Historical Fiction

BRASS COMPASS DUOLOGY

The Brass Compass (Book 1)

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A beautiful American spy flees into the night. On her own, she must live by her wits to evade capture and make it to the safety of the Allied forces.

Lily Saint James grew up traveling the European Continent, learning languages as she went. In 1938, her mother’s abrupt death brings her back home to Washington, D.C., and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Lily comes to the attention of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Her knowledge of German, French, and Italian makes her the perfect OSS Agent, and her quick thinking places her as a nanny in the household of an important German Army Colonel, where she is able to gather intelligence for the Allies. After her marketplace contact goes missing, she makes a late-night trip to her secondary contact only to find him under interrogation by the SS. When he commits suicide, she flees into the frigid winter night carrying false identification papers that are now dangerous and a mini film cartridge with vital strategic information. In order to survive, Lily must make it out of Germany, into the hands of Allied-controlled France, through a path fraught with peril.

Knowing her capture will mean torture and certain death, is she resourceful enough to make it out in time?

Awards: 2022 Speak Up and Talk Radio Firebird Book Award, Action/Adventure Category, 2018 IndieReader Discovery Award, Historical Fiction Category, 2019 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal Winner, Historical Event/Era Fiction Category

Next Generation Indie Book Award Winner! – First Place Historical Fiction (2023)

2023 Adventure Writers Competition – Top 10 Finalist (2023)

Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel (Book 2)

      

Her mission could tip the balance of power…or spark World War III.

October, 1952. The war is over, but for CIA officer Miriam Becker, memories of the horrors she witnessed remain jagged in her mind. While vacationing in Argentina, recovering from a mission that nearly killed her, she’s seeing more ghosts from the past than the sights. When a longtime family friend and fellow operative, Jake Devlin, tracks her down, Miriam is forced to push everything to the back of her mind for the next mission: help a highly prized and heavily guarded rocket scientist defect from Soviet-controlled East Berlin—right out from under the KGB’s nose.

Well aware that one wrong move could spark World War III, Miriam, Jake, and the team plan their strategy to the last detail. But when a betrayal brings everything crashing down, Jake’s quick thinking creates the diversion to get Miriam out alive—but leaves him trapped behind the Iron Curtain. Unsure of whom she can trust, Miriam must complete the mission by relying on contacts outside of the agency, even though her heart longs to return to East Berlin to rescue the man who is the last link  to her troubled past … before the KGB gets to him first.

“The presence of a strong female lead adds a feather to the astounding hat that this novel dons.” – InD’tale Magazine

“Author Butler knows her stuff…” – Historical Novel Society Review

“…thrilling and cinematic, with tension that will have readers eagerly turning the pages to see what comes next.” – Manhattan Book Review

“A deftly crafted and fully reader engaging novel with many an unexpected plot twist and turn, “Operational Blackbird” by Ellen Butler will have a special appeal to readers with an interest in Cold War era spy novels.” – Midwest Book Review

Awards: 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Award, First Place Historical Fiction, 2023 Adventure Writers Competition finalist, 2023 IAN Book of the Year Awards Finalist for Historical Fiction

Read the first chapter click HERE! 

ARIADNE WINTER MYSTERIES

Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle (book 2)

now available!

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From Paris runways to country manors, danger is always in fashion.

When intrepid journalist Ariadne Winter leaves behind the glittering cafés and haute couture of 1958 Paris for the misty hills of rural Ireland, she expects champagne toasts and countryside charm at her cousin’s engagement celebration. But amidst party prep excitement the festive mood at Ballyford Manor is shattered when a body is discovered among the ruins of the ancient castle grounds.

The local inspector suspects an accident—but Ariadne knows better. Armed with her sharp wit and a reporter’s determination, Ariadne peels back the polished façade of the O’Connell family, uncovering simmering tensions and long-held grudges that refuse to stay buried. As she navigates a world of crumbling aristocracy, whispered scandals, and dark family legacies, Ariadne realizes someone will do anything to keep the past hidden — even if it means making her the next victim.

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Tana French, this stylish, atmospheric mystery captures the glamour and shadows of 1950s Ireland, blending intrigue, secrets, and a sleuth you won’t forget.

“For readers, this novel offers different pleasures. Those who love Agatha Christie–style mysteries will enjoy piecing together the puzzle of lies and hidden motives. Historical fiction fans will savor the old estate setting, with its echoes of past centuries. And anyone who has ever navigated family politics, whether over a wedding, inheritance, or simple sibling rivalry, will find something resonant here.” – Seattle Book Review

“Butler skillfully weaves in the realities faced by the declining upper classes striving to hold on to their vast estates as the world changes without them.” – Historical Novel Society

“Butler’s tale is well-written with unexpected twists and turns, well-developed characters with distinct personalities, and a well-paced plot.”  – Christa Reads and Writes Blog

“DEADLY SECRETS AT BALLYFORD CASTLE is a delightful mystery that uncovers long held secrets in 1958 Ireland.” – Cozy Up With Kathy Blog

“The plot is fast-paced, and the setting is full of atmosphere and tension as the two families get to know one another, and tragedy strikes.” – Karen Siddall Blogger

Ink & Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn (book 1)

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A dead body, a magazine deadline, and a race against time—1958’s most fashionable writer turns sleuth.

During 1958, with a predominantly male workforce, societal norms dictate women should be compliant, fashionable housewives. To Ariadne Winter, the sole tradition she aims to embrace is that of being fashionable.

Amidst the ambiance of Ivy Tree Inn, where she’s been dispatched as a writer for Ladies’ Lifestyle Magazine, her focus wavers as she grapples with an interview assignment concerning a Hollywood starlet on the cusp of royal matrimony—an event hailed as the “Wedding of the Century.” While Ariadne dutifully attends to her task, her heart yearns for the pursuit of her collegiate ambition: to be an investigative reporter for a renowned newspaper.

However, fate intervenes when she discovers a dead body and recognizes the opportunity it presents to write her way into the role she desires. Yet, as Ariadne delves deeper into the lives of the inn’s inhabitants, she uncovers a labyrinth of intertwined relationships and long-buried secrets among guests and staff alike, yielding a plethora of suspects. With a murderer on the loose, her magazine deadline looming, and the inn cordoned off by authorities, Ariadne faces a race against time to untangle the web of deceit and solve the murder before she loses more than just her job.

“Like her other books, Butler immerses her readers in a richly detailed world with a likable and relatable main character and complex supporting players, making for an engrossing read.” – Judith Gonda, Author of the landscape architect Tory Benning Mysteries

“This was a great mystery! I loved the main character and her detective abilities.” – Alexa The Book Worm

Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn was a highly entertaining romp back in time with a strong, confident, go-getter female lead. The plot and pacing were spot-on, and I truly enjoyed this book. – Novels Alive

” I recommend Ink and Intrigue at the Ivy Tree Inn for other cozy fans, and especially for readers who also enjoy historical mysteries.” – View From a Birdhouse

“I loved this book ! This was a fast paced read full of mystery in a historical setting! I loved the way the author made all of the book very atmospheric and capable to keep me on edge!” – Midnight Booklover