Review 115: Red Letter Days

Red Letter Days by Sarah-Jane Stratford
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This book finds us in the mid-twentieth century, shortly after WWII when women went back to the home after building airplanes. In New York we find our main character Phoebe Adler, a self-confident woman making her way was a writer, supporting herself and her sister Mona with health problems that has Mona living in a sanatorium. The red scare is the dominant thrust of the story, and Phoebe finds herself targeted even though she is not political at all. Upon the advice of friends she quickly flees New York after being subpoenaed, and lands in London.

The story also follows another with Hanna Wolfson, also an American in London, although married with two young kids. Her husband has money and helps Hannah set up a studio that soon develops a hit television series. Hannah purposefully hires blacklisted writers, using pseudonyms, and with her new series hopes to subvert the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Phoebe was advised to seek out Hanna, who hires her temporarily as a script reader on set until she can get established.

While the book is mainly focused on Phoebe we do get some of Hanna’s life. Although she’s a mother of two, she makes juggling her work with her kids and still remain happily married. Slowly we are to realize that Hannah’s husband isn’t feeling the same with remarks about women being a wife and mother, not out in the workplace. This becomes a major undertone in the book, women taking on working roles. We see both women attacked for being in the workforce, more so with Phoebe since she is unmarried.

Even with living in England the Americans are still under threat. Phoebe finds herself being followed. A reporter comes for an unexpected visit to the studio set hoping to catch a known red director. The action keeps everyone on their toes, especially the reader.

Despite all the excitement that keeps going, I found the beginning of the book somewhat on a light breezy tone. I found that odd since the subject matter was anything but. Somehow it didn’t seem serious. As the book progressed that changed. Perhaps it was the main character, Phoebe who liked to make jokes, sort of the smart aleck type, the brainy type that often annoyed. I’m not entirely sure.

Overall I found the book to be well written and engaging. There were times when I had to put the book down, but was quite reluctant to do so.

I particularly enjoyed the author’s note at the end where she detailed what was taken from real life and the bits she made up to make this an interesting read.


Almost made it a five star read, close but have to downgrade slightly.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing/Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.