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Slim Moran Mysteries #1
The Lost Spy
It is Paris, 1949. 27-year-old American detective and heiress, Slim Moran, is hired by a British spymistress to find Marie-Claire, a spy long presumed dead. Slim soon realizes that scores from the last war have not been settled. She races to find out what happened to this deeply troubled lost spy because if Marie-Claire is not dead, she will be soon.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2017
230 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Kate Moira Ryan
9 books25 followersAs a NYC-based playwright, I have worked in theater most of my life. I love creating worlds and telling stories. From the time I was a child, I have always been a voracious reader of mysteries as well as a keen student of history, in particular, of WWII. I created the Slim Moran Mystery Series inspired by many stories from the past, some heroic and some horrific and some hidden for years. One, in particular, caught my interest. My friend was a young American bride in 1950's Paris.The first time she used her fireplace on Rue de Seine, smoke flooded the room. She opened the flu, guns fell from the chimney, and that is when she realized her husband was in the Resistance. The story piqued my interest, and I began to write. I decided to focus on the millions of people who were displaced and families ripped apart in WWII. Some spent years searching in vain for their loved ones. I decided to create a detective for the lost to give a voice to those who disappeared.
The Lost Spy is the first book in the Slim Moran Series. In the second book, The Lost Boy, Slim searches for a Polish child taken by the Nazis and 'Germanized.' Each book will be based on a historical event and feature a missing person case which Slim tries to solve because I believe that everyone who is lost deserves to be found. Thank you for spending time with my first book and with Slim Moran.
The Lost Spy is the first book in the Slim Moran Series. In the second book, The Lost Boy, Slim searches for a Polish child taken by the Nazis and 'Germanized.' Each book will be based on a historical event and feature a missing person case which Slim tries to solve because I believe that everyone who is lost deserves to be found. Thank you for spending time with my first book and with Slim Moran.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 11, 2017
The Lost Spy (Slim Moran Mysteries) by Kate Moira Ryan is a spy and mystery book. I enjoyed it and thought it was good. For the prudes out there, be warned it does have some F/F sexual content in it. The story is a fast paced mystery and has a good plot.
May 21, 2019
I received a free copy through the Kindle Scout Program in exchange of an honest review.
Slim Moran starts an agency to help find people who went missing during World War II. She is hired to find a female British agent who went missing while working undercover in Nazi-occupied France. Everybody thought she was dead but questions are starting to rise. As one mystery leads into another, the trail is filled with deception and dead ends.
I don't usually read books set in this time period. I prefer more modern of futuristic stories. But this one sounded interesting enough to try. It is not your typical mystery. It isn't a single mystery but several that are interwoven to make the full story. You get some answers fairly early in the story but they only lead to more questions or to finding out what you thought happened was just a red herring that lead to a dead end.
On top of the mystery, the story deals with how people are dealing with their lives after the war. Several of the characters have had tremendous losses and horrific events happen to them which basically has destroyed them. They are alive but a large piece of their soul is dead. Many are having to deal with their anger and new prejudices that arose from the war. In many ways, this was the best part of the story.
This is a dark, convoluted tale (in a good way). I wouldn't want to read this type of story all the time, but it did make an interesting change from my normal reading fare.
Slim Moran starts an agency to help find people who went missing during World War II. She is hired to find a female British agent who went missing while working undercover in Nazi-occupied France. Everybody thought she was dead but questions are starting to rise. As one mystery leads into another, the trail is filled with deception and dead ends.
I don't usually read books set in this time period. I prefer more modern of futuristic stories. But this one sounded interesting enough to try. It is not your typical mystery. It isn't a single mystery but several that are interwoven to make the full story. You get some answers fairly early in the story but they only lead to more questions or to finding out what you thought happened was just a red herring that lead to a dead end.
On top of the mystery, the story deals with how people are dealing with their lives after the war. Several of the characters have had tremendous losses and horrific events happen to them which basically has destroyed them. They are alive but a large piece of their soul is dead. Many are having to deal with their anger and new prejudices that arose from the war. In many ways, this was the best part of the story.
This is a dark, convoluted tale (in a good way). I wouldn't want to read this type of story all the time, but it did make an interesting change from my normal reading fare.
July 1, 2021
Mystery is not a typical genre that I read. However, this historical fiction was fast paced that kept me interested. It spanned many decades, but I never felt I was boggled with too much info that I was bored. Loved that many of the main characters were strong women.
September 23, 2017
I love mysteries especially fast paced mysteries and this did not disappoint. I also love historical fiction and anything to do with WWII. I read the book on my kindle reader on a transatlantic flight and it was hard to put down - I was hooked from the first page. The main character- a strong, smart American woman- Slim Moran is living in Paris post WWII and is hired to find the last of the British wireless operators who was dropped into France, apprehended by the Nazis and thought to be dead. The ending left you hanging and wanting more! Highly recommend this book if you want a good mystery and to learn about a fascinating piece of WWII espionage. Book 2 cant come soon enough!
May 12, 2020
3.5. Story was set in Europe after WWII and involves Slim Moran, an American heiress, who runs an agency that finds people lost in the war. Interesting storyline and characters. There was quite a bit of coincidence that occurred. Also, if you are prudish, this is probably not the series for you. I'll read the next book if our library has it.
October 20, 2017
Sublime Story
Finally, a story with complex, multi-faceted female characters - but one that doesn't desert the male of the species either! I learned so much about WWII history - as well as its aftermath. Wars leave so many damaged victims... And yet the need to go on living makes this ultimately a hopeful book. I needed this message in our calamitous times. This was a page turner and I can't wait for book 2!!
Finally, a story with complex, multi-faceted female characters - but one that doesn't desert the male of the species either! I learned so much about WWII history - as well as its aftermath. Wars leave so many damaged victims... And yet the need to go on living makes this ultimately a hopeful book. I needed this message in our calamitous times. This was a page turner and I can't wait for book 2!!
February 13, 2019
Um... Was this book translated (and poorly, at that) from another language to English? No. So, why were all the conversations so stilted and repetitive? Seriously, it was so bad each time it came to quotation marks, I actually groaned, making those around me wondering why I was still reading a story so bad.
Ms. Ryan needs to spend some time LISTENING to how people talk with each other.
The historical parts? Eh. Inaccurate at times, blatantly wrong at others. Don't believe other reviews that claim to teach the reader about World War Ii. At best, it hints at it.
Avoid The Lost Spy. The book should be lost.
Ms. Ryan needs to spend some time LISTENING to how people talk with each other.
The historical parts? Eh. Inaccurate at times, blatantly wrong at others. Don't believe other reviews that claim to teach the reader about World War Ii. At best, it hints at it.
Avoid The Lost Spy. The book should be lost.
February 12, 2018
I was give a copy of this book by the writer in exchange for an honest review. My opinions remain my own.
World War II is over. Slim Moran isn't ready to return to the US or to England. She's happy to stay with her lover in Paris, and opens an agency to find displaced persons. She hasn't had many cases when she is contacted by someone from the SOE looking for a missing radio operator, believed to be captured and killed by the Nazis. But there's just a possibility that she might be alive. Will Slim be able to get to the truth of what happened to Marie-Claire?
I wasn't really crazy about this book. It started off with an interesting premise, a good strong setting, but then I got turned off by the number of times people would just sit around and talk and Slim would do nothing at all to verify their stories, to press them, to look for clues. There was a whole lot of nothing happening. I feel like maybe that's not fair, but something about the actual detection part of mystery just didn't work. There were too many times Slim just accepted things at face value.
The tangled relationships made it difficult to care about these characters as well. I liked the introduction of Edith Piaf as a performer and Marlene Dietrich - little touches like that really helped with the setting. But it honestly wasn't enough to save the book for me. I would say if you are interested in the setting, to give it a try. It might also be that it's just suffering from first book blues.
Thanks for the chance to read this one.
World War II is over. Slim Moran isn't ready to return to the US or to England. She's happy to stay with her lover in Paris, and opens an agency to find displaced persons. She hasn't had many cases when she is contacted by someone from the SOE looking for a missing radio operator, believed to be captured and killed by the Nazis. But there's just a possibility that she might be alive. Will Slim be able to get to the truth of what happened to Marie-Claire?
I wasn't really crazy about this book. It started off with an interesting premise, a good strong setting, but then I got turned off by the number of times people would just sit around and talk and Slim would do nothing at all to verify their stories, to press them, to look for clues. There was a whole lot of nothing happening. I feel like maybe that's not fair, but something about the actual detection part of mystery just didn't work. There were too many times Slim just accepted things at face value.
The tangled relationships made it difficult to care about these characters as well. I liked the introduction of Edith Piaf as a performer and Marlene Dietrich - little touches like that really helped with the setting. But it honestly wasn't enough to save the book for me. I would say if you are interested in the setting, to give it a try. It might also be that it's just suffering from first book blues.
Thanks for the chance to read this one.
October 2, 2017
I loved this book from beginning to end. First, I love WWII genre. Second, I love mysteries. This book incorporates the best of both. The plot is clever: it captivated me from the beginning and kept me engrossed until the end. There were so many twists and turns; every time I thought I had it figured out, something unexpected would happen. The characters are intriguing and the narrative is so descriptive that I was able to visualize the story as if it were happening in real time. I was on the edge of my seat.
As a psychologist, the impact of war and ensuing trauma on both individuals and relationships was well captured. Some characters were removed from their emotions and focused primarily on external factors resulting from living through a war. Others sought comfort through relationships, both sexual and romantic. And others displayed significant emotional repercussions resulting in mental illness. As the storyline develops, the characters evolve as well, demonstrating the power of relationships in healing a seemingly damaged psyche as well as the potential limitations for recovery.
Basically, a great plot and fascinating characters with broad psychological impact. A must read. Can’t wait for the next installment.
As a psychologist, the impact of war and ensuing trauma on both individuals and relationships was well captured. Some characters were removed from their emotions and focused primarily on external factors resulting from living through a war. Others sought comfort through relationships, both sexual and romantic. And others displayed significant emotional repercussions resulting in mental illness. As the storyline develops, the characters evolve as well, demonstrating the power of relationships in healing a seemingly damaged psyche as well as the potential limitations for recovery.
Basically, a great plot and fascinating characters with broad psychological impact. A must read. Can’t wait for the next installment.
October 15, 2017
The concept of a female sleuth searching for people missing during WWII was an interesting topic, and not one I've read before. I'm not sure of the accuracy of the events, but the details didn't bother me. The story itself was compelling to read.
It wasn't fast-paced, as parts were drawn out by insights into the lives of various characters that brought them to the place they were now. And there were a lot of info dumps in dialog that could have been handled better. Often, people would mention an agency or something else that Slim or someone else didn't know what it was. The person speaking to her would describe it in dialog.
A note of warning: when the story isn't focusing on the whereabouts of a missing female wireless operator, it's set in a lesbian bar, and there's other lesbian content. If you find this offensive, you might want to skip this book.
The following line made me laugh: [I]f you ask an American how they are, they say fine, but if you ask a Russian, well, let’s just say there’s a reason why War and Peace is such a long book.
I received a copy of this book through the Kindle Scout program
It wasn't fast-paced, as parts were drawn out by insights into the lives of various characters that brought them to the place they were now. And there were a lot of info dumps in dialog that could have been handled better. Often, people would mention an agency or something else that Slim or someone else didn't know what it was. The person speaking to her would describe it in dialog.
A note of warning: when the story isn't focusing on the whereabouts of a missing female wireless operator, it's set in a lesbian bar, and there's other lesbian content. If you find this offensive, you might want to skip this book.
The following line made me laugh: [I]f you ask an American how they are, they say fine, but if you ask a Russian, well, let’s just say there’s a reason why War and Peace is such a long book.
I received a copy of this book through the Kindle Scout program
August 30, 2018
Slim Moran is the daughter of a suave movie star. As such she has more money than she knows what to do with but neither enough family nor enough direction. She follows her missing boyfriend into Europe at the close of World War II and, despite never locating the boyfriend, stays to work for the Red Cross in helping to find missing family members of war refugees. When the Red Cross closes up shop in 1949, she and a young survivor of a concentration camp open a detective agency dedicated to finding the relatives of internment camp survivors. That's the set up. Lots of post-war Paris ambiance pervades the action. When a British SOC trainer asks her to find a missing-presumed-dead British radio operator who worked with the French Resistance during the war, Slim sets out on a convoluted journey to discover if the young woman survived. The twists and turns of the plot are sometimes improbable, but always intriguing.
October 12, 2017
A woman who used to work for the Red Cross finding people who were "lost" during and immediately after WWII is hired to search for a woman - radio operator - spy who disappeared. The story is told in current (1949) and in flashbacks to 1943.
It is a fast moving story with interesting twists and turns. There are love interests, aristocracy, movie stars, religious struggles and of course Nazis. The locales include London, France, Rome and Germany.
I originally read an excerpt on Amazon Scout and was given a free kindle version of this book when it was picked up for publishing.
The title says it is part one of the Slim Moran Mysteries which means there are more to come. Knowing that going in made it easier to deal with the cliff-hanger ending although the primary mystery was solved and other threads seemed to be resolved too.
It is a fast moving story with interesting twists and turns. There are love interests, aristocracy, movie stars, religious struggles and of course Nazis. The locales include London, France, Rome and Germany.
I originally read an excerpt on Amazon Scout and was given a free kindle version of this book when it was picked up for publishing.
The title says it is part one of the Slim Moran Mysteries which means there are more to come. Knowing that going in made it easier to deal with the cliff-hanger ending although the primary mystery was solved and other threads seemed to be resolved too.
December 23, 2019
Slim Moran, daughter of a deceased movie star/playboy/alcoholic, is now a private investigator searching for those lost during the war. Although well written, I was looking more for an Agatha Christie type of British mystery. This fictional mystery dealt with the all-too-real horrors of the Holocaust in detail and was often gut-wrenching. The addition of actual famous people (Marlene Dietrich, Simon Wiesenthal, and others) was interesting. However, it's probably time to start looking up the many unread books on my Kindle, rather than diving in blindly to read them. I think I would have appreciated this more if I was prepared for the subject matter and wasn't reading it around the Christmas holidays.
November 14, 2017
I have never really been a mystery reader. Until now. I read The Lost Spy in one afternoon. This book also qualifies as historical fiction which is one of my favored genres and I reveled in this tale of the French Resistance, spies, love, and the risks people took to essentially save the Western Hemisphere during WWII. The characters are carefully drawn and complex and I wanted to spend time with them. Also who can resist a strong female protagonist named Slim (you have to read the book to find out what her nickname stands for). I am happy that the plural "Mysteries" in the title portends more to come. Move over Nancy Drew, Slim Moran has arrived.
April 17, 2019
Our protagonist is hired to find out what happened to a British spy captured by the Nazis during WW2. The pacing of the story is excellent as each layer of the mystery is peeled away as her investigation progresses.
However, more than just a mystery novel, the author gives us “micro-stories” of how the war and the Holocaust affected the various characters our detective meets along the way.
Fans of historical fiction and mystery novels will enjoy this story.
However, more than just a mystery novel, the author gives us “micro-stories” of how the war and the Holocaust affected the various characters our detective meets along the way.
Fans of historical fiction and mystery novels will enjoy this story.
September 29, 2017
I wanted to like this after voting for it on Kindle Scout, and truthfully the topic is interesting and so is the beginning. But soon it gets simply slow, with distracting typos and a plot I couldn't believe. Rarely do I put books down, but three quarters of the way through, I just didn't care enough to continue.
October 8, 2017
Intriguing
The main theme of the story is about the total ugliness of all sides in WWII. Both during and immediately after. It is full of references to real event,real places and real characters. The fictional characters Carry the story. For one who lived in those timrsit was important for younger folk it is a view of the banality of war.
The main theme of the story is about the total ugliness of all sides in WWII. Both during and immediately after. It is full of references to real event,real places and real characters. The fictional characters Carry the story. For one who lived in those timrsit was important for younger folk it is a view of the banality of war.
November 20, 2017
Love WWII history? This evokes it all and spectacularly well. You'll be right there, hearing the clop of wooden high heels on Paris cobblestones and feeling the strain of a 30 lb. wireless suitcase, marinated by the terror of being snatched by the Nazis at any moment. With a bittersweet twist you won't see coming.
This is one I'll definitely be recommending to friends.
This is one I'll definitely be recommending to friends.
February 28, 2018
Interesting plot, location and character. I liked the back and forth between the war years and 1949, but so many issues were so redundant that I found myself skipping what had already been said three times. Though the conclusion had a nice twist, it really isn't anything revealing, and the fact that it ended with the usual thing for a woman is why I couldn't give it that extra star.
April 29, 2018
Post WWII Story of Courage and Intrigue
Slim is the daughter of an American actor. She is trying to give her life substance and purpose in the years after WWII by finding missing people. She pieces together the details by determination and dangerous situations. But just as the seems to have succeeded, her future happiness is threatened.
Slim is the daughter of an American actor. She is trying to give her life substance and purpose in the years after WWII by finding missing people. She pieces together the details by determination and dangerous situations. But just as the seems to have succeeded, her future happiness is threatened.
January 6, 2019
I’m not sure this has been anywhere near an editor - it badly needs to be, though. Writer clearly has a passion for ww2 history but clumsily shoehorning every possible historical reference into an overly dramatic melodrama doesn’t work. Characters had no depth, dialogue was superficial and simplistic, and many scenes weren’t warranted. Extremely disappointing.
September 17, 2019
Enjoyable Historical Mystery
Fans of Susan Elia MacNeal will enjoy this book! Set a couple years post-WWII, our heroine has set out her own shingle as a private detective, wanting to help those searching for loved ones lost during the war. The action flips back and forth between the past and “present” day. Satisfying ending, and the start of a new series.
Fans of Susan Elia MacNeal will enjoy this book! Set a couple years post-WWII, our heroine has set out her own shingle as a private detective, wanting to help those searching for loved ones lost during the war. The action flips back and forth between the past and “present” day. Satisfying ending, and the start of a new series.
April 19, 2020
A must read!
This author really knows her history and masterfully sets her characters in the time period of WW11 in Europe. Having lived in Germany and France, I recognized many of the places where the characters traveled. Slim and Daniel are fascinating characters that held my interest, and I look forward to reading their continuing story. I could not put this book down.
This author really knows her history and masterfully sets her characters in the time period of WW11 in Europe. Having lived in Germany and France, I recognized many of the places where the characters traveled. Slim and Daniel are fascinating characters that held my interest, and I look forward to reading their continuing story. I could not put this book down.
September 29, 2017
Well written
Well written, but a horrifyingly realistic story of World War II and problems within France and Germany. The concept of finding the missing is wonderful even though most end in tragedy; it's the unknowing that is hard.
Well written, but a horrifyingly realistic story of World War II and problems within France and Germany. The concept of finding the missing is wonderful even though most end in tragedy; it's the unknowing that is hard.
October 8, 2017
Searching
Hired to find a missing wartime spy not long after the war ends is going to be hard what with all the dead and missing and many trying to make sure the answers are never found.
Very good tale
Hired to find a missing wartime spy not long after the war ends is going to be hard what with all the dead and missing and many trying to make sure the answers are never found.
Very good tale
December 28, 2017
Mystery
I thought the story was well put tougher it kept flowing quite naturally. The suspense of the story made you want to keep reading to the end. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an excellent story regarding WWII.
I thought the story was well put tougher it kept flowing quite naturally. The suspense of the story made you want to keep reading to the end. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an excellent story regarding WWII.
December 8, 2018
The first half of the book was strikingly similar to the plot of “A Paris Spy” starring Maggie Hope. Even though the plots divorced quickly, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Slim was Maggie’s long lost twin. Or the knock-off version.
March 16, 2019
The book was intriguing with its history and mystery, but from the middle to the end,.the book writing changes to juvenile or rushed. In
one paragraph, there was a meeting between two characters whom had just met. In the next paragraph, they were rolling off of each other in bed.
one paragraph, there was a meeting between two characters whom had just met. In the next paragraph, they were rolling off of each other in bed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2024
Nope. I really tried but could no longer continue. You can’t lean on a one-time witnesses who remembers a random train passenger from years earlier simply because it’s an easy plot catalyst to make it easier for your heroine.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews