Where the Sky Begins

Content warnings: war, emotional abuse, bombings, using "gypsy" to refer to the Romani people, loss of a spouse, assisted suicide

Josie Banks is relocated to the English countryside when her London home is bombed during World War II.

Josie Banks married young and her husband is abusive toward her because she has yet to bear a child. When he is conscripted during World War II, Josie finds a job to pay for their London home which is eventually bombed and destroyed. With nowhere else to go, Josie is sent to the country to convalesce.

Josie's country home is a large, six-bedroom house occupied by Mrs. Harcourt and her Irish maid. Haughty Mrs. Harcourt is unpopular in the village, and living with her and the maid is far from pleasant. Josie makes the best of her situation and helps maid Kathleen with the chores she can do one-armed, including cooking simple dishes. Eventually, Josie persuades the mistress of the house to allow her to open a tea shop in the manor.

Josie's tea room serves as a gathering place for RAF soldiers and villagers. Josie finally finds a purpose during the war and becomes attached to the countryside. She dreads heading back to London with her emotionally abusive husband. Then a mysterious man shows up at the tea room and brings Josie into World War II espionage.

Recommended for fans of World War II fiction and women's fiction.

Rhys Bowen is the pen name of Janet Quin-Harkin. She is a New York Times bestselling author who is British by birth but now lives in the western USA.

Publisher: Lake Union

Length: 400 pages

Release Date: August 2, 2022

I received an electronic galley copy of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.