All must do their bit!

Death in a Blackout (WPC Billie Harkness #1) by Jessica Ellicott  

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

1940 and the War has been raging. The British are feeling it. There’s a clear call to arms for all. Wilhelmina (Billie) Harkness, the local Vicar’s daughter, wants to volunteer for whichever branch of the auxiliary services that would have her. This puts her at odds with her recently widowed and very conservative mother. A harsh confrontation between the two has BIllie regretting that estrangement. Unfortunately her mother dies before their differences can be resolved.

Billie moves to live with an unknown cousin in Hull. Enroute she’s caught in an air raid, and after the all clear is given, finds the body of young woman in a cafe. The young woman, Audrey, Billie noted previously when she stopped at the establishment for a cup of tea. A Special Constable, Peter Upton is there. An interesting man Peter.

Billie catches the eye of WCP Crane, the woman in charge of employing a new extension of the police force—Woman Police Constables. Billie’s offered a position and she accepts. 

The fascinating part is the way the story line has timely interjections from Billie’s past. Billie answers letters from various friends and foes in the village. We begin to see that the Vicar’s daughter has inculcated some of the habits, the niceties, of the Vicar’s wife. Often this is no bad thing, assisting sometimes with Billie’s  new role. Ironic even!

Billie, along with Peter Upton is searching for those who might have has something to do with Audrey’s death. But then there’s the mystery of the local priest’s stolen bicycle and a couple of other odd occurrences that are thrown into the meld.

I’m really liking this new series set in the shipbuilding town of Hull at such a time.

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley