This was an incredibly entertaining read! The concept was unique and from the onset, I fell in love with Edith. Rees' writing was captivating and easy to fall into, this story was exciting and the plot twists had me on the edge of my seat, desperate for more information. The entire novel wrapped up nicely, something I often feel is lacking with historical fiction. Even the romance, something I tend to find rather hit or miss, was well written and made sense for the character arcs and plot of the story. This one was a brilliant read from the start, highly recommend it!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

took a chance on this one but loved it, kept me up late into the night

I don’t know how to begin - this is a book that will stay with me and I can’t recommend this book strongly enough. I was completely caught up from the beginning and have bought A Life in Secrets to find out more about Vera Atkins and her agents.

I already knew about Churchill’s SOEs and the war and found the film A Call to Spy very moving but what made this book so intriguing was that it was based on the aftermath of war in Germany and the situation in post war breakdown of relations and increased rivalry between the victors spiralling towards Cold War tensions.

The book was extremely well written, plausible and poignant. I liked Edith from the outset and the use of Stella Snelling as an alter ego was clever and convincing. Dori was flawed but charismatic and loyal and Vera was often very much in the background but still vital to the plot. I loved Adeline’s story and the strong bond between the women.

The exploitation of women and their patriotism with sinister undercurrents of intrigue really held my interest. The ruthless acceptance of death and sacrifice and the lack of moral integrity in utilising the suffering of others was shocking but all too believable. Yet the humanity, confidence, friendship and loyalty of the key female characters gave a thread of hope to the reader.

Read this book!!

I enjoyed this book set mainly in Germany in 1946. The deprivations of the Germans after the war were well related and the charcters were well drawn. An interesting bunch and a well plotted story. I do think that the original title didn't do the book any favours and hope that it does well with the shortened 'Miss Graham's War'. With thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a riveting read! Impossible to put down once started. I understand that this is Celia Rees first adult book and sincerely hope it isn’t her last.
The story is set in 1946 just as world war 11 has ended. Edith Graham is a school teacher living a boring existence in England. Her distant cousin Leo encourages her to apply for a position with the British Control Commission in Germany re establishing schools. Edith speaks fluent German so this position proves to be the perfect cover for recruitment as a spy. Her brief being to hunt out Nazi war criminals to be brought to justice. Her prime target is Kurt von Stavenow who she had previously had a brief affair with in the 1930s unaware of his Nazi leanings.
Edith’s friend Dori is a Hungarian spy who lived in Poland and was married to a British pilot who was killed early in the marriage. Dori is searching for friends of hers who have disappeared without trace. The belief is that von Stavenow is behind the disappearance. Also searching for him are American journalist/photographer Adeline, another close friend of Dori and Edith.
Before Edith sets off for Germany she and Dori devise a secret messaging code hidden in recipes that Edith will regularly send from her travels to enable them to stay in touch. Edith is an avid cook and part time cookery writer under a pseudonym so the perfect way of communicating.
I felt I really got to know and understand the characters in this book. They are warm and likeable but tough, strong women with a purpose. Highly recommended read!
My thanks to Netgalley and Emma Pickard HarperCollins for a copy in return for an honest review.

Thorougly enjoyable, despite the seriousness of the subject matter. Highly recommend this book. And its recipes!

A rather depressing story about a teacher recruited to find a Nazi criminal who she met and fell in love with when as a fellow student in England before the war. She is sent to Germany under the guise of helping to reinstall German schools for the children. The ruined cities, flooded with refugees that had escaped from the advancing raping soldiers of the Russians and the homeless malnourished destitute children that need her help contrasting with the well-fed victorious occupying overlords in charge. For herself to survive she has to cope with the sleaze and black-market economy that is prevalent and in inspecting the schools that are in operation soon sees the ones that are under covet Nazis and senses an undercover network of Nazis with a ratline for their escape. On top of which she also becomes aware of the competing interests to find hight ranking Nazis, of those to recruit them for their research knowledge , or some for spies into the Russian occupied areas and others who want to find war crime criminals to bring to justice on behalf of comrades who had suffered in their hands. In all this Miss Graham is just an innocent pawn buffeted in a dangerous sea. What happens makes a tense and eventful story.

Edith Graham leads a double life. It's all good fun really - she writes recipes and tips under a pseudonym., Stella Snelling. She also speaks fluent German. WWII has just ended, and there's a need for British people in Germany to try to bring some order to a chaotic, refugee-packed society still coming to terms with having lost the war. Edith volunteers to go to Germany to help restore some kind of education system there.

I enjoyed this book so much. Even though the war is ostensibly over, it turns out that there are people in Germany who are still fighting a secret war, and Nazism hasn't disappeared, it's gone underground or is hiding in plain sight. This is Harry Lime country - black markets, German hausfrau's selling their furs and jewels to get by. Nobody can be completely trusted.

There is a great cast of women here - Edith herself is surrounded by so many wonderful female characters, good and bad; victims and fighters; spies and secretaries. There's a touch of John le Carre here - it's hard to know who to trust. Nobody is completely heroic, different departments have different agendas, different countries have different priorities.

Rees does a great job of showing a society that has been completely broken apart. She writes great, believable female characters - Edith herself is wonderful - brave, moral, loyal. You root for her all the way through.

I highly recommend this book. Thank you, Netgalley, for giving me the opportunity to read it.

This story begins in 1989 as the Berlin wall is coming down in Germany and the world is looking towards a brighter future. Dori is waiting in Switzerland to finish something that began in 1945 as WW2 had finished. The story is then told in flashback as Dori's friend Edith is recruited to work for the Control Commission, Education Branch, in Germany, helping to rebuild schools and establish education facilities again in the war ravaged country. Before she leaves however, she is asked by her cousin to try and find and old friend of his, Kurt von Stavenhow who has, like many nazis vanished as the war ended. Edith is reluctant since she had a passionate affair with von Stavenhow and was distraught when he married a Prussian heiress. In order to send messages back to Dori in England a code is devised using a war time cookery book and everywhere she goes Edith collects recipes which precede each chapter.
As Edith hunts out von Stavenhow she encounters dangers and opposition, and finds herself double crossed and played by different parties. The Americans and the Russians would both like to get hold of him for his medical knowledge and the British are interested in what happened to their spies during the war. The setting takes us through German and into Austria and Italy and vividly depicts the destruction of the German cities and the breakdown of normal life. Edith learns about the death camps, long marches, the suffering of refugees and particularly children and through the character of Harry Hirsch about the Jewish struggle for statehood in Palestine.
The background to the story was interesting which coupled with the bravery of these capable women as they try and bring justice to those who have suffered., makes a tense and gritty read. The ending comes as something of a surprise but ultimately there is retribution and a feeling of satisfaction.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Publishers for the chance to read this book in return for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

WWII has just ended, as Britain has established the Control Commission for Germany, which oversees their zone of occupation. The Control Commission hires British civilians to work in Germany, rebuild the shattered nation and prosecute war crimes. Bored with her job as a provincial school teacher and unwilling to live with her parents any longer, twentysomething Edith Graham applies for a job with the commission - but is instead recruited by the OSS. To them, Edith is perfect spy material, single, ordinary looking, with a college degree in German. The OSS also know that Edith's brother went to Oxford with one of their most hunted war criminals, Count Kurt von Stabenow.

This is an intriguing story. Edith adopts a pseudonym. and poses as a cookbook author, a clever way to travel round the country and her recipes are sent back with hidden intel. The book did start off slowly, we get lots of details and lots of characters. The story has been cleverly crafted and the twists at the end were worth waiting for. I liked Edith, she was a tough cookie. I also liked the authors writing style. The final chapters were tense and gripping.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #CeliaRees for my ARC of #MissGrahamsColdWarCookbook in exchange for an honest review.

What an interesting way to write about the war, the extent of the spying that went on and the woman who were caught up in it all. I was fascinated to see how Edith cooks to send clues in the recipes. I am all for trying some of the recipes in the book to. I found the whole story really well written and detailed giving a unique view of that time and place. A little overlong but the story itself was a treat to read even if it did make me hungry!

I am not usually a fan of war=time stories, but I was invited to read this and I am SO pleased I accepted the invitation.
The story of reluctant spy Edith at the end of WW2, kept me completely absorbed throughout, despite being a pretty long book. Full of atmospheric historical details, I was transported back to post war Germany as Edith sent her coded recipes and tried to figure out who she could trust.

Apparently, this is Celia Rees' first novel... it's a belter and I look forward to reading much more from her. 4.5*

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Teacher and fluent German speaker Edith Graham has an affair in the 1930’s with Kurt von Stavenhow about whose Nazi views she is unaware of. In 1945 she is co-opted by the Control Commission, Education Branch and is sent to Lubeck. Her secret mission is to track down von Stavenhow. To keep friends and war spy Dori Stansfield and Adeline Croft, an American photographer and journalist apprised of what’s going they devise a code using The Radiation Cookery Book as their source. Edith sends these disguised recipes and each chapter starts with ‘Stella Snellings’ recipes, Edith’s nom de plume.

There is so much to admire in this insightful book, some of it is very unsettling, factually very accurate and it makes you feel a whole gamut of emotions. It’s excellent on historical context depicting the post war situation of Nazi hunting for scientists and doctors who could be useful to the allies with the frigid atmosphere developing with the USSR making it clear the focus of enmity has changed. These strong, brave and immensely capable women want something entirely different which is to bring these men including von Stavenhow to justice. Their characters are so well portrayed and their bravery admirable. The book vividly depicts the destructive war damage in Germany, the impact on children surviving a harsh winter in cellars and the overwhelming task of educating the huge numbers of displaced. Like many adults they have witnessed things they can’t unsee and have to endure malnutrition, lack of suitable clothing including shoes. Edith’s frustration at understanding she can do little to help is well depicted. You also get a good sense of people hiding behind masks of willing compliance, adopting a blandness or blankness of expression. However, behind this emotionless curtain it’s clear to perceive that some Nazi views especially towards Jews have not changed. The novel depicts some shocking stories which sadly we are all too aware of.

Edith encounters dangers and threats all about her, there’s a ton of suspicion everywhere, she’s duped, double crossed and betrayed and this builds really well. The plot is busy, taking us from Germany to Austria, to the Baltic states and also includes the fight for the Jewish homeland vis the excellent character of Harry Hirsch. The ending is tense, shock, and heartbreaking but ultimately there’s retribution.

Overall, this is a well written and compelling historical novel and I love the focus on strong and capable women. It’s fascinating, heartbreaking, horrifying and sad in equal measure. It’s a powerful story which I like very much and it’s one I’ll remember despite it probably being a bit overlong. I enjoyed reading how the novel is conceived via the Radiation Cookbook. I recommend this to fans of the genre.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the widget in return for an honest review.

Firstly I would say don't be put off by the size of this book. It is a long one but there is no filler in it, everything is relevant to the plot and it is well worth reading. I didn't want to put it down, I was gripped from the start.
The second world war may finally be over in Europe but countries are in chaos. Teacher Edith Graham wants to help in a way she couldn’t during the war so she signs up to go to Germany to work with the Control Commission Education Branch. They help to set up and monitor schools for children who now live amongst the rubble and have to scavenge for everything. With no textbooks, little food and heating, engaging these children isn’t easy but Edith is determined that they shouldn’t suffer for the sins of the Nazi’s.
Edith however isn’t just going to be a teacher. She has also been asked to act as a spy by two different agencies. One who wants to bring Nazi’s to justice and one who wants to use them for their own ends. Both agencies are hoping Edith will be able to root out those who committed atrocious crimes but now live with the general population hiding their true identities.
With her friends, American war photographer Adeline and Dori, who worked undercover in Europe during the war, Edith has to work out exactly who she can trust and who the enemy really is.

This was first published as Miss Graham’s Cold War Cookbook in 2020 and while that makes sense once you’ve read the book, I agree that the shorter title is more helpful. After all, it’s about one woman’s role in events after the Second World War rather than what we think of as the Cold War, and the recipes are merely the means by which she communicates. But first Celia Rees offers a delicious glimpse of well-heeled London at the end of 1945. Edith is from modest stock but has made connections with a more glamorous set. That seems to be a popular device in novels at the moment; I like the way it can show a wider social mix without being too obvious about it.
I’ve recently read Harald Jähner’s excellent non-fiction Aftermath which looks at Germany in 1945–1955, so I enjoyed entering a fictional (although, to me, very realistic) post-war Germany in which the game is changing along with the enemies. In Hamburg and Lübeck, Edith sees how dire the situation is for almost everyone – residents whose homes have been bombed, returning soldiers, prisoners of war and those fleeing from a new kind of terror in the East. Even though, on the face of it, this is Edith’s story, it’s pretty wide-ranging, covering atrocities committed during the war by the Nazis and Russians, the efforts to punish the guilty and the creation of a Jewish homeland.
I really liked Edith; she is interesting without being too virtuous or having all the answers, capable but not unrealistically so, keen to do the right thing but not so naïve that she trusts everyone, even those apparently on her side. I really admired the way she stood up to the more objectionable characters in her billet. I imagine there were many young women like her in the 1940s who chafed against expectations and got on with things. What pushes a book from good to really good? I think one measure is forgetting that you’re reading a novel, taking everything you’re reading as something that really happened. At times I definitely experienced that with Miss Graham’s War. I recommend it.

A moving story of life during the Second World War set mostly in Germany. Full of tension, terror and suspension - captive read. Edith is only one of many women who through espionage tried to stop some of the horrific treatments and sufferings that went on. A well written and researched account, both atmospheric and powerful.

What an unbelievably good story this is! Written in a very relaxed style reminiscent of someone humbly telling their story and with enough going on to keep one hooked from word one to word last. The underlying story of all the shenanigans that went on at the end of the war rang raw and true as I have a vague knowledge of what the Allies got up to with those that actually should have been executed for their crimes.

Reading this book reminded me what a bunch of two-faced reprobates made up the various "allied intelligence services" looking to gain best advantage for their various countries from the disgusting "skills" developed by the extended German State.

I was tempted to rate this book 5 Stars but ended up dropping to 4 because I feel the book should have ended with success a little earlier. Do not let my slight criticism of the ending stop you from indulging yourself, this is a fine book that is well worth your attention.

Wow what a great book, one that completely surprised me, this is a thriller of Post War Germany and British special forces or spies whatever name you want to use. Edith's tale is her journey from spinster as she was called back home to Super Woman well a great spy.

If your into cookery you will love it even more but this is special on so many levels I'm not a cookery fan but still loves this Thriller. I have so many questions specially the ending but I won't spoil it for you by telling you what they are, However there are questions all the way through for those with an analytical mind, but if you haven't don't worry you don't need it. You'll be able to lose yourself into a bygone time that changed Europe and hopefully we won't see the like of again.

So what do you do with those Nazis that were obeying orders or further up the chain by too small to be of major concern. This was what tore so many apart including Edith and her friends like Dori and Vera, mind you have to make your mind up is Vera friend colleague neither or both. There is a variety of characters who is good who is bad time will tell but I hope you enjoy finding out its fun well most of the time. Does war change people or really just reveal who they are deep down (role Eastenders theme tune).

The ending wow not what I expected the run up to it then the end, is justice ever served and what is it anyway, don't worry you have to read the whole thing to understand and I have to say it really is worthwhile hence I have given it 5 stars how you feel that after reading it as well.

This was a very interesting concept, a post war story set mainly in Germany and including lots of recipes. I definitely liked the characters and the way the story developed. It was so interesting the way the author made you question who you could trust, I imagine that would be very true to the time period and setting.
I really enjoyed this book and would like to thank Harpercollins and Netgalley for an arc ebook of this story.

The twisty tale of a female spy. Edith lives a quiet life as a language teacher in Coventry. Then she is recruited as an agent by her friend Adelaide and sent to ruined post-war Hamburg to find former Nazis, including her one-time lover. They keep their communications secret via a code using recipes, which appear at the start of each chapter. Edith, Dori, Vera and the others, good and evil, really spring to life under Celia Rees's skilful pen. Her previous book, the Rose Code, is great too.