Red Stefan

by Patricia Wentworth

An English spy saves the life of a woman with a deadly secret in this gripping tale of espionage from the author of the Miss Silver Mysteries   British operative Stephen Enderby is in Russia on a mission of the utmost secrecy when he spies a woman in the freezing cold, standing on the parapet of a bridge. Her name, she tells him, is Elizabeth Radin. Her husband , Nicholas, was recently executed for being a counterrevolutionary. Forbidden to leave the country, she thought the only way out was to take her own life.   At the risk of blowing his cover, Stephen convinces the beautiful English widow to come with him to a safe house. His mission compromised, his only hope is to continue his impersonation of a Russian peasant, with Elizabeth posing as his new bride. But she hasn’t told him everything. Before Nicolas died, he revealed the formula for a groundbreaking aeronautical invention that Elizabeth committed to memory. The Russians want the formula—and will stop at nothing to get it.   A fast-moving novel of political intrigue featuring an impassioned socialist revolutionary named Irina, Red Stefan paints a vivid portrait of twentieth-century Russia.  

Genres: Mystery, Russia, Mystery Thriller

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1935

About the author

Patricia Wentworth--born Dora Amy Elles--was a British crime fiction writer.

She was educated privately and at Blackheath High School in London. After the death of her first husband, George F. Dillon, in 1906, she settled in Camberley, Surrey. She married George Oliver Turnbull in 1920 and they had one daughter.

She wrote a series of 32 classic-style whodunnits featuring Miss Silver, the first of which was published in 1928, and the last in 1961, the year of her death.

Miss Silver, a retired governess-turned private detective, is sometimes compared to Jane Marple, the elderly detective created by Agatha Christie. She works closely with Scotland Yard, especially Inspector Frank Abbott and is fond of quoting the poet Tennyson.

Wentworth also wrote 34 books outside of that series.

Reviews

[Andrea]

Adventure-espionage. Stephen is enjoyable, but Elizabeth made me long for the redoubtable Mrs Pollifax.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced and unexpectedly moving "chase" novel - Stephen is an Englishman who spent time in Russia as a child and can pass as a peasant, gathering information on Communists in post-World War I Russia, known as Red Stefan for his supposed political beliefs as well as his red hair, at risk of death if he is caught. Unexpectedly, he encounters a beautiful but forlorn Englishwoman, Elizabeth, whose husband was executed for withholding a secret formula from the state and who has been since been detained by local authorities. Both Stephen's innate gallantry and his love are aroused by Elizabeth's frailty and courage in protecting the formula her husband died for. He is determined to help her escape from Russia to safety although every step of the way they are beset by enemies who try to turn them in to the government. Despite improbable elements, this was a suspenseful and emotional read in one of Wentworth's few books set outside of England.

[Sep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Widowed, trapped in the USSR, and half-starved, Elizabeth, a young English woman, waits to freeze on a snowy bridge in when Stephen Enderby walks by. Stephen, an undercover agent for England, goes by the name Red Stefan. For the following 300-plus pages, Elizabeth and Stephen are on the run from radical young Communists, a commissar who wants Elizabeth, a young Communist lady who wants Stephen and all wish to obtain the secret formula Elizabeth's late husband developed.

The story appears to take place in the early 1920s before the death of Lenin. Stalin is not mentioned though several characters discuss his five-year plan.

Warning: several racist comments that were unfortunately typical of the times.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early Bird Book Deal | Surprisingly good for Wentworth | It could be partly that it's been awhile since I last read one of the author's books, but this was one of her better works. Yes, Elizabeth spends the whole book making herself miserable, as Wentworth girls always do. Yes, there's a whole section where nobody seems to be after them but there's enough pages left that you know another confrontation is ahead. But it's still more suspenseful than she usually managed, and Stephen isn't physically abusive to demonstrate love, so pretty good!

[krysti bush]

Best Patricia Wentworth yet!

Well, I've been on a Patricia Wentworth binge for a while now-
I've read twenty of her novels in the past 2 weeks, not the Miss Silver series, but after I've finished all the rest of her amazing work, then I'll enjoy those too!
This one, Red Stefan, is set in the early days of the Communist Revolution in Russia...
It is so well written -seems so authentic, but it's especially
adventurous!!*
Highly, highly recommend this gem.
I actually recommend that you read all of Patricia Wentworth's extensive collection of work - she's a treasure!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret's choice: My interest was piqued right away. I briefly lost interest, but it had been chosen for book club and the date for our meeting was coming soon. So I made myself comfortable, dove into the story, and found myself actually enjoying reading instead of listening on my phone. By the way, the author was born in 1878. Her first book was published in 1928 and the last was published in 1961, the year she died.

[Virginia C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was excellent, set in the days when Soviet Russia was first putting itself together. A young British agent who goes by the name Red Stefan risks his cover when he sees a young woman freezing on the street and must intervene. Lots of action and adventure, too.

[Paula S, · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathtaking and thrilling

This book was the best! The characters were so well drawn…..the best medicine for now! I loved the Russian witch stories and especially the pace! Bravo!

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite An Adventure

Enjoyed it very much, lots of action, and "Red Stefan" an English spy is likable and astonishing. I kept thinking "he won't be able to talk himself out of this; but he always does! The heroine helps and gets a chance at the end to save him.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A breezy read to distract from 2025 news/politics. Liked it less than other titles by this author so far, but maybe it was just my own mood. This is less in the vein of a cozy mystery and more in the vein of a spy novel where the characters are in danger of pursuit, discovery and death the whole time.

[Karen Defreitas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story and it was a quick read

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent story and an interesting glimpse of 1930’s USSR but the heroine was worthless and exhausting.

[Evelyn Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timeless Spy Suspense

I'm a fan of Helen MacInnes and I'm just starting to explore the many books that Patricia Wentworth wrote, which for some reason I never encountered until recently. This story was published in 1935 so it's not a World War II espionage story, but it sure could be. The hero and heroine are simply delightful and there's plenty of breathtaking tension as they flee Communist Russians.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good suspense novel, elements of poetry, a wonderful spy character, and just amazing plot. really fun read.

[Roberta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like this one. The others are all about the same but this was just silly.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moves quickly. Nice weekend afternoon read.