City in Flames

Stefan Gillespie #5

by Michael Russell

1940. A woman lands on the Scottish coast from a German flying boat and goes to ground, hunted by British Intelligence.

Suspended from the Irish police for reasons he won't explain, Detective Inspector Stefan Gillespie is working on his father's farm in Wicklow. One day he vanishes, leaving no sign of where he is heading - or why. Even in rural Ireland, rumours of assassination and Nazi spies fill the air, leaving Stefan's father to wonder whether he is in terrible danger.

Meanwhile in London, Stefan is undercover, working in a The Bedford Arms in Camden. Run by an alcoholic, bankrupt landlord, it's a wartime refuge for the Irish in London. And while the city shakes under the Blitz, Stefan falls into a romance with Vera Kennedy, an Irishwoman who has her own dark secrets to hide.
But behind closed doors, a different war is being fought, and Stefan has more work than pulling pints on his hands. The Bedford Arms hides some unexpected dangers. The drunken landlord is not as witless as he seems, and Stefan's mission is under perilous threat.

When Vera disappears, he discovers that the Nazis were far closer to home than he thought. As he embarks on a journey to trace Vera from London to Ireland, Stefan will have to decide where his true loyalties lie.

Praise for Michael Russell

'Complex but compelling . . . utterly vivid and convincing' Independent on Sunday

'A superb, atmospheric thriller' Irish Independent

'A thriller to keep you guessing and gasping' Daily Mail

'Atmospheric' Sunday Times

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ireland, World War II, Crime

400 pages, Paperback

First published July 4, 2019

About the author

Michael Russell was born in England. He grew up in one of those English-Irish families where the first stories he heard at his grandmother's knee were about murder, mayhem, Thompson Machine Guns and civil war in Ireland in the 1920s.

Determined to make himself unemployable, so that he could at least attempt to earn a living as writer, he studied Old English, Old Irish and Middle Welsh at Oxford before working for three years as a farm labourer in North Devon. His knowledge of farming (rather than writing) eventually got him a job as script editor on the English soap opera 'Emmerdale', in the days when it was still called 'Emmerdale Farm'. He went on to become a television writer and producer, writing for such programmes as 'All Creatures Great and Small', 'Eastenders', 'Between the Lines', 'The Bill', 'Midsomer Murders', 'A Touch of Frost'.

By the time he decided to write his first novel he was living in Ireland and it seemed inevitable that he would combine a passion for crime fiction with the stories about Ireland between the First and Second World Wars that he had once heard from his grandmother. The result was 'The City of Shadows'.

Source: Excerpt from Amazon author profile

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The series that features Detective Sergeant Stefan Gillespie he of the Irish Garda, now an Inspector, who inevitable gets to travel around various cities of the world in order to solve mysteries that originate from Irish shores. We’re now on the 5th book of which has been mostly a grand series to follow.

It’s normally within the first few pages that you find out where we’re off too, although the book blurb will tell you already, this takes a while as we start simultaneous threads in Dublin & Berlin C summer 1940.

With Irish politics of the era at the fore the usual suspects return with the British vs the Nazis competing for Ireland’s favour as she remains neutral, G Men vs the IRA with characters that feature throughout the series whilst the Berlin angle gives us the Abwehr vs SD intelligence officers leaving lastly Stefan Gillespie who we find is down on the family farm in the early exchanges where he seems to spend a fair bit of this novel.

All players are converging on the City in Flames, which C 1940 isn’t too hard to guess is it now?

YES, It’s London so, well done to those who guessed correctly.

As to the story, well it’s quite a slow burn, actually a VERY slow burn much moreso than the prior books in the series as at come halfway very little had actually happened & if I wasn’t engaged with the series I might be thinking about putting it aside…. But the writing is good & it does have a habit of pulling you into the web & intrigue along with the historical authenticity of the era which I follow for as much as the mystery with this series.

The mystery itself is fairly pedestrian although it will keep you hooked until the end & has a few twists that you wont see coming, jus wished for a little more action than was on offer to make it a bit more entertaining, very much a Sunday Afternoon style…..

Jus the 3 Stars for me, it’s good & amiable enough but not as action filled as the earlier books & well……. nothing much really happens.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

my 1st introduction into this series of books this one is based 1940's Ireland and England as couple of German agents go from germany to Scotland en route to england for their mission in Ireland to try and drag ireland into the war. this has many twits and turns and an enjoyable read.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.Layers upon layers,beautiful writing.A great find,new series for me.

[Tripfiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

WW2 - with an incisive, historical context



The City in Flames is the the latest in the Stefan Gillespie series by Michael Russell. We have them all on the TripFiction site, but this is the first I has read. It is very good.

The story moves rapidly between Camden Town and Ireland – with cameo appearances by Berlin and Scotland. It features MI6, the London police, the Irish security services, and a German spy. There is much double crossing and double dealing. It is exciting.

I do, though, have one question – which I guess also applies to the other books in the series. Unless the reader has a passable understanding of WW2, and how it impacted the relationship between England, Germany, and an allegedly neutral Ireland, the story could be more than a little confusing. I suspect a fair number of readers nowadays will not have this background knowledge. You have to know about the IRA (and its impact on Irish politics at the time), and the separate issues of Northern Ireland to get to grips with what is going on. It is not straightforward.

In TripFiction terms, the Camden Town area of London as it was in the war years is very well described. The Black Cat Carreras cigarette factory features – and it takes me back to the late 60s when, as a very junior executive in an ad agency, I worked in Greater London House – an art deco office block conversion of the famous landmark factory. Also featuring prominently in the book is Mornington Crescent tube station, which was used as an air raid shelter at the time… though it may be more familiar to the current middle aged generation as the name of a made up panel game that featured on BBC Radio’s ‘I’m Sorry, I Haven’t a Clue’ satirical quiz programme.

All in all, The City of Flames is a good read – but do bear in mind the historical context. Might be worth a quick whip through the relevant Wikipedia pages before you start?

[John Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chanced upon this book without fully processing that it was no5 in a series. An interesting read that kept me engaged throughout with likeable Stefan Gillespie as the central character. The real strength of the book was the background detail and the even-handedness in approach. The author was able to convey the peculiar circumstances that saw Ireland remain 'neutral' throughout WW2 ('The Emergency'), whilst balancing that with both German and British perspectives. Oh that other writers and commentators would take the wider view and present viewpoints from all spectrums without just pushing a single agenda!
I shall definitely be searching out other books in this series.

[Lee Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enthralling historical crime thriller set primarily in London during the Blitz, featuring Irish detective Stefan Gillespie.

In the fifth in the series, set in autumn 1940, Stefan finds himself suspended from Special Branch, ostracised by his colleagues and the community at large. Currently helping his father on the farm in Wicklow, they are both suspicious when a local man is found dead and his death deemed a suicide. Stefan’s interference is not welcomed by the local constabulary and he has little time to explore his suspicions, as he is whisked away to London on the orders of his superiors.

Meanwhile, German agents are dispatched to the UK, seeking IRA support to undermine Ireland’s position of professed neutrality, while one of the agents has her own hidden agenda. First, she journeys to London, evading British intelligence services. From there, she will continue her journey to Ireland.

Enlisted in an undercover mission, Stefan takes up a job as a barman, having left Ireland under a cloud. Under the threat of German bombs, he soon finds romance to while away the time, unaware that this draws him closer to a nefarious murder plot with potentially devastating political ramifications. Between the dangerous streets of wartime England and the hills of rural Ireland, Stefan wades through the darkness and subterfuge in his continual quest for the truth.

Seamlessly blending local, national and international crime and intrigue, ‘The City in Flames’ gives an insight into life during the Second World War from multiple perspectives. I have eagerly devoured each entry in this series since the first novel; this, the fifth, is another intricately plotted and well-written chapter, packed with imagery that evokes the daily danger and uncertainty of wartime London, but also the human resolve to continue with everyday life against this bleak, unforgiving backdrop. Behind the scenes, the machinations of German, British and Irish intelligence services influence and direct events. One of the strengths of the series is its depiction of historical context and how this weaves with Stefan’s own story and those of the crimes he investigates. Real-life characters also feature, while the politics of multiple countries and the horrors of war and prejudice constantly lurk in the background.

Deeply absorbing and slow-burning, combining elements of police procedural, espionage and political intrigue, ‘The City in Flames’ is another superb entry in Michael Russell’s high-quality series; which continues with the sixth novel, ‘The City Under Siege’.

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The City of Flames is the fifth book in the Inspector Gillespie series following the exploits of a single father cop in the lead up to and during the Second World War whose mother is German. As usual, Gillespie is pulled into a plot of special branch and G2, the Irish Military intelligence, aimed at maintaining Ireland’s neutrality and the status quo internally. In this episode he’s sent to London to monitor IRA activity there, but unwittingly manages to start a relationship with a German spy who has Irish roots. Together they experience the London blitz while carrying out their respective missions. At the same time, there’s been a suspicious death close to his parent’s farm. While he’s absent is father, a former cop, sets up his own investigation. The historical aspect is well realised, and the characterisation is nicely done, with a number of regular series characters making appearances. Russell spins out both plots at a fairly pedestrian pace, which are rooted in the context of Ireland’s neutrality, and involve some real characters and events. The Wicklow plot is not really necessary, but isn't too much of a distraction, and there are a couple of decent twists as the tale closes. However, both plots are held together by coincidences that are too convenient to little more than plot devices. Overall, an engaging addition to the series.

[Roger Pettit · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The City in Flames’ is the fifth story in a series by Michael Russell that features Irish police officer Stefan Gillespie. I haven’t read any of the other books in the series but I gather that they are all set during the Second World War and focus on the impact of the conflict on Anglo-Irish relations, Irish politics and the Irish security services.

The city of the title is, of course, London (where much of the story takes place). Working undercover at a pub in Camden during the Blitz, Gillespie becomes embroiled in an attempt by the German security services to assassinate Irish Prime Minister Éamon de Valera, whose country is neutral. The Germans believe that such a ploy will distract the British government by forcing it to invade Ireland after the assassination in order to stabilise the country and prevent a potential German invasion of it. Such a response would, they calculate, divert much-needed resources etc. from the British war effort and give Germany the upper hand in their conflict. So, an interesting plot. Unfortunately, Russell’s presentation of it is not quite so diverting. His prose is no more than workmanlike; his characterisation is one-dimensional; and there is a lot of padding with unnecessary sub-plots that add little or nothing to the thrust of the story. The death of an Irish farmer is one such example. When I reached the end of the book, I felt only indifference towards the central character, who is anything but memorable. I realised too that much less had actually happened over the previous 350 or so pages than would appear to be the case.

‘The City in Flames’ is not a bad book. It’s a pleasant and mildly enjoyable read that lacks energy and drive. It simply doesn’t have the necessary pizzazz though to make me want to tackle another story in the series.

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not going to say what this book is about as you can read that elsewhere. I will concentrate on my views about it.
I gave this up at the first attempt, as it was so hard to get into. After several months, I tried again and after a few chapters, began to find it interesting and good.
The initial story of the torture was difficult and didn't appear to have any relevance until a long way in.
After that, the novel picked up in terms of pace and interest.
Although I found it interesting, I also found it confusing and difficult to understand with all the espionage elements.
The story did however have some good twists, elements of excitement and suspense, human interest and beautiful descriptions of Wicklow and Oxfordshire.
It was, as ever, well written.
I also noticed less swearing in the language, or at least much less than in his previous novel in the series. There was some in the dialogue, which is to be expected, but not so much that it jarred and distracted from the plot as it had in the previous book, in my opinion.
The novel progressed as I read it from 2 to 3 stars.

[Jane Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this cover to cover within days. However, there are so many characters from so many countries with so much background info behind each one, I found it a bit overwhelming and confusing. Also, this is book 5 and I've ensured I read them in order. But I can't even remember what happened in the first 4 books! Yet the main character is still Stefan Gillespie. I'd really like to be able to remember these books because they are intricately written. I also love anything to do with WWII. Unfortunately, they are forgettable. Even so, I'm about to read the 6th Stefan Gillespie so let's see if that's any better.

I can remember that this book's main character is Vera Kennedy - a German spy sent to London.

Stefan is sent to London, from Ireland, as a spy for Ireland (I think).

The whole point of this book is that Ireland remained neutral during WWII but both Germany and Britain want Ireland on side. Also, Russian agents come into the plot with their sights on the future. You see what I mean!? Confusing!!!

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 2019, 'The City in Flames' is another in the series of atmospheric thrillers featuring Stefan Gillespie of the Dublin Special Branch during WW2. This one is especially good, even though the plot does rely on lucky coincidence in some way.

[Peter Costello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Literate and engaging.

[Liam Mycroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gripping tale for our hero Stefan and the secret workings of Special Branch & G2 during the Emergency. The fifth in the series, and hopefully more to follow...

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly atmospheric.

This is a series that somehow gets better and better, even when at the end of each book you think it's one of the best things that you have ever read.
More than just a crime series, it covers the most turbulent times in living memory and the plots of each book acknowledges that. Having said that, even the most prosaic parts of the books are extremely well written and grasp your attention.
Without a wasted word or character this is a series that deserves reading and I would recommend it to everyone.

[Mike Bowden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tightly written

The whole series of books have been very enjoyable. A good read as well as being historically accurate. Look forward to reading the rest of the series!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from MR. These Stefan Gillespies are fast becoming a real favourite.

[Stephen Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another exciting addition to this series about tensions between Ireland Britain and Germany during the war.

[Graeme Whitton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent story in this series. Already downloaded the next one.

[Cally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow paced at first but enjoyable. All the strands tied up in later part of the book.

[Jenny Piazza · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yawnfest , annoyed I finished it

[Debbie Shoulders · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fifth book in the Detective Gillespie series, this one takes place in 1940 during the London Blitz. As has been the case in the previous books, a local death is only part of the mystery as Russell tells the story of the Irish involvement (or lack there of) in the events of WWII.