The Colditz Legacy

by Guy Walters

In January 1944, six British officers tunnelled out of Colditz, the German prison camp that was supposed to be escape proof. Three were captured after a few hours, while the remaining three stayed on the run. Two, Captain Ben Thomas and Pilot Officer Robert Beauchamp made it to safety, while the third, Lt. George Irby, was shot as he tried to cross the border. In January 1994, Thomas and Beauchamp are back in Colditz, this time at a Colditz Veteran's reunion. As the men discuss the war it becomes clear that Irby may not have died. Thomas and Beauchamp attempt to track down their comrade and discover that Irby was involved in something sinister, something far larger than merely trying to escape.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thriller

360 pages, Hardcover

First published November 7, 2005

About the author

Guy Walters (born 8 August 1971) is a British author, novelist, historian, academic and journalist.

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1941, two British officers, Hugh Hartley and Malcolm Royce, escape from the infamous POW camp at Colditz Castle. Just as they're about to cross the Swiss border, Royce is shot and tells Hartley to leave him behind. After the war, Hartley, who did indeed manage to get away, tries to find out what happens to his friend, but only encounters dead ends and eventually assumes Royce to have died. It's until more than 30 years after their escape from Colditz, in 1973, that Hartley, now a senior officer at MI6, receives information that indicates that not only could Royce still be alive, but is apparently also right back where they started: At Colditz Castle, now a lunatic asylum deep in the GDR. Still feeling guilty about leaving him behind all those years ago, Hartley sets out on a dangerous and foolhardy mission to break him out.

Despite the fact that none of the characters were particularly likable, I found this a surprisingly entertaining read - the story itself, half set during WWII, half during the Cold War, had plenty of suspense and action and easily kept me engaged.

[Anne Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A combination of war novel and spy thriller, the story of Hugh Hartley and Malcolm Royce begins during the ill-fated campaign in Greece. Stranded on the beach at Kalamata, the navy steaming off to some more urgent task, Hartley and Royce are just two officers of the British forces taken captive by the Germans.

They quickly escape. They are quickly re-captured. And because the Germans have, by this point in the war, set up the infamous Colditz for recalcitrant p.o.w.s, they are sent there. Royce has a violent reaction on seeing it: gripped by foreboding, he believes he'll die there.

Hartley wants to escape and, eventually, with the help of the Dutch becomes the first English officer to make it to freedom. At the last minute, as he is about to go into the tunnel through the Dutch ablution block and under the nearby park, his designated companion does a choke and refuses to go. Hartley chooses Royce as the replacement, mostly because he fears for Royce's life - there's already been a "kangaroo court" and Royce is under suspicion of betraying the prisoners to the Germans. They make it to the border, but there, under a hail of bullets Hartley is persuaded to cross and leave Royce behind.

Decades later, as a spymaster for MI6, Hartley receives word that Royce may not only be alive - despite his previous efforts to find his fate going nowhere - but may actually be back in Colditz, which is now a mental asylum behind the Iron Curtain. Unfortunately for Hartley, who had enough self-control to never reveal the details of his own "escape route", there was a legacy from Colditz that he was never quite able to overcome: the adrenaline rush of high-risk adventure. Between that lure and his own regrets over never being able to save Royce, he heads back to Colditz to even up the past. That secret yearning for the rush of adventurous living causes him to leave his family behind and put himself in harm's way.

[Phil O'Hagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple & easy read, so was good for the early morning commute but not particularly thrilling.

[Scott Tubman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched, good suspense and action, a believable war escape tale. A couple of good twists thrown in too.
It's not going to change your life, but it won't waste your time either.

[Susy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colditz is an infamous castle in Germany, where the main character, Coronel Hugh Hartley, is imprisoned after being caught in Greece. With him is Royce, another officer with mental disorders, not a friend but a fellow soldier whom he feels obliged to help. They escape from the Nazis but at the Swiss border Royce is shot and begs Hartley to leave him and escape. In 1973, Hartley is a senior MI6 officer and receives information that Royce is again at Colditz, now a mental asylum in East Germany, not as prisoner but as inmate. And Hartley goes to rescue him, against all odds. It’s neither a mystery nor a thriller but a rather good novel about war, friendship, and life. It feels different from the usual fare, and I liked it.

[Deen · Rating 2 out of 5]

To quote Dave Eggers, this is not a 'work of staggering genius', but considering it was found in the bargain bin for the sumly price of four dollars, it was better then I had feared. A somewhat enjoyable diversion, however it was not necessarily misplaced in the bookstore.

Will I pass it on for others to read? Most certainly, as a good book should always be shared, even mediocre ones such as this. Will I remember this book in a years time? Doubtful.

[Richard Nicholson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got bored. Life's too short, and all that those other cliches

[Edward Callaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping thriller. Sort of book you don't want to end! Combines two of my favourite themes/genres - thrillers and colditz!