The Night Drop: Resistance in the Marshlands

by Ian D. Wright

The remote marshland villagers did not want them, but if their mission failed, the Allies could lose the war!
The summer of 1943 and Jack Ross, a talented young recruit to the British special forces, was flown into a marshland village near St-Omer, France, along with Roland Keene, an Irish-American volunteer to the British forces. Their mission was to find out how successful the Allied bombing raids had been on the massive V2 flying bomb installations, which had been built under a giant concrete dome near St-Omer. The Nazi V2 project could have had a devastating effect on England and changed the future of the war.
Jack and Roland joined with the local Resistance cell and quickly established a good working relationship. But incidents occur that point to a mole in the ranks. Two feuding brothers, one in the Resistance, the other with the Partisans, make identifying the traitor almost impossible.
Jack’s primary source of information was Sofia, a young girl who was one of the most active members of the group. She was brave, smart and tireless, and Jack found himself falling in love.
Twenty years later, in 1965, and one of the suspects decides to go back to the village to clear his name. His arrival immediately triggers a murder. Two investigative journalists agreed to help Jack tackle the job of finding the real mole but find themselves in a battle with a group of fanatical Nazi sympathisers.

ebook

Published March 30, 2020

About the author

After a lifetime of working in PR and Market Communications, I reached retirement and came to the inevitable question, ‘What to do next?’ I had spent my working life writing articles for business publications, copy for advertisements, brochures, video scripts. My wife, Sheilah, and I are both avid readers and during my younger years, I also wrote short stories for magazines. With time on my hands, I thought of writing a novel.

I also love music, particularly jazz. When I was young I played sax in a rock/blues band and, more recently, Sheilah and I formed a Jazz duo to raise money for charity.

My latest book is 'The Night Drop'.
It’s 1943, and Jack Ross, a talented young recruit to the British special forces was flown to a village near St-Omer, France, along with Roland Keene, an Irish-American volunteer to the British army. Their mission was to find out how successful the Allied bombing raids had been on the V2 flying bomb installations. The Nazi V2 project could have a devastating effect on the future of the war.
Jack and Roland joined with the local Resistance cell and quickly established a good working relationship. But incidents occur that point to a mole in the ranks.

As well as writing Novels I enjoy travel and have visited many places throughout Europe and the USA. I enjoy watching cricket and football. Our son Ben and I have been season ticket holders at Watford FC for many years.

I have lived all my life in and around Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK and love the fens and North Norfolk coast.

Reviews

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com

What an amazing read!! Jack Ross a British Special force agent along with Roland Keene Irish/American volunteer to the British Forces were dropped near a village in St-Omer, France in 1943. We hear about their work with the Resistance Cell in their fight against the Nazi’s, who had a site nearby with V2 flying bombs and it was their job to locate the launch site. The book then moves to 1965 when Jack asks two journalists to help him find out who was the mole all those years ago who got many members of the Resistance killed.

The Night Drop is extremely well written with attention to detail and amazing characters including Jack who was prepared to do anything to find out the truth, Sofia young yet so brave working for the resistance, and Roland, who captured my heart, was a trained officer who was there to support Jack. We also have Alain a farmer running the resistance cell determined to keep the villagers safe, as well as the two journalists, married couple Steve and Emily.

I haven’t a favourite part of the book as I loved and enjoyed every bit of it. The plot had everything and more that you could ask for in a historical thriller. Historical facts, heart-stopping drama, excitement, sadness, and joy.

My interest was kept the whole way through. I had no idea how it would end and I loved all the twists and turns.

I will definitely be recommending The Night Drop by Ian D Wright, such an emotionally, heart-felt historical thriller, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Bookread2day · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Night Drop Resistance in the marshlands is the story about Sofia and Jack lives through the war. Sofia had lovely long black hair like her Spanish mother. The story opens with 1965, in a small village in Northern France. Sofia doesn't want to die at the age of seventeen, but with a man in German helmet out side her front door, she thinks this might be her time. When she fires a gun at him, it's too late she recognises the man as her father as his face disintegrates. When a story is going to be written for a magazine inside London twenty years after the World War 2, the plan was for Sofia and Jack to translate the story into French and get the newspaper in St Omer to print the story, but all Sofia and Jack want to do is to forget the days of the war. The Night Drop Resistance in the marshlands is a very nicely build up to a special story with a twist that you won't see coming. I don't want to spoil the story so you can all read it and find out something quite unexpected happens.

[Píaras Cíonnaoíth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-crafted mystery thriller with a sprinkling of romance...

The Night Drop: Resistance in the Marshlands by Ian D Wright is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted and captivating historical fiction. Intriguing twists and turns ensures that this book will captivate the reader from the first page to the last. From beginning to end, the author holds the reader’s interest. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction.

The story had every element a good story should have. A solid plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class mystery thriller with perfect pacing.

Highly recommended and a well deserved five stars from me.

[Lois Strachan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic WWII spy thriller that I simply could not put down. I found the characters engaging and the plot was fast paced and kept me guessing to the end.

Definitely a book I’d recommend.

[Ted Tayler · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Intriguing and informative"

A well-written thriller that revolves around events in German-occupied France in the latter half of WWII. The wartime story line was a thrilling read. What sets this thriller apart was the idea that twenty years after the war ended there was still an unsolved mystery. Who leaked information to the Germans that led to several villagers getting killed? An intriguing and interesting story that was brought to a satisfying conclusion. A very enjoyable read.

[Donadee's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ian Wright – The Night Drop – Reviewed 8/30/20 – Read 8/22-23/20

Being in the resistance can be deadly! Especially if you have a traitor among you…

In a small village in Northern France, Sofia is at home when the front door bangs open and she can hear the Krauts yelling at each other and searching the downstairs. Sofia is upstairs in her bedroom hiding, knowing that this day would come. Sofia is a member of the resistance that is working to stop the Germans. At only 17, but at that age, no one pays attention to what she is doing. She can go all over the place and it is like she doesn’t exist. Not wanting to die, she is hiding and waiting. There is the helmet poking up into the attic space, her hand tightens on the trigger, but then the helmet drops out of sight. It’s only a nightmare and waking her very gently, her husband pulls her into his arms, all the while he gives her comfort. Sofie cannot believe it, all these years later now and the nightmares are starting again.

They both agree that it is time for the truth to come out. They both were in the resistance and fell in love, later they married and moved back to her hometown. But the time is here and they are going to find out who was the traitor, who was reporting to the Germans, who put everyone at risk, and who caused the deaths of so many of their friends.

And the story begins…

What did I like? First, I want to say that this is a book of fiction and nothing is real. All in the author's mind, but when I read this book, it reminded me of the real-life terror that went on during the war. It made me think about all the men and women that lived through situations just like the one in this book. I wondered just how many did???? The author, Ian Wright, did an incredible job of making this storyline feel so real. I certainly held my breath numerous times throughout the book. He brought this book to life with his excellent details and descriptions.

What will you like? Wow, where do I start? Incredible action, unique but very believable characters, the most believable storyline that just jumps off the pages. Ian’s descriptions bring this book to life as if you are watching the Germans inflict their horrendous actions on this small town. The details that he has most certainly researched for every gun, action, clothing, and thoughts of the people in the small village helps to create these images in your mind's eye. You can see the chutes dropped, hear the killings, the screams of the pain, the terror of what would happen to the others if you are caught, the heartbreak of your friends dying, and most of all the incredible fear of being caught and sent to prison or killed. Excellent read! I highly recommend it to all readers in this genre.

• Publication Date: March 29, 2020
• File Size: 947 KB
• Print Length: 251 pages
• ASIN: B086JZDY8K
• Genre: Historical Thriller, Historical British Fiction, Military Thriller

[Stanley McShane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Ross goes back to the place where he was dropped during the height of WW II. The year is 1965 and he is assisting Steve, an investigative journalist and his wife Emily in writing an account of the area during Nazi occupation in 1943. Working on the story becomes fraught with danger as the story develops.

During times of war, food is always hard to get. Helping the enemy may provide some food or other assistance that otherwise would be unavailable. Occupied France was no exception. Jack Ross was parachuted behind enemy lines to find the location of V-2 rocket launch sites and get that information back to the British. His mother was French and his father English and his spoken French sounds like a native.

Sofia is a young teenage girl who can get around the occupied area on a bicycle. Jack joins the resistance and Sofia becomes very helpful in obtaining updates on the location of the launch facilities and also a production factory. Every day is fraught with danger as the British start bombing the facility and begin to suspect a mole is giving secret information to the enemy.

The Audomorais Marshes in France are poorly defended and the Nazi troops are spread thin. The Nazis begin to look for the leak. Jacks’ wife Sophie suddenly becomes a target for the German occupiers.

Who is the mole who identified Sophie and thereby Jack? The invasion is about two months away and suddenly they must go underground. Later in 1965 they are trying to solve the riddle of who the mole might have been. Unraveling the answer is an integral part of this well-developed novel.

History buffs and WW II aficionados will find this read compelling. My only quibble was that the thread between the war and 1965 was at times scattered and elusive. 4/5 stars CE Williams

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. These are my honest thoughts.

See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading The Night Drop – Resistance in the Marshlands by Ian D. Wright. What a great read!!

In 1943, Jack Ross and Roland Keene were flown to a village near St. Omer, France to work with the resistance group there. Their mission was to make sure that air raids over the V2 rocket complex was successful and then to work with the resistance and provide information back to Britain. There were a few from the area who were part of the resistance team and all seemed to be committed to the task. However, it shortly became apparent that there was a mole in the organization when Roland was killed trying to retrieve a shipment of guns and ammunition that was dropped by the British. One of the members of the cell was a young girl, Sophia, who was the cell’s messenger. She was given up by the mole and the group had to go into hiding. There was one suspect who everyone thought was the turncoat, but he disappeared.

Twenty years later this man comes back to set things straight. He is dying and wants to make sure he clears his name. Before he can do that, he is found hanged. Jack and Sophia, who have married, enlist the help of two investigative journalists to find out the truth once and for all.

I liked this book. I liked the characters, the period in which it was set, and the pace of the story. The novel moved along quickly and kept my interest throughout. I read this 481-page book in two days. Many kudos to the author for a fine writing job. I would be interested in reading any other books that he writes during this time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for my honest review. You can find this review on my blog at https://wp.me/p2IkJv-4T. Reviews of other books can be found at http://imhookedonbooks.wordpress.com. I have also reviewed this book on Amazon.com.

[Tom Gormley · Rating 4 out of 5]

In September 1943, Jack parachutes into St Omer in France to determine the Nazis plans for the V2 rocket and to help the Resistance. There he meets the beautiful Sophia. Together they and the small resistance group spy and harass the Boche. But something is wrong, as the Germans always seem to be just steps behind them. They continue to evade the Nazis. They survive the war but did a mole infiltrate their small group?

In 1965, Jack and Sophia ask freelance investigative reporters Emily and Steve to come to St Omer to write about what happened during the war. Their research in town stir up memories and a friend from the Resistance ends up hanging in a tree outside their home. The police say suicide, but there is a black Mercedes with four thugs hanging around. Was it suicide or are their inquiries stirring up more than memories?

"The Night Drop" is a well written account of what the Resistance in France did in a small town during the occupation, as well as a tightly knitted mystery to resolve whether a mole infiltrated them. Parts of it are a bit pedantic, but the story and characters are well developed. The action scenes are realistic and well written. The ending has a number of surprises and will keep your attention. This is a good winter read.

[Crislee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well it was not bad but disappointing. It could have been a really great story. But it lacked any emotions at all. I wasn't sad when people died. Wasn't happy when they got married. Wasn't excited when there was action.
It was all just flat.
I think it could have been great. The story isn't a bad one it was just told like someone rehashing something they heard and not very exciting about it. Like it was one very long magazine article telling a story. Not a novel.
I'm an emotional gal. I cry at the drop of a hat but this did nothing for me whatsoever. It wasn't even written poorly. It just wasn't written like a novel. It truly was devoid of all emotions. Kind of like a history book except it wasn't one.
I think with a rewrite it could be great if you felt anything whatsoever for the characters involved. But without emotions it was just boring. And I love WWII historical fiction. But not this one.

[JO GIBBS · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Resistance

This is a fascinating story and like two books in one. The first story occurs between 1943 and 1945 when Britain slips Roland and Jack into the marshland of France. Their job was to help a small resistance group to get stronger and more effective and smuggle information back to Britain. There is plenty of action to keep you reading. The second story occurs around 1965 when Jack and his wife come back to the French village and convince two writers to help them figure out who the informant was during the war and write a story on it. This informant got many of the resistance members killed. The book is fast moving and keeps you engaged. A very good read.

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 2 out of 5]

World War II novels rehash the errors and problems that continue after the end of that war. The Night Drop by Ian D Wright delves into the unresolved issues that linger into the 1960s. Ian D Wright utilizes dialogue to tell the story and omits setting and character development. This approach to story presentation lacks the heart of a novel. The characters have no depth. And lack of setting gives no threshold for ambience.

[Julie Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read stories about the wars but this one was part war history and part murder mystery, giving it a little twist. The first part delves into some of the war action and subterfuge, while the latter is twenty years later with connected crimes to solve.

The writing was fair and fit into the time period, though I am not sure the characters were believable enough.

However, it was an overall good read.

Worth a look.

[Kathy Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely riveting!

Fascinating historical thriller with plenty of thrills, chills and non-stop action! The characters were wonderfully written. They had depth, were heroic at times, yet were still flawed (like all humans). Plus the story had many layers to it! No sooner would I have things figured out when there would be a surprise revelation! I look forward to reading more by Mr Wright.
*I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book and chose to provide this review.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Night Drop is a page-turner. Told in a mixture of the Nazi occupation in France and 2o years later, you'll find yourself captured from the first page. The past and "present" intertwine to weave a mystery with a pinch of thrills you won't want to put down. With well-developed characters and a perfectly paced plot, anyone who enjoys historical mystery/thrillers will love this book.

[Philip A. Guercio · Rating 3 out of 5]

In search of traitors

This book set up with a flashback to WWII brings the reader into a plot filled with French resistance, Nazis, and collaborators. The characters are well developed however the pace was too quick for such a story.

[Jane Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like great plots, sound characters, and a touch of mystery, I recommend the historical fiction, The Night Drop: Resistance in the Marshlands by Ian D. Wright.

Twenty years after the war, Gilbert Fournier, a resistance member who is believed to have been responsible for townpeople’s deaths at the hands of the Germans, returns to St. Omer. His return raises questions at to who was the traitor and spy.

Jack and Sylvia contact the editor of a London magazine to propose an investigative article on the happenings in St. Omer and, hopefully, the discovery of the spy. Steve and Emily travel to the quaint French town and start gathering information from Jack and Sylvia. Before Gilbert can exonerate his name, he is murdered. Who silenced him and why?

The story is divided into two sections—during the war and twenty years afterward. Both stories are suspenseful, but the first more so. If you are looking for a high-paced thriller The Night Drop is not the book for you. If you enjoy the slower-paced small-town happenings, where the individuals are important, then this is a great read you.

[Cherry London · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mystery that needed closure, it occurred during the French Resistance in the second world war, giving a combination of complexities even twenty years after. The Resistance needed answers, which caused many of their own to lose their lives. Jack was given the task of solving the complex mystery, a puzzle within a puzzle, that was long overdue. With spies, moles, and traitors all around, it is mind-boggling how they went about this. The trust level within communities is all but gone, which makes getting answers that were twenty years old even more difficult. Sofia had made a catastrophic mistake twenty years ago, one that psychologically scarred her for life. But with Jack’s love and tender care she is able to live a normal life outside of her recurring nightmares about the incident that almost crippled her mentally and emotionally. They were loyal to their cause but betrayal, blackmail, and deceit had dogged their every step. A high power intellectual intriguing mystery, which captivates the mind with its complex twist and turns and how they still intertwine with the present.

[Jimmy Jefferson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about Jack Ross who is a British special forces recruit, Sofia a member of the resistance, and two brothers on opposing sides of the battle. Jack and Roland drop into France in 1943 in an attempt to help the allied forces win the war. Although the mission was a success, their was bad blood between many people in the tiny village in France. When the war was over, Jack married Sofia and lived a great life until 1965 when the main suspected traitor from 20 years ago decided to return to the village to clear his name. With a mole in the ranks, Jack and Sofia return as well, bringing with them a couple of crack investigative journalists. Upon the arrival of the team, there is a murder and the pressure is on to find out who is behind the death and what the end goal is. This story is fast paced and a really fun read. If you like thrills and twists along the way, this is the perfect read for you. A great murder mystery that spans 20 years, a war, a young budding love, and the return to the past. The characters are well developed and the author makes you feel like you are right there next to Jack in the pages as the story plays out. This is a great read and I recommend you check this one and then let me know what you think.

[CarlitasFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting military story
An intriguing and compelling story that will capture your attention from the very beginning. “Night Drop: Resistance in the Marshlands” was written by Ian D. Wright. I dare say that I found his writing style very fetching and easy to follow.
The story is set around the WWII. In the year 1943, a talented recruit from the British Special Force, Jack Ross, has a military mission to infiltrate in a Nazi Base in order to discover about the success of the Allied bombing raids. Jack together with Roland Keene strive to complete this mission. After the mission, troubles come when they do not expect them. Four years after that, Jack faces a new problem and he must ask for help to solve it as soon as he can. Unfortunately, in the course of the investigation other complications appear and make Jack´s job much more complex. What a great adventure!
The book is excellent! It is well-organized and there are lots of details that make the reading understandable. As I said before, I really enjoyed it! The characters are fully developed and also complex. For sure, people who love history will find it enthralling, too.

[CA Portnellus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was only mildly impressed by the book. The subject matter and plot changed inconsistently, from the beginning in the 1960s then flinging us back to discover the mystery that occurred during the German occupation in France in WWII. Some of the action was alright, but where it should have been knocking the reader out of their seat, the narrative killed the action. Very little character development with hardly any descriptive phrases. The POV and timing (tenses) changed constantly. Many important issues were left to lackadaisical third-party telling instead of rich first person dialogue.
What was to be a mystery didn’t matter to me by the end of the book. The sudden wrapping up of the solution was a rush to end the book and not enjoyable. Most of the important scenes were downplayed which means that the author had great intentions but rushed to tell the story without finesse.
I was asked to give an honest review and mine certainly varies from other reviewers. I expected more, as this is a significant place in time during the war, but it was a slippery slope for the author telling it. Sorry, I didn’t enjoy it as I wanted.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is set in two eras. One portion plays out in 1943, when Jack Ross, a British Special Forces recruit is tasked with infiltrating a Nazi Base and examine the success or failure of a recent Allied bombing raid that was carried out. It becomes clear a mole is in operation from events that occur and Jack, along with the other operative’s race to find out just who they can truly trust. The other portion is set in 1965, when one of the suspects (I cannot tell you who without spoilers) returns to the town and seeks to clear his name. A murder prompts two investigative journalists to do their thing and when they come across Jack, they agree to help him find the real mole.
A very absorbing tale full of military maneuvers, stealth missions, who done it mystery and even a smidgen of romance. Against the backdrop of the Nazi era, this book is well researched, well written and certainly the complex characters highlight the plot twists by helping redirect our attentions until the story has twisted.

[Valery · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Night Drop: Resistance in the Marshlands by Ian D. Wright is a fascinating historical book. The book opens with a gripping scene and the story takes off. The story is about World War II with both the British and French perspective and is an adept mystery filled with historical detail. The marshland itself is wonderfully described with cottages and small homes that sound so cozy, but also harbor secrets and controversy. The story unfolds in the year of 1943, then jumps to the year 1965, giving us a glimpse into the story as it evolves from simply a war saga to a more personal and engaging story as two investigative journalists help Jack figure out who the traitor is from years before during the war. Totally immersive, filled with well fleshed out characters and a gripping plot, this book is one that you won't want to miss. Highly recommend for an exciting and educational historical read.

[Mia C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Night Drop:Resistance in the Marshlands” is a book written by Ian D. Wright, passione about writing since he was a child.
The story is set in the year 1943 in France. Jack Ross, a talented recruit, and Roland Keene, a volunteer to the British forces, have a mission: discover how successful the Allied bombing raids have been. Twenty years pass and when things seem to have been left in the past, one of the suspects appear and Jack has to tackle a new problem.
The book manages to successfully combine two points in time in the past; I have always liked it when stories move forward and the reader can see the main character in different situations in their lives. After the first few pages, you feel eager to keep on reading as the story develops smoothly.
All in all, this book was a very enjoyable read and I will certainly recommend reading it. I am giving it four out of five stars.

[Pegboard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Night Drop: Resistance in the Marshlands by Ian D. Wright is a novel that takes you back to WWII and the complexity soldier's face in the torn country of France. Two British soldiers are dropped into a village to assess war tactics and are confronted by a hidden foe. Jack ends up marrying their informant after the war, Sofia.

Ian D. Wright masterfully creates a novel that pivots between 1943 and 1965. The Night Drop is the epitome of suspense, espionage, and a touch of romance. As the story unfolds, the reader will appreciate the author's ability to write a captivating novel with well-developed characters.
I loved the intensity as Sofia must flee for her life. You can almost feel the dread the hovers over them, knowing that in war you cannot make promises to protect the ones you love. Overall, I loved the plot and characters. The tension throughout this novel is high, but war reveals the best and worse in mankind.

[Colin Guest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Night Drop by Ian D Wright a most interesting story. The action never stopped from beginning to end. It gives what I consider a good idea of what the French Resistance had to be wary of during World War 2. These brave people put their lives at risk of certain death while trying to obtain and get information on German activities back to England. While reading the story, it kept me wanting to learn more and find out what happened next. I can only say I was not disappointed when it came to an end.