I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I love historical fiction, and I love mysteries. I was very excited about the opportunity to read A Front Page Affair, which is the first book in a new series by Radha Vatsal. Capability “Kitty” Weeks works for a newspaper, but she has been relegated to covering “women’s” news. She is sent to cover a Society party, and one of the guests turns up dead in the stables. As Kitty retraces her steps and the events of that evening, she realizes that the details are not adding up. The situation is much more complicated, and might compromise national security.

Kitty is an intrepid heroine, and I was fascinated by her backstory. At the beginning of the novel, Kitty has recently settled in New York City. She spent most of her childhood at boarding school in Europe and has lived abroad her entire life. As a result, she is well-educated and from a good family, but not like the other young women in her life.   She is relatively fearless, and even drives her own car through the streets of the city- quite the rarity for the time period!

Kitty’s story is set during WWI- although war has been declared in Europe, the United States has not yet entered the war. This adds an interesting dimension to the narrative: Americans are naturally aware of the devastation in Europe, but the war is not yet affecting their daily lives.

I would absolutely recommend A Front Page Affair. I have read and enjoyed series set in the Victorian era, the beginning of the 20^th century, the 1930s, and WWII; it was a pleasant experience to have discovered a new series set in an unfamiliar era. It will be interesting to see how the home front shifts as the series progresses, and the United States eventually enters the war. Kitty is an intelligent heroine, and I am looking forward to reading more of the books in her series. I can’t wait to see what the next mystery will bring!