An Evening with Katherine Reay: The Undercover Bookshop
Celebrating One Year of the Chicago Literary Salon at Bar Parisette
On Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the Chicago Literary Salon gathered at the beautiful Bar Parisette for an evening of historical intrigue, literary conversation, and a very special milestone: our one-year anniversary! We welcomed bestselling author Katherine Reay to celebrate her latest novel, The Undercover Bookshop, a captivating blend of historical fiction, Cold War espionage, and cozy mystery set in the English Cotswolds.
It was a particularly meaningful evening as we celebrated a full year of bringing Chicago's book lovers together around a shared love of literature, delicious food, and thoughtful conversation.
When I launched the Chicago Literary Salon one year ago, my idea was relatively simple: bring interesting people together around great books, serve something delicious, and see what happened. What unfolded was more wonderful than I could have imagined. Over the past year, we've explored everything from historical fiction and romance to thrillers and memoirs, welcomed extraordinary authors, and watched strangers become friends.
And this anniversary celebration was a beautiful reminder of why I started the Salon in the first place.
A Cocktail Hour with a Cold War Twist
The evening began with a lively cocktail hour at Bar Parisette, where guests were welcomed with a specially created Red Scare Spritz, a playful nod to the Cold War intrigue at the heart of The Undercover Bookshop.
As guests mingled over cocktails, they also had the opportunity to explore a special sensory experience created by Ten|4 Candle Co. Inspired by Katherine Reay's novel, Ten|4 developed four custom fragrances that brought another dimension to the evening, inviting guests to experience the atmosphere of the story through scent.
It was an especially lovely addition to the celebration, as I've also been collaborating with Ten|4 Candle Co. on a custom candle of my own. The experience has been such a pleasure, and I loved introducing our guests to their creativity and craftsmanship.
With cocktails in hand, familiar faces reconnecting, and new friendships forming, the room was filled with exactly the kind of energy that has made these gatherings so special over the past year.
An Evening of Literary Intrigue with Katherine Reay
Following cocktail hour, guests gathered for an intimate author conversation between Katherine Reay and our wonderful moderator, Sheila Schuenemann of Booked & Busy Reader.
Katherine's latest novel, The Undercover Bookshop, introduces readers to Gemma Brown, a young woman who moves to the picturesque Cotswold village of Great Rollright in 1949, hoping to build a life that resembles the mysteries she loves to read. But when Gemma begins to suspect that the village's beloved baker may actually be a Soviet spy, she finds herself caught up in an international web of secrets involving MI5, the KGB, and a mysterious bookshop that will change her life forever.
What makes the novel particularly fascinating is its foundation in real history.
Katherine revealed that Ursula Burton, the seemingly ordinary village baker at the center of Gemma's suspicions, was inspired by a real woman: Ursula Kuczynski, one of the Soviet Union's most accomplished female spies, who rose to the rank of colonel in the Red Army.
Katherine first discovered Ursula while researching an earlier novel, but the historical figure didn't fit into that particular story. Years later, as Katherine explored the golden ages of British mystery fiction, the pieces began to fall into place.
The result was a story that combines espionage with the charm of an Agatha Christie mystery and the emotional journey of a young woman discovering her place in the world.
As Katherine explained:
"This is as much a coming of age story and a love story as it is a spy story."
Why We Keep Returning to Cozy Mysteries
One of my favorite moments of the conversation came when Sheila asked Katherine about the novel's unusual combination of genres.
Although The Undercover Bookshop has been described as a cozy mystery, Katherine admitted that she hadn't originally thought of it that way. In fact, she was surprised when reviewers began comparing Gemma Brown to a new generation's Miss Marple.
But the discussion led to a fascinating observation about the enduring popularity of mystery fiction.
Katherine pointed out that the first golden age of British detective fiction emerged in the years following World War I, while a second wave followed World War II. Today, she believes we're experiencing another resurgence of interest in the genre in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why do readers turn to mysteries during uncertain times?
According to Katherine, the appeal lies in their reassuring structure. Mystery novels acknowledge that the world can be unpredictable, frightening, and occasionally dangerous. But they also offer readers the promise that order can be restored.
The detective arrives, the puzzle is solved, justice is served, and the world feels a little more manageable again.
Katherine described the comfort of that familiar narrative:
"We've been here before. We may be here again, and it's all gonna be okay."
It was a particularly thoughtful perspective on why stories matter, and why the books we choose to read can offer more than entertainment. Sometimes they provide exactly the reassurance we need.
Bringing History to Life
Another fascinating part of the conversation explored Katherine's approach to blending historical fact with fiction.
In The Undercover Bookshop, the real Ursula's documented actions, movements, and circumstances remain grounded in historical research. Katherine even visited Great Rollright, the actual Cotswold village where Ursula lived, along with London and Blenheim Palace, which housed MI5 operations during World War II.
The village's historic pub, church, and Ursula's cottage all helped shape the novel's setting.
But while Katherine was committed to historical accuracy, she was equally thoughtful about the limits of what we can know about real people.
She explained that although she could document Ursula's actions, she couldn't claim to know her private motivations, particularly the emotional complexities of living as a spy while raising three children.
Rather than inventing those answers, Katherine allowed her fictional protagonist, Gemma, to observe, question, and interpret Ursula's behavior.
That distinction offered a wonderful glimpse into the responsibility historical novelists carry when transforming real lives into fiction.
Katherine also discussed how Gemma's childhood experiences during World War II shaped her character. As a child evacuated from London during Operation Pied Piper, Gemma spent much of her formative years away from home. Her desire to establish a life of her own in the Cotswolds is therefore about more than independence. It's about finding safety, belonging, and a place to call home.
Behind the Writing Process
Of course, one of the pleasures of attending an author event is hearing the stories that never make it onto the printed page.
When Sheila asked whether Katherine considers herself a plotter or a pantser, Katherine described herself as something of a hybrid.
She begins each novel with what she calls a skeleton: the beginning, several important moments in the middle, and the ending. Interestingly, she almost always knows the emotional ending before she knows exactly how the story will begin.
From there, she writes and revises simultaneously, repeatedly returning to earlier sections as the story takes shape.
Perhaps the evening's biggest behind-the-scenes revelation was that The Undercover Bookshop was originally written as a dual-timeline novel.
Just two months before her manuscript was due, Katherine realized that Gemma and Ursula's story was too compelling to share the spotlight with a contemporary storyline.
So she made an extraordinary decision: she cut 55,000 words from the manuscript.
With a short extension from her editor, Katherine rebuilt the novel around its historical characters.
Although she described the process as one of the most challenging parts of writing the book, it also became one of the most rewarding.
As she immersed herself more deeply in Gemma and Ursula's world, the characters began to take on lives of their own. Katherine described that rare creative experience of feeling completely connected to a story, when the characters seem to surprise even their author.
It was a wonderful reminder that sometimes the most important part of the creative process is recognizing what a story truly wants to become, even when that means letting go of work you've already done.
The Stories That Stay with Us
As the conversation drew to a close, Sheila asked Katherine what she hoped readers would take away from The Undercover Bookshop.
Her answer brought the evening's themes of comfort, resilience, and storytelling beautifully together.
"I do want readers to sigh, linger, and say, I feel okay."
Katherine hopes readers will close the book feeling a little calmer, reassured by the idea that even in uncertain times, there is room for friendship, courage, love, and happy endings.
It was a lovely sentiment, and one that felt especially appropriate for an evening devoted to the power of books to bring people together.
The conversation continued with questions from our guests, who were eager to learn more about the real Ursula, Katherine's fascination with Cold War history, and what she might write next.
Katherine even offered a little preview of her next project, which she described as a contemporary global literary chase with the atmosphere of a Cold War spy novel and a subtle touch of magical realism.
Needless to say, we'll be keeping an eye out for that one!
Dinner, Conversation, and Signed Books
Following the author Q&A, guests settled in for delicious food prepared by Bar Parisette.
One of my favorite things about the Chicago Literary Salon has always been the conversations that unfold around the table. The author discussion may be the centerpiece of the evening, but it's often during dinner that guests connect over their own reading experiences, discover shared interests, and form new friendships.
Our anniversary celebration was no exception.
The evening concluded with a personalized book signing, giving guests the opportunity to meet Katherine, continue their conversations, and have their copies of The Undercover Bookshop signed.
Books for the evening were purchased through our wonderful independent bookstore partner, Three Avenues Bookshop, whose support has been an important part of the Chicago Literary Salon from the beginning.
And, as always, EEBauer Photography was there to capture the evening, preserving the conversations, laughter, and little moments that make these gatherings so memorable.
Celebrating One Year of the Chicago Literary Salon
As I reflect on this anniversary celebration, I'm filled with gratitude for everyone who has been part of the Chicago Literary Salon's first year.
To the authors who have generously shared their stories and creative processes, the moderators who have guided such thoughtful conversations, the venues and creative partners who have helped bring each evening to life, and especially the readers who have shown up month after month: thank you.
What began as a simple idea has become a community of people who believe that gathering around a good book is still one of life's great pleasures.
In a world where so much of our lives happens through screens, there is something wonderfully meaningful about sitting around a table, sharing a meal, and having a conversation that might otherwise never have happened.
As I close this chapter of hosting the Chicago Literary Salon, I'm especially grateful that our final gathering together was one that celebrated everything I hoped the Salon could be: beautiful surroundings, a fascinating author, thoughtful conversation, delicious food, and the simple pleasure of connecting with one another.
And perhaps Katherine Reay's words offer the perfect sentiment for this moment, too. A reminder that endings can be comforting, that stories continue to shape us long after we've turned the final page, and that there is always something beautiful waiting in the next chapter.
Here's to one year of great books, wonderful conversations, new friendships, and the simple joy of gathering together.
With gratitude,
Ashley
Special thanks to Katherine Reay, Sheila Schuenemann of Booked & Busy Reader, Bar Parisette, Three Avenues Bookshop, Ten|4 Candle Co., and EEBauer Photography for helping make our one-year anniversary such a memorable evening.
Photography by EEBauer Photography.
Celebrating our 1-Year Anniversary!
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | Bar Parisette, 2829 W Armitage Ave.
Join us for a particularly special evening as we celebrate one year of the Chicago Literary Salon with bestselling author Katherine Reay and her newest novel, The Undercover Bookshop.
One year after our very first salon, we’ll gather on November 4—this time at Bar Parisette—to toast a year of books, authors, new friendships, and memorable conversations, while stepping into a world of cozy mysteries, clandestine operations, and charming English bookshops.
Set in the winter of 1950 in the picturesque Cotswold village of Great Rollright, The Undercover Bookshop introduces Gemma Brown, an amateur sleuth who would much rather be living inside one of her beloved mystery novels. Newly arrived in the village, Gemma sets about creating an idyllic life for herself—and opening the village’s first bookstore. But when she begins to suspect that the town’s best baker may actually be a Soviet spy, her cozy new existence takes a decidedly more dangerous turn.
What follows is a clever blend of historical fiction and mystery, complete with village gossip, secret identities, MI5, the KGB, and, of course, books. Library Journal calls it a novel that “readers who enjoy cozy mysteries mixed with historical fiction will love,” while Kirkus Reviews describes it as “an origin story of the next generation’s Miss Marple: cozy, clever, canny, and grounded in history.”
For this anniversary edition of the Chicago Literary Salon, guests will enjoy drinks and bites before settling in for an intimate conversation with Katherine about The Undercover Bookshop, the real history woven throughout the novel, creating a compelling amateur sleuth, and bringing the world of postwar England to life on the page.
Following the conversation, guests will have the opportunity to meet Katherine, have their books signed, and mingle with fellow readers over drinks. We’ll also raise a glass to the first year of the Chicago Literary Salon—and to everyone who has helped turn this little idea about bringing readers and writers together into such a wonderful literary community.
Your ticket includes:
A copy of The Undercover Bookshop by Katherine Reay from Three Avenues Bookshop
Drinks and bites at Bar Parisette
An intimate author conversation and Q&A
Book signing and time to mingle with Katherine
A special sensory experience from Ten4 Candle Co. inspired by the world of The Undercover Bookshop
A special toast celebrating the Chicago Literary Salon’s first anniversary
Professional event photography by eebauer photography
Come for the books. Stay for the intrigue. And help us celebrate the first chapter of the Chicago Literary Salon.
About Katherine Reay:
Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author of twelve novels and one non-fiction work. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Northwestern University, her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Redbook, USA TODAY, The Daily Beast, Criminal Element, and many more. She holds a master’s in marketing from Northwestern University as well and currently resides in Montana with her husband and their dogs. Her latest novel, THE UNDERCOVER BOOKSHOP, inspired by classic British mysteries, follows Gemma Brown,in the small English village of Great Rollright, and her “mentor” — the Cold War’s greatest female spy— Ursula Kuczynski Beurton.
About The Undercover Bookshop:
During the winter of 1950 in the small Cotswold village of Great Rollright, amateur sleuth Gemma Brown starts to suspect that the town’s best baker, Ursula Beurton, is a Soviet spy, tumbling her headlong into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse that ends with a decision that will lead her to the Undercover Bookshop and change her life forever.
Recently moved to the English Cotswolds, Gemma Brown desperately wants to create the kind of idyllic life she’s read about in her favorite mystery novels, with herself as the leading lady. But fitting in proves difficult as Gemma is more adept at solving mysteries and setting up the village’s first bookstore than she is at baking cakes or grasping social niceties. Nevertheless, she finds a friend in Peggy, a young woman recently moved to town herself, and Ursula Beurton, who is not only the village’s best baker but an enigmatic figure who sparks controversy in the small-town gossip network.
As Gemma spends more time with Ursula, she begins to suspect all those novels are affecting her thinking. The oddities she starts to notice must be her imagination because, if not, they point to something far more dangerous than winning the local baking contest or being placed on the church committee. Could her neighbor be a real spy?
Following her instincts and a few skills learned through fiction, Gemma soon becomes embroiled in an international intrigue involving the village’s mysterious benefactor, Lady Marchmont, MI5, and the KGB. In an unexpected twist, however, Ursula asks Gemma for a favor which may endanger all their lives as their next chapter unfolds in Gemma’s new venture, the Undercover Bookshop.