What do you think?
Rate this book
Martingale: New mission, same demons
She survived the mission. Now she must survive herself.
Fiona Laval was once one of the Special Operations Executive’s most daring agents—brilliant, unpredictable, and willing to walk into the jaws of the German war machine with nothing but a knife, a radio, and her own ferocious will. But France cost her more than London will ever know, and the aftermath has left her broken, drinking herself numb in the remote exile known only as The Cooler.
Trevor Jones, the man who trained her—and failed to protect her—refuses to let her disappear. Spiriting her away under false pretences, he begins a dangerous saving Fiona from the ghosts that stalk her dreams… and from the bottle that promises oblivion. But as withdrawal, guilt, and the spectre of her past close in, Fiona learns the she is needed again.
Because deep in occupied France, a legendary resistance leader known as Martingale—a man who trusts no one—is facing betrayal, collapse, and the threat of German reprisals that could cripple the Allied invasion. And Fiona Laval may be the only person he would ever believe because he is her father.
With D‑Day looming and London desperate, Fiona must confront the trauma she’s been running from, or let a mission that could change the course of the war burn to ash.
In a world where loyalty is fragile and survival is never guaranteed, Fiona must prove not only that she can return to the field—but that she deserves to.
Heart‑pounding, emotionally charged, and rich with the shadows and secrets of WWII espionage, Martingale is a story of redemption, betrayal, and the haunting cost of courage.
Fiona Laval was once one of the Special Operations Executive’s most daring agents—brilliant, unpredictable, and willing to walk into the jaws of the German war machine with nothing but a knife, a radio, and her own ferocious will. But France cost her more than London will ever know, and the aftermath has left her broken, drinking herself numb in the remote exile known only as The Cooler.
Trevor Jones, the man who trained her—and failed to protect her—refuses to let her disappear. Spiriting her away under false pretences, he begins a dangerous saving Fiona from the ghosts that stalk her dreams… and from the bottle that promises oblivion. But as withdrawal, guilt, and the spectre of her past close in, Fiona learns the she is needed again.
Because deep in occupied France, a legendary resistance leader known as Martingale—a man who trusts no one—is facing betrayal, collapse, and the threat of German reprisals that could cripple the Allied invasion. And Fiona Laval may be the only person he would ever believe because he is her father.
With D‑Day looming and London desperate, Fiona must confront the trauma she’s been running from, or let a mission that could change the course of the war burn to ash.
In a world where loyalty is fragile and survival is never guaranteed, Fiona must prove not only that she can return to the field—but that she deserves to.
Heart‑pounding, emotionally charged, and rich with the shadows and secrets of WWII espionage, Martingale is a story of redemption, betrayal, and the haunting cost of courage.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2026
About the author
Malcolm Havard
43 books19 followersMalcolm started writing fiction around 10 years ago, self-publishing three novels through Amazon including a mountaineering thriller, The Last Mountain, which has had more than 10,000 downloads. He also has two books published by a small publisher, including a collection of WW1 stories which topped the Amazon anthology best-sellers list at Christmas 2014.
His short stories have done well in a number of competitions, including runner-up placings for those run by Henshaw Press and the Mere Literary Festival.
Having written in several genres early in his career, Malcolm has now settled into writing historical fiction.
This includes LMF, a WW2 novel set during the RAFs controversial night bombing campaign, Leviathan, a novella about a young, frightened pilot hunting Zeppelins in the night during WW1, The Neutral Zone, a collection of short stories, and Eleven Days, a novel set around the events of 'Bloody April'. 1917.
LATEST NEWS!
The long-awaited sequel to LMF, The Way Back, is published 15 March 2021.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 4, 2026
Inverlair Lodge, a Scottish country house, was nicknamed “the Cooler”. Fiona Laval, an unconventional, brilliant Special Operations Executive (SOE) was sent there …”A prisoner of her own success. Not a prisoner of war. A prisoner because of war.” Against all odds, she had fulfilled her mission but was haunted by demonic dreams. “Fiona was unkempt, bleary-eyed. Drunk.” Trevor Jones, her former trainer, had an unofficial plan to skirt regulations and pull Fiona up by her bootstraps. Would his smoke and mirrors approach work?
First things first. Trevor arranged for Fiona to be transferred to his command at Wadden Hall under the pretext that she was being prepped for a new mission. He refused to give up on her. Her prior mission to France and chilling, scary extraction had taken its toll and left her broken. Knowledge gained from the mission demanded that she be squirreled away since she knew codes and secrets. It was unlikely that she would be called upon for a subsequent drop into France.
A new mission to be led by the legendary “Martingale” was set. The task: cut railways, block troop movement. “..if those lines stay open, Jerry’ll move armour east before half our lads are off the beaches” on D-Day. Martingale, however, had been compromised. “No arms, no codes, no coordination. We need facts, and quickly.” The directive from the Baker Street Command Center: “Find me someone with history in the region…someone we can afford to lose.”
Who was Martingale? “Alsatian by birth, gambler by instinct, loyal to nobody except whatever conscience he claimed to keep in his waistcoat.” He controlled the Orne Valley routes…”the only man in the region (of Argentan) with the manpower to hit the Germans where it matters. The rail lines through Argentan must be cut before the allied invasion. Martingale has refused all contact with our agents.”
“France was fracturing. And they were about to drop one (woman) into the heart of Argentan…She understood why she’d been chosen-not just for her skills, but for her blood.” Elise Schneider…wireless operator…courier. Fiona Laval must operate under her new forged identity, carrying clothing of French manufacture, no British maker’s marks and a copy of Les Miserables to read on the train. “Your mind must be your only suitcase.” Elise Schneider was a shy, nervous textile worker who travelled to Argentan to live with her “aunt” after fighting with her parents over her choice of boyfriend. What she didn’t count on was her “aunt’s” safe house being decimated when Argentan was bombed. Chef de Centaine Lucien Morel of the Milice police offered assistance and suspicion in equal measure. It seemed illogical that a girl who was safe in Alsace would seek employment in bombed out Argentan.
“Fiona wasn't sure what frightened her more; failing…or succeeding.” She must protect her radio transmitter at all costs. Coded messages must be sent after finding Martingale and assessing his movements She feared that her nightmares might bubble up at any time and blow her cover while outwardly appearing to be calm, cool and collective. Trevor Jones had a vested interest in Fiona's safety. He continued to be responsible and support her efforts, even from afar, at great cost to his military career. It did not go unnoticed.
From the get-go, author Malcolm Havard cranked up the tension. “Martingale: New Mission, Same Demon” is every bit as thrilling and filled with suspense as Fiona’s initial undertaking in Book 1- “The Gambler’s Daughter”. Fiona’s spunk, resilience and believable flawed persona kept this reader invested in this wonderful read.
Highly recommended.
Thank you Malcolm Havard for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
First things first. Trevor arranged for Fiona to be transferred to his command at Wadden Hall under the pretext that she was being prepped for a new mission. He refused to give up on her. Her prior mission to France and chilling, scary extraction had taken its toll and left her broken. Knowledge gained from the mission demanded that she be squirreled away since she knew codes and secrets. It was unlikely that she would be called upon for a subsequent drop into France.
A new mission to be led by the legendary “Martingale” was set. The task: cut railways, block troop movement. “..if those lines stay open, Jerry’ll move armour east before half our lads are off the beaches” on D-Day. Martingale, however, had been compromised. “No arms, no codes, no coordination. We need facts, and quickly.” The directive from the Baker Street Command Center: “Find me someone with history in the region…someone we can afford to lose.”
Who was Martingale? “Alsatian by birth, gambler by instinct, loyal to nobody except whatever conscience he claimed to keep in his waistcoat.” He controlled the Orne Valley routes…”the only man in the region (of Argentan) with the manpower to hit the Germans where it matters. The rail lines through Argentan must be cut before the allied invasion. Martingale has refused all contact with our agents.”
“France was fracturing. And they were about to drop one (woman) into the heart of Argentan…She understood why she’d been chosen-not just for her skills, but for her blood.” Elise Schneider…wireless operator…courier. Fiona Laval must operate under her new forged identity, carrying clothing of French manufacture, no British maker’s marks and a copy of Les Miserables to read on the train. “Your mind must be your only suitcase.” Elise Schneider was a shy, nervous textile worker who travelled to Argentan to live with her “aunt” after fighting with her parents over her choice of boyfriend. What she didn’t count on was her “aunt’s” safe house being decimated when Argentan was bombed. Chef de Centaine Lucien Morel of the Milice police offered assistance and suspicion in equal measure. It seemed illogical that a girl who was safe in Alsace would seek employment in bombed out Argentan.
“Fiona wasn't sure what frightened her more; failing…or succeeding.” She must protect her radio transmitter at all costs. Coded messages must be sent after finding Martingale and assessing his movements She feared that her nightmares might bubble up at any time and blow her cover while outwardly appearing to be calm, cool and collective. Trevor Jones had a vested interest in Fiona's safety. He continued to be responsible and support her efforts, even from afar, at great cost to his military career. It did not go unnoticed.
From the get-go, author Malcolm Havard cranked up the tension. “Martingale: New Mission, Same Demon” is every bit as thrilling and filled with suspense as Fiona’s initial undertaking in Book 1- “The Gambler’s Daughter”. Fiona’s spunk, resilience and believable flawed persona kept this reader invested in this wonderful read.
Highly recommended.
Thank you Malcolm Havard for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
It was interesting to read this book in the wake of fears of a possible world war three because the book is a stark reminder of the darkness that war drags everyone into.
The story follows the actions of a female agent who is right out of one mission and how she lands back in the middle of a war which had already taken so much from her.
The author focuses on the drastic emotional, physical and psychological impact the war can have on individuals and how our humanity is tested over and over again.
In the midst of all the horror, love finds a way to blossom, giving us hope that not all is lost. We see romantic, platonic and filial relationships being the saving grace for the characters.
The writer makes use of very rich imagery to deliver the dark actions and pointlessness of war. He contrasts the humanity and fragility of the main character with the mechanical and stiffness of others who embody the inhumanity of a war that uses and discards people at will.
I loved reading the book and would wish to follow up on others in the same series. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to reflect more on the effects of war on an individual and anyone who wants to still harbour faith in our collective humanity.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story follows the actions of a female agent who is right out of one mission and how she lands back in the middle of a war which had already taken so much from her.
The author focuses on the drastic emotional, physical and psychological impact the war can have on individuals and how our humanity is tested over and over again.
In the midst of all the horror, love finds a way to blossom, giving us hope that not all is lost. We see romantic, platonic and filial relationships being the saving grace for the characters.
The writer makes use of very rich imagery to deliver the dark actions and pointlessness of war. He contrasts the humanity and fragility of the main character with the mechanical and stiffness of others who embody the inhumanity of a war that uses and discards people at will.
I loved reading the book and would wish to follow up on others in the same series. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to reflect more on the effects of war on an individual and anyone who wants to still harbour faith in our collective humanity.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
First review of the book, yaay!
The second installment of Fiona Laval's spy games was a good continuation of the original book, The Gambler's Daughter. I thank Book Sirens for lending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review of this ARC, so I write as I promised.
As a standalone story, this book would not have been as interesting to me. The climax in the preceding book compelled me to find out what happened next to Fiona's character. Some moments in the story are gripping, especially the father-daughter reunion, as they discover they are exactly poles apart in their approach to helping free France. That part was really interesting to me.
For the most part I found the book simply dragging on with uninteresting background details and updates being shared without making good progress in the plot. At the end of reading both books, I feel I haven't traveled much as I would in other WW2 spy universes. Maybe I had too many expectations at the onset of reading both the books, and I came out weary in the end, because the pace never really picked up, except in some of the really intense scenes.
The second installment of Fiona Laval's spy games was a good continuation of the original book, The Gambler's Daughter. I thank Book Sirens for lending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review of this ARC, so I write as I promised.
As a standalone story, this book would not have been as interesting to me. The climax in the preceding book compelled me to find out what happened next to Fiona's character. Some moments in the story are gripping, especially the father-daughter reunion, as they discover they are exactly poles apart in their approach to helping free France. That part was really interesting to me.
For the most part I found the book simply dragging on with uninteresting background details and updates being shared without making good progress in the plot. At the end of reading both books, I feel I haven't traveled much as I would in other WW2 spy universes. Maybe I had too many expectations at the onset of reading both the books, and I came out weary in the end, because the pace never really picked up, except in some of the really intense scenes.
May 13, 2026
The second in the Gambler's Daughter series, I very much enjoyed "Martingale". Having got to know Fiona and her escapades in the first instalment, we continue to follow her in her personal challenges after she returns from Europe, and the continuation of her role as a spy nearing the conclusion of WWII. A great read, sometimes a little confronting as it reminds us of the many horrors that were endured by allies in their efforts to defeat Hitler and the Gestapo's evil - I definitely recommend reading the first "The Gambler's Daughter" first as it gives more depth and background to Fiona - I do hope we haven't heard the last from her. Thanks to BookSirens and the author for an advanced copy, which I am delighted to review voluntarily.
July 12, 2026
Another great one by Malcolm! Fiona once again is on a mission and it doesn't disappoint. I feel like the second book is better than the first. It was at a slower pace and added to the buildup at the end. However, the end was a bit of a cliffhanger and that annoyed me. But I am the kind of person who hates them, so there's that.
July 23, 2026
Being a spy for the resistance in WWII France can go one of two ways - one is “turned”, becoming part of the opposition, or one is caught and that doesn’t bear thinking of. I confess that I chewed a couple of finger nails. 4.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Author
I felt like I couldn't put this book down. Had me wanting more after I finished it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews