Autumn in Oxford by Alex Rosenberg + Giveaway

August 30, 2016

Title: Autumn in Oxford

Author: Alex Rosenberg

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Release Date: August 30, 2016
Genre: Historical Fiction (1950s), Literary Fiction

After being blacklisted for having communist sympathies as a student twenty years before, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Tom Wrought escapes America’s Cold War climate to teach at Oxford. There, he falls in love with Liz Spencer, a beautiful married woman. When Liz’s husband is pushed in front of a train in the London Underground, Tom is immediately arrested for the murder. Scotland Yard is convinced it has its man, as he had means, motive, and opportunity.

Certain of his innocence, Liz hires a young solicitor, Alice Silverstone, to defend Tom. But they discover that Tom’s former secret work as an American spy made him a number of powerful enemies. Russian intelligence, British counterespionage, and even the FBI all may have reason to frame him. If Liz and Alice can find out who is behind the murder, they stand a chance of freeing Tom, but doing so puts all their lives at risk.

I'm pleasantly surprised by my reaction to Alex Rosenberg's Autumn in Oxford. I have mixed feelings, but it mainly boils down to the fact that I do find this book engaging in plot and in characters. The subterfuge behind the main character's arrest to his background and the political connections all makes Autumn in Oxford worthwhile. It doesn't have the adventure of James Bond, but it has the intrigue behind all conspiracy theories, along with the character developments of the three main characters to keep you reading. The back stories that revealed itself throughout the story were spot on most of the time, giving readers reasons and speculations that allows one to thrown in their own theories as well. Despite the fact that our main characters were adulterers, their love went through its ups and downs, and how it sparked the beginning of Autumn in Oxford, catches your attention early on. I enjoyed the theories thrown in, and personally find Alice's character rounds out this story nicely.

However, I do think it needs some editing work. I'm not sure why first and last names were used interchangeably, and some within the same paragraph. The general narration of the story is simple and straight to the point, but it can get monotonous at times, not giving enough differentiation between each character's stories.

In all, the plot itself interests me enough and even compels me to move forward until the end to see what happens to our characters. If you're a fan of historical fiction, particularly ones focused on political and conspiratorial fiction, Autumn in Oxford is one for you.

Scroll on down for your chance to win a copy. For my clean readers, there are mentions of intimacy, but not too overt.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through TLC Book Tours for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. For my review policy, please see my Disclosure page.

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Alex Rosenberg is the author of the novel The Girl from Krakow. He has lived in Britain and has taught at Oxford, where he made the acquaintance of some of the historical figures that play roles in Autumn in Oxford. Rosenberg is the R. Taylor Cole Professor of Philosophy at Duke University in North Carolina.