The Oxford Guide to Scandal & Lies by Kate Westbury
Publication Date: September 1st 2026 by Macmillan Audio
Pages: 352
Audio Book Length: 10hrs 35min
Narrators: Ell Potter
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★
My
Thoughts:
The Honorable Ginevra Bishop and Sidney Braithwaite are
both students at Oxford, but they come from very different worlds. Their thrown
together when the British Security Service recruits them to uncover a Soviet
spy operating on campus after their undercover agent is assassinated.
Ginevra is new to the spy game, but her upper-class
connections allow her to move easily through those social circles. When she
discovers the difficult situation her father has placed her in, the opportunity
to earn money while serving her country becomes even more appealing. I enjoyed
her determined, plucky personality.
Sidney, meanwhile, served in intelligence during the war
and carries scars from those experiences, both physical and emotional. Now at
Oxford, he’s eager to move on. However, he can't bring himself to leave
Ginevra, an inexperienced newcomer, to face such a dangerous assignment alone.
Both Ginevra and Sidney were likable, relatable
characters with distinct strengths that contributed to the investigation. They
clashed at first, but there was spark of chemistry between them from the start.
A romance is brewing, and I'm eager to see how it develops in future
installments.
The Oxford Guide to Secrets and Lies was an
exciting mystery filled with danger, intrigue, and suspense! While this mission
is completed, the ending hints that there is more to come. I can't wait to see
what happens next!
I listened to the audiobook edition, and Ell Potter
delivered an outstanding performance. She skillfully handled a wide range of
English accents across different ages, genders, and social classes, bringing
the characters vividly to life. Her narration definitely enhanced enjoyment!
4 Stars
Book Description:
Set against the backdrop of post-WWII Oxford University, The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies is the irresistible debut from Kate Westbury that seamlessly layers mystery, romance, and a dash of academia to introduce the Crown’s newest undercover operatives.
Oxford, England, 1951 - The Honorable Ginevra Bishop likes red lipstick, clever retorts, and earning top marks in her tutorials. She’s following her mother’s footsteps by studying at Oxford, eager to prove she’s more than a debutante.
Sidney Braithwaite likes brooding, Latin, and ignoring his nightmares. He’s determined to forge a new life for himself at Oxford, far from his childhood mining village and free from memories of the war.
Though Gin and Sidney have little in common, the British Security Service is keen to unite her charm with his espionage experience: there’s a Soviet spy at the university, and the agent tracking them down was poisoned. MI5 wants Gin and Sidney to pick up the trail and identify the informant before more sensitive information is compromised. As a team, the pair of undergraduates clash in personality, upbringing, and taste––but have a connection neither can deny. Gin and Sidney must unite their respective talents to follow the clues before they’re caught in the traitor’s crosshairs…if the sparks flying between them don’t blow up the operation first.
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