What do you think?
Rate this book
Secrets and Spies: A Scottish Wartime Mystery
Ten-year-old Rory Mackay dreams of being a fighter pilot. But before he can conquer the Nazis, he’ll have to deal with anenemy much closer to home. When Rory's family moves to the north coast of Scotland, he is dismayed. He feels lost until he makes friends with Paul, another outsider at his school. No military Keep Out signs stop this pair having fun. From sneaking down to the harbour to fish, and watching for the mysterious arrival of a strange Norwegian trawler, war seems a world away. But, one day, Rory’s mother suffers an unexplained accident which changes everything. When the boys set out to discover what caused Mrs Mackay’s fall, they stumble upon a dark secret; one that could threaten the very fabric of the nation. Battling bombs, smugglers, and bullies, Rory and Paul face a desperate race against time. Will they save the village, or will they fall victim to the enemy within? Set against the backdrop of coastal Scotland, Secrets and Spies is a tale of love, friendship, and wartime conflict. Having extensively researched the history of this area, Mary Rosambeau crafts a compelling story that will both move and entertain you.
212 pages, Paperback
Published December 11, 2018
3 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 22, 2020
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Secrets and Spies
Author: Mary Rosambeau
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 21
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 21 readers:
18 would read another book by this author.
18 thought the cover was good or excellent.
21 felt it was easy to follow.
20 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 11 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
18 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
18 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘A fantastic adventure book for any child interested in the war. Well-written with a strong element of child friendship.’ Parent of 9 year old
‘This is a good adventure story. I liked the hero Rory and I understand why he felt left out at the beginning. It must have been scary living during a war, but the boys want excitement and go looking for adventure. This is a very good book.’ Girl aged 10
‘Packed full of suspense which my boy loved. Personally, I loved the Scottish setting. The author is excellent at describing setting. This is a very lively adventure – possibly a bit of a boy’s book but that’s okay. Had a bit of an Enid Blyton feel.’ Parent of 11 yr old boy
‘This author is exceptionally talented. She understands her children readership and offers them just what the want: Excitement, suspense, big dilemmas.’ Male reader (teacher), aged 52
To Sum It Up:
‘An exciting, suspense-filled adventure story, perfect for 9 – 12 year olds. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Secrets and Spies
Author: Mary Rosambeau
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 21
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 21 readers:
18 would read another book by this author.
18 thought the cover was good or excellent.
21 felt it was easy to follow.
20 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 11 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
18 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
18 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘A fantastic adventure book for any child interested in the war. Well-written with a strong element of child friendship.’ Parent of 9 year old
‘This is a good adventure story. I liked the hero Rory and I understand why he felt left out at the beginning. It must have been scary living during a war, but the boys want excitement and go looking for adventure. This is a very good book.’ Girl aged 10
‘Packed full of suspense which my boy loved. Personally, I loved the Scottish setting. The author is excellent at describing setting. This is a very lively adventure – possibly a bit of a boy’s book but that’s okay. Had a bit of an Enid Blyton feel.’ Parent of 11 yr old boy
‘This author is exceptionally talented. She understands her children readership and offers them just what the want: Excitement, suspense, big dilemmas.’ Male reader (teacher), aged 52
To Sum It Up:
‘An exciting, suspense-filled adventure story, perfect for 9 – 12 year olds. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
July 28, 2019
Shortlisted for the 2019 Rubery Book Award
A children's war story, well-written in a clear, understandable style, set in a small Scottish coastal town with a good sense of place. Rory and his friend Paul become embroiled in a spy plot and an attempt to blow up an important professor who's working on behalf of the allies. It's a readable piece with compelling mysteries driving it. It has a nice moral dimension too with a good hearted protagonist, who has concern for others, even the dodgy ones. It’s a good read - most of the war references are convincing, and we get a good sense of place and period (Alice's Scottish language is particularly enjoyable). The story stays focused too, with good timing and structure. A good read.
RuberyBookaward.com
A children's war story, well-written in a clear, understandable style, set in a small Scottish coastal town with a good sense of place. Rory and his friend Paul become embroiled in a spy plot and an attempt to blow up an important professor who's working on behalf of the allies. It's a readable piece with compelling mysteries driving it. It has a nice moral dimension too with a good hearted protagonist, who has concern for others, even the dodgy ones. It’s a good read - most of the war references are convincing, and we get a good sense of place and period (Alice's Scottish language is particularly enjoyable). The story stays focused too, with good timing and structure. A good read.
RuberyBookaward.com
July 10, 2023
This is the first book by this author who I met at our local market. Originally brought up in Scotland she now lives in southern England. The book is actually written for youngsters but is certainly very readable for us older readers as we can put ourselves in the minds of children who experienced what it was like for them during WW2.
Looking forward to reading her second book.
Looking forward to reading her second book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews