Library Journal - Audio
01/01/2022
In the vein of the classic British mystery, Rader-Day (The Black Hour) has created a remarkable tale set in World War II Britain. Bridget "Bridey" Kelly, a trainee nurse in London, has lost her family, and now due to a critical error, has lost her chance to be a nurse. She takes the only opportunity available—being a nurse to a group of 10 evacuee children who will be sheltered at Greenway, Agatha Christie's holiday home in the south of England. If anyone finds out that she isn't a fully trained nurse, all will be lost, Bridey knows. But Bridey's secret is only one of many among their little evacuee group. And when a body is found nearby, Bridey realizes they all are in danger from more than just the air raids. The narrative alternates between different characters' perspectives, adding layers of intrigue. Exceptional narrator Moira Quirk seamlessly transitions between characters and accents, bringing the evocative writing to life. VERDICT A story to remember and ponder. Will be popular with fans of Charles Todd and Kate Atkinson.—Donna Bachowski
NOVEMBER 2021 - AudioFile
Narrator Moira Quirk delivers a WWII story focusing on a group of children who were sent from London to a rural location during the Blitz. The story features the stoic Bridget Kelly, a nurse-nanny (with questionable qualifications) for 10 children who were sent to Greenway House, the country estate of Agatha Christie. Quirk portrays multidimensional personalities, displaying how the residents and workers of Greenway—including butlers, maids, cooks, gardeners, and other locals—deal with the fallout of war even at a substantial distance from the devastating London bombings. She captures their oddities, prejudices, patriotism, fears, and camaraderie in the heat of war. And in the Christie style, there’s also a second nurse with a false identity and even a murder. B.J.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
★ 08/23/2021
In 1941, trainee nurse Bridget Kelly, the heroine of this richly nuanced mystery from Mary Higgins Clark Award winner Rader-Day (The Lucky One), is mourning the bombing deaths of her mother and siblings when she makes a medication dosing mistake that kills a man. Her supervisor assigns her to care for children being evacuated from London and promises that if she does well, her training can resume. With 10 infants and toddlers and a fellow nurse who says her name is also Bridget Kelly but goes by Gigi, Bridget travels to Greenway, the Devon holiday home of author Agatha Christie, which is empty except for staff while Christie and her husband do war work. Gigi is unreliable and faints at the sight of blood, but her effervescence helps lighten Bridget’s sadness and self-doubt. When a strangled corpse is found in a nearby river, Bridget recognizes it as a man whom she discovered wandering in Greenway’s garden one morning. Soon afterward, Gigi disappears. Through multiple viewpoints, Rader-Day nicely evokes the isolation and dislocations of people in WWII Britain while revealing her characters’ complexities. Despite the many allusions to Christie’s life and work, she eschews an artificially neat conclusion. Fans of both Christie and Rader-Day will relish this. Agent: Sharon Bowers, Folio Literary. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
"Irresistible... a Golden Age homage, an elegantly constructed mystery that on every page reinforces the message that everyone counts." — New York Times Book Review
“Chicago author Lori Rader-Day pays a fictional tribute to Christie in Death at Greenway, a suitably suspenseful novel in which World War II nurses tend to London-evacuated children at the absent mystery writer’s holiday home; the owner’s occupation takes on added significance when the corpse of a murder victim is found on a nearby beach.” — Wall Street Journal
"Richly nuanced mystery . . . Rader-Day nicely evokes the isolation and dislocations of people in WWII Britain while revealing her characters’ complexities. Despite the many allusions to Christie’s life and work, she eschews an artificially neat conclusion. Fans of both Christie and Rader-Day will relish this." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Death at Greenway
"Two strangers with secrets, ten little children evacuated from London, and a stay at Agatha Christie’s country house make for a deliciously compelling mystery. With its flawed, complex heroine, haunting evocation of wartime England, and a series of plot twists and breathtaking reveals, Rader-Day’s newest is a triumph." — Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope series
“A gorgeous evocation of World War II England, a moving investigation of love and hope under trial, a twisty murder mystery that would have satisfied Dame Agatha herself—all proof that Lori Rader-Day’s gifts translate to all eras. What a delicious book.” — Louis Bayard, author of The Pale Blue Eye and Courting Mr. Lincoln
“Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day is an immersive, expansive WWII tale of murder and revenge. Set at Agatha Christie’s real-life country home, disgraced nurse-in-training, Bridey Kelly, is tasked to help care for a group of children seeking safety from war-torn London. Still, danger is everywhere and with unseen evil lurking, Bridey has to navigate a mysterious web of lies. Well-crafted and multi-layered, Death at Greenway is a vivid portrait of a woman trying to outrun her past in hopes of finding her place in a broken world.” — Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of This is How I Lied
"Death at Greenway is a book Lori Rader-Day was born to write. The characters are deeply moving, the suspense and World War II research are impeccable. The language, as is always the case with Rader-Day, is beautiful, but in Greenway, she shows her suppleness: her pitch-perfect dialogue brings England in the Blitz to life." — Sara Paretsky, New York Times bestselling author of Dead Land, on Death at Greenway
“A wonderfully atmospheric, beautifully written and entirely credible evocation of wartime Britain.” — Ann Cleeves, internationally bestselling author of the Shetland and Vera series, on Death at Greenway
“One of crime fiction’s strongest and most compelling voices.” — Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Blackout and Dangerous Ends
"Elegant and atmospheric . . . A clever take on the historical thriller." — CrimeReads, The Best Historical Fiction of 2021
“Dark, inventive and complex, the novel transcends simple whodunit status as Rader–Day focuses as much on the fears, deprivations, losses and uncertainties of war as she does on mystery.... Inspired by yesteryear but enriched by Rader–Day’s talent, Death at Greenway showcases a superior example of historical crime fiction.” — Free-Lance Star (Fredericksburg, VA)
“Complex characters, a rich sense of the effect of WWII on British citizens, and the constant threat of danger… Death at Greenway does justice to Christie’s oeuvre.” — South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“An intriguing mix of history and mystery.” — Chicago Tribune
“Agatha Christie would be pleased with Rader-Day’s sixth novel . . . An intriguing mystery with well-developed characters and fascinating historical details.” — Library Journal
"Rader-Day, known for masterfully weaving historical elements into her female-focused literary thrillers, imbues this wartime whodunit with palpable emotion as Bridey reconciles her family’s bombing deaths through a plan to save another life." — Booklist
“Far from a cozy mystery, Death at Greenway is as taut as a bow string, with every character capable of snapping at a moment’s notice.” — BookPage
“This puzzle box of a novel has everything, death at a distance on the battlefields and in hospitals, murder up close happening around Greenway House, a group of people that do not belong in the country, a crowd of those who will never leave the area. Readers will enjoy this novel down to the last page because when you find a well-layered entertaining enigma like “Death at Greenway,” it’s time to brew a cuppa and settle in for a treat.” — New City Lit
“Riveting…The novel evokes Christie’s style, complex plots, and atmosphere, but with impressive updates in terms of intimate relationships and psychology…Readers of historical novels will love the mix of history and fiction, admiring the way facts are easily feathered into the flow of the story. Highly recommended.” — Historical Novels Review
“This book is powerful in subtle ways. The author lays in clues in such a way that even the mistress of misdirection, Agatha Christie, would be proud. If you are a fan of Christie, or just of historical fiction, place this book on your to-read list.” — Reviewing the Evidence
“Rader-Day accomplishes something special here. Death at Greenway is neither a Christie pastiche nor a gimmick, and no character is a type, a pitfall in historical fiction. Each one is drawn with delicacy and care, and though the author did her research, it’s been organically synthesized into the novel.” — Air Mail
“Rader-Day creates deeply believable, empathetic characters and puts the power in the hands of women.” — Publishers Weekly on The Lucky One
"The Lucky One promises to be another signature Lori Rader-Day blend of psychology, suspense, and noir." — CrimeReads on The Lucky One
Sara Paretsky
"Death at Greenway is a book Lori Rader-Day was born to write. The characters are deeply moving, the suspense and World War II research are impeccable. The language, as is always the case with Rader-Day, is beautiful, but in Greenway, she shows her suppleness: her pitch-perfect dialogue brings England in the Blitz to life."
New York Times Book Review
"Irresistible... a Golden Age homage, an elegantly constructed mystery that on every page reinforces the message that everyone counts."
Susan Elia MacNeal
"Two strangers with secrets, ten little children evacuated from London, and a stay at Agatha Christie’s country house make for a deliciously compelling mystery. With its flawed, complex heroine, haunting evocation of wartime England, and a series of plot twists and breathtaking reveals, Rader-Day’s newest is a triumph."
Louis Bayard
A gorgeous evocation of World War II England, a moving investigation of love and hope under trial, a twisty murder mystery that would have satisfied Dame Agatha herself—all proof that Lori Rader-Day’s gifts translate to all eras. What a delicious book.”
Heather Gudenkauf
“Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day is an immersive, expansive WWII tale of murder and revenge. Set at Agatha Christie’s real-life country home, disgraced nurse-in-training, Bridey Kelly, is tasked to help care for a group of children seeking safety from war-torn London. Still, danger is everywhere and with unseen evil lurking, Bridey has to navigate a mysterious web of lies. Well-crafted and multi-layered, Death at Greenway is a vivid portrait of a woman trying to outrun her past in hopes of finding her place in a broken world.”
Ann Cleeves
A wonderfully atmospheric, beautifully written and entirely credible evocation of wartime Britain.
Alex Segura
One of crime fiction’s strongest and most compelling voices.
Wall Street Journal
Chicago author Lori Rader-Day pays a fictional tribute to Christie in Death at Greenway, a suitably suspenseful novel in which World War II nurses tend to London-evacuated children at the absent mystery writer’s holiday home; the owner’s occupation takes on added significance when the corpse of a murder victim is found on a nearby beach.”
The Best Historical Fiction of 2021 CrimeReads
"Elegant and atmospheric . . . A clever take on the historical thriller."
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Complex characters, a rich sense of the effect of WWII on British citizens, and the constant threat of danger… Death at Greenway does justice to Christie’s oeuvre.
Free-Lance Star (Fredericksburg
Dark, inventive and complex, the novel transcends simple whodunit status as Rader–Day focuses as much on the fears, deprivations, losses and uncertainties of war as she does on mystery.... Inspired by yesteryear but enriched by Rader–Day’s talent, Death at Greenway showcases a superior example of historical crime fiction.
New City Lit
This puzzle box of a novel has everything, death at a distance on the battlefields and in hospitals, murder up close happening around Greenway House, a group of people that do not belong in the country, a crowd of those who will never leave the area. Readers will enjoy this novel down to the last page because when you find a well-layered entertaining enigma like “Death at Greenway,” it’s time to brew a cuppa and settle in for a treat.
Reviewing the Evidence
This book is powerful in subtle ways. The author lays in clues in such a way that even the mistress of misdirection, Agatha Christie, would be proud. If you are a fan of Christie, or just of historical fiction, place this book on your to-read list.
BookPage
Far from a cozy mystery, Death at Greenway is as taut as a bow string, with every character capable of snapping at a moment’s notice.”
Booklist
"Rader-Day, known for masterfully weaving historical elements into her female-focused literary thrillers, imbues this wartime whodunit with palpable emotion as Bridey reconciles her family’s bombing deaths through a plan to save another life."
Air Mail
Rader-Day accomplishes something special here. Death at Greenway is neither a Christie pastiche nor a gimmick, and no character is a type, a pitfall in historical fiction. Each one is drawn with delicacy and care, and though the author did her research, it’s been organically synthesized into the novel.
Historical Novels Review
Riveting…The novel evokes Christie’s style, complex plots, and atmosphere, but with impressive updates in terms of intimate relationships and psychology…Readers of historical novels will love the mix of history and fiction, admiring the way facts are easily feathered into the flow of the story. Highly recommended.”
Chicago Tribune
An intriguing mix of history and mystery.”
CrimeReads on The Lucky One
"The Lucky One promises to be another signature Lori Rader-Day blend of psychology, suspense, and noir."
Booklist
"Rader-Day, known for masterfully weaving historical elements into her female-focused literary thrillers, imbues this wartime whodunit with palpable emotion as Bridey reconciles her family’s bombing deaths through a plan to save another life."
Chicago Tribune
An intriguing mix of history and mystery.”
Carol Goodman
Lori Rader-Day takes us on a twisting journey into a past riven by secrets and lies that challenges everything we think we know about the ties that bind us. The Lucky One is that rare thing, a nail-biting thriller full of heart and soul.
Hallie Ephron
I was riveted from page one by this complex, psychologically astute tale of betrayal and hope with twists that keep coming up until the final breathtaking reveal.”
Sheena Kamal
The Lucky One is an irresistible read about two strangers on a quest to uncover the truth about their pasts. Simultaneously a dynamic character study and a riveting mystery, Lori Rader-Day’s latest offering is a brilliantly absorbing novel from one of my favorite new crime writers.”
Booklist on The Lucky One
[Rader-Day’s] gifted storytelling makes this a fine read.”
null Booklist on The Lucky One
[Rader-Day’s] gifted storytelling makes this a fine read.”
null CrimeReads on The Lucky One
"The Lucky One promises to be another signature Lori Rader-Day blend of psychology, suspense, and noir."
Library Journal
10/15/2021
Agatha Christie would be pleased with Rader-Day's sixth novel (after The Lucky One), which takes place during World War II. Bridey Kelly, a trainee nurse who suffered a tragedy during the Blitz, has been assigned to assist in the evacuation and care of 10 children under the age of five, including two infants. Mr. and Mrs. Arbuthnot have rented Greenway, the house in the country that belongs to Mrs. Mallowan (better known as Agatha Christie), to house the evacuees. Bridey is joined by a second nurse who possesses neither skills nor a sense of responsibility. The two care for the children, navigate resentful townspeople, and try to decipher the role of the house servants. A drowning, unexplained deaths, missing pots of jam, possible espionage, and the specter of a frightening local legend wrap around the story of difficulties and fears in wartime Britain. While Agatha Christie makes very few appearances, her ownership of the house looms large. VERDICT This is an intriguing mystery with well-developed characters and fascinating historical details. For fans of Charles Todd and Jacqueline Winspear.
NOVEMBER 2021 - AudioFile
Narrator Moira Quirk delivers a WWII story focusing on a group of children who were sent from London to a rural location during the Blitz. The story features the stoic Bridget Kelly, a nurse-nanny (with questionable qualifications) for 10 children who were sent to Greenway House, the country estate of Agatha Christie. Quirk portrays multidimensional personalities, displaying how the residents and workers of Greenway—including butlers, maids, cooks, gardeners, and other locals—deal with the fallout of war even at a substantial distance from the devastating London bombings. She captures their oddities, prejudices, patriotism, fears, and camaraderie in the heat of war. And in the Christie style, there’s also a second nurse with a false identity and even a murder. B.J.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
