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Hilary Manningham-Butler #1
The Scandal at Bletchley
"I've been a scoundrel, a thief, a blackmailer and a whore, but never a murderer. Until now..."
The year is 1929. As the world teeters on the brink of a global recession, Bletchley Park plays host to a rather special event. MI5 is celebrating its twentieth anniversary and a select band of former and current employees are gathering at the private estate for a weekend of music, dance and heavy drinking. Among them is Sir Hilary Manningham-Butler, a middle aged woman whose entire adult life has been spent masquerading as a man. She doesn’t know why she has been invited – it is many years since she left the secret service – but it is clear she is not the only one with things to hide. And when one of the other guests threatens to expose her secret, the consequences could prove disastrous for everyone.
The year is 1929. As the world teeters on the brink of a global recession, Bletchley Park plays host to a rather special event. MI5 is celebrating its twentieth anniversary and a select band of former and current employees are gathering at the private estate for a weekend of music, dance and heavy drinking. Among them is Sir Hilary Manningham-Butler, a middle aged woman whose entire adult life has been spent masquerading as a man. She doesn’t know why she has been invited – it is many years since she left the secret service – but it is clear she is not the only one with things to hide. And when one of the other guests threatens to expose her secret, the consequences could prove disastrous for everyone.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
September 12, 2015
This is an intriguing story with a fast pace and a few surprises along the way. The story is narrated by it's main character Sir Hilary Manningham Butler, who has been invited to Bletchley Park - in the days when it was a private residence - for a celebration of the 20 year anniversary of MI5 and he is not the only guest to be keeping a secret...
The ending of the book leaves things wide open for a sequel and I'd love to read more stories featuring this cast of characters.
I received this audio book in exchange for an unbiased review via Audible.
The ending of the book leaves things wide open for a sequel and I'd love to read more stories featuring this cast of characters.
I received this audio book in exchange for an unbiased review via Audible.
September 14, 2019
In terms of English words placed together to form coherent sentences, this book is fine. The plot is a little weak, with a "surprise" twist that doesn't live up to the lead in. The secondary characters are somewhat stereotypical, but reasonably so since they are perceived through the point of the main character who probably would see them as stereotypes. While there's the interesting twist that the main character is a woman living as a man, he/she is so supercilious and narcissistic (as well as a dangerous alcoholic) I have absolutely no desire to waste more of my time reading any of the rest of the series.
April 13, 2022
DNF @ 20% Audible listen. The premise of the story was interesting but the character of the main protagonist Sir Hilary became quickly unbearable. The premise is that for some reason this upper class peer (I presume in order to hold onto the family title) is a woman who has masqueraded as a man her whole life. In this guise she has served in capacity as MI5 operative before, during and after WW1. She is married to a wife in a marriage of convenience who is possibly still unaware of her true sex after many years of marriage. Ok. I’m happy to suspend disbelief and to go with a very interesting set up for a whodunnit. What I began to feel very uncomfortable with was the misogynistic attitude towards women that Hilary displays. The very male orientated author voice (both literally and figuratively-the author is also the narrator) was difficult to understand, given the fact that Hilary actually identifies as a woman, but….ok. Then we get to a party where ‘she’ gives her distasteful opinions of first the lower and middle classes….hmmm….and then her absolute disgust about the inclusion of an ‘Indian gentleman’ being ‘the absolute limit!’ …….and right there we are done. This is where I stop.
I don’t care if ‘she’ (or he) is reflecting the common attitudes of the British upper class in this novel. Yes it is set in the 20s and yet it was written recently and I will not tolerate the major protagonist being a character who spouts such racist, sexist and class-conscious superiority in a novel penned in recent times. I’m absolutely not interested. I’m disappointed and unhappy about this. I can only hope that Hilary is on a journey to realise her narrow point of view in this novel, but to be honest, I can see no indication of this. I hope that I am wrong. If I am, please let me know.
I don’t care if ‘she’ (or he) is reflecting the common attitudes of the British upper class in this novel. Yes it is set in the 20s and yet it was written recently and I will not tolerate the major protagonist being a character who spouts such racist, sexist and class-conscious superiority in a novel penned in recent times. I’m absolutely not interested. I’m disappointed and unhappy about this. I can only hope that Hilary is on a journey to realise her narrow point of view in this novel, but to be honest, I can see no indication of this. I hope that I am wrong. If I am, please let me know.
September 15, 2017
Sir Hilary Manningham Butler gets invited to a party at Bletchley Park to celebrate the 20th anniversary of MI5 in September 1929 in The Scandal at Bletchley by Jack Treby. However, Sir Hilary has a secret that no one but his valet knows: he is really a woman who has lived all her life as a man. He (since Hilary lives as a man, I will use the masculine pronoun) even has a wife whom he thinks has no knowledge of his true sex. On the day that the stock market crashes in the U.S., Sir Hilary leaves for this fateful weekend party at which the eclectic group of guests do not know each other. He meets such people as the daughter of a cabinet member, a French doctor, an Indian academic, a chorus girl, and a famous muckraking journalist. However, there he runs into the one thing he has feared most: a person who might be able to recognize him as a woman. But Sir Hilary soon finds that others in the party have something to hide as well as he does. It doesn’t take long before he gets embroiled in murder.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
May 6, 2020
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
DNF at 46%.
I expected so much more from this because it has so many positive reviews, but I don't see it personally. The main character is dreadful; a woman raised as a man who becomes a detective, who complains about how misogynistic the rest of the upper class is, and then is just as bad as them, is a drunkard and a severe gambler and literally just sees people in stereotypes. The best friend person drives me crazy with how often he says "old friend" and the rest of the characters are nothing noteworthy. The plot may be okay, but the characters were enough to put me off.
DNF at 46%.
I expected so much more from this because it has so many positive reviews, but I don't see it personally. The main character is dreadful; a woman raised as a man who becomes a detective, who complains about how misogynistic the rest of the upper class is, and then is just as bad as them, is a drunkard and a severe gambler and literally just sees people in stereotypes. The best friend person drives me crazy with how often he says "old friend" and the rest of the characters are nothing noteworthy. The plot may be okay, but the characters were enough to put me off.
December 13, 2019
Somehow you expect that a woman masquerading as a man would be an interesting character but WRONG! The character is boring and unappealling as a male and as a female. All weaknesses and no redeeming strengths. I reached point of wishing Him/her killed by time I decided to give up on the book. I was surprised to see that it had so many 4 and 5 star reviews.
April 15, 2014
A very enjoyable mystery, full of strange circumstances and challenges!
June 11, 2014
Great who done it! Very interesting with lots of unexpected plot twists. Keeps you wanting to know more and satisfies when you finish. I recommend!
September 19, 2017
"This book was provided for free by the author at my request and I provided this review voluntary."
First off let me say I love when authors read their own stories. It's fun to hear them give voices to their own characters. The colonel's laugh made me laugh every time.
I really enjoyed this book. It starts off a little slow but once the characters get built up and the storyline comes into play it really kept me listening.
I also found it hard to remember at times that the main character is really a woman disguised as a man. And without spoiling anything why she insists on continuing the charade... But it's a very interesting idea.
I've already ordered the next book on Audible to see what happens next.
First off let me say I love when authors read their own stories. It's fun to hear them give voices to their own characters. The colonel's laugh made me laugh every time.
I really enjoyed this book. It starts off a little slow but once the characters get built up and the storyline comes into play it really kept me listening.
I also found it hard to remember at times that the main character is really a woman disguised as a man. And without spoiling anything why she insists on continuing the charade... But it's a very interesting idea.
I've already ordered the next book on Audible to see what happens next.
May 30, 2020
I was expecting a different book since they put Bletchley in the title, maybe about intelligence or spies but this was about a house party in 1929. Since this is the first in a series and the next one will probably be about espionage I will give the author another chance.
November 21, 2017
Charming. A very enjoyable mystery with a fantastic plot and great characters. Perfect for a cozy afternoon read. Looking forward to the next one.
June 17, 2021
Read this in a single day... killing time in a hospital waiting room. It was an interesting counterpoint to the day!
November 5, 2015
I was given an audio review copy by the author and I loved it! What an amazing, unique and fascinating book. Told from the point of view of Hilary Manningham-Butler, born a woman but living his life as a man. He is married, but it is a marriage of convenience. Sir Hilary is one of the most interesting characters I have come across in any novel.
The author narrates his book and does so to perfection. The ambiguous gender comes across perfectly. adding another layer to the mystery.
The pace, language, sense of time and place, and characters are all very well portrayed. This made the story easy to follow, I could scarecly stop listening.
Sir Hilary was at a house party when events from his past threatened to cause his whole world to fall apart. Things spiral out of control. Although Bletchley is a center for British Intelligence, that aspect is just the backdrop to a great who-done-it mystery.
Unusual, interesting and well written, I was fascinated throughout. The ending was amazing. I am hoping there will be a sequel.
The author narrates his book and does so to perfection. The ambiguous gender comes across perfectly. adding another layer to the mystery.
The pace, language, sense of time and place, and characters are all very well portrayed. This made the story easy to follow, I could scarecly stop listening.
Sir Hilary was at a house party when events from his past threatened to cause his whole world to fall apart. Things spiral out of control. Although Bletchley is a center for British Intelligence, that aspect is just the backdrop to a great who-done-it mystery.
Unusual, interesting and well written, I was fascinated throughout. The ending was amazing. I am hoping there will be a sequel.
November 16, 2015
This book started out very slow,but picked up speed nicely.Written and read by Jack Treby it is a first person account of a time in our history of spies and double lives.The men and women of Bletchlsy did decoding work ,among other things during the war in Britain.This is one story of a woman living a mans life and a nasty bit of bother at a reunion of old comrades face as they start dying one by one.A who dunnit?Give a listen!
"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast or MalarHouse
"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast or MalarHouse
August 30, 2015
The is a great, fun read with plenty of twists to keep you reading. Classic 'who done it' style.
September 24, 2017
( Format : Audiobook )
"Reading - or some ***awful backwater!"
I had my reservations about the reading when first I started to listen to this book - authors can rarely give as good a performance of their own books as a professional narrator. But these concerns were quickly put aside: Jack Treby might not be as skillful as the very best but certainly rivals or even excels most. His vocalisation of the numerous protagonists with all of their assorted idiosyncratic accents, is distinctive and great fun. And, of course, he is able to give full understanding to his text. His voice is perfect for the reading, too, as the person recounting the tale in the first person is Sir Hilary Manning Butler, a woman who, from birth, has been known to the world as a man.
Sir Hilary is invited to a reunion of MI5 operatives at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, then (1929) a private residence. He travels there by car with his valet, Hargreaves, and an old American friend and scoundrel, Harry Latimer, who had also been invited, to the apparent surprise of both. Not all of the other assorted guests are known to them, or to each other. The characterisations of them all is both good and, frequently, very humerous. Games are played, meals eaten and alcohol drunk: because of the secret service aspect of the gathering, and the background politics of a new antagonistic Labour Government, the perfect setup for a closed house mystery is established. So when tragedy does strike unexpectedly, it is down to the people on the scene to solve the crime for themselves rather than calling in the police. Secrecy and security are all important.
Deliciously written with irony and wit, there are many throw away one liners, such as the comment made by Sir Hilary about his wealthy wife: "If Helen of Troy had the face that launched a thousand ships, Elizabeth had the one that scuttled them." Nicely also capturing the prejudices of the time, this is far from being a heavy read. Instead, it is a delightful and detailed murder mystery which should greatly appeal to fans of Agatha Christie (though this reader found Scandal to be both more entertaining and far better at characterisation). The main protagonist, too, is intriguing, especially given the setting of the 1920s. I was fortunate in being gifted a complementary copy of The Scandal at Bletchley by the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. It was a very enjoyable listen. I note, too, that there is the potential to continue with a new adventure with our main protagonist and chronicler. I do hope so. I will be watching out for it.
Recommended
"Reading - or some ***awful backwater!"
I had my reservations about the reading when first I started to listen to this book - authors can rarely give as good a performance of their own books as a professional narrator. But these concerns were quickly put aside: Jack Treby might not be as skillful as the very best but certainly rivals or even excels most. His vocalisation of the numerous protagonists with all of their assorted idiosyncratic accents, is distinctive and great fun. And, of course, he is able to give full understanding to his text. His voice is perfect for the reading, too, as the person recounting the tale in the first person is Sir Hilary Manning Butler, a woman who, from birth, has been known to the world as a man.
Sir Hilary is invited to a reunion of MI5 operatives at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, then (1929) a private residence. He travels there by car with his valet, Hargreaves, and an old American friend and scoundrel, Harry Latimer, who had also been invited, to the apparent surprise of both. Not all of the other assorted guests are known to them, or to each other. The characterisations of them all is both good and, frequently, very humerous. Games are played, meals eaten and alcohol drunk: because of the secret service aspect of the gathering, and the background politics of a new antagonistic Labour Government, the perfect setup for a closed house mystery is established. So when tragedy does strike unexpectedly, it is down to the people on the scene to solve the crime for themselves rather than calling in the police. Secrecy and security are all important.
Deliciously written with irony and wit, there are many throw away one liners, such as the comment made by Sir Hilary about his wealthy wife: "If Helen of Troy had the face that launched a thousand ships, Elizabeth had the one that scuttled them." Nicely also capturing the prejudices of the time, this is far from being a heavy read. Instead, it is a delightful and detailed murder mystery which should greatly appeal to fans of Agatha Christie (though this reader found Scandal to be both more entertaining and far better at characterisation). The main protagonist, too, is intriguing, especially given the setting of the 1920s. I was fortunate in being gifted a complementary copy of The Scandal at Bletchley by the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. It was a very enjoyable listen. I note, too, that there is the potential to continue with a new adventure with our main protagonist and chronicler. I do hope so. I will be watching out for it.
Recommended
December 4, 2022
Up until the very end this was a 4. But I hated the ending. I thought it was horrible. So instead the book became a weak 3. I felt like giving it a 2, but decided with 90-some% of the book very good, it deserved more than a 2. Sir Hilary is a wonderful character. This is not a spoiler alert because it is made clear very early on that he is a she. Dad wanted a son but got a daughter with no hope of any more progeny, so registered her as a him on the birth certificate. Imagine a somewhat "soft" man, what some considered a "Nancy boy" on the outside but the inside is a woman hard as nails. I did not guess the killer at all, never had a suspicion that is who it was, but I knew it wasn't any of the obvious choices. In a mystery book, as opposed to real-life murders, the murderer has to be one of the characters. Sometimes writers cheat and introduce the murderer in a bit part at the very end. Sometimes the writers cheat by introducing a character at the beginning and never referring to him/her again. And, sometimes they cheat by letting the investigator in on pertinent information which is not shared with us. Since most murderers are male, thought not all, the female characters can be eliminated early on. Any obvious suspect can also be eliminated. In this book, the author did not resort to any of the subterfuges. The character was in plain sight the whole time. I never guessed, but Sir Hilary did! Just because I didn't like the ending doesn't mean other readers won't either. Except for that flaw, the book was a very good read.
September 4, 2019
Surprisingly Riveting
One would think that a British mystery set in the late 20's would be a cozy walk in the park. At least, that's what I thought. Not so here.
The story and characters start out true to preconceptions, but soon enough unexpected complications turn this happy romp into a nailbiting affair.
There is no modern graphic violence, but there is certainly enough murder to satisfy the bloodthirsty. And justice has an odd way of playing out here.
Despite my initial ambivalence about the protagonist, Sir Hillary, and my mixed feelings about his/her politically incorrect opinions of anyone outside his social class, I grew to admire his honesty and spunk, so that by the end of the book, not only was I on his side, I also realized that the author, Jack Trent, had done a great job of giving us a not so common,
multidimensional character to get our teeth into.
I will happily buy the next in the Sir Hillary Manning- Butler series.
One would think that a British mystery set in the late 20's would be a cozy walk in the park. At least, that's what I thought. Not so here.
The story and characters start out true to preconceptions, but soon enough unexpected complications turn this happy romp into a nailbiting affair.
There is no modern graphic violence, but there is certainly enough murder to satisfy the bloodthirsty. And justice has an odd way of playing out here.
Despite my initial ambivalence about the protagonist, Sir Hillary, and my mixed feelings about his/her politically incorrect opinions of anyone outside his social class, I grew to admire his honesty and spunk, so that by the end of the book, not only was I on his side, I also realized that the author, Jack Trent, had done a great job of giving us a not so common,
multidimensional character to get our teeth into.
I will happily buy the next in the Sir Hillary Manning- Butler series.
November 18, 2025
I suppose there's something novel about a murder mystery without a detective, or at very least an amateur sleuth, but there's nothing particularly original about assembling an array of characters within a confined/remote space and then having the murders commence.
I couldn't find anything to make me really warm to this tale, perhaps because the narrator is such an complete bigoted arse. That the narrative voice is a woman, raised from birth as a man, certainly adds novelty, but didn't really salvage the character for me.
The writing is competent without being noteworthy, and the ending was comprised of too many improbabilities for my tastes.
If I could, I'd give it a 2.5, or a colossal, MEH.
I couldn't find anything to make me really warm to this tale, perhaps because the narrator is such an complete bigoted arse. That the narrative voice is a woman, raised from birth as a man, certainly adds novelty, but didn't really salvage the character for me.
The writing is competent without being noteworthy, and the ending was comprised of too many improbabilities for my tastes.
If I could, I'd give it a 2.5, or a colossal, MEH.
September 23, 2017
I was somewhat offended by the main character's snobbery, but it was probably a norm for some on both sides of the Atlantic prior to the worldwide financial depression. The story was great. The bodies just piled up and the suspense grew. The characters seemed rather barmy for the most part, and there are more twists and red herrings than I expected. No spoilers here, the publisher's blurb gives hints, so just go ahead and enjoy. Definitely a worthwhile read!
The audio is narrated by the author, and that's always fun.
I requested and received a free copy from the narrator courtesy of AudioBookBOOM.
The audio is narrated by the author, and that's always fun.
I requested and received a free copy from the narrator courtesy of AudioBookBOOM.
January 2, 2020
I had doubts about this book at the beginning. The unlikelihood of a woman masquerading as a man, and even his wife being unaware seemed rather far-fetched to me, but given the times and it being explained, it could have been feasible. Hilary Manningham- Butler is invited to a reunion of the members of MI5, along with an american friend of his who has questionable ethics. Naturally events take over, and the dead bodies start to mount up.
The story is told by Manningham-Butler himself (?) I did find some of the book very humourous in parts even though the characters were very stereotyped.
An entertaining read all round.
The story is told by Manningham-Butler himself (?) I did find some of the book very humourous in parts even though the characters were very stereotyped.
An entertaining read all round.
January 29, 2020
A Different Twist on the English murder mystery
A Scandal at Bletchley is a murder mystery that had me twisting to figure out the who done it as the story unfolded. Normally I can figure out who did it long before the end, but this one had twists and turns in the story that I never saw coming. As this is the first book in a series, I am ready to read the next one. I'm looking forward to how that story unfolds. I thoroughly enjoy English murder mysteries that take place in the 30s era. If you enjoy this type of mystery, you might think about giving this a try. I can envision many different scenarios with some of the characters moving forward in other books in the series.
A Scandal at Bletchley is a murder mystery that had me twisting to figure out the who done it as the story unfolded. Normally I can figure out who did it long before the end, but this one had twists and turns in the story that I never saw coming. As this is the first book in a series, I am ready to read the next one. I'm looking forward to how that story unfolds. I thoroughly enjoy English murder mysteries that take place in the 30s era. If you enjoy this type of mystery, you might think about giving this a try. I can envision many different scenarios with some of the characters moving forward in other books in the series.
October 20, 2017
Oh, what wonderful fun this book is! I listened to the AUDIO version, adeptly and wonderfully read by the author and thoroughly enjoyed the tale of a woman reared as a man and her/his involvedment with MI-5 and the consequences thereof. Not quite an Agatha Christie setup, one must nonetheless borrow Poirot's gray cells to follow and predict the twists and turns as the bodies start to pile up.
Disclaimer: "I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
Disclaimer: "I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
May 22, 2020
He has a secret that No one, except all the people who do know, knows.
And then he( who is actually a she) says moronic things like how she can't lie very well because she's terrible at acting. Even though she has lived most of her life as a man which is acting? Except when she's not and she deals with typical female things (without giving plot points). And before any one thinks gender fluid thoughts, it's not that kind of situation, imo. This is 1929, and our characters are getting together with other agents from the recent war. So the main character 's identity(s) aren't exactly the main story.
But I had so many issue as to how this was written, contradictions to how characters act and potholes that could suck the entire estate through that I suffered through rather than enjoyed it.
And then he( who is actually a she) says moronic things like how she can't lie very well because she's terrible at acting. Even though she has lived most of her life as a man which is acting? Except when she's not and she deals with typical female things (without giving plot points). And before any one thinks gender fluid thoughts, it's not that kind of situation, imo. This is 1929, and our characters are getting together with other agents from the recent war. So the main character 's identity(s) aren't exactly the main story.
But I had so many issue as to how this was written, contradictions to how characters act and potholes that could suck the entire estate through that I suffered through rather than enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2020
A formulaic, second-rate Agatha Christie knockoff with a couple of twists, such as a transgender protagonist and an out-of-left-field solution to an only mildly interesting mystery. Otherwise, we've seen these characters before, except this version traps the characters into a highly circumscribed sets of emotional and behavioral options, making them about as one-dimensional as possible. As a kickoff to a series, it leaves much to be desired, and needless to say, I won't be partaking of any more examples of Jack Treby's prose.
December 19, 2020
This was a fairly amusing British mystery with a few twists and turns including details about the MI5 in its early days. I enjoyed the setting and the characterizations were reasonably well done if a little too stereotypical. The exception to stereotype was Sir Hillary, a female passing as male at her father's insistence in order to inherit the family title. This is the beginning of a series which I may or may not continue. There are many superior British mysteries out there.
May 23, 2021
Had I noticed that the author was also the narrator, I probably would have passed on this audiobook. What a pleasant surprise--Jack Treby is an excellent narrator. The premise is compelling, the plot well developed and the dialogue quite engaging. What made this four rather than five stars for me is that I just don't find the character of Sir Hilary Manningham-Butler a sympathetic one. I want to like him but just don't see too much about him that is truly empathetic.
April 24, 2022
This book had potential: a good storyline, just enough character development, and a nice twist to the mystery ending. I would have liked it if the main protagonist had not been portrayed as an odious, bigoted, egotistically, aristocratic neerdowell. For a brief moment at the end of the story, there was a glimpse of justice being served for Sir Hillary, but that got reworked for the sake of continuing the series. This will be the one and only one for me.
Read
July 19, 2025I have never stopped reading a book at the first page, and never thought I would, but here we are. I was gripped by a severe dislike of the narrator, which I assume is the main character, in the bloody first paragraph! Judging by the reviews, I will not like it any better if I read further.
No rating, obviously. This is a note to self not to pick up any book of this series again because I inevitably end up doing just that a couple years down the line.
No rating, obviously. This is a note to self not to pick up any book of this series again because I inevitably end up doing just that a couple years down the line.
August 13, 2019
Sorry but I did not enjoy this book. I didn’t like the main character at all, nor did I like most of the other characters either, at least not in the 32% of the book I read before giving up. I simply didn’t care what they did or what happened to them. The more I read, the more sure I was of that.
So this is another book for the “life’s too short” pile.
So this is another book for the “life’s too short” pile.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews