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Army of Shadows: The WWII Collection
They fought without glory – and without mercy.
France, Winter 1944: The long-awaited liberation is at hand
The bombing missions had gone well, and the crew of the Lancaster bomber had begun to relax. Then the Messerschmitt came out of the darkness, its guns blazing.
Of the nine-man crew only Neville and Urqhart survive, parachuting into the heart of occupied France. Joining forces with the men of the French Resistance, they must enter a deadly game of cat and mouse with a ruthless enemy...
A nerve-shredding thriller of the Second World War, steeped in historical research, perfect for fans of Alistair MacLean, Jack Higgins and Wilbur Smith.
- GenresHistorical FictionWar
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1977
255 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 26, 2022
Spoilers ahead.
This book is about a small village of Nery in France, under German occupation during WW2. Two downed British airmen reach the village just as a new German unit arrives to take it over.
The main story is about the lives of the villagers under German occupation. Threads of the story include romance between the villagers and the airmen, the German search for valuable art that belongs to the mayor and resident nobility of the village and disagreements between the German officers.
As D-Day draws near, more weapons are dropped for the villagers and they plan to take revenge on the Germans who get more antsy as they realize that the war is not going well for them.
The big ending is the big battle at the end between the villagers and the departing Germans. I found the long set-up rather long winded and not really much happens except for the romance between the characters. All of the Max Hennessy books I've read so far contains romance, sometimes a lot of it. I guess it was de rigueur for books written during this time but I find it mostly gratuitous and if it's not written well, boring.
As usual Hennessy puts too many characters in his books and it's hard to build them up when there's so many. But generally I think he did a good job especially the Germans. The ending was the best part, and I don't mean just the action part but the emotions that went through the villagers' heads as they realize that the war is over for them. The book is a nice departure from his usual work which deals mostly with regular armed forces characters.
This book is about a small village of Nery in France, under German occupation during WW2. Two downed British airmen reach the village just as a new German unit arrives to take it over.
The main story is about the lives of the villagers under German occupation. Threads of the story include romance between the villagers and the airmen, the German search for valuable art that belongs to the mayor and resident nobility of the village and disagreements between the German officers.
As D-Day draws near, more weapons are dropped for the villagers and they plan to take revenge on the Germans who get more antsy as they realize that the war is not going well for them.
The big ending is the big battle at the end between the villagers and the departing Germans. I found the long set-up rather long winded and not really much happens except for the romance between the characters. All of the Max Hennessy books I've read so far contains romance, sometimes a lot of it. I guess it was de rigueur for books written during this time but I find it mostly gratuitous and if it's not written well, boring.
As usual Hennessy puts too many characters in his books and it's hard to build them up when there's so many. But generally I think he did a good job especially the Germans. The ending was the best part, and I don't mean just the action part but the emotions that went through the villagers' heads as they realize that the war is over for them. The book is a nice departure from his usual work which deals mostly with regular armed forces characters.
April 26, 2020
I believe Hennessy is a nom de plume of John Harris who wrote one of my favourite Great War novels, Covenant With Death.
This Second World War yarn isn't in the same league. It comes across like an episode from the 1970s British television series, Secret Army, and not one of the better episodes. However, it's gripping enough, easy to read, keeps the reader entertained and has some good characters, French, German and British, the latter somewhat underrepresented but I don't want to put in a spoiler. Throw in a bit of sex, romance, heroism, humour, national stereotypes ie the French are all obsessed with food and drink and are a bit rustic, the Germans are either Nazis or purloiners of artworks. And the British? Obsessed with class as usual but respected by their hosts due their RAF credentials. Lots of action but I was slightly confused by the ending which isn't really an ending as the war carried on as we all know for several months after the D-Day landings and the uprising by the French against their German occupiers. A very good read, not at all highbrow. I read it on my smartphone at bedtime and occasionally dropped off but quickly resumed where I'd left off the next day.
This Second World War yarn isn't in the same league. It comes across like an episode from the 1970s British television series, Secret Army, and not one of the better episodes. However, it's gripping enough, easy to read, keeps the reader entertained and has some good characters, French, German and British, the latter somewhat underrepresented but I don't want to put in a spoiler. Throw in a bit of sex, romance, heroism, humour, national stereotypes ie the French are all obsessed with food and drink and are a bit rustic, the Germans are either Nazis or purloiners of artworks. And the British? Obsessed with class as usual but respected by their hosts due their RAF credentials. Lots of action but I was slightly confused by the ending which isn't really an ending as the war carried on as we all know for several months after the D-Day landings and the uprising by the French against their German occupiers. A very good read, not at all highbrow. I read it on my smartphone at bedtime and occasionally dropped off but quickly resumed where I'd left off the next day.
September 15, 2020
A story of survival during WWII, in France. Captivating.
Is this a love story? Is this a story of escape? Is this a story of survival? Two RAF fliers surviving a shot down bomber appear in a French village. A broken foot keeps them there hidden for months. The story evolves from there into one of personal growth, immersion, wits, cunning and becoming part of the village. Culmination comes with the chance to take in retreating Germans. Can they do it? Great story.
Is this a love story? Is this a story of escape? Is this a story of survival? Two RAF fliers surviving a shot down bomber appear in a French village. A broken foot keeps them there hidden for months. The story evolves from there into one of personal growth, immersion, wits, cunning and becoming part of the village. Culmination comes with the chance to take in retreating Germans. Can they do it? Great story.
May 3, 2020
Retribution
This story captures the horrors of occupation and war.
The characters are defined with feeling and clarity while describing French village life during occupation with sensitivity. I would recommend this book be read widely by those who aspire to aggression and conquest so that a fleeting appreciation for the realities of war are recognised
This story captures the horrors of occupation and war.
The characters are defined with feeling and clarity while describing French village life during occupation with sensitivity. I would recommend this book be read widely by those who aspire to aggression and conquest so that a fleeting appreciation for the realities of war are recognised
May 8, 2020
A Look at Occupied France WWII
An interesting take on how the French faced the rigors of occupation during the war. It details the efforts of locals and how they fought back. The story tells of two English airmen escaping from their mortally wounded aircraft and fighting with the locals till the allies arrived. I felt that the book was a little long but was an interesting read.
An interesting take on how the French faced the rigors of occupation during the war. It details the efforts of locals and how they fought back. The story tells of two English airmen escaping from their mortally wounded aircraft and fighting with the locals till the allies arrived. I felt that the book was a little long but was an interesting read.
December 27, 2024
The story of the only two surviving members of an RAF Lancaster bomber who have to bail out when their plane is shot down over German occupied France .
The RAF men are helped by the local people and end up joining forces with the resistance .
At times the story is dramatic and enthralling , though often predictable ; I really enjoyed it .
The RAF men are helped by the local people and end up joining forces with the resistance .
At times the story is dramatic and enthralling , though often predictable ; I really enjoyed it .
April 19, 2020
Anglo/French detente
4 stars for a good story marred by typos, apart from that its a good read, two disparate shot down airmen who help a small French village through the closing years of WWII.
4 stars for a good story marred by typos, apart from that its a good read, two disparate shot down airmen who help a small French village through the closing years of WWII.
July 1, 2020
Story of The Resistance in small French village
The story is set in rural occupied France from shortly before D-Day until the German retreat.
The story is fairly slow for much of the book but the final chapter is a blood bath.
The story is set in rural occupied France from shortly before D-Day until the German retreat.
The story is fairly slow for much of the book but the final chapter is a blood bath.
September 25, 2020
Downed airmen organize a village resistance
While a work of fiction, the author draws you into the reality of war as seen and lived by this small French village and how two English downed airmen organized their resistance to undo a retreating German army contingent.
While a work of fiction, the author draws you into the reality of war as seen and lived by this small French village and how two English downed airmen organized their resistance to undo a retreating German army contingent.
June 18, 2020
A good read
Bedtime reading at its best. If you know anything about the Second World War this book is a delight and the Germans don’t come out of it very well either!!
Bedtime reading at its best. If you know anything about the Second World War this book is a delight and the Germans don’t come out of it very well either!!
September 22, 2020
Army of shadows
Good book. Lots of action and color. Happy for the outcome even if it a fictional story. It tells how strong the French were.
Good book. Lots of action and color. Happy for the outcome even if it a fictional story. It tells how strong the French were.
Read
January 29, 2021Excellent story great characters and well laid out
The detAils of the town and weapons are superb. Did not spare the gories nor t he detAils of th d battle x
The detAils of the town and weapons are superb. Did not spare the gories nor t he detAils of th d battle x
March 6, 2021
After a brilliant beginning, as pictured on the cover, the story just petered out. Not Mr, Harris’s best work.
March 30, 2021
Typical Hennessy
One of the better books ,fast paced, descriptive and with plenty of action.All readers of WWI I will enjoy this book
One of the better books ,fast paced, descriptive and with plenty of action.All readers of WWI I will enjoy this book
March 31, 2021
Great book for the details of action in WWII Army Air Force
August 11, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book even though it reminded me of Allo Allo without the comedy
December 11, 2024
Nothing special , very slow build up to a final battle
March 12, 2020
No Regrets
A great retelling of of the Second World War thru the eyes of French, Americans and British soldiers.
The French resistance led by two British flyers set up the German war machine and thru cunning,fortitude and astute planning brought death and destruction to the German army in France.
A great retelling of of the Second World War thru the eyes of French, Americans and British soldiers.
The French resistance led by two British flyers set up the German war machine and thru cunning,fortitude and astute planning brought death and destruction to the German army in France.
February 9, 2020
Good read
Good story and we'll written, I'm sure in truth there were some Airmen and Soldiers who stayed behind when it was all over.
Good story and we'll written, I'm sure in truth there were some Airmen and Soldiers who stayed behind when it was all over.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews