This historical fiction release by Tara Moss is a cleverly woven tale of love, mystery, and empowerment, set in 1946 Sydney, Australia. It might sound like a strange combination, but it’s my take. I’ll tell you why. First, I love the protagonist, Billie Walker, a war widow who’s taken over her late father’s struggling detective—or, rather, inquiry—agency.

Billie comes from a wealthy family. Her mother, a Dutch aristocrat, is on her to find a new husband and settle down. But Billie has other plans for her future. She worked as a reporter during the war where she’d met her late husband Jack, but now she’s found new purpose in funneling her skills into doing something that really matters. With the help of her assistant, and partner, Sam, they are determined to build the business back.

In addition to the overarching mystery of a rather complex case of a missing young man, Billie and Sam find themselves running into misdirection and danger, making the book a page-turner.

Image Courtesy of HarperCanada