Poppy Redfern and the Fatal Flyers

Tessa Arlen

Dec 2020 · A Woman of WWII Mystery Book 2 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

“You’ll love this character so much, you’ll want her as your best friend.”—Alyssa Maxwell, author of the Gilded Newport Mysteries and a Lady and Lady’s Maid Mysteries

Poppy Redfern is back on the case when two female fighter pilots take a fatal dive in an all-new Woman of World War II Mystery by USA Today bestselling author Tessa Arlen.

It is the late autumn of 1942. Our indomitable heroine Poppy Redfern is thoroughly immersed in her new job as a scriptwriter at the London Crown Film Unit, which produces short films featuring British civilians who perform acts of valor and heroism in wartime. After weeks of typing copy and sharpening pencils, Poppy is thrilled to receive her first solo script project: a fifteen-minute film about the Air Transport Auxiliary, known as Attagirls, a group of female civilians who have been trained to pilot planes from factories to military airfields all over Britain.

Poppy could not be more excited to spend time with these amazing ladies, but she never expects to see one of the best pilots die in what is being labeled an accident. When another Attagirl meets a similar fate, Poppy and her American fighter-pilot boyfriend, Griff, believe foul play may be at work. They soon realize that a murderer with a desire for revenge is dead set on grounding the Attagirls for good. . . .

Ratings and reviews

Unsatisfying Mystery/Suspense — AudioBook Review — The eponymous Poppy Redfern is a young filmmaker sent to make a 15-minute video of the young women of the Air Transport Auxiliary during World War II, known as the Attagirls. These female pilots transported planes around England, delivering them where they needed to be for the male pilots who would then use the planes on missions domestically and abroad. What should be a relatively simple assignment for Poppy turns out to be much more as the young women start dying in plane crashes that should not happen given their skill, the plane’s mechanics, and flying conditions. I listened to the audiobook version of this story, and I think listening to the excellent narrator made the story seem better than it was. I had no trouble staying interested as things kept happening to these poor young women, but at points, I wondered where the story was going. At the book’s end, I found the resolution/reveal completely unsatisfying. This book is a mystery/suspense: what or who is behind these fatal crashes? The author didn't leave a trail of clues nor were there a lot of suspects. I felt like the villain simply appeared out of thin air at the book’s end, as the character made little impression on me earlier in the book. Not recommended. — I received a free copy of this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.

England, 1940s, pilots, World War-2, women, murder, murder-investigation, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-figures, historical-research, historical-setting***** Was it really pilot error that killed the skilled woman performing aerials for the camera? Poppy, the script writer and more, really doubts it. Surprisingly, her American airman friend (and more) isn't too sure either. These women pilots are part of an elite squadron who ferry planes from one location to another and are highly skilled. Poppy has spent days getting to know them and more. I know it's repetitious, but want to avoid details and possible spoilers. The sleuthing begins and so do the red herrings and misdirections, but it is all very well done in this historical cosy. These events are fiction, but the service was real and meticulously researched to show readers that not all women stayed in place. Madeleine Leslay has a remarkable talent for mimicry and delineates the characters very well. I requested and received a free audio copy from Dreamscape Media/Berkley via NetGalley. Thank you!

About the author

Tessa Arlen was born in Singapore, the daughter of a British diplomat; she has lived in Egypt, Germany, the Persian Gulf, China, and India. An Englishwoman married to an American, Tessa lives on the West Coast with her family and two corgis.