Thank you to Netgalley and Book Whisperer for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book and read it in one day. I loved the storyline and the characters. I really didn't want to put it down. I would definitely recommend this book.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A young man is summoned to France to deal with the estate of his recently deceased long-lost aunt. Accompanied by his rescued dog, that he literally wrangler from the mouth of an alligator, he learns that there are many things that he is unaware of with regard to himself and his aunt's life.

I really liked the concept and the setup for this one was great but about 20% in, when things should have been kicking into high gear, it felt like they started stumbling around in the dark and from there on I never found the threads again... I'm not sure exactly what was missing here, but for me the potential for a zippy Cold War dramedy was never realized. The plot and dialogue felt clunky and the characters never came alive for me the way I wanted them to. The pacing felt exceptionally slow for what it was supposed to deliver, and I never really felt the tension I was expecting.

You receive notice that the aunt you never met has died in France. You need to come take care of her estate. Do you go? Do you stay? Set in the late 1980s, Carl gets such a notice and decides to go to France. Once he is there, things start to get a little odd. Okay, a lot odd. He has more questions than he has answers as he meets the friends of his aunt and discovers who this mysterious relative is that he grew up being told was a very bad person. Things are not always what you're told. 
Let's discuss the setting first. I had to keep reminding myself of the time period it was in. Sadly, so few books are set in the 1980s, but it helped that I grew up in that period and recognized so much. Keep that in mind as you read. There are no cell phones and no internet, yet you'll see important history in the story. 
Now, on to the story. 
It's a mystery. What happened to his aunt? Murder? Who could be behind it? What does all the stuff in her apartment mean? Is she really the woman his father had described? Carl finds himself challenged at many levels as he dives into his family's past as well as that of the Western world. Things are not as they seem. In the process, he discovers parts of himself that he has suppressed. Routine doesn't satisfy him as it did. A little adventure does wonders for his soul. 
While this is a mystery with spies, murder, and more, it has deep character. The actual characters are spirited and give you cause to laugh and contemplate. They are characters I'd love to meet in real life. They complete Carl and the reader as well. Life doesn't have to be so regulated that we miss out on all that life offers around us even when one is not in the midst of history being made. 
I couldn't put the book down once Carl got to France and began exploring his aunt's life. Wasn't disappointed once. Even when I guessed the ultimate mystery, there was no disappointment as I read. It was tempting to just dive into the book and live the rest of my life with such people.

Red Lily by Janice Graham is an entertaining story that will have you turning pages to see how the adventure will end. I found the plot and characters to be well developed. I received an advance copy of this book on NetGalley and Bookwhisper and I always review every book that I read. I did not really know what to expect with book and I was pleasantly surprised at the story and the mystery surrounding Carl Box's aunt Lily. At times it was amusing, other times the suspense kept me reading well into the night. I enjoyed this book and I think I would read more by this author.

Carl receives a letter that he has inherited from a stranger in another country. He quickly packs and goes to Paris. But he finds no one is dead and he has landed into a funny group of spies. A humorous story full of crazy characters, each with their own part to play. Entertaining story.

Red Lily is a book that is hard to define. It is a little bit mystery, but mostly it is family drama and oddly enough, coming-of-age for a man in his 30s. Aunt Lily has mysteriously died and left Carl Box with an inheritance and a first-class ticket to Paris to claim it. When Carl arrives, things are not as they seem. He meets people who are enigmatic. And he discovers things about himself that he would have never found had he not made the trip out of Orlando. I found the book good, and at times great, but I couldn't bring myself to go higher than 3.5 stars. This would make a good summer read, though. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

RED LILY by Janice Graham
The comparison to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride holds true for this strange, funny adventure. Carl Box is perfectly content working as a paint consultant at Epcot, “world travel” all within the confines of the park, friends, and the sweet, two-legged dog Billy he rescued from a ‘gator. Then he is summoned to Paris to deal with his Aunt Lily’s estate, and he is plunged into family secrets and international intrigue. It’s wild and crazy, and filled with humor and love. Perfect travel from the comfort of home, and yet, it might make one crave a bit of real travel as well. Historical events reminded me of friends’ stories of being at the point of history in the making, and of the human kindness that prevails on behalf of travelers. This is a perfect summer literary romance-adventure-intrigue, to be enjoyed with lemonade or perhaps champagne.

A totally enjoyable novel. Carl is just a guy who owns a business choosing paints colors for Epcot. He likes his job and his business. He gets news that an estranged aunt has died in Paris and he must go and clear her apartment. Not knowing much about her, other than his father didn't get along or approve of her, he's obligated as her only living relative, so he goes. So begins the adventure...
The twists and turns are so well done. I loved the characters. All of them were so complex and had so many layers. There was no predicting what could happen next or who he would meet. What began as a simple chore, clearing out his deceased aunt's Paris apartment, took the Carl on the adventure of his life.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Read it! You'll love it.

There is a moment in Red Lily where Janice Graham references Cary Grant in To Catch A Thief. It's not the only pop culture reference here, our protagonist Carl Box is a paint and colour consultant at Disneyworld after all, but it's a key one, even if the the book actually has a little bit more in common with the everyman flung into spy shenanigans films like North By Northwest or Charade. These touchstones help keep the action light in a broadly daft unfolding of fake deaths, and the smuggling into and out of Russia of people and literature. Box has been summoned to Paris to sort out his Grandmother's affairs and manages to bring his dog on wheels with him, and he blunders around in Ugly American fashion and quickly discovers that there is much more going on than he expected, and that his aunt is not, in fact, dead. But starved of parental love (his father is dead, his mother left when he was very small), he allows himself to get mixed up in what can only be described as a caper, picking up his own femme fatale along the way.

The joy in Red Lily is to see quite an old genre be revived with the right amount of vim and tongue-in-cheek. I wonder to what degree the book is aimed at a younger audience who may be a little spotty on this moment of European history, as the book starts in 1989, and as the story gets towards it final audacious attempt to smuggle someone out of East Germany, I had a definite eye on the calendar. And yet the book never treats the actual difficulties of culture in Russia with disrespect, it is interesting when it discusses the creation of samizdat copies, and the heroism in keeping art alive. That does mean that the more obvious aspects of the book didn't always square with how clever it was elsewhere (this kind of plot is tricky to write effectively) and if it lost steam for me, its only really because I was quite far ahead of the characters with the impact of real life history on the fictional story. And the final reveal, I think, is supposed to be obvious from the outset; it is a book that flatters its readers by making them feel clever. And it was rather nice to visit 1989 Paris again.

Courtesy of The Book Whisperer and Netgalley, I received the ARC of Red Lily by Janice Graham. Each chapter of this delightful book was like peeling back the layers to unearth secrets, meet eccentric characters, and enter the Cold War era. This historical novel captured the atmosphere of Epcot and the special ambience of Paris. With witty writing and great scenes, the mystery and espionage come to life. I loved this story!

It took me until Chapter 4 to get properly hooked into the novel, but once I was it was great fun, and I enjoyed the romp. It may be too stereotyped for some readers, but fits the genre well. I was aware of some of the twists as they came, but still enjoyed the language getting there. I think Graham had a good time writing this book, and it shows.
A bit more depth of writing comes through at times, as when our main character( who is relatively complex, in spite of a desire of the reader and the character himself to simplistically define himself), in Chapter 17 at the beginning- I really liked this.
Enjoy Red Lily - it’s a bit up and down but worth the read.

Thanks to Book Whisper and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was hesitant to start this book—I thought it would be too heavy, and honestly, I wasn’t in the right mindset for something emotionally intense. But it completely surprised me. The story was engaging, easy to read, and much more uplifting than I expected. By the end, I felt inspired and left with a warm, hopeful feeling.

The book follows a man who’s grown comfortable in a quiet, safe life—one shaped more by other people’s decisions than his own. He’s not unhappy, but he’s definitely not living fully.
Everything changes when he learns that an aunt he never knew—whom his father clearly disliked—has passed away in Paris, leaving him her entire estate.

Once he arrives in Paris, things start to shift. He’s faced with unexpected challenges that push him far beyond what he thinks he’s capable of. But in the process, he discovers strength, resilience, and a side of himself he’d never had the chance—or the courage—to explore. He realizes that while he’s been surviving life, he hasn’t really been living it.

While I had an inkling about how the story might end, the events that unfolded along the way were surprising and emotionally rich. One part of the story touches on a significant moment in history, and experiencing it through the characters’ eyes was both moving and impactful.
At the end, the author shares what inspired her to write about two supporting characters, and I found that part just as fascinating. It tied everything together beautifully.

I had fun in reading this quirky mix of spy story and thriller. Plenty of humour, good storytelling, a main character that grew on me
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I had no idea what to expect when I received an advanced copy of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised, especially by the ending.
Carl Box is working for Disney at Epcot Center in 1989 when he is informed that his estranged aunt has died and left him her home in Paris. He takes his dog Billy, who he has rescued from a pond where an alligator has eaten his back legs.
In Paris, there are some crazy occurrences, and it turns out his aunt isn't dead but is pretending to be as she thinks the KGB is after her.
Carl has never met his aunt because his father never talked about her. Carl learns a lot about himself and goes way out of his comfort zone.
This book is full of crazy characters, and it is a fun ride. The city of Paris is a character in itself, and Aunt Lily is wonderful.
Without giving anything away, the ending takes place in Berlin in 1985, and the historical significance is important.
Thanks to the Book Whisperer, NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book and review it. The author is new to me and I shall read more of her works. I highly recommend this book.

Janice Graham's 'Red Lily' is a pleasant and engaging read that effortlessly draws you in. With likable characters, a mysterious story, and nice cultural touches, this book is a delight. The writing is witty and the pace is easy, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a captivating story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Book Whisperer publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book as an Advance review copy.

“Red Lily” is a charmingly captivating novel by novelist and screenwriter Janice Graham. This is the first of her books that I’ve read, but some of her previous titles sound intriguing. Thank you to Ms. Graham, NetGalley, and Vendome Books for providing me an advanced reader’s copy of “Red Lily” to read. My opinions are voluntary.

I enjoyed it thoroughly. I was caught up in the madcap intrigue of it and its various over-the-top characters. It’s a spy thriller, a family drama, a love story, and a historical tale, all rolled into one rollicking adventure, complete with disguises, misdirection, attempted murder, and improbable circumstances. I laughed out loud at some of the happenings and escapades, and I was thrilled by the happy ending. I would be delighted to read another, similarly upbeat tale by Ms. Graham.

Not my usual read. A bit of a crazy satire.

Lily has been involved with smuggling KGB secrets in Paris. She fakes her death. Her nephew is contacted to inherit property and summoned from his career in the painting business in Florida. Chaos ensues.

Takes place around in the late 1980's.

I decided to just enjoy this one and let the book take me on this adventure.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Book Whisperer and author Janice Graham for approving my request to read the advance reader copy of Red Lily in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is May 26, 2025. Approx 388 pages.

My first book from Janice is an ambitious, intriguing blend of Cold War espionage, family secrets, and European atmosphere, with a big dose of nostalgic charm. The story is set across locations like Paris and iconic Cold War landmarks and it aims high and mostly delivers, while delivering a few bumps along the way.

The story is told through Carl, a middle-aged man investigating the life of a woman who may have been his deceased aunt. At first, the frequent shifts pushed me, but the story's grounded, mature perspective ultimately works in the novel’s favor, especially as the plot jumps between decades and unpacks themes of identity, loyalty, and sacrifice.

One of the novel’s strengths lies in how it ties personal family history to real-world espionage. Inspired in part by the true defection of a KGB archivist, the story captures the paranoia and tension of the Cold War. The journey is more than a spy hunt, it’s a dive into legacy, truth, and self-understanding. The emotional layers hit hardest when the global and the personal collide.

On the flip side, the book doesn’t always find its rhythm. The pacing feels uneven with parts of the plot dragging while others leap forward. The time-jumping adds depth but also causes issues. The romantic threads and red herrings do not work. Still, there’s a satisfying payoff in seeing how Janice gradually peels back the layers of mystery. The story’s music references and pop culture nods from the 1980s are a fun touch but may not connect with readers of newer generations.

Overall, the book is an intriguing, stylish read that doesn’t quite stick its landing with me but still offers a lot to admire. If you're drawn to spy novels with heart and don’t mind a meandering structure, this one might be worth your time.
I will try at least one more book by Janice.

Set in Paris shortly before the Cold War ends and the Berlin Wall falls, Alice Graham's Red Lily is a brilliantly written, wacky spy thriller.

It's 1989 summertime. Carl Box is a paint and varnish consultant from Disney Florida who finds out about the death of his Parisian aunt, who is the family's black sheep but whom he has never seen. Aunt Lily is still alive after someone tried to poison her with iced tea, and he finds out this when he flies to Paris. The two then go out to find a smuggled stockpile of KGB dossiers while Aunt Lily poses as her nephew's mother. Box narrates the events as he and Lily avoid suspicious cops, dangerous spies, and cunning assassins in a crazy trip filled with spy craft.

A cast of quirky, engaging characters, such as a debonair French police investigator, a seductive environmental activist, and a false priest, keep readers interested in this unhurried book.

The protagonist's opening statement of Paris is just one example of the book's exquisite prose and numerous literary and historical allusions. “Paris languished in the August heat, the streets deserted except for the usual tourists and a few remaining Parisians plodding slowly along their routine paths.”

—This sets the atmospheric tone of late-summer Paris in 1989.

Carl’s affection for Billy a two legged dog is evident throughout the story, including a humorous moment when he observes: “Billy had taken to his Prussian blue dog bed like an overwrought lady in a Victorian melodrama.”

For admirers of the genre, Red Lily is an enticing offering because of its accurate portrayal of the time period and its witty, convincing dialogue.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND PUBLISHER VENDOME BOOKS FOR AN ADVANCE COPY FOR MY HONEST REVIEW