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Dying Days
Award-winning writer delivers a pulse-pounding espionage thriller. Missing soldiers, MI6 secrets and European partisans collide in a deadly game where the lines between lies and reality are fast disintegrating.
In the dying days of the Second World War, a new conflict is about to ignite.
May, 1945: After fighting to liberate Europe from the Nazis, Tito's Yugoslav Army and Allied forces have come to a tense standoff in the city of Trieste. Every day, locals with fascist and Nazi ties are disappearing, arrested by Yugoslav soldiers. Meanwhile the Allies watch on, reluctant to become mired in yet another conflict.
But when rumours circulate that New Zealand soldiers are among the missing, the stakes begin to rise.
A British MI6 agent and a New Zealand intelligence officer must uncover the truth behind the rumours. But the schisms in the city are becoming harder to cross, and one wealthy family keeps getting in their way. In a mission where moral lines are hopelessly blurred and violence is a necessity, deciding whether they can trust their sources – or even one another – becomes a matter of life and death.
‘An intriguing plot, complex characters you want to journey alongside and a mystery whose unravelling keeps you glued to the page. A fascinating window into the twilight years of World War II.’ DANNY BEN-MOSHE
‘Tense and atmospheric ... Dying Days reminded me of some of the best of Alan Furst’s novels, where the focus shifts from the great sweep of armies and bombing campaigns to the individuals on the streets and in the intelligence services. It has a complex plot and is set in a complex time, but Byrt handles it with ease, gently leading the reader to the edge of the limestone hole to reveal the awful truth, that in the aftermath of war ideas take a long time to die, compromises must be made, and the winners quickly lose their heroic lustre.’ PIP FIORETTI, author of Skull River and Bone Lands
‘Incredibly well written, with compelling characters brilliantly centred in time and place. A wonderful retelling of an interesting and still-relevant period of history.’ HEATHER MORRIS, author of international bestselling The Tattooist of Auschwitz
‘A spine-tingling thriller ... as vivid as a spy novel yet as unnerving as a fairy tale made real.’ CATHERINE CHIDGEY, author of Commonwealth Writers' Prize winner The Book of Guilt
In the dying days of the Second World War, a new conflict is about to ignite.
May, 1945: After fighting to liberate Europe from the Nazis, Tito's Yugoslav Army and Allied forces have come to a tense standoff in the city of Trieste. Every day, locals with fascist and Nazi ties are disappearing, arrested by Yugoslav soldiers. Meanwhile the Allies watch on, reluctant to become mired in yet another conflict.
But when rumours circulate that New Zealand soldiers are among the missing, the stakes begin to rise.
A British MI6 agent and a New Zealand intelligence officer must uncover the truth behind the rumours. But the schisms in the city are becoming harder to cross, and one wealthy family keeps getting in their way. In a mission where moral lines are hopelessly blurred and violence is a necessity, deciding whether they can trust their sources – or even one another – becomes a matter of life and death.
‘An intriguing plot, complex characters you want to journey alongside and a mystery whose unravelling keeps you glued to the page. A fascinating window into the twilight years of World War II.’ DANNY BEN-MOSHE
‘Tense and atmospheric ... Dying Days reminded me of some of the best of Alan Furst’s novels, where the focus shifts from the great sweep of armies and bombing campaigns to the individuals on the streets and in the intelligence services. It has a complex plot and is set in a complex time, but Byrt handles it with ease, gently leading the reader to the edge of the limestone hole to reveal the awful truth, that in the aftermath of war ideas take a long time to die, compromises must be made, and the winners quickly lose their heroic lustre.’ PIP FIORETTI, author of Skull River and Bone Lands
‘Incredibly well written, with compelling characters brilliantly centred in time and place. A wonderful retelling of an interesting and still-relevant period of history.’ HEATHER MORRIS, author of international bestselling The Tattooist of Auschwitz
‘A spine-tingling thriller ... as vivid as a spy novel yet as unnerving as a fairy tale made real.’ CATHERINE CHIDGEY, author of Commonwealth Writers' Prize winner The Book of Guilt
303 pages, Paperback
Published July 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 29, 2026
I found this to be a really interesting concept - a spy thriller combined with historical fiction, with the fictional story being based on a real period of conflict following WWII.
I thought the story was well written, the politics within the story were great and the contrast between the main characters was interesting to read. The story keeps you suspicious of the characters’ motives throughout, and does a great job of portraying the ongoing chaos even after the war is officially over.
I prefer my thrillers with a bit more action (personal preference) so the story didn’t hook me as much as I would have liked, and I would have enjoyed seeing a bit more of the characters personalities so that I could connect with them in the story more.
I’d recommend this story to anyone with an interest in war history, that enjoys a thriller with lots of political intrigue.
I thought the story was well written, the politics within the story were great and the contrast between the main characters was interesting to read. The story keeps you suspicious of the characters’ motives throughout, and does a great job of portraying the ongoing chaos even after the war is officially over.
I prefer my thrillers with a bit more action (personal preference) so the story didn’t hook me as much as I would have liked, and I would have enjoyed seeing a bit more of the characters personalities so that I could connect with them in the story more.
I’d recommend this story to anyone with an interest in war history, that enjoys a thriller with lots of political intrigue.
August 25, 2026
New Zealand author Anthony Byrt takes readers to what is seen by some historians as the first real conflict of the cold war. Set in the Italian coastal city of Trieste at the end of World War 2, Dying Days explores a period known as the “Forty days of Trieste”. This was the period after the German’s left the city and following its occupation by Yugoslav troops loyal to Tito on 1 May 1945. Tito was seeking to annex the city to Yugoslavia. A few days later New Zealand troops entered the city followed soon after by the British and Americans and the stand-off began. Byrt uses this milieu as the background for an effective thriller.
Dying Days opens with a discussion and scotching of the rumour that some New Zealand soldiers went missing during those forty days. The narrative then takes readers back to that time and in particular two characters – Alex Madigan, an MI6 officer who had been living undercover in Trieste through the final year of the war, and Captain Mark Donnelly, a New Zealand intelligence officer. The pair as asked to investigate the disappearance of two young women, daughters of a wealthy local family who had been at a dance with New Zealand officers a few nights before. Soon they are also investigating the disappearance of four New Zealand soldiers.
Byrt does a great job in this book of bringing to life a city teetering on the edge of chaos. The city was under Nazi control during the war and there were plenty of Italian locals who supported them. While the Nazis have fled but the Yugoslav soldiers are rounding up and killing those who they believe were collaborators. Meanwhile the allied troops are trying to restore order while tensions rise with the Soviet backed Yugoslavs. While talks are ongoing to resolve the future of the city, the possible capture of allied troops could be enough to ignite a new conflict. The plot allows Byrt’s characters to range across Trieste – from the wealthiest enclaves, to the port, to the seedy bars and then out into the even more dangerous countryside around the city where the militias roam.
Into the mix Byrt drops two very different characters. Madigan has been living in the grey for a long time. He has a lover who is the wife of a local banker, and he does not play by the rules. He is partnered with Donnelly who is more of a straight-laced soldier. Donnelly is unfamiliar and uncomfortable with the complexities that Madigan has dragged him into. But he is determined to ensure that they find his missing troops. Which just serves to make the two a great investigative team.
Dying Days is a compelling espionage thriller that does not provide any easy answers to the questions that it poses. Byrt draws on real people and real situations to shine a light on a fascinating city and a short but significant passage of time in the closing months of World War 2.
Dying Days opens with a discussion and scotching of the rumour that some New Zealand soldiers went missing during those forty days. The narrative then takes readers back to that time and in particular two characters – Alex Madigan, an MI6 officer who had been living undercover in Trieste through the final year of the war, and Captain Mark Donnelly, a New Zealand intelligence officer. The pair as asked to investigate the disappearance of two young women, daughters of a wealthy local family who had been at a dance with New Zealand officers a few nights before. Soon they are also investigating the disappearance of four New Zealand soldiers.
Byrt does a great job in this book of bringing to life a city teetering on the edge of chaos. The city was under Nazi control during the war and there were plenty of Italian locals who supported them. While the Nazis have fled but the Yugoslav soldiers are rounding up and killing those who they believe were collaborators. Meanwhile the allied troops are trying to restore order while tensions rise with the Soviet backed Yugoslavs. While talks are ongoing to resolve the future of the city, the possible capture of allied troops could be enough to ignite a new conflict. The plot allows Byrt’s characters to range across Trieste – from the wealthiest enclaves, to the port, to the seedy bars and then out into the even more dangerous countryside around the city where the militias roam.
Into the mix Byrt drops two very different characters. Madigan has been living in the grey for a long time. He has a lover who is the wife of a local banker, and he does not play by the rules. He is partnered with Donnelly who is more of a straight-laced soldier. Donnelly is unfamiliar and uncomfortable with the complexities that Madigan has dragged him into. But he is determined to ensure that they find his missing troops. Which just serves to make the two a great investigative team.
Dying Days is a compelling espionage thriller that does not provide any easy answers to the questions that it poses. Byrt draws on real people and real situations to shine a light on a fascinating city and a short but significant passage of time in the closing months of World War 2.
September 11, 2026
Exploring what is said by some to have been the start of the cold war, this intriguing espionage thriller is a fictional story set against real events which occurred in Trieste in mid 1945. Several New Zealand soldiers were said to have gone missing from the city and British and NZ intelligence officers were brought in to investigate.
I've read few espionage thrillers so am new to this sub-genre. This book depicts Trieste as a city in turmoil, with everyone on high alert. It's an engaging and entertaining read, weaving historical fiction with elements of an espionage thriller. The two agents working together on the investigation are complementary opposites - Madigan is dark to Donnelly's light. He's a man of mystery, an agent with information at his fingertips and an ability to remain in the shadows. The factions within the city vying for control are fascinating and give great insight into the chaotic and frightening political turmoil of the time.
Thank you @simonschusterau for a gifted copy of this book to read and review.
I've read few espionage thrillers so am new to this sub-genre. This book depicts Trieste as a city in turmoil, with everyone on high alert. It's an engaging and entertaining read, weaving historical fiction with elements of an espionage thriller. The two agents working together on the investigation are complementary opposites - Madigan is dark to Donnelly's light. He's a man of mystery, an agent with information at his fingertips and an ability to remain in the shadows. The factions within the city vying for control are fascinating and give great insight into the chaotic and frightening political turmoil of the time.
Thank you @simonschusterau for a gifted copy of this book to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An entertaining spy thriller. The first spy thriller I've read involving New Zealanders.
We're at the end of the second World War. Rumours emerge that New Zealand soldiers have gone missing. A British MI6 agent and a NZ intelligence office must search for the truth behind the rumours. As they uncover various facts, they find events threaten to reignite the war.
We're at the end of the second World War. Rumours emerge that New Zealand soldiers have gone missing. A British MI6 agent and a NZ intelligence office must search for the truth behind the rumours. As they uncover various facts, they find events threaten to reignite the war.
August 12, 2026
grateful that I was able to receive a ARC from the publisher of this book but it didn’t exceed my expectations.
I found the writing a bit confusing to navigate and some plots didn’t feel quite captivating. Overall I would have to give the book a 2.5 stars as I couldn’t find myself enjoying it I felt at times I did not want to pick it back up.
I found the writing a bit confusing to navigate and some plots didn’t feel quite captivating. Overall I would have to give the book a 2.5 stars as I couldn’t find myself enjoying it I felt at times I did not want to pick it back up.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Set in post World War ll in Trieste, Italy, this was an okay war/espionage read, though I wasn’t particularly engaged despite the high stakes. It's chaotic, political, fast-paced and suited to lovers of historical spy thrillers!
August 9, 2026
Review, pod and interview to follow.
September 30, 2026
Set in 1945. Interesting story around the confrontartion between allied forces and Marshall Tito's troops. Set in north-east Italy
July 17, 2026
Dying Days is a fast paced historical spy novel. Set in Trieste at the end of World War II and inspired by a true story of missing New Zealand soldiers. Alex Madigan, an MI6 soldier is teamed up with Donnnelly an intelligence officer from New Zealand to investigate their disappearance and suspected murder. The two characters were a classic chalk and cheese pairing. Thoroughly well researched, the reader is taken into a rabbit hole of leads complete with classic spy moves such as deceit, double crossed and mixed alliances. An interesting mix of war history, detective noir and spy novel. Perfect for fans of John La Carre or Graham Green.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews