Should I email Rhys Bowen and ask her if there is going to be a sequel to her most recent novel, In Fairleigh Field? I've checked out her website looking for clues and had a look at Fantastic Fiction, but I see nothing that hints at further adventures of the Westerham sisters, in particular Lady Pamela and Ben Cresswell, a neighbor and childhood friend who plays an important role in this story. While the mystery and drama is neatly concluded and all the threads are joined nicely at the end, there is just enough story that could easily translate into another novel. And this is indeed a perfect mixture of drama, mystery and espionage all set during WWII with just a touch of romance. Okay, so it's listed as a standalone, but how can she leave us all hanging?
Fairleigh Field proves to be a place of excitement, mystery and maybe even a little danger. So, of course this is where the youngest Westerham daughter, Lady Phoebe and her London evacuee friend Alfie happen upon the mangled body of a British soldier. It appears the man, who is wearing the uniform of the West Kents, has jumped from a plane but had the misfortune of having a defective parachute. It failed to open. Instead he has fallen in a field attached to Fairleigh Hall (that would be a Great Home of the Westerhams who are aristocrats). Twelve-year-old Feebs has the tendency to be in places she shouldn't and shockingly little seems to phase her.
The same can't be said about the eldest daughter Olivia. Just twenty-something and she is already a staid married woman with an infant son. Her husband is 'doing his duty', though conveniently (that's not how Livvy feels about it . . .) he is guarding the Prince in Bermuda! (And probably busy playing polo). Lady Diana, or Dido as she is called, is a little too young to be doing her part for the War effort but old enough to have had her 'Coming Out'. Pity the war got in the way of that. So, a very flirtatious Dido is mostly interested in wearing the trendiest fashions, getting soldiers to buy her drinks (too eager to grow up) and more than a little resentful of the sister closest to her in age. Enter the star of our drama, Pamma, or Lady Pamela.
Lady Pamela is the most intriguing character as she is working at Bletchley Park. Work that is all very hush hush. Her family and friends think she is doing the most boring of clerical jobs . . . perhaps filing papers or doing odd secretarial tasks. Little do they know she is actually translating German transmissions and breaking codes. Impressive work, if only anyone knew she was doing it. Pamma has been living in London, though not having quite the wild and exciting life Dido thinks she's having. When things heat up her job is moved to Bletchley and her job becomes ever more complicated.
The mystery surrounding the body in the field ends up in the office where Ben Cresswell is working. More hush hush MI5 stuff, but as he knows the families in the village it's a given he's the best person to make inquiries. Although the dead man seems to be a British soldier, too many details don't mesh and no one is missing from any of the regiments. Is the man really a German spy on an operation gone awry? Rhys Bowen captures the mood of the era well. So much uncertainty and fear of the 'Other' infiltrating British soil, and so much secrecy that everyone is thrown into suspicion.
Although the subject matter seems dark--WWII Britain and the Blitz underway--there are scenes, too, of Occupied Paris where another of the Westerham sisters, lady Margot, has been living--the story is treated with a very light touch. There is just enough drama and suspense to keep the pages turning, but I never got the feeling that things would end badly. Another perfect vacation (or staycation!) read. If you are looking for a good period drama that is not too taxing but eminently readable, I can warmly recommend this. If Lady Pamela stars in another drama I know I'll be reading it, but until then I think it is time to finally explore the Royal Spyness books, which sound like even more of an entertaining romp of a series (and there are ten to bask in) beginning with Her Royal Spyness.