The Excitements

Sisters Josephine and Penny Williamson, now in their 90s, are renowned as Britain’s most beloved World War II veterans. They are spunky, witty, put together, and always on the lookout for their next “excitement.” Most people, including their grandnephew Archie, think they played small roles in the Royal Navy and the nursing corps during the war. The truth is that they were both undercover operatives. On a trip to receive an award for their role in liberating France, secrets from the sisters’ pasts emerge; the two intend to settle scores, avenge lost friends, and pull off an outrageous caper. Though the sisters find themselves in many outlandish situations, they always brush themselves off with insouciant shrugs. The prolific Wray, who pens the “Proper Family” series under the name Christine Manby, offers a hilarious novel featuring two spunky nonagenarians who are not what they seem. Karen Cass provides the perfect narration, full of wit, humor, and vivacity.