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Dr. Adolph Grundt #1
The Man with the Clubfoot
I turned away with rage in my heart. What a cursed fool I had been not to wire from Groningen I had fully intended to but the extraordinary conversation I had had with Dicky Allerton had put everything else out of my head.
404 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1918
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62 people want to read
About the author
Valentine Williams
137 books5 followersAka Douglas Valentine (1 work)
George Valentine Williams (1883 - 1946) was the son of G Edward Williams, Chief Editor of the Reuters News Agency. After being privately educated in Germany, he joined Reuters as a sub editor in 1902. In 1909, Williams became a reporter for the Daily Mail (then the most popular British newspaper and the first to achieve a daily circulation of one million copies). In this capacity, he reported on international events such as the Portuguese Revolution of 1910 and the Balkan Wars of 1912 - 1913. During the early stages of the First World War, reporters were not permitted direct access to the Western Front. Williams therefore obtained a commission with the Irish Guards in December 1915. He saw action during the Battle of the Somme, where he was seriously wounded in 1916, and was awarded the Military Cross. Williams then joined the small group of accredited war correspondents based at British General Headquarters and continued to serve as the accredited correspondent for the Daily Mail until the end of the War. After the War, Valentine Williams was in charge of reporting the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919 for the Daily Mail. In addition to journalism, Williams also became a popular writer of mystery fiction, publishing a series of 28 books from 1918 until his death in 1946.
George Valentine Williams (1883 - 1946) was the son of G Edward Williams, Chief Editor of the Reuters News Agency. After being privately educated in Germany, he joined Reuters as a sub editor in 1902. In 1909, Williams became a reporter for the Daily Mail (then the most popular British newspaper and the first to achieve a daily circulation of one million copies). In this capacity, he reported on international events such as the Portuguese Revolution of 1910 and the Balkan Wars of 1912 - 1913. During the early stages of the First World War, reporters were not permitted direct access to the Western Front. Williams therefore obtained a commission with the Irish Guards in December 1915. He saw action during the Battle of the Somme, where he was seriously wounded in 1916, and was awarded the Military Cross. Williams then joined the small group of accredited war correspondents based at British General Headquarters and continued to serve as the accredited correspondent for the Daily Mail until the end of the War. After the War, Valentine Williams was in charge of reporting the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919 for the Daily Mail. In addition to journalism, Williams also became a popular writer of mystery fiction, publishing a series of 28 books from 1918 until his death in 1946.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 13, 2013
This was a surprisingly enjoyable read. Why surprising? Well, because in my reading of the mysteries from the Golden Age and previous (I am on a quest to read as many of the original detectives Tommy and Tuppence parodied in Partners in Crime as possible), I realized there's a reason most of them have fallen to the wayside, never gaining the lasting popularity of Christie, Sayers, Allingham, Berkeley, and Conan Doyle. The stories just aren't that well-done, the detectives frankly ridiculous, and the mysteries easily solvable or else given with vital clues withheld so there's NO possibility of solving it before the detective Reveals All.
This one, however, was one of the better stories. The plot was still quite obvious, but the characters, at least, were more entertaining, and the adventure engaging. The racial and cultural stereotypes did make me wince, but if one is going to read any literature from that era, one needs to be braced for such painful bits. It doesn't make them right! I find, though, that they serve as a good reminder - how will the books we write in this day and age read to those who read them one hundred years on?
This one, however, was one of the better stories. The plot was still quite obvious, but the characters, at least, were more entertaining, and the adventure engaging. The racial and cultural stereotypes did make me wince, but if one is going to read any literature from that era, one needs to be braced for such painful bits. It doesn't make them right! I find, though, that they serve as a good reminder - how will the books we write in this day and age read to those who read them one hundred years on?
March 12, 2022
Major characters:
Desmond Okewood, British Intelligence
Francis Okewood, his brother
Dicky Allerton
Dr. Henry Semlin
Anna Schratt, innkeeper
Monica Rachwitz, Desmond's friend
Dr. Adolph Grundt, a.k.a. "der Stelze" and "Clubfoot"
Locale: Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and Berlin and Düsseldorf, Germany
Synopsis: Desmond Okewood, our narrator, is with British Intelligence (this is during WW I). He is anxious to learn the whereabouts of his brother, Francis Okewood, also with British Intelligence; but who has not been heard from for some time. He learns from an officer that Dicky is still alive, and as Francis is fluent in German, likely there as a spy. His friend Dicky Allerton provides a coded communication which may contain clues to his whereabouts, as well as half of some document, apparently valuable.
Desmond decides to enter Germany through Holland. He goes to Rotterdam and takes a room in a German inn run by Anna Schratt. The man in the adjacent room, Dr. Henry Semlin, suddenly has a heart attack and dies at Desmond's feet. Desmond decides to swap identities with him, to gain his travel papers. He also finds a silver badge, the insignia of the German Secret Police Section Seven, which will gain him wide access.
Desmond travels to Berlin, and meets up with the Emperor, who holds the other half of the secret document. Taking the document, he escapes from the Emperor before he can be found out; and runs into Dr. Adolph Grundt, a.k.a. Clubfoot, the German master spy. He hits Clubfoot on the head and teams up with his old friend Monica Rachwitz as they try to get out of Germany before Clubfoot catches up with them.
Review: This is the first of seven in the Clubfoot series, and is the only spy novels I have run across set in the World War I era. They are fast-paced and adventurous page-turners. The settings are well described, and put the reader in the dark, rainy streets of various German cities. It contains the usual requirements for spy novels: chases, disguises, false passports, fights, and of course a beautiful woman.
I found it interesting when Okewood describes the 'code of honor' among intelligence workers: they respect those on the other side - they may fight them, but they will not kill them.
There are two big "coincidences" which are a stretch, but do serve to advance the story. First, Dr. Semlin conveniently dies (of natural causes!) in front of Desmond, allowing him to obtain his travel documents; and second, Desmond's old friend Monica just happens to be staying in the Berlin hotel in which he is trying to escape from Clubfoot.
The subtitle on the dustjacket is a bit misleading - this is not the story of Clubfoot, the German master spy (who has just a few brief appearances), but instead the story of Desmond Okewood, the British master spy.
If you enjoy spy novels like those of Manning Coles, you will enjoy Valentine Williams - for something a little different, being set in the WW I era (WW II had not happened yet, when they were written!)
Please visit The Mystillery Blog and try The Mystillery Reading Challenges!
Desmond Okewood, British Intelligence
Francis Okewood, his brother
Dicky Allerton
Dr. Henry Semlin
Anna Schratt, innkeeper
Monica Rachwitz, Desmond's friend
Dr. Adolph Grundt, a.k.a. "der Stelze" and "Clubfoot"
Locale: Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and Berlin and Düsseldorf, Germany
Synopsis: Desmond Okewood, our narrator, is with British Intelligence (this is during WW I). He is anxious to learn the whereabouts of his brother, Francis Okewood, also with British Intelligence; but who has not been heard from for some time. He learns from an officer that Dicky is still alive, and as Francis is fluent in German, likely there as a spy. His friend Dicky Allerton provides a coded communication which may contain clues to his whereabouts, as well as half of some document, apparently valuable.
Desmond decides to enter Germany through Holland. He goes to Rotterdam and takes a room in a German inn run by Anna Schratt. The man in the adjacent room, Dr. Henry Semlin, suddenly has a heart attack and dies at Desmond's feet. Desmond decides to swap identities with him, to gain his travel papers. He also finds a silver badge, the insignia of the German Secret Police Section Seven, which will gain him wide access.
Desmond travels to Berlin, and meets up with the Emperor, who holds the other half of the secret document. Taking the document, he escapes from the Emperor before he can be found out; and runs into Dr. Adolph Grundt, a.k.a. Clubfoot, the German master spy. He hits Clubfoot on the head and teams up with his old friend Monica Rachwitz as they try to get out of Germany before Clubfoot catches up with them.
Review: This is the first of seven in the Clubfoot series, and is the only spy novels I have run across set in the World War I era. They are fast-paced and adventurous page-turners. The settings are well described, and put the reader in the dark, rainy streets of various German cities. It contains the usual requirements for spy novels: chases, disguises, false passports, fights, and of course a beautiful woman.
I found it interesting when Okewood describes the 'code of honor' among intelligence workers: they respect those on the other side - they may fight them, but they will not kill them.
There are two big "coincidences" which are a stretch, but do serve to advance the story. First, Dr. Semlin conveniently dies (of natural causes!) in front of Desmond, allowing him to obtain his travel documents; and second, Desmond's old friend Monica just happens to be staying in the Berlin hotel in which he is trying to escape from Clubfoot.
The subtitle on the dustjacket is a bit misleading - this is not the story of Clubfoot, the German master spy (who has just a few brief appearances), but instead the story of Desmond Okewood, the British master spy.
If you enjoy spy novels like those of Manning Coles, you will enjoy Valentine Williams - for something a little different, being set in the WW I era (WW II had not happened yet, when they were written!)
Please visit The Mystillery Blog and try The Mystillery Reading Challenges!
December 25, 2021
I listened to Mark Nelson's reading from Librivox, which I enjoyed. If I could have forgotten John Buchan's spy novels while reading this then I'd have liked this better. It was like a fast, scaled down version. Not that there's anything wrong with that but it just wasn't my favorite.
July 24, 2025
I do enjoy the Clubfoot books as much as Buchan. The time frame fascinates me and the accuracy with which they predicted German actions 15 years in the future is alarming.
August 16, 2022
First in the Dr Arnold Grundt / Secret Service spy thriller set at the start of World War I In October 1914 and taking place primarily in Rotterdam and Berlin. It was originally published in 1918.
My Take
Okay, I like hotels today. No one is put up in the bathroom for sleeping. Then again, I suppose if you're desperate to get in out of the rain . . .
Listening to Desmond talk about slipping into the German persona with the language and/or dialects has me envious. Of course, it's not that easy, as Clubfoot is perceptive, and Des just manages. Most of the time. Yep, there is a good bit of tension as Des seeks for his brother, to evade the Germans, and find that message.
I am curious as to how easy it was for Desmond to visit with Dicky who was a prisoner-of-war in Holland.
Per usual, writers of this time period show their non-PC perceptions. Sure, I whine about it, but it's useful to understand how people thought back then.
It was interesting to read about the propaganda the Germans were using with the wealthier classes as opposed to how the poor were surviving. It makes me think of the sanctions on Russia these days.
Williams uses first person protagonist point-of-view from Desmond's perspective, so everything we experience or learn is when Des is present.
The story does meander a bit and Williams isn't very clear in a number of areas, although I suspect part of that confusion is my not being aware that the enemy can visit prisoners-of-war. I also wish Williams had chosen a greater variety of names. There are two Karls and two Ottos in here! I hate when authors do this!
I had reviewed Okewood of the Secret Service , 2, not realizing I should have read The Man with the Clubfoot first. Trying to slot these two stories into a chronological order series-wise was a real pain, but it seems to be working now.
The Story
Desmond Okewood is still recovering from being wounded on the Somme when he discovers Francis is in trouble. In Germany. It's in Rotterdam that Des discovers how much trouble when he intercepts half of a secret message and goes undercover replacing a Germany spy.
Poor Desmond. He's looking forward to returning to the front where he can have a rest.
The Characters
Captain Desmond Okewood, a.k.a. Frederick Meyer from Pittsburgh and Julius Zimmermann who is a waiter, prefers battle while his brother, Francis, was rejected for active service, so he joined the War Office as a spy. Both brothers are good with German and fitting in, but Francis still beats Des by a mile.
Dicky Allerton is a friend of Des' and in partnership with Des' brother, Francis, in the motor business, which is doing government work. Well, right now Dicky is in prison. Sonny Martin, of the Heavies, has a friend, "some kind of staff captain in red tabs".
Foreign Office, London
Herbert Ashcroft, an old friend of Des', fixed up Des' passports. Fellow spies had included Jack Tracy, Herbert Arbuthnot, and Philip Brewster.
Prince Lichnowski is the German ambassador to London. Schulte was a courier and a successful spy.
Rotterdam, Holland
Van Urutius is also in the motor business and is a colleague of Dicky's and Francis'. Frau Anna Schratt runs the Hotel Sixt on Vos in't Tuintje where Karl is a waiter. Franz works at the Bopparder Hof. The Café Tarnowski is open 24/7.
Dr Henry Semlin is with the Halewright Mfg. Coy. in New York. He's also a German spy and part of the German secret police. Otto von Steinhardt recommended the hotel to Semlin.
Germany
The flighty Kaiser Wilhelm II rules Germany. Dr Arnold Grundt, a.k.a. Der Stelze, a.k.a. Clubfoot, answers only to the kaiser. General Von Boden is aide-de-camp to the kaiser. His son, Lieutenant Count von Boden, is with the 2nd Uhlans of the Guard.
Section Seven of the Berlin Police Presidency is casually known as the Political Police and does the dirty work. Henniger is its head; Vogel is one of its agents. Drechsler has a lantern. Kühlmann represents the Prussian jingoes.
Berlin
The Okewood brothers have known Monica all their lives when her father was the representative of a big American financial house in London. She met and married Karl, Count Rachwitz, a Silesian noble, for a short time. The count is the A.D.C. to Marshal von Mackensen. Her brother, Gerry, was injured flying — I think for the Germans even though Gerry doesn't speak German. Josef is Gerry's manservant. Carter is Monica's American chauffeur. Miss Mary Prendergast is an older friend of Monica's. The Biedermanns are neighbors.
Olga von Radolin is a princess who is going to be married.
Kore is a Jewish broker who fixed Des up with false papers. The scuzzy Haase provides a type of shelter for "Julius". Hebe, Frau Hedwig, is Haase's abused lover. Otto is another waiter working for nothing. Johann was betrayed.
The sweep catches up Fritz and some other deserters.
Düsseldorf
The Café Regina is another place with long hours.
Schloss Bellevue is . . .
. . . one of Karl's places and uses it as a shooting box.
Sapper Ebenezer Maggs of the Royal Engineers was captured near Mons in August. John, a contraband runner, had been a friend of Maggs'.
Washington D.C.
Bernstorff had been working with Semlin.
The Cover and Title
The cover is simple with a creamy vintage paper-like background for the top fourth with a green lined border of green curvaceous vines at the top and the title centered in black. The bottom three-fourths is also a deep green with the author's name in the bottom third in white. A darker green box notes that The Man with the Clubfoot is a public domain book — it's free!
The title is the very bad guy, The Man with the Clubfoot.
My Take
Okay, I like hotels today. No one is put up in the bathroom for sleeping. Then again, I suppose if you're desperate to get in out of the rain . . .
Listening to Desmond talk about slipping into the German persona with the language and/or dialects has me envious. Of course, it's not that easy, as Clubfoot is perceptive, and Des just manages. Most of the time. Yep, there is a good bit of tension as Des seeks for his brother, to evade the Germans, and find that message.
I am curious as to how easy it was for Desmond to visit with Dicky who was a prisoner-of-war in Holland.
Per usual, writers of this time period show their non-PC perceptions. Sure, I whine about it, but it's useful to understand how people thought back then.
It's a contemporary novel, in other words, Williams is writing about his time, and it's fascinating to read about his culture and the top technology of his day. Traveling by train and boat, those handy station cloak-rooms. I suspect agents today wouldn't have to worry much about a regimental tie, though."She chuckled with all the full-bodied humor of a fat person."
". . . she looked a white woman all right."
Rachwitz is such a German, yeah, because they're the only ones who have love affairs and drunken parties.
It was interesting to read about the propaganda the Germans were using with the wealthier classes as opposed to how the poor were surviving. It makes me think of the sanctions on Russia these days.
Williams uses first person protagonist point-of-view from Desmond's perspective, so everything we experience or learn is when Des is present.
The story does meander a bit and Williams isn't very clear in a number of areas, although I suspect part of that confusion is my not being aware that the enemy can visit prisoners-of-war. I also wish Williams had chosen a greater variety of names. There are two Karls and two Ottos in here! I hate when authors do this!
I had reviewed Okewood of the Secret Service , 2, not realizing I should have read The Man with the Clubfoot first. Trying to slot these two stories into a chronological order series-wise was a real pain, but it seems to be working now.
The Story
Desmond Okewood is still recovering from being wounded on the Somme when he discovers Francis is in trouble. In Germany. It's in Rotterdam that Des discovers how much trouble when he intercepts half of a secret message and goes undercover replacing a Germany spy.
Poor Desmond. He's looking forward to returning to the front where he can have a rest.
The Characters
Captain Desmond Okewood, a.k.a. Frederick Meyer from Pittsburgh and Julius Zimmermann who is a waiter, prefers battle while his brother, Francis, was rejected for active service, so he joined the War Office as a spy. Both brothers are good with German and fitting in, but Francis still beats Des by a mile.
Dicky Allerton is a friend of Des' and in partnership with Des' brother, Francis, in the motor business, which is doing government work. Well, right now Dicky is in prison. Sonny Martin, of the Heavies, has a friend, "some kind of staff captain in red tabs".
Foreign Office, London
Herbert Ashcroft, an old friend of Des', fixed up Des' passports. Fellow spies had included Jack Tracy, Herbert Arbuthnot, and Philip Brewster.
Prince Lichnowski is the German ambassador to London. Schulte was a courier and a successful spy.
Rotterdam, Holland
Van Urutius is also in the motor business and is a colleague of Dicky's and Francis'. Frau Anna Schratt runs the Hotel Sixt on Vos in't Tuintje where Karl is a waiter. Franz works at the Bopparder Hof. The Café Tarnowski is open 24/7.
Dr Henry Semlin is with the Halewright Mfg. Coy. in New York. He's also a German spy and part of the German secret police. Otto von Steinhardt recommended the hotel to Semlin.
Germany
The flighty Kaiser Wilhelm II rules Germany. Dr Arnold Grundt, a.k.a. Der Stelze, a.k.a. Clubfoot, answers only to the kaiser. General Von Boden is aide-de-camp to the kaiser. His son, Lieutenant Count von Boden, is with the 2nd Uhlans of the Guard.
Section Seven of the Berlin Police Presidency is casually known as the Political Police and does the dirty work. Henniger is its head; Vogel is one of its agents. Drechsler has a lantern. Kühlmann represents the Prussian jingoes.
Berlin
The Okewood brothers have known Monica all their lives when her father was the representative of a big American financial house in London. She met and married Karl, Count Rachwitz, a Silesian noble, for a short time. The count is the A.D.C. to Marshal von Mackensen. Her brother, Gerry, was injured flying — I think for the Germans even though Gerry doesn't speak German. Josef is Gerry's manservant. Carter is Monica's American chauffeur. Miss Mary Prendergast is an older friend of Monica's. The Biedermanns are neighbors.
Olga von Radolin is a princess who is going to be married.
Kore is a Jewish broker who fixed Des up with false papers. The scuzzy Haase provides a type of shelter for "Julius". Hebe, Frau Hedwig, is Haase's abused lover. Otto is another waiter working for nothing. Johann was betrayed.
The sweep catches up Fritz and some other deserters.
Düsseldorf
The Café Regina is another place with long hours.
Schloss Bellevue is . . .
. . . one of Karl's places and uses it as a shooting box.
Sapper Ebenezer Maggs of the Royal Engineers was captured near Mons in August. John, a contraband runner, had been a friend of Maggs'.
Washington D.C.
Bernstorff had been working with Semlin.
The Cover and Title
The cover is simple with a creamy vintage paper-like background for the top fourth with a green lined border of green curvaceous vines at the top and the title centered in black. The bottom three-fourths is also a deep green with the author's name in the bottom third in white. A darker green box notes that The Man with the Clubfoot is a public domain book — it's free!
The title is the very bad guy, The Man with the Clubfoot.
February 7, 2023
Three and a half stars.
This was a fun bit of fluff, lots of trotting around the WWI German countryside, on the run from the Hun with Des, a young Englishman trying to find his brother, who works for a rather secretive bunch doing their underworldly best to try to bring an end to the war, but in this particular case, trying to carry out the deadly task of gaining possession of an indiscreet letter written by the Kaiser.. One peculiar character - with more political muscle behind him than would seem to be the case - keeps turning up and foiling Des's efforts and threatening the lives of those he holds dearest. Lots of intrigue, mystery, and a splash of romance.
Plenty of eye-rolling 1918-era dialogue, but it only adds to the fun of the escapade overall. One massive point of failure that I can't pass up: Des is well known among his peers for speaking, like his brother, impeccable German; his mimicry ability allows him to pass as German - he is even able to replicate certain accents from specific regions. But Des also is called upon to pass as an American, and his English accent gives him away time and again. It just rang untrue.
The book is available for free from Gutenberg and Amazon. It's a fun read.
This was a fun bit of fluff, lots of trotting around the WWI German countryside, on the run from the Hun with Des, a young Englishman trying to find his brother, who works for a rather secretive bunch doing their underworldly best to try to bring an end to the war, but in this particular case, trying to carry out the deadly task of gaining possession of an indiscreet letter written by the Kaiser.. One peculiar character - with more political muscle behind him than would seem to be the case - keeps turning up and foiling Des's efforts and threatening the lives of those he holds dearest. Lots of intrigue, mystery, and a splash of romance.
Plenty of eye-rolling 1918-era dialogue, but it only adds to the fun of the escapade overall. One massive point of failure that I can't pass up: Des is well known among his peers for speaking, like his brother, impeccable German; his mimicry ability allows him to pass as German - he is even able to replicate certain accents from specific regions. But Des also is called upon to pass as an American, and his English accent gives him away time and again. It just rang untrue.
The book is available for free from Gutenberg and Amazon. It's a fun read.
November 24, 2024
This was a wild, breathless ride! I had a blast reading this, covered up to my eyes with a blanket, tense as can be.
I read this because of Agatha Christie's Tommy and Tuppence. The story where they're being the Brothers Okewood is one of my favorite stories from Partners in Crime so obviously I sought this out. (I've already sought out and read some Sherlock Holmes, and a short story of someone else—they got locked in a walk-in safe with a code that resets itself upon the door closing, I can't recall who it was but it was only okay. Thorndyke, maybe, but it doesn't feel right.)
I can definitely see parallels between this and The Secret Adversary: missing people with important documents that spell disaster for nations. Americans playing a big role. A certain amount of luck—walking into situations and giving a code word, bluffing their way through as well as they can and succeeding—or not. This wasn't quite as polished as Christie's book, but it was a dashed good time for all that.
Knowing the title of the next book in this series has me on tenterhooks, so excuse me. I must go read.
I read this because of Agatha Christie's Tommy and Tuppence. The story where they're being the Brothers Okewood is one of my favorite stories from Partners in Crime so obviously I sought this out. (I've already sought out and read some Sherlock Holmes, and a short story of someone else—they got locked in a walk-in safe with a code that resets itself upon the door closing, I can't recall who it was but it was only okay. Thorndyke, maybe, but it doesn't feel right.)
I can definitely see parallels between this and The Secret Adversary: missing people with important documents that spell disaster for nations. Americans playing a big role. A certain amount of luck—walking into situations and giving a code word, bluffing their way through as well as they can and succeeding—or not. This wasn't quite as polished as Christie's book, but it was a dashed good time for all that.
Knowing the title of the next book in this series has me on tenterhooks, so excuse me. I must go read.
February 16, 2020
Free | Relies on coincidence, but fairly good | There really isn't enough WWI mystery/adventure fiction, so this is a nice option.
Back Cover Copy: "The Man with the Clubfoot" is one of the most ingenious and sinister secret agents in Europe. It is to him that the task is assigned of regaining possession of an indiscreet letter written by the Kaiser. Desmond Okewood, a young British officer with a genius for secret service work, sets out to thwart this man and, incidentally, discover the whereabouts of his brother. He penetrates into Germany disguised, and meets with many thrilling adventures before he finally achieves his mission. In "The Man with the Clubfoot," Valentine Williams has written a thrilling romance of mystery, love and intrigue, that in every sense of the word may be described as "breathless."
Back Cover Copy: "The Man with the Clubfoot" is one of the most ingenious and sinister secret agents in Europe. It is to him that the task is assigned of regaining possession of an indiscreet letter written by the Kaiser. Desmond Okewood, a young British officer with a genius for secret service work, sets out to thwart this man and, incidentally, discover the whereabouts of his brother. He penetrates into Germany disguised, and meets with many thrilling adventures before he finally achieves his mission. In "The Man with the Clubfoot," Valentine Williams has written a thrilling romance of mystery, love and intrigue, that in every sense of the word may be described as "breathless."
June 10, 2021
Another read inspired by Tommy and Tuppence. This was a spy novel rather than a mystery, and was quite thrilling I suppose, but it was not a story I'll remember with any fondness: a read-it-and-forget-it story. I found the stereotypes of Germans of the time very interesting (organized, fat, and living in a spy state), and the presence of automobiles more common that I would have thought.
February 5, 2024
This is a very solid, interesting WW1 adventure novel. I will read aother novel or two by this author just to understand how well he wrote and what type of stories he created. The next novel in this series involves a villain killed in the first installment, curious.
June 20, 2012
If you like English adventure and spy stories, during the Great War, when things seemed so deliciously black and white and really all one had to be was "white" (in the soul sense) with steady grey eyes and a mop of bright blond hair to merit a happy ending, Valentine Williams is for you. The brothers Okewood, Desmond and Francis, will steal your heart and inspire you to mix it up with any passing Hun (are there any of those left?). Oh yes, there are Issues here, but still, a thrilling read.
Currently reading
October 22, 2008Plenty of twists and turns so far. A pretty average thriller overall though. The description puts its published year at 1971 but it was actually first printed in 1918. Good read if you enjoy WWI intrigue, or just want to understand the era a bit better on an emotional level.
November 22, 2016
Fabulous ripping yarn!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews