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The Reich Device
Leipzig, May 1933, Professor Gustav Mayer makes a monumental discovery, but a new menace rises in Germany …
Mayer is hunted by ruthless killers from the newly formed SS, but who is the grey man? Assassin or protector? A trail of espionage leads from Berlin to New York, Cairo, and then to London. What are German spies doing in South Africa? What does this have to do with big American corporations?
A showdown in the swamp-forests of Zululand gives Germany the upper hand. But the game is not over until the last man is standing – assassins on both sides have men to kill.
The Reich Device is a rollicking spy thriller that pivots around intellectuals and ideas. Driven by terrifically paced and visceral action, it is a compelling and stylish read. Handy is a formidably capable action writer…
Mayer is hunted by ruthless killers from the newly formed SS, but who is the grey man? Assassin or protector? A trail of espionage leads from Berlin to New York, Cairo, and then to London. What are German spies doing in South Africa? What does this have to do with big American corporations?
A showdown in the swamp-forests of Zululand gives Germany the upper hand. But the game is not over until the last man is standing – assassins on both sides have men to kill.
The Reich Device is a rollicking spy thriller that pivots around intellectuals and ideas. Driven by terrifically paced and visceral action, it is a compelling and stylish read. Handy is a formidably capable action writer…
- GenresHistoricalFiction
367 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2015
19 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Richard D. Handy
5 books4 followersAuthor of spy thrillers and other historical fiction. Love reading the genre, especially books by Clive Cussler, Wilbur Smith, Lee Child, and Simon Scarrow. Thirty years of experience as a professional editor and in publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 2, 2015
Entertaining if historically inaccurate pre-WW2 thriller
German friend of Einstein comes up with a revolutionary device for powering rockets and British intelligence tries to prevent Nazis manufacturing it as the action moves from Leipzig, to New York, the Middle East, Berlin and South Africa.
Richard Handy’s story rolls along at a pace, with a rising body count and some good twists and turns. A number of scenes not for the squeamish, especially the interrogations.
Whilst I understand this is historical fiction and yeah I’m a pedant, there are a number of historical oddities in the narrative. Churchill appears to be back in the government in 1938, whereas he only came back with the declaration of war in September 1939. Admiral Doenitz in charge of a secret rocket program? He was quite low ranked during the period of the book, and wasn’t appointed to anywhere near Admiral rank until late 1939. There’s others I won’t bore you with, but you get my drift.
Despite this it’s an entertaining read with a great Nazi villain and a valiant British intelligence agent.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
German friend of Einstein comes up with a revolutionary device for powering rockets and British intelligence tries to prevent Nazis manufacturing it as the action moves from Leipzig, to New York, the Middle East, Berlin and South Africa.
Richard Handy’s story rolls along at a pace, with a rising body count and some good twists and turns. A number of scenes not for the squeamish, especially the interrogations.
Whilst I understand this is historical fiction and yeah I’m a pedant, there are a number of historical oddities in the narrative. Churchill appears to be back in the government in 1938, whereas he only came back with the declaration of war in September 1939. Admiral Doenitz in charge of a secret rocket program? He was quite low ranked during the period of the book, and wasn’t appointed to anywhere near Admiral rank until late 1939. There’s others I won’t bore you with, but you get my drift.
Despite this it’s an entertaining read with a great Nazi villain and a valiant British intelligence agent.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
October 22, 2018
It was a lovely, refreshing read in the topics of WWII, which I find a fascinating topic anyway.
I come across this book in the local bookshop and caught my eyes immediately. Upon further research I was surprised to learn the author actually lives in the area!
I can't tell you how correct the book was historically speaking, not being an expert of the field. What I can tell you is that it was a fascinating and relaxing read, the story absorbed me and I wanted to turn the pages and see what the endgame will be.
There wasn't too much descriptive, narrative parts, yet the author managed to paint the grim but exciting picture of what the WWII Germany could look like. The whole book is quite fast paced and drags you in and I couldn't help myself but to track down the author and ask about a possible sequel. He confirmed that it is coming, he hopes to have it published in 2019 spring! Can't wait to read it.
In the meantime WWII fanatics, go ahead and read it, you are going to like it.
I come across this book in the local bookshop and caught my eyes immediately. Upon further research I was surprised to learn the author actually lives in the area!
I can't tell you how correct the book was historically speaking, not being an expert of the field. What I can tell you is that it was a fascinating and relaxing read, the story absorbed me and I wanted to turn the pages and see what the endgame will be.
There wasn't too much descriptive, narrative parts, yet the author managed to paint the grim but exciting picture of what the WWII Germany could look like. The whole book is quite fast paced and drags you in and I couldn't help myself but to track down the author and ask about a possible sequel. He confirmed that it is coming, he hopes to have it published in 2019 spring! Can't wait to read it.
In the meantime WWII fanatics, go ahead and read it, you are going to like it.
July 14, 2018
Not my sort of book as I'd normally read fantasy. But picked it up at a charity shop and thought I would give it a go. As it turned out I very much enjoyed the story. It was gripping and well written. Very much recommend it.
January 13, 2026
3-1/2 stars. Decent plot but not well told. The action writing is ok but the rest is weak.
October 31, 2015
“The Reich Device” eBook was published in 2015 and was written by Richard Handy (http://richardhandy.com). This is Mr. Handy’s first fiction publication.
I obtained a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novel as ‘R’ as there are instances of Violence, Mature Language and Mature Situations. This Thriller novel is set just prior to World
War II in Germany, England, South Africa and the US.
The primary characters are Professor Gustav Mayer, a German physicist working on rocket research, and Major Danny Nash, a British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) operative.
Mayer discovers something that he thinks is a breakthrough in rocket science. He is afraid that the Nazi’s ruling Germany will use his discovery to exert force on the nations of the world. He is able to let his good friend Albert Einstein know of his discovery and Einstein is able to make it out of Germany with the information. Mayer though is taken by the German government and relocated to their rocket research facility. Mayer finds himself the subject of scrutiny and interrogation by the SS.
Nash works on his own within Germany trying to find information on Mayer and rescue him from the Germans. Nash and Mayer found themselves in one life threatening situation after another. The action takes Nash to South Africa following a German spy as well as to multiple trips to Germany.
I enjoyed the 7 hours I spent with the novel. While I like the plot, it seems a little off to me. The novel also seemed to end abruptly without really finishing the story line. No doubt there will be sequels. I give this novel a 3.6 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I obtained a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novel as ‘R’ as there are instances of Violence, Mature Language and Mature Situations. This Thriller novel is set just prior to World
War II in Germany, England, South Africa and the US.
The primary characters are Professor Gustav Mayer, a German physicist working on rocket research, and Major Danny Nash, a British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) operative.
Mayer discovers something that he thinks is a breakthrough in rocket science. He is afraid that the Nazi’s ruling Germany will use his discovery to exert force on the nations of the world. He is able to let his good friend Albert Einstein know of his discovery and Einstein is able to make it out of Germany with the information. Mayer though is taken by the German government and relocated to their rocket research facility. Mayer finds himself the subject of scrutiny and interrogation by the SS.
Nash works on his own within Germany trying to find information on Mayer and rescue him from the Germans. Nash and Mayer found themselves in one life threatening situation after another. The action takes Nash to South Africa following a German spy as well as to multiple trips to Germany.
I enjoyed the 7 hours I spent with the novel. While I like the plot, it seems a little off to me. The novel also seemed to end abruptly without really finishing the story line. No doubt there will be sequels. I give this novel a 3.6 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
September 20, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
There were a few parts that went well over my head in the physics and calculus departments but it was very interesting!
I HATE Kessler! What a fucking asshole.
Poor Mayer.
Nash; youre pretty legit.
One set of lines at about 95% had me smiling and thinking about GoT:
"What do we say to death?"
"Not today!"
There were a few parts that went well over my head in the physics and calculus departments but it was very interesting!
I HATE Kessler! What a fucking asshole.
Poor Mayer.
Nash; youre pretty legit.
One set of lines at about 95% had me smiling and thinking about GoT:
"What do we say to death?"
"Not today!"
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews