Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook: A Novel

A "gripping, original" novel about an ordinary young British woman sent to uncover a network of spies and war criminals in post-war Germany (Joanne Harris). World War II is over, and Britain oversees its zone of occupied Germany through the Control Commission. Bored with her job as a provincial schoolteacher, Edith Graham takes a job with the Commission—but she is also recruited by her cousin, Leo, in the Secret Service. To them, single, ordinary Edith is perfect spy material. Cousin Leo wants Edith to locate Count Kurt von Stavenow, a former acquaintance who is now a notorious war criminal. To send information back to London, Edith has crafted the perfect alter ego. As cookbook author Stella Snelling, she writes a popular magazine column—embedding crucial intelligence within the recipes she collects. But occupied Germany is awash with other spies, collaborators, and opportunists, and the closer Edith gets to uncovering von Stavenow's whereabouts—and the network of German civilians who still support him—the greater the danger. Inspired by an old family cookbook kept by her aunt, Celia Rees has crafted and gripping novel about daring, betrayal, and female friendship. Read more