A Spying Eye, A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel by Michelle Cox {Book Review}

A Spying Eye definitely leaves you reeling and wondering who you can trust and who you need to watch out for!

Disclosure: I received this book to review through iRead Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

In A Spying Eye, Clive and Henrietta return to Europe in an attempt to resurrect their failed honeymoon. While in London, they are approached by their old friend, Inspector John Hartle, who convinces them to search for the missing panel of the Ghent Altarpiece, a famous Renaissance painting, of which Hitler’s top men are also in pursuit.

Meanwhile, back in Chicago, Oldrich Exley threatens to cut off financial support for the entire Von Harmon brood if Elsie continues with her plan to marry Gunther―a situation made worse by the sudden appearance of one Heinrich Meyer, who claims to be little Anna’s father and threatens to take her away. Desperate, Elsie seeks the help of Clive’s sister, Julia, who is herself the victim of domestic abuse and who has fallen under the spell of a handsome Texas millionaire bent on acquiring a rare painting from the Howard collection.

​Clive and Henrietta’s search takes them to Chateau du Freudeneck in Strasbourg, France―the ancient seat of the Von Harmons and home to three eccentric distant relatives. What begins as a wild goose chase turns decidedly more deadly when several Nazi officers also arrive at the chateau in search of a “valuable item.” When Henrietta and Clive attempt to flee after Henrietta uncovers a shocking truth, they are forced to trust themselves to a suspicious French servant who seems all-too willing to help . . .

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As of this post, A Spying Eye is book 6 of 6. Of my recollection, this is the second book of the six book series that I have read… and it was over two years ago so we will call this a fresh read because I recall very little from what I read over two years ago!

While this is a part of a series, it absolutely, undoubtedly can be read as a stand alone without feeling lost.

A Spying Eye followed two different parts of the story – Henrietta and Clive who are taking their second honeymoon and get wrapped into a case; and Elsie and Gunther who are facing their own dilemmas together – as well as a tad bit of a third story that followed Julia.

While I was intrigued with the Elsie, Gunther, and Anna storyline; I was much more intrigued with the Julia aspect. That little hint of romance really sucks a person into a read.

Initially, I found Henrietta and Clive’s storyline to be a little boring, but when it picked up; it picked up and I couldn’t wait to follow along to see who was a spy, who could be trusted, and what was developing. It got to the point that I was at the edge of my seat wondering how this was all going to play out.

Overall, I enjoyed A Spying Eye. It was an intriguing historical mystery that kept me on my toes!

About the Author

Michelle Cox is the author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as “Novel Notes of Local Lore,” a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. Her books have won over 50 international awards and have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Foreword, Elle, Redbook, Brit&Co., POPSUGAR, Buzzfeed, and many others.

Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn’t have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also marmalade. She lives in Chicago with her husband, three children, and one naughty Goldendoodle and is hard at work on her latest novel. 

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