The excitements A novel

Josephine and Penny Williamson were born to a wealthy British family in the 1920s but found the privileges of wealth tedious and stifling. When the girls were in their late teens, WWII broke out, and they joined in the effort to defeat the Nazis; both were awarded medals for bravery and service. Now in their nineties and living in London but still whip-smart and full of life, the women depend on their grandnephew, Archie, to plan "excitements" for them--plays, concerts, fancy dinners, museums--and he's delighted to do so, since he loves his great-aunts dearly. But both women have secrets in their pasts, some dark and dangerous, some tragic, some comical, and it's on a trip to Paris to receive the Légion d'honneur medal that these secrets begin to emerge. Switching between the 1940s and 2022, this book is utterly charming, with its lead characters a feisty mix of Madame Arcati, Miss Marple, Mata Hari, and Danny Ocean. It's gently humorous and full of twists, but it's the liveliness, verve, and charisma of Penny and Josephine, who are determined not to let old age slow them down one bit, that makes this such a satisfying read.

In this irresistible caper from Wray (a pseudonym for Proper Family series author Chrissie Manby), the past comes to bear on nonagenarian British WWII veteran sisters, Penny and Josephine Williamson. As the women prepare to receive yet another award for their service (this time for their help liberating France), their doting great-nephew, Archie, whisks them off to Paris, where his former lover happens to be auctioning off a spectacular jewelry collection belonging to the family of Josephine and Penny's childhood neighbors. Old vendettas emerge, and the sisters prepare to pull off a heist to settle some outstanding debts. As that adventure unfolds, Wray fills in the past 90-plus years of Penny and Josephine's lives, making readers privy to secrets that neither sister has dared to share with the other, particularly when it comes to their extracurricular activities during wartime. Keeping track of the shifting time periods can require close concentration, but the extra focus is worth it: Wray makes the Williamson sisters and their rich backstories leap off the page, successfully convincing readers that their joie de vivre has been a lifelong condition that shows no signs of letting up. Filled with surprise, poignancy, and excitement, this is a surefire winner. (Jan.)