Sign up to our newsletter and receive 20% off.
Receive updates on new releases, journal articles, and special offers straight to your inbox.
Receive updates on new releases, journal articles, and special offers straight to your inbox.
Vote for this book in The People's Book Prize 2026:
https://peoplesbookprize.com/2025-books/white-raven/
INSPIRED BY THE ROLE SCOTTISH WOMEN PLAYED IN THE COLD WAR DURING THE 1950s, WHITE RAVEN IS A STORY OF LOVE, COURAGE, RESILIENCE - AND BETRAYAL.
Bored with life as a teacher in an Edinburgh girls’ school, artist Rosie recognises Alex Kuznetsov from her previous life as a decoder at Bletchley Park. Alex, a war hero and anti-Soviet intelligence officer, is running a Russian language school to put Britain’s brightest young men through intensive training as intelligence operators in the event of a third world war.
During an ardent courtship, Rosie joins the JSSL as an art teacher, but soon finds there is more to her role as Alex gains her confidence and persuades her to take on an undercover espionage mission in a Highland country house. Rosie discovers that the world of spies is full of treachery, manipulation and deceit, and that what started out as a thrilling game can have deadly consequences.
Vote for this book in The People's Book Prize 2026:
https://peoplesbookprize.com/2025-books/white-raven/
INSPIRED BY THE ROLE SCOTTISH WOMEN PLAYED IN THE COLD WAR DURING THE 1950s, WHITE RAVEN IS A STORY OF LOVE, COURAGE, RESILIENCE - AND BETRAYAL.
Bored with life as a teacher in an Edinburgh girls’ school, artist Rosie recognises Alex Kuznetsov from her previous life as a decoder at Bletchley Park. Alex, a war hero and anti-Soviet intelligence officer, is running a Russian language school to put Britain’s brightest young men through intensive training as intelligence operators in the event of a third world war.
During an ardent courtship, Rosie joins the JSSL as an art teacher, but soon finds there is more to her role as Alex gains her confidence and persuades her to take on an undercover espionage mission in a Highland country house. Rosie discovers that the world of spies is full of treachery, manipulation and deceit, and that what started out as a thrilling game can have deadly consequences.
'Art, spies, secrets and romance - Maggie Ritchie is on form'
'Skilfully etched romance... a pleasure to read'
'A compulsive and haunting 1950s tale'
'...engaging thriller inspired by a real-life Scottish woman who served as a code-breaker at Bletchley Park.'
'A character-driven thriller straddling the genres of espionage and romance, White Raven is a refreshing depiction of the Cold War...It’s an impressive novel, employing the conventions of the spy thriller for a thoughtful exploration of the human heart.'
'...character driven espionage with a Scottish edge...It’s atmospheric, gripping and rooted in place.'
'...She's an appealing character... forced time and again to take almost impossible decisions against a background of serious threats to the safety of the free world.'
'It felt refreshing to be immersed in the grey world of espionage from a woman’s perspective as there was a believable balance between the emotional arc and suspenseful plot. Full of atmospheric details that paint this Cold War setting. Maggie Ritchie shows us the complexity of love and grief even in the face of betrayal.'
