This review is written with thanks tto Orion for my copy of The Excitements through Netgalley.

Blurb:

Meet the Williamson sisters, Britain’s most treasured World War II veterans. Now in their nineties, Josephine and Penny are in demand, popping up at commemorative events all over the country. Despite their age, they’re in great form-sprightly and sparky, and always in search of their next “excitement.” This time it’s a trip to Paris to receive the Légion d’honneur, accompanied by their devoted great-nephew, Archie.

Keen historian Archie believes his great aunts had minor roles in the Women’s Royal Navy and the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, but that’s only half the story. There’s a reason sweet Auntie Penny can dispatch a would-be mugger with a brolly.

This trip to Paris is not what it seems either. Scandal and crime have quietly trailed the sisters since the war. Now armed with new information about an old adversary, these much decorated (but admittedly ancient) veterans intend to settle scores, avenge lost friends, and pull off one last heist before the curtain comes down on their illustrious careers.

A charming, uplifting and cosy mystery about two national treasures hiding official secrets and double lives – perfect for fans of THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB.

Review:

I read The Excitements for a buddy read, and had I not been directed to it by someone else, it’s probably not a novel I would have been naturally drawn to. However, I’m so glad that this book was chosen as it has everything: humour, tension and some very emotional moments. CJ Wray is a brilliant writer and I loved how they were able to make me laugh on one page and cry on another and combine so many elements to make such a brilliant story.

The stars of the show are undoubtedly Penny and Josephine Williamson, two nonagenarian sisters with very colourful lives. They are absolutely hilarious and I have no shame in saying I would want them to be my grandmas! I was rooting for them all the way through and I wanted them to get what they wanted. They are joined by their great nephew, Archie, who is another character I warmed to easily. I loved his relationship with his great aunts and the warmth which shines through the pages.

The Excitements is set in 2022, but the narrative also goes back in time so that the reader can learn about Penny and Josephine’s pasts, particularly their contributions to the war effort in World War II. I enjoyed these sections more than I expected to, particularly as the author shines a light on aspects of the war that are less commonly known. I was fascinated by the things that the sisters achieved, and it was wonderful that these sections made the characters feel much more rounded.

CJ Wray’s plotting is exceptional and as The Excitements reaches its ending, it definitely becomes more tense. I love how the different strands of the story are brought together and I will be thinking about Penny, Josephine and Archie for a while yet!

The Excitements is available from Amazon.