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The Shadows of War Collection #3
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A desperate hunt for a man who could turn the tide of the Second World War.As the Nazi hordes of Germany overrun France, devouring the free world with fascist fervour, the fate of the Allied resistance looks grim. But things might be about to change.
A young intelligence officer, James Woodyatt, is shipped across the Channel to find a First World War hero, an old man who may have been a spy and who may be in possession of Nazi secrets that could devastate their regime.
A scintillating romp through Occupied France from an author with direct experience of combat, perfect for fans of Alistair MacLean, Alexander Fullerton and Jack Higgins.
A young intelligence officer, James Woodyatt, is shipped across the Channel to find a First World War hero, an old man who may have been a spy and who may be in possession of Nazi secrets that could devastate their regime.
A scintillating romp through Occupied France from an author with direct experience of combat, perfect for fans of Alistair MacLean, Alexander Fullerton and Jack Higgins.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2022
12 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 8, 2022
I'm making my way through Max Hennessy's books. This one seems to be a one of. The premise is good but the ending was ultimately unsatisfying. It was also a bit slow, especially at the beginning and the romance seemed a bit forced.
Spoilers ahead.
British intelligence officer Woodyatt is sent to France to find an old British turncoat (Redmond) which had switched his allegiance between the British and Germans during WWI and the interwar years. Now that WW2 is coming up, Woodyatt's boss wants him to find and bring him back because he still might have information that's helpful (due to his friendship with important German figures in the military and science world).
It will not be easy since Redmond was supposed to have committed suicide many years ago and he's an old man now in his 80's. He's presumably living under the name of Montrouge. He starts his search in Metz where Redmond was heard of last. Luckily he finds Remond's niece (by marriage) who leads him to Montrouge in Paris.
Montrouge denies he is Remond and Woodyatt cannot be 100% sure since there were no definitive ways of ID'ing someone in the 1940's. Furthermore Montrouge does not really want to leave but the Phony War ends around that time and with the Germans approaching Paris, the choice is taken out of their hands.
The 3 of them (including the niece) force their way towards the coast with numerous other refugees just in front of the invading Germans. Meanwhile a group of assassins is on their heels and makes many attempts to kill Montrouge. Eventually they kill the assassins and make their way to Bordeaux and then on to England where Montrouge disappears.
I had high hopes for the plot. Unfortunately the author wasted a lot of ink on the intro and the set up of Redmond's pre-WW2 activities, which was much too long. The searching and finding of Montrouge was too short. The voyage to the coast, or the escape, was the meat of the story and seemed diminished due to the add-ons. There was a romantic factor(s), which seemed to gratuitous but seem to be de rigueur for books written at that time. The uncertainly of Montrouge's identity was actually quite well done. And the description of the alternating chaos and nonchalance of French civilians and soldiers alike fleeing from the Germans was also quite well done.
If the author had slashed the set-up by 2/3's and most of the romance, it would have been perfect. The ending was also seemed rushed. I'm sure the author meant the ending to be abrupt but it was the way it was written that made it seem rushed. Overall, not too bad but if I had my choice, I would have chosen not to read it.
Spoilers ahead.
British intelligence officer Woodyatt is sent to France to find an old British turncoat (Redmond) which had switched his allegiance between the British and Germans during WWI and the interwar years. Now that WW2 is coming up, Woodyatt's boss wants him to find and bring him back because he still might have information that's helpful (due to his friendship with important German figures in the military and science world).
It will not be easy since Redmond was supposed to have committed suicide many years ago and he's an old man now in his 80's. He's presumably living under the name of Montrouge. He starts his search in Metz where Redmond was heard of last. Luckily he finds Remond's niece (by marriage) who leads him to Montrouge in Paris.
Montrouge denies he is Remond and Woodyatt cannot be 100% sure since there were no definitive ways of ID'ing someone in the 1940's. Furthermore Montrouge does not really want to leave but the Phony War ends around that time and with the Germans approaching Paris, the choice is taken out of their hands.
The 3 of them (including the niece) force their way towards the coast with numerous other refugees just in front of the invading Germans. Meanwhile a group of assassins is on their heels and makes many attempts to kill Montrouge. Eventually they kill the assassins and make their way to Bordeaux and then on to England where Montrouge disappears.
I had high hopes for the plot. Unfortunately the author wasted a lot of ink on the intro and the set up of Redmond's pre-WW2 activities, which was much too long. The searching and finding of Montrouge was too short. The voyage to the coast, or the escape, was the meat of the story and seemed diminished due to the add-ons. There was a romantic factor(s), which seemed to gratuitous but seem to be de rigueur for books written at that time. The uncertainly of Montrouge's identity was actually quite well done. And the description of the alternating chaos and nonchalance of French civilians and soldiers alike fleeing from the Germans was also quite well done.
If the author had slashed the set-up by 2/3's and most of the romance, it would have been perfect. The ending was also seemed rushed. I'm sure the author meant the ending to be abrupt but it was the way it was written that made it seem rushed. Overall, not too bad but if I had my choice, I would have chosen not to read it.
February 15, 2024
Some of the novels that he has written have been good; this, however is not one of the good ones. The novel made me think of a tepid cup of tea made with a teabag that already been used once. This cup of
tepid tea is being consumed on a train stuck in a railway station that cannot move because it is raining too much. Please read only if you are really bored.
tepid tea is being consumed on a train stuck in a railway station that cannot move because it is raining too much. Please read only if you are really bored.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews