Secret Meetings
Book 4 in the Bob Robbins Home Front
Mystery
A country house murder mystery
Cornwall, Spring, 1944
River Lodge – a typical English country house in wartime. Or so
DS Robbins believes when he arrives as Winston Churchill’s double.
Except with a scandalous family history, the owner’s wife and staff
hiding secrets and grievances, two sophisticated but uninvited American
guests, and now a pseudo-prime minister in residence, there is nothing
normal about River Lodge. Then there is a tragic freak accident.
Or is it daylight murder? Bob must decide which and investigate
an attempt on his own life. In the meantime, Laurie, now working
for the British security service, tries to protect him and seek
out a dangerous spy. Can aging Bob Robbins and keen young Laurie
Oliver discover the truth about what is happening at River Lodge
and protect the secrecy of the upcoming D-Day landings? Based on
real events in 1944, Secret Meetings, shows how fragile and vulnerable
the classified planning for Operation Overlord D-Day really was.
Readers Favorite 5*: ‘a gripping wartime mystery
with an intricate web of characters and secrets, steeped in historical
detail but fresh and relatable’.
If you liked Foyle’s War and love Agatha Christie this
is a must-read.
Reviews
Cornwall in 1944 is on the edge of the area from which any allied invasion of German-held territory will take place, with thousands of troops billeted in large camps. The allies are running an operation to feed the Germans misinformation about proposed invasion targets. As part of this, DS Robbins, based at Cready Police Station, is asked to impersonate the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, for a couple of days. He is to stay at River Lodge, a country house which already has some guests. River Lodge has already been brought to the attention of the local police force, when a stranger was spotted staying in a hut in the area and this has interested Bob’s partner, PC Lauri Oliver. Lauri has recently returned from a training course in London and Bob discovers that he has acquired some unusual new skills. A sudden death occurs at the Lodge, and it’s not clear if it was intentional or a tragic accident. The big worry is that it might be related to the invasion plans. As dangers multiply, Bob tries to work out what is happening and whom he can trust. The characters are helpfully listed at the beginning. Bob himself is a strong central character. The guests and the servants at the Lodge are dealing with personal issues and, even among Bob’s colleagues, there seem to be hidden agenda. The historical details are used well and add extra substance to the plot. The story has humour, tension and holds the interest. It will be a welcome addition to this already-popular series. ------ Reviewer: Jo Hesslewood For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
A gripping wartime mystery with an intricate web of characters and secrets, steeped in historical detail but also fresh and relatable on its emotional level. The atmosphere of the era is brilliantly captured, immersing the reader in the challenges and uncertainties of wartime England with accurate research used at just the right moments to enhance the storyline. The plot's twists and turns kept me engaged, and the mix of historical elements and detective work was highly enjoyable. Overall, The Secret Meetings successfully intertwines the personal lives of characters with the grander context of the Normandy landings and struggles on the home front, creating a satisfying and immersive reading experience that I would heartily recommend to military and mystery fiction fans everywhere......Reviewer: K.C. Finn for Readers Favorite