Book Review: DEADLY GAMBLE - A World War II Mystery by Kate Parker

Deadly Gamble: A World War II Mystery Historical Cozy Mystery 

11th in Series 

Setting – Lisbon, Portugal in 1941 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ JDP Press (April 16, 2024)

About the Book  

In 1940s Portugal, everyone is willing to trade secrets if the price is right. 

Britain stands alone against the forces of Nazi Germany. Livvy Redmond is a young newspaperwoman determined to serve Britain’s spymaster in the face of danger. When she arrives in neutral Lisbon, she discovers a city full of spies, refugees, and the secret police. 

At an elegant party to meet a double agent, Livvy witnesses him fall to his death from a balcony and must now determine what secrets he wanted to pass her. Further complicating matters, she must guard the man’s young daughter from sinister people trying to kidnap the girl. 

Gambling on the assistance of British embassy staff, Livvy commits to uncovering the truth while keeping the orphan safe. With spies and traitors lurking around every corner, Livvy must race against time to learn the secret someone has already killed to keep hidden – and is willing to murder again to protect. 

Book Review 

Livvy is doing her best to connect with the man who insists he has information the Allies will pay dearly for. She gets close enough to get his blood all over her, while the killer stole the ledger. With the man gone, Livvy realizes why he requested a woman to receive the information - his 4 year old daughter, Anna. Livvy arranges to take care of Anna, until someone can find her mother in England. 

This is a slice of what might have been happening as Portugal tried to remain neutral while Germany breathed down their throat. Stewart is a great help and Livvy figures out what Anna is singing - in English - and a disaster is averted. Only the Portuguese government wants someone to blame and Livvy (and Stewart) have to figure out the real killer, and fast, so Livvy can return home.

Historical fiction, murder, and lovely characters. Parker provides the backdrop and her characters are well-developed. For anyone who likes cozy mysteries or WW II fiction, will enjoy this book.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 

Purchase Links

Amazon ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ Apple

About the Author 

Kate Parker grew up inside the Beltway, when DC was a sleepy southern city and you could walk along the sidewalk directly in front of the White House. Now you can’t get within a block of the White House, and it takes Foggy Bottom and the Pentagon to house even part of what the Old State, War and Navy building held. All this fed Kate’s love of history.

With retirement, Kate moved to North Carolina and took up writing historical mysteries. Now with a career spanning over a decade, Kate is a USA Today bestselling author and the Deadly Series is her longest-running series. She lives with her daughter and a 110-pound puppy. 

Author Links 

Website ~ Facebook

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Blog Tour and Book Review: DEADLY RESCUE : A World War II Mystery by Kate Parker

Deadly Rescue: A World War II Mystery(

About the Book

As the Phony War morphs into the Blitzkrieg, two British intelligence officers risk getting trapped behind enemy lines in the ninth Deadly mystery from USA Today Bestselling author Kate Parker. 

April, 1940. Hitler is invading Denmark on Tuesday. Olivia Redmond has only a weekend to bring a Nobel Prize winning chemist and his war-altering research to Britain. The scientist and his wife want to leave, but their troublesome daughter will do anything to stop her parents from departing.

When the daughter’s German fiancé is murdered, the police refuse to let anyone depart until they find the killer. If Olivia wants to escape Denmark with the chemist and his breakthroughs, she will have to unmask the killer before the Nazis stop her forever. 

Deadly Rescue, book nine of the Deadly Series, is for fans of World War II era spy thrillers and classical cozy mysteries, of intrepid lady sleuths with determination and smarts. No explicit cursing, violence, or sex.

Review

The British government's concern is that the discoveries and intelligence of the renowned chemist, Dr. Jorgeson, will be used to prolong the war. Livvy definitely agrees with that, but her motive in going to Denmark is that the Mrs. Jorgeson had been friends with her mother. Livvy is paired with Mike Christianson who she's never met, but at least he speaks Danish and has a military mindset. Only the two of them must convince the Jorgensons and their daughter, Katrine quickly as the Nazis have announced they will invade Denmark.

When first a maid and then the German assistant to Jorgenson is murdered, the police are not willing to let anyone leave until they catch the killer. Thinking fast, Livvy throws out an idea that Braun killed the maid and then may have inadvertently killed himself when trying to kill someone else. That gets them on the train and ferry at least, without a moment to spare, but Livvy's not so sure that's what really happened.

The story is well-plotted and Parker's character's are strong and well-developed. The history and likely tension experienced with an invasion pending and wartime are well-portrayed. Add in much interpersonal tension. There is enough action and twists to keep the story moving at a steady pace.This is the 9th in the series, but only my second. It can be read as a stand alone. 

 

Livvy makes a wonderful sleuth in this historical cozy. Readers who like historical fiction and particularly the WW II era, will find much that resonates and are sure to enjoy this one. 

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

About the Author

Since she was unable to build a time machine in her backyard, Kate Parker immerses

herself in research and then creates the world that lives inside each book that she writes. Her favorite place is London and her time travel destination is anywhere from the late Victorian era through World War II. 

Since she lives in the Carolinas with her daughter and a 95-pound puppy, the practical side of her is thankful for air conditioning and all the modern comforts of life. Comforts she will take with her if she ever figures out how to build her time machine. 

Author Links:

Website - http://www.kateparkerbooks.com 

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/author.kate.parker/ Website - http://thedeadlyseries.com 

GoodReads - http://www.goodreads.com/series/192092-deadly 

Purchase Links 

Amazon - B&N - Kobo   

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