I am hoping that, by now, many of you have had the chance to enjoy A Dark and Deadly Journey, the third book in my Evelyne Redfern historical mystery series. One of my favorite things about writing that book was learning all about wartime Lisbon and the many multi-layered espionage operations going on in the neutral capital.
In this Hooked on Books feature, I’m sharing four books all about the City of Seven Hills during World War 2, including one that helped me write A Dark and Deadly Journey!
The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin
I’m a well-documented lover of all
’s books, but The Librarian Spy is a particular favorite of mine. The narrative is split between Ava, an American librarian sent to Lisbon to gather intelligence for the US military, and Elaine, a member of the French Resistance in Lyon, France. Although seemingly separate, their stories soon begin to intertwine as the two of them connect through coded messages amid increasing danger.The Last Hope by Susan Elia MacNeil
This is the first of two books I’ll recommend here that are part of long-standing series well worth reading from the beginning. However, if you want a quick hit of danger, mystery, and glamor, you could definitely do worse than pick up the final book in Susan Elia MacNeil’s Maggie Hope series, The Last Hope! Although not set entirely in Portugal, there is a pivotal scene that takes place in Lisbon in this book that sees Maggie on a mission to assassinate a physicist who is the key to a world-ending fission bomb.
One Final Turn by Ashely Weaver
In the final book in the well-loved Electra McDonnell series, our lock-picking, safe-cracking sleuth is sent to Lisbon to rescue a group of escaped POWs including her beloved cousin. Meanwhile, Ellie’s relationship with Major Ramsey, a British military intelligence officer, grows ever more complicated as danger ramps up around them.
Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939-1945 by Neill Lochery
If you’re interested in delving into the history of Lisbon during the war, this is a great place to start. In fact, I read Lochery’s book as I started to work out what I wanted to write about for A Dark and Deadly Journey. Packed with information about the Portuguese government’s policy of neutrality, refugees, and espionage, it’s a fascinating read.
Do you have any favorite books set in wartime Lisbon? Leave your recommendations in the comments!
A Dark and Deadly Journey (Evelyne Redfern #3) is now available in bookstores and online retailers everywhere in print, audiobook, and ebook.
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Julia Kelly In Conversation with Celeste Connally Hosted by Warwick’s Books (virtual event)
The Book Spy by Alan Hlad is another excellent book set in Lisbon during WW2.
Thank you for the recommendations. The first book I read about Lisbon during WWII was City of Spies by Mara Timon which I really enjoy and would recommend too.