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Roger Brook #5
The Dark Secret of Josephine
Aug 1794 - Apr 1796Roger Brook – Prime Minister Pitt's most daring and resourceful secret agent – had sailed for the West Indies with a party that included three beautiful women. His pleasure. But the Caribbean, blue seas, lush tropical islands and palm-shaded beaches, was infested with pirates. The slaves of the 'Sugar islands' were in revolt. All this Roger Brook encountered. But also he uncovered a mysterious episode in the early life of the Empress Josephine – a mystery that had its effect on the Parisian intrigues that led to Napoleon receiving his first great the Army of Italy. A mystery that tied together many strange scenes and unlikely events.
589 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 16, 1955
4 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Wheatley
381 books248 followersDennis Yates Wheatley (8 January 1897 – 10 November 1977) [Born: Dennis Yeats Wheatley] was an English author. His prolific output of stylish thrillers and occult novels made him one of the world's best-selling authors in the 1950s and 1960s.
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 22, 2023
The first half of the book is one of the best pirate stories ever! A former British spy and his friends get caught up in rough seas, ship battles, betrayals, island seiges and avoiding crocodiles. In the second half of this massive book the spy takes charge of an island where he and his friends stay for a while before the spy, Roger is called back into service for the British prime minister. He travels to France after the great terror is over and interacts with many people while trying to establish himself into their society. While also becoming close friends with a young man called Napoleon
It is written so well and the tale flows along non stop. The fight on the island is quite brutal. And there are moments of high tension such as Roger and his escape from the building while being the bad guys close in on him
Loved it
It is written so well and the tale flows along non stop. The fight on the island is quite brutal. And there are moments of high tension such as Roger and his escape from the building while being the bad guys close in on him
Loved it
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October 20, 2021Set in later stages of the French Revolution, British secret agent Roger Brook is once again working for the indefatigable William Pitt, Prime Mister of Britain, against the French. However Brook's previous adventures during the Terror have left him badly battle-fatigued and mentally exhausted. Pitt wants his star agent to return to France but Brook refuses. In order to restore Brook to health, Pitt grants him a lucrative Governorship of Guadaloupe in the West Indies. It is intended to be both a reward and a sinecure.
Brook sets sail with his wife and close companions. However upon reaching the West Indies, they are seized by pirates before they can make land. In captivity their life becomes a living hell. Their attempt to escape ends with them being recaptured by the famous Haitian rebel general, Toussaint L'Overture.
This is old school-story telling by Wheatley, who surely knows how to spin a tale, dense historically accurate chapters tossing Brook from one thrilling calamity to another. It works so well because Brook is a beautifully-written character. No superman but a quick-thinking courageous patriot, Brook is capable of self-doubt, makes mistakes and is injured to the point of death. By the end of the story, you have a picture of an admirable, flawed man who does his duty, regardless of danger.
When Brook finally returns to England, the war with France has taken a turn for the worse. Pitt, knowing that Brook's cover as a member of the revolutionary elite is intact, manipulates him into returning to Paris as Britain's most capable spy. Wheatley weaves a number of plots, betrayals and evil revolutionary leaders into a web of deadly danger. The writing is fulsome but lucid, it repays attentive reading. In Paris, Brook encounters Napoleon for the first time. At this time Napoleon is a poor but arrogant upstart, a commander of artillery. Then Brook discovers the Dark Secret of Josephine.
A big story and a satisfying read. I now look forward to reading other novels in the Roger Brook series.
Brook sets sail with his wife and close companions. However upon reaching the West Indies, they are seized by pirates before they can make land. In captivity their life becomes a living hell. Their attempt to escape ends with them being recaptured by the famous Haitian rebel general, Toussaint L'Overture.
This is old school-story telling by Wheatley, who surely knows how to spin a tale, dense historically accurate chapters tossing Brook from one thrilling calamity to another. It works so well because Brook is a beautifully-written character. No superman but a quick-thinking courageous patriot, Brook is capable of self-doubt, makes mistakes and is injured to the point of death. By the end of the story, you have a picture of an admirable, flawed man who does his duty, regardless of danger.
When Brook finally returns to England, the war with France has taken a turn for the worse. Pitt, knowing that Brook's cover as a member of the revolutionary elite is intact, manipulates him into returning to Paris as Britain's most capable spy. Wheatley weaves a number of plots, betrayals and evil revolutionary leaders into a web of deadly danger. The writing is fulsome but lucid, it repays attentive reading. In Paris, Brook encounters Napoleon for the first time. At this time Napoleon is a poor but arrogant upstart, a commander of artillery. Then Brook discovers the Dark Secret of Josephine.
A big story and a satisfying read. I now look forward to reading other novels in the Roger Brook series.
February 24, 2017
As good as ever..
June 5, 2020
Piratas y Revolución Francesa. Debería ser entretenido, pero se me hizo pesado.
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February 10, 2022Not as good as The Man Who Killed the King, but still works wonderfully as a slice of effortless escapism.
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February 2, 2024The Fifth in the Roger Book series.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews