Get Wallace!

Wallace of the Secret Service #4

by Alexander Wilson

Sir Leonard Wallace, the famous chief of the Secret Service, finds that the peace of Europe is threatened by a gang engaged in the theft and sale of national secrets. Wallace gets busy, and is assisted by the gang leader's own fear of him and his anxiety to get the Englishman into his power. Wallace's investigations, his startling discoveries and his escapes from death make this one of the most exciting books ever written by Alexander Wilson.

Genres: Thriller

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1934

About the author

Alexander Wilson was an English writer, spy and MI6 officer.

Under his own name and the pseudonyms of Geoffrey Spencer, Gregory Wilson, and Michael Chesney, he penned 24 novels between 1928 and 1940. He wrote a further four unpublished novels and his last spy short story was published in a Faber & Faber collection My Best Spy Story in 1955.

Wilson was a bigamist; only after his death was it discovered that he had four wives, six sons, and one daughter. The 2018 miniseries Mrs Wilson tells the story from the point of view of his third wife, Alison (portrayed by Alexander and Alison's granddaughter: Ruth Wilson).

Librarian note: There are several authors with the name Alexander Wilson

Reviews

[Linda Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

France, Germany, Russia and England have received an offer. 200 million of their currency for copies of secret defence papers from the other countries. Several of the letters have been posted in Sheerness. As the shock reverberates around the halls of power, Sir Leonard Wallace disembarks from a ship at Southampton and is shot at. His son shouts a warning just in time. Cousins is sent to Sheerness to see what he can find out, but meets Shannon at Sittingbourne railway station and then disappears. Will Sir Leonard find the mastermind behind this dastardly plan and again save his country from ruin?
Another wonderful outing for the Secret Service team. It is written in the 1940s hence the language and the rather 'Boys Own' feel, but it's great fun.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The link between John Buchan and Ian Fleming. Published in 1934 it tells a ripping yarn of a man who wants to become dictator of Europe, not by military conquest but by political and financial machinations. Jingoistic at times, archaically charming at others, it is most enjoyable as a trip back to the interbellum period in Britain.