Available November 12, 2026 (Ebook pre-order available now)
“Celebrates the courage of ordinary women who do extraordinary things…not a book to read quickly but one to carry with you” D.K. Marley, The Historical Fiction Company
“Readers drawn to thoughtful historical fiction set after the Second World War are in for a real treat. Very highly recommended.” Asher Syed, Reader’s Favorites
Weymouth, England 1947
Is fair treatment possible in the face of deep prejudice? Teodor Rodak’s life depends on the answer to that question. The former Polish officer and his two children are refugees in post-WW2 England when he is accused of murder.
After discovering that her granddaughter, Irene, has fallen for Teodor’s son, Alice Standfield finds the fate of her family hopelessly entwined with Teodor’s fate. The quest to clear Teodor’s name sends Alice and her grandson to war-ravaged Poland and across the Tatra mountains into Czechoslovakia. There, they must entrust their lives to a mysterious young woman from the Polish Underground State.
As Teodor faces a jury determined to rid England of refugees, Alice must accept that there are limits to her ability to protect those close to her.
“McClain’s narrative, composed in the gently paced prose of a traditional cozy (including the requisite copious amounts of comforting tea), weaves a complex web consisting of social bigotry against the immigrant Polish population, intercontinental espionage, and political complications… Plus, there is a bit of not-quite hair-raising adventure and a tender romance that adds heart to the riddle at the book’s heart.” Kirkus Reviews
