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Blood Vengeance: Perfect for fans of Bernie Gunther and Blackout
Britain's wartime alliances hinge on the outcome of Kalisz's next case…
Christmas Day 1943, Arisaig, Scotland. The body of beautiful, well-connected Polish SOE agent Krystina Kowolska is found in the gardens of the country house where she's been preparing for a vital mission to France. The question is, was she already dead when she was hanged?
Two days later, resistance double agent, Investigator Jan Kalisz of the Warsaw Kripo is flown to Britain where Winston Churchill himself tasks him with finding Krystina's killer, before the cracks in Britain's alliance with Poland become fractures.
Yet Arisaig is a place of secrets where everyone is a trained killer, and Kalisz discovers that Krystina had her demons – and her enemies. Was she the hero her record suggests or the traitor the whispers hint at?
The gripping third instalment in the Warsaw Quartet by Douglas Jackson, perfect for readers of Chris Lloyd and Simon Scarrow. Praise for Blood Roses, book one of the Warsaw Quartet
'A compelling, evocative story of evil stalking amidst the chaos of war' Giles Kristian
'A dark, twisting thriller ... Jan Kalisz, Douglas Jackson's police officer hero, is the natural heir to the late Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther' Andrew Taylor
'A remarkable crime debut … What raises the novel to another level is in the atmospheric evocation of a city in the process of being systematically obliterated by the Germans and brought to life again by Jackson's pen … Gripping stuff, a series that could develop into something impressive and a goldmine for Philip Kerr Bernie Gunther fans' Maxim Jakubowski, Crime Time
'Immensely powerful and vivid .... This is historical crime fiction at its best' Chris Lloyd
'The writing is scalpel-sharp, the unrelenting savagery of the Nazi occupation vividly painted… With this book, Jackson will rightfully be regarded as one of the UK's finest crime writers' Ben Kane
'A taut, tense thriller… Gutsy and gripping, this is perfect for fans of Chris Lloyd and Robert Harris' D. V. Bishop
'Jackson has created a brilliant mash-up of WW2 thriller and a serial killer chiller, and in so doing brings a fresh perspective to both. Sharp, intelligent writing that makes for a compelling read' Alison Belsham
'Jan Kalisz is a dazzling addition to the canon of compromised heroes... A thrilling wartime adventure story' Russ Thomas
'Jackson brings the tension, brutality and paranoia of Warsaw of the period into murderous life. A knife-edge thriller' Douglas Skelton
'A dark story set against dark times, you practically need a torch to read it' Alec Marsh, author of Rule Britannia
'Jackson has written an utterly compelling novel ... A remarkable piece of work, a fine piece of craftsmanship' Scotsman
Christmas Day 1943, Arisaig, Scotland. The body of beautiful, well-connected Polish SOE agent Krystina Kowolska is found in the gardens of the country house where she's been preparing for a vital mission to France. The question is, was she already dead when she was hanged?
Two days later, resistance double agent, Investigator Jan Kalisz of the Warsaw Kripo is flown to Britain where Winston Churchill himself tasks him with finding Krystina's killer, before the cracks in Britain's alliance with Poland become fractures.
Yet Arisaig is a place of secrets where everyone is a trained killer, and Kalisz discovers that Krystina had her demons – and her enemies. Was she the hero her record suggests or the traitor the whispers hint at?
The gripping third instalment in the Warsaw Quartet by Douglas Jackson, perfect for readers of Chris Lloyd and Simon Scarrow. Praise for Blood Roses, book one of the Warsaw Quartet
'A compelling, evocative story of evil stalking amidst the chaos of war' Giles Kristian
'A dark, twisting thriller ... Jan Kalisz, Douglas Jackson's police officer hero, is the natural heir to the late Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther' Andrew Taylor
'A remarkable crime debut … What raises the novel to another level is in the atmospheric evocation of a city in the process of being systematically obliterated by the Germans and brought to life again by Jackson's pen … Gripping stuff, a series that could develop into something impressive and a goldmine for Philip Kerr Bernie Gunther fans' Maxim Jakubowski, Crime Time
'Immensely powerful and vivid .... This is historical crime fiction at its best' Chris Lloyd
'The writing is scalpel-sharp, the unrelenting savagery of the Nazi occupation vividly painted… With this book, Jackson will rightfully be regarded as one of the UK's finest crime writers' Ben Kane
'A taut, tense thriller… Gutsy and gripping, this is perfect for fans of Chris Lloyd and Robert Harris' D. V. Bishop
'Jackson has created a brilliant mash-up of WW2 thriller and a serial killer chiller, and in so doing brings a fresh perspective to both. Sharp, intelligent writing that makes for a compelling read' Alison Belsham
'Jan Kalisz is a dazzling addition to the canon of compromised heroes... A thrilling wartime adventure story' Russ Thomas
'Jackson brings the tension, brutality and paranoia of Warsaw of the period into murderous life. A knife-edge thriller' Douglas Skelton
'A dark story set against dark times, you practically need a torch to read it' Alec Marsh, author of Rule Britannia
'Jackson has written an utterly compelling novel ... A remarkable piece of work, a fine piece of craftsmanship' Scotsman
320 pages, Hardcover
Published August 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 1, 2026
**Read 4.75 STARS!**
This very entertaining historical crime novel is the 3rd volume of the wonderful "Warsaw Quartet", featuring "Investigator Jan Kalisz" from Warsaw, Poland.
At the start of the book you'll find a poem by Leo marks, SOE Cryptographer, and a very informative Glossary.
At the end of the book you'll notice useful historical info concerning this piece of history about the SOE and the place called Arisaig in Scotland.
The author's storytelling is great, all (fictional) characters come splendidly to life in this tale about WWII, the SOE's secret fighting techniques and its about revenge, while the place Arisaig and its surroundings facilities are superbly pictured and described.
In this case Investigator Jan Kalisz is brought in clandestinely from Poland to England to serve PM Winston Churchill in a delicate political matter, concerning the death of Polish SOE agent Krystina Kowolska, and to find and deal with the culprit for this killing if ever possible.
While is Arisaig, Jan Kalisz will encounter dark secrets and killers who are protecting their own interests, and from various corners Jan Kalisz will be threatened with death, but eventually and with the help along the way from the influential WAAF Flight Officer Devereux, they will be able to find the perpetrator and the reason behind the killings, Krystina Kowolska was not the only one, but can do nothing, until a fatal accident will end this adventure very satisfactorily for several parties concerned.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition to this very enjoyable and educational quartet of books, and that's why I like to call this 3rd episode: "A Thrilling Deadly Agent"!
This very entertaining historical crime novel is the 3rd volume of the wonderful "Warsaw Quartet", featuring "Investigator Jan Kalisz" from Warsaw, Poland.
At the start of the book you'll find a poem by Leo marks, SOE Cryptographer, and a very informative Glossary.
At the end of the book you'll notice useful historical info concerning this piece of history about the SOE and the place called Arisaig in Scotland.
The author's storytelling is great, all (fictional) characters come splendidly to life in this tale about WWII, the SOE's secret fighting techniques and its about revenge, while the place Arisaig and its surroundings facilities are superbly pictured and described.
In this case Investigator Jan Kalisz is brought in clandestinely from Poland to England to serve PM Winston Churchill in a delicate political matter, concerning the death of Polish SOE agent Krystina Kowolska, and to find and deal with the culprit for this killing if ever possible.
While is Arisaig, Jan Kalisz will encounter dark secrets and killers who are protecting their own interests, and from various corners Jan Kalisz will be threatened with death, but eventually and with the help along the way from the influential WAAF Flight Officer Devereux, they will be able to find the perpetrator and the reason behind the killings, Krystina Kowolska was not the only one, but can do nothing, until a fatal accident will end this adventure very satisfactorily for several parties concerned.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition to this very enjoyable and educational quartet of books, and that's why I like to call this 3rd episode: "A Thrilling Deadly Agent"!
March 2, 2026
I have enjoyed many by this author who impressively writes engaging books in different eras from the ancient world to the 'warsaw quartet'.
March 26, 2026
Enjoyable. But frustrated that it was set in Scotland and not occupied Poland.
Read
April 16, 2026Improved towards the end but very difficult to keep track of the large number of characters and different plots.
April 22, 2026
I've read all three in the series now and would recommend them to all those fans of Seymour, Le Carre' etc. I found it difficult to put down, and couldn't wait to pick it u up again.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews