Olive Bright, Pigeoneer

Stephanie Graves

Dec 2020 · Olive Bright Mystery Book 1 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Rachael Beresford

About this audiobook

Though war rages across mainland Europe and London is strafed by German aircraft, the little village of Pipley in Hertfordshire bustles along much as it always has. Adrift since her best friend, George, joined the Royal Air Force, twenty-two-year-old Olive Bright fills her days by helping at her father's veterinary practice and tending to her beloved racing pigeons. Desperate to do her bit, Olive hopes that the National Pigeon Service will enlist Bright Lofts' expertise, and use their highly trained birds to deliver critical, coded messages for His Majesty's Forces. The strangers who arrive in Pipley are not from the NPS. Instead, Jameson Aldridge and his associate are tied to a covert British intelligence organization known as Baker Street. If Olive wants her pigeons to help the war effort, she must do so in complete secrecy. Tired of living vicariously through the characters of her beloved Agatha Christie novels, Olive readily agrees. But in the midst of her subterfuge, the village of Pipley is dealing with another mystery. Local busybody Miss Husselbee is found dead outside Olive's pigeon loft. Is the murder tied to Olive's new assignment? Or did Miss Husselbee finally succeed in ferreting out a secret shameful enough to kill for?

Ratings and reviews

All is Not Quiet on the Homefront Audiobook Review: I quite liked this book through the beginning to at least 75% way through. I love books that take place in a small town and especially ones that happen during a pivotal moment in history. There is something about seeing what happens on the homefront during times of war. This one takes place in small-town England at the start of the second world war. At first, the book seemed to be simply caught up in the minor comedies and tragedies that beset small-town life, especially during war. As a massive Jane Austen fan, I appreciated all the Jane Austen references and even the fact that the town was going to put on a play of Pride and Prejudice. I found the pigeoneer aspect fascinating as well. Pigeons certainly did have a role in early 20th century wars. Unfortunately, I thought this book lacked in particular areas. The heroine, the eponymous Olive Bright of the book's title, came across as headstrong and reckless, and I found her a bit tedious at times. I think at least some of that was the fault of the narrator and the way she voiced the character as strident, especially when talking to Captain Aldridge. I also felt the book was too focused on the cozy aspect of “cozy mystery” rather than the mysteries. In fact, the mysteries seemed nearly irrelevant until the end. For me as the reader/listener, I didn't feel like there were enough clues to figure out the blackmailer and the murderer. I also felt like the author rushed the end with a lot of plot strings left dangling. The semi-sum-up in the final chapter didn't quite do it for me. Much of what was discussed through the book we never got to see happen or end satisfactorily, like Olive becoming FANY, the play, the perhaps budding enemies-to-lovers romance between Olive and the captain, and even more of the pigeons work. We never even learn Captain Aldridge’s real name! I don't know if this is supposed to be the start of a series, but I ended up disappointed because the book did not feel truly tied up to me. I received a free copy of this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.

About the author

Stephanie Graves is the author of Olive Bright, Pigeoneer, as well as four novels under the pseudonym Alyssa Goodnight. She is a self-professed connoisseur of British mysteries of all sorts and has done extensive research on the little-known role of pigeons during World War II. Visit her online at msstephgraves.com.

Rachael Beresford is a British classically trained actress and voice talent. With a precise, engaging, and entertaining voice, Rachael enjoys working with authors to convey their story and enhance their tale, breathe life into a character, and make the world of a narration come alive.