A lively spy thriller written during WW2 but set in England the period just before the war. Lots of action, a romance, nasty blackmailer, traitors, and, of course, a German spy. A good quick read.
Free advance copy from the publisher. ( )

As a rule I don't enjoy spy novels but this is a well (and clearly) written book with many engaging and interesting characters. This is a republished part of the Poison Pen Press Classic Spy series written roughly half a century ago about Nazi agents in England just before the beginning of World War 2. There is also a secondary love story plot as the hero, Owen Bradwell, has amnesia after being knocked on the head and nursed back to health by an attractive young lady. A must read for British spy novel lovers. ( )

...punts and agent provocateurs!

1930's pre World War II and Naval Lieutenant-Commander, Owen Bradwell, freshly returned from the China station, has just been diagnosed as colour blind. A disorder apparently acquirable at a later stage of life given appropriate stimuli, and in this case, a writer's raison d'ĂŞtre for the commander having to resign his post. This leads to Bradwell becoming tied up with the secret service and Nazi spies.
The language is that of a bygone time, lending a certain piquant attractiveness to the story. Somehow it colours the thrill of the chase with a different brushstroke to what we are used to. I did feel like I'd fallen into The Thirty-Nine Steps or Foyle's War. Owen Bradwell's belief in his sidelined new life is given a certain cachet. His task is dangerous yet honourable, for 'King and Country.' As Bradwell refelects, he is looking forward to the 'prospect of lending a hand in this desirable and highly patriotic task.' Today the language used would not be politically correct in terms of referencing people's antecedents.
There's plenty of action, tempered by the leisurely use of punts, mysterious murders and blackmail in this 1940's thriller. Amusing and stylish complete with the requisite evil doers, traitors, Whitehall types, and a budding romance.

A NetGalley ARC ( )

This is a classic British mystery, first published in 1945 and republished by Poisoned Pen Press. It's great fun to read one of these old mysteries, to see what has held up with the years and what has not. This is a good, basic mystery, full of pre-WWII espionage. There are several characters introduced in few number of pages, but it doesn't take long to sort them out.

There is, of course, a murder, but it is not especially grisly or gruesome. There is a bit of romance thrown in. The characters are all pretty much very good or very bad – not much gray happening here. There are very few “bad” words, especially compared to more modern mysteries.

The expressions of the time, the dated slang, was fun but there was so much of it, it did get a bit old. Everybody smokes. Everywhere. “'Damn the doctor!' Sally puffed out a rebellious cloud of smoke.” She is certainly not the only one.

I enjoyed reading one of these old mysteries, and by an author I'd never read before. It is dated, but in a rather charming way, and while I would not want to make a constant diet of these old mysteries, I think it is going to be entertaining to occasionally dip into them. I'm delighted that Poisoned Pen Press is going to be publishing more of these classics in the U.S.

I was given an uncorrected proof for review. The quote may have changed in the finished edition. ( )

Lt. Commander Owen Bradwell returns to London to have his sight checked because he has gone color blind. While in London an old friend assigns him a special mission, he is sent to spy on a spy. Excellent story line and interesting characters.

***I received this book in exchange for an honest review*** ( )