Official Website of
M.L. Huie
Author of the Livy Nash series
NIGHTSHADE
the second
Livy Nash mystery
“Plenty of spycraft and nonstop action, with a shocking ending that points to future adventures."
—Kirkus
“Livy faces brutality, betrayal, double-crosses, and worse as she takes advantage of there being little honor among spies. Huie does a masterly job.”
—Publishers Weekly
Available Now!
SPITFIRE Press and Reviews
"This debut is more emotional than Fleming's own Bond novels...Nash is a welcome new protagonist who will be welcomed by fans of Kate Atkinson's Transcription (2018) and Simon Mawer's Tightrope (2015)."
Booklist Review
"An old-fashioned mystery shot through with tragedy; for aficionados of the glamour and romance of spycraft."
Kirkus Reviews
"SPITFIRE is an auspicious debut and a cleverly woven throwback to the grittiness of a pre-Bond spy era."
Charlie Lovett, New York Times best-selling author, The Bookman's Tale
"Post WWII London and Paris serve as a backdrop for a gutsy, damaged heroine who matches wits with a dangerous new enemy. A riveting page-turner!"
Dianne Freeman, author of the Lefty and Agatha award- winning Countess of Harleigh mystery series.
"Meticulously researched with a twisty, compelling plot and a heroine that you root for from the first page, SPITFIRE combines all the elements of great historical fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed this story!”
Jane Healey, author of The Saturday Evening Girls Club and The Beantown Girls, a Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestseller.
"Huie has created a hard-bitten, hard-core heroine in Livy Nash, and a perfectly noir spy thriller. As the Cold War heats up, the mysterious man waiting around the corner could mean either danger or love – or both."
Alisa Smith, author of the Lena Stillman series
About the Livy Nash Series
SPITFIRE
It's the day of the London Victory Celebrations 1946. World War II is over, and former spy Livy Nash is celebrating with her third drink before noon. She went to war to kill Nazis. Dropped behind enemy lines as a courier, she quickly became one of the toughest agents in France. But her war ended with betrayal and the execution of the man she loved.
Now, Livy spends her days proofreading a demeaning advice column for little ladies at home, and her nights alone with black market vodka.
But everything changes when she meets the infamous Ian Fleming.
The man who will create the world's most sophisticated secret agent has an agenda of his own and sends Livy back to France with one task: track down the traitor who killed the only man she ever loved. Livy jumps at the chance, heading back to Paris undercover as a journalist. But the City of Lights is teeming with spies, and Livy quickly learns just how much the game has changed. With enemies on every corner and ever-shifting alliances, she’ll have to learn to fight a new war if she wants to conquer the past.
How far would you go to rescue a friend?
British spy Livy Nash has never had many friends. But fellow agent Margot Dupont was the exception to the rule. At least, until she disappeared during one of their missions in World War Two, never to be heard from again. Since then, Livy's made do. Some people, you just can't replace.
But when the British pick up Margot's call sign—NIGHTSHADE—years after the war, Livy can't help the glimmer of hope that she might see her old friend again. But Livy has her doubts: what if it's all a trick?
Despite her unease, Livy dives headlong into finding Margot, aided by her boss, the charming Ian Fleming. When evidence arises that a handsome Russian spy might have information about Margot, Livy agrees to her most dangerous mission yet: going undercover as a double agent to spy on the infamous "Red Devil".
As Livy is pulled deeper into the shadows of treachery, the possibility of finding Margot alive diminishes as the danger grows. How much will she have to sacrifice to find a friend she thought she'd lost forever?
My Story
M.L. Huie is a writer, teacher and actor. In addition to working ten years as a features journalist, he has written several plays that have been performed throughout the US and in the UK. He is a proud member of Actor's Equity Association, and teaches theatre and acting at the university-level. He is married to a brilliant woman and has two genius kids. Like Livy Nash he loves the northwest of England and has a Yank’s appreciation for a good Lancashire Hot Pot. He is an avid runner, loves hockey and, of course, reads constantly.
Author headshot by Brian Mullins Photography