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Tommy Hambledon #8
With Intent to Deceive
In his first postwar adventure, Tommy Hambledon is drawn into a hunt for a large sum of money stolen by the Nazis and hidden in Argentina. Among others things, the book is noteworthy for introducing Forgan and Campbell, a pair of model-makers who become Tommy's enthusiastic and always amusing amateur assistants. First published in England in 1947 as A Brother for Hugh, it was called by Anthony Boucher "a nice exercise in good-humored implausibility
191 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1947
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55 people want to read
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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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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December 4, 2022This is a pure joy and I'm baffled why it's one of the few not to be digitised (or at least not on Kobo). The story is split between Tommy Hambledon and mild mannered James Hyde who starts more of a Jekyll. Hyde gets mixed up with Argentinean gangs and lost Nazi millions and murder. Hambledon and his sidekick Superintendent Bagshott are running to keep up.
This is the first book to introduce Forgan and Campbell, model train makers / freelance dodgy bastards / totally epic double act, and there are some laugh out loud sequences of, basically, them ripping the piss. Bit of mildly offensive "funny Spanish man can't speak English" unfortunately but otherwise delightful. If everyone would just please go read all the books with Campbell and Forgan, I could then justify licensing the characters and writing a series of books about them, which is literally all I want to do with my life.
This is the first book to introduce Forgan and Campbell, model train makers / freelance dodgy bastards / totally epic double act, and there are some laugh out loud sequences of, basically, them ripping the piss. Bit of mildly offensive "funny Spanish man can't speak English" unfortunately but otherwise delightful. If everyone would just please go read all the books with Campbell and Forgan, I could then justify licensing the characters and writing a series of books about them, which is literally all I want to do with my life.
June 23, 2020
I pulled this oldie off my bookshelf as part of my library purging process. I acquired a batch of used Manning Coles titles many years ago, and read only a few. This is one I don't recall reading before.
James Hyde, newly retired and wistfully regretting a life too ordinary, meets Hugh Selkirk, whose life has been adventurous and exciting. Their physical resemblance leads Selkirk to make a wager--they should change places and see if Selkirk can fool Hyde's stern housekeeper. But Selkirk (with his valet, Adam) has a secret that he failed to mention: he's being hunted by a gang of Argentinians seeking a Nazi treasure Selkirk "liberated" from the gang. When Selkirk fails to return, Hyde's longing for adventure is realized.
Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Bagshott of Scotland Yard and Tommy Hambledon of the British Intelligence Service are also interested in the missing Nazi treasure. When bodies begin to pile up, Hambledon tries to figure out who is involved--and what a suddenly dead retiree has to do with Argentine gangs and German spies.
If you are familiar with Manning Coles, you may be interested to know this is the first book in which occasional Hambledon "helpers" Forgan and Campbell make an appearance. Mild amusement for fans of police procedurals with a mid-20th-century British attitude.
James Hyde, newly retired and wistfully regretting a life too ordinary, meets Hugh Selkirk, whose life has been adventurous and exciting. Their physical resemblance leads Selkirk to make a wager--they should change places and see if Selkirk can fool Hyde's stern housekeeper. But Selkirk (with his valet, Adam) has a secret that he failed to mention: he's being hunted by a gang of Argentinians seeking a Nazi treasure Selkirk "liberated" from the gang. When Selkirk fails to return, Hyde's longing for adventure is realized.
Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Bagshott of Scotland Yard and Tommy Hambledon of the British Intelligence Service are also interested in the missing Nazi treasure. When bodies begin to pile up, Hambledon tries to figure out who is involved--and what a suddenly dead retiree has to do with Argentine gangs and German spies.
If you are familiar with Manning Coles, you may be interested to know this is the first book in which occasional Hambledon "helpers" Forgan and Campbell make an appearance. Mild amusement for fans of police procedurals with a mid-20th-century British attitude.
October 2, 2022
I wavered between giving this 3.5 & 4* but decided on the higher rating because I couldn't help reading this book in one great gulp.
A word about the series order (both here on GR and elsewhere) - this book is actually #7 and really should be read BEFORE "Let the Tiger Die" which involves several of the same characters and clearly takes place after the events of this book. I didn't know that and read them in the order GR has listed rendering some of the surprise twists and suspense of this book ineffective. Of course, as my rating indicates, I still managed to enjoy it immensely :)
A word about the series order (both here on GR and elsewhere) - this book is actually #7 and really should be read BEFORE "Let the Tiger Die" which involves several of the same characters and clearly takes place after the events of this book. I didn't know that and read them in the order GR has listed rendering some of the surprise twists and suspense of this book ineffective. Of course, as my rating indicates, I still managed to enjoy it immensely :)
June 4, 2024
A traditional English mystery of the 1940s era. Engaging characters, decent plot, lovely banter between characters, and touched with humor. Plot includes character switch, a frustrated inspector from Scotland Yard, a member of British Intelligence, the hunt for missing Nazi money, and the less than successful villains. If you're looking for a lot less sex, this read is a refreshing change.
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February 22, 2025Inferior version of Without Lawful Authority. I was embarrassed by how the Argentinian gangsters were portrayed.
February 10, 2024
More Fun
I grew up with Manning Coles. I love the sparkle of the dialog. I love the description of a time and place now gone.well worth a read.
I grew up with Manning Coles. I love the sparkle of the dialog. I love the description of a time and place now gone.well worth a read.
July 3, 2025
every single interaction with forgan was priceless
April 19, 2015
Retired businessman James Hyde regrets his uneventful life, especially after he meets a man who strangely resembles him. Hugh Selkirk bets him that they can change places for three days and not have anyone notice. But when Hugh is murdered while impersonating James, James is stuck being Hugh. And as he finds out more about what Hugh has been doing, he decides that he will avenge Hugh by continuing his quest to wipe out (one way or another) a gang of South American gangsters who are in London.
January 20, 2017
This Tommy Hambledon adventure focuses more on Hugh and his exploits as they track down some stolen Nazi loot. Good enjoyable read, although a bit silly in places. I enjoyed some of the locations especially as I have been there and an relate to it. Not as "heavy" as the earlier Manning Coles works.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews