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Content snapshot
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Violence
Barely any
A wartime murder; depicted with golden age restraint
Language
Barely any
Period language; mild profanity
Sexual Content
None
Mild romantic subplot; no explicit content
Substance Use
Barely any
Social drinking in a hotel/spa setting; no substance abuse themes
Emotional Intensity
Barely any
Wartime tension and espionage themes add mild suspense
What this book is about
The seventh Roderick Alleyn mystery set during World War II finds the detective working undercover in a New Zealand thermal spa region, where a suspected spy network may be operating. When murder follows, Alleyn's investigation must proceed carefully amid wartime tensions. Marsh draws on her deep knowledge and affection for New Zealand to create an unusually vivid setting, and the wartime backdrop gives the usual social comedy of manners an edge of genuine danger. An atmospheric and satisfying entry in the series.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Wartime setting with espionage elements
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