The Judas Code

by Derek Lambert

As part of his wartime strategy, Winston Churchill formulates secret plans to force Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia to fight each other.

Convinced that Hitler and Stalin are intent on overpowering each other, British Intelligence concoct a ruthless double-cross to lure Russia and Germany into a hellish war of attrition on the Eastern Front. It will divert Hitler’s wrathful Blitz and buy Britain the most precious of all time.

The plot hinges on one man, Josef Hoffman, a humble Red Cross worker in neutral Lisbon. Hoffman must go to Russia to meet Stalin and send covert communications back to the Allies using a new cipher, the Judas Code. But who is Hoffman? And where do his loyalties really lie?

‘Skillfully mixes fact and fiction from World War II. It’s bloody good’ New York Daily News

‘Charged with action and tension from start to finish’ John Barkham Reviews

‘For unbearable suspense, for chapter-by-chapter fascination, nothing I’ve read equals this one’ Los Angeles Times

‘A World War II “what if” that’s great fun. Lots of suspense and a bang-up climax’ Publishers Weekly

‘A humdinger of a thriller … a novel which turns history upside down’ Express & Echo

‘A grand Churchillian scheme depicted with great flair and ingenuity’ The Seattle Times

‘Excellent spy-genre fiction’ UPI

‘Plenty of action’ The New Yorker

‘Fic-fac at its most tantalising … an extraordinary piece of fiction’ Eastern Daily Press

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 1984

About the author

Derek Lambert was educated at Epsom College and was both an author of thrillers in his own name, writing also as Richard Falkirk, and a journalist. As a foreign correspondent for the Daily Express, he spent time in many exotic locales that he later used as settings in his novels.

In addition to his steady stream of thrillers, Lambert also published (under the pseudonym Richard Falkirk) a series about a Bow Street Runner called Edmund Blackstone. These, the fruit of research in the London Library, were interspersed with detailed descriptions of early 19th century low life, as the hero undertook such tasks as saving Princess Victoria from being kidnapped, or penetrating skullduggery at the Bank of England.

Lambert made no claims for his books, which he often wrote in five weeks, simply dismissing them as pot-boilers; but in 1988 the veteran American journalist Martha Gellhorn paid tribute in The Daily Telegraph to his intricate plotting and skillful use of factual material. It appealed, she declared, to a universal hunger for "pure unadulterated storytelling", of the sort supplied by storytellers in a bazaar

Lambert was residing in Spain with his family at the time of his death at the age of seventy-one.

Reviews

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a disappointing World War II espionage novel. Too many historical figures play prominent roles in the story including Hitler, Himmler, Churchill, Stalin, Beria, and Kim Philby. The plot is tenuous and ultimately disappointing. The story moves slowly, especially at the end. The only reason I finished this predictable novel was to see if there was a twist at the end. No, there isn't.

[Greer Andjanetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining story about how Winston Churchill saved England by tricking Germany into attacking Russia at a time that would expose the German forces to the Russian winter. The "Judas Code" floats in the background of the story, is never explicitly explained and does not seem to play a large part of the story.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A WW2 thriller that mixes iconic historical figures with fiction.  Mainly, for those like myself interested in this historical period.  A little dated for the present day and slow-paced rather like watching an old war film, good for the nostalgic value.

I received a copy of this book from  Harper Impulse / Killer Reads - Collins Crime Club via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Liedzeit Liedzeit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sohn Stalins wird britischer Geheimagent und gewinnt 2. Weltkrieg. Lesbar, aber mehr nicht.

[Joe White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much verbage. The attempt to generate suspense by presenting this from a spy's viewpoint didn't work in the scope of history. The critical leaders in WWII didn't let everything hang on a few individuals, whom themselves were actually tiny cogs, and were always validated by multiple other means. Too much of a distortion of Churchill and Stalin in their personality of interaction with what were really minor figures.

After almost 30 years, the suspense aspect also can't hold up to actual facts which have been detailed about clandestine actions during the war. And for the last 25 years authors have developed a more frontal assault approach on action and suspense, that while it dulls the senses, does help the story move along. This old style suspense by intricate detail weaving became tedious.

[Mohammad · Rating 3 out of 5]

stalin was a dumbass