Under a Lightning Sky

I really enjoyed this book. Pam Lecky does a great job of painting a picture of what life must have been like. Her characters and the story are very well written.

Under A Lightning Sky is a gripping mystery set during WWII. I enjoyed the plot and found it interesting that a murder takes place during the Blitz over London. Pam Lecky weaves a tale of suspense, mystery and betrayal, together beautifully.

The Miller family is devastated when their married daughter is killed during an air raid and the ensuing investigation reveals shocking details. The story keeps you guessing about who did it until the end. I would recommend this book as it was a very good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advanced copy of this book.

Madeline Fairfax boys have been evacuated to the country, she’s making a Christmas pudding when she’s caught in a bombing raid and doesn’t make it to the streets shelter in time. Madeline can hear the planes getting closer, suddenly there’s a big bang and she feels herself being flung across the room and when she comes around she trapped in the back of her house, Madeline sees a familiar face and she's relieved to be found. Madeline is killed and not rescued, initially the police assume she died in the raid and from the wounds she sustained, until they notice some suspicious marks on her body at the morgue and it’s up to detective Jamie Barton to solve the case.

Penny Miller is Madeline’s younger sister, she works in the family’s jewellery store during the day and as a volunteer firefighter at night. Penny has never liked her brother-in-law Arthur, in fact she told Madeline not to marry the older solicitor and it drove a wedge between them.

The Metropolitan Police have been busy during the Blitz, the bombings and blackout creates the perfect cover and environment for criminals who are involved in gang violence, the black market and stealing from damaged houses. Detective Barton starts by interviewing the people closest to Madeline, her parents, sister and husband, and he finds out she’s rather impulsive and headstrong. He has to consider was Madeline she bored with her life and did she cheat on her spouse, or did she get mixed up with the wrong people and have money problems? Jamie looks at the evidence again and he re-interviews neighbours and Penny gives him a couple of clues.

I received a copy of Under a Lightening Sky by Pam Lecky from Avon Books UK and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Beginning just before Christmas 1940, I have never read a murder mystery set during the Second World War and it certainly adds to the uncertainty, suspense and makes it harder to solve the crime. Due to evidence being destroyed by the bombing or it changed the scene of the crime, so many people didn’t have a permanent address and it made it harder to follow up alibis and leads.

A narrative full of lots of twists and turns and I didn't guess who the killer was. Mistrust and deceit, uncertainty and secrets are hidden in the story line and I liked detective Barton’s and Penny’s characters (they would make a wonderful couple and this book could be a great way to start off a historical suspense series) and five stars from me and I highly recommend.

I thought this really worked as a historical fiction novel, it had a strong concept and that the characters worked in this universe. It uses the historical period perfectly and glad I got to meet these characters overall. Pam Lecky has a great writing style and it worked with everything that I wanted. I thought the cover worked and was glad it worked with the story.

An engaging and interesting mystery set during the London Blitz. I hope this is the beginning of a new series and a new romance.

Exciting and realistic. Well developed characters and I couldn't stop reading it. There were surprises and many tense moments. I felt for the family as they discovered who their daughter really was. I Loved this novel!

A great mystery with twists and turns. It takes place during WWII, which I would think would have a hard time solving murders. Well written.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A gripping WWII mystery set in London during the blitz that kept me up late pacing through the pages. Unputdownable!