This book is listed as historical fiction. One of my favourite genres.
I settled back and was drawn into the wartime in England, mainly around London,
I know the trains never stopped running because my own dad moved from the railways in Glasgow when there was a more urgent need during the years of the Blitz.
As I read this beautifully written book which was also a heart breaking love story the hairs rose on my arms as I shuddered at the absolute luxury the German officers were billeted in, whilst all over the world people starved and died in the most appalling circumstances.
Still, this is fiction. The idea of German Generals in full uniform being taken on tours of London was laughable. Surely?
Bletchley was understandable but Cockfosters?
When I finished reading this most enjoyable book I was torn. Out came the 21st century encyclopaedia, Google.
Oh my giddy aunt. How did I not know anything about this?

A beautiful read which is not only a love story but a piece of history describing the role played by civilians to beat the Nazi regime by stealth and cunning.
The brave Jewish men who had to listen to the Nazi generals boasting about how they had exterminated their fellow mankind so they could uncover the sites of where the doodle bugs were being launched and manufactured that was causing devastation to the innocent British people.
Combined with this is the love story of Maddie and Max whose love endured all the horrors of war and prejudice.

A beautiful story with a strong and courageous heroine. I couldn't put this down! Beautiful writing kept me turning the pages! Deeply romantic

I throughly enjoyed reading and learning about the Bugging Operation during WW2.
I loved the lies and subterfuge - who should you trust? Also, the ongoing love story between Maddie and Max.
This is such an incredible part of our history that has been retold in such an easy to read way.
I now want to do more research into this highly effective operation.
5* for Tessa Harris

Dangerous Assignment

Full of suspense and Romance this book is a murder mystery set in England during WWII. Maddie, a young psychologist is set in the middle of it. Up on receiving a message to report to the Trent Park mansion for war work she embarks on a dangerous assignment in gathering intelligence information from German general who is being held as a prisoner of war and has information vital to the war effort.

When people start to die it becomes dangerous and she fears not only for her life but also for the life of her long time love Max who is also working at Trent Park.

Maddie will do her best to help England win the war, but somehow she must save those she loves. Who is following her and what about the mysterious activities at her boarding house. Maddie must find a way to figure out what is going on before someone else is murdered.

The story moved at a moderate pace, not fast or slow. It was a bit of a love triangle story between Max and Maddie and Eddie the third member at Trent Park, an old friend of Maddie's.

I liked Maddie's character, and I thought Eddie was a jerk as well as her boss. She was a bit looked down on and treated as an air headed woman than a trained psychologist. Max was a good character, but not as prominent in the book as he should have been.

The twist at the very end of the book was a surprise to me, I didn't see it coming. I did enjoy reading the book and if you like murder mysteries with romance and a bit of suspense you will like it.

Thanks to Tessa Harris for writing the book, H.Q. Digital for publishing it and NetGalley for making it available to me to read.

At the height of World War II, psychologist Maddie Gresham receives a mysterious assignment at Trent Park mansion, a home she knows well from her pre-war days, now recommissioned as a seemingly posh prison for high ranking German officials. While Maddie is shocked and saddened to discover she’ll be taking the place of her beloved tutor — whose sudden death uneases her — she’s intrigued by the covert operations at this top secret location. Unbeknownst to the German officers, their every movements and conversations are being studied and recorded, and Maddie soon has a starring role in this subterfuge in an attempt to gain information on German weaponry from one of the deadliest captives, nicknamed The Crocodile for his ruthless and violent temperament.

Before the war, Maddie spent time as an exchange student in Munich, falling in love with a German Jew and playing a minor role in resistance to the Nazi regime. Now, well into the war, she still loves Max and wonders if he’s managed to stay alive, and whether there’s any chance she might encounter him amongst German defectors to the Allied cause who are being used throughout the British forces. Without giving too much away, she finds out information about Max’s whereabouts, while also being reunited in a professional and personal capacity with Eddie, a friend from her university days.

Part love triangle, part mystery, part espionage tale, Tessa Harris’ novel was an enjoyable read but not a memorable one. The mystery didn’t fully keep my attention, Maddie’s actions were often frustrating and unrealistic, and the conclusion felt hurried and deflated. I also feel each main character should've been fleshed out more to help the reader to feel emotionally invested in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.