What an interesting story! Wilhemina (Billie) has a screaming argument with her mother after wanting to sign up with the war effort and storms out of the house. She returns home to find her mother is out looking for her and is hit and killed by a car during a blackout. She visits her cousin in Hull to get away and stops at a café where sees a fashionable young woman and later that night during an air-raid siren finds her dead. She reports this and gets hired as a newly formed womens constabulary. She’s greeted with distain and prejudice but does solve the murder and get involved with the war effort. ( )

Wilhelmina Harkness, with both her vicar father and brother off doing their part for the war effort, wants to do something as well. Her mother is very against Wilhelmina taking on a role other that helping minster to those left behind. A family tragedy leaves Wilhelmina temporarily homeless. Enter Hull, England and cousin Lydia. Thank goodness for Lydia's quick work of turning Wilhelmina into Billie. I was able to truly enjoy Billie's entry into the police force (only one of two women thus far) and how she helps uncover the answer to a dead body found after an air raid. ( )

All must do their bit!

1940 and the War has been raging. The British are feeling it. There’s a clear call to arms for all. Wilhelmina (Billie) Harkness, the local Vicar’s daughter, wants to volunteer for whichever branch of the auxiliary services that would have her. This puts her at odds with her recently widowed and very conservative mother. A harsh confrontation between the two has BIllie regretting that estrangement. Unfortunately her mother dies before their differences can be resolved.
Billie moves to live with an unknown cousin in Hull. Enroute she’s caught in an air raid, and after the all clear is given, finds the body of young woman in a cafe. The young woman, Audrey, Billie noted previously when she stopped at the establishment for a cup of tea. A Special Constable, Peter Upton is there. An interesting man Peter.
Billie catches the eye of WCP Crane, the woman in charge of employing a new extension of the police force—Woman Police Constables. Billie’s offered a position and she accepts.
The fascinating part is the way the story line has timely interjections from Billie’s past. Billie answers letters from various friends and foes in the village. We begin to see that the Vicar’s daughter has inculcated some of the habits, the niceties, of the Vicar’s wife. Often this is no bad thing, assisting sometimes with Billie’s new role. Ironic even!
Billie, along with Peter Upton is searching for those who might have has something to do with Audrey’s death. But then there’s the mystery of the local priest’s stolen bicycle and a couple of other odd occurrences that are thrown into the meld.
I’m really liking this new series set in the shipbuilding town of Hull at such a time.

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley ( )