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Book Review
Reviewed: 04 April 2026

The Oxford Guide to Scandal & Liess

by: Kate Westbury

  • Rating: full starfull starfull starfull starstar outline (4.0/5)

Gin and Sid find a traitor ... and a killer

Meet Ginverva and Sidney, Gin and Sid, opposites that come together, reluctantly, to solve a crime at Oxford University in the 1950s. That one sentence sums up the story, but it doesn’t take you on the journey that keeps you reading long into the night when you know you have work the next morning.

Gin and Sid’s meet-cute had a little of the enemies-to-lovers vibe, but only a little. I was left wondering if there had been puppet strings at work. Anyway, they are opposites and complement each other well, as we soon find out. Enter Rook. I love the play on chess and the mystique that is written around this character. Gin wants to jump at the opportunity to save her family home without marrying. Sid wants to run from the opportunity and continue to bury his past. Call it chivalry, sense of duty, or his inability not to help, but he ends up allowing Gin to talk him into agreeing to Rook’s request. This is helped along with the death of beloved librarian, Mr. Tolliver. From here, the adventures begin.

The somewhat diverse group of characters is filled with strong-willed female characters. Gin’s friends, Iris, Sarita, and Annette. Throw into the mix troublemaker Marion, and the men have their hands full keeping up with these women. 

Not only did this multilayered mystery intrigue, but several subplots kept me guessing and wanting more. Not to give too much away, but Gin had a unique upbringing with her mother. Sid comments on Gin’s mom being a bit of an odd duck. There were gasp-worthy moments that, in my mind, have the potential for additional stories. I hope that I just missed the “book 1” designation and that this is not a one-and-done. If it were, I’d be majorly sore about it.

I want to read more about the adventures of Gin and Sid!

Thank you, #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for the opportunity for an early read and to share my thoughts.

Happy Reading!

Release Date: 1-September-2026
British, Historical Mystery, NetGalley, Romance

Plot Summary

Set against the backdrop of post-WWII Oxford University, The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies is the irresistible debut from Kate Westbury that seamlessly layers mystery, romance, and a dash of academia to introduce the Crown’s newest undercover operatives.

Oxford, England, 1951 - The Honorable Ginevra Bishop likes red lipstick, clever retorts, and earning top marks in her tutorials. She’s following her mother’s footsteps by studying at Oxford, eager to prove she’s more than a debutante.

Sidney Braithwaite likes brooding, Latin, and ignoring his nightmares. He’s determined to forge a new life for himself at Oxford, far from his childhood mining village and free from memories of the war.

Though Gin and Sidney have little in common, the British Security Service is keen to unite her charm with his espionage experience: there’s a Soviet spy at the university, and the agent tracking them down was poisoned. MI5 wants Gin and Sidney to pick up the trail and identify the informant before more sensitive information is compromised. As a team, the pair of undergraduates clash in personality, upbringing, and taste––but have a connection neither can deny. Gin and Sidney must unite their respective talents to follow the clues before they’re caught in the traitor’s crosshairs…if the sparks flying between them don’t blow up the operation first.