Where the Sky Begins by Rhys Bowen Book Review

Synopsis

London, 1940. Bombs fall and Josie Banks’s world crumbles around her. Her overbearing husband, Stan, is unreachable, called to service. Her home, a ruin of rubble and ash. Josie’s beloved tearoom boss has been killed, and Josie herself is injured, with nothing left and nowhere to go.

Evacuated to the English countryside, Josie ends up at the estate of the aristocratic Miss Harcourt, a reluctant host to the survivors of the Blitz. Awed as she is by the magnificent landscape, Josie sees opportunity. Josie convinces Miss Harcourt to let her open a humble tea shop, seeing it as a chance for everyone to begin again. When Josie meets Mike Johnson, a handsome Canadian pilot stationed at a neighboring bomber base, a growing intimacy brings her an inner peace she’s never felt before. Then Stan returns from the war.

Now a threat looms larger than anyone imagined. And a dangerous secret is about to upend Josie’s life again. Her newfound courage will be put to the test if she is to emerge, like a survivor, triumphant.

My Thoughts

Josie Banks is trapped in a loveless, childless marriage to a jealous and selfish husband. When Stan is called up, Josie is relieved and grasps the chance for a little independence. She finds employment in a tearoom and believes she has found her niche. It abruptly comes to an end when Josie is injured during a German bombing raid over the East End of London. Her home, possessions and livelihood are all lost.

Evacuated to Lincolnshire to recuperate, she is reluctantly taken in by the aristocratic Miss Harcourt, the lady of the manor of the small village of Sutton St. Giles. Josie soon settles into her new home despite the unfriendly attitudes of both Miss Harcourt and her servant Kathleen, finding joy in a different way of life and relative safety away from war damaged London.

Through her blossoming friendship with Mike Johnson, a Canadian RAF pilot, Josie meets other airmen and she sees the need for a place where they can spend their leisure time other than the local pub. Josie persuades Miss Harcourt to convert one of the unused rooms of the house into a tearoom and soon she has a thriving business, which not only appeals to those on the airbase but to the locals as well.

There is more turmoil for Josie as she falls foul of government red tape, comes under suspicion of being a spy, her trust in Mike Johnson is shaken and, when Stan returns from the war, the promising future she envisaged is jeopardised.

I wanted to read this book as it appealed to my love of historical mysteries set during World War II. To my disappointment, the mystery element involving spies wasn't that strong and was introduced later in the book. Despite a number of suspects, it was easy to work out who was passing information to the enemy, so that the reveal didn't come as a total surprise. This thread of the novel laid the groundwork for how Josie's contribution to the war effort continued.

What I liked most about this novel was the depiction of life in a small village on the edge of an airbase during World War II. The many aspects of life on the homefront were included. Food rationing, housing of child evacuees, treatment of German refugees and concern for loved ones serving overseas were events that united or divided the community. Life was difficult enough without the presence of the airbase which was a constant reminder of death and destruction.

I also liked Josie, but thought she tended to self-criticise too much and, even though I was happy how her story unfolded and ended, events worked out too conveniently for her. Each unfortunate situation that she faced was quickly overcome. I felt there were too many challenges thrown her way and knowing that Josie would triumph no matter what, diminished the impact of the major ones. I know she was supposed to be resilient and she did gain in confidence over the course of the novel, but my emotions weren't fully engaged and, at times, it read like Josie's weren't either.

I'd read and enjoyed two of Rhys Bowen's previous standalones, In Farleigh Field and The Tuscan Child, and was expecting this one to be of the same calibre. I discovered Where the Sky Begins is a much lighter read that fits the 'cosy' genre nicely.

Despite my criticisms, overall I did enjoy this novel. It was a quick read, entertaining, comfortable and undemanding and, in hindsight, a perfect match for my reading mood at the time.