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The Traitor's Girl
'I think I'm in danger. It's a matter of some urgency. You must please come at once.'
After receiving a mysterious summons from her long-lost grandmother, Australian teacher Annabel Logan agrees to visit her home in the Cotswolds. But when she arrives at the magnificent Beechwood Hall, it appears abandoned and the local villagers have no idea where the reclusive Caroline Banks might be.
The one person who might know something is enigmatic journalist Simon Colepeper. He reveals that Carrie became a spy and agent provocateur for MI5 during the Second World War. But when British intelligence failed to investigate a dangerous traitor, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
Concerned that her grandmother's secret past has caught up with her, Annabel stays on to investigate. But the more she uncovers, the more difficult it becomes to know who to trust. There are strange incidents occurring at Beechwood and Annabel must use all her ingenuity and daring to find Carrie before it's too late.
From the streets of Seville, Paris and London in the thirties and forties, to the modern English countryside, The Traitor's Girl is a captivating story of passion, intrigue and betrayal.
After receiving a mysterious summons from her long-lost grandmother, Australian teacher Annabel Logan agrees to visit her home in the Cotswolds. But when she arrives at the magnificent Beechwood Hall, it appears abandoned and the local villagers have no idea where the reclusive Caroline Banks might be.
The one person who might know something is enigmatic journalist Simon Colepeper. He reveals that Carrie became a spy and agent provocateur for MI5 during the Second World War. But when British intelligence failed to investigate a dangerous traitor, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
Concerned that her grandmother's secret past has caught up with her, Annabel stays on to investigate. But the more she uncovers, the more difficult it becomes to know who to trust. There are strange incidents occurring at Beechwood and Annabel must use all her ingenuity and daring to find Carrie before it's too late.
From the streets of Seville, Paris and London in the thirties and forties, to the modern English countryside, The Traitor's Girl is a captivating story of passion, intrigue and betrayal.
382 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2017
10 people are currently reading
714 people want to read
About the author
Christine Wells
8 books598 followersChristine Wells is a former corporate lawyer who exchanged contracts and prospectuses for a different kind of fiction.
Undergoing life-saving brain surgery as a 2 year old made her want to be a brain surgeon when she grew up. However, a love of the humanities, particularly English history and literature, not to mention the fact she wasn’t great with blood, made her revise that plan.
Christine had always been interested in the law and after winning a half-scholarship to Bond University in a high school moot competition, she decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a solicitor. Having completed her Bachelor’s degree, Christine worked for city law firms advising on capital raising and mergers and acquisitions.
While still working as a lawyer, she started her first novel, a historical murder mystery which is now (thankfully) lost in the bowels of a defunct hard drive. Eventually, Christine set her sights on publication in the United States, where it seemed British-set historical romance was highly popular. A keen devotee of Georgette Heyer novels, Christine decided to give these a try.
Ten years later, she is an award-winning author with ten novels published by major New York publishers, St. Martin’s Press and Penguin. These novels have been translated (variously) into German, Japanese, Dutch, Spanish, Russian and Portuguese.
Now, a change in direction sees Christine combining her abiding interest in the law and her passion for English history in one novel, THE WIFE’S TALE.
Christine lives with her husband (also a lawyer) and two sons in Brisbane, Australia.
Undergoing life-saving brain surgery as a 2 year old made her want to be a brain surgeon when she grew up. However, a love of the humanities, particularly English history and literature, not to mention the fact she wasn’t great with blood, made her revise that plan.
Christine had always been interested in the law and after winning a half-scholarship to Bond University in a high school moot competition, she decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a solicitor. Having completed her Bachelor’s degree, Christine worked for city law firms advising on capital raising and mergers and acquisitions.
While still working as a lawyer, she started her first novel, a historical murder mystery which is now (thankfully) lost in the bowels of a defunct hard drive. Eventually, Christine set her sights on publication in the United States, where it seemed British-set historical romance was highly popular. A keen devotee of Georgette Heyer novels, Christine decided to give these a try.
Ten years later, she is an award-winning author with ten novels published by major New York publishers, St. Martin’s Press and Penguin. These novels have been translated (variously) into German, Japanese, Dutch, Spanish, Russian and Portuguese.
Now, a change in direction sees Christine combining her abiding interest in the law and her passion for English history in one novel, THE WIFE’S TALE.
Christine lives with her husband (also a lawyer) and two sons in Brisbane, Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 26, 2017
During preparations for the upcoming Christmas with her family, Melbourne's Annabel Logan answered a telephone call in the study. The woman on the other end told Annabel she was in danger and needed Annabel to go to her immediately – she also told her she was her grandmother. Annabel was taken-aback – her grandmother had been dead for years; there was no way this strange woman could be her mother’s mother.
But from a sense of the importance of the phone call, Annabel made her way to England, to Beechwood Hall in the Cotswolds where the woman had told her she lived. Her arrival though was an anticlimax, as Beechwood Hall held no one but the housekeeper – it seemed Caroline Banks had departed in a hurry the day before and no one knew where she was or how long she would be away. Or even if she was safe…
The unexpected appearance of Simon Colepeper, a journalist with an appointment with Carrie, helped ease the way for Annabel as it appeared Simon knew her well. When he told her that Carrie had been a spy for MI5 during WWII though, Annabel was shocked. And as she gradually learned the story of Carrie’s past, she became increasingly worried that what was happening around Beechwood Hall plus Carrie’s disappearance all stemmed from her long ago past. Had the mystery and intrigue from that terrible time finally caught up with her? Annabel was now desperate to find her…
Brilliant! The Traitor’s Girl is the second historical fiction novel by Aussie author Christine Wells and I absolutely loved it! Heartfelt and emotional it was filled with a deeply profound passion which was evident, especially throughout the chapters from the past. Narrated in turn by Annabel in the current day; with Carrie and Eve detailing the past, it was a story that flowed beautifully and drew me in one hundred percent. Totally captivating, completely engrossing – I have no hesitation in highly recommending The Traitor’s Girl to fans of the genre.
With thanks to Penguin Random House Australia for my copy to read and review.
But from a sense of the importance of the phone call, Annabel made her way to England, to Beechwood Hall in the Cotswolds where the woman had told her she lived. Her arrival though was an anticlimax, as Beechwood Hall held no one but the housekeeper – it seemed Caroline Banks had departed in a hurry the day before and no one knew where she was or how long she would be away. Or even if she was safe…
The unexpected appearance of Simon Colepeper, a journalist with an appointment with Carrie, helped ease the way for Annabel as it appeared Simon knew her well. When he told her that Carrie had been a spy for MI5 during WWII though, Annabel was shocked. And as she gradually learned the story of Carrie’s past, she became increasingly worried that what was happening around Beechwood Hall plus Carrie’s disappearance all stemmed from her long ago past. Had the mystery and intrigue from that terrible time finally caught up with her? Annabel was now desperate to find her…
Brilliant! The Traitor’s Girl is the second historical fiction novel by Aussie author Christine Wells and I absolutely loved it! Heartfelt and emotional it was filled with a deeply profound passion which was evident, especially throughout the chapters from the past. Narrated in turn by Annabel in the current day; with Carrie and Eve detailing the past, it was a story that flowed beautifully and drew me in one hundred percent. Totally captivating, completely engrossing – I have no hesitation in highly recommending The Traitor’s Girl to fans of the genre.
With thanks to Penguin Random House Australia for my copy to read and review.
February 12, 2018
Four and a half stars
The year is 1996. Melbourne teacher Annabel Logan is feeling very much on the outer and put upon by her adoptive mother Trish and the rest of the family. When she receives a phone call from England from her grandmother who she believed was dead, Caroline is overwhelmed. More so when her grandmother insists her life is in danger and she needs Annabel to come to England, to Beechwood Hall. She promise to tell Annabel more when she arrives. But when Annabel gets to Beechwood Hall, her grandmother Carrie is not there. There is however a vicious goose and a man, Simon Colepeper. (Interestingly this name is spelled differently on the back cover blurb of the book than it is in the text. Somebody’s oversight in editing. ) Simon claims to be a journalist there to interview Annabel’s grandmother. Annabel find out some amazing information about her Grandmother’s past life, including the fact that Carrie was a spy and agent provocateur during the Second World War. Through some tapes Simon gives her, Annabel learns more about this part of Carrie’s life and the danger she found herself in.
I’m not one who reads many spy novels, but this one captured and held my interest. The reader is given the modern story of Annabel, and her stay at Beechwood House, interactions with Simon and Eve, a friend of her grandmother’s. The reader is also taken back in time to Carrie’s story, how she came to meet Eve, and the man she fell in love with, as well as those who betrayed their country or were working as double agents.
This was an interesting read. Characters and settings are well drawn and it is easy to visualise events. Even people like me who don’t normally read spy novels will enjoy this and those who do will, I suspect, devour it. Another book sure to add to fans of this author’s work, this is a recommended read.
The year is 1996. Melbourne teacher Annabel Logan is feeling very much on the outer and put upon by her adoptive mother Trish and the rest of the family. When she receives a phone call from England from her grandmother who she believed was dead, Caroline is overwhelmed. More so when her grandmother insists her life is in danger and she needs Annabel to come to England, to Beechwood Hall. She promise to tell Annabel more when she arrives. But when Annabel gets to Beechwood Hall, her grandmother Carrie is not there. There is however a vicious goose and a man, Simon Colepeper. (Interestingly this name is spelled differently on the back cover blurb of the book than it is in the text. Somebody’s oversight in editing. ) Simon claims to be a journalist there to interview Annabel’s grandmother. Annabel find out some amazing information about her Grandmother’s past life, including the fact that Carrie was a spy and agent provocateur during the Second World War. Through some tapes Simon gives her, Annabel learns more about this part of Carrie’s life and the danger she found herself in.
I’m not one who reads many spy novels, but this one captured and held my interest. The reader is given the modern story of Annabel, and her stay at Beechwood House, interactions with Simon and Eve, a friend of her grandmother’s. The reader is also taken back in time to Carrie’s story, how she came to meet Eve, and the man she fell in love with, as well as those who betrayed their country or were working as double agents.
This was an interesting read. Characters and settings are well drawn and it is easy to visualise events. Even people like me who don’t normally read spy novels will enjoy this and those who do will, I suspect, devour it. Another book sure to add to fans of this author’s work, this is a recommended read.
May 19, 2017
This is a compelling story of intrigue, spies, danger betrayal and secrets that are finally going to come out years after the Second World War. It all starts when Annabel Logan gets a strange phone call from a woman claiming to be her grandmother Caroline Banks (Carrie) saying that she is in danger and needs her to travel from Australia England immediately and wow what a journey it is for Annabel, this one had me turning the pages with so much curiosity about what was going to happen, this is a story not to be missed.
Simon Colepeper is a journalist with secrets himself he has befriended Carrie and is learning all of her secrets for a book but when there are threats made against Carrie she flees and leaves Simon to protect Annabel, but Simon must be her bodyguard and not get close to her, you see Annabel is such a strong and caring woman and he is drawn to her strength and personality but there is a lot to uncover and danger lurking.
Annabel has arrived at her long lost grandmother Caroline Banks’s home Beechwood to find her gone she is met by firstly a goose then saved by journalist Simon Colepeper who helps her learn about Carrie and there is a lot to learn she listens to tapes and meets one of Carrie’s friends Eve who also helps with the past. Annabel and Simon do a lot of investigating to try and find out what danger Carrie thought she was in, was the past coming back to threaten her?
Where do I start this is such a fabulous story written so well the characters come to life on the pages, Russian spies, MI5 secret agents and what they all did and went through just before the war during it and after, lives and loves that are lost so much happening so many memories and heartache but above all a story that did have me smiling in the end Simon and Annabel had that pull from their first meeting goose and all and to see Annabel and Carrie finally a family together after what they had both been through was wonderful thank you MS Wells for another magical story that will stay will me for a long time to come, one for the keeper shelf. I do highly recommend this one it truly is one not to be missed.
Simon Colepeper is a journalist with secrets himself he has befriended Carrie and is learning all of her secrets for a book but when there are threats made against Carrie she flees and leaves Simon to protect Annabel, but Simon must be her bodyguard and not get close to her, you see Annabel is such a strong and caring woman and he is drawn to her strength and personality but there is a lot to uncover and danger lurking.
Annabel has arrived at her long lost grandmother Caroline Banks’s home Beechwood to find her gone she is met by firstly a goose then saved by journalist Simon Colepeper who helps her learn about Carrie and there is a lot to learn she listens to tapes and meets one of Carrie’s friends Eve who also helps with the past. Annabel and Simon do a lot of investigating to try and find out what danger Carrie thought she was in, was the past coming back to threaten her?
Where do I start this is such a fabulous story written so well the characters come to life on the pages, Russian spies, MI5 secret agents and what they all did and went through just before the war during it and after, lives and loves that are lost so much happening so many memories and heartache but above all a story that did have me smiling in the end Simon and Annabel had that pull from their first meeting goose and all and to see Annabel and Carrie finally a family together after what they had both been through was wonderful thank you MS Wells for another magical story that will stay will me for a long time to come, one for the keeper shelf. I do highly recommend this one it truly is one not to be missed.
March 13, 2017
I loved this book. Took me just a couple of days to read it and I just did not want to put it down. I haven't read any of Well's work before but this one transfixed me and transported me back in time, trying to work out what had happened and what was happening today.
There were so many levels to this story and I loved them all!!
There were so many levels to this story and I loved them all!!
May 15, 2017
The Traitor's Girl by Christine Wells is a brilliant new novel which delves into the world of espionage.
If you love spy stories ~ you are going to love this one.
It starts in Melbourne, then goes onto London and The Cotswolds, Bath and back to Melbourne again.
This is a complex, enthralling novel capturing the world of spies, their networks and how they operate.
There are some interesting and imaginative code names used throughout the book and secrets which unfold.
It'll keep you on your toes and thinking.
I loved Christine's descriptions of winter scenes and fashion of the thirties and forties in particular ~ sometimes, I felt as if a snowflake was going to drift onto the page of the book!
I really enjoyed this new novel, The Traitor's Girl by Christine Wells.
Recommend for those who enjoy the secret world of espionage.
If you love spy stories ~ you are going to love this one.
It starts in Melbourne, then goes onto London and The Cotswolds, Bath and back to Melbourne again.
This is a complex, enthralling novel capturing the world of spies, their networks and how they operate.
There are some interesting and imaginative code names used throughout the book and secrets which unfold.
It'll keep you on your toes and thinking.
I loved Christine's descriptions of winter scenes and fashion of the thirties and forties in particular ~ sometimes, I felt as if a snowflake was going to drift onto the page of the book!
I really enjoyed this new novel, The Traitor's Girl by Christine Wells.
Recommend for those who enjoy the secret world of espionage.
October 10, 2017
Another gorgeous cover & intriguing title made me very keen to read Christine Wells’s new book, The Traitor’s Girl, which moves between contemporary times and war-torn London in the 30s. I love novels with dual timelines, and really enjoyed Christine Wells’s earlier book, The Wife’s Tale. I also love books about female spies and resistance fighters, so this was always going to appeal to me.
Annabel Logan thinks she has no family, but one day hears from her long-lost grandmother begging for her help as she fears she is in danger. Annabel drops everything and rushes to Beechwood Manor, her grandmother’s old manor house in the Cotswolds. However, her grandmother is nowhere to be found and there are signs of a violent break-in. With the help of a handsome journalist, Simon, Annabel sets out to discover what has happened. She discovers that her grandmother was once a spy for MI5 during the Second World War, but that she was somehow betrayed and imprisoned.
Suspecting that the grandmother’s past may have something to do with her disappearance, Annabel races against time to learn her secrets and try and solve the mystery. Lots of intrigue, passion and betrayals made for a riveting read. The pages just seemed to turn themselves!
Annabel Logan thinks she has no family, but one day hears from her long-lost grandmother begging for her help as she fears she is in danger. Annabel drops everything and rushes to Beechwood Manor, her grandmother’s old manor house in the Cotswolds. However, her grandmother is nowhere to be found and there are signs of a violent break-in. With the help of a handsome journalist, Simon, Annabel sets out to discover what has happened. She discovers that her grandmother was once a spy for MI5 during the Second World War, but that she was somehow betrayed and imprisoned.
Suspecting that the grandmother’s past may have something to do with her disappearance, Annabel races against time to learn her secrets and try and solve the mystery. Lots of intrigue, passion and betrayals made for a riveting read. The pages just seemed to turn themselves!
May 21, 2017
I was lucky enough to win this book on Goodreads. Thank you Christine for my signed copy. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully crafted story.
November 26, 2017
From the outset, this novel reminded me so much of one of my all-time favourites — Restless by William Boyd — that I could not help but love it, turning the pages late into the night. Australian Annabel receives a phone call from a woman claiming to be her dead grandmother, Carrie. And she is in danger. So Annabel drops everything to cross the world and meet this long lost relative, finding her mysteriously vanished, and uncovering secrets of why she’d grown up believing a lie. Other secrets are revealed as the narrative weaves the past with the present, with storylines telling of Carrie’s exploits as a spy in WW2 and her friend, Eve’s. In the present day, Carrie’s secrets are protected by Simon, a journalist, who helps Annabel investigate the mystery surrounding Carrie’s disappearance. A tale of betrayal and double-crossing, love and loyalty.
September 1, 2017
Middle of the road, another pleasant read. Pleasant reads are the bread and butter of a constant reader - you can't survive on a diet of highbrow alone, you need some chill out, relax and not think too much reads.
A blend of the past and the present, a war story mixed up with the present day clue finding mission. Fairly standard but fast paced.
A blend of the past and the present, a war story mixed up with the present day clue finding mission. Fairly standard but fast paced.
December 11, 2018
History, mystery, romance. All this is included in "The Traitor's Girl".
Australian teacher Annabel is contacted by a grandmother she thought was dead, and who claims to be in danger. She goes to England as requested, but when she arrives at the grand old Beechwood Hall, her grandmother Carrie is not there and noone knows where she is.
I can't say much more about the plot without spoiling. Suffice to say there are a few twists and turns that culminate in a satisfying ending.
The characters are cleverly developed through recollections of wartime years, 50 years previous to the setting of the 1990s.
Australian teacher Annabel is contacted by a grandmother she thought was dead, and who claims to be in danger. She goes to England as requested, but when she arrives at the grand old Beechwood Hall, her grandmother Carrie is not there and noone knows where she is.
I can't say much more about the plot without spoiling. Suffice to say there are a few twists and turns that culminate in a satisfying ending.
The characters are cleverly developed through recollections of wartime years, 50 years previous to the setting of the 1990s.
September 20, 2017
An interesting story of WW2, aongmwith a connection to a later period. Annabel receives a phone call from someone who claimed to be her grandmother, who, as far as Annabel knew, had disappeared and was supposed to be dead. So Annabel flies to England to discover the truth, which leads to the story of her grandmother's involvement with the secret services during WW2. This was a good read, taking us along some very interesting paths to the finale. I enjoyed the characters and the development of their various stories was quite well done.
December 27, 2017
Beautifully told tale of espionage and treason by double agents for the USSR in Britain during World War II and afterwards, a practice that was most likely widespread (see the case of the Cambridge spies) but is too often neglected by authors. The plot goes back and forth between the two protagonists, 1990s Annabel and her 1940s grandmother Caroline, but nonetheless the story flows well. The ending is perhaps not as strong as the rest of the book however I will definitely look for other novels by Christine Wells.
September 24, 2021
Exceptional.
Australian girl, Annabel receives a mysterious call from her grandmother in the Cotswolds asking her to visit urgently. On arrival at the old family home, she finds her grandmother has gone missing.
In the quest to discover her whereabouts, Annabel is transported back to the Second World War, and the activities of MI5, spies, intrigue, double agents and traitors.
This brilliantly written story was hard to put down, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Australian girl, Annabel receives a mysterious call from her grandmother in the Cotswolds asking her to visit urgently. On arrival at the old family home, she finds her grandmother has gone missing.
In the quest to discover her whereabouts, Annabel is transported back to the Second World War, and the activities of MI5, spies, intrigue, double agents and traitors.
This brilliantly written story was hard to put down, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
December 1, 2017
I loved this!! Annabel was a gorgeous heroine - I enjoyed following her adventure to discover the truth about her grandmother’s mysterious past. The plot kept me turning the pages and the romance was perfectly paced. Extra points for the delicious cover!
December 24, 2017
The intrigue and mystery gradually builds throughout the story. Spies and double agents abound in this dual storyline. The modern thread of the story, however, falls a bit flat for me.
July 10, 2017
Brilliant!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. The mix of romance, suspense and violence with secret agents thrown in was tantalising.
5/5!!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. The mix of romance, suspense and violence with secret agents thrown in was tantalising.
5/5!!
July 15, 2017
Loved this latest novel by Christine Wells, historical fiction at its finest
July 31, 2017
Loved it!
February 6, 2018
This was an interesting story, especially the war time one but there were inconsistencies that annoyed me a bit.
November 28, 2018
Fairly entertaining woman spy novel. Good character development and interesting plot. I enjoyed it.
December 17, 2018
Another gripping read by Christine Wells. Well researched.
February 15, 2020
Wells can really spin a story. I was hooked all the way!
May 14, 2020
Such a good book. But only 4 stars as I feel like there are so many things left unsaid......
February 17, 2022
I enjoyed this - found it dragged a bit in some parts which is why I gave it 3 stars, plus a bit predictable, but do enjoy spy novels
October 29, 2022
Really enjoyed this story. The historical fiction side is always a winner for me.
May 10, 2025
Another brilliant story from Christine Wells. A now and then story connecting an orphaned family member with her granny. Loved it.
October 7, 2023
Annabel receives a call from a grandmother she doesn't know existed, saying that she is in danger. Dropping everything, Annabel leaves Australia, to visit her grandmother in England only to find that granny has disappeared. All is not lost because granny was having a book about her life as a spy in WWII so there are multiple recordings to listen to. And then it turns out, her grandmother just went away for a few days.
The WWII spy storyline was great, the rest was not believable. I wanted to DNF but persevered. Just when I thought this book would redeem itself, another unbelievable coincidence occurred which just ruined the book for me
The WWII spy storyline was great, the rest was not believable. I wanted to DNF but persevered. Just when I thought this book would redeem itself, another unbelievable coincidence occurred which just ruined the book for me
December 30, 2021
Another intriguing, dual-time line story from Christine Wells. Again I found the older historical story much more engrossing than the fairly vanillary modern one, but in some ways the modern story is really just a vehicle to explore the older....Annabelle receives a phone-call out of the blue from the grandmother she did not know was still alive, requesting she visit her in England. This draws Annabelle into a web of intrigue and espionage as Caroline Bank's life as an MI5 agent provocateur unfolds.
Annabelle herself was fairly sweet and innocuous, and the romance that develops reasonably uninspiring, but I found the stories of both Carrie and lawyer-come-spy Eve interesting and inspiring: two strong and brave women serving their country, with possibly more skill than many of their male counterparts but considerably less acclaim.
Annabelle herself was fairly sweet and innocuous, and the romance that develops reasonably uninspiring, but I found the stories of both Carrie and lawyer-come-spy Eve interesting and inspiring: two strong and brave women serving their country, with possibly more skill than many of their male counterparts but considerably less acclaim.
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July 16, 2017**Audio Book**
February 25, 2018
Schmaltzy to the max......
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews