This is a well organized, brilliantly paced and fun story.
Mystery in every chapter and such a glorious back drop
in Paris~a mini holiday without leaving home.
The surprises in the family are really, really, well done ~
a sprinkle here, a sprinkle there, and we’re in new
places for new intrigue and fun. This is a book
for everyone genre to enjoy, which is a rare treat.
My thanks to Vendome Books for,the download
copy,of,this,book,for review purposes.

Definitely fun and slightly quirky tale, gotta love that dog! A bit different and unexpected, definitely great for a weekend mental getaway.

Red Lily by Janice Graham is a blend of historical fiction and family intrigue. It takes place across settings like Epcot’s World Showcase, Paris, and various locales throughout Europe.

While the cover led me to expect a female protagonist, the story is narrated by Carl Box, a male lead whose investigation into the life of a woman believed to be his deceased aunt uncovers layers of hidden identity, personal sacrifice, and Cold War-era espionage. Even though it took me a moment to adjust to Carl’s point of view, it did allow the story to shift across time and cover key events fluidly.

Inspired by real-world events—particularly the defection of KGB archivist Vasily Mitrokhin, who painstakingly compiled and smuggled classified documents to the West—the novel captures the era's atmosphere of secrecy and risk. Landmarks like Checkpoint Charlie and the Wall between East and West Germany lend historical weight, while the family connection to these events brings emotional depth and immediacy. As someone who grew up in the 1980s, I appreciated the nostalgic nods to pop rock and also discovered the music of Paolo Conte through the book.

Graham’s narrative style is distinctive: she builds momentum in the present, then jumps forward and back in time to reveal how past events shaped the characters’ relationships. The plot includes romantic threads and red herrings that kept me guessing. Though some outcomes could be determined early on Janice makes it more meaningful by delaying the full reveal. The age of the protagonist also lent to credibility of his mature response to major life events, instead of that of a victim.

This story would translate well to screen—think Jack Ryan with a literary twist—and it leaves the door open for prequels or sequels to deepen the connection to the characters.

It would make for some good book club discussions. For example, how did Carl get his name, why did his Aunt call him "Carlito?" Is his name from Carl Marx and why did his family keep his name if that was the case? Also, what was the significance of some of the books referenced in the story, as they relate to the characters?

Like any good historical fiction, Red Lily entertains while illuminating the past. It should resonate with fans of Kristin Hannah or Jayne Anne Phillips, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven stories.