Letters for A Spy by Alice Chetwynd Ley Book Review

Elizabeth Thorne has finally seized the opportunity to assert her independence….
When she set out from crowded London to visit Crowle Manor, the Sussex house bequeathed to her by her uncle, Elizabeth could not be more delighted by the prospect of a quiet spell in the country. But on her way, she soon discovers that Crowle Manor may not be the quiet destination she had in mind…
Waking to discover a strange letter addressed to the manor house has been slipped into her guide book, she cannot help but wonder who put it there…and why?
As her suspicions deepen, Elizabeth finds herself reacquainted with her former lover, Robert Farnham, a man that she had once refused to marry out of loyalty to her sister. How is he mixed up in this bizarre affair? And how is it he now seems to hardly recognise her?
As the mysteries surrounding her and Crowle Manor grow more and more intense, Elizabeth starts to realise her plans for a quiet country summer are unlikely to be fulfilled. But her hopes of being with the man she still loves may yet still come true…

******************************

I love a good spy story, especially when it is coupled with a romance. Although there was very little of this until the latter part of the book, the mystery more than adequately compensated. The story moved along at a fast pace, helped along by lots of clever dialogue, and held my interest from the start to the action packed conclusion. The plot was believable, as were the characters and their actions. Elizabeth was a likeable no nonsense heroine and Robert made an excellent spy with the right amount of courage and reserve.

Letters for a Spy (also released as The Sentimental Spy) is the first Regency Romance I've read by Alice Chetwynd Ley. My favourite author in this genre will always be Georgette Heyer, but it is exciting to discover another author who writes light-hearted and entertaining romances in a similar style.

This novel was short but the ideal length for a lazy afternoon read and while there was little in the way of romance, it was still enjoyable. For those who prefer a more traditional regency romance or love a great adventure story involving smugglers and spies, this is a book for you.

******************************
I received a free copy of this e-book from Endeavour Press via NetGalley.