Beattie Cavendish and the Highland Hideaway

Beattie Cavendish #2

by Mary-Jane Riley

1949. The Cold War is intensifying and rumours abound that the Russians are close to creating an atomic bomb.

Beattie Cavendish, special operative for a covert section of GCHQ is sent to Scotland, to a listening station in the Highlands at Kilbray. Beattie's arrival is greeted with suspicion by the station's staff. She faces an uphill battle to turn things around. When Beattie discovers that her uncle Howard, who lives nearby, has gone missing, she becomes convinced his disappearance is more sinister. She learns Howard has been visiting a remote Highland lodge used during the war to hide out of favour special operation executive officers. As she delves deeper, there is no one she feels she can trust except for private detective Patrick Corrigan. But Corrigan has troubles of his own as he needs to get out of London after crossing the Kutsnetsov brothers, a pair of notorious Russian gangsters.

As the snow begins to fall hard and fast, Beattie realises the search is putting her life and that of Corrigan's in danger, and that the answers she is looking for lie buried in her wartime past.

349 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 19, 2026

About the author

Mary-Jane wrote her first story on her newly acquired blue Petite typewriter. She was eight. It was about a gang of children who had adventures on mysterious islands, but she soon realised Enid Blyton had cornered that particular market. So she wrote about the Wild West instead. When she grew up she had to earn a living, and became a BBC radio talk show presenter and journalist. She has covered many life-affirming stories, but also some of the darkest events of the past two decades.

Then, in true journalistic style, she decided not to let the facts get in the way of a good story and got creative. She wrote for women’s magazines and small presses. She formed WriteOutLoud with two writer friends to help charities get their message across using their life stories. Now she is writing psychological suspense, drawing on her experiences in journalism. She has three grown-up children and lives in Suffolk with a golden retriever and her television journalist husband.

Reviews

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Beattie Cavendish and the White Pearl Club, last summer, and was thrilled to be invited by the publisher to read this second book in the series.
As soon as I started reading I felt like I was back amongst friends, as Beattie was sent up to Scotland on her latest mission. Just like in the first book she has to put on a different personae, this time checking up on the typists welfare at a listening station, rather than finding out why the Commander has disappeared.
Of course as a young woman in the 1949 she’s dismissed as a nobody, even though she’s a lot more qualified than the man standing in. She’s infuriated by him, but carries on regardless with the mystery. Meanwhile her new boss back in London mentioned that she should check up on her Uncle Howard who just happens to live nearby. That’s when thinks started to go awry, and she calls in Patrick Corrigan, her Irish private detective friend who helped in the first book.
I loved that Beattie and Patrick were together again, as colleagues, obviously, as he’s engaged to a school teacher! They worked brilliantly as a team again, saving each others lives in this very twisty story, where no-one is quite as they seem.
The setting of a very snowy Scotland was great, especially as there didn’t seem to be any rationing going on!
Highly recommended if you enjoy spy thrillers set in post war Britain.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for my digital copy.

[Verity W · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 1949 and Beattie Cavendish works for GCHQ. Officially she works in admin and training secretaries, but actually she's a covert operative. When her bosses send her to Scotland to investigate a disappearance at a a listening station. The staff there are suspicious of her, and she has a job on her hands to find out what is going on. Her uncle lives near the station but when she goes to visit, she discovers that his cottage is empty and looks like it was left in a hurry. Beattie becomes convinced that the two things are related and starts to dig in to what is going on in the Highlands with the help of private investigator Patrick Corrigan, who is all to happy to leave London for a bit after having caught the attention of some Russian gangsters.

This is actually the second book featuring Beattie, and although I haven't read the first it didn't really cause me too many problems with the plot. There are some throwbacks to that previous novel but enough is explained that you can follow along - although it did make me interested in reading that earlier book. This is the first book by Mary-Jane Riley that I've read but also the first Cold War set historical mystery that I've read in quite a long while. And this is specifically Cold War (rather than generic 1950s) because of Beattie's work and all the circumstances of the mystery. And I enjoyed it a lot.

There are some commonalities in Beattie's back story with other characters that I have liked in inter-war-set mysteries - I can't really tell you what because it's spoilers - and it makes for an interesting character. I'm also interested in the friendship with Corrigan and the context around that - this is where I did feel that I was missing some context - he has a fiancée and without having read the first novel I wasn't sure if I was meant to be rooting for him to break it off with her for Beattie or not - because from the information given his fiancéee had helped in that previous mystery even if her actions in this one seemed to be slightly against what Patrick wants in terms of his future. So definitely up for reading a third book to see what happens there.


****Copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*****

[Deni Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story takes us to the early years of the Cold War (1949), when tensions between East and West are rising. The main character is Beattie Cavendish, a special intelligence agent sent on a secret mission to a remote station in the Scottish mountains.

Things become even more complicated when Beattie discovers that her uncle has disappeared without a trace. She begins her own investigation, which leads her to secrets from the past and dangerous connections. The only person she can truly trust is the private detective Patrick Corrigan.

This is the second book in the Beattie Cavendish series and the first one I have read by this author. I started it with no expectations at all and was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

Something interesting was happening all the time - new clues, double agents, spies, conspiracies, and constant danger. The book flowed very quickly for me, and there wasn’t a single moment where I felt bored or that anything was unnecessary.

It gave me the same adventurous feeling as the Sherlock Holmes stories I read years ago, and that made me very happy.

Beattie Cavendish is a wonderfully built character - strong, intelligent, and resourceful. The child in me secretly dreams of her adventures.
And Corrigan… oh, I love him. His sixth sense, all his imperfections, his sense of humor, and his fighting spirit make him incredibly charming.

For me, these two are the kind of characters that get under your skin and start to feel like friends.

I also loved the subtle thread hinting at the relationship between them… and that ending… oh nooo. I really need to know what happens next. I want more adventures with the two of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

[Sadie E · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, atmospheric mystery with an interesting plot (even though it slowed in some places) and a great setting

[boogleloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars: This Riley's second entry in the Beattie Cavendish series which is a Historical Mystery set in England & Scotland, 1949. Following a former spy turned special covert operative for the government, translating foreign intelligence, is sent to a Scottish listening station. Only to discover that her uncle, who lives nearby, has gone missing after visiting a remote Highland lodge used during the war to hide out of favor special operation executive officers. As she delves deeper and with no one she feels she can trust, she teams up with a war-weary and disfigured Irish private detective, who's happy to get out of London after crossing a pair of notorious Russian gangsters, to track down her uncle. As the snow begins to fall hard and fast, she soon realizes the search is putting their lives in danger and that the answers she is looking for lie buried in her own wartime past.

With plenty of twists and turns, Riley has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects and weaves in plenty of clues and red herrings that will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Written in dual POV, Riley's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable with a secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced. Riley's historical research is evident and well done without overshadowing the mystery plot while providing a great sense of time and place. I also appreciate seeing how the MMC contends with the world's reaction to his war wounds (face scarred, lost eye and injured leg).

Riley takes on some sensitive issues; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Beattie Cavendish and the White Pearl Club.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

[Karen Kingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

#bookreview

Thank you to Amber at @allisonandbusby for the opportunity to review Beattie Cavendish and the Highland Hideaway by @maryjanerileyauthor

I enjoyed reading the first book in the series last year (Beattie Cavendish and the White Pearl Club). This book was published last week.

Synopsis: 1949. The Cold War is intensifying and rumours abound that the Russians are close to creating an atomic bomb.

Beattie Cavendish, special operative for a covert section of GCHQ is sent to Scotland, to a listening station in the Highlands at Kilbray. Beattie’s arrival is greeted with suspicion by the station’s staff. She faces an uphill battle to turn things around. When Beattie discovers that her uncle Howard, who lives nearby, has gone missing, she becomes convinced his disappearance is more sinister. She learns Howard has been visiting a remote Highland lodge used during the war to hide out of favour special operation executive officers. As she delves deeper, there is no one she feels she can trust except for private detective Patrick Corrigan. But Corrigan has troubles of his own as he needs to get out of London after crossing the Kutsnetsov brothers, a pair of notorious Russian gangsters.

As the snow begins to fall hard and fast, Beattie realises the search is putting her life and that of Corrigan’s in danger, and that the answers she is looking for lie buried in her wartime past.

My thoughts: Having met Beattie and Corrigan in the first book, I enjoyed catching up with them again in this book. If you haven’t read the first book, please don’t worry - this book could be read as a standalone.

Beattie is a fascinating woman who has to deal with a number of challenges, whilst pretending to be helping typists improve their work. Beattie has a complicated family and wartime history, and we find out more about her time helping the resistance in France during the war.

This book was an addictive read for me - combining mystery, crime, history, tension and secrets into an enjoyable story with a strong female main character and her supportive private investigator friend. I hope there will be more books in the series so that we find out more about Beattie and Corrigan.

[Ariana Ochoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first book, I was very eager to get my hands on the next. This book is quite possibly more thrilling than the first!

As Beattie Cavendish continues her work for the GCHQ (Britain's intelligence network), she is brushed off to Scotland where she is sent to a facility in the Highlands at Kilbray. Her mission is to look into the whereabouts of the man in charge that has not reported for duty within the last couple of weeks. She is also instructed to monitor chatter between the Allieds who have been cooking up secrets post WWII (an off-the-books side mission). While there, her boss suggests that she look in on her uncle at his cottage nearby, but Beattie discovers that he has also disappeared. As Beattie investigates, her unsavory dealings with members of other government departments in the previous book resurface, and her only option is to requisition the help of her friend Patrick T. Corrigan. As the two team up on this case, the secrets they uncover put them in great peril.

Like the first book, this was a book that I could not put down. What I love about this series is that the books are more spy fiction than historical mystery. I love a good spy novel, especially when it covers a bit of WW2 and the Cold War. With the Scottish Highlands as the backdrop, the brooding weather cast an atmospheric tone that was perfect for this plot. I loved the tension and camaraderie between Beattie and Patrick. They are a perfect team. There is a bit of action in the plot that was so thrilling. This series gets better and better, and I am ecstatic to see how Beattie's work evolves from local missions to Scotland. There is something about our protagonist that reminds me of Maisie Dobbs.

My one regret was that I read too quickly when I should have savored it. If you like thrilling spy fiction or historical mystery novels, you will love this book.

Many thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beattie Cavendish and the Highland Hideaway by Mary-Jane Riley, is the second in this series about the Cold War era and how the allies distrusted one another as much as they did their enemies. Beattie is sent to Scotland, to a listening station, to determine what was holding up intel that had been coming regularly but was now severely down. She was also to see if she could find the missing manager of the station. Then, as a personal mission, to wanted to speak to her uncle Howard. He was the man who had paid for her degree and she lived in his apartment in London. What she found was seriously convoluted. She was confused, but she kept moving forward until it made sense. It was difficult to know who the good guys were.

Beattie is a product of World War II: an independent woman who had been a spy in France and worked with the resistance to disrupt the Nazis. When that was done, she, ostensibly, worked for this agency that watched and listened, with someone else acting. She is a great character, as is her “partner,” Patrick Corrigan, is an Irish private detective, who seriously damaged one side of his face, including losing his eye. But, none of that stopped him from pushing the envelope, which is exactly what Beattie forced him to do. He loved the excitement. The chemistry between the two is dynamic, but Patrick has a fiancee, whom he loved. This was an exciting tale of missing persons, death, attraction, and disloyalty. Terrific plot, using the skills of both Beattie and Patrick to the max.

I was invited to read Beattie Cavendish and the Highland Highland Hideaway by Allison & Busby. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #AllisonAndBusby #MaryJaneRiley #BeattieCavendishAndTheHighlandHideaway

[Martin Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beattie is back, and on top form.

"Beattie Cavendish and the Highland Hideaway", the second story in the Cavendish series, opens in February 1949, some months after the events of book one. Beattie is summoned to the office of Ms Fields, her superior at the Covert Operations Section. With little ceremony, she is despatched to Inverness, to a key listening post to investigate missing intelligence reports, and a missing head of station. No messing about here.

With some clever interludes, readers who have not read book one, are quickly brought up to speed, and soon Beattie is up to her neck in early Cold War shenanigans. A key theme is the race for Russia to create an atomic bomb, as it's clear that WW2 may be over, but another war is already underway. When Beattie's uncle goes missing from his Highland cottage, things begin to get complicated.

Readers of the first Beattie book need not worry - this is more of the same - a not too dark thriller, told simply and well, with some lovely, well-rounded characters, and a story that moves along at a brisk pace. Fans of private detective Patrick Corrigan will be glad to know he's back, and his relationship with Beattie remains complicated. Along the way we see a bit more of his and Beattie's backgrounds, and meet some intriguing characters including a mysterious sidekick called Murdo, a gossipy typist and a pretentious base commander.

If you're a fan of Jacqueline Winspear or Mandy Robotham, you'll love this. Highly recommended.

[Michael Neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This latest Beattie Cavendish adventure is set in the late 40's at a time when the Cold War has every secret service agency mistrusting each other and memories of WW2 spies, subversion and treachery have not been forgotten. Beattie, a veteran of those times, is sent by GCHQ to investigate strange events in a listening station in the highlands of Scotland. She is unofficially aided by the Irish private detective, Patrick Cunningham introduced in the previous adventure. For those who did not read that, these books are comfortable easy reads with a bit of action and adventure centred around the heroine, Beattie, a plucky independent young woman who was part of the SOE during WW2 and whose skills in espionage are still being used to serve her country. The writing is very descriptive and the suspense well crafted in this latest story. We find our more about Beattie's family history and events from her past and we also see the growing attraction between her and Cunningham despite his loyalties with his fiancé back in London.
If you are into harder edged, testosterone fueled action stories then this might not be your cup of tea, but I enjoyed it! The Author's has a good writing style and can put an intriguing plot together. She is very good at placing the reader into a scene with her descriptions of the Scottish landscape and her characterisations of her protagonists. It is also set in an interesting time when the world was trying to figure out what the post WW2 world would look like.

[Mystica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second read by this author and she did not disappoint.

Beattie is unassuming and her supposed role in the Civil Service is to improve efficiency amongst employees especially their typing skills. It seems like a good cover because Beattie is discreet, fearless and loves her job. She had to overcome obstacles from her family who just wanted her to be domesticated and married. Their knowledge of what she did was vague and she kept it at that.

Her present assignment to go to Kilbride, a remote Scottish outpost where something was awry. There was talk of double agents, people working for both sides, and on arrival a missing head of the unit, as well as a missing uncle, the very enigmatic Howard Cavendish.

Paddy Corrigan, a past conspirators with Beattie also works in this story, bringing mixed emotions to both of them. Their attraction to each other is deep, trust implicit but there are many barriers and this was sad.

The setting was bleak and descriptive providing just the amount of negativity needed as a background for the story that emerged. Spies, double dealings, mercenaries and trying to see the wood from the trees was Beattie’s instructions.

An excellent story with strong and weak characters which fitted their respective roles perfectly.

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beattie Cavendish, an ‘all is not as it seems’ civil servant who is actually working as a British operative, is sent to snowy northern Scotland to uncover an intelligence leak and a spy ring. World War II may be over, but the Cold War is just beginning. When her enigmatic uncle, living in the same area of the Highlands, goes missing, as does another ‘civil servant,’ Beattie enlists the help of her friend and private detective Patrick Corrigan, because it all seems like part of the same complicated web.

Spies, double agents, murders, and a remote Highland hideaway used to house troublesome agents set the backdrop for this thriller. Vivid descriptions of a snowy Scottish landscape help set the scene for the reader. While not often fastpaced, this book also didn’t drag and did keep my attention. Despite it being second in a series and me not having read the first, I didn’t have trouble getting up to speed with Beattie and Corrigan’s relationship, as well as secondary characters like her French maman and Corrigan’s fiancée Nell. I would read others in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under her guise as a typing trainer, Beattie is sent to the Highlands outside Inverness to investigate the disappearance of a intelligence monitoring station official, she is also told to visit her Uncle Howard. He seems to have disappeared as well and Beattie calls on her friend Corrigan the investigator for help. The station manager is found dead and Beattie's mother tells her that Howard was a German spy. In the fraught politics of post-War Europe, former enemies are now courted as friends but there is something else going on and Beattie needs to find out what.

The first book in this series was surprisingly good and this is at least as good. The background at the dawning of the Cold War and involving the nascent GCHQ is fascinating and teh characters are developing nicely. Here more of Beattie's backstory is developed, her wartime work for the SOE and her family's complex relationships. It's a bit of a convoluted plot involving lots of different sides but the action is great and the location in the depths of winter is describer beautifully. I look forward to the next installment.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A welcome second novel featuring Beattie Cavendish! This would make a great TV series!!

Time is after the war and Beattie continues to work for GCHQ in the guise of typist and administrative supervisory duties; the need for knowing what is till happening post war in Russia, Germany and the USA means that Beattie has to travel to Scotland to a listening station in a remote village in the Highlands. The staff at the station are trying to pick up any suspect chatter, messages, codes etc and feel they don't need someone from London watching over them and possibly criticising their work.

Beattie has family in the area, her Uncle Howard, who GCHQ need to locate, as he's gone incommunicado, so it's up to Beattie to find out more!
As is her want, she gets more and more involved and finds her life in danger; she calls upon her friend Patrick Corrigan to help, who rushes to her aid from London, on his trusty motorbike. He too has reasons to leave London.

Now in the search for Howard, both of them are in danger - who will prevail?

A wonderful story with such likeable characters, I gave it 5 stars.

[Rachel N · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 1949 and Beattie Cavendish is working in the recently renamed GCHQ, the Government Communications Headquarters, as the threats from the Cold War begin to grow. Under the guise of training typists, she is sent to a remote listening station in the Scottish Highlands where the station commander is missing and soon finds the mystery hits much closer to home. Patrick Corrigan, a private detective she has worked with in the past, comes to help as they try to uncover the truth.

This was as fast paced and enjoyable as the first book in the series, full of interesting characters (especially Beattie herself) and lots of twists and turns. It’s a fairly gentle kind of thriller with an old-fashioned feel (this is a compliment!) and an excellent sense of time and place – I'm thoroughly enjoying the series and look forward to the next chapter.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Mary-Jane Riley, Allison & Busby, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This mystery takes place in the Scottish Highlands after the end of World War II where the end of the war, although years in the past, still impacts everyone’s daily lives. Beattie Cavendish has been asked by her boss to investigate the activities at a cold war listening station to understand why documents and the top officer are missing. Along the way she also seeks her missing uncle who also has some mysterious activities of his own.

The story is well written with some good twists as it moves through the story. Beattie is intelligent but inexperienced and is a good engaging character. The book builds nicely on the first in the series but also does well as an independent read. A good, engaging period mystery. Recommended.

[Verity Halliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beattie Cavendish and the Highland Hideaway is the second book featuring intrepid civil servant (but really she's an intelligence agent) Beattie Cavendish and her private detective sidekick Patrick Corrigan.

This time, Beattie has been sent to the snowy Scottish Highlands to look into the disappearance of the local signals intelligence station commander. Has he run off with his fancy woman, or is the disappearance more sinister? And how is Beattie's Uncle Howard (also missing) involved?

A thoroughly enjoyable romp through early Cold War intrigues with a strong sense of place. A recommended read!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent mystery set in post WWII England and Scotland. Beattie is sent to a remote location in Scotland under the guise of her cover as teaching typing skills. The location in Scotland is a listening station, receiving messages from spies from Germany and the US. A plot is afoot by the Americans to hire ex-Nazis to work on nuclear technology, but the Germans were planning to double cross and send the info back to Germany. Beattie’s uncle is somehow involved, and part of her charge is to locate her Uncle Howard. The relationship between Beattie and Corrigan is a highlight of the book, filled with excitement and intrigue. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[R Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable spy thriller. Picking up from Beattie Cavendish and the white pearl this episode sees Beattietravel north of Inverness to investigate a spy ring. She calls upon her PI colleague Corrigan and try to unravel the role of her uncle. Is he a German spy or a double agent? Wha5 part did he play 8n Beatties life in the resistance during the war? With a tense conclusion, a will they/wont they relationship between the 2 leads and a wistful ending this is a readable second novel in a series.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great fun from start to finish. The Cold War tension, the remote Highland setting, and the mix of espionage and old secrets make for an engaging, atmospheric read. Beattie is a wonderfully strong lead—resourceful, determined, and easy to root for—and the supporting cast adds plenty of intrigue. The plot moves at a good pace, with enough twists to keep things lively, and the snowbound Highlands give it an irresistible, slightly claustrophobic charm. A thoroughly enjoyable mystery with strong women and plenty of suspense.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful duo!!! I have had much fun reading this second book in the series! A woman spy (oh dear! how can that be in those days?) working together with a scarred, one eye-veteran (full of charm!) make an unexpected team . Brilliant characters, a lot of actions and romance (well, sort of). I had to laugh many times, this was delightful and very entertaining ! I can't wait for the third book!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the first book, so I have no idea how I've found myself liking Nell so much, a character who isn't really in this book.
As much as I liked Nell, nobody compares to Beattie and Cavendish. A fine pair to say the least.
This was just jolly good fun, with plenty of danger to boot.
Plucky Beattie, thrown in to the wilds of Scotland to solve some problems.

It was a delight to read,
Really very enjoyable,

Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in the series charmed me even more than the first and I think as it continues I will become even more attached to the characters. This book featured a terrific sense of place in the chilly Scottish Highlands while expanding the character development of Beattie and Patrick. It also provided more of Beattie's backstory and featured her mysterious uncle. Definitely recommended for fans of historical mysteries. 4.5 stars.. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Tractor Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A second adventure for Beattie Cavendish this time based in the Highlands.

Beattie is sent to Kilbray a listening station - to find out what is happening, she also intends to visit her uncle - who when she arrives at his cottage has 'disappeared'.

Beattie asks Corrigan to help - as she is sure something is being hidden in her uncle's flat in London.

A relatively fast paced book set in the cold war.... and working out who was listening to who - and what secrets were being passed on!

[Sharyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second book in the Beattie Cavendish series. A good mystery set in the Scottish Highlands with Beattie asking Kevin Corrigan to join her in a complicated mystery. Lots going on and it put me in mind of The Thirty Nine Steps. Alredy looking forward to the next instalment.
With thanks to the publisher for the invite to read and review and to NetGalley for facilitating that.

[Stephanie Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Beattie Cavendish novel, and I really enjoyed it! I loved the setting and time period, and the fact that Beattie is a cool secret agent lady! I am excited to go back and read the first book in her series!

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.

Beattie Cavendish is a former WW2 member of SOE who has been 'relegated' to translating communications for GCHQ, with the occasional field trip. Her boss calls her into the office and tells her to go to a remote listening station in Scotland, the commander has gone missing (possibly drunk and/or with one of his fancy women) and there is a suspicion of espionage - some intelligence is not being passed on and GCHQ is concerned that our American allies could be cosying up to former Nazis who have not shed their old allegiances. Her boss also, rather cryptically, suggests Beattie should visit her uncle who lives close to the station.

When Beattie gets there she finds her uncle has also mysteriously disappeared with all the evidence suggesting it was not planned. Can she keep up her cover story, investigate her uncle's disappearance, and investigate the commander's disappearance single-handedly? Well no, so she enlist the help of private investigator Patrick Corrigan.

I enjoyed this and it had a good pace from the start, but the ending felt a bit hurried. In fact I re-read the last chapters this morning thinking I might have missed something. But, no.

Also, there is a lot of harking back to what Beattie and Patrick did during the war with very little resolution - I think that needs to be sorted in the next book as it leads to a lot of repetition.

Overall, I liked it but I didn't love it.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Bumped for release.