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The Rendezvous
This perfervid tragi-romance brings together, some twenty years later, Terese Masson, an ex-courier in the Resistance at eighteen, and Alfred Brunnerman, the Gestapo officer who had interrogated her, sexually anesthetized her, and left her blanking out the whole experience. She had since married the U.S. officer who retrieved her from Buchenwald but had remained an ""emotional virgin."" But now she loses her head as well as her frigidity over Alfred, posing as a Swiss architect; her New York psychiatrist reports him to the Israeli Intelligence, and together they run away--he to keep his rendezvous (his ennobling word for their affair) with death.... Would you believe it? Why would you, but maybe seeing's believing and this is going to be filmed. A second feature?
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
23 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Evelyn Anthony
114 books95 followersEvelyn Anthony was the pen name of Evelyn Bridgett Patricia Stephens Ward-Thomas,
Started her career as a writer of historical fiction, later switched to writing contemporary thrillers, often with an espionage theme.
She met Michael Ward-Thomas on a double date in The Dorchester and both were attracted to each other.] He worked for the Consolidated African Selection Trust. They switched partners and were married a few months later.
They bought Horham Hall in 1968 but found that it was costly and sold it in 1976 and moved to Naas, County Kildare where she had relatives. Increased income from her writing allowed her to buy Horham Hall back in 1982.
In 1994 she became High Sheriff of Essex, the firswt woman in over 700 years to hold this office.
In 1995 her daughter Kitty died of a heroin overdose, leading Evelyn to not write for another seven years.
In 2004 her husband died of a stroke.
She was survived by her children Susan, Anthony, Ewan, Christian and Luke as well as 16 grandchildren.
NB:Some sources give Ms Anthonys year of birth as 1926.
Additional information added from Wikipedia
Started her career as a writer of historical fiction, later switched to writing contemporary thrillers, often with an espionage theme.
She met Michael Ward-Thomas on a double date in The Dorchester and both were attracted to each other.] He worked for the Consolidated African Selection Trust. They switched partners and were married a few months later.
They bought Horham Hall in 1968 but found that it was costly and sold it in 1976 and moved to Naas, County Kildare where she had relatives. Increased income from her writing allowed her to buy Horham Hall back in 1982.
In 1994 she became High Sheriff of Essex, the firswt woman in over 700 years to hold this office.
In 1995 her daughter Kitty died of a heroin overdose, leading Evelyn to not write for another seven years.
In 2004 her husband died of a stroke.
She was survived by her children Susan, Anthony, Ewan, Christian and Luke as well as 16 grandchildren.
NB:Some sources give Ms Anthonys year of birth as 1926.
Additional information added from Wikipedia
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 19, 2015
One of the best Cold War fiction stories you will ever read. The plot is amazingly simple , but the very nature of it means that this relatively short novel will keep you engrossed and you will finish this book in a matter of days,only to wish you could start over again once you have turned the last page. The ending actually made me say "oh no " out loud . I loved this story and I love this author . She is very underrated and is up there with the best thriller writers . I've never read a bad book by her . As some of her the books were written 40 yrs ago they of course are dated , for me it adds to the charm of them. Wonderful stories that take you around the world .
June 11, 2023
Quite Different from Anthony’s Other Books
Anthony’s writing is, as always, excellent. The story pulls you in. But, good as the book was, it was a tough read. Heart breaking. Be prepared! We humans are a most complicated bunch and have a penchant for misunderstanding and over thinking, usually making situations worse. As always, what might have been.
Anthony’s writing is, as always, excellent. The story pulls you in. But, good as the book was, it was a tough read. Heart breaking. Be prepared! We humans are a most complicated bunch and have a penchant for misunderstanding and over thinking, usually making situations worse. As always, what might have been.
August 26, 2023
Read with relishment, all the way to the brutal ending.
July 29, 2025
Truly enjoyed this mystery and romance. I have never read this author but will definitely read more. A well told story, but the ending leaves a lot of questions.
October 24, 2025
I am in shock; I have loved reading this novel and hated finishing it for many reasons.
Even though it’s a love story, it’s also a post-war thriller, filled with fear, spies, and irreversible actions. All the characters are well fleshed out through actions and dialogues in a way that makes the scenes so vivid, like watching an old black-and-white movie. They all have clear agendas and detailed backgrounds, suggested in a concise and effective way. I did not like all of them, and sometimes I changed my opinion as they revealed themselves, but I always understood their motivations. The plot is tight and progresses faster and faster as it closes in, adding to the feeling of inevitability.
But the truth is, despite knowing how it would end, I held on to hope because I cared. In spite of the hard facts, the love between Karl and Teresa is heart-wrenching and devastating. I feel it emerged from a powerful connection born in a moment of absolute fear and determination on both their parts.
This love is odd and miraculous, controversial and infallible.
The novel also proves to be more, with a multilayered commentary on the notions of guilt, trauma and redemption, without lecturing but presenting multiple points of view. There is an added critic of American post war society throughout the book.
At times certain ideas or terms used feel outdated but they are the representation of the times it was written in. I actually very much enjoyed the old fashioned expressions and turns of phrases I am certain I would have never seen in a modern rendition of this story. It added charm and authenticity.
I hesitated giving it five stars for a bit, because of the abrupt sad ending, lack of epilogue and a heroine that needed a stronger and more complex voice but I have to say this was a real emotional page turner, unputdownable, so 5 stars.
Even though it’s a love story, it’s also a post-war thriller, filled with fear, spies, and irreversible actions. All the characters are well fleshed out through actions and dialogues in a way that makes the scenes so vivid, like watching an old black-and-white movie. They all have clear agendas and detailed backgrounds, suggested in a concise and effective way. I did not like all of them, and sometimes I changed my opinion as they revealed themselves, but I always understood their motivations. The plot is tight and progresses faster and faster as it closes in, adding to the feeling of inevitability.
But the truth is, despite knowing how it would end, I held on to hope because I cared. In spite of the hard facts, the love between Karl and Teresa is heart-wrenching and devastating. I feel it emerged from a powerful connection born in a moment of absolute fear and determination on both their parts.
This love is odd and miraculous, controversial and infallible.
The novel also proves to be more, with a multilayered commentary on the notions of guilt, trauma and redemption, without lecturing but presenting multiple points of view. There is an added critic of American post war society throughout the book.
At times certain ideas or terms used feel outdated but they are the representation of the times it was written in. I actually very much enjoyed the old fashioned expressions and turns of phrases I am certain I would have never seen in a modern rendition of this story. It added charm and authenticity.
I hesitated giving it five stars for a bit, because of the abrupt sad ending, lack of epilogue and a heroine that needed a stronger and more complex voice but I have to say this was a real emotional page turner, unputdownable, so 5 stars.
May 2, 2020
No, I just never quite cared for the premise, this bizarre love story that can’t go anywhere satisfying. The book is short enough to enjoy on a superficial level, and there would be the odd ‘twist’ (not necessarily hard to spot coming) - but I found the whole thing rather implausible, and also simplistic in its approach to human behaviour. The characters had no facets, no complexity. Vera was maybe an exception, but unlikable. I don’t know what Terese was thinking, or where this love she felt was originating from; Karl was an expert in bad decisions, but at least that meant he might say hello to karma.
I can’t recommend it. At times I thought maybe it would win me over, but then suddenly it ended abruptly.
I can’t recommend it. At times I thought maybe it would win me over, but then suddenly it ended abruptly.
October 2, 2025
Amazing and unexpected throughout!
Very difficult to describe yet I’ll try…starts in a concentration camp during WW2…the young Jewish woman makes it out alive with no memory. Her interrogator hides in South America after the war eventually making it to the US when by chance they meet again living in the same city. A great True love and loss story!
Very difficult to describe yet I’ll try…starts in a concentration camp during WW2…the young Jewish woman makes it out alive with no memory. Her interrogator hides in South America after the war eventually making it to the US when by chance they meet again living in the same city. A great True love and loss story!
June 10, 2018
A gripping novel based on a war time criminal and his life after 20 years which again digs into his past war crime. Definitely, a page turner. The novel portrays that even a criminal is capable of sacrifice when it comes to love.
April 18, 2020
Good Read Twisted Characters
The ultimate twisted toxic relationship. Tortured by Nazi doctor. Rescued by Americans. Memory wiped to take away the painful truth. 20 years later a chance meeting with Nazi doctor triggers suppressed memory. Ok?
The ultimate twisted toxic relationship. Tortured by Nazi doctor. Rescued by Americans. Memory wiped to take away the painful truth. 20 years later a chance meeting with Nazi doctor triggers suppressed memory. Ok?
January 12, 2024
Do you know what a human mind does when it finds a fact too much to bear? It forgets it. That's pretty normal, we all do it. If there's something unpleasant something we're ashamed of, some awful grief.. We forget it as soon as we can or we try to.
#therendezvous
#evelyn_anthony
#therendezvous
#evelyn_anthony
February 16, 2018
Beautiful read. A classic love story.
October 6, 2018
Very well written
Excellent read. Anthony is a very good writer
Most of her books r real page turners
This one certainly was!
Excellent read. Anthony is a very good writer
Most of her books r real page turners
This one certainly was!
Want to read
April 19, 2020Synopsis: years later, Terese, a courier in the Resistance, and Alfred, the Gestapo officer who raped her, meet again. Is there a relationship?
December 1, 2020
I've read most of her novels and this is the worst. The plot idea is good, but the execution is lazy.
March 31, 2024
You (I) just can’t go wrong with Ms Anthony! Very difficult to read in parts but oh so satisfying in the end.
July 14, 2025
Contrived
Unsympathetic characters, repetitious and cliched. I would not recommend this book - I’m glad I it read fast so I didn’t waste too much time on it.
Unsympathetic characters, repetitious and cliched. I would not recommend this book - I’m glad I it read fast so I didn’t waste too much time on it.
August 13, 2018
This is a true romance novel before the chic-lit era. An easy and enjoyable read about rich New Yorkers with fabulous lifestyles. The cold war/post WWII elements were intriguing and it kept me wondering how it would end till the very last page.
October 25, 2014
I guess I'm glad I read this book (3 stars under my system, but I had no empathy for the main characters. It's well written.
I just noticed that goodreads has declared a definition for it's star system. e.g. 2 stars is "ok".
Just FYI, my system (copied from the "irrepressible crank" is:
3 stars = I liked it
4 stars = I liked it and you may also like it
5 stars = It was one of the best books I've read and I don't care what yhou think.
I'm not rerating all of my books at this late date.
December 30, 2018
I'm not big on romantic suspense, but this one was compulsively readable. It's much more about the characters than the action (which doesn't really pick up until the last third or so of the book). I wouldn't say I fully connected with them, more like I was watching them from a distance, but I still needed to know what would happen, as the past collides with the present.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews