Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from The Undercover Bookshop by Katherine Reay, which releases on October 6th 2026.

Recently moved to the English Cotswolds, Gemma Brown desperately wants to create the kind of idyllic life she’s read about in her favorite mystery novels, with herself as the leading lady. But fitting in proves difficult as Gemma is more adept at solving mysteries and setting up the village’s first bookstore than she is at baking cakes or grasping social niceties. Nevertheless, she finds a friend in Peggy, a young woman recently moved to town herself, and Ursula Beurton, who is not only the village’s best baker but an enigmatic figure who sparks controversy in the small-town gossip network.

As Gemma spends more time with Ursula, she begins to suspect all those novels are affecting her thinking. The oddities she starts to notice must be her imagination because, if not, they point to something far more dangerous than winning the local baking contest or being placed on the church committee. Could her neighbor be a real spy?

Following her instincts and a few skills learned through fiction, Gemma soon becomes embroiled in an international intrigue involving the village’s mysterious benefactor, Lady Marchmont, MI5, and the KGB. In an unexpected twist, however, Ursula asks Gemma for a favor which may endanger all their lives as their next chapter unfolds in Gemma’s new venture, the Undercover Bookshop.

EXCERPT

PROLOGUE

Tuesday, 5 November 1991

LONDON, ENGLAND

We are delighted to announce that Ruth Werner’s bestselling novel Sonja’s Rapport has released an English translation under the title Sonya’s Report. Mrs. Werner will be traveling throughout November and December to promote sales and has personally requested an evening event at The Undercover Bookshop. Please reply if 4 December is available. Books and promotional materials to follow.

Ruth Werner.

I draw in a deep inhale and it catches in my throat. The world blurs at its edges on the exhale, and I drop onto the stool behind the shop’s customer service counter, laying down the letter. It shouldn’t shock me, yet it does. It’s certainly a surprise. Ruth Werner is coming to England. Ruth Werner is allowed to come to England.

After all these years . . .

Easy, Nora. Easy now.

The words come to me without prompting, as if pulled from thin air and the distant past. Just as she had so often said them all those years ago. Well, not quite as she said them. Much has changed in forty-­one years. One thing in particular. Nora.

My thoughts flit from my relationship with the bestselling author to our country’s decades-­old entanglement with her. Why is the government letting her in? No one outside a select few knows what she’s done since her escape in 1950. No one knows she might now be called a friend rather than one of our greatest foes. And, considering who she is, even that’s an open question.

What a powerful enemy she was. She ran the Soviet Union’s biggest ring of informants and spies, passing along top-­secret economic, military, and financial data—and more. She was responsible for giving—­via “handling” Klaus Fuchs—­the Soviets the atomic bomb, along with advantages that put them ahead of Great Britain at nearly every step during those beginning Cold War years.

I close my eyes to consider what game is being played. Is the government trying to rehabilitate her reputation in England? Will they share what she’s done for Britain to placate her detractors? A derisive laugh escapes at the impossibility of that. Certainly the Soviets would shut down such a publicity stunt.

Granted everyone seems to believe the Soviet Union will fall soon and that it’s no longer a viable threat, but when is the KGB not a viable threat? One does not betray it and live to tell the tale. Her work—­our work—­will remain a secret. Probably long after we both are dead.

Nevertheless, I look around my bookstore, the second love of my life, and wonder what will become of it. And what will become of me, if there is a game playing in the geopolitical background—­there are always at least a few games running—and I’m the pawn to be sacrificed.

I run my hand over the printed letter. Excitement and dread, in equal measure, war within me. She is coming to England and my bookshop will host her. This will happen. There is no escaping it. I simply pray I haven’t been duped by her, that what we’ve done over these past years has been what I think it’s been—­good work—­and, perhaps, she truly does mean to atone for the damage she caused.

Another deep breath and my heart calms. I haven’t been duped by her because I am not the scattered young woman—searching for home without an understanding of what it meant, distracted by life, by hope, and by dreams—­she found standing outside her door that long-­ago cold January morning. I grew under her tutelage, and I have carried her lessons further. My mind grew focused. My attention grew sharp. My thinking slowed until I could strategize, make connections and inferences almost as effectively as she did. I have not been her pawn. I have grown into her equal.

Yes, she taught me a great deal, but I made my own decisions, too, even back then. I did not follow her blindly. Perhaps I even taught her something. Perhaps that is why the government is letting her into England. Perhaps all is well and this is nothing more than a book tour.

Or perhaps she’s got another move up her sleeve.

After all, this isn’t simply a bestselling novelist we’re talking about. Ruth Werner is merely her pen name. This is the Soviet Union’s most famous and most celebrated spy. Ursula Kuczynski Beurton.

And with Ursula, nothing is what it seems . . .

Excerpted from The Undercover Bookshop, by Katherine Reay. Harper Muse, 2026. Reprinted with permission.

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Intrigued? The Undercover Bookshop by Katherine Reay releases on October 6th 2026, so read on to discover the cover and its synopsis!

Recently moved to the English Cotswolds, Gemma Brown desperately wants to create the kind of idyllic life she’s read about in her favorite mystery novels, with herself as the leading lady. But fitting in proves difficult as Gemma is more adept at solving mysteries and setting up the village’s first bookstore than she is at baking cakes or grasping social niceties. Nevertheless, she finds a friend in Peggy, a young woman recently moved to town herself, and Ursula Beurton, who is not only the village’s best baker but an enigmatic figure who sparks controversy in the small-town gossip network.

As Gemma spends more time with Ursula, she begins to suspect all those novels are affecting her thinking. The oddities she starts to notice must be her imagination because, if not, they point to something far more dangerous than winning the local baking contest or being placed on the church committee. Could her neighbor be a real spy?

Following her instincts and a few skills learned through fiction, Gemma soon becomes embroiled in an international intrigue involving the village’s mysterious benefactor, Lady Marchmont, MI5, and the KGB. In an unexpected twist, however, Ursula asks Gemma for a favor which may endanger all their lives as their next chapter unfolds in Gemma’s new venture, the Undercover Bookshop.

The post Exclusive Cover Reveal: The Undercover Bookshop by Katherine Reay appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Katherine Reay’s The English Masterpiece, which is out June 10th 2025.

As the recently promoted assistant to the Tate’s Modern Collections keeper Diana Gilden, Lily helps plan a world-class Picasso exhibit to honor the passing of the great artist–and she’s waited her whole life for this moment. The opening is beyond anyone’s expectations–the lighting, the champagne, the glittering crowd, and the international acclaim–until Lily does the unthinkable. She stops in front of a masterpiece and hears her own voice say, “It’s a forgery.” The gallery falls silent.

Lily’s boss, Diana, is polished perfection, schooled in art, and descends from European high society. She’s worked hard to become the trusted voice in London’s modern art scene and respected across the Continent. The Tate’s Picasso Commemorative is to be her crowning achievement, featuring not only the artist’s most iconic and intimate works, but a newly discovered painting–one she advised an investor to purchase. But when Lily makes her outrageous declaration, suspicion and scandal threaten everything Diana has achieved, as museums and collectors across Europe, already doubting most post-war acquisitions, fall into chaos and rumors of a world-wide forgery run wild.

All Lily has ever wanted is to follow in Diana’s footsteps and take the art world by storm in her own right. Yet one comment puts not only her own career at risk but also her mentor’s. Unless . . . Was she right? With the clock ticking and the clues starting to pile up against her, Lily must uncover the truth behind the Picasso before she loses not only the career she’s always wanted, but her freedom.

Block off your calendar and lose yourself in The English Masterpiece, a thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end from the author who brought you The London House and The Berlin Letters.

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Releasing on March 5th 2024, The Berlin Letters is an unforgettable tale of the Cold War and a CIA code breaker who risks everything to free her father from an East German prison.

For years, we’ve been captivated by fictional accounts of the spying life. Countless novels, set in WWII alone, have offered us insights into the harrowing, sacrificial, courageous, and sometimes deathly aspects of those 007 escapades.

Yet, sometimes, fact is more shocking than fiction. And here are five nonfiction accounts of the real spies, secret agents, and operatives, who have influenced some of our favorite novels. Their stories are well-worth digging into, far more compelling than much of the fiction they inspire, and, I promise, they won’t disappoint.

A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win WWII by Sonia Purnell

Purnell’s research and insights into the indomitable American spy Virginia Hall make for an extraordinary fast-paced read. Hall was the first woman deployed behind enemy lines in WWII France, as part of Britain’s new spy-initiate, the Special Operations Executive. A leader within the French Resistance, Hall’s work was instrumental to its success and her escape from France is the stuff of legend. A must read!

The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre

What makes one a “spy” and the other a “traitor”? Macintyre explores this question as he presents the work, lives, motivations, and compensation, for both KBG-turned-MI6 informant Oleg Gordievsky and CIA-turned-KGB asset Aldrich Ames. Impeccably researched and presented in a split-format, Macintyre’s narrative toggles between Gordievsky and Ames until an act of betrayal brings them together. Their stories will pique your interest from first page to last.

Agent Sonya: Moscow’s Most Daring Wartime Spy by Ben Macintyre

Another Macintyre selection because, well, I believe he is unparalleled in this space. This book focuses on a seemingly quiet woman named Ursula Burton, living in the English Cotswolds post WWII. Codenamed SONYA, Mrs. Burton was actually a high-ranking Soviet intelligence officer running assets across Europe from her small cottage. Macintyre gives fresh and intimate insights into this remarkable woman, while also examining the larger movements of nations and shifting ideology throughout the Cold War period.

The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal by David Hoffman

I could not put this book down. Hoffman’s research and deft writing make you feel like you’re standing right beside Soviet engineer-turned-CIA informant Adolf Tolkachev as he makes the perilous decision to betray his country and pass military documents along to the United States. While delivering a very personal story about Tolkachev, Hoffman also gives an incredibly thorough and researched portrayal of the Cold War across both sides of the Iron Curtain.

Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA by Amaryllis Fox

The most personal of books listed here, Fox’s story is her own and her memoir is both deeply intimate and compelling. She generously gives readers access to her extraordinary life, starting with her childhood before quickly transitioning her work in the CIA — which she joined at the age of twenty-one. Alongside covering life within the Agency’s most clandestine unit, Fox also shares the dangers and joys of falling in love under such pressures, and how it all changed with the birth of her daughter. Here is another book you’ll thoroughly enjoy.

The post The Spy Life: Five Books About Real Life Spies You Don’t Want to Miss appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff pair up once more for their new sci-fi novel Aurora Rising, while YouTuber Christine Riccio makes her debut with a YA contemporary, Again, But Better. If it’s romance you’re after, be sure to check out Helen Hoang’s The Bride Test or Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue. Feel like getting lost in another world? Then you should explore Cate Glass’s An Illusion of Thieves or Hafsah Faizal’s We Hunt The Flame. Or perhaps if you need a good thrill, then Wendy Walker’s The Night Before or Thomas Harris’s Cari Mora might do the trick!

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be reading any!

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the academy would touch…

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A big-hearted romantic comedy in which First Son Alex falls in love with Prince Henry of Wales after an incident of international proportions forces them to pretend to be best friends…

We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, We Hunt the Flame is a gripping debut of discovery, conquering fear, and taking identity into your own hands.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the critically acclaimed author of The Kiss Quotient comes a romantic novel about love that crosses international borders and all boundaries of the heart…

Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Shane has been doing college all wrong. Her life has been dorm, dining hall, class, repeat. She needs a change — there’s nothing like moving to a new country to really mix things up. Shane signs up for a semester abroad in London. She’s going to right all her college mistakes: make friends, pursue boys, and find adventure! Easier said than done.

The Night Before by Wendy Walker
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Told in dual timelines—the night before and the day after—The Night Before is a riveting thriller about family loyalty, obsession, and what happens when the desire for love spins out of control.

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Evoking the darker, older versions of the Cinderella story, bestselling author Jennifer Donnelly shows us that ugly is in the eye of the beholder, and uses her trademark wit and wisdom to send an overlooked character on a journey toward empowerment, redemption, and a new definition of beauty.

Cari Mora by Thomas Harris
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the creator of Hannibal Lecter and The Silence of the Lambs comes a story of evil, greed, and the consequences of dark obsession. Monsters lurk in the crevices between male desire and female survival. No other writer in the last century has conjured those monsters with more terrifying brilliance than Thomas Harris. Cari Mora, his sixth novel, is the long-awaited return of an American master.

An Illusion of Thieves by Cate Glass
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A ragtag crew with forbidden magic must pull off an elaborate heist and stop a civil war in An Illusion of Thieves, a fantasy adventure from Cate Glass.

The Guest Book by Sarah Blake
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An unforgettable love story, a novel about past mistakes and betrayals that ripple throughout generations, The Guest Book examines not just a privileged American family, but a privileged America. It is a literary triumph.

A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

International bestselling author Guy Gavriel Kay’s latest work is set in a world evoking early Renaissance Italy and offers an extraordinary cast of characters whose lives come together through destiny, love, and ambition.

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

One of Madeline Cullen’s happiest childhood memories is of working with her Aunt Maddie in the quaint and cozy Printed Letter Bookshop. But by the time Madeline inherits the shop nearly twenty years later, family troubles and her own bitter losses have hardened Madeline’s heart toward her once-treasured aunt—and the now struggling bookshop left in her care.

Are there any books coming out this month that you’re excited to read? Tell us in the comments below!

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