Book Review of
The Undercover Bookshop
The Undercover Bookshop by Katherine Reay is a historical fiction book published in 2026.
Gemma Brown recently moved to the Cotswolds. She desperately wants to create an idyllic life like she’s read about in her favorite mystery novel. Gemma is better at solving mysteries and setting up the village’s first bookstore than at baking. She finds a friend in Peggy, a young woman who also recently moved to the village. She also seeks out the town’s best baker, Ursula Beurton, but is Ursula who she says she is?
Lynn's Review
The Undercover Bookshop by Katherine Reay is a Cold War spy novel set in a village in post-WWII England.
Katherine Reay has become one of my favorite historical fiction authors. I love how she mixes mysteries into history.
Her Cold War books are my favorites, and she is back with another one at The Undercover Bookshop.
Gemma Brown starts a new life in a Cotswold village when she takes a job at a local store. She struggles at first, but quickly begins to love it when she sets up the village’s first bookstore in the shop.
Gemma loves to read mysteries and quickly fills the shop with her favorite books and authors.
Gemma makes friends with Peggy, a young woman who is also new to town, and Ursula, the village’s best baker.
As she spends more time with Ursula, she realizes that something is not right with Ursula and her family. She wonders whether it is just her love of mysteries affecting her, or if something is really wrong with Ursula.
She becomes friends with PC Charlie, who loves mysteries just as much as she does. But her love of mysteries leads her to take risks that might cost her friendship with Charlie.
I love Katherine Reay’s books, and this is a new favorite. I love her writing, but I also love how she combines history with the world of spies and mystery.
If you loved Katherine Reay’s books The Berlin Letters and A Shadow in Moscow, I think you will enjoy this one.
About Katherine Reay
Katherine Reay is the best selling author of twelve fiction books. She lives in Montana with her husband.