The Budapest Protocol

by Adam LeBor

Nazi-occupied Budapest, Winter 1944. The Russians are smashing through the German lines. Miklos Farkas breaks out of the Jewish ghetto to find food - at the Nazis' headquarters. There he is handed a stolen copy of The Budapest Protocol, detailing the Nazis' post-war plans. Miklos knows it must stay hidden forever if he is to stay alive. Present day Budapest. As the European Union launches the election campaign for the first President of Europe, Miklos Farkas is brutally murdered. His journalist grandson Alex buries his grief to track down the killers. He soon unravels a chilling conspiracy rooted in the dying days of the Third Reich, one that will ensure Nazi economic domination of Europe - and a plan for a new Gypsy Holocaust. The hunt is on for The Budapest Protocol. Alex is soon drawn deeper into a deadly web of intrigue and power play, a game played for the highest the very future of Europe. The Budapest Protocol is a journey into Europe's hidden heart of darkness.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Ebooks, Crime, Hungary

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2009

About the author

Adam LeBor was born in London and read Arabic, international history and politics at Leeds University, graduating in 1983, and also studied Arabic at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He worked for several British newspapers before becoming a foreign correspondent in 1991. He has reported from thirty countries, including Israel and Palestine, and covered the Yugoslav wars for The Times of London and The Independent. Currently Central Europe correspondent for The Times of London, he also writes for the Sunday Times, The Econdomist, Literary Review, Condé Nast Traveller, the Jewish Chronicle, New Statesman and Harry's Place in Britain, and contributes to The Nation and the New York Times in the States. He is the author of seven books, including the best-selling Hitler's Secret Bankers, which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize. His books have been published in nine languages.

Reviews

[Mentai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving this five stars for its commitment to justice for the Roma in central and eastern Europe, for LeBor's incredibly well researched content (from history of Nazi money to Euro politics), and for its intrigue, which kept me reading. The blurb says it's set in Nazi-occupied Budapest, and while that era continues to haunt the protagonist and the city (not to mention the racism present in Hungary today), the vast majority of the book is set in the present and revolves around a set of journalists at an English language newspaper who are trying to report on a powerful rightwing upsurge in European Union politics. I will not make any further connections but if you have an interest in Europe this is a very interesting book that is not just fiction. (there's a bibliography at the back and I fact checked many of the things mentioned and they do unfortunately exist. LeBor was an investigative journalist.)
There's a love interest back story that could have been worse than it was and although I don't think writing women is his strength, even so-called resilient, strong women who are active in the story, I'm willing to forgive him this flaw.

[Chris Ioannou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it took me a few tries to get in to this due to other commitments, as soon as I had the time to read this I struggled to put the damn book down! Liked the idea and concept of the story. Even if perhaps a little predictable, still had me on the edge of my seat at the climax!
I think something like this could make a great TV series.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good political thriller, set in Budapest circa 2011. The protagonist`s grandfather has just been murdered and he ( a journalist) is determined to find out why. It all stems back to the Nazi occupation. The countries in the European Union are about to vote in the first president of Europe. The main candidate has been put up by German industrialists, who have been surreptitiously buying up as much European industry and as many banks as they can, with help from the Swiss, so that in effect they now control the whole of Europe. Having failed to do this in WW2 they have now succeeded to do it economically. They are starting their election campaigns into what was the Communist block. There is also a move to wipe out all the gypsies by moving them all ghettos and sterilising their women. It was a good read, frightening in its thinking, fast paced and gripping, spookily possible.
I would however, NOT recommend this edition (Beautiful-books) it was full of typos, jumbled and missing words and once nearly a whole page of text was missing!

[Bradford Tetlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written and engaging book. Biased maybe because I loved Budapest.

A great and very realistic tale that is so relevant to the workings of todays world. A great reminder of our duties as citizens and that just because we have democracy doesn't mean we can sit back and trust everything will be OK.

Journalists cum writers always have a unique perspective of world events, and Adam LeBor has captured the tale of a realistic alternative future.

[AURORA RU · Rating 4 out of 5]

"AF Weizen was Germany's biggest chemicals conglomerate before the war, specialising in pharmaceuticals, dyes and disinfectants. After Hitler came to power they moved into pest-eradication products. All Jews, Gypsies, disabled and anti-Nazis falling into that category. Birkauchen and AF Weizen ran a special 'medical research' institute at Auschwitz. All its records mysteriously disappeared in 1945."

"And what if someone does not want to provide their fingerprints and a DNA sample?"
"Law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear. But to answer your question, anyone refusing will be subject to sanctions, initially civil, and ultimately criminal. (..) Fines, then imprisonment, and ultimately being stripped of citizenship, which would render refusers liable to deportation."

"Vince told me he had found a document at the bank. It outlined the procedures for granting tenders in the new privatisations. Certain firms were to be favored, other ignored. Everything had been arranged in advance. Billions of euros were at stake. Then he found a list of companies. Every firm was either part of, or connected to, two giant German media and industrial corporations buying up eastern Europe."

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

A political thriller based on a real Nazi plot to regain power via economic means. It was pretty enjoyable reading overall, despite a little clunkiness in the prose and a couple bad misprints and typos. It wasn’t as much fun to realize that the outlandish fictional plot of this book written in 2009 is playing out in real life in my country in 2026. Paramilitary thugs running around, billionaires and the politicians that work for them and their moral depravities spooling up the common folk to hate and blame the powerless. Etc. Et al. And so on.

[Jack Reilly Gillic · Rating 1 out of 5]

An ordeal.

Everything about this book feels inept — from the clumsy prose to the creaking conspiracy plot. The premise (EU as a Fourth Reich) is absurdly cartoonish, executed without conviction or nuance. The only glimmer of something worthwhile lies in the subplot about the sterilisation of the Roma, which could have anchored a serious, harrowing story. Instead, it’s brushed aside in favor of shallow thriller clichés.

A slog to finish, and a waste of Budapest as a setting.

[Marcia Ditter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book one day while looking for books on my Nook.
It is about Budapest during WWII and the persecution of the Jews and it is about current time and the persecution of the Romas.
Instead of taking over by war, a group of people have a plan to take over financially, by use of the internet, sterilization of people they consider to be inferior.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brings up some historical and current issues, and I am inclined to think it is well-researched. I also liked how lots of Budapest places appeared in the novel. For these aspects, I added the second star. However, they do not make the story more interesting than it is. Characters are flat, conversations full of platitudes, the romance predictable.

[Ben Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book quite a struggle due to the nature of the writing. The story itself was very predictable and I found the writing very boring. Everything every character says is just so cliched and has been done a thousand times before. Its a pity as the subject matter is rather interesting.

[Ric Parks · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're visiting Budapest, this is a good read to get a feel for cultural and political forces and some good suggestions for food and coffee. Otherwise there are probably better thrillers to spend your time with.

[David Highton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A political thriller set in Budapest while Hungary is still a new member of the EU. A complex conspiracy begins to emerge after a well known Jewish dissident is found dead by his English-born grandson, a reporter now working in the City

[Craig Smedley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was published in December 2013 yet here in 2025 the situation written about during and following the fall of the Nazi German Reich and then the Russian control of Hungary, show similar conspiracies, Government mismanagement and interference or lack of leadership in our present day. What is that proverbial saying – “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”! The interaction between historical facts and fiction should make the reader think of what we face today in the 21st century. Around the world can be seen brutal domination of minorities by some, and irresponsible actions by sections of the populace with blame being sheeted home not to the aggressor, but to the innocent.
This is an enjoyable read, at times difficult to put down but at other times, minutiae in Budapest and Hungary in general, detracts for those that are not familiar with that city and country. It is a complex read that blends historical facts with fiction and it is fair to say takes the reader on a roller coaster ride.
I give it four stars.

[Annemiek Smedinga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spannend tot het eind.
goed verhaal.

[Donald Schopflocher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Timely but very clunky thriller partially redeemed by detailed Budapest settings and history.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adam Lebor writes a series of this book. Taking part in WW2. I enjoyed it for the foreign intrigue he writes in books. Joe F.

[Olivermagnus · Rating 3 out of 5]

163

[Andrew Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think the idea of this story is devastating, especially if true!..however it doesn't really work as a fictional recounting of what might be real history.
There are too many coincidences along the way to get the hero to the hotel...and coincidences are a weak story hook.
The main problem I have though is that if this is real history, how are we ever going to be free again?

I voted against us staying in the Common Market back in 1975 and to think now that it is the '4th Reich' makes me realize that those of us who voted 'No' in that Referendum were right.
I've only given it 1 star because of the writing, but really this story is the most important of our times.. the giving up of our freedom to the unelected bureaucrats of a corrupt system dedicated over the last 70 years to getting rid of democracy and creating a very subtle system of slave labour based on the 'free movement of peoples' within the EU, which means a lowering of living standards in all the countries of the EU and only enriches the organization itself, hiding behind it's opaque glass walls; it's unaccountable officials enriching themselves with their enormous pensions and expense account living, like the Gauleiters of old.

Adam Lebor should write the real history of this loathsome organisation.

[Tony Calder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adam LeBor has a keen interest in the financial side of the Third Reich - he has written some history books on the subject - and that interest is clearly on show in this novel. The novel is generally well-written, and the characters are believable. For the first two thirds of the book. The final third, however, is a different story. The plot starts to require more suspension of disbelief than I could give, and several of the characters start making decisions that are highly unlikely. And the final resolution is a pretty big deus ex machina. The appendices provided are quite interesting.

[Giuseppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premisses are interesting, but the book is poorly written with characters that aren't intriguing and unable to make the reader to be interested in them. The only thing worth is the accurate description of how Fascism has widespread in Central-East Europe post Communism and the corruption in those countries. Also the discrimination of Roma minorities is credible, but the EU as a Nazi creation is typical of the worst Brexiters propaganda. Germany has generate antibodies to nazi-fascism, that have contributed to the creation of the European Union.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

dark political thriller based in modern day hungary and based around a nazi plot to control europe by financial means after losing ww2 and this plan was devised in Budapest and when alex finds his grandfather has been murdered this is the journey in to the dark side of politics and people's hatred well worth reading

[Judie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read from a non-fiction writer. The book was very interesting as it is a combination of fact and fiction which I always enjoy. The locale, being Hungary, is different and immigration policies as well as the Roma populations are presently in the news throughout the EU. I'll definitely read more by Adam LeBor.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the first sentence on it's clear that this author usually writes non fiction. The style is dry and factual and doesn't read like a novel. This bothered me and made it unable for me to really get into the story.
The story is simple: there's a nazi plot to control Europe financially even after they've lost the war.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part Dan Brown style thriller, part financial history of the Third Reich, The Budapest Protocol fell between the cracks of both. It dragged a bit too much to be a gripping thriller, and muddied the waters too much between fact and fiction to be a solid study of Nazi politics and resurrection.

Worth a read but could have been better.

[Ola · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like "The Budapest Protocol" at all. I found it very naive and predictable, with "twists" that were far too obvious. Characters are not well developed, conversations between them are unnatural. The book is just one big, boring cliche.

[Jörn Dinkla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Germans are too stupid to found a company with an international name in a county other than germany? they can't. bribe a hungarian politician with a hungarian name, instead they bribe a guy called Sanzlerman? This book is so far from reality ...

[Glenn Altman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A frightening story

"If you can imagine it, someone is out there trying to do it."
That is what makes this book so scary. Taking the basic rights of citizens away for the purpose of increased power for the benefit of the few is hair raising.

[Tânia Girão · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story, that take us to a 1944 Budapest and Budapest from today, a political thriller that

Almost make us want to believe in conspiracy theories, mostly because it's somehow based in real facts.

[Vítor Gomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma ficção política aterradoramente credível e a jogar às escondidas com a Europa que temos. Recomendo

[Boris Feldman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish it.
He is a successful non-fiction author who does not possess the literary skills necessary to write a novel.