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Martin Falconer Thrillers #2
The Professionals
To swing the tide of the war, he must take to the air once again.
It was 1916. The First World War had still two years to run.
Martin Falconer , at eighteen an experienced pilot with service in France to his credit, was kicking his heels in England, awaiting another posting to the Front.
Throughout the spring he watched the progress of the war, especially the war in the air, acknowledging to himself the German's superiority. Their machines were better, and they had produced the war's best-known hero of the air, the
Red Baron . British machines were poor, morale was low, and the odds were stacked against them.
Finally, at the beginning of April, Martin was sent again to France - but this was the month that became known as Bloody April, when a pilot's life-expectancy was two weeks, and Martin found himself in a unit demoralised and ill-managed.
John Harris's sombre picture of Britain at war is as compelling as only the truth can be, perfect for fans of W. E. Johns, Alexander Fullerton and David Black.
It was 1916. The First World War had still two years to run.
Martin Falconer , at eighteen an experienced pilot with service in France to his credit, was kicking his heels in England, awaiting another posting to the Front.
Throughout the spring he watched the progress of the war, especially the war in the air, acknowledging to himself the German's superiority. Their machines were better, and they had produced the war's best-known hero of the air, the
Red Baron . British machines were poor, morale was low, and the odds were stacked against them.
Finally, at the beginning of April, Martin was sent again to France - but this was the month that became known as Bloody April, when a pilot's life-expectancy was two weeks, and Martin found himself in a unit demoralised and ill-managed.
John Harris's sombre picture of Britain at war is as compelling as only the truth can be, perfect for fans of W. E. Johns, Alexander Fullerton and David Black.
283 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
133 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 26, 2022
My first dive (literal nosedive) into a war story; there doesn't seem to be a plot there until well over 200 pages yet it reads so well that you don't really care. You can really picture the sky battles in this book and there are some great characters along the way even if one is pure Scottish and you have to re read literally all of their lines just to check you did the accent right 😬
April 10, 2025
Since 1915, Martin Falconer has been flying birds above France in His Majesty’s Royal Flying Corps, but as the days pass he’s beginning to wonder how much longer he can buck the odds. The aerial carnage has gotten especially bad now that the Germans have these new Albatross engines that fly circles around Sopwith Pups, leading to the nineteen year old Falconer seeing so many men and officers drop from the skies during Bloody April that he’s given command of the squadron. The plot of The Professionals follows Martin back and forth from England to France several times as his units are cycled off the front and into more easy duty (homeland flying is mostly chasing Zeppelins and Gothas when they can be spotted), then back to battle where we experience the excitement of aerial action, the growing psychological toll that constant death has on the fliers, and the comradery of the air, with English and German fliers both treating their downed rivals to feats of whiskey before having to turn them over to higher authorities. The Red Baron makes several appearances, both in the air and – well, let’s not ascend into spoiler heights, shall we?
I’ve never failed to enjoy a Hennessey story, especially his air works, and the ones set in WW1 have a particular interest for me because I’m not as familiar with the equipment as WW2 and so spend a lot of time googling airplane models and enjoying this era of experimentation as aerial warfare was beginning to get its legs on. The only fly in the soup is that there is a potential romantic interest named Charley, which is rather confusing given that another Charley featured rather prominently in the Kelly MacGuire stories, a key part in MacGuire’s emotional life and growth. I think I accidentally jumped in to the middle of a series here: Hennessey had so many that’s easy to do. Fortunately all of his books can be read by themselves, though when there’s long relationships (platonic or otherwise) the reader does miss witnessing those mature. This one has a heck of a ending, I will say, very Boys’ Own.
I’ve never failed to enjoy a Hennessey story, especially his air works, and the ones set in WW1 have a particular interest for me because I’m not as familiar with the equipment as WW2 and so spend a lot of time googling airplane models and enjoying this era of experimentation as aerial warfare was beginning to get its legs on. The only fly in the soup is that there is a potential romantic interest named Charley, which is rather confusing given that another Charley featured rather prominently in the Kelly MacGuire stories, a key part in MacGuire’s emotional life and growth. I think I accidentally jumped in to the middle of a series here: Hennessey had so many that’s easy to do. Fortunately all of his books can be read by themselves, though when there’s long relationships (platonic or otherwise) the reader does miss witnessing those mature. This one has a heck of a ending, I will say, very Boys’ Own.
October 9, 2022
A continuation of the Martin Falconer saga. I read book one 1-2 weeks ago so I can't really remember much about it because I've been on a Max Hennessy binge and reading his books non-stop and also because I read another Max Hennessy WWI fighter book in between. And I have no idea why he would writer another series that is so similar.
Spoilers ahead:
Anyway the background is Martin Falconer is a young boy just finishing high school and getting in the air corps. In book I, aircraft warfare is new and everybody is learning how to fight and shoot down other planes.
His mentor is Bil Sykes, a genteel aristocratic pilot who is about 5 years older than him. There is a lot of action in this book, all of which is well done. Perhaps the two most distinguishing events is that he is sent back to England for awhile to be a pilot instructor, where he teaches new pilots and his attempt to shoot down a Zepplin. Later on he tries to shoot down a huge Gotha bomber as well.
The other notable event is that he is shot down behind German lines where he finds Sykes as a fellow prisoner and they both escape by stealing a German plane to fly home.
Apart from that, in his personal life, Sykes marries his longtime childhood friend Jane. He also mets two possible love interests. One is the Belgian girl who helps him on his run from the Germans behind German lines. The other is Charley, a cousin of Sykes.
This book is well written and very easy to read, almost like a young adult book and I finished it with 2-3 days.
Spoilers ahead:
Anyway the background is Martin Falconer is a young boy just finishing high school and getting in the air corps. In book I, aircraft warfare is new and everybody is learning how to fight and shoot down other planes.
His mentor is Bil Sykes, a genteel aristocratic pilot who is about 5 years older than him. There is a lot of action in this book, all of which is well done. Perhaps the two most distinguishing events is that he is sent back to England for awhile to be a pilot instructor, where he teaches new pilots and his attempt to shoot down a Zepplin. Later on he tries to shoot down a huge Gotha bomber as well.
The other notable event is that he is shot down behind German lines where he finds Sykes as a fellow prisoner and they both escape by stealing a German plane to fly home.
Apart from that, in his personal life, Sykes marries his longtime childhood friend Jane. He also mets two possible love interests. One is the Belgian girl who helps him on his run from the Germans behind German lines. The other is Charley, a cousin of Sykes.
This book is well written and very easy to read, almost like a young adult book and I finished it with 2-3 days.
January 16, 2021
Enjoyable, Invoking, and Full of Surprises!
This second book of the series carries the non hero emphasis and moves in character development with believable experiences for the main and secondary characters. It also down plays the glory war with those involved and adaptability of both the civilian and military. Looking forward to the remaining books of the series! 👍🏻
This second book of the series carries the non hero emphasis and moves in character development with believable experiences for the main and secondary characters. It also down plays the glory war with those involved and adaptability of both the civilian and military. Looking forward to the remaining books of the series! 👍🏻
May 1, 2024
Although a novel it is very well researched. I’d just finished reading a book about WW1 air war and this book picks up perfectly from there. I suppose it’s a bit contrived, in as much as when our hero is captured by the Germans he’s able to meet none other than the Red Baron but it’s a good read. I enjoyed it.
May 31, 2024
Book 1 in the series was good but for me book 2 is even better . The author develops his characters further and this leads to a really enjoyable, and at times gripping, read . Yes the similarities to the "Biggles " books are still there but for me they just help make this a light yet very believable book -roll on book 3 !
October 31, 2023
solid if stolid
A bit traditional in structure and narrative but the details feel right. Lacks the cynicism of Derek Robinson but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I prefer Robinson but Hennessy holds his own
A bit traditional in structure and narrative but the details feel right. Lacks the cynicism of Derek Robinson but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I prefer Robinson but Hennessy holds his own
August 26, 2020
Enjoyable but not gripping
I didn't enjoy the book as much as the first one in the series but will still buy the sequel
I didn't enjoy the book as much as the first one in the series but will still buy the sequel
February 14, 2021
Battle on
Another interesting story of the intrepid fliers and the progressive battle for air superiority in aircraft design that launched the battle of WW1 into the air
Another interesting story of the intrepid fliers and the progressive battle for air superiority in aircraft design that launched the battle of WW1 into the air
October 2, 2022
A WW1 flying adventure that is difficult to put down. Difficult nowadays to understand the bravery of the young men who flew without a parachute and whose life expectancy was a few weeks.
April 1, 2022
World War I action following a young pilot fighting in France and his time back in England.
A bit of a "boys own adventure" as he gets in various scrapes, but also quite exciting and tense (especially in the last chapters).
Well written characters, it shows their frustration as the Germans outpace them in aeroplane development, and their feelings as they lose various members of the squadron.
A bit of a "boys own adventure" as he gets in various scrapes, but also quite exciting and tense (especially in the last chapters).
Well written characters, it shows their frustration as the Germans outpace them in aeroplane development, and their feelings as they lose various members of the squadron.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews