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Richard Prince #4
End of Spies
Europe, 1945: no longer at war but not yet at peace. The gripping finale to the bestselling Richard Prince espionage thrillers.
British agent Richard Prince and the Danish spy Hanne Jakobsen come together for a vital mission: to find a Nazi war criminal responsible for the murder of fellow British agents.
The hunt takes them on a perilous journey through Europe, a continent living on its nerves in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. They unearth a secret Nazi escape line funded by British traitors - and it's one which could lead them to Hitler's trusted deputy, Martin Bormann.
But when the Americans become involved it is no longer certain who's on which side. Help might come in unlikely places. Can justice be found against the odds... Or are they too late?
An unputdownable spy thriller with a twist you won't see coming, this is the brilliant conclusion to Alex Gerlis' masterful Richard Prince spy thrillers, perfect for fans of John le Carré and Alan Furst.
British agent Richard Prince and the Danish spy Hanne Jakobsen come together for a vital mission: to find a Nazi war criminal responsible for the murder of fellow British agents.
The hunt takes them on a perilous journey through Europe, a continent living on its nerves in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. They unearth a secret Nazi escape line funded by British traitors - and it's one which could lead them to Hitler's trusted deputy, Martin Bormann.
But when the Americans become involved it is no longer certain who's on which side. Help might come in unlikely places. Can justice be found against the odds... Or are they too late?
An unputdownable spy thriller with a twist you won't see coming, this is the brilliant conclusion to Alex Gerlis' masterful Richard Prince spy thrillers, perfect for fans of John le Carré and Alan Furst.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 8, 2021
187 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
About the author
Alex Gerlis
37 books328 followersAlex Gerlis was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, in 1955. He graduated with a degree in Law and Politics from Hull University in 1977 and, after working as a political researcher and journalist, joined the BBC in 1983 as a researcher on Panorama.
Over the next twenty years he worked on a number of BBC News and Current Affairs programmes, including making documentaries for The Money Programme and election programmes with David Dimbleby and Jeremy Paxman. He has also edited Breakfast News, the One o'Clock News, the Six o'Clock News and the Weekend News for the BBC. In August 1998 he was the BBC TV News duty editor on the day of the Omagh bomb in Northern Ireland, the coverage of which later won a Royal Television Society award. In September 2001 he was one of the BBC Newsroom team covering the attack on the Twin Towers. He has also worked for the BBC throughout Europe, the United States, the Middle East and in China, and from 2005 to March 2011 was Head of Training at the BBC College of Journalism – the body in charge of the training of the corporation's 7,500 journalists.
Alex's first novel was inspired by his work covering the 50th anniversary of D-Day from Normandy. He is married with two daughters and lives in west London.
Over the next twenty years he worked on a number of BBC News and Current Affairs programmes, including making documentaries for The Money Programme and election programmes with David Dimbleby and Jeremy Paxman. He has also edited Breakfast News, the One o'Clock News, the Six o'Clock News and the Weekend News for the BBC. In August 1998 he was the BBC TV News duty editor on the day of the Omagh bomb in Northern Ireland, the coverage of which later won a Royal Television Society award. In September 2001 he was one of the BBC Newsroom team covering the attack on the Twin Towers. He has also worked for the BBC throughout Europe, the United States, the Middle East and in China, and from 2005 to March 2011 was Head of Training at the BBC College of Journalism – the body in charge of the training of the corporation's 7,500 journalists.
Alex's first novel was inspired by his work covering the 50th anniversary of D-Day from Normandy. He is married with two daughters and lives in west London.
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March 24, 2021End of Spies is the fourth and maybe the last book in the Richard Prince series. In this book, Richard and his wife Hanne Jakobsen come together for one last mission, to find a Nazi war criminal responsible for the murder of fellow British agents.
This is a taut, authentic and gripping spy novel set place right after the end of world war II. This was my first book by Alex Gerlis and I really enjoyed it. It's so well-written and if you love spy novels and authors like John le Carré, Alan Furst and Joseph Kanon then you will love this book. I have bought book 1-3 in this series and I'm looking forward to read more about Richard Prince and how it all started. Hopefully there will be more books in the future. The end of the book gave me some hope...
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Canelo for the opportunity to read this book and to share my honest review.
This is a taut, authentic and gripping spy novel set place right after the end of world war II. This was my first book by Alex Gerlis and I really enjoyed it. It's so well-written and if you love spy novels and authors like John le Carré, Alan Furst and Joseph Kanon then you will love this book. I have bought book 1-3 in this series and I'm looking forward to read more about Richard Prince and how it all started. Hopefully there will be more books in the future. The end of the book gave me some hope...
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Canelo for the opportunity to read this book and to share my honest review.
March 13, 2021
I have read End of Spies, the fourth and maybe final book about Richard Prince by Alex Gerlis. It's the end of the second world war and there is some mopping up to do. Some nazis are trying to escape and there are still some brits who will help them. Enter Richard Prince and his Danish girlfriend Hanna. Will they find out what goes on with the Kestrel line and who can they trust? We have Americans, Russians, Germans Slovaks, Austrians and British in one big mess. I have really enjoyed these four books nad can really recommend them. I have actually been stockpiling a couple of @AlexGerlis other books to read at a later date. I must Thank @Netgalley and @Canelo_co for giving me this advance copy.
August 27, 2021
The final book in the series featuring Richard Prince - police detective turned spy during World War II.
In this story, it's the end of the war and Prince and his partner Hanne Jakobsen are hunting down a Gestapo officer who was responsible for the murder of British SOE agents. They also uncover an escape line for Nazis partly funded by sympathisers in Britain.
I found the plot of this book somewhat muddled and didn't enjoy it as much as I have other espionage novels by Alex Gerlis. I'd recommend his Spy Masters series instead.
In this story, it's the end of the war and Prince and his partner Hanne Jakobsen are hunting down a Gestapo officer who was responsible for the murder of British SOE agents. They also uncover an escape line for Nazis partly funded by sympathisers in Britain.
I found the plot of this book somewhat muddled and didn't enjoy it as much as I have other espionage novels by Alex Gerlis. I'd recommend his Spy Masters series instead.
April 16, 2024
Alex Gerlis wrote a worthy concluding volume to his World War 2 spy series, Prince of Spies. I enjoyed this book, but loved the series as a whole. This book wasn’t quite as good as number 3 in the series, but I did like it. It dealt with the aftermath of the war and Nazi officials who were taking a hidden route to escape Germany. This is a real-life topic in history that really interests me, but it did fall slightly flat in this book. As a whole, it did seem that Prince played less of a part in this book than in the other books in the series, so I was a little disappointed by that. Still I did enjoy it a lot. Alex Gerlis remains my favorite spy writer, and Rupert Bush is a fantastic narrator of this Audible book.
April 28, 2022
3 stars
April 17, 2021
Hopefully not the End
For me this is the best in the Richard Prince series. Literally could not put it down. I was time espionage is your thing this . Is for you.
For me this is the best in the Richard Prince series. Literally could not put it down. I was time espionage is your thing this . Is for you.
January 11, 2023
Quite sad to come to the end of the series. This is one of the very few series that is good from beginning to end, only 4 books in the series though. Many series that I've read started out good but ended with a whimper.
Spoilers ahead.
Once again the narrative is from several different POVs. Usually I don't like it because I have to reset mentally going from one POV to another but Gerlis does such a good job that it doesn't matter. I think the difference is that all the characters are interesting and the writing flows easily from one POV to another.
Summary:
The war is over and the remaining Nazis are either all hiding or trying to escape, same with the British fascist sympathizers from the last book. All 3 Allied powers, the Brits, Yanks and Russians are trying to capture them, with the Russians and Americans both planning, instead of punishing them, to turn them and use them for their own purposes. So it's a race to capture as many as they can.
The main plotline is about capturing the Ferret, who was responsible for the capture and deaths of several British agents. The side plot is that the Ferret's father is a high ranking Nazi who has created the Kestrel escape route to use to help Martin Bormann escape (if he can be found) and then also use it to help himself and his son escape as well.
Prince and Hanne are sent to the continent and the second half of the book is about them one step behind the Ferret following and trying to capture him and the British turncoats who also want to escape. Prince's friend Soviet 1 star commissar Gurevich plays a big part in the book.
There seems to be a loose string. The Admiral, an unknown British turncoat, who is behind the British agents, is still unaccounted for and I thought maybe there would be a 5th book about him.
Spoilers ahead.
Once again the narrative is from several different POVs. Usually I don't like it because I have to reset mentally going from one POV to another but Gerlis does such a good job that it doesn't matter. I think the difference is that all the characters are interesting and the writing flows easily from one POV to another.
Summary:
The war is over and the remaining Nazis are either all hiding or trying to escape, same with the British fascist sympathizers from the last book. All 3 Allied powers, the Brits, Yanks and Russians are trying to capture them, with the Russians and Americans both planning, instead of punishing them, to turn them and use them for their own purposes. So it's a race to capture as many as they can.
The main plotline is about capturing the Ferret, who was responsible for the capture and deaths of several British agents. The side plot is that the Ferret's father is a high ranking Nazi who has created the Kestrel escape route to use to help Martin Bormann escape (if he can be found) and then also use it to help himself and his son escape as well.
Prince and Hanne are sent to the continent and the second half of the book is about them one step behind the Ferret following and trying to capture him and the British turncoats who also want to escape. Prince's friend Soviet 1 star commissar Gurevich plays a big part in the book.
There seems to be a loose string. The Admiral, an unknown British turncoat, who is behind the British agents, is still unaccounted for and I thought maybe there would be a 5th book about him.
December 12, 2021
With the European war over, the scramble for spheres of influence crashes into the desperation of Nazi’s to escape the justice of the Allies. Richard Prince is tasked with finding a Gestapo agent responsible for the horrific abuse and death of several British agents across Europe.
Prince is soon travelling around Europe, working with his new ‘friend’, or at least associate, Commisar Gurevitch in the Soviet controlled Eastern zone of Berlin. It transpires that Hitler’s most trusted deputy, Martin Bormann, is one of those attempting to escape from Europe. With the continent on edge, no one knows who to trust, and some of the people Prince was chasing in Britain in Book 3 are reintroduced. Can Prince find the Gestapo agent? Can he break to Nazi escape line, funded by British traitors?
This is a very good end to the series, and I am pleased Mr. Gerlis did not attempt to string the series out for further books focused on Nazi hunting and the changing situation in Europe. Arguably for me, the series improves as we move through, which is testament to the quality of the writing – no complaints at all. Thanks for an excellent four books.
Prince is soon travelling around Europe, working with his new ‘friend’, or at least associate, Commisar Gurevitch in the Soviet controlled Eastern zone of Berlin. It transpires that Hitler’s most trusted deputy, Martin Bormann, is one of those attempting to escape from Europe. With the continent on edge, no one knows who to trust, and some of the people Prince was chasing in Britain in Book 3 are reintroduced. Can Prince find the Gestapo agent? Can he break to Nazi escape line, funded by British traitors?
This is a very good end to the series, and I am pleased Mr. Gerlis did not attempt to string the series out for further books focused on Nazi hunting and the changing situation in Europe. Arguably for me, the series improves as we move through, which is testament to the quality of the writing – no complaints at all. Thanks for an excellent four books.
May 29, 2021
End of Spies is another top class adventure thriller from Alex Gerlis featuring Richard Prince and his Danish girlfriend Hanne Jacobsen.
The war is over but Europe is a portrait of extreme chaos. Despite top Nazis being either dead or facing justice at Nuremberg, many remain at large and Prince and Hanne are charged with finding one particularly nasty ex Gestapo man and identifying the escape route out of Europe for fleeing war criminals.
With some strange allies from both sides of the soon-to-be-called Iron Curtain, their lives are constantly under threat. There’s excitement a plenty and moments of passion for the two lover agents and the Richard Prince series of novels ends with a crescendo of double cross and thrills.
The Prince novels are a very fine quartet of tales indeed.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of ’39, all published by Sacristy Press.
The war is over but Europe is a portrait of extreme chaos. Despite top Nazis being either dead or facing justice at Nuremberg, many remain at large and Prince and Hanne are charged with finding one particularly nasty ex Gestapo man and identifying the escape route out of Europe for fleeing war criminals.
With some strange allies from both sides of the soon-to-be-called Iron Curtain, their lives are constantly under threat. There’s excitement a plenty and moments of passion for the two lover agents and the Richard Prince series of novels ends with a crescendo of double cross and thrills.
The Prince novels are a very fine quartet of tales indeed.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of ’39, all published by Sacristy Press.
April 4, 2025
A really nice conclusion to the Richard Prince saga. Was good to see that everything didn't get perfectly wrapped up into a nice neat bow. Good to see a few of the threads were left open.
The one think I like about the way Alex wrote these stories is they weren't full of over the top action and big technical gun fights - they were just a bit more grounded into normality. This story in particular was well paced - it also didn't all just magically land into Prince's hands each time which was nice. Alex also doesn't go over the top with his descriptions of things like weapons or technical elements - they are more just mentioned rather than hung on (some authors go into too much detail about exactly which version of which gun a person was using).
Overall as a series they were a good story - I felt like the first novel left us hanging a bit whereas the final three were each pretty well resolved on their own.
Nice easy reads
The one think I like about the way Alex wrote these stories is they weren't full of over the top action and big technical gun fights - they were just a bit more grounded into normality. This story in particular was well paced - it also didn't all just magically land into Prince's hands each time which was nice. Alex also doesn't go over the top with his descriptions of things like weapons or technical elements - they are more just mentioned rather than hung on (some authors go into too much detail about exactly which version of which gun a person was using).
Overall as a series they were a good story - I felt like the first novel left us hanging a bit whereas the final three were each pretty well resolved on their own.
Nice easy reads
August 13, 2021
The final instalment of the Richard Prince spy thriller series was just as good as the other three.
Richard and Hanne are recalled to their roles as spies and go to post war Europe on the trail of Nazi war criminals and some information on the Kestrel Line that got the Germans to freedom.
Richard and Hanne are faced with danger, intrigue, disappointment and their mission being cancelled before they can complete it. However, with the aid of a Red Army Officer and some Slovenian Partisans, the two Brits manage to accomplish their task and return to London alive.
There is a slightly open ending to this story, almost as if the author doesn't want to completely rule out a future story featuring Richard and Hanne.
Good to have loose ends tied and a happy end to the book.
Richard and Hanne are recalled to their roles as spies and go to post war Europe on the trail of Nazi war criminals and some information on the Kestrel Line that got the Germans to freedom.
Richard and Hanne are faced with danger, intrigue, disappointment and their mission being cancelled before they can complete it. However, with the aid of a Red Army Officer and some Slovenian Partisans, the two Brits manage to accomplish their task and return to London alive.
There is a slightly open ending to this story, almost as if the author doesn't want to completely rule out a future story featuring Richard and Hanne.
Good to have loose ends tied and a happy end to the book.
April 15, 2021
In the months following the end of the Second World War some of the darkest aspects of the Third Reich were revealed. Nazi war criminals faced trials and probable death sentences, but then America, Russia and Britain began recruiting some of their scientists and inventors. Old enemies became uneasy allies; long-trusted friends found themselves on opposite sides suddenly.
Alex Gerlis once again delivers an intelligent and compelling spy thriller. He pulls off the trick of combining fact and fiction with emotionally potent characters. A masterfully told story exploring the moral quandary of guilt and revenge.
Alex Gerlis once again delivers an intelligent and compelling spy thriller. He pulls off the trick of combining fact and fiction with emotionally potent characters. A masterfully told story exploring the moral quandary of guilt and revenge.
April 18, 2021
End of Spies. Alex Gerlis
Sadly, this may be the last book in this excellent series. The last page gave a glimmer of hope.Prince and his wife Hannah are tasked with hunting down high level Nazi's. Guilty of war crimes. The problem as usual, politics. Prince, Hannah and Slovakian freedom fighters also have an interest in one of the Germans. Prince disobey a direct order, unaware of changes agai again. Prince and Hannah are very good at what they do. They get a pass on their return to London. In closing, again, an excellent read!!! Enjoyed immensely!!! My highest recommendation.
Sadly, this may be the last book in this excellent series. The last page gave a glimmer of hope.Prince and his wife Hannah are tasked with hunting down high level Nazi's. Guilty of war crimes. The problem as usual, politics. Prince, Hannah and Slovakian freedom fighters also have an interest in one of the Germans. Prince disobey a direct order, unaware of changes agai again. Prince and Hannah are very good at what they do. They get a pass on their return to London. In closing, again, an excellent read!!! Enjoyed immensely!!! My highest recommendation.
October 1, 2021
This is the 4th and last(?) in the series.
We are at the end of the war and the need for retribution is being hampered by the real politik of the cold war.
Richard is reunited with Hanne and looking forward to being a family but history gets in the way.
They are parachuted back into post-war Europe chasing Nazi fugitives who are trying to stay one step ahead. At the same time UK Nazi sympathisers are having to deal with the fact that they lost.
Add the Russians and the Americans into the mix and it becomes very murky indeed.
This is a well written taut thriller. Most enjoyable.
We are at the end of the war and the need for retribution is being hampered by the real politik of the cold war.
Richard is reunited with Hanne and looking forward to being a family but history gets in the way.
They are parachuted back into post-war Europe chasing Nazi fugitives who are trying to stay one step ahead. At the same time UK Nazi sympathisers are having to deal with the fact that they lost.
Add the Russians and the Americans into the mix and it becomes very murky indeed.
This is a well written taut thriller. Most enjoyable.
July 5, 2021
Brilliant
With the war over Richard Prince expects to have a quiet life but it's not to be. A great story of a post war Nazi hunt, with Prince and Hannah, his now wife, heading out across a war ravaged Europe. If you've read any of the Bernie Gunther novels this is in very similar country with a great sense of atmosphere and tension. All four books would make a great TV series and hopefully will one day.
With the war over Richard Prince expects to have a quiet life but it's not to be. A great story of a post war Nazi hunt, with Prince and Hannah, his now wife, heading out across a war ravaged Europe. If you've read any of the Bernie Gunther novels this is in very similar country with a great sense of atmosphere and tension. All four books would make a great TV series and hopefully will one day.
October 17, 2021
So books one and two of the series were good, made for a good story, but books three and four were awesome. Could you have read the individually, perhaps but something would be lost. In total, this was a fun series of books. The level of detail and research completed by the author helps to bring it all alive. I can't imagine how much effort went into it, but I am so thankful for it all. Se well done.
November 26, 2025
An extremely entertaining read on post WW2 Europe and the interplay between the 3 “Allies” - US, Great Britain and Russia. Using the well established characters of Richard Prince and his wife, Hanne and their MI-6 organization, there is action and intrigue as all parties are attempting to bring spies and Nazi criminals to “justice”.
This story is told with a good level of detail on the issues, locations and complexities of this time in history.
This story is told with a good level of detail on the issues, locations and complexities of this time in history.
January 3, 2025
Dramatic finale to Prince series of four books
Devastation of war continues in aftermath of peace treaties. Investigators and spies continue to hunt for Nazi leaders and collaborators. International interests vary as different countries prepare for a safe and peaceful future. Nice that Richard and Hanne might enjoy family life together.
Devastation of war continues in aftermath of peace treaties. Investigators and spies continue to hunt for Nazi leaders and collaborators. International interests vary as different countries prepare for a safe and peaceful future. Nice that Richard and Hanne might enjoy family life together.
February 19, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Had to keep reminding myself that it was fiction
with a reality to it. It brings to life what actually took place during and immediately after
the war. Unfortunately, despite the terrible loss of life and devastation to cities, as humans
we have learned nothing.
with a reality to it. It brings to life what actually took place during and immediately after
the war. Unfortunately, despite the terrible loss of life and devastation to cities, as humans
we have learned nothing.
August 7, 2025
I really enjoyed End of Spies, though I’m sad the series is over for now. Alex Gerlis has delivered four consistently strong, well-paced spy novels with memorable characters and rich historical detail. This final installment wraps things up in a satisfying way, while still leaving me hopeful that we might see Richard Prince again in the future.
May 18, 2021
What, family spies?
I’ve read pretty much all of the Richard Prince books and they are full of details and richly outlined characters. The period of the stories is well detailed, as in a movie, so the story is easily visualized. Recommended.
I’ve read pretty much all of the Richard Prince books and they are full of details and richly outlined characters. The period of the stories is well detailed, as in a movie, so the story is easily visualized. Recommended.
June 20, 2021
Excellent Thriller
Exciting ending to this series! There are lots of very interesting characters to keep track of, so be sure you read about them before beginning the story. Enjoy!
Exciting ending to this series! There are lots of very interesting characters to keep track of, so be sure you read about them before beginning the story. Enjoy!
July 6, 2021
9/10 18%. Obvious from the time taken to read, a jolly good end to this four book war series. Slightly damp squib ending - thought The Admiral might have some more twists, but a well written enjoyable read and well done to Canelo for commissioning the series.
October 18, 2021
See now I am going to have to read the first three books!! An excellent stand alone espionage thriller, but suspect reading the books in order might have helped with the underlying back stories of the characters.
February 21, 2022
a good read
The Richard Prince thrillers are part Buchan,part Le Carre, part Furst. The stories are like snakes and ladders with more snakes than ladders. They also capture the mood of occupied Europe and then the immediate post-war.
The Richard Prince thrillers are part Buchan,part Le Carre, part Furst. The stories are like snakes and ladders with more snakes than ladders. They also capture the mood of occupied Europe and then the immediate post-war.
December 31, 2023
A great ending to a great series. A little bit more predictable in places than I would have really liked but still a massively enjoyable page-turner.
A series that I would recommend to anyone interested in the genre.
A series that I would recommend to anyone interested in the genre.
January 6, 2024
Excellent end to an easy read spy thriller set in WWII. Whilst parts are a bit far fetched the interfaces between factual occurances and people and the fictional story intertwine well. Hopefully Gerlis will find other plots and characters to create well crafted spy Thrillers.
August 22, 2025
Anyone looking for a WWII spy series, the Alex Gerlis is your man. This is the last book in the 'Prince' series of books and an excellent read with a well plotted story with plenty of intriguing twists and turns.
April 17, 2021
A good ending to a good series.
Well written, as usual, with an interesting plot. Alex Gerlis does a fine job on character development. The ending wraps things up nicely.
Well written, as usual, with an interesting plot. Alex Gerlis does a fine job on character development. The ending wraps things up nicely.
May 14, 2021
Each Richard Prince novel got better than the previous. So this was a great way to end the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews