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Tommy Hambledon #13
Now or Never
This book was digitized and reprinted from the collections of the University of California Libraries. It was produced from digital images created through the libraries’ mass digitization efforts. The digital images were cleaned and prepared for printing through automated processes. Despite the cleaning process, occasional flaws may still be present that were part of the original work itself, or introduced during digitization. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found online in the HathiTrust Digital Library at www.hathitrust.org.
425 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1951
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About the author
Manning Coles
48 books9 followersFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.
Manning and Coles were neighbors in East Meon, Hampshire. Coles worked for British Intelligence in both the World Wars. Manning worked for the War Office during World War I. Their first books were fairly realistic and with a touch of grimness; their postwar books perhaps suffered from an excess of lightheartedness and whimsy. They also wrote a number of humorous novels about modern-day ghosts, some of them involving ghostly cousins named Charles and James Latimer. These novels were published in England under the pseudonym of Francis Gaite but released in the United States under the Manning Coles byline.
Many of the original exploits were based on the real-life experiences of Coles, who lied about his age and enlisted under an assumed name in a Hampshire regiment during World War I while still a teenager. He eventually became the youngest officer in British intelligence, often working behind German lines, due to his extraordinary ability to master languages. Coles had 2 sons (Michael and Peter, who were identical twins and who are both still alive, living in the UK) and the Ghost stories were based on the tales he used to tell his young sons when he was 'back from his travels'.
Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.
Manning and Coles were neighbors in East Meon, Hampshire. Coles worked for British Intelligence in both the World Wars. Manning worked for the War Office during World War I. Their first books were fairly realistic and with a touch of grimness; their postwar books perhaps suffered from an excess of lightheartedness and whimsy. They also wrote a number of humorous novels about modern-day ghosts, some of them involving ghostly cousins named Charles and James Latimer. These novels were published in England under the pseudonym of Francis Gaite but released in the United States under the Manning Coles byline.
Many of the original exploits were based on the real-life experiences of Coles, who lied about his age and enlisted under an assumed name in a Hampshire regiment during World War I while still a teenager. He eventually became the youngest officer in British intelligence, often working behind German lines, due to his extraordinary ability to master languages. Coles had 2 sons (Michael and Peter, who were identical twins and who are both still alive, living in the UK) and the Ghost stories were based on the tales he used to tell his young sons when he was 'back from his travels'.
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November 14, 2022Hugely enjoyable if slightly bonkers post WW2 thriller, in which Tommy Hambledon is in Cologne chasing down a ring of resurgent Nazis. As ever he has law-avoidant amateur backup. In this case, it is an obvious gay couple: Campbell and Forgan, who live together happily making model trains (this is Manning Coles shorthand for intense homosocial at least relationships, apparently), always speak of 'we', finish each other's sentences, banter like kings, know all the nightlife everywhere, do a LOT of crimes, and are generally just sodding brilliant. Making model trains is literally their job and they just do dangerous spy work for a laugh. I wish we had like ten Campbell and Forgan books.
Leaving C&F aside this is basically okay (it's hugely enjoyable because of them). There's a great revelation of what the Nazis are up to at the end, but tbh it's kind of thrown away, needed better structure to really use it rather than plonking it in at the end very much as if you'd thought of it at the last minute Manning Coles.
Leaving C&F aside this is basically okay (it's hugely enjoyable because of them). There's a great revelation of what the Nazis are up to at the end, but tbh it's kind of thrown away, needed better structure to really use it rather than plonking it in at the end very much as if you'd thought of it at the last minute Manning Coles.
May 16, 2011
Not sure what to make of this Tommy Hambledon thriller. A 1951 pub. date would place it in the middle of the books, and not as one of the later ones that may or may not have been at least partially farmed out to other writers. "Now or Never" has all the elements of a Hambledon adventure, but it's curiously arid and lacking in the funny stuff. Curious. For diehard fans only.
January 18, 2022
I'm slowly purging my bookshelves of old Manning Coles spy novels. I acquired these decades ago in a spurt of used-bookstore purchases, but haven't read most of them.
This thirteenth entry in the Tommy Hambledon series of spy stories features my favorite sidekicks, Campbell and Forgan. These characters remind me strongly of the two cricket fans, Caldicott and Charters, in the classic Hitchcock film "The Lady Vanishes." They are described as looking nothing like Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne, yet their unflappable aplomb and essential Britishness keep me endlessly amused.
The plot of this tale is also several notches above most of Hambledon's adventures. Set in post-WWII Cologne, the story revolves around suspicions that a neo-Nazi group is trying to revive the Reich. But as players are revealed, the reappearance of one of Hitler's inner circle, and revelations regarding what he is planning, create building suspense and interest. There's a lovely set-piece to conclude the story.
Well worth a read. My copy has a red cover and is missing its dust jacket.
This thirteenth entry in the Tommy Hambledon series of spy stories features my favorite sidekicks, Campbell and Forgan. These characters remind me strongly of the two cricket fans, Caldicott and Charters, in the classic Hitchcock film "The Lady Vanishes." They are described as looking nothing like Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne, yet their unflappable aplomb and essential Britishness keep me endlessly amused.
The plot of this tale is also several notches above most of Hambledon's adventures. Set in post-WWII Cologne, the story revolves around suspicions that a neo-Nazi group is trying to revive the Reich. But as players are revealed, the reappearance of one of Hitler's inner circle, and revelations regarding what he is planning, create building suspense and interest. There's a lovely set-piece to conclude the story.
Well worth a read. My copy has a red cover and is missing its dust jacket.
December 12, 2021
Great post WW II story.
Accurate portrayal wrapped in a mystery. West Germany and Cologne are nicely covered as part of the narrative.
I visited Cologne in the early sixties. There was still much war damage en route.
Accurate portrayal wrapped in a mystery. West Germany and Cologne are nicely covered as part of the narrative.
I visited Cologne in the early sixties. There was still much war damage en route.
May 7, 2023
I inherited this book from my mother. Tommy Hambleton is on the scent of what turns out to be a group of Nazis determined to resurrect the Third Reich. A bit of a thriller, except instead of heart-pounding it's amusing. Tommy is a kick, and his sidekicks vary with the story. Fun
abandoned
October 31, 2025Easy and quick decision not to finish this — very clumsy plotting — all coincidence and “tell me” — so back to a Little Free Library.
Only redeeming factor in the 30 pages or so I read -- 1950 Germany setting -- could have been interesting if writing was adequate.
Only redeeming factor in the 30 pages or so I read -- 1950 Germany setting -- could have been interesting if writing was adequate.
January 16, 2025
good story, but…
This copy of the book is loaded with annoying typos. Whoever typed it in did a very sloppy job. I suggest gettin hold of paperback version.
This copy of the book is loaded with annoying typos. Whoever typed it in did a very sloppy job. I suggest gettin hold of paperback version.
August 5, 2020
Major characters:
Karl Torgius, found hanging as story opens
George Yeoman, British subject visiting Cologne
Magda Von Bergen, his one-time girlfriend
Monsieur Albert Baptiste, a French con man
Heinrich Spelmann, private investigator
Tommy Hambledon, British Secret Service
Alexander Campbell, British model maker
William Forgan, his partner
Alfonso d'Almeida, Spaniard #1
Miguel Piccione, Spaniard #2
Locale: Cologne, Germany
Synopsis: Tommy Hambledon is in postwar Cologne, a city much in ruins. He is posing as a tourist while looking for an underground Fascist group, the Silver Ghosts. He finds one desolated street, the Unter Goldschmied, which locals avoid - there is nothing there but rubble piles, anyway. One morning Karl Torgius is found hanging from a beam in a rubble pile. His family hires P.I. Heinrich Spelmann to find out what happened to him.
There are two young women who are always seen in that street, sometimes guiding men through the rubble piles to a point unknown. No one asks questions. One is Magda Von Bergen, once a girlfriend of British soldier George Yeoman, who has returned to Cologne after the war to look for her, but she rebuffs him.
Tommy teams up with Spelmann. He finds the Silver Ghosts are expecting a visit from two Spaniards Alfonso d'Almedia and Miguel Piccione. Tommy's associates, Alexander Campbell and William Forgan, who run a model railroad shop in England as a cover, arrive and manage to get the two Spaniards arrested and deported. Campbell and Forgan then assume the Spaniards' identities in order to infiltrate the Silver Ghosts. It is found the two woman act as guides/guards for their meetings.
Review: This may be a Tommy Hambledon story but the stars are the modelmakers Alexander Campbell and William Forgan. They run a model railroad shop in London, and it may be assumed that is a cover for their real work in British intelligence. They are fearless and jump right into any adventure that comes their way. The climax of the story comes when they are fooled into taking a fake autobus tour and wind up help captive in an inn along with the others.
The story gives the reader a feel for what the ruins of postwar Germany must have been like. Another of Manning Coles at his best.
Karl Torgius, found hanging as story opens
George Yeoman, British subject visiting Cologne
Magda Von Bergen, his one-time girlfriend
Monsieur Albert Baptiste, a French con man
Heinrich Spelmann, private investigator
Tommy Hambledon, British Secret Service
Alexander Campbell, British model maker
William Forgan, his partner
Alfonso d'Almeida, Spaniard #1
Miguel Piccione, Spaniard #2
Locale: Cologne, Germany
Synopsis: Tommy Hambledon is in postwar Cologne, a city much in ruins. He is posing as a tourist while looking for an underground Fascist group, the Silver Ghosts. He finds one desolated street, the Unter Goldschmied, which locals avoid - there is nothing there but rubble piles, anyway. One morning Karl Torgius is found hanging from a beam in a rubble pile. His family hires P.I. Heinrich Spelmann to find out what happened to him.
There are two young women who are always seen in that street, sometimes guiding men through the rubble piles to a point unknown. No one asks questions. One is Magda Von Bergen, once a girlfriend of British soldier George Yeoman, who has returned to Cologne after the war to look for her, but she rebuffs him.
Tommy teams up with Spelmann. He finds the Silver Ghosts are expecting a visit from two Spaniards Alfonso d'Almedia and Miguel Piccione. Tommy's associates, Alexander Campbell and William Forgan, who run a model railroad shop in England as a cover, arrive and manage to get the two Spaniards arrested and deported. Campbell and Forgan then assume the Spaniards' identities in order to infiltrate the Silver Ghosts. It is found the two woman act as guides/guards for their meetings.
Review: This may be a Tommy Hambledon story but the stars are the modelmakers Alexander Campbell and William Forgan. They run a model railroad shop in London, and it may be assumed that is a cover for their real work in British intelligence. They are fearless and jump right into any adventure that comes their way. The climax of the story comes when they are fooled into taking a fake autobus tour and wind up help captive in an inn along with the others.
The story gives the reader a feel for what the ruins of postwar Germany must have been like. Another of Manning Coles at his best.
March 18, 2015
Tommy Hambledon is in Cologne, where--if his sources are correct--there's a den of neo-Nazis awaiting support from Franco's Spain. What neither the Nazis nor Hambledon knows is that the emissaries from Spain have been hijacked by those two inspired amateurs, Forgan and Campbell, who are impersonating them. Despite the deaths and the size of the stakes, this is a fairly light-hearted performance, until Coles slips a shocking new idea into the mix.
March 31, 2011
post war mystery romp, nice mix of puzzle, suspense, action, humor & touch of romance
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews