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Aquila #2
Chasing Aquila
Just after World War 2, Superintendent Sandra Maxwell of the Special Branch, checks if a suspicious death in Glasgow is linked to Aquila, a German spy organisation, that flourished in the UK during the war. She finds that Aquila has now morphed into a sinister new organisation. Can she catch the killer by chasing him across Holland and Germany, capture the head of the organisation, and smash their new activities before they spread to every major UK city?
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2019
About the author
James Hume
3 books2 followersJames is a former engineer who has always had a love of writing and a passion for reading thrillers that unravel a complex puzzle. Now he’s finally put the two together.
His first book, Hunting Aquila, and its sequel, Chasing Aquila, form the Aquila Duo. This covers the activities of a German spy group during and after WW2.
His third book, Killing the Captain, has two sequels, Avenging the Captain and Finding the Cap[tain, to form the Captain Trilogy. These cover a dispute between two businessmen in the UK just after WW2, that escalates into a minor and then a major US CIA v Soviet stand-off.
All his books are highly readable, with great characters and fast-moving stories.
The themes behind these thrillers pull together some of James' other interests, particularly 1940s and 50s history. They explore how historical events and human situations of that time can still resonate in today's changing world.
Born and brought up in Glasgow, Scotland, he is married with a grown-up family.
His first book, Hunting Aquila, and its sequel, Chasing Aquila, form the Aquila Duo. This covers the activities of a German spy group during and after WW2.
His third book, Killing the Captain, has two sequels, Avenging the Captain and Finding the Cap[tain, to form the Captain Trilogy. These cover a dispute between two businessmen in the UK just after WW2, that escalates into a minor and then a major US CIA v Soviet stand-off.
All his books are highly readable, with great characters and fast-moving stories.
The themes behind these thrillers pull together some of James' other interests, particularly 1940s and 50s history. They explore how historical events and human situations of that time can still resonate in today's changing world.
Born and brought up in Glasgow, Scotland, he is married with a grown-up family.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 30, 2024
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. This was close to a no star review. Chasing Aqulia is the sequel to Hunting Aquila, which I read a few months ago and quite enjoyed. Aquila was a Nazi spy network which was broken by Special Branch after a careless agent kidnapped a Czech translator. Although most members of the network were captured and faced the consequences of their actions, it seems that a small group managed to remain at large in both the UK and Germany. Now they have turned their attention to smuggling and distributing metamphetamine. Whilst the drug is entirely legal in 1946 Britain, it's role in the death of the Home Secretary gets Special Branch involved again to try and break the network and bring the trade to an end.
So far so good. Not such a bad idea, but the execution was lamentable. The characters were wafer thin and there was nothing about any of them which compelled me to read with any anticipation, interest or excitement. The plot was predictable, lacking any significant twists and sense of danger. The last two are surely prerequisites for anything that claims to be a thriller. The thing that really earned my ire was the dialogue. This was set in 1946, but the mode of speaking was something right out of the 2010s, with no attempt to make the characters sound like the period in which they lived. Many of the characters were Glaswegian criminals, who all spoke the King's English with no sense of accent. Conveying accent and dialect is a key skill for an author and is a key part of giving their characters a true voice and making them three dimensional. An epic fail from Mr Hume.
So far so good. Not such a bad idea, but the execution was lamentable. The characters were wafer thin and there was nothing about any of them which compelled me to read with any anticipation, interest or excitement. The plot was predictable, lacking any significant twists and sense of danger. The last two are surely prerequisites for anything that claims to be a thriller. The thing that really earned my ire was the dialogue. This was set in 1946, but the mode of speaking was something right out of the 2010s, with no attempt to make the characters sound like the period in which they lived. Many of the characters were Glaswegian criminals, who all spoke the King's English with no sense of accent. Conveying accent and dialect is a key skill for an author and is a key part of giving their characters a true voice and making them three dimensional. An epic fail from Mr Hume.
May 27, 2020
The writing style is easy to read and the technical detail is well explained and appears to have been well researched. The plot however does stretch the bounds of credibility in an attempt to link the first of the Aquilla series with the second one. Ian Fleming accomplished it well with James Bond/ Spectre but I am unconvinced that this book has the style to carry it off. I found my self laughing as the plot finally unfolded especially labelling the arch villain as Doctor G and inviting the protagonists to dinner and an overnight stay. I had visions of a scar-faced bald man stroking a white cat on a black level swivel chair uttering the immortal words "Good evening Mr Bond, how good of you to join us tonight".
May 23, 2021
A well-rounded, gripping, historically-based novel
I enjoyed this as much as the previous one. The detail of the considerations by Special Branch, Civil Service, Army and criminals mesh together to complete the plot.
I realised while reading this book why I had been dissatisfied with another: that book was thin, lacking detail, as if written in a vacuum. Chasing Aquilla is full, rounded, with real characters, having real emotions, living real lives and doing real jobs. With the historical information as a background this is an all-round good read.
I enjoyed this as much as the previous one. The detail of the considerations by Special Branch, Civil Service, Army and criminals mesh together to complete the plot.
I realised while reading this book why I had been dissatisfied with another: that book was thin, lacking detail, as if written in a vacuum. Chasing Aquilla is full, rounded, with real characters, having real emotions, living real lives and doing real jobs. With the historical information as a background this is an all-round good read.
June 1, 2019
Excellent follow up to hunting aquila. Mr. Hume let's the characters grow as the books moved forward with the female main characters showing women in positions of leadership and authority while being human. The series of books have movies written on them. These are sure things you will enjoy.
Mr Hume will respond to questions and comments but will not push things or agendas on you. A true gentelman.
Enjoy
Mr Hume will respond to questions and comments but will not push things or agendas on you. A true gentelman.
Enjoy
July 9, 2019
I really enjoyed the first of these books and the 2nd one is definitely better. The plot is more straightforward (until near the end ) and somehow timeless. It is set after the war but it could just as easily been far more recently.
The only detraction for me was that it seemed to get harder to follow near the end. I am looking forward to the next one at the end of the year.
The only detraction for me was that it seemed to get harder to follow near the end. I am looking forward to the next one at the end of the year.
March 18, 2020
Very well-crafted recent post World War II Thriller
This is a very intriguing follow up to the author's first novel. It was very well plotted, characters were believable, it moved swiftly, and it highlighted that that very fascinating, murky world of German-Allied law enforcement relationships after World War II.
This is a very intriguing follow up to the author's first novel. It was very well plotted, characters were believable, it moved swiftly, and it highlighted that that very fascinating, murky world of German-Allied law enforcement relationships after World War II.
February 28, 2026
What a great read, fantastic author. Every word has a place on the page, no fluffy text to wade through. Part 2 of Aquila, fast packed, exciting! Coming out of the war and spies into drugs and the aftermath of war- recommend to read the two books in order.
October 5, 2019
Excellent sequel
The two-part WWII espionage novels by James Hume flowed easily and gave me a glimpse of intelligent Special Branch characters. Well done.
The two-part WWII espionage novels by James Hume flowed easily and gave me a glimpse of intelligent Special Branch characters. Well done.
June 25, 2023
Well written
One very small error. The half empty whisky bottle found by the divers would have floated not sank..
Good read
One very small error. The half empty whisky bottle found by the divers would have floated not sank..
Good read
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews