The Julia Probyn Mysteries

8 primary works

The Lighthearted Quest

by Ann Bridge

Published October 1969

When Julia Probyn’s cousin and childhood friend Colin cuts off all contact with his family, it is down to Julia to find him. Setting sail for Morocco – the last place he was seen – and using her occupation as a journalist as a cover, Julia is ready for a fairly lighthearted quest. But Julia wasn’t counting on the level of secrecy surrounding her cousin’s disappearance.

With the British consulate offering little help, Julia must use her charm and tenacity to follow the clues and unravel the mystery left in Colin’s wake.

Book one of The Julia Probyn Mysteries, The Lighthearted Quest has Ann Bridge’s trademark blend of humour and adventure which transports us to exotic places, but also throws a good deal of light on the explosive political issues that French Morocco encountered in the 50s.

The Portuguese Escape

by Ann Bridge

Published June 1969

Julia Probyn, journalist and amateur sleuth, must acquaint herself with the world of counterespionage. Hetta, a young Hungarian Countess, just released from behind the Iron Curtain, is drawn into a communist plot. Together the two young women will need all of their strength to unravel the schemes and machinations closing in from all sides.

With Ann Bridge’s talent for evoking place and mixing mystery with humour, The Portuguese Escape, book two in The Julia Probyn Mysteries, is full of danger and adventure amidst Communist intrigue.

The Numbered Account

by Ann Bridge

Published December 1960

Julia Probyn, like most people, knew very little about anonymous numbered accounts in Swiss Banks. Until her cousin, Colin Munro, asked her to look into the matter of one containing a fortune for his fiancée Aglaia Armitage, left to her by her Greek grandfather. Julia – journalist, amateur sleuth, occasional spy – must learn fast.

When the account is compromised, and documents of vital interest to the British Secret Service go missing, it is again down to Julia to foil a Communist plot.

In The Numbered Account, book three in The Julia Probyn Mysteries, Ann Bridge brings her characteristic wit, suspense and sense of adventure.

The Dangerous Islands

by Ann Bridge

Published December 1964

Julia Probyn – journalist, amateur sleuth and occasional spy – is sailing off the west coast of Scotland with her cousin Colin when they stumble upon a suspicious sky-blue pole, rising from the ground on the desolate island of Erinish Beg. Colin, who works for the British Secret Service, immediately suspects Russian surveillance.

Military Intelligence sends Colonel Jamieson to investigate this find, and together he and Julia must unravel the mystery. But as the Cold War rages, the pair are soon to find out that the antenna-like pole is only the beginning. As the conspiracy grows, so too does their affection for each other, which seems rather likely to complicate matters.

The Dangerous Islands, book four of The Julia Probyn Mysteries, is a tale of love, adventure, and espionage.

Emergency in the Pyrenees

by Ann Bridge

Published September 1965

After the perilous circumstances in which the newly married Julia and Philip met, it is no wonder that the Colonel wants his pregnant wife safe and away from too much excitement. Unfortunately, the remote French mountain village he chooses is not only impractical, isolated, and far from medical assistance, but is unfortunately also in the path of smugglers and saboteurs.

Collin Munro – Julia’s cousin and agent for the British Secret Service – arrives on the scene to investigate a threat to the local gasworks, but it is soon clear that once again, it will be down to Julia to solve the mystery, even if she is heavily pregnant.

Emergency in the Pyrenees, book five of the Julia Probyn Mysteries, is rich with intrigue, peril, and humour.

The Episode At Toledo

by Ann Bridge

Published February 1967

In the beautiful countryside of Portugal, erstwhile British secret agent Julia Probyn is to attend a royal wedding. But her former acquaintance, Countess Hetta Páloczy, the young Hungarian refugee, unwittingly gets them both tangled in Cold War intrigue. After Hetta accidentally uncovers a Communist plot to assassinate an American admiral in Spain, she is a marked woman yet again and must flee to Portugal. But even in the tranquil beauty of Gralheira, peril lurks. Unluckily for the assassins, these women are no strangers to danger.

In The Episode at Toledo, book six in the series, Julia is joined by Hetta and Luzia, uniting all our heroines from The Julia Probyn Mysteries.

The Malady in Madeira

by Ann Bridge

Published 29 January 1970

The last thing recently widowed Julia Probyn expects to find on the lush and charming island of Madeira is a clue to her husband's mysterious death, for Colonel Jamieson perished somewhere in the wilds of Central Asia while on a top-secret mission for British Intelligence. No sooner does Julia arrive at Madeira with her infant son and his devoted Nanny, however, than a series of strange, sinister, but apparently unconnected events begin to occur.

Suspecting a Cold War plot, Julia summons her cousin, Colin Munro, and together they might just be able to blow the entire Russian scheme wide open.

The Malady in Madeira, book seven in the Julia Probyn Mysteries, is a high adventure interwoven with all the sights, sounds and scenes of fecund Madeira.

Julia in Ireland

by Ann Bridge

Published 1 January 1973

While on an assignment with British Intelligence in Morocco, the widowed Julia Probyn Jamieson, journalist, amateur sleuth and occasional spy, loses her heart to Gerald O’Brien, a kind and unassuming lawyer. Together with her five-year-old son, Julia travels to Gerald’s family home in Ireland to see if the country life could be for her.

Julia's quiet vacation is interrupted when she stumbles upon a plot by a cunning landowner. It is down to Julia to investigate the devious scheme, which would destroy the wild beauty of the coast and disrupt the peace of the community.

Julia in Ireland is book eight and last in The Julia Probyn Mysteries.