In Farleigh Field: A Novel of World War II

I got this book as my February Prime Firsts pick. Frankly, one of the best 'Firsts' book that I have gotten to read. I just finished the book and read the note about the author and realized no wonder it was a well written, interesting story. The author Rhys Bowen has written many books and received many awards for them. I will have to see what else of hers I can find. This book takes place during World War II, but not with fighting in the trenches, but fighting on the home front. Civilians being given jobs in absolute secrecy so that they could not talk to anyone about what they were doing. One of the main characters Pamela, had to let her family think she was doing boring old filing, absolutely unnecessary work, when in reality she was one of the workers at Bletchley Park. Bletchley Park I have heard of in bits and pieces, so was nice to learn more about that. Ben another of the main characters had been in an air plane crash that resulted in him having a metal knee and thus not fit for being a soldier in uniform. He had to put up with being accosted on the streets and called a coward for not wearing a uniform even though his was also an important job in a secret ministry. Definitely many Brits had to hold their chins up when called a coward even though they were doing some of the most essential war work. Many of the facts and locations in the book were based on real places and facts which gave a great authenticity to the story. The on-going theme throughout the book was rationing of food and lack of 'real' meat. One of my cookbooks is about food rationing during the war and recipes on how to turn the same thing into 'mock' dishes. Many of the dishes described were the typical rationed items. I am still wondering what cauliflower cheese is though, as it was mentioned several times in the book. The British citizens for the most part were genuine patriots and willing to do what it took to protect their homeland from Hitler and Germany's onslaught. Unfortunately there were a few that were wanting to help end the war sooner before all their great monuments and treasures were destroyed, and they cast their lot in with Hitler and needed to be rooted out and arrested for treason. This was the basis for this book. I enjoyed the book. It kept my attention, I learned from it and it was easy to read although it did have some British slang that I had never run into before, which just lent some authenticity to the book.

4.5 stars IN FARLIGH FIELD is a delightful read, a compelling story about duty, sacrifice, betrayal, and patriotism. It has a cozy feel about it, as lighthearted as a wartime story can be, with just enough action to keep the pace quick and interesting. Yes, it is a spy tale with all of the angst one might expect from not knowing who you can trust and everyone you meet is hiding something, but it is much more about the family and social dynamics of the English dealing with the changes to their regular lives. Historical fiction is a favorite genre of mine, but I do not claim to be a historian in the least. That said, the feel of the book, both descriptions and dialogue, seem authentic. Might there be the wrong use of slang or such here and there? Maybe, but who cares. I read for entertainment, and I do always like to learn something new. There are several real people and incidents sprinkled throughout the book, and the story is all the more exciting and intriguing for them. But this novel is by and far and large about the characters. I really like both Pamela and Ben. They make great friends and a sweet couple. They are both smart and use their upbringings to their advantage in their work for the war effort. Pamela’s sister Margot is one of several characters who is suspected of working for the Germans, and this close relation to the main characters makes the possibility feel all the more perilous. I do confess that I suspected the traitor’s identity very early in the book, but the second “villain” remained a mystery almost until the climactic scene. Other characters of note are Pamela’s youngest sister Phoebe and Alfie, an evacuee child from London staying with the estate’s gamekeeper. The two youngsters are quick thinking and brave. Rhys Bowen has crafted a solid World War II novel. I greatly enjoyed IN FARLEIGH FIELD and recommend it to any fan of Bowen’s other works and to readers who enjoy the time period. Highly recommended.

A review by Anthony T. Riggio of the book “In Farleigh Field” by Rhys Bowen I purchased this book from Amazon in the Kindle edition just a few days ago and enjoyed reading it. I was looking for something entertaining to read. And the description on Amazon seemed to fit the bill for my needs. I love stories about World War II and especially if it involves espionage. I found this book to be a short fast read (398 pages) and it was better than I expected. I am usually very cautious to read a book by a British author because of the differences in idioms and customs. After reading the book, I determined that the author was not British but rather an ex-pat from New Zealand living now in California. I could tell because I was not caught up in all the British jargon which I don't oppose but it makes reading by an ordinary “Yank” more of a struggle. The story line was very plausible and draws the reader in to the characters and they are well developed and not all confusing as stories with several characters can be. The author did place a list of the characters and it occupied a couple of pages at the beginning. At first glance I was expecting to be confused with the number of characters but this was not the case. The characters are introduced in a logical and memory retentive format that truly made the list unnecessary, at least for me. The plot is not at all complicated and the reader will be happy to be caught up in the story of espionage and treason and will be surprised at who the traitors turn out to be. The setting is a fictitious estate owned by an aristocrat who is friendly with Winston Churchill and the setting is reminiscent of Downtown Abbey minus the luxury and splendor as, England is in the throes of World War II and the estate is also billeted by an Army unit as part of the aristocracies contribution to the war effort. There are two heroes and one heroine and there is plenty of sexual tension but not prurient in nature and demonstrative of love and unrequited love. There is also great interactions with the Earl's several daughters and there involvement in the struggles of Britain during 1941, before America enters into the War effort. I found the book and the setting fascinating and the historical references not too overwhelming but still informative. I gave this book a rating of four and a half stars but rounded it up to five because of the limitations of a five star rating system. I would unhesitatingly recommend this book to my “reading” friends who love stories of intrigue and mystery and a touch of historical reference.

I selected this book among the 6 choices available to me from my Prime account. In other words, "a freebie". I was drawn in on two accords: First, because it was a WWII history story, which is in my wheel house of interest of the war in Europe, and second, because it had an espionage angle involving mainly British MI5, with just a touch of MI6 in it. In retrospect, it was an okay read. The story line was a "light weight" in my opinion in its overall analysis of the subjects being interrogated. For example, there was too much "romance", to use a word, for my liking, in the telling of the story, and, too little "blood and guts" in the "cloak and dagger" espionage department. On the other hand, I come from an English background, having been born there, so some of the idioms spoken by the characters brought back fond memories. I don't re tell story lines in my reviews, but suffice it to say I've read much more interesting accounts of attempted assassination plots on the life of Sir Winston, so I don't want to sound too critical about the book. As I say, it was free to me. But this was a casual read on both the life and times of the war from the British perspective and particularly on the attempt on Churchill's life. Read it for fun--- but not for any keen insight on the history and events of the time.

A historical suspense set in WWII Britain and Paris was just the nudge I needed to finally pick up this standalone book from an author I've been meaning to try for ages. It was a multi-faceted piece of cozy country village, intense Paris intrigue, glitzy wartorn London and spies, and a subtle swirling danger that leaped into action for a splendid finish. In Farleigh Field introduces an engaging cast of characters and an expansive espionage plot set during the WWII era. It is a combo of Town and Country since the action is mostly split between London and the environs of the Farleigh Place estate and village. The historical backdrop included the variety of important WWII settings that were painted well so that I could tell the author did her homework getting details right so I could see it all so clearly. The author took the story through the MI-5 espionage workings, Bletchley Park codebreakers, occupied Paris and British commandos, and life on the homefront at war. The book has a good steady pace as it builds to the end when the reveals come, but there are some exciting and intense moments when Lady Margo narrates from Paris where her lover is taken as a French Resistance operator and she is grabbed by the Germans as well. There are fun moments to counter-act those scenes when young Lady Phoebe decides to play detective and figure out the mystery of the body in her family's field. I figured out who was the traitor and what they were doing fairly early on, but this didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. And, beyond the suspense elements, there are romance elements. They are mostly background which works well with this sort of story. When I say background, I mean that Ben has thoughts about the person he loves and how he handles unrequited feelings and Pamela figuring out the difference between youthful crushes and what she wants as an adult. Some of the secondary characters have relationship situations that are on their mind, too. Like I said, it was all low key compared to the suspense part. The narrator, Gemma Dawson, is new to me. I enjoyed her narration work and the voices she used to distinguish the large cast and multiple points of view. She did especially well with men's voices of all ages and did great on the children's voices as well. I thought her narration brought out the subtle comical elements like Lord Westernham and the graver moments with Margo and the accented German voices. I'll definitely watch for more of her work. So, all in all, I was well-pleased by my first Rhys Bowen book and I can heartily recommend this to those who want a moderately light WWII historical suspense.

Well done. It is hard to do a good historical novel. It is also hard to judge the heft, intellectual and in terms of word count, of the book, on the Kindle. I always want more detail on characters and locations but wanting more is better than getting bored and throwing too much detail down in disgust. Thanks for a good read..

In Farleigh Field: a story of war, love, mystery, and purpose. In 1941, World War II waged fiercely: many battles were fought, many lives were lost. Yet in the midst of it, people continued to live somewhat ordinary lives, seeking their place in a world fraught with danger, fear, and death. Rhys Bowen paints a rich picture of life during the war: a crippled man serving as an at-home spy, a courageous woman decoding at Bletchley, an injured fighter pilot, an English girl caught in the French resistance, and a couple of young kids searching for answers to a mysterious pilot found dead in Farleigh Field. A little mystery, a little romance, and a little danger make for an exciting story no matter who you are, and Rhys Bowen is excellent at painting descriptions rich enough to make you feel as if you can see the war-torn England and France with your own eyes. The sorrow and hardship brought on by the war can be clearly seen and felt—there was no romanticism of the fight besides that which many naïve young girls and boys did feel, before they saw the reality first hand. The story was full of depth, intrigue, and rich character development. The book wasn’t perfect for every audience: a bit of suggestive language and talk of sex might offend some, and a touch of English cursing was found throughout, which may make it better for older audiences, though probably older high schoolers would be able to read it easily. For many like myself, these additions may take away from the charm of such a story, but for others this may provide only an added layer of interest. It certainly embraces the less magical and elegant picture of life, as well as the zeitgeist in which it was written. Bowen gives more strength to her exciting story by her clear understanding of historical facts and good peppering of British slang. One could almost feel as if they were truly visiting Britain; seeing things through the eyes of one loyal to England and desperate to defeat Germany. Yet unlike what may be expected, little was said about Hitler and the deportation of the Jews. For this story, the important thing was the ways that ordinary people can help change the war from their little place in the countryside of England. At the beginning of the book, a list of main characters was provided, and at the beginning of each chapter a date and location to set the scene. The author, a well-known mystery writer born and raised in England, provided a strong setting and a smooth-flowing story. For those who enjoyed Downton Abbey or Foyle’s War, this should be right up their alley. The adventure to discover a German spy among family and friends was a unique and fascinating one, with just the perfect amount of suspense to make one want to keep reading. In addition to the rich storyline, the character development was wonderful. Each was imbued with realistic weaknesses, strengths, sins, victories, sorrows, and joys to captivate the heart and imagination of any reader. The love triangle among the beautiful Pamela, the intelligent Ben, and the wild Jeremy was nothing unusual, but captivating and realistic. The skirmishes of young Diana, desperate for adventure, and little Phoebe, struggling to grow up in a world rocked by sorrow and death, moved the heart and brought a taste of real life: reminding a girl of what she might feel if she had lived during such a time. The adventures of young Phoebe and Alfie, seeking to discover the identity of the German spy in their midst, added a fresh look at how even children can impact their world and do something important, if they will look beyond themselves. Another theme of interest was that of class: Diana longs to be seen as someone other than the earl’s daughter, Phoebe strives to remain a strong example to those lower in her community, and Lord Westerham struggles to allow soldiers to inhabit most of his large home. The message of equality is brushed upon, as the entire meaning of the world and class shifts with the war. Above all, loyalty to one’s country and friends remains a thread tying the story together with everyday lessons for us. In Farleigh Field is a rich, fascinating look at English life during the war; at loyalty; at true love; at the mix of sorrow and hope. Those who read this book should come expecting adventure, mystery, history, and a little love thrown in the mix.

4.5 stars This is the best Kindle First book I have read. Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series is so much fun to read, and I read the newest book in the series as soon as it comes out. Accordingly, I was so excited to learn she had written a stand-alone novel that takes place during World War 2 (which is one of my favorite eras). Bowen did not disappoint – In Farleigh Field was a delight from beginning to end. I hesitated slightly when I first opened the novel because she includes a list of all of the characters upfront. I have generally found that means there are too many characters for me to keep up with, but that was not the case at all for In Farleigh Field. The central plot of the novel involves the ancestral home of Lord Westerham, Farleigh Place, which is serving as headquarters for one of the British armed forces groups. Lord Westerham has five daughters, three of whom play large roles in the story, Pamela, Margot and Phoebe. Pamela works at Bletchly Park breaking German codes, Margot is in Paris working for the French Resistance, and Phoebe is at home (she’s only 12) and discovers the body of a soldier whose parachute failed as he tried to land near Farleigh Place. There are various subplots that develop with these and other characters as the story progresses and eventually a number of them tie together very effectively. The resolution of each plot line was very realistic and convincing. Bowen’s exhaustive research is evident, and the tidbits she includes really add to the storyline. I loved learning about the group of aristocrats that supported Hitler and created a group to try and make peace with Germany (she calls them the Ring in the novel; in actuality she explains in her Author’s Note that they were called the Link). The MI5 and Bletchly Park details were fascinating too. I highly recommend this novel and was so glad I got the chance to read it.

I couldn’t put it down. I finished it in one go. Beautiful storyline. The characters are well described. Suspense till the end as to who was working against. Overall good read. I cannot wait to read more books written by this author

Kind of boring. Didnt love it

I thoroughly enjoyed this part mystery, part spy thriller, part historical novel that takes place mostly in England in mid 1941. The descriptions of the countryside, Bletchley Park and the goings on of M15 were both vivid and enlightening. Rhys Bowen has done a wonderful job of giving the reader a small glimpse into the trials, tribulations and fears of the residents facing the horrors of war and the threat of invasion. I would love to read a sequel that includes Pamela, Ben, Phoebe and Alfie. Their characters were very well drawn and appealing. The many facets and characters of this story made it, to me, a great example of historical fiction.

Ms Bowen certainly knows how to tell a good story. She has thoroughly researched her material, and chosen a familiar setting which immediately makes the reader feel at home. Having said that the time and the place are completely removed from most people's experience, which is why we appreciate writers bringing them to life. The events of war-torn Europe are rich pickings for authors however events alone won't carry a novel. Ms Bowen weaves numerous threads in this interesting story, keeping us guessing until the very end. I must confess however, that I guessed the villain. It wasn't so difficult. The characters were somewhat stereotyped, but then I guess they probably were in real life too. Some of them are very endearing; the author has a real flair for bringing her characters to life. I will miss this book.

I've just finished reading the book. It's 2AM. I couldn't stop! An absolutely smashing read. Full of gripping threads and plot twists. And really superb and realistic dialogue. I thoroughly enjoyed it.