallagher. A good plot although I did find it a bit slow on the middle, however, it soon perked up!
Briefly, Gallagher decides that it would be sensible for everyone involved in the investigation to meet at, Hartlake Hall near Tonbridge where his family are living whilst their home has been requisitioned for the war effort. The house is rather dilapidated but they are still maintaining their lifestyle and that weekend are hosting a shooting party. Arriving on 2nd February the events in the book take place over the course of just three days.
Gallagher is an interesting character, virtually estranged from his family but keeping up appearances, but the character I really enjoyed was Mrs Vane. Clearly a lot of detailed research was undertaken and I found this very interesting, particularly the information around code breaking which was obviously well before Bletchley Park and a forerunner to this. What started as a locked room mystery soon becomes an intricate and intriguing spy thriller. An enjoyable read.
Briefly, Gallagher decides that it would be sensible for everyone involved in the investigation to meet at, Hartlake Hall near Tonbridge where his family are living whilst their home has been requisitioned for the war effort. The house is rather dilapidated but they are still maintaining their lifestyle and that weekend are hosting a shooting party. Arriving on 2nd February the events in the book take place over the course of just three days.
Gallagher is an interesting character, virtually estranged from his family but keeping up appearances, but the character I really enjoyed was Mrs Vane. Clearly a lot of detailed research was undertaken and I found this very interesting, particularly the information around code breaking which was obviously well before Bletchley Park and a forerunner to this. What started as a locked room mystery soon becomes an intricate and intriguing spy thriller. An enjoyable read.
June 3, 2025
Book #24 of 2025
Thank you to @netgalley for sending me this eARC to read and review.
Where do I start? This book was not for me. I persevered with it as it was compared to Cluedo meets Agatha Christie and as a huge fan of Agatha Christie I was intrigued.
The story starts as a locked room mystery set in WWI. There is a body found in the Admiralty Building and a mysterious telegram is found in the hands of the dead person. Gallagher is called in to investigate and what follows is a weekend of murder, and espionage.
Patrick Gallagher has all the promise of a really interesting character. He survived the Lusitania sinking, he holds a lot of guilt over the loss of life and he has a very strained relationship with his family, so why he felt that holding a Cluedo-esque event at his family estate was a good idea I would never know. The rest of the party are not very likeable, each with their own agenda (as is the way during war time) and each with something that irks.
The story is rather slow, but around 60% in, seems to pick up as all the pieces are being dropped into place. But for me, to get to this point was rather painful. It starts with a bang, slows down and the picks up again
What I will give credit for is the amount of research that has gone into this book. The research behind the code breakers of WWI, those that paved the way for the breakers of Bletchley Park. Whilst I didn't enjoy the war element, the importance of the intelligence services and the pivotal job that our codebreakers carried out in defending and defeating our opposition was really interesting.
A 3⭐️ from me, purely based on the research level that went into the book
Thank you to @netgalley for sending me this eARC to read and review.
Where do I start? This book was not for me. I persevered with it as it was compared to Cluedo meets Agatha Christie and as a huge fan of Agatha Christie I was intrigued.
The story starts as a locked room mystery set in WWI. There is a body found in the Admiralty Building and a mysterious telegram is found in the hands of the dead person. Gallagher is called in to investigate and what follows is a weekend of murder, and espionage.
Patrick Gallagher has all the promise of a really interesting character. He survived the Lusitania sinking, he holds a lot of guilt over the loss of life and he has a very strained relationship with his family, so why he felt that holding a Cluedo-esque event at his family estate was a good idea I would never know. The rest of the party are not very likeable, each with their own agenda (as is the way during war time) and each with something that irks.
The story is rather slow, but around 60% in, seems to pick up as all the pieces are being dropped into place. But for me, to get to this point was rather painful. It starts with a bang, slows down and the picks up again
What I will give credit for is the amount of research that has gone into this book. The research behind the code breakers of WWI, those that paved the way for the breakers of Bletchley Park. Whilst I didn't enjoy the war element, the importance of the intelligence services and the pivotal job that our codebreakers carried out in defending and defeating our opposition was really interesting.
A 3⭐️ from me, purely based on the research level that went into the book
May 15, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.
The Spies of Hartlake Hall By R. L. Graham is a historical crime novel set in London during the closing stages of WW1. It follows intelligence agent Patrick Gallagher as he investigates a mysterious murder inside Room 40, a secretive Admiralty organization. The victim, found in a locked room, carried a highly confidential telegram that could have serious political consequences. To uncover the truth discreetly, Gallagher invites those involved to his family estate, Hartlake Hall. However, as a shooting party gathers at the stately home for the weekend, more bodies turn up, revealing a deadly spy lurking among the guests. Gallagher must act swiftly to expose the culprit while war rages on in Europe.
Any fans of Agatha Christie-style mysteries will appreciate the intricate plotting and the satisfying unraveling of clues. This book evokes a sense of nostalgia while delivering an original story that stands strong in the historical crime genre. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and would recommend.
The Spies of Hartlake Hall By R. L. Graham is a historical crime novel set in London during the closing stages of WW1. It follows intelligence agent Patrick Gallagher as he investigates a mysterious murder inside Room 40, a secretive Admiralty organization. The victim, found in a locked room, carried a highly confidential telegram that could have serious political consequences. To uncover the truth discreetly, Gallagher invites those involved to his family estate, Hartlake Hall. However, as a shooting party gathers at the stately home for the weekend, more bodies turn up, revealing a deadly spy lurking among the guests. Gallagher must act swiftly to expose the culprit while war rages on in Europe.
Any fans of Agatha Christie-style mysteries will appreciate the intricate plotting and the satisfying unraveling of clues. This book evokes a sense of nostalgia while delivering an original story that stands strong in the historical crime genre. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and would recommend.
July 20, 2025
This mystery novel reads very much like an Agatha Christie story, with a mysterious stately home as its central setting and a cast of characters who each have something to hide during WWI.
What I appreciated most was the historical depth. Each character brings a different facet of the war to life, including some that are less represented in historical fiction: the covert missions of the secret sercices, the uncertainty of the place of America in the war or the turmoil unfolding in Tsarist Russia.
It took a while for me to distinguish between the numerous characters and their individual storylines and to fully get immersed in the story, but I enjoyed the historical elements that were fully integrated into the mystery.
Fans of early 20th-century, war-era intrigue and classic mystery settings will enjoy this novel.
Once again, thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion of the book.
What I appreciated most was the historical depth. Each character brings a different facet of the war to life, including some that are less represented in historical fiction: the covert missions of the secret sercices, the uncertainty of the place of America in the war or the turmoil unfolding in Tsarist Russia.
It took a while for me to distinguish between the numerous characters and their individual storylines and to fully get immersed in the story, but I enjoyed the historical elements that were fully integrated into the mystery.
Fans of early 20th-century, war-era intrigue and classic mystery settings will enjoy this novel.
Once again, thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion of the book.
November 3, 2025
Tense, engrossing, and compelling!
In this latest novel by Graham, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋, we head back to 1917, where intelligence agent Patrick Gallagher now finds himself inviting a group of suspects, along with a murderer, back to his family home after a man carrying a highly confidential document is found murdered in a locked room at the Admiralty.
The writing style is rich and light. The characters are intelligent, well-developed, and intriguing. And the plot is a well-paced, engaging whodunit full of twists, turns, sleuthing, red herrings, suspects, deduction, and danger.
Overall, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋 is a cosy, enjoyable, entertaining tale by Graham that I thoroughly enjoyed, and which is without a doubt another wonderful addition to the Patrick Gallagher series.
In this latest novel by Graham, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋, we head back to 1917, where intelligence agent Patrick Gallagher now finds himself inviting a group of suspects, along with a murderer, back to his family home after a man carrying a highly confidential document is found murdered in a locked room at the Admiralty.
The writing style is rich and light. The characters are intelligent, well-developed, and intriguing. And the plot is a well-paced, engaging whodunit full of twists, turns, sleuthing, red herrings, suspects, deduction, and danger.
Overall, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋 is a cosy, enjoyable, entertaining tale by Graham that I thoroughly enjoyed, and which is without a doubt another wonderful addition to the Patrick Gallagher series.
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