The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies - by Kate Westbury (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

Advanced Praise for The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies

"A "spiffing" (as witty heroine Ginevra would say) feminist romp through post-war "Cambridge Five" Oxford--a historical mystery of effervescent style and also significant substance." -Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope series

"Kate Westbury has debuted in fabulous style with her delightful light academia mystery, The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies. Espionage, opposites-attract romance, and plenty of zinging banter make this a wonderfully absorbing read. When I got to the end, I wanted more! I'll be waiting impatiently for what Westbury writes next." -India Holton, USA Today Bestselling Author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

"The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies is a thrilling romp through post-WWII Oxford. Westbury deftly blends academia, spies, and romance, and the result is a page-turning mystery with a cast of compelling characters. This captivating spy thriller hooked me from page one with an intriguing puzzle of a plot, perfectly peppered with romantic tension." -Julia Seales, National Bestselling Author of A Most Agreeable Murder

About the Author

KATE WESTBURY grew up a voracious reader of detective fiction, and unraveling plot twists became her favorite pastime. She now puts her whodunnit obsession to good use writing historical mysteries. Beyond the page, Kate teaches Latin and dreams of moving to an English village with crimes to solve.