Baker Street Irregular

by Craig W. Fisher

The allies have carved up the former empire of the short-lived, thousand-year Reich. Fractured post-war Berlin is a city crawling with spies and foreign agents. The police department is being run like a corrupt puppet of its Soviet masters. Decorated intelligence agent Bill Hoffmann is investigating the whereabouts and activities of an ex-Gestapo officer wanted by the British government for war crimes.

Suddenly a fellow agent ends up dead, surrounded by incriminating evidence that all points to Bill. A previous mission undercover in occupied Paris in 1944 appears to be somehow linked. Under threat from all sides, including his own, if he can solve the case and wrap up the investigation, he might also clear his name. He can trust no one.

All he has are his wits, questionable smoking habit and his trusty commando fighting knife. Things are about to get even bloodier, but in Berlin, they’ve seen it all before. Or have they?

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2023

About the author

Craig W. Fisher hails from Kent, the Garden of England — though he’s far more at home on a motorcycle than among the roses. An electrician by trade, former air cadet, biker, and devoted Belgian beer enthusiast, he spends his free time riding, watching Charlton Athletic snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, or trying (and usually failing) to convince anyone he’s a competent fisherman.

A lifelong fan of historical fiction and hardboiled detective stories, Craig blends his love of history, mystery, and a good yarn into his writing.

His debut novel, Baker Street Irregular, earned glowing reviews and snagged the Literary Titan Gold Award — proof that at least someone thinks he knows what he’s doing.

When he writes, strong coffee is essential, classic rock fills the room, and his faithful miniature schnauzer, Vincent, keeps him company — though who’s really assisting whom remains up for debate.

Be the first to learn about Craig W. Fisher’s new releases by subscribing to the mailing list at www.CraigWFisher.com.

Reviews

[Susan The Book Dragon Campton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Evening My Fellow Book Dragons,

Our Gem this evening came to me quite unexpectedly, passed into my claw by a mysterious figure in an old fedora and a long black trench coat. I waited until I was quite alone and opened my claw to see what appeared to be a vintage Zippo Lighter. I flicked it open and it turned into a Diamond of the highest quality. Color dancing as it reflected off the candles in my library.

I realized it's maker was author Craig W. Fisher and its title, "Baker Street Irregular" captivated my attention. Baker Street, where I had gone on so many adventures with my dear friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, but this wasn't a Holmes story, this was a Spy Tale. Those brave souls of the Second World War, who often found themselves in dire straits from the people they had most trusted.

This is the story of Bill, a man who is equal parts Holmes, Bond and Whicher. He's in the last days of the war when we meet him, ready to knock over SS headquarters to rescue those from the resistance and his fellow spies. Things definitely do not go as planned and we meet him again two years later, hunting a particularly nasty Nazi. I'll leave it to you to find out who.

What I found most interesting is that so very many of the characters in this book were real people. Real spies, Nazis and assorted others. I couldn't put this down. I have not had a Cold War Noir hold my attention like this since John le Carre's "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold".

If you only read one book set in this time period this year make sure this is it. I believe Mr. Fisher may just very well be this generations le Carre. It is available at your favorite place to buy books.

Join me next Tuesday as we travel through time again. Until then, I remain your humble Book Dragon,

Drakon T. Longwitten

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bakers Street Irregular by Craig W. Fisher is a story that has the reader questioning whether he is guilty or innocent? As we follow the protagonist, Bill, in the present, he is accused of a brutal murder. Clearly, he was there at the scene, and all the evidence points towards his involvement, but he claims to not be the killer and is keen to find out who truly did it, clearing his own name. Once a war hero, he definitely has the skills needed to get to the bottom of this. However, being in Berlin only a few years after the end of the war may make his investigation a little more complicated.

Gripping from the very offset, the story opens with the line, "One last check of his watch and a reassuring pat on the knife he kept in his jacket pocket, and he disappeared into the all-consuming darkness of the Berlin night." Dark and mysterious, this has the reader drawn into the story from the beginning, keen to discover more about this compelling character. As the story progresses, it flashes between various times in the main character's history, with each chapter exploring what led to his current situation. The author has done this wonderfully by heading each chapter with the date and location, making it easier for the reader to follow the plot.

Bakers Street Irregular is an extremely intriguing espionage thriller. I could not wait to find out more about the main characters' history during the war etc., as well as who really committed the murder in the present day (1947). It is a story that encompasses crime, spy novels, and war into one interesting tale. I would highly recommend this to anyone, as I found it hard to put down.

[M.J. Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I should point out that this novel is set in a time which has always fascinated me; the years of WW2 and its immediate aftermath. I was therefore a supremely contented, captive audience.
It deals with the phenomenally brave agents of SOE. Another favourite subject of mine and a special group which also inspired my own novel, 'A Child of Szabo' (shameless plug), so I was already enthralled from the outset.
Having said that, it is my earnest opinion that Craig W Fisher has crafted an exciting, intriguing, well-paced thriller full of twists and turns, great dialogue and action throughout.
It is meticulously researched and every facet of life described in such a way as to immediately invoke austere and varied images of that time, the depravation, suffering and politics etc. Minute details such as the type of tobacco smoked, brand of whiskey consumed, clothing worn etc. are essential parts of each scene and interwoven successfully with effortless ease. Not an easy thing to do.
Our main hero, Bill, is a toughened ex-soldier with an eye for smoking, drinking and fighting his way into an early grave. He's a hero with a heart though, fiercely loyal to his peers. So much so, that he becomes determined to find the killer of the agent, Violette Szabo, perhaps one of the greatest heroes this country has ever produced, as well as another agent he may possibly have been in love with, Irene or Lena. But was her murder part of a much wider, international conspiracy that is morally repugnant and threatens a fragile peace?

Please, if you enjoy history and love an entertaining, thought-provoking read, buy this novel.
It is a great read and even comes with full historical facts and biographies/glossary of terms, making it educational too. Lest we forget.

So, why only 4 stars then?
I loved it. I really did. 4 stars from me is amazing. But I did feel at limited times that there was a little repetition and over-writing. Smarter editing would have turned this novel into a real contender and a certain 5 star read I feel.

I'll leave you with a quote I just found irresistible;
'(Being) a warrior doesn't mean you never fail. It just means you will always fight.'

Brilliant.

[JoAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers who love a good spy novel, immersive writing with fleshy details, and large casts of characters will find a gem in Baker Street Irregular.

The novel follows a WWII British spy, Bill Hoffman, as he navigates Nazi occupied Europe, attending to the missions he has been tasked with. His primary task is to track a Nazi official in Vichy France, but events lead him to a deeper mystery.

I have mixed thoughts about Baker Street Irregular. On the positive side, Fisher is adept at storytelling, weaving the historical fabric of WWII through an intricate interaction of historical details and dark, noir-ish mood-setting scenes. The story is compelling. And Fisher is a good writer, possessing a unique voice and style. Fisher’s characters too are clearly visible. The novel reads like literary fiction: deeply reflective and full of wartime shadows.

But, some of these same aspects of the novel lost me as a reader. The pace of the novel is slow; long and numerous pages flow without progressing the arc of the story, even as they contribute to making the grey landscape of war tangible for the reader. Pages and pages would pass without a clear direction of where things are headed. At 328 pages — not including Historical Notes and a Glossary of terms at the end — the meanderings within the novel induced torpor, rather than interest. There are also numerous characters; Fisher’s attention to detail suggests each one is one to remember, leading this reader to forget many of them for lack of memory to track them all.

All in all, Baker Street Irregular delivers on its promise. Readers who enjoy historical fiction set in WWII or languid, noir novels are very likely to find it gripping and satisfying.

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an exciting new installment in the noir/spy thriller genre. Fisher does a fantastic job of placing a well crafted fictional character into a historically accurate setting. From the very first chapter I was engaged and wanting for more. A difficult feat to accomplish considering the historical accuracy of the setting. I often find that authors miss the mark when attempting to blend fiction and history, but that is far from the case here. You can tell that Fisher has done the homework, but it does not become stale as the facts are seamlessly blended into his creativity.

The descriptive writing in this book makes it easy to get lost in the scene and the story had me guessing until the very end. The characters are well thought out, each of them memorable down to the smallest role, but none more so than the main, Agent Bill Hoffman. A complicated character that straddles the line between hero and villain while trying to bring justice to the dark world of post war Berlin.

Overall, this was a great read. I give Fisher a 4 out of 5 star rating only because I think this is a fantastic first entry in what is hopefully a long writing career. Taking from this experience I am confident the author will fine tune his natural skill and create many 5 star stories for us in the future. I can't wait to see what's in store for Fisher as we eagerly await Agent Bill Hoffman's next great adventure.

[Brian Lobodzinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

For an author's first novel, I'm impressed at how well it flowed apart from the pipe tobacco. Agents were 'flushed' before being dropped into Europe. No British tobacco or chocolate would have been allowed on an agent. Clothes from refugees were reused to give an authentic feel and sometimes teeth fillings were replaced to make them look European. Despite this I enjoyed the twists and turns in the story so much so that by the end I was beginning to wonder who was friend or foe but this probably would have been normal for agents working in post war Berlin.

The terror of Nazi occupation of France and the chaos of the post war years in Berlin come across well. The despair, corruption and hypocrisy of the period ooze from the pages of the book as the hero tries to weave a righteous path in a world filled with turmoil. The conduct of the invading Russians in Ukraine today suggests that little has changed since then as far as the Russian army is concerned.

By the end I came away with the feeling that though he had managed to achieve some sort of success it was at a terrible price and he still had unfinished business to deal with – if the UK Government allowed him to do so.

I got a review copy but, as per usual, the typed thoughts are all my own.

[Damian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story starts by dropping you straight into Bill's shoes, and leaves you off-balance - undoubtedly similar to how Bill feels at the time. The author wastes no time in immersing you in the world, and quickly introduces you to important characters - both good and bad. What makes this so significant is that it becomes very easy to feel friendly with the good characters and simultaneously develop a severe dislike for the evil characters - also something that remains consistent throughout the story.

As the plot develops, events unfold which leave you wondering whether your initial summation of what will happen is correct or not - indeed you never truly feel confident as to how the story will end, a nice touch that keeps you on your toes from start to finish. There is a constant air of mystery throughout each chapter which demands you keep the pages turning, always wanting more - perfect for the overall theme of the book.

I have to say that I have not felt so involved in a story in such a long time, and that immersing myself within the world and amongst the characters here has been a delightfully refreshing experience. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone I meet.

[Amanda Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Post World War II Berlin is full of corrupt individuals and agents looking to flush them out. Bill and Jack are two of those agents, each trying to right some wrongs in their own ways. But at each turn, someone is thwarting their progress. A dark cloud is also hanging over their heads, pain and suffering received during a horrible imprisonment. Unfortunately, a murder of a friend has many people considering a double-agent on the loose. Does Bill know who murdered the friend? Or is he being betrayed?

A historian, especially one who has knowledge of WWII, will find a great number of important people and historical references throughout the entire book. And if the reader is not a historian, the author has included a glossary in the back of important people, dates, and events. I really enjoyed following Bill throughout the story, his ups and downs, discoveries and aha moments. However, I really struggled to establish a timeline as I read. Each chapter changed either location or time; however, the change was a few weeks, months or years. It wasn’t a big enough shift for my brain to make sense of it. I would have enjoyed the book more if it progressed in chronological order.

[Kit Derrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the exception of luminaries like le Carré and Greene I’m not a big reader of spy novels but I have to say that I enjoyed Baker Street Irregular immensely. The atmosphere created is wonderfully evocative and it captured the atmosphere of Berlin wonderfully, drawing me into the story straight away, and caring about the characters. Aside from the subject, the author also has a wonderful turn of phrase, and I found myself laughing out loud a couple of times . It is no mean feat to achieve that without breaking the tension and period setting, and Fisher does a great job.

The fast pace of the last thirty pages did mean that I lost track of who might be double crossing who a couple of times and needed to re-read a few paragraphs, but with so many characters coming together that isn’t unsurprising. If, like me, you’re not a regular reader of noir and spy thrillers, you’ll find this an excellent introduction to the genre, and it will leave you wanting more, including another book from Fisher.

[John Viner · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a first novel, this is a fine read and one which will encourage me to read more of this author's work. Being set in post-war Berlin during the early days of the Army of Occupation, with the Three Powers ruling the City while, at the same time. pursuing their own national agendas and wreaking reprisals among the former enemy. It is an unusual setting - I had some knowledge of Berlin and knew an old couple who had been in the SOE, but this cleverly plotted novel was a complete surprise. For example, I had no idea that the Americans were recruiting former Nazis for their anti-communist mission - I had heard of Klaus Barbie, of course, but not that he had been spirited away from his arrest by the USA. It is Craig's detailed underlying research that gives this book both credibility and readability. It was compelling from start to finish and the author must be commended for creating a very good read. After reading this novel, I am minded to now read Giles MacDonogh's "After the Reich: The Brutal History of the Allied Occupation"

[melissa Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story and the characters, I loved that there are some real life people in the book, it lends it an air of authenticity. The book is gritty and heartbreaking at points and gives a good viewpoint of what the war was like. The characters are very well developed, you love, hate and pity them at various intervals of the book.

The story focuses on bill and his journey through war torn France and post 1945 Germany. Its an eye-opener what these agents went through and did both during the war and after. The story flits between the war, post war Berlin and bills childhood to tell his story, he is implicated in a crime of which certain people would be quite happy he take the fall for,  however he and his partner/friend Jack work it out while on the hunt for a member of the SS who killed numerous British agents during the war.

Parts of the book and the lanuage used can be uncomfortable  but this keeps to the authenticity of people of the time and there is a warning at the beginning of the book regarding this.

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fisher's debut is a riveting story of a secret agent, both during a mission in Paris in WWII, and then in 1947 in Berlin. Bill is a man haunted by both the deaths of his fellow agents and the atrocities committed by Hitler's Nazi Regime. So when a once prominent Nazi linked to his past shows up in Berlin, Bill begins to hunt. Enlisting friends old and new, Bill begins a hunt to ferret out the truth that will lead him into all the corners of the city. In doing so, he has to face some uncomfortable truths about the horrors of war and the destruction it leaves in its wake. Bill's journey is nothing short of compelling. I finished the book in a day. The characters and settings are so lifelike you can't help but become immersed. Finishing this book was like saying goodbye to a friend. This debut hit all the right notes and I can't wait to see what comes next from Craig W. Fisher.

[Jenny Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story encompasses my three things I look for in a good book: history, mystery and a bit of dark humour. The historical facts were well-researched and the intrigue kicked off from the very first chapter. The characters were well written and with the best kind of dark ironic humour. I enjoyed the twists and turns in the story and reading the historical references afterwards . Some good storytelling.

[Janet Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy from Sirens and am leaving an honest review.
Great characters, lots of twists and turns. Great reading from the beginning.
These are difficult, turbulent times following WW2 when Jews are searching for those responsible for the evils carried out in camps like Auschwitz and Ravensbruck. Meanwhile others, eg America, are cherry picking German scientists and giving them safety in return for their skills.
Well written, well researched and sensitively covered.
Recommended

[Zoë Routh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the research that went into this novel with great historical figures and gritty intrigue to bring it to life.

The pace was fast and the story satisfying.

I found the language and characters a little clunky and would have enjoyed more detailed descriptions of scenes. Details make writing more compelling for me.

Otherwise a solid and enjoyable read.

I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[N.Cross]

Finished this book a few weeks ago and I have to say that for a first book from this author it is very good. From the start you are engrossed in it and feel like you are there in Berlin and France with them. Mr Fisher has obviously researched every part of his story to perfection. The story is great and will keep you guessing until the end. I can't really fault the book at all and very much looking forward to the next one to be released. I hope it will be as good if not better than this one.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark story about a dark period of time. Well developed characters and a descriptive setting made this story very enjoyable if in a depressing sort of way (but fitting for the time and place). I would definitely read more from this writer.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Graeme Levett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written book. Characters are well developed and enjoyed way of describing people and places which painted vivid pictures(at times humorously). It had brilliant twists and turns. Builds and holds tension well.

Clearly well researched. It also provoked thought into the world following the war.

[Stuart White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The military and historical references were well researched and the story had plenty of suspence and humour. I thoroughly recommend this book. Well done and congratulations to the author.

[Darren Whyte]

This isn't my usual reading material, but as I know the author I said I'd give it a go.
Well, I was very impressed with it.
Good story line and well written, I enjoyed the characters and the pace of the book.
5 out of 5

[Gaz Trickband · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definately an impressive debut novel. Keeps you glued, well written.

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆☆☆☆
Very fast paced and enjoyable read. A great spy thriller set in post- WW11 Berlin. The book is filled with lots historical references and thrilling characters.
Very good historical thriller.

[Martin Nunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly good read!

Convoluted plot, well written. Nicely atmospheric with characters you can believe in. I will be looking out for more, Craig. 😎

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling read. Credible characters are established within a well reasearched historical context, following world war two. A vividly descriptive and a thrilling espionage novel. An immersive read.

[Clive B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this period of history and this captured the period well.

It feels like the start of a series as well, which is welcome.

[Martin Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm currently in a WW2 / SOE reading frenzy, and I've already devoured any number of classics from Rory Clements, Manda Scott and Alex Gerlis, so I know what I like. And I like "Baker Street Irregular" by Craig W Fisher.

There's no slow build-up with this story - we jump right in to postwar Berlin in 1947 where we meet Bill Hoffman setting out on a mission for SOE. Things start to go wrong, and events are set in motion that will have repercussions across Europe and across the years. With flashbacks to 1944 France, we learn how events there have led Bill to search for a Nazi war criminal, and his quest for justice.

It's a fast-moving, detailed story, which vividly brings to life Europe at the end of the war and the years following, when the various governments were vying for power and control. It's full of twists and turns, questionable characters, and hidden motives. The prose is reminiscent of noir novels of the 70's and for fans of MacLean and Higgins this book will delight. It's a page turner, and no mistake. Heartily recommended.