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Tommy Hambledon #6
The Fifth Man
When five British prisoners escape from the Nazis, Tommy Hambledon is assigned to find out which one is a German double agent
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1946
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58 people want to read
About the author
Manning Coles
48 books10 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 24, 2012
The Fifth Man is my first taste of the work of Manning Coles--and I can assure you, it won't be my last. This is an absolutely delightful Nazi-filled, spy-thriller first published in 1946 by the neighborly writing duo of Adelaide Frances Oke Manning and Cyril Henry Coles. The duo wrote many of these spy-thrillers using the pseudonym composed of their last names. Twenty-six of these feature Tommy (Thomas Elphinstone) Hambledon, a British boarding school teacher who winds up working for the Foreign Office.
In this outing, five British prisoners of war are given the chance to head home--provided they agree to be trained as spies and pledge their service to the Nazi cause. They all do, but have every intention of hitting British soil and forgetting about their pledge--despite dire warnings of what their fate will be if they double-cross Germany. One is killed after turning himself in to the British authorities, three more manage to turn themselves in more successfully, and one man remains at large. Then a man claiming to be Major Alwyn Brampton turns up in the offices of British Intelligence and offers his services as a double-agent. Brampton is really escaped prisoner Anthony Coleman, but after hearing his story about near-fatal escapes of every sort, multiple assumed identities, and his version of a diabolical Nazi spy ring at work in England, Hambledon is ready to put him to work. Coleman's extraordinary luck holds through various escapades within the Nazi group until the grand finale when it looks like the double-agent's number may be up.
This book is great fun. Lots of British wit and understated humor. I haven't had such a good time with a spy thriller in a long time. I love the breezy style and following the adventures of Coleman as he dons his various personas. I'm sure there's way more happy coincidences than one could possibly expect in real life--but that's why this is fiction. And really good fiction at that. Four stars for a rollicking good read that I managed to read in one great gulp Sunday afternoon through night.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting any portion. Thanks.
In this outing, five British prisoners of war are given the chance to head home--provided they agree to be trained as spies and pledge their service to the Nazi cause. They all do, but have every intention of hitting British soil and forgetting about their pledge--despite dire warnings of what their fate will be if they double-cross Germany. One is killed after turning himself in to the British authorities, three more manage to turn themselves in more successfully, and one man remains at large. Then a man claiming to be Major Alwyn Brampton turns up in the offices of British Intelligence and offers his services as a double-agent. Brampton is really escaped prisoner Anthony Coleman, but after hearing his story about near-fatal escapes of every sort, multiple assumed identities, and his version of a diabolical Nazi spy ring at work in England, Hambledon is ready to put him to work. Coleman's extraordinary luck holds through various escapades within the Nazi group until the grand finale when it looks like the double-agent's number may be up.
This book is great fun. Lots of British wit and understated humor. I haven't had such a good time with a spy thriller in a long time. I love the breezy style and following the adventures of Coleman as he dons his various personas. I'm sure there's way more happy coincidences than one could possibly expect in real life--but that's why this is fiction. And really good fiction at that. Four stars for a rollicking good read that I managed to read in one great gulp Sunday afternoon through night.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting any portion. Thanks.
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November 13, 2022Very entertaining thriller covering a German spy ring in Britain with a masquerading hero of the highly dubious sort. Good fun as ever.
April 4, 2020
They don't write them like this anymore--and that's probably a good thing. A British soldier agrees to become a spy for the Nazis only to turn double-agent and work to bring them down. In the course of things he has a series of adventures, each of which could stand on its own as a short story, while working with Tommy Hambledon of British Intelligence. It's escapist fluff but does have a certain period charm.
March 10, 2021
This 6th book in the Hambledon series was set towards the end of WW2 and involved a Nazi network inside England. In this one, Hambledon mostly provided an opportunity for the 'fifth man' to tell his own adventure.
July 3, 2018
I first read this as a teenager and loved it then. It stands up really well after *cough* years later. Snappy dialogue, clever plotting, and some twists I didn't see coming
April 14, 2020
During World War II, German intelligence selects five British prisoners of war and offers them a deal --they agree to become German double agents for the Reich, and they get to go home to England. All five accept, largely to get out of the POW camps and go home. None intend to actually become German agents. But there is also a very large wild card among the five men. One is not who he claims to be...
The Fifth Man is a classic espionage tale in which a naturally anti-authoritarian fellow, already living life according to his own impulsive and independent nature, up-ends intelligence operations in the midst of war by continuing to do the most unpredictable things. Manning Coles' main character, Tommy Hambledon, appears as a "minder" of the Fifth Man, but it is the wayward hero who dominates proceedings.
A true classic.
The Fifth Man is a classic espionage tale in which a naturally anti-authoritarian fellow, already living life according to his own impulsive and independent nature, up-ends intelligence operations in the midst of war by continuing to do the most unpredictable things. Manning Coles' main character, Tommy Hambledon, appears as a "minder" of the Fifth Man, but it is the wayward hero who dominates proceedings.
A true classic.
August 3, 2023
Oh man, I loved this book! I was glued to the page as I was reading this. It started a little odd, and it took me a moment to adapt to the pacing, and man, it was a hit when the one character died early on. And then as the story went and followed the mystery man around Europe for a while I was at first confused but then very quickly engaged. Then the missions back at home, the espionage, and a very satisfying conclusion where the detective not only always gets his man, but even more than he anticipated.
Note: I have used the word man five times in this review.
Note: I have used the word man five times in this review.
February 19, 2020
A decent but 'tad' slow espionage tale. Also perhaps because the novel was written so near to the end of WW2, the propaganda bias was pretty 'heavy handed'. In spots though, the novel was quite excellent.
May 31, 2021
Manning Coles does it again
If there's a better an more humorous writer of spy thrillers I can't imagine who it could be. Top notch stuff, a shame no one has ever made movies based on these books. Not to be missed.
If there's a better an more humorous writer of spy thrillers I can't imagine who it could be. Top notch stuff, a shame no one has ever made movies based on these books. Not to be missed.
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December 25, 2025impressively well written, with a very long flashback in the middle.
This main character is so much like other main characters in other books by these authors that I start to imagine a world of these characters: they are men of action who are easily bored if there isn't something dangerous to do. They are homeless and nameless, and God forbid that any woman get their claws into them. No women, no home--no encumbrances of any kind, in fact, or even identifying characteristics. Reminds me of Jack Reacher, the Lone Ranger, etc.
This main character is so much like other main characters in other books by these authors that I start to imagine a world of these characters: they are men of action who are easily bored if there isn't something dangerous to do. They are homeless and nameless, and God forbid that any woman get their claws into them. No women, no home--no encumbrances of any kind, in fact, or even identifying characteristics. Reminds me of Jack Reacher, the Lone Ranger, etc.
January 14, 2009
The Fifth Man, in a very entertaining way, follows the search for five British prisoners who have - or have not? - escaped from the Nazis.
Manning Coles' books are always exciting, with great plots; yet, at the same time, very funny. His main character, who works for the British Secret Service, is Tommy Hambledon, who attacks various scary challenges with an absolute devotion to King and country and an irrepressible sense of humor.
Manning Coles' books are always exciting, with great plots; yet, at the same time, very funny. His main character, who works for the British Secret Service, is Tommy Hambledon, who attacks various scary challenges with an absolute devotion to King and country and an irrepressible sense of humor.
May 7, 2015
Colemore has escaped from prison to the Continent, only to be caught up in the chaos of World War II. He takes the clothing of a dead British officer and ends up in a German prison camp, eventually finding his way through Occupied Europe and back to England, with information for British intelligence. He finds a kindred spirit in Tommy Hambledon, who encourages him to use his position as a German agent for the benefit of the British.
January 27, 2019
Maybe 3.5 stars. Anthony Coleman escapes from a German POW camp and finds his way back to England where he is interrogated by our beloved Tommy Hambledon. Coleman becomes part of a group of German spies and most of the story focuses on his activities. Not quite as much humor as I found in earlier books, but still a satisfying read.
August 28, 2023
Other than taking three introductory chapters to get into the main character's story, this was a page turner, one remarkable situation after another. Risky escapes, impersonations, and espionage, all suspenseful straight through. Best "spy" novel I've read so far.
February 22, 2010
Consistently entertaining and well written. A great series.
February 14, 2011
Another satisfying entry in the Tommy Hambledon series. So far, every one has been a ripping yarn.
March 31, 2011
double agent comes through
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May 18, 2011Charming smuggler works as a double agent for Tommy Hambledon. Humor is always a feature of these novels.
June 15, 2017
For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
May 15, 2016
A gripping read. Historical fiction, of a sort -- pure entertainment, especially for the lover of intriguing, involved crime-solving plotlines and WW2 history.
April 8, 2015
This series needs to be re-issued!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews