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Hope to Survive
The second Hope Stapleford adventure is an exciting spy thriller in which secret agent Hope embarks on a dangerous mission to save her country...
It is 1939 - war has been declared and spymaster Fitzroy wastes no time in preparing his goddaughter, Hope, for a secret mission. As Euphemia Martins' daughter, Hope has the potential to be one of British Intelligence's greatest agents, but when she is ousted from an all-male think tank and relegated to the typing pool, even she starts to doubt herself.
Meanwhile, Hope's rebellious friend, Bernie, announces her engagement to a man Hope does not trust; Harvey, Hope's only asset, has vanished; and, most awful of all, Hope fears that her father is dying. Then comes Dunkirk and the threat of invasion intensifies. To her surprise, Hope is sent to a secret base, where she joins a group of auxiliary units that are expected to fight to the death should invasion occur. Fearing for her life, she must confront Nazi sympathizers among the country's elite secret service before she can learn who to trust...
It is 1939 - war has been declared and spymaster Fitzroy wastes no time in preparing his goddaughter, Hope, for a secret mission. As Euphemia Martins' daughter, Hope has the potential to be one of British Intelligence's greatest agents, but when she is ousted from an all-male think tank and relegated to the typing pool, even she starts to doubt herself.
Meanwhile, Hope's rebellious friend, Bernie, announces her engagement to a man Hope does not trust; Harvey, Hope's only asset, has vanished; and, most awful of all, Hope fears that her father is dying. Then comes Dunkirk and the threat of invasion intensifies. To her surprise, Hope is sent to a secret base, where she joins a group of auxiliary units that are expected to fight to the death should invasion occur. Fearing for her life, she must confront Nazi sympathizers among the country's elite secret service before she can learn who to trust...
408 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2021
4 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Dunford
42 books47 followersLike most authors I did several jobs before I settled down to writing full time. I've been a journalist, a development officer, and a psychotherapist. I am a novelist, short story writer, mentor, tutor and playwright.
Throughout my life I've been fascinated by people - to the extent I even did a psychology degree before training in psychotherapy. I firmly believe that we all make sense of the whole through narrative- even if it's only the one inside your own head.
My Euphemia Martins Mysteries are inspired by my maternal great grandmother, who left a life of luxury to go into service.
However, everything I do inspires me. The best way of me to make sense of what often seems a very chaotic world is to tell stories. And in those stories I'm always asking questions.
Recently my play Burke has gone into its third production. It tries to make sense of what Burke and Hare, still the UK's most successful (?) serial killers did what they did. How they started.
You'll find traces of questions like this is the Euphemia stories where I often explore why people can and do do unpleasant things.
But - and this is a big but - I also believe that if you want to look at the darker side of human nature you must also pay homage to the lighter side, the truly selfless and generous acts that all humans are capable of doing.
And you need humour. Life can deal all of us harsh knocks and laughter is one of the greatest weapons in our armoury - along with love.
Throughout my life I've been fascinated by people - to the extent I even did a psychology degree before training in psychotherapy. I firmly believe that we all make sense of the whole through narrative- even if it's only the one inside your own head.
My Euphemia Martins Mysteries are inspired by my maternal great grandmother, who left a life of luxury to go into service.
However, everything I do inspires me. The best way of me to make sense of what often seems a very chaotic world is to tell stories. And in those stories I'm always asking questions.
Recently my play Burke has gone into its third production. It tries to make sense of what Burke and Hare, still the UK's most successful (?) serial killers did what they did. How they started.
You'll find traces of questions like this is the Euphemia stories where I often explore why people can and do do unpleasant things.
But - and this is a big but - I also believe that if you want to look at the darker side of human nature you must also pay homage to the lighter side, the truly selfless and generous acts that all humans are capable of doing.
And you need humour. Life can deal all of us harsh knocks and laughter is one of the greatest weapons in our armoury - along with love.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 21, 2025
Oh dear! Not a great book to finish off my challenge. No one needs to read it!!
January 12, 2022
An exhilarating suspense filled spy adventure it is not - don't be misled by the optimistic title!
March 4, 2023
The second Hope Stapleford Adventure, and this one is more tautly written, with far more tension and excitement, as perhaps befits a novel in which an Invasion is feared in the first months of the Second World War. I believe it would work well even if read out of order, as the essential details of the previous novel are swiftly conveyed. Hope Stapleford is again the narrator as she negotiates living in London with her friend Bernie in a flat arranged by her godfather, Fitzroy. She is still intrigued by Fitzroy, a mysterious and very involved character, and definitely a wonderful creation by Dunford. Long known to be something involving the secret services and therefore especially active at this time of war, he seems to be directing Hope’s progress, and arranging for her own involvement in the War effort. Hope is also very concerned about her parents, Euphemia Martin whose own service is the stuff of legend (in a series of books which I am looking forward to beginning soon), and her quieter father whose own health is failing. This book reflects the confusion and perhaps the boredom of the early days of the war, as well as the very real fear of imminent disaster. Its focus on the adventures of one young woman gives a lot of scope to explore the atmosphere of the time, and Dunford creates a world in which she must be continually on her guard.
In this particular book Hope has been seeking a flat to live in with Bernie, her friend whose judgement concerning men has been questionable in the past. When Fitzroy suggests an place, she supposes that he has special knowledge of it. She is keen to join the war effort, but a sudden summons to an address in an office takes her by surprise. Within minutes she finds herself in a room which purports to be a logistics think tank, where she is swiftly attacked for being female. She gives her honest opinion of her colleagues, and is about to suffer for it as her apparent rank is not high, when she is recognised as her mother’s daughter by a senior officer, Cole. Nevertheless she is soon relegated to a room in which she is put to learn typing, and while she is given a high security clearance and can see that she is handling important documents, she becomes frustrated by her lack of activity. Meanwhile Bernie is proving troublesome, and Fitzroy appears to be paying her more attention, before she succumbs to an apparently controlling man. Hope is able to see her parents, and life seems to be sliding into a dull routine before dangerous events occur and she is placed in a completely different environment to cope with new challenges and indeed dangers.
This is a book which I really enjoyed, a true adventure in which the main character faces new and dangerous challenges. The characterisation is also tightened up, with Bernie being less frivolous but equally vulnerable. Fitzroy also seems more focused, and Hope begins to see him in a new light. There is humour to be enjoyed, even when there is a certain darkness especially from Fitzroy. Hope’s relationship with her parents is well developed, even when they take surprising action and more revelations about her mother’s past are suggested. This is such an engaging read, well-paced with surprising twists that are perfectly introduced. I really enjoyed the overall setting, characters and plot of the book, and am eager to follow more of Hope’s adventures as well as discovering more about her mother’s past. I recommend this novel to those enjoy a female led thriller set in a fascinating historical time.
In this particular book Hope has been seeking a flat to live in with Bernie, her friend whose judgement concerning men has been questionable in the past. When Fitzroy suggests an place, she supposes that he has special knowledge of it. She is keen to join the war effort, but a sudden summons to an address in an office takes her by surprise. Within minutes she finds herself in a room which purports to be a logistics think tank, where she is swiftly attacked for being female. She gives her honest opinion of her colleagues, and is about to suffer for it as her apparent rank is not high, when she is recognised as her mother’s daughter by a senior officer, Cole. Nevertheless she is soon relegated to a room in which she is put to learn typing, and while she is given a high security clearance and can see that she is handling important documents, she becomes frustrated by her lack of activity. Meanwhile Bernie is proving troublesome, and Fitzroy appears to be paying her more attention, before she succumbs to an apparently controlling man. Hope is able to see her parents, and life seems to be sliding into a dull routine before dangerous events occur and she is placed in a completely different environment to cope with new challenges and indeed dangers.
This is a book which I really enjoyed, a true adventure in which the main character faces new and dangerous challenges. The characterisation is also tightened up, with Bernie being less frivolous but equally vulnerable. Fitzroy also seems more focused, and Hope begins to see him in a new light. There is humour to be enjoyed, even when there is a certain darkness especially from Fitzroy. Hope’s relationship with her parents is well developed, even when they take surprising action and more revelations about her mother’s past are suggested. This is such an engaging read, well-paced with surprising twists that are perfectly introduced. I really enjoyed the overall setting, characters and plot of the book, and am eager to follow more of Hope’s adventures as well as discovering more about her mother’s past. I recommend this novel to those enjoy a female led thriller set in a fascinating historical time.
January 16, 2025
The second in the series. The story seems to plod along at a sedate pace and the all of a it rounds it's self up within a few chapters. Poor Hope seems to be thrown in at the deep end, trying to work out what she's supposed to be doing without much help and the usual British Brass, showing their very typical views on women.
Some new information regarding Hope and her godfather is brought to light and leaves Hope questioning who she really is and what her role in the grander scheme is as well. Bernie and Harvey from book one also feature, but they too have their own challenges to face.
The ending leaves more unanswered questions and begs the reader to seek out book three. One which I look forward to reading in the not to distance future.
Some new information regarding Hope and her godfather is brought to light and leaves Hope questioning who she really is and what her role in the grander scheme is as well. Bernie and Harvey from book one also feature, but they too have their own challenges to face.
The ending leaves more unanswered questions and begs the reader to seek out book three. One which I look forward to reading in the not to distance future.
July 24, 2023
This was an average read. It took the first half of the book for me to realise that nothing much was going to happen. I won't be rushing to find the others in the series. ( As an side - the editing in my copy was awful)
January 16, 2024
I confess I didn't finish this book, read half then stopped and never really picked it back up. Personally I think this series is a bit boring and could have a lot more too it but will not be continuing this book.
February 21, 2021
A treat
A book by Caroline Dunford is always a real treat.
Wonderful in its writing, chaterization and plot the book never fails to entertain.
A book by Caroline Dunford is always a real treat.
Wonderful in its writing, chaterization and plot the book never fails to entertain.
February 23, 2022
This had me staying put to complete the book to find out how it ended! In fact the ending was, in my opinion, the weakest part of the book!!
March 12, 2023
100 pages in and nothing of interest has happened yet. At this point I just Hope to Survive reading the rest of it as the dialogue isn't the easiest to follow and the characters are not overly endearing.
200 pages in and I honestly don't know why I'm still reading this.
Continued to the end. Never have I read such a disconnected story. Pathetic really. A whole lot of words about nothing. Don't waste your time on this book.
200 pages in and I honestly don't know why I'm still reading this.
Continued to the end. Never have I read such a disconnected story. Pathetic really. A whole lot of words about nothing. Don't waste your time on this book.
April 16, 2023
You need to have an interest in the WW2 time period to engage with the book. The spy factor was definitely there but not very intense, lots of stuff could of have more explanations to it ! I wish Hope could of had a love interest ( especially Cole ) , it took me a while to read it but I don’t regret it !!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2022
Really enjoyed it until the end which was a bit rushed and contrived, but I enjoyed the lead up to it so much, that I am willing to forgive it. I'll read the next one in the series and see what that's like.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews