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Above Suspicion
Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso
254 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 1976
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1288 people want to read
About the author
Helen MacInnes
67 books258 followersHelen MacInnes was a Scottish-American author of espionage novels. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in Scotland in 1928 with a degree in French and German. A librarian, she married Professor Gilbert Highet in 1932 and moved with her husband to New York in 1937 so he could teach classics at Columbia University. She wrote her first novel, Above Suspicion, in 1939. She wrote many bestselling suspense novels and became an American citizen in 1951.
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October 16, 2020
I've seen Helen MacInnes vintage thrillers on library and used bookstore shelves many times over the years, but never bothered picking one up and reading it until now. I should have given her a chance earlier; this was pretty compelling reading.
Above Suspicion, published in 1941 and set in 1939, on the eve of World War II, is about a young British couple, Richard Myles, an Oxford don, and his wife Frances, who are approached by one of their friends, Peter Galt, who's been involved in anti-Nazi espionage. He asks them to use their summer vacation on the European continent to try to contact another British spy in Europe, who's been a key figure in helping people escape from Nazi Germany. The British fear that this man may have been killed, but he's so difficult to contact that no one is quite sure.
Peter asks Richard and Frances to go through the various levels of contact required to find out what's become of their man, hoping that they'll succeed because they're intelligent but unconnected to the espionage organization - thus (hopefully) they'll be above suspicion to the Germans. So Richard and Frances, beginning in Paris, go through the painstaking process of traveling from place to place, and contact to contact, all the while with suspicious Nazis eyeing their moves (not quite as suspicion-proof as their friend Peter hoped).
I enjoyed the first part, with all of its spycraft, though the process of reaching out to this mysterious man struck me as a bit illogical, or at least unnecessarily complex. But there's an unexpected turn of events in the middle of the novel, and then things really get crazy and tense for the last half. It's not nearly as graphic as it probably would be if this novel were written nowadays - I did get the sense that MacInnes was pulling her punches a bit - but it's still very tension-filled and sobering reading.
Perhaps the most interesting part is that MacInnes actually wrote this just when the Nazi machine was really gearing up. It's fascinating to read her views in the things the characters say and think: their horror at how the Nazi regime is changing people, and what it leads them to do; the pleas for people and countries not to be isolationist and stand aside, but to get involved to stop the Nazi threat to individuals and countries.
I will say that the novel is rather old-fashioned in its social views, especially with respect to the role of women. As intelligent as Frances is, she still exhibits weakness (which, honestly, isn't that unlikely), and it's still the men who are in charge and come to the rescue. That might frustrate some readers, though you have to take into account that this book was written over 75 years ago. Also there is one particular event where Frances takes action that made me cheer for her.
October 2017 buddy read with the Retro Reads group.
Above Suspicion, published in 1941 and set in 1939, on the eve of World War II, is about a young British couple, Richard Myles, an Oxford don, and his wife Frances, who are approached by one of their friends, Peter Galt, who's been involved in anti-Nazi espionage. He asks them to use their summer vacation on the European continent to try to contact another British spy in Europe, who's been a key figure in helping people escape from Nazi Germany. The British fear that this man may have been killed, but he's so difficult to contact that no one is quite sure.
Peter asks Richard and Frances to go through the various levels of contact required to find out what's become of their man, hoping that they'll succeed because they're intelligent but unconnected to the espionage organization - thus (hopefully) they'll be above suspicion to the Germans. So Richard and Frances, beginning in Paris, go through the painstaking process of traveling from place to place, and contact to contact, all the while with suspicious Nazis eyeing their moves (not quite as suspicion-proof as their friend Peter hoped).
I enjoyed the first part, with all of its spycraft, though the process of reaching out to this mysterious man struck me as a bit illogical, or at least unnecessarily complex. But there's an unexpected turn of events in the middle of the novel, and then things really get crazy and tense for the last half. It's not nearly as graphic as it probably would be if this novel were written nowadays - I did get the sense that MacInnes was pulling her punches a bit - but it's still very tension-filled and sobering reading.
Perhaps the most interesting part is that MacInnes actually wrote this just when the Nazi machine was really gearing up. It's fascinating to read her views in the things the characters say and think: their horror at how the Nazi regime is changing people, and what it leads them to do; the pleas for people and countries not to be isolationist and stand aside, but to get involved to stop the Nazi threat to individuals and countries.
I will say that the novel is rather old-fashioned in its social views, especially with respect to the role of women. As intelligent as Frances is, she still exhibits weakness (which, honestly, isn't that unlikely), and it's still the men who are in charge and come to the rescue. That might frustrate some readers, though you have to take into account that this book was written over 75 years ago. Also there is one particular event where Frances takes action that made me cheer for her.
October 2017 buddy read with the Retro Reads group.
October 5, 2012
Above Suspicion is the first thriller by Helen MacInnes, an author largely forgotten about now, but once a very established and successful writer. She married Gilbert Highet, a Classics scholar, in 1932 and translated German literature with him. Like the characters in this novel, both her and her husband spoke fluent German and spent their summers travelling in Europe. Gilbert Highet also served as an MI6 British intelligence agent and his wife's novels were so realistic that her third book, "Assignment in Brittany" was required reading for Allied intelligence agents about to be sent to work with the French Resistance. As you can tell, you are in safe hands for a realistic novel about Europe in 1939, which is where Above Suspicion is set.
Frances Myles lives with her Professor husband Richard in Oxford. The married couple enjoy climbing and travelling in Europe, as MacInnes did herself. It is 1939 and Europe is poised on the brink of war. Frances and Richard are hoping for one last summer of peace, but it is not to be. When Frances goes to collect Richard from his rooms for a party, she finds an old friend visiting and he wants them to do a job. He is hoping they will go abroad that summer as usual, meet a man in Paris and then continue the journey as he directs them to obtain information the authorities need badly. An agent who has been running an underground railway in Germany has stopped sending the normal messages and they are afraid he has been captured or compromised and they are hoping that "a couple of innocents abroad might be able to get through all suspicion."
Richard is happy to go, but does not want Frances involved. Frances is, however, absolutely not going to be left and, as things should continue as normal, she gets her way. What follows is a chase across Europe, with the couple under scrutiny from the moment they leave England. Europe has changed - now men march everywhere, there is violence in the air, their rooms are searched and they are followed. While in France a woman states, "one war is enough for one lifetime," but war is coming and both Frances and Richard know it is unavoidable. While in Europe they meet up with Robert Thorney, who they know from Oxford, and Henry Van Cortlandt, an American journalist. "You're not the kind of people to handle trouble; you're not tough enough," Van Cortlandt tells Frances, but this is the story of normal people being called upon to do extraordinary things.
This really is a superb story - with excitement, seriously unpleasant bad guys and a real undercurrent of fear. With hindsight it is easy to say that everyone knew what would happen. In 1941 it was not sure at all which way the war would go and so, in many ways, MacInnes is writing some stirring propaganda here. During the novel, Frances attempts to explain to their new American friend why war cannot be avoided and gives a plea for friendship and involvement to the country she was later to spend the rest of her life in. Frances is an excellent heroine - headstrong, opinionated and always very brave, she believes in what she is doing. Above Suspicion was made into a film in 1943, with Joan Crawford, and it is wonderful to see her books appearing on kindle.
Frances Myles lives with her Professor husband Richard in Oxford. The married couple enjoy climbing and travelling in Europe, as MacInnes did herself. It is 1939 and Europe is poised on the brink of war. Frances and Richard are hoping for one last summer of peace, but it is not to be. When Frances goes to collect Richard from his rooms for a party, she finds an old friend visiting and he wants them to do a job. He is hoping they will go abroad that summer as usual, meet a man in Paris and then continue the journey as he directs them to obtain information the authorities need badly. An agent who has been running an underground railway in Germany has stopped sending the normal messages and they are afraid he has been captured or compromised and they are hoping that "a couple of innocents abroad might be able to get through all suspicion."
Richard is happy to go, but does not want Frances involved. Frances is, however, absolutely not going to be left and, as things should continue as normal, she gets her way. What follows is a chase across Europe, with the couple under scrutiny from the moment they leave England. Europe has changed - now men march everywhere, there is violence in the air, their rooms are searched and they are followed. While in France a woman states, "one war is enough for one lifetime," but war is coming and both Frances and Richard know it is unavoidable. While in Europe they meet up with Robert Thorney, who they know from Oxford, and Henry Van Cortlandt, an American journalist. "You're not the kind of people to handle trouble; you're not tough enough," Van Cortlandt tells Frances, but this is the story of normal people being called upon to do extraordinary things.
This really is a superb story - with excitement, seriously unpleasant bad guys and a real undercurrent of fear. With hindsight it is easy to say that everyone knew what would happen. In 1941 it was not sure at all which way the war would go and so, in many ways, MacInnes is writing some stirring propaganda here. During the novel, Frances attempts to explain to their new American friend why war cannot be avoided and gives a plea for friendship and involvement to the country she was later to spend the rest of her life in. Frances is an excellent heroine - headstrong, opinionated and always very brave, she believes in what she is doing. Above Suspicion was made into a film in 1943, with Joan Crawford, and it is wonderful to see her books appearing on kindle.
June 30, 2012
Entertaining (if terribly dated) spy novel published in 1941 but set a few years earlier.
The action begins in Oxford, England, where professor Richard Myles and his (lovely, of course) young wife Frances are asked by a friend to do a spot of espionage under cover of their annual holiday hiking jaunt. The couple are earnest and willing (if not exactly eager) to do their small part in facing down the Nazi threat that's looming over Europe.
It's standard, retro-classic spy fare from chapter two onward, as Richard and Frances travel to Paris, then Germany, then Austria. Along the way, they meet up with their various underground contacts, exchange cryptic passwords, wear identifying gear to mark them out, and get shadowed by fascist trolls in every town. Despite being healthy, athletic hiker-types, Richard and Frances manage to puff away a least a pack of cigs between them a day, as well as down copious amounts of beer and other adult beverages. I really admire them for being winded enough, (and sober enough) to tackle all the mountain hiking trails - not to mention those rascally Nazis.
Eye-rolling coincidences abound throughout the novel, with secondary characters met originally in England or Paris magically re-appearing later in small towns in Germany and Austria. Believable? Not on your life, but despite some trite plotlines, I did enjoy the story and found MacInnes a very good writer.
Which brings me to Helen MacInnes, who, IMHO, has one of the best ever author photos:
I mean, is this a classic 1940-1950's "dame" shot or not?
Note the cool, worldy-wise sophisticated look and the ciggy dangling from her elegant fingers. And if she isn't sporting blood red lipstick behind that black and white studio shot, I'll eat my hat.
Women of 2012 don't have a chance in hell of being this svelte, self-confident and uber-goddess cool. We've lost that type of style forever, even though our lungs are healthy and clear...
I've officially got a girl-crush goin' for Helen, and plan on several more forays into her spy-meets-spy worlds.
The action begins in Oxford, England, where professor Richard Myles and his (lovely, of course) young wife Frances are asked by a friend to do a spot of espionage under cover of their annual holiday hiking jaunt. The couple are earnest and willing (if not exactly eager) to do their small part in facing down the Nazi threat that's looming over Europe.
It's standard, retro-classic spy fare from chapter two onward, as Richard and Frances travel to Paris, then Germany, then Austria. Along the way, they meet up with their various underground contacts, exchange cryptic passwords, wear identifying gear to mark them out, and get shadowed by fascist trolls in every town. Despite being healthy, athletic hiker-types, Richard and Frances manage to puff away a least a pack of cigs between them a day, as well as down copious amounts of beer and other adult beverages. I really admire them for being winded enough, (and sober enough) to tackle all the mountain hiking trails - not to mention those rascally Nazis.
Eye-rolling coincidences abound throughout the novel, with secondary characters met originally in England or Paris magically re-appearing later in small towns in Germany and Austria. Believable? Not on your life, but despite some trite plotlines, I did enjoy the story and found MacInnes a very good writer.
Which brings me to Helen MacInnes, who, IMHO, has one of the best ever author photos:
I mean, is this a classic 1940-1950's "dame" shot or not?
Note the cool, worldy-wise sophisticated look and the ciggy dangling from her elegant fingers. And if she isn't sporting blood red lipstick behind that black and white studio shot, I'll eat my hat.
Women of 2012 don't have a chance in hell of being this svelte, self-confident and uber-goddess cool. We've lost that type of style forever, even though our lungs are healthy and clear...
I've officially got a girl-crush goin' for Helen, and plan on several more forays into her spy-meets-spy worlds.
September 14, 2017
Time was, I was an avid reader of Helen MacInnes’s spy thrillers. I loved the moral certainties; the clever, adaptive heroes and heroines who always had an unexpected work-around for every danger; the nobility and the endurance and the happy endings.
Having not read MacInnes for at least three decades, I was glad to go back and reread Above Suspicion, her first entry in the genre, published in the heat of World War II (1941). The story is set in the summer of 1939, after Nazi Germany’s goals were clear enough but before the war became totally “hot.” An Oxford academic and his young wife are called upon by a friend to undertake an adventure in Europe—tracing their way along an underground railroad of sorts, a series of agents engaged in spiriting people who opposed the Nazis out of Germany. There is concern that the person at the top of the chain has been identified and taken out of commission. The couple is chosen because they are innocent-seeming and may fly under the radar of the Gestapo and its agents.
My reading this time around gave me a good deal of pleasure; the ruses and plot twists are as thrilling as ever. I was more squeamish than on first reading about the depiction of the wife of the central couple: there’s a lot of sexist “Oh, she’s such a charmingly emotional creature” kind of stuff, even though she does have a brain and a good deal of grit (till late in the story). Her husband clearly adores her, but in a patronizing kind of a way that made me want to pop him one from time to time. This book definitely antedates Lara Croft!
And there are some pretty big holes in the plot: the villain simply turns up wherever it suits the plot for him to do so, at the expense of all logic.
Even though the book is a relic of its era, it is well written and provides all the adventure and surprise one could ask for. And I still love the moral certainties.
Having not read MacInnes for at least three decades, I was glad to go back and reread Above Suspicion, her first entry in the genre, published in the heat of World War II (1941). The story is set in the summer of 1939, after Nazi Germany’s goals were clear enough but before the war became totally “hot.” An Oxford academic and his young wife are called upon by a friend to undertake an adventure in Europe—tracing their way along an underground railroad of sorts, a series of agents engaged in spiriting people who opposed the Nazis out of Germany. There is concern that the person at the top of the chain has been identified and taken out of commission. The couple is chosen because they are innocent-seeming and may fly under the radar of the Gestapo and its agents.
My reading this time around gave me a good deal of pleasure; the ruses and plot twists are as thrilling as ever. I was more squeamish than on first reading about the depiction of the wife of the central couple: there’s a lot of sexist “Oh, she’s such a charmingly emotional creature” kind of stuff, even though she does have a brain and a good deal of grit (till late in the story). Her husband clearly adores her, but in a patronizing kind of a way that made me want to pop him one from time to time. This book definitely antedates Lara Croft!
And there are some pretty big holes in the plot: the villain simply turns up wherever it suits the plot for him to do so, at the expense of all logic.
Even though the book is a relic of its era, it is well written and provides all the adventure and surprise one could ask for. And I still love the moral certainties.
December 5, 2015
I read this book while on holiday on the west coast of Scotland in November. It was the weekend after the terrorist atrocities in Paris, and the parallels between the events and thoughts and fears described in the book - and that terrible event in Paris resonated for me in a way that might not happened if I had read it at a different time. The book is set in 1939- immediately prior to the UK going to war with Germany and it was written in 1942, so there is a realism and authenticity which pervades the entire book.
The story of the married, academic couple who are enticed to do a bit of spying as they go on their usual summer holiday in Europe - is also an opportunity to examine the strange and almost inexplicable thinking which permeated Nazi actions in Germany and France prior to, and during WW2. It of course also reflects the strange mindset of the Islamist terrorists who follow ISIS and other groups who believe they are entitled to murder and torture at will in pursuit of a caliphate which had more relevance a thousand years ago than it does now. 75 years separate the events of the book and the attack in Paris and yet the parallels are so close, so telling - it is disturbing. The writing is first rate and Helen MacInnes shows her skill throughout the book. To criticise this book (as others seem to have done), because it portrays a set of values and behaviours which might now seem dated and even unacceptable today - is to miss the beautifully expressed depiction of a continent sinking into war against a backdrop of hope defeated and bravery animated. I really recommend this book. It made me cry and it made me angry and it made me think.
The story of the married, academic couple who are enticed to do a bit of spying as they go on their usual summer holiday in Europe - is also an opportunity to examine the strange and almost inexplicable thinking which permeated Nazi actions in Germany and France prior to, and during WW2. It of course also reflects the strange mindset of the Islamist terrorists who follow ISIS and other groups who believe they are entitled to murder and torture at will in pursuit of a caliphate which had more relevance a thousand years ago than it does now. 75 years separate the events of the book and the attack in Paris and yet the parallels are so close, so telling - it is disturbing. The writing is first rate and Helen MacInnes shows her skill throughout the book. To criticise this book (as others seem to have done), because it portrays a set of values and behaviours which might now seem dated and even unacceptable today - is to miss the beautifully expressed depiction of a continent sinking into war against a backdrop of hope defeated and bravery animated. I really recommend this book. It made me cry and it made me angry and it made me think.
October 27, 2017
This 1941 mystery by "the queen of the spy novels" is a period piece in every way -- the characters, clothing, setting, social customs, etc. (For example, the two main characters do a lot of mountain climbing, while pausing frequently for cigarette breaks.) A young English couple from Oxford are asked to travel through Europe on a spy mission in the summer of 1939, just before the start of World War Two. Although the wife Frances is both intelligent and courageous, all the male characters including her husband persist in treating her as if she were made of glass, which I assume was a common attitude toward women back then. Her husband Richard has a brilliant mind and memorizes all sorts of details that lead them from one assignation to another. I did enjoy their romp through Europe (I googled Persitau, Austria and now I want to go there -- it's a gorgeous little town.) On the darker side, the book gave a chilling impression of the Nazi presence and the tension that gripped Europe just before the war began.
October 17, 2025
Many years since I first read this but it stood up to another read. I've got a soft spot for these older thrillers. Atmosphere, atmosphere and thoroughly enjoy the pre war setting of Europe and the ties to Oxford. Pure escapism.
September 27, 2013
The first of MacInnes's 18 or so novels with European settings which move from the Nazi era and the dawn of WWII, through the rise of Communism and the Cold War.
MacInnes's writing is rich with sensory details: the feel of rough felt hats, the cool, clear mountain air, the bruised and aching feet from hiking in the Alps, the smell of burning wool carpet singed by candle flame, the grime on an old book in a dusty bookstore. She knows the geography she describes - Austria, Germany,Paris, Oxford. You SEE the mountains, the rock strewn river beds, the gloomy city streets and the outsider-wary small villages.
When she takes her characters to a German beer hall, you'll feel you need to wash your hands after touching the beer sodden tables! But, as soon as she enters the forest with its clean air and soft undergrowth, you'll feel you can breathe better!
Helen MacInnes was pro-freedom of expression, fiercely anti-fascist, anti-Communist, anti-appeasement, and maintained what I call a "feminine feminist" view of women. Yes, her women love and depend on their men, but they are courageous, determined, intelligent, educated, and,liberated. They cherish their freedom to make their own choices and they seek to defend it.
She understood the always looming menace to freedom of those who would seek to overpower others, be they individuals or nations. She builds a sense of suspense and intrigue from the start of her books. Her characters are quick-witted, reflective, compassionate, but determined.
This book was published in 1939; I had to look up terms like "Baedekers," "Sard Harker," and "sporting the oak." I always feel better after reading MacInnes; a little more knowledgeable and a lot more grateful for those who hold her fierce desire to expose and defeat the bullies of the world, one person at a time.
My previous review: This is MacInnes' first novel. A fast moving story of espionage just before World War II. Great for spy-Nazi-WWII-Europe-Anglo philes. The movie with Fred MacMurray and Joan Crawford was not as good. Crawford is just unbelievable as the tame and trusting wife and MacMurray is not an English professor!
MacInnes's writing is rich with sensory details: the feel of rough felt hats, the cool, clear mountain air, the bruised and aching feet from hiking in the Alps, the smell of burning wool carpet singed by candle flame, the grime on an old book in a dusty bookstore. She knows the geography she describes - Austria, Germany,Paris, Oxford. You SEE the mountains, the rock strewn river beds, the gloomy city streets and the outsider-wary small villages.
When she takes her characters to a German beer hall, you'll feel you need to wash your hands after touching the beer sodden tables! But, as soon as she enters the forest with its clean air and soft undergrowth, you'll feel you can breathe better!
Helen MacInnes was pro-freedom of expression, fiercely anti-fascist, anti-Communist, anti-appeasement, and maintained what I call a "feminine feminist" view of women. Yes, her women love and depend on their men, but they are courageous, determined, intelligent, educated, and,liberated. They cherish their freedom to make their own choices and they seek to defend it.
She understood the always looming menace to freedom of those who would seek to overpower others, be they individuals or nations. She builds a sense of suspense and intrigue from the start of her books. Her characters are quick-witted, reflective, compassionate, but determined.
This book was published in 1939; I had to look up terms like "Baedekers," "Sard Harker," and "sporting the oak." I always feel better after reading MacInnes; a little more knowledgeable and a lot more grateful for those who hold her fierce desire to expose and defeat the bullies of the world, one person at a time.
My previous review: This is MacInnes' first novel. A fast moving story of espionage just before World War II. Great for spy-Nazi-WWII-Europe-Anglo philes. The movie with Fred MacMurray and Joan Crawford was not as good. Crawford is just unbelievable as the tame and trusting wife and MacMurray is not an English professor!
April 15, 2023
My first official spy novel! I’ve read novels with spying as a plot thread but never as the main plot. This was a very exciting read with the tension growing subtly but inevitably until the final stretch. I enjoyed Richard and Frances so much. They are a married couple from Oxford who are recruited by a friend to use their annual summer trip into Central Europe to check up on the man who is at the center of a chain of agents who are working to get people out of Nazi Germany. Richard and Frances speak German and can easily pose as a couple on vacation while following a chain of clues to get to the guy they’re looking for. It starts off simply enough…
The villain was a bit obvious from the start but it didn’t make the tension less for me. I loved reading about the various towns they visit in Germany and Austria and getting a hint of the culture and how the places were being infiltrated by the Nazis. It wasn’t always obvious who the good guys were. Frances and Richard gain two trusty allies along the way and they are delightful characters. Resourceful, brash, clever, loyal, etc. I think the relationship between the four of them was my favorite part of the story. I understand why the novel ended where it did but I would have loved more.
I see some reviews mention this as dated in its portrayal of men and women, but I didn’t find that. The character who says that women are silly and empty-headed the most is the villain. Richard is protective of Frances but that seems natural because they were in very real danger. Frances ends up playing just as much a role over the course of the story as Richard does. It’s also clear that Frances herself was an Oxford student in years past so she and Richard are intellectual equals. She seems to have a grasp of the political situation very clearly because she spends a good amount of time debating with one character. Certainly a novel today would be written differently but this felt characteristic of other novels I’ve read from this time.
I’m not sure how often I’ll read a spy novel but I’ll definitely pick up more MacInnes. Her writing was excellent and the characterization was particularly enjoyable for me.
The villain was a bit obvious from the start but it didn’t make the tension less for me. I loved reading about the various towns they visit in Germany and Austria and getting a hint of the culture and how the places were being infiltrated by the Nazis. It wasn’t always obvious who the good guys were. Frances and Richard gain two trusty allies along the way and they are delightful characters. Resourceful, brash, clever, loyal, etc. I think the relationship between the four of them was my favorite part of the story. I understand why the novel ended where it did but I would have loved more.
I see some reviews mention this as dated in its portrayal of men and women, but I didn’t find that. The character who says that women are silly and empty-headed the most is the villain. Richard is protective of Frances but that seems natural because they were in very real danger. Frances ends up playing just as much a role over the course of the story as Richard does. It’s also clear that Frances herself was an Oxford student in years past so she and Richard are intellectual equals. She seems to have a grasp of the political situation very clearly because she spends a good amount of time debating with one character. Certainly a novel today would be written differently but this felt characteristic of other novels I’ve read from this time.
I’m not sure how often I’ll read a spy novel but I’ll definitely pick up more MacInnes. Her writing was excellent and the characterization was particularly enjoyable for me.
October 23, 2014
More of a 3.5 & not really my sort of book. The heroic couple was very true to life & the snapshot of Europe just prior to WWII was really interesting, though. This is an atmosphere read although there's plenty of action toward the end. Definitely a well written spy thriller of the old school like John le Carré.
October 25, 2018
A tale of espionage in Nazi Europe, it was an immediate success, widely praised for its suspense and humor, and it was made into a motion picture in 1943. MacInnes first book.
December 4, 2014
I picked this up on the giveaway pile at the library. I knew someone years ago who loved helen machines and i figured, it's free, i'll try it. I LOVED this book. It's quirky and period, but moves really quickly and it stays with you after you're done. The characters are interesting and the plot rolls right along and her writing and descriptions are very good. This is her first novel, and it's a sort of suspense thriller but really what it is, is kind of a portrait of the world after the Nazis have invaded czechoslovakia but before they've annexed poland. The characters get involved in spying and intrigue in a vague way that doesn't completely make sense but that's OK because really this book is about the setting. It is a very interesting description of Germany at that period, when Nazis are marching through town, everyone is terrified and the rest of the world is trying to decide whether it's time to intervene. This isn't a perfect thriller but it's a really good book and I enjoyed it very much and will be seeking out more books by MacInnes.
March 12, 2018
Absolutely fabulous. It feels like I just read the book that inspired all of Alan Furst's World War II thrillers, and this is how it's done. Oh my gosh.
This was MacInnes's first book, published in 1941 - during the war - and clearly has more than a bit of autobiography in it. The main characters are a young married couple, Oxford academics who pay for their summers hiking in Europe, Alps, etc by translating German poetry and writing book reviews, etc on the side. And that's exactly what Helen MacInnes and her husband did. And her husband was a spy during the war. And so, one wonders, how much of this really happened in some way or another to her in that fateful summer in 1939 when war between Germany and Britain was so clearly weeks away? After the first little chapter, where the couple is having a jolly end of term at Oxford until they're asked to go do a little thing for England, just a little thing, while going about their usual holiday, the pace never lets up. It's a bit like the recent movie Dunkirk, with the constantly rising action.
I found that the characters, being academics deeply involved with German literature, music, etc, made a couple references to things the husband and wife both knew but that I had to look up. Things that I thought were references to Wagnerian opera, etc - but they were so on the point that looking them up made me appreciate the layers to the story. If you read this, and I really hope you do (because the view of the how Nazi Germany and fascists take over the hearts and minds of average people is so amazing, so utterly devastating, and as she put it on the page with all the sadness of an English person who loved German culture, music and literature but watched it all be supplanted by the ideology of uniforms and making Germany great again -- just read it) -- then marvel over the layers of the story -- the American who tries to just be a reporter but can't watch dispassionately, what happens to decent people, all of it -- it's just amazing.
Read this. I checked the ebook out of my public library, because it's a bit pricey, but I recommend it however you can get your hands on it.
This was MacInnes's first book, published in 1941 - during the war - and clearly has more than a bit of autobiography in it. The main characters are a young married couple, Oxford academics who pay for their summers hiking in Europe, Alps, etc by translating German poetry and writing book reviews, etc on the side. And that's exactly what Helen MacInnes and her husband did. And her husband was a spy during the war. And so, one wonders, how much of this really happened in some way or another to her in that fateful summer in 1939 when war between Germany and Britain was so clearly weeks away? After the first little chapter, where the couple is having a jolly end of term at Oxford until they're asked to go do a little thing for England, just a little thing, while going about their usual holiday, the pace never lets up. It's a bit like the recent movie Dunkirk, with the constantly rising action.
I found that the characters, being academics deeply involved with German literature, music, etc, made a couple references to things the husband and wife both knew but that I had to look up. Things that I thought were references to Wagnerian opera, etc - but they were so on the point that looking them up made me appreciate the layers to the story. If you read this, and I really hope you do (because the view of the how Nazi Germany and fascists take over the hearts and minds of average people is so amazing, so utterly devastating, and as she put it on the page with all the sadness of an English person who loved German culture, music and literature but watched it all be supplanted by the ideology of uniforms and making Germany great again -- just read it) -- then marvel over the layers of the story -- the American who tries to just be a reporter but can't watch dispassionately, what happens to decent people, all of it -- it's just amazing.
Read this. I checked the ebook out of my public library, because it's a bit pricey, but I recommend it however you can get your hands on it.
October 9, 2017
Oh wow!
Set in the summer of 1939 (and published in 1941), the story's sense of impending doom really ratchets up the suspense. This falls into the 'amateurs recruited for a tricky job' subset of thrillers (as opposed to the 'seasoned agent doing a tricky job' subset). Our amateurs are an English couple: Richard Myles, an Oxford professor, and Frances, his lovely wife. Their cover is just being themselves on their annual summer hiking/sight-seeing vacation in Europe. And, yes, it does help that both speak fluent German!
The action takes us from Paris to Germany and Austria, with each stop along the way becoming more dangerous. Fortunately our intrepid couple make a few new friends and get unexpected help from a few old ones.
The number one bad guy was not a real surprise; the coincidences were rather thick on the ground, but not to the point of reader incredulity. The climax is very exciting but I found the ending a bit abrupt--I wanted more!
I really liked Frances. She was as smart as she was lovely. Richard was very likable, though these modern eyes found him to be a tad patronizing towards his wife. Their chance met companions were intrepid and clever. And the Nazis were very, very scary.
Hard to believe this was the author's first book, as the writing was strong throughout.
Trivia note--this was made into a movie (released in 1943) starring Fred MacMurray as Richard and Joan Crawford as Frances--and making them Americans(obviously) on their honeymoon.
The movie isn't awful, but the book is so much better.
Set in the summer of 1939 (and published in 1941), the story's sense of impending doom really ratchets up the suspense. This falls into the 'amateurs recruited for a tricky job' subset of thrillers (as opposed to the 'seasoned agent doing a tricky job' subset). Our amateurs are an English couple: Richard Myles, an Oxford professor, and Frances, his lovely wife. Their cover is just being themselves on their annual summer hiking/sight-seeing vacation in Europe. And, yes, it does help that both speak fluent German!
The action takes us from Paris to Germany and Austria, with each stop along the way becoming more dangerous. Fortunately our intrepid couple make a few new friends and get unexpected help from a few old ones.
The number one bad guy was not a real surprise; the coincidences were rather thick on the ground, but not to the point of reader incredulity. The climax is very exciting but I found the ending a bit abrupt--I wanted more!
I really liked Frances. She was as smart as she was lovely. Richard was very likable, though these modern eyes found him to be a tad patronizing towards his wife. Their chance met companions were intrepid and clever. And the Nazis were very, very scary.
Hard to believe this was the author's first book, as the writing was strong throughout.
Trivia note--this was made into a movie (released in 1943) starring Fred MacMurray as Richard and Joan Crawford as Frances--and making them Americans(obviously) on their honeymoon.
The movie isn't awful, but the book is so much better.
August 14, 2014
Helen MacInnes has long been considered one of the best writers of spy~adventure~thriller books and after a reread of Above Suspicion, I find that to still be true. Today's readers may find her books 'dated' or 'vintage', but knowing that Ms MacInnes' books were written during or just after the events depicted, that she had personal knowledge of the areas the events and the time in which they were written and that her husband was a member of Britian's MI6, I prefer to think of them as 'authentic'.
The year is 1939. Richard and Frances Myles are about to leave on their annual European vacation when a friend asks them to do a simple job for him which of course turns out to be not so simple afterall. It's an interesting and exciting story with good characters.
Highly recommended. Ms MacInnes' books have recently been rereleased and are also available on kindle so hopefully a new generation of readers will find and appreciate her stories.
The year is 1939. Richard and Frances Myles are about to leave on their annual European vacation when a friend asks them to do a simple job for him which of course turns out to be not so simple afterall. It's an interesting and exciting story with good characters.
Highly recommended. Ms MacInnes' books have recently been rereleased and are also available on kindle so hopefully a new generation of readers will find and appreciate her stories.
January 28, 2012
An interesting early spy novel, published in 1941 and taking place in 1939 just before the war started. A young British couple are recruited to make contact with a missing spy while taking their usual summer vacation on the continent. The pacing is occasionally clunky and there are other stylistic choices that show their age, but I found it fascinating to read what seems to be a historical thriller but was written in the thick of the action, so to speak.
May 1, 2022
رواية جيدة بها بعض الاثارة وجيدة
November 18, 2022
تقع أحداث الرواية في أربعينيات القرن الماضي. موضوعها الأساسي الجاسوسية، لم تُعجبني كثيرًا، ربما لأن نسخة روايات عالمية للجيب تون مُختصرة بعض الشيء.
April 17, 2013
Set in 1939, Richard and Frances Myles are preparing for their annual European summer vacation. However, they are unexpectedly visited at Oxford College by Peter Galt, an old friend, who requests a favour… Their mission is to go to Paris and meet a man at a specific place who will give them details for the next meeting point. An ordinary holiday turns into an extraordinary tale where a pre-war Europe is suspicious of everyone and everything and Richard and Francis Myles quickly realises it as they are hunted down by people trying to find out what they know. Soon the couple is forced to race across Europe ans must use all of their ingenuity to outsmart the shadowy figures that always seem to be on their tail.
Above Suspicion by Helen MacInnes is a fun book to read, though there are of course a few things about it that may seem predictable. Written exceptionally well, Helen MacInnes have often been overlooked or forgotten, because her books are somewhat dated, yet there’s something wholesome about her writing. Spy novels are often cliché and most people prefer to read established writers in the genre, such as Ian Fleming and Tom Clancy. However, long before those writers came along, Helen MacInnes was already busy entertaining readers with tales of fantastic espionage and adventure.
Above Suspicion is a blast from the past with the central plot line surrounding World War II, where secrets, cigarettes and beer seems to be in abundance. That being said, when reading Above Suspicion one has to remember that it was written in a time when the world was very different. Women weren’t supposed to be heard, merely seen and as a result we have a very intelligent and strong female character who comes across as an underachiever. For feminists this might be a problem, but in a historical sense it’s quite an accurate portrayal.
All in all, I enjoyed Above Suspicion, because it reminded me that every genre has a beginning. I liked the writing and I enjoyed the storyline, but sometimes I did find it somewhat dreary. It’s alright though, because when you push through to the end, it’s all worth it.
(Originally posted on www.killeraphrodite.com )
Above Suspicion by Helen MacInnes is a fun book to read, though there are of course a few things about it that may seem predictable. Written exceptionally well, Helen MacInnes have often been overlooked or forgotten, because her books are somewhat dated, yet there’s something wholesome about her writing. Spy novels are often cliché and most people prefer to read established writers in the genre, such as Ian Fleming and Tom Clancy. However, long before those writers came along, Helen MacInnes was already busy entertaining readers with tales of fantastic espionage and adventure.
Above Suspicion is a blast from the past with the central plot line surrounding World War II, where secrets, cigarettes and beer seems to be in abundance. That being said, when reading Above Suspicion one has to remember that it was written in a time when the world was very different. Women weren’t supposed to be heard, merely seen and as a result we have a very intelligent and strong female character who comes across as an underachiever. For feminists this might be a problem, but in a historical sense it’s quite an accurate portrayal.
All in all, I enjoyed Above Suspicion, because it reminded me that every genre has a beginning. I liked the writing and I enjoyed the storyline, but sometimes I did find it somewhat dreary. It’s alright though, because when you push through to the end, it’s all worth it.
(Originally posted on www.killeraphrodite.com )
June 24, 2020
Exceptionally building story. I know MacInnes was degreed in French and German, a librarian, a classic German literature translator, a European traveler, an amateur actress and a wife of an MI6 British intelligence agent. So she knows her stuff. But some of the coincidences in the story seemed a bit far-fetched, though the tale remained enjoyable and riveting. I do not have the offended reaction that some reviewers have to the book's alleged treatment of women. The book, like all books, is a product of its time and if you can't read anything but woke literature, you will have a very small mind. The book was written by an accomplished woman, after all.
The narrative lacked the subtlety of her later works, but especially painted wonderful pictures of real places as the hapless husband and wife team of English tourists found themselves deeper and deeper in an espionage nightmare. You get the impression that MacInnes wrote from experience as a traveller. The action and tension in the last several chapters capped a wonderful crescendo of a month-long cat and mouse game.
The edition I read, however, was woefully edited, likely digital remnants missed by a tired human eye. So many misplaced commas and periods, it was annoying near the end of the book. A firm 4 stars.
The narrative lacked the subtlety of her later works, but especially painted wonderful pictures of real places as the hapless husband and wife team of English tourists found themselves deeper and deeper in an espionage nightmare. You get the impression that MacInnes wrote from experience as a traveller. The action and tension in the last several chapters capped a wonderful crescendo of a month-long cat and mouse game.
The edition I read, however, was woefully edited, likely digital remnants missed by a tired human eye. So many misplaced commas and periods, it was annoying near the end of the book. A firm 4 stars.
December 18, 2021
Intriguing, intelligent and serious thriller, set in 1939 (written in 1941), it follows the fortunes of a young married couple from Oxford (university) who are tasked by British Intelligence to combine their annual summer holiday in Europe with ascertaining the whereabouts of the (possibly compromised) controller of an “underground railway”, a system for helping those who oppose the Nazis escape Germany. Each link of the chain will lead them to where he operates. It’s all very covert and dangerous as the couple, whose relationship slightly resembles Agatha Christie’s Tommy and Tuppence, use their pluck and growing distaste for the atmosphere to delve deeper into Nazi Germany and Austria getting help from unexpected fellow travellers and the local resistance. The mindset of pre-war Germany with its atmosphere of fear and trepidation is wonderfully evoked.
May 28, 2021
This is Helen MacInnes' first book, written in 1941. The book takes place in 1939, so the events are raw for the author I would say. Richard and Frances Myles are asked by a friend to work with an anti-Nazi spy to ring to determine what happened to someone in their chain of agents. The events take place in the summer of 1939, while Europe is waiting for the other shoe to drop that will surely bring war. Their friend is convinced that they will have no problems because they are so "innocent" looking, and they had plans to be in Europe anyway.
I like MacInnes' books, because they are atmospheric and the ones I've read, a light read.
I like MacInnes' books, because they are atmospheric and the ones I've read, a light read.
September 14, 2010
Standard, somewhat cliche spy saga taking place in 1939 Germany. Interesting from today's perspective knowing what we know now. Actually, MacInnes' spot-on assessment of the situation in Nazi Germany at the time was astounding, given that U.S. involvement in the war was two years' away. The story moves along like a Hitchcock thriller, but is predictable for all that.
January 21, 2019
3.5 stars
May 20, 2024
I enjoyed MacInnes books when I first discovered them as a girl; the combination of idealism and adventure appealed to me a lot. I wasn't sure how they would hold up many decades later, but I find I still like reading them. This, her first book, isn't her best but it was still a fun read.
Most of her books follow a simple pattern - an innocent Brit or American traveling to WWII-era Europe, (later Cold War-era), gets involved in a simple task, like contacting someone or carrying papers. They're not a fan of Nazis, but usually are the type of person who prefers to not get involved in other's problems. Still, in the course of trying to help a bit they find themselves becoming a spy, hiding from the baddies, pretending to be someone they're not, and eventually running for their lives. The story lines can be pretty straight forward, and the author throws in several short lectures/speeches on anti-Fascism, etc.
In this book the MCs are taking one last European vacation before, they're afraid, the situation gets so bad they can't go back. Once in Germany, we see the mix of folks who support the Nazi's, those who don't, and those who really just want to be left alone. This story had less adventure than her later books, but it was still interesting watching the couple work their way around Germany, not sure who to trust. For some reason this particular book reminded me of The Sound of Music, and I kept expecting Rolf to pop out of the dark and give the good guys away.
There are several reasons I think the books still hold up. First, MacInnes wrote them during or just after the times they portray, and they give the modern reader some real insight into what people were thinking at the time, and what the average person's life was like. Most WWII books were written much later and they have the advantage of the author knowing how history played out. Above Suspicion was published in 1941 - the characters mention the German-Soviet Non-Agression Pact signed in Moscow - several times. The author was British born and educated, living in NYC when she started publishing, so you get perhaps a more intimate view of the average person's attitudes.
Second, and probably my favorite thing about these books, is watching how very ordinary people handle being thrown into extraordinary events. Often the MCs are rather clueless at the beginning of the books, but as they get more involved in the local situations they rise to the occasion. I like books that show ordinary men and women becoming extraordinary when events require it, and we see that here.
Finally, there's an optimism about these novels that I appreciate. I'm well aware that life can be very harsh and good people often suffer terrible iniquities. I don't like reading about them, though, because I find they make me depressed. Instead I depend on books with positive slants to help me keep my spirits up, and these books do that. Many adventure/thriller type books these days are full of cruelties and leave me struggling to think positively. These books don't. Instead I get several hours of adventure, a little thought-provoking sentiment, and a postive message that plain, ordinary people are capable of more good than they realize.
NB -
If you want to read the best by this author, I highly recommend While Still We Live.
If you want similar feel-good adventures try the Mrs. Pollifax books by Dorothy Gilman. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax is the first in this delightful series.
Similar, but more military-oriented, are the war novels by Alistair MacLean, like Where Eagles Dare and The Guns of Navarone. He also has non-war adventure books, often called "men's fiction", like Night Without End.
Most of her books follow a simple pattern - an innocent Brit or American traveling to WWII-era Europe, (later Cold War-era), gets involved in a simple task, like contacting someone or carrying papers. They're not a fan of Nazis, but usually are the type of person who prefers to not get involved in other's problems. Still, in the course of trying to help a bit they find themselves becoming a spy, hiding from the baddies, pretending to be someone they're not, and eventually running for their lives. The story lines can be pretty straight forward, and the author throws in several short lectures/speeches on anti-Fascism, etc.
In this book the MCs are taking one last European vacation before, they're afraid, the situation gets so bad they can't go back. Once in Germany, we see the mix of folks who support the Nazi's, those who don't, and those who really just want to be left alone. This story had less adventure than her later books, but it was still interesting watching the couple work their way around Germany, not sure who to trust. For some reason this particular book reminded me of The Sound of Music, and I kept expecting Rolf to pop out of the dark and give the good guys away.
There are several reasons I think the books still hold up. First, MacInnes wrote them during or just after the times they portray, and they give the modern reader some real insight into what people were thinking at the time, and what the average person's life was like. Most WWII books were written much later and they have the advantage of the author knowing how history played out. Above Suspicion was published in 1941 - the characters mention the German-Soviet Non-Agression Pact signed in Moscow - several times. The author was British born and educated, living in NYC when she started publishing, so you get perhaps a more intimate view of the average person's attitudes.
Second, and probably my favorite thing about these books, is watching how very ordinary people handle being thrown into extraordinary events. Often the MCs are rather clueless at the beginning of the books, but as they get more involved in the local situations they rise to the occasion. I like books that show ordinary men and women becoming extraordinary when events require it, and we see that here.
Finally, there's an optimism about these novels that I appreciate. I'm well aware that life can be very harsh and good people often suffer terrible iniquities. I don't like reading about them, though, because I find they make me depressed. Instead I depend on books with positive slants to help me keep my spirits up, and these books do that. Many adventure/thriller type books these days are full of cruelties and leave me struggling to think positively. These books don't. Instead I get several hours of adventure, a little thought-provoking sentiment, and a postive message that plain, ordinary people are capable of more good than they realize.
NB -
If you want to read the best by this author, I highly recommend While Still We Live.
If you want similar feel-good adventures try the Mrs. Pollifax books by Dorothy Gilman. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax is the first in this delightful series.
Similar, but more military-oriented, are the war novels by Alistair MacLean, like Where Eagles Dare and The Guns of Navarone. He also has non-war adventure books, often called "men's fiction", like Night Without End.
December 10, 2023
Visit JetBlackDragonfly (The Man Who Read Too Much) at www.edenthompson.ca/blog
This is a terrific read!
With Above Suspicion I discovered Helen MacInnes, who has written many espionage novels in the same family as Graham Greene and Eric Ambler. Her job as a German literature translator during the 1930's and her marriage to classics scholar Gilbert Highet (who also served as an MI6 British intelligence agent) gave her opportunity to travel Europe and provided insights into the wartime climate. Her third novel Assignment in Brittany was required reading for Allied intelligence agents working with the French resistance against the Nazis.
Above Suspicion has an irresistible premise, beginning with a young married couple, both Oxford scholars, being asked by a friend to vacation in Germany this year. He is with the Foreign Office, and one of their higher informants has gone silent. All they need to do is follow some as-yet-unknown clues and report back. After establishing their innocent-tourist reputation by going to all their usual haunts, they should visit the Cafe de la Paix on a Saturday night. Francis will wear a red rose, and Richard will order Cointreau with coffee. Sit at an outside table and at eleven o'clock, upset the Cointreau. As the waiter mops it up, a man will approach your table. Francis shoud begin talking about a Mrs. Rose and name a place. The man will signal a number. Go to that place one hour later than the number he gives you - He has a message for you.
A story of danger and intrigue that begins with such unknowns is a true adventure! Francis and Richard do go to Paris and continue on from there, passing blindly from one informant to another on only the barest of clues - sometimes even their coded words and subtle gestures don't completely convince the informants they are trustworthy, and a mistake could be deadly. In Nurnberg they witness the serious looking men and women walking quickly, the uniforms, the salutes and two-word greeting. Followed closely at all times by unseen spies, they move on to Innsbruck and Pertisau to begin a 'hiking holiday'. They hook up with an American and a Brit on their side and discover that along with finding out the fate of the top man in the chain, the Nazis have prepared a deadly trap.
I found it fascinating to read, as it was written at the time - 1941. The Germans are either portrayed as innocents too afraid to ask about things such as the rumoured concentration camps and the disappearance of neighbours, or believers in the movement who are eager to point out the great changes their leader has brought about. Richard and Francis have a polite way of intelligently countering those arguments. Although this is adventure and there are some tense moments, it's equally about the human element during this unsettling time. Excellent.
They made a movie of Above Suspicion in 1943 with Joan Crawford and Fred MacMurray, Basil Rathbone and Conrad Veidt. In Hollywood fashion, they kept the essence but made major changes to lighten the tone. Some of the good characters were now bad, some bad were now good! The school in the valley turned into a castle on a hill. A tense and quite serious spy thriller became a lark for two newlyweds.
This was an excellent thriller, full of mystery and danger. I look forward to reading more of her novels and if you like old school intrigue - where each clue is down an unknown blind alley, give this a try. Her novels have been reprinted many times and are widely available.
This is a terrific read!
With Above Suspicion I discovered Helen MacInnes, who has written many espionage novels in the same family as Graham Greene and Eric Ambler. Her job as a German literature translator during the 1930's and her marriage to classics scholar Gilbert Highet (who also served as an MI6 British intelligence agent) gave her opportunity to travel Europe and provided insights into the wartime climate. Her third novel Assignment in Brittany was required reading for Allied intelligence agents working with the French resistance against the Nazis.
Above Suspicion has an irresistible premise, beginning with a young married couple, both Oxford scholars, being asked by a friend to vacation in Germany this year. He is with the Foreign Office, and one of their higher informants has gone silent. All they need to do is follow some as-yet-unknown clues and report back. After establishing their innocent-tourist reputation by going to all their usual haunts, they should visit the Cafe de la Paix on a Saturday night. Francis will wear a red rose, and Richard will order Cointreau with coffee. Sit at an outside table and at eleven o'clock, upset the Cointreau. As the waiter mops it up, a man will approach your table. Francis shoud begin talking about a Mrs. Rose and name a place. The man will signal a number. Go to that place one hour later than the number he gives you - He has a message for you.
A story of danger and intrigue that begins with such unknowns is a true adventure! Francis and Richard do go to Paris and continue on from there, passing blindly from one informant to another on only the barest of clues - sometimes even their coded words and subtle gestures don't completely convince the informants they are trustworthy, and a mistake could be deadly. In Nurnberg they witness the serious looking men and women walking quickly, the uniforms, the salutes and two-word greeting. Followed closely at all times by unseen spies, they move on to Innsbruck and Pertisau to begin a 'hiking holiday'. They hook up with an American and a Brit on their side and discover that along with finding out the fate of the top man in the chain, the Nazis have prepared a deadly trap.
I found it fascinating to read, as it was written at the time - 1941. The Germans are either portrayed as innocents too afraid to ask about things such as the rumoured concentration camps and the disappearance of neighbours, or believers in the movement who are eager to point out the great changes their leader has brought about. Richard and Francis have a polite way of intelligently countering those arguments. Although this is adventure and there are some tense moments, it's equally about the human element during this unsettling time. Excellent.
They made a movie of Above Suspicion in 1943 with Joan Crawford and Fred MacMurray, Basil Rathbone and Conrad Veidt. In Hollywood fashion, they kept the essence but made major changes to lighten the tone. Some of the good characters were now bad, some bad were now good! The school in the valley turned into a castle on a hill. A tense and quite serious spy thriller became a lark for two newlyweds.
This was an excellent thriller, full of mystery and danger. I look forward to reading more of her novels and if you like old school intrigue - where each clue is down an unknown blind alley, give this a try. Her novels have been reprinted many times and are widely available.
March 1, 2013
In 1939, when Oxford professor Richard Myles and his wife Frances receive a visit from their good friend Peter Galt, they find themselves faced with a surprising request. They are planning their annual trip abroad and Peter asks them to first visit Paris where they’ll meet a man – an agent. Their journey will continue as their mystery Englishman in Paris dictates, leading them through Europe and encounters with a series of agents until they reach one man whose status has become unknown to the organization. Peter relies on Richard’s sharp intellect and uncanny memory, while Frances’s presence will help the couple achieve a place above suspicion. The stoically determined Richard and infinitely courageous Frances agree to the scheme, resulting in a full-blown adventure which will take them across Europe and under the nose of Nazi enemies. With the help of a fellow Englishman and a wily American reporter, the Myleses will find that their summer holiday has turned into much more than they bargained for.
Above Suspicion, Helen MacInnes’s first novel, was a smashing success upon its first publication in 1941, and now it’s been published in a sleek new paperback edition by Titan Books. MacInnes was lauded for her ability as a master of the spy genre, and the significance of her talent still resounds today; through the passage of time, Above Suspicion maintains its high-energy level of entertainment while its wit and intellect continue to shine. MacInnes created a first-rate duo of amateur spies in Richard and Frances, two characters that the reader is bound to find impossible to forget. Richard’s quite wisdom and keen sensibility paired with Frances’s boldly adventurous spirit make for the perfect combination. Meanwhile, their eventual comrades – young Robert Thornley and Henry van Cortlandt – add a fantastic combination of humor and daring. What is already an exciting story, fascinating in its intricacy, is brought to even brighter life through the charming characters that season its pages.
I found myself gripped by Above Suspicion and the depth of MacInness’s story, charmed by her natural ability to ease through genres; scenes were at times humorous, frustrating, exciting, and romantic as the adventure progressed. Her confidence as a writer and her bold determination bring a certain invigoration to the novel, making it a well-rounded spy story steeped in the detailed history of pre-war Europe. While there are plenty of surprises and a good deal of mystery, Above Suspicion runs on a more intellectual sort of thrill. MacInnes paced the scenes in a way that let the reader linger over simple moments before she delivers a shock that reminds them of the gravity of the situation Richard and Frances are in. The result is a very full reading experience that engages the mind and entertains in a way that remains timeless.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on February 21, 2013 at LiteraryInklings.com. I received a copy of the book for the purpose of review.)
Above Suspicion, Helen MacInnes’s first novel, was a smashing success upon its first publication in 1941, and now it’s been published in a sleek new paperback edition by Titan Books. MacInnes was lauded for her ability as a master of the spy genre, and the significance of her talent still resounds today; through the passage of time, Above Suspicion maintains its high-energy level of entertainment while its wit and intellect continue to shine. MacInnes created a first-rate duo of amateur spies in Richard and Frances, two characters that the reader is bound to find impossible to forget. Richard’s quite wisdom and keen sensibility paired with Frances’s boldly adventurous spirit make for the perfect combination. Meanwhile, their eventual comrades – young Robert Thornley and Henry van Cortlandt – add a fantastic combination of humor and daring. What is already an exciting story, fascinating in its intricacy, is brought to even brighter life through the charming characters that season its pages.
I found myself gripped by Above Suspicion and the depth of MacInness’s story, charmed by her natural ability to ease through genres; scenes were at times humorous, frustrating, exciting, and romantic as the adventure progressed. Her confidence as a writer and her bold determination bring a certain invigoration to the novel, making it a well-rounded spy story steeped in the detailed history of pre-war Europe. While there are plenty of surprises and a good deal of mystery, Above Suspicion runs on a more intellectual sort of thrill. MacInnes paced the scenes in a way that let the reader linger over simple moments before she delivers a shock that reminds them of the gravity of the situation Richard and Frances are in. The result is a very full reading experience that engages the mind and entertains in a way that remains timeless.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on February 21, 2013 at LiteraryInklings.com. I received a copy of the book for the purpose of review.)
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July 5, 2025لو قيمتها ساظلمها
لكنها اكيد تقييم سالب حتى لو لم احدد عدد نجوم
نحن الان في عهد صراع أمريكي الماني" بارد "
كل جهة تحسب حساب الاخرى وتتجسس على الاخرى
الكاتبة ككل امريكي متشبعة بالافكار التحررية التقدمية لامريكا العظمى التي تدافع عن الحرية و الديمقراطية والتي تعطي لنفسها الحق ان تنقذ العالم اذا ما اشتمت أي اعتداء على الحريات الشخصية
وطبعا هنا التغول النازي ...
الكتابة مقبولة و كحبكة معقولة بغض البصر عن كون كل الفكرة غير مقبولة
كاتب مغمور وزوجته يعدان لعطلة فيزورهما صديقهما ويطلب منهما مهمة نقل رسالة لمصلحة الوطن عبر عدة دول اوروبية
ويرشحهما لانهما عاديان وفوق مستوى الشبهات وداىما السفر لاوروبا وفرنسا ...
والمطلوب شخصان عاديان" فوق المستوى الشبهات "
كل الحبكة بسيطة وتافهة
يمشيان يلحقهما جندي .. يختبئان يختفيان
كل الحبكة وتيرة واحدة لا تشويق فيها لكنها طريق لنقل فيها حفر و مطبات صغيرة وفقط
لا شيء مشوق في الاحداث
ما فعلته الكاتبة انها ضخمت آليات السرد والتفاصيل اما الاحداث فهي طفولية بدائية بسيطة كخيال مقارنة بما يجب ان تكون عليه نظرا لان الوقاىع المفروض تكون المانيا النازية وجنودها ومخابرات انڨليزية وامريكية تتعاون ...
لكن وانا استمع للاوديو وكاني امام مطاردة اطفال بسيطة بلا تقدم تكنلوجي يذكر
وهذا ما اكد لي سذاجة الكاتب الغربي ومدى غروره وتحقيره للعدو تلك الفترة ومدى تشبعه باكاذيب سياسية جعلت منه غرا ساذجا (الامريكان منقذوا العالم وابطاله وكل شيء ديمقراطي هو امريكي وامريكا تدافع عن الحرية...
الشيء الثاني طبعا الذي لاحظت ان الكاتبة تروج للمثلية في مناسبتين
وهو امر كان من الممكن الاستغناء عنه فهو لا يزيد للحبكة شيئا
غير انها طبعا تريند رواج التطبيل لهم واظهار الدعم
المهم استمعت لها رواية مسموعة بصوت أحمد معتوق
الاسلوب الكتابي جيد لكن لا خصوصية فيه
فكأني أقرأ لأي كتاب من تلك الفترة
ولو اعتبرنا انها ادب جاسوسية فربما هي رواية من اغبى الحبكات البسيطة الساذجة بحركة قليلة وبليدة وثقيلة وبلا تشويق يذكر مقارنة بماكانت يجب ان تكون عليه.
الالمان وصلوا لطرق رهيبة في التجسس و التعذيب واستخراج المعلومات وتأتي الكاتبة لتقول سجنوه بغرفة لمدة طويلة وربطوه بحبل والمني قلبي حين رأيت اثار الضرب !!!
طيب لم لم ينقلوه لاي قيادة ....ابسط شيء
...
لكنها اكيد تقييم سالب حتى لو لم احدد عدد نجوم
نحن الان في عهد صراع أمريكي الماني" بارد "
كل جهة تحسب حساب الاخرى وتتجسس على الاخرى
الكاتبة ككل امريكي متشبعة بالافكار التحررية التقدمية لامريكا العظمى التي تدافع عن الحرية و الديمقراطية والتي تعطي لنفسها الحق ان تنقذ العالم اذا ما اشتمت أي اعتداء على الحريات الشخصية
وطبعا هنا التغول النازي ...
الكتابة مقبولة و كحبكة معقولة بغض البصر عن كون كل الفكرة غير مقبولة
كاتب مغمور وزوجته يعدان لعطلة فيزورهما صديقهما ويطلب منهما مهمة نقل رسالة لمصلحة الوطن عبر عدة دول اوروبية
ويرشحهما لانهما عاديان وفوق مستوى الشبهات وداىما السفر لاوروبا وفرنسا ...
والمطلوب شخصان عاديان" فوق المستوى الشبهات "
كل الحبكة بسيطة وتافهة
يمشيان يلحقهما جندي .. يختبئان يختفيان
كل الحبكة وتيرة واحدة لا تشويق فيها لكنها طريق لنقل فيها حفر و مطبات صغيرة وفقط
لا شيء مشوق في الاحداث
ما فعلته الكاتبة انها ضخمت آليات السرد والتفاصيل اما الاحداث فهي طفولية بدائية بسيطة كخيال مقارنة بما يجب ان تكون عليه نظرا لان الوقاىع المفروض تكون المانيا النازية وجنودها ومخابرات انڨليزية وامريكية تتعاون ...
لكن وانا استمع للاوديو وكاني امام مطاردة اطفال بسيطة بلا تقدم تكنلوجي يذكر
وهذا ما اكد لي سذاجة الكاتب الغربي ومدى غروره وتحقيره للعدو تلك الفترة ومدى تشبعه باكاذيب سياسية جعلت منه غرا ساذجا (الامريكان منقذوا العالم وابطاله وكل شيء ديمقراطي هو امريكي وامريكا تدافع عن الحرية...
الشيء الثاني طبعا الذي لاحظت ان الكاتبة تروج للمثلية في مناسبتين
وهو امر كان من الممكن الاستغناء عنه فهو لا يزيد للحبكة شيئا
غير انها طبعا تريند رواج التطبيل لهم واظهار الدعم
المهم استمعت لها رواية مسموعة بصوت أحمد معتوق
الاسلوب الكتابي جيد لكن لا خصوصية فيه
فكأني أقرأ لأي كتاب من تلك الفترة
ولو اعتبرنا انها ادب جاسوسية فربما هي رواية من اغبى الحبكات البسيطة الساذجة بحركة قليلة وبليدة وثقيلة وبلا تشويق يذكر مقارنة بماكانت يجب ان تكون عليه.
الالمان وصلوا لطرق رهيبة في التجسس و التعذيب واستخراج المعلومات وتأتي الكاتبة لتقول سجنوه بغرفة لمدة طويلة وربطوه بحبل والمني قلبي حين رأيت اثار الضرب !!!
طيب لم لم ينقلوه لاي قيادة ....ابسط شيء
...
March 3, 2013
For as much as I enjoy spy movies and some modern spy books, I am woefully underread on the classics of the genre. I've seen a ton of Bond movies, but never read the Broccoli books. And when Above Suspicion landed on my doorstep last week, I learned that "the queen of spy-story writers" was not only someone I had never heard of, but was responsible for some important fiction to the genre. I suppose I should just dive in from there, right?
I'll say this much, first: I got to read the reissued version that Titan Books is putting out, and it's a pretty impressive tome. It's a well done paperback version, the text feels crisp and clean (I'm not sure if there was any editorial cleanup, but it feels modern), and the covers really bring an old text up to date. The book itself, while seventy plus years old, also reads quick and current, with little in the way of jarring wording or plot twists that would throw a reader off (except for the constant references to the coming World War).
The story itself is solid as well: Robert and Frances are spies for the United Kingdom, and are trusted to head out on a mission that very quickly escalates into a massive European trek involving Nazis and a lot of racing against time and each other. It's a story that dives in within 10 pages, and generally doesn't stop until the very end.
If I have some downsides to it, it's that the book does feel a little long (which may just be a relic of the time), even if it moves pretty quickly. Other than that, though, it's a story that holds up over two generations now, and the reissues are apparently going to continue for MacInnes's works throughout 2013. I look forward to reading more of them as time goes on, and hopefully they find a new audience in this new century.
I'll say this much, first: I got to read the reissued version that Titan Books is putting out, and it's a pretty impressive tome. It's a well done paperback version, the text feels crisp and clean (I'm not sure if there was any editorial cleanup, but it feels modern), and the covers really bring an old text up to date. The book itself, while seventy plus years old, also reads quick and current, with little in the way of jarring wording or plot twists that would throw a reader off (except for the constant references to the coming World War).
The story itself is solid as well: Robert and Frances are spies for the United Kingdom, and are trusted to head out on a mission that very quickly escalates into a massive European trek involving Nazis and a lot of racing against time and each other. It's a story that dives in within 10 pages, and generally doesn't stop until the very end.
If I have some downsides to it, it's that the book does feel a little long (which may just be a relic of the time), even if it moves pretty quickly. Other than that, though, it's a story that holds up over two generations now, and the reissues are apparently going to continue for MacInnes's works throughout 2013. I look forward to reading more of them as time goes on, and hopefully they find a new audience in this new century.
June 13, 2013
Above Suspicion is MacInnes’ first novel. Set just before World War II, it begins when Frances and Richard Myles’ old friend stops in at his office to ask if the couple would combine their vacation with a very simple job: Track down an agent gone silent and find out if he’s still alive. It should not be too risky: The couple often takes vacations in Europe anyway, and they are not agents and therefore shouldn’t be marked. They’re just innocently asking a few innocuous questions, here an there. They’re not really going to get involved in anything.
The trouble is, this is pre-war Europe, nothing is simple, and everyone is involved, whether they plan on it or not.
Above Suspicion is an unmistakably British book, the kind where the characters retain their essential quiet at all times: The heroine may have one very quiet bout of hysterics during which she “shakes uncontrollably” or sobs quietly into a hanky for a few minutes, but no more....
Don’t read if you want constant, edge-of-the-seat action and gunfire. Do read if you enjoy a quiet, masterful buildup of tensions and interests, especially if you like British understatement.
Read the rest of the review here, at The Geek Girl Project. There's a lot more to see there as well! Reviews, interviews, and previews!
Disclosure: Review copy supplied by the publisher. A positive review was not specified, and all views expressed are my own
The trouble is, this is pre-war Europe, nothing is simple, and everyone is involved, whether they plan on it or not.
Above Suspicion is an unmistakably British book, the kind where the characters retain their essential quiet at all times: The heroine may have one very quiet bout of hysterics during which she “shakes uncontrollably” or sobs quietly into a hanky for a few minutes, but no more....
Don’t read if you want constant, edge-of-the-seat action and gunfire. Do read if you enjoy a quiet, masterful buildup of tensions and interests, especially if you like British understatement.
Read the rest of the review here, at The Geek Girl Project. There's a lot more to see there as well! Reviews, interviews, and previews!
Disclosure: Review copy supplied by the publisher. A positive review was not specified, and all views expressed are my own
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