Who Was Nightshade? by Eamonn Vincent

Welcome to the quaint English village of Fordham Market during the Cold War era, where espionage, humour, and love intertwine in a tale equal parts John Le Carré, P. G. Wodehouse, and Judy Blume, yet uniquely crafted for a sophisticated adult readership.

In the summer of 1963, amidst the cultural ripples of The Beatles and James Bond, Richard Warren, a cash-strapped young aristocrat, inherits the sprawling yet dilapidated estates of The Priory and Wyvern Hall in the seemingly tranquil village of Fordham Market. However, the shadows of WWII and Cold War paranoia cast a dark veil over the village, unveiling a nest of Soviet espionage anchored by the elusive double agent codenamed Nightshade.

Richard's aim to salvage his financial woes by selling Wyvern Hall hits a snag due to an amended will that favours his uncle's loyal assistant, Neville 'Nippy' Smith. Enter Tony Smallwood, an old university chum with hidden Soviet allegiances, offering a shady solution to Richard's predicament, all while chasing the ghost of Nightshade through the secretive corridors of British intelligence.

As the quirky yet daring teenage duo, Peter and Terri, stumble upon the espionage antics, they join forces with Nippy in a perilous journey to unravel the Soviet plot, throwing the village into a whirlwind of duplicity, betrayal, love, and the relentless quest to unmask Nightshade.

"Filled with interesting characters...an enjoyable mix of comedy, espionage, and derring-do." - SusannahB (Vine Voice Reviewer)

"A cracking yarn!" - DennisEW

"Ingenious Cold War spy romp...beautifully conjures the mood of the early Sixties..." - Ms A. C. Koning