A Courage Undimmed is the third Olive Bright historical WW2 spy mystery by Stephanie Graves. Released 24th Jan 2023 by Kensington Books, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in 4th quarter 2023 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function.
This is a very well wrought and realistically rendered WW2 novel set on the home front in late 1941. Series protagonist, intelligent and capable Olive Bright is less than pleased by the higher ups' disdain for her covert program raising racing/carrier pigeons for the war effort. She receives an assignment to escort a visiting officer from Royal Naval Intelligence, Ian Fleming (yes, that one) who turns out to be a disapproving and arrogant, but undeniably clever, pain in the nether regions. She's soon drawn into murder, espionage, and intrigue alongside Fleming.
I enjoyed the skillfulness with which the author wraps the fictional narrative around a framework of actual historical people and events. It's done so skillfully that it's not always apparent where fact shades into fiction.
Four stars. With three books extant in the series, it would make a good choice for a binge/buddy read or even a book club reading project. The author has included good background historical notes at the back of the book (spoilers involved, don't read before finishing reading). Fans of Anna Lee Huber and Rhys Bowen will likely enjoy this series.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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