The Bobby Girls' Secrets: Book Two in the gritty, uplifting WW1 series about the first ever female police officers

Johanna Bell

May 2020 · Hachette UK

About this ebook

As the Great War rages on, will the truth come out?

1915. Best friends Irene, Maggie and Annie are proud members of the newly renamed Women's Police Service. While Britain's men are away fighting in France, the girls are doing their bit by keeping the peace at home in London's East End.

But out of the blue, Irene is given the opportunity to be stationed near an army barracks in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Having recently experienced some heartbreak and keen for the adventure, she decides to go. What could possibly go wrong?

It turns out, plenty. One of the other WPS girls takes an immediate dislike to her and makes her life a misery. On top of that, the man she thinks could be the answer to all her problems isn't all he seems. And when she finds a psychologically disturbed deserter in hiding, she has a very difficult decision to make . . .

Can Irene overcome all these obstacles without Maggie and Annie by her side, and find true happiness at last?

Praise for THE BOBBY GIRLS:

Filled with richly drawn characters that leap from the page, and a plot that's so well researched and well written you will believe you are in the thick of wartime policing, The Bobby Girls is a must-read for all saga fans.' - Fiona Ford, bestselling author of Christmas at Liberty's

'I really enjoyed reading about Britain's first female police officers. A lot of research has gone into this book and it's all the richer and more readable for it. An exciting new voice in women's fiction.' - Kate Thompson, bestselling author of Secrets of the Singer Girls

'I really did enjoy The Bobby Girls. It has a lovely warm feeling about it and is excellently written.' - Maureen Lee, RNA award-winning author of Dancing in the Dark

'A well-researched and interesting story giving a great insight into early women's policing.' - Anna Jacobs, bestselling author of the Ellindale series

'Written with warmth and compassion, the novel gives fascinating insights into the lives of three courageous young women.' - Margaret Kaine, RNA award-winning author of Ring of Clay

'Johanna Bell has hit the jackpot with this striking WW1 crime story. The author places the focus firmly on the girls' growth into independent members of society in a rapidly changing world. It's a heartening central message conveyed with verve and empathy and remains relevant to today's readers, both young and old.' - Jenny Holmes, author of The Spitfire Girls

'This is a story that needed to be told. As a former Special Constable, I love Johanna Bell from the bottom of my heart for giving a voice to the women who first made a way for me and countless others like me - to work as real police officers in the service of our communities.' - Penny Thorpe, author of The Quality Street Girls

'A lovely story! The author has researched the era and the theme very well. The characters stood out on the page and through their eyes you are transported back to a different age.' - AnneMarie Brear, author of Beneath a Stormy Sky

Ratings and reviews

A second exciting visit to the lives of three young women who were amongst the first to serve in the Women's Police Service. Carrying on from the first book, our three female police officers are now happily living together in their flat whilst two of them continue with extra work to make ends meet. When Irene hears of the opportunity of a paid position with the WPS she decides to pursue it as it will put some distance from her and her recent beau. So she heads off to Grantham where they need all the help they can get due to a recent influx of soldiers and all the issues they bring with them . . . This is an excellent stand-alone read but I am happy that I read the previous novel as I felt it enhanced my pleasure in the story. It's perfectly clear that the author has done some sterling research both in the social issues of the time and the formative years of the WPS. An exciting story into the world these women entered into and showing that they came from all walks of life to serve their country in this way. A very appealing and enjoyable tale, packed full with details - some which I never considered before. Full of insights into the wartime period on the home front, I have relished everything about this one, including how well-written and memorable this easily flowing story is. Highly recommended to all lovers of wartime domestic sagas and well worth all five glittering stars.

AÀA BOSS NETWORK

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About the author

Johanna Bell is a freelance journalist living in Suffolk with her husband, their daughters and their dog. She developed a passion for learning about the wars after chatting to her granddad about his experiences in World War Two. She is the author of the Bobby Girls series, about the first policewomen in London during World War One, also published by Hodder & Stoughton.