A Brush With Danger

Evelyn Chambers Senior Spy #2

by Renee Pawlish

Lovable senior spy Evelyn Chambers is back!
When retiree Evelyn Chambers receives an unexpected call, she's thrust back into a world of espionage and danger. Her mission? Travel to Hungary under the guise of a doting grandmother to deliver crucial encrypted information about a missing scientist.

Evelyn teams up with fellow agent Bill Gardner, but the delivery spirals into a tangled web of intrigue after she sees him leave his apartment with men she doesn’t know. Unsure whether he's in danger or involved in something deeper, Evelyn must navigate a landscape of secrets, deceit, and peril to uncover the truth.

From the bustling streets of Budapest to the hidden corners of the Hungarian countryside, Evelyn's resourcefulness is tested at every turn, and as she races to find Bill, she discovers she may now be hunted as well.

With delightful and quirky characters, A Brush with Danger is perfect for fans of cozy crimes, amateur sleuths, and senior sleuths.

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2024

About the author

From the time she was ten and tried to write her own detective series in the fashion of the Hardy Boys, Renée Pawlish has been developing her craft. Along with creative writing classes, Renée studied great writers like Dashiell Hammett, Rex Stout, Stephen King, Sue Grafton and many more. Once Renée graduated from college, she began her first novel. Now, all these years later, she has penned numerous books in a variety of genres.

Renée was born in California, but has lived most of her life in Colorado. When she's not hiking, cycling, or chasing ballplayers for autographs, she is writing mysteries and thrillers. She also has some middle grade novels waiting to be published.

Renée loves to travel and has visited numerous countries around the world. She has also spent many summer days at her parents' cabin in the hills outside of Boulder, which was the inspiration for the setting of Taylor Crossing in her novel Nephilim: Genesis of Evil.

The Reed Ferguson Mystery Series
This Doesn't Happen In The Movies
Reel Estate Rip-off

The Nephilim Trilogy
Nephilim Genesis of Evil
Books Two and Three soon to be released

The Noah Winter YA Adventure Series
The Emerald Quest

Take Five
A short story collection that includes a Reed Ferguson tale.

The Sallie House: Exposing the Beast Within
A non-fiction book about one of the most haunted houses in America.

To learn more you can follow her on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/reneepawlish....

on her blog:
http://tobecomeawriter.wordpress.com/

on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/reneepawlish

Reviews

[Patricia A. Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Evelyn Chambers series, and I feel safe in saying that this series will be just as good as her others! Evelyn is the widow of a CIA agent - although she didn't know what he actually did for the agency. In the first book, Evelyn overhears a conversation and recognizes the name of an antique dealer that her husband had mentioned. She becomes intrigued and contacts the CIA about it. They have her go to Paris to help with the case, and it turned out to be exciting and dangerous, and she handled herself well. She thought that would be the end of her involvement and in the secund installment was surprised to get a call asking her to go to Budapest to deliver a tablet and pretend to be the grandmother of an agent. A scientist has disappeared, and they are trying to find him. Once again, Evelyn is thrust into more than the assignment was supposed to entail when the agent also goes missing.

This is a very detailed story with wonderful descriptions of Budapest and the people involved. Pawlish has a way of weaving a story that is filled with action, intrigue, danger, and the unexpected. I am anxious for the third book to come out! I highly recommend this book, series, and author.

[Sheree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evelyn Chambers can fool people and it's all for good!

As a vibrant woman of a certain age, Evelyn is not content to fade into the background - unless she is helping solve mysterious crimes for one of the alphabet government organizations. Being a senior she is able to fool criminals she is harmless and easily dismissed. Called to help in Hungary regarding a missing scientist with critical information, Evelyn teams with agent Bill Gardner and portrays herself as his grandmother.

Witnessing Bill being taken by unknown men, Evelyn puts her sleuthing skills to the test. She is not without challenges and near disasters while on the hunt for her partner, but with her own brand of quick wits, the game is on!

A page turning adventure I was happy to join in on, and am looking forward to more of this engaging character.

[Peg Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Senior citizen, Evelyn Chambers, is back in Renee Pawlish’s latest cozy mystery, A Brush with Danger. Evelyn had recently been an unsuspecting spy for the CIA while traveling in Paris. Now she is being asked to make a clandestine trip to Budapest, pretending to be Bill Gardner’s grandmother. Her mission is to give Bill secret information about a missing scientist, hoping that Bill will be able to locate Bodi Havas before his scientific discovery falls into the wrong hands. Should be easy enough, right? However, Evelyn runs into some very dangerous people and situations, and needs to be extremely resourceful if she hopes to get out of Hungary alive.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Brush With Danger (The Evelyn Chambers Senior Spy Series Book 2), my sixty-seventh read from prolific author Renee Pawlish, the second in The Evelyn Chambers Senior Spy Series. New character, new premise, different era. Any Renee Pawlish book is like a visit with an old friend. “I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to The Catmas Conspiracy (The Evelyn Chambers Senior Spy Series Book 3) when it's published in August of next year, as well as anything written by her. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Joyce927 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evelyn is a widow, in her seventies, whose husband had been a CIA Agent. She had recently acted as a consultant to assist her husband's former supervisor. When he calls again to offer her an assignment as a CIA consultant, she is excited for the opportunity.

On this assignment, Evelyn travels to Budapest posing as a grandmother to get encrypted information to another agent. When Evelyn sees Bill, her "grandson", seemingly forced into a car by three other men, she's determined to rescue him. Her courage and initiative lead her through deceit and danger. Exciting twists and turns keep the reader turning pages. I highly recommend this second book in the new Senior Spy series.

[Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read. This is the second in the series with Evelyn and her menagerie of cats. This story is much better than the first in my opinion. The backstory for the characters and the establishment of the overall ARC of the series was established in the first and this story just concentrates on the story and action.
Evelyn is again drawn into a CIA operation where her skills, talents and misfortunes increases her involvement in the case. She goes to Hungary to assist with the disappearance of a scientist the CIA would like to talk to.
I did enjoy this story much better than the first, and will continue with the series as long and Ms. Pawlish is willing to bless us with stories.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the international 'flavor' of this series. I've never been to Paris or Budapest, but I'm learning all about them (and their cuisine) in this series. It's a combination spy thriller and travelogue... but mostly spy thriller. I also love how Evelyn is a natural problem solver. When things don't go as planned, (when do they ever?) she comes up with a daring solution. I find myself holding my breath at times! This is such a fun series and I am looking forward to the next Evelyn Chambers adventure. Where will she go next?

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in Renee Pawlish’s Evelyn Chambers mysteries is A Brush with Danger. This time Evelyn is being asked to be a CIA consultant in Budapest, Hungary. Just think of Evelyn as the “Nancy Drew” of the geriatric gang. She finds herself in some strange situations but uses her smarts to reach her goal. Wonderful cozy read.

[Cheryl Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is awesome! I love the way the main character gets into the thick of things and the author keeps you guessing on what will happen next! Love the cats in the book and how they are so important to the main character and family and friends. The storyline is one that is easy to read yet keeps you engrossed! Look forward to reading more of these books!!

[Barry Weisbord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having missed the 1st book in the series thanks to Outlook sending Renee’s email to my junk folder I really didn’t think I would like a book about a 72 year old getting sent by the CIA to Budapest to convey secret information. Man, was I wrong. I LOVED IT! I’m looking forward to the next adventure.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old women, they never see you coming!

An intriguing storyline involving an unlikely covert operative!
My only fault is Evelyn being allowed to carry a personal phone that could have revealed her true identity when she lost it.

[Mike Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Renee Pawlish and her variety of series. And, as an old person, I enjoy reading about old people. This one was awfully similar to the first in the series. I'll give it another try and hope the third book has a bit of variety in it, we'll see.

[BunnyStarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

this 2nd in a series was better than the first.

This senior citizen is smarter than the average bear as yogi would say. Could not put it down. Looking forward to number three.

[LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventures of a CIA "consultant"

I enjoyed this tale of a senior citizen's adventure and clandestine escapes from some bad guys in Hungary. Being a sort of CIA "consultant" can wear an old lady out.

[Renee Boomershine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Evelyn Chambers series. This time she's off to Hungary to help the CIA again. It was a great story and I look forward to the next book in The series.

[Beverly Calhoun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evelyn

Such a sweet lady, very smart and she is very helpful . Good thinker and gets the job done! Hope her next adventure is just as good as this one

[KIM MACLEOD · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great new series by my favorite author Renee Pawlish.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting adventures!

More adventures with Evelyn! I can't imagine being in a foreign country and carrying out a mission but she figures it all out. Now on to the next one!

[Timothy Stechert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining nail biter with unexpected twists and turns.