“When you’re done binge-watching The Crown, pick up this multifaceted wartime thriller.” –Kirkus Reviews As London endures nightly German bombings, Britain’s secret service whisks the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret from England, seeking safety for the young royals on an old estate in Ireland. Ahead of the German Blitz during World War II, English parents from every social class sent their … English parents from every social class sent their children to the countryside for safety, displacing more than three million young offspring. In The Secret Guests, the British royal family takes this evacuation a step further, secretly moving the princesses to the estate of the Duke of Edenmore in “neutral” Ireland.
A female English secret agent, Miss Celia Nashe, and a young Irish detective, Garda Strafford, are assigned to watch over “Ellen” and “Mary” at Clonmillis Hall. But the Irish stable hand, the housemaid, the formidable housekeeper, the Duke himself, and other Irish townspeople, some of whom lost family to English gunshots during the War of Independence, go freely about their business in and around the great house. Soon suspicions about the guests’ true identities percolate, a dangerous boredom sets in for the princesses, and, within and without Clonmillis acreage, passions as well as stakes rise.
Benjamin Black, who has good information that the princesses were indeed in Ireland for a time during the Blitz, draws readers into a novel as fascinating as the nascent career of Miss Nashe, as tender as the homesickness of the sisters, as intriguing as Irish-English relations during WWII, and as suspenseful and ultimately action-packed as war itself.
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I really liked the concept of this novel, in particular because I liked Princess Elizabeth’s Spy by Susan Ella MacNeal, which has a similar plot. But this book was not great. The only likable character was Strafford, and even he was pretty bland. The others, especially the princesses, were annoying and whiny! Black must really dislike the royals to depict them in such a truly unflattering light.
At one point Strafford wonders “would this unnatural season ever end?” That line sums up this book in a lot of ways. Everything about the book was dull, disappointing, or forced. Good concept, meh execution.
This story took me awhile to get into as I usually am not a Historical book reader but once I got into it it flew by. It takes actual history and intertwines another story into it that maybe happened and maybe didn’t it would be one that we would never know about. The princesses of England must be moved for their own safety to their uncles homes and kept hidden during the war. The townspeople, and all the people in charge of their safety find that two girls can be a handful and their interactions are something they must learn to deal with. It really is a good book and if you find you have trouble at the beginning stick with it. YOU will be glad you did…
Great premise. Nails Princess Elizabeth and Margaret’s personalities. but nothing much happens.
The Secret Guests by Benjamin Black is a creative novel about Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret and their time in Ireland after being sent there “under the radar” for their safety during the Blitz that occurred in London during WWII.
What I found most fascinating was a behind the scenes, closer look at relations between Ireland and England at this time, and as close as the two countries were geographically, that they were far apart in regards to inter government and political differences and healing wounds that are still fresh in minds at that time.
I had not read a novel that had brought that angle to life as of yet. Very interesting and the author definitely sets himself a part in this market with this angle.
5/5 stars
I have loved everything by Benjamin Black since I first discovered him at the start of his dark detective series. This is a gorgeous story, with his trade mark brilliant character drawing and delicious use of language – it’s both understated and wonderful.
4 stars for an entertaining historical fiction book.
The premise of this book is that, at the start of the German bombing blitz of England, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are whisked off to Ireland for their safety. Actually according to her Wikipedia biography, they spent this time at Windsor Castle. Windsor Castle is a formidable Castle. I took a visitor tour in 2016.
In any case there are richly drawn characters:
Strafford, the only Protestant Garda detective in the Irish Garda(police) in 1940.
Celia Nashe, one of a few females accepted into the Secret Service
Thomas Clancy, hardware store owner in Clonmillis and IRA wannabe
Lascelles, an arrogant Diplomat from the Dublin British Embassy
Sir William Ormonde, the Duke of Edenmore, owner of Clonmillis Hall, where the princesses stay.
These characters and others interact in a story more of a historical fiction/character study than a mystery, since you know that the princesses survive.
I enjoy the author’s evocative use of language to describe both the characters and the settings.
Some quotes:
Arrogance: “Lascelles had noticed that the detective had hardly bothered to look at the house, probably knew a dozen places like it–Strafford was a bona fide descendant of sixteenth century Protestant settlers. But if so, what the hell was he doing in Paddyland’s pretend police force, which was hardly more than a gang of pensioned-off gunmen pressed into blue serge uniforms and told to behave themselves?”
Conversation between Nashe and Strafford:
“Yes, I mustn’t let my imagination run away with me,’ she said. “Who would want to harm two young girls?”
To this, again, he made no reply; if he were to respond with what he really thought, it would be no comfort to her. Ireland had been held in British overlordship for eight hundred years, more or less, depending on who was doing the counting, and although the larger part of the country was independent now,the fact that it had been occupied for so long had a potent, abiding and visceral significance for a considerable portion of the population.”
Clonmillis Hall: “For years this house had drifted along contentedly enough, like a giant anchorless hulk in a torpid sea.”
Thank You Henry Holt and Co. for sending this eARC through NetGalley.