Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford

There is no wondering what I thought of Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford.  I LOVED IT!  On vacation in an old house on an island with loads of wind swirling around me and a deliciously brewed cup of coffee, I put my feet up and cracked open this book, only to quickly fly across the Atlantic and  back in time to 1926 London to meet Maisie Musgrave.  Maisie is the Canadian child burdening a single mother who grew up in New York City, always wondering about her father, Edward Musgrave.  Of age to strike out on her own, Maisie goes to London and gets a job as an assistant at the BBC.  She begins working part time for the Director-General, John Reith,  and part time for Hilda Matheson, Director of Programs.  Mousy and unsure of herself to start, Maisie gains confidence and skill under the mentorship of Hilda, and also begins to stumble onto a story bigger than what is being broadcast.  Curious and taking advantage of her access to information, Maisie proves herself worthy of working on stories and begins to move up at the BBC.  Moving up puts her at risk…

Hilda Matheson was a real person who worked at the BBC when they were one of the few companies to hire women in positions of responsibility.  I loved the friendships among the characters, I loved the way this work of fiction depicted the seeds of World War II, and the MI5 and MI6 elements that kept me suspicious of everyone.  While I suspect this is a stand alone work of historical fiction, Maisie could easily become a series character, and I could easily read several more books about her.  If you are a fan of Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope mystery series, you will want to try Radio Girls.