Secrets and Spies
By Mary Rosambeau
A Scottish Wartime Mystery
Welcome to the Secrets and Spies website where you'll find out how I first came to write my books.
Ten-year-old Rory Mackay dreams of being a fighter pilot. But before he can conquer the Nazis, he'll have to deal with an enemy much closer to home.
Set against the backdrop of coastal Scotland, Secrets and Spies is a tale of love, friendship, and wartime conflict.
Having extensively researched the history of this area, Mary Rosambeau crafts a compelling story that will both move and entertain you.
LoveReading4Kids review:
" 'Secrets and Spies: A Scottish Mystery' by Mary Rosambeau is a brilliant middle-grade fiction book focusing on 10 year-old Rory. Based in a Scottish harbour town, there's a mystery at the heart of the plot as Rory's mother has an accident and rumours spread about spies in the town. Rory and his friends stumble into the middle of the mystery and there's plenty of twists to keep the reader guessing right along with the characters. This story is based around the author's hometown and the plot rings with authenticity and I particularly like the extra details such as the school railings and church bells being taken for scrap and school holidays being given so children can help with the potato harvest. These little embellishments were educational but also helped to add more dimension to the story.
There are some pencil-style illustrations occasionally throughout and I thought these were quite charming. However I found the storytelling to be the highlight of this book. There's mystery and adventure that draws you in and entices you to keep reading until the very last page. Outside of the historical fiction and WWII themes, there's additional details in the characterisation and the characters' relationships that transcends genre such as the characterisation of Charlie, and his role as the school bully as a reflection of his treatment by his brother. There's also Paul's confidence and the positive focus on his disabilities as well as the close confidences he keeps with his parents. I think that there's something in this 'Secrets and Spies' for everyone, and lots of different things to take away from the story. I feel it will have a very wide appeal and I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to middle grade readers."
Wishing Shelf book Awards finalist review:
“An exciting suspense filled adventure story, perfect for 9-12 year olds. Highly recommended.”
A teacher's review said:
“This author is exceptionally talented. She understands her children readership and offers them just what they want: Excitement, suspense, and big dilemmas.”
Shortlisted by 2019 Rubery Book Award
I have loved sketching my characters and do hope I've conveyed their feelings even if, at times, I haven't managed to draw their feet quite correctly. Writing is fun, but you're very close to what you write. Readers, at a distance, can draw your attention to places where your story could be improved.
I also go to an adult writer's group and their comments helped me with that.
My cover was also influenced by them. One member thought his eight-year-old son wouldn't know what a homemade go cart would look like, another couldn't envisage a forest fire tower. Both appear on the cover to help them.
