The Beach at Summerly

The Beach at Summerly by Beatriz Williams is a captivating summer paradise read that takes you through the picturesque landscapes of mid-century New England, unfolding a tale rich with secrets, romance, and Cold War intrigue. This novel is an enthralling blend of suspense and historical fiction that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Set in June 1946, the story begins as the residents of Winthrop Island prepare for the first summer season after the sacrifices of World War II. A glamorous new figure, Olive Rainsford, arrives, settling into the guest cottage at Summerly, the elegant seaside estate owned by the affluent Peabody family. Olive, with her vibrant past filled with global travels, fascinating marriages and political activism, enthrals Emilia Winthrop, the daughter of Summerly’s year-round caretaker.

Emilia, who spent the war years caring for her incapacitated mother, finds in Olive a role model and a glimpse into a world of exciting possibilities. As the summer progresses, Emilia builds a profound bond with Olive, who encourages her to aspire beyond the confines of their island life. Amidst this, a romantic rekindling with Shep Peabody, one of the surviving Peabody sons, adds a layer of charm to Emilia's serene summer.

However, the idyllic setting is shattered with the arrival of Sumner Fox, an FBI agent. He seeks Emilia's assistance in uncovering a Soviet spy clandestinely transmitting crucial intelligence about the West's atomic weapon programme from within the Summerly estate. The stakes are high, and Emilia finds herself ensnared in a web of espionage and rapidly escalating tension.

The narrative leaps forward to April 1954. Emilia, now a Wellesley College professor, has wrestled with the remnants of her past. Her rebuilt life is disrupted by startling news from Washington: the traitor Emilia helped convict is set to be exchanged for an American spy held in the Soviet Union, conditional upon a mysterious request that only Emilia can satisfy. Reluctantly drawn back into the shadowy world of intelligence, Emilia must face the haunting repercussions of her actions from that summer, risking everything, including the fate of the Peabody family and her own hope for redemption.

"There are few more skilled practitioners of the craft of summer fiction than Beatriz Williams." — The New York Times Book Review

The Beach at Summerly is a story lush with suspense, romance, and the inevitable conflict of espionage, all set against the glorious, beach-laden locales of New England. Beatriz Williams has crafted a grand and gripping narrative that is impossible to put down.

"Grand and gripping...shot through with suspense, romance, and glorious, beach-laden locales. I could not put it down." — Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Mitford Affair