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To what lengths will the British go to smuggle a secret weapon into Nazi Germany? An unmissable Second World War thriller from bestseller Alex Gerlis.

Hiding in the horror of Warsaw’s Jewish Ghetto with his family, scientist Roman Loszynski has a secret: a means of making aerial bombing raids frighteningly accurate. Codenamed Tatra, it could change the course of the war.

With British agent Jack Miller now in Switzerland, back in Berlin undercover spy Sophia von Naundorf is determined to escape Germany come what may. As the RAF look to destroy the Ruhr through its bombing raids, Barnaby Allen and British intelligence will need everything Jack and Sophia have to help find, test and deploy these devices.

But that will mean getting Loszynski out of Poland, and themselves re-entering the Reich. Both seem, on the face of it, impossible, desperate missions filled with danger. Every second a chance for discovery.

Every second a moment of peril.

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2022

241 people are currently reading
331 people want to read

About the author

Alex Gerlis

35 books323 followers
Alex 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.

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5 stars
860 (45%)
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755 (39%)
3 stars
240 (12%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Profile Image for Annette.
821 reviews42 followers
July 4, 2022
I read the first book in the Wolf Pack spy series last year so I was excited to get this sequel as a review copy. It could be read as a stand-alone but in my opinion it helps to have read the previous novel as it contains a lot of background on the characters.
Jack and Sophia are both spying for the British in Germany during world War 2. Jack, a former American journalist is now back in Switzerland debriefing aircrew who have managed to escape whilst Sophia is still in Germany. However she is the wife of an SS officer who has committed atrocities and she resolves to escape from the Reich and reveal information about him so that he can be punished.
The crux of the story is about a Roman, a Jewish Polish scientist who has worked on a transmitter device making bombing more accurate. He is hiding out in the Warsaw Ghetto but resolves to escape with his wife and family in order to share his knowledge with the allies.
This was a real rollercoaster of a read involving Roman’s escape, aided by Jack’s network of spies as well as describing the heart in your mouth danger that both he and Sophia find themselves in. As they try and get Roman’s tetra devices to work which involves them both returning to Nazi Germany.
There are many strands and viewpoints in this novel and the reader is shown what happens to the scientist and his wife and children when they become separated during the escape.
The tension ratchets up as the story moves along and I could barely put the book down, so keen was I to find out how it would all pan out.
The characters were well developed and I really felt for them as they found themselves in some incredibly difficult situations. I particularly enjoyed reading about the burgeoning love affair between Jack and Sophia and I look forward to reading more about this in the next book in the series.
I only hope I don’t have to wait too long!
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for my arc.
Profile Image for Clive Cook.
173 reviews
September 15, 2024
A new author and set of principal characters for me, and listened to as an audiobook. Whilst good, and dealing with some huge consequential events, both at an international scale and personal level, there was a better book to be written using the story here. There were at times both an abruptness of some storylines, and a foreshortening of their telling that always jarred.
My main issue was with the narration, as although it was a nice voice with great pronunciation and enunciation, the diction managed to remove much of the tension and excitement many of the described situations needed.
All that said, it was an enjoyable listen, and I shall seek out the preceeding and first book in this series to read/listen to.
Profile Image for David Lowther.
Author 12 books29 followers
August 1, 2022
Agent in Peril is the second of Alex Gerlis’ series of thrillers about allied agents operating predominantly in Germany during the Second World War.
The action takes us from England to a number of Nazi occupied countries including Poland, Austria and Slovakia as well as the Reich itself. The only place where the characters, and the readers, feel safe is Switzerland. Locations have been meticulously researched.
The plot is fairly simple. A device which will enable bombers to drop their deadly loads more accurately has been developed in Poland. The challenge is to get it and the scientist who invented it out of Poland and place it in vulnerable spots in Germany. An added complication is that the scientist is Jewish and is hiding with his family in the Warsaw ghetto.
A cross section of interesting characters apply themselves to these challenges and the result is a white-knuckle ride which accelerates in the final third to such a pace that the readers themselves are almost left breathless. A terrific tale full of tension.

David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of ‘39, all published by Sacristy Press.
Profile Image for Susie Helme.
Author 2 books20 followers
November 16, 2022
Poznań, 1938. Polish electronics professor Roman Loszynski is met at the airfield by Major Szymański and General Brygady Wiśniewski, whom he’d just heard describe him as ‘one of them’. The Polish air force men are meeting with the general to outline the advantages of the new bomber PZL.37.
Berlin, 1943. On the train, Sophia von Naundorf is questioned by the Gestapo. She says she is on ‘confidential’ SS business. Actually, she is going to Zürich to retrieve the money and jewels her husband Karl-Heinrich stole from Jews. Sophia had been operating as a British agent for two and a half years, and she wants to bring her husband to justice. Agent Jack Miller waits for her.
Loszynski and his family are in hiding in the Warsaw ghetto; he has safeguarded the equipment and blueprints for the PZL.37. He tells the head of the Jewish Fighting Organisation, codenamed Sowa, about PZL.37.
The various agents begin a tense race, criss-crossing Europe to safeguard Loszynski’s invention. What scary work it was being a secret agent during WWII!
This is a thriller with an exciting plot of cloak and dagger espionage and secret missions, passwords and disguises. If this story has to have a protagonist, it can only be Loszynski, yet he disappears for most of the chapters. The only other person to identify with is Sophia, mainly because she’s a woman with a difficult job to do (turn in her husband). Jack plays a major role in the espionage. At times we even follow the Germans’ point of view. There’s too much going on and too many players—a helpful list is included at the front—to have time for any character development.
It is very realistic and supposedly mirrors real historical events.
This is Book 2 in the Wolf Pack Spies series.
This review was originally written for Historical Novels Review.
Profile Image for John Purvis.
1,347 reviews23 followers
January 1, 2023
Alex Gerlis https://alexgerlis.co.uk is the author of more than 10 novels. Agent in Peril was published in 2022 and is the second novel in the Wolf Pack Spies series. This is the 80th book I completed in 2022.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature situations, I categorize this novel as R.

It is 1943, and the war in Europe is raging. Before the war had started, Polish scientist Roman Loszynski had worked on a device to make bombing much more accurate. Now he is slowly starving along with his family in the Warsaw Ghetto. Loszynski has given much thought to the device. He thinks he has perfected it. He hopes it will be the bargaining chip needed for his family to escape to Britain.

British agent Jack Miller is working in Switzerland after escaping Germany just ahead of the Gestapo. Sophia von Naundorf is still in Germany. After falling in love with Miller while working together, she wants out of Germany. She plans her escape, making her way to Switzerland.

Loszynski is smuggled out of the Ghetto but must travel separately from his family. He is desperate to get to the Allies. The device he has invented must be tested. Miller and von Naundorf agree to slip back into Germany.

The three find themselves in one desperate situation after another.

I enjoyed the 8.5 hours I spent reading this 384-page WWII-era spy thriller. This novel picks up shortly after the first one ends. While this novel could be read stand-alone, it would be best to read them in order. I have had the opportunity now to read four of Mr. Gerlis' novels. I enjoyed them all. I read the first novel in this series Agent in Berlin last December. I also had the opportunity to read Prince of Spies and Ring of Spies. I like the selected cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
1,145 reviews17 followers
February 18, 2023
“Agent in Peril” is the second in the Wolf Pack Spies series from Alex Gerlis, a wonderful glimpse into what it must have been like to operate as spies against the Nazis during World War II.

The first book (which you should read, although it’s not required to enjoy this, but it helps!) focused on Barnaby Allen, a British MI6 officer who sets up his own independent spy ring in Germany as the war starts. This time we really focus on two of Barnaby’s agents: American journalist Jack Miller, who’s in Switzerland debriefing defectors and downed pilots. And his love Sophia von Naundorf who’s still in Germany and trying to make her way out with proof of her Nazi officer husband’s war crimes.

Unfortunately Sophia decides to take her evidence to the Soviets, who see her as a weapon that can still be used not only against the Nazis but for the upcoming war as well. Will she be rescued and able to reunite with the British and Jack?

The main mission of this story starts with the creation of a new way to improve the accuracy of Allied bombing missions, created by the Poles before the outbreak of the war and perfected by scientist Roman Loszynski, hiding in Warsaw’s Jewish Ghetto and in constant danger as the Nazis begin their Final Solution against the Polish Jews. Can Jack and Sophia get Loszynski to safety in the West while avoiding the Nazis looking for the same weapon?

A thrilling series of events, snapshots of mission after mission, some successful and some not. A portrait of the sacrifices that people made for a greater cause.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Canelo via NetGalley. Thank you!
Profile Image for Nicki.
458 reviews13 followers
February 9, 2023
This book follows Jack and Sophia, the two spies at the heart of Agent in Berlin the first book in this series, although you can read this as a standalone book.

The book is great at describing wartorn Europe, whether that is Germany, Poland or neutral Switzerland. It's not so great at the dialogue, with much of it being along the lines of "Noel told them x and they said y."

Jack is sidelined in this book with Sophia doing most of the legwork. It also tells the story of a Polish engineer, the architect of a pioneering technique for precision bombing, who is in hiding in the Warsaw Ghetto with his family.

I enjoy these books and the claustrophobic atmosphere they evoke. The constant pressure these brave people must have been under shines through. Sophia in a great character - as cool as a cucumber in the face of great danger. I just wish the dialogue was better.
Profile Image for Janet.
503 reviews
June 18, 2022
The second in the Wolf Pack Spies series. Set in Switzerland, Germany and Poland in 1943, the story centres around a Polish scientist and his work in improving the accuracy of bombing raids. As the story progresses the agents have to aid in the escape of the scientist to Switzerland and then plant devices around Germany to help with the bombing. The tension and danger escalate dramatically through the book.
This is another well-written and thrilling story from Alex Gerlis, one of my favourite writers. I found the first part of the book rather slow to get going but once the action really kicked it, I couldn't put the book down.
Profile Image for Grant S.
173 reviews1 follower
July 19, 2023
Second installment in the excellent Wolf Pack world war two spy series.
This follows on from the first book 'Agent In Berlin' but can be read as a stand alone novel.
The story involves the rescue of a Polish scientist from hiding in the Warsaw ghetto. Again spy master Barney Allen must use his ring of European agents to bring the scientist out.
It's an exciting and nerve wracking read and the author Gerlis knows how to build the tension as his characters find themselves in dangerous situations.
A story that can be enjoyed by anyone who likes espionage novels or has an interest in the second world war. Very enjoyable.
Profile Image for Andrew J..
Author 1 book4 followers
July 27, 2022
Really enjoyed this sequel. Would advise anyone to read book 1 first in the Wolf Pack series as you get more background into some of the principal characters.
This is a really good story although hard to follow some of the timelines at times but again i think that’s more of a personal issue. Well researched, some great information and you really do feel as though you are there with them. The point where Jack is captured and on the point of escape left me almost breathless, it was that good.
Just ordered all of Alex’s other books so a new author for me and a style that I’m growing into.
16 reviews
September 28, 2022
Good book

I’ve enjoyed this book but I think it misses opportunities to create tension with its going back to how events happened after e know they are safe. I also found the end slightly inconclusive, one hopes Raisa survived Auschwitz, it’s not impossible, and you’d like to know what happened to the children. And hard tho it is, I think Alex need to kill off one or some of the main characters! It was the same for the first one. But all in all , a good read and I will buy more and enjoy re-reading these.
Profile Image for Linda Root.
Author 17 books18 followers
November 25, 2023
I wanted to like this as much as the first in the series. The scientific information tweaked my personal experiences as a someone who had worked with some of the Cold War Era's notable physical scientists and who has vivid memories of the state of electronics and physics in WWII Europe from having met some of the men who designed them and some how eventually deployed them. Too bad the sophomoric dialog and awkward structuring of the plot made an exciting story pedestrian. I also have a peeve with endings that are teasers for the next books in the series. I will read the third, but not quite yet.
319 reviews2 followers
August 17, 2022
Author writes good stuff, tertiary dialogues ruin it…

The author has good stories going on. Good plot, characters and suspense. The tertiary dialogues drive me mad!! They are something from a bygone era and a real distraction to the story. It reminded me why I binned reading the ‘Prince’ books (His other WW2 series). Honestly, Alex, ditch those silly dialogues and your work will be perfect.
805 reviews8 followers
February 7, 2023
Magnificient novel

Wow! Could not put this down I have been right there with the characters. Can't wait to read the next book in series. Kuddos to Alex for a wonderful novel and series. This series is destiny to be a best seller. Don't miss out on this series and all of Alex's other books.
Profile Image for Amy.
171 reviews2 followers
April 16, 2023
This is the second book in the Wolfpack series, and it's just as good as the first. It has some of the same characters, but has different timelines and focuses more on the Eastern front (Poland). The characters and plot are well developed, and it's fast-paced and compelling.
These are free on Kobo Plus.
Profile Image for Ant Koplowitz.
419 reviews4 followers
September 15, 2024
I enjoyed the second novel in Alex Gerlis's Wolf Pack series, although there were an awful lot of characters to get your he'd around. This meant that there was limited time for character development, but the plot zips along, so after a while, I simply went with it! There's a great atmosphere in Gerlis's work, with believable dialogue and a realistic sense of time and place. Excellent reading.
51 reviews1 follower
August 13, 2022
A fantastic read, gripping story hope there will be another.

This second book of the Wolf Pack series was equally as gripping as book one. Fast paced and compelling story lines, twists and turns throughout. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Haydn Pope.
144 reviews3 followers
February 16, 2023
A fascinating novel

This novel covered virtually everything I didn't know about spies, where and how they were recruited, safe houses, travelling , where did they eat. Interesting book!




Profile Image for Ewa Drue-Siwecka.
4 reviews
February 24, 2023
I wish I had more time to finish this book. It has pace and is really exciting without being peppered with swearing, sex and gratuitous violence. It is not the normal genre of book that I buy but on this occasion I very pleased that I made the exception.
3 reviews
March 7, 2023
Another great read, second in the series and I’m already into the third. Such good plots and well researched regarding the dangers faced by British agents in war torn Europe. Brilliantly written and difficult to put down.
Profile Image for Alex Layzell.
7 reviews
March 11, 2023
A brilliant follow up to Agent in Berlin. Bought Agent in the Shadows straight away. Would recommend to anyone interested reading books within this genre. Up there with the best spy thrillers I've read
1 review
June 22, 2024
A good book as part of a series but not great in itself. Somewhat flat in tone and missing the air of excitement that Alex Gerlis has brought to other of his books. I continued with it to the end waiting for a climactic or a thrilling event/episode but I waited in vain.
Profile Image for Richard Brown.
222 reviews1 follower
July 15, 2024
Yet again Alex Gerlis delivers an excellent spy book series.

Read this Series in the wrong order starting at number 3 book, then book 1 and 2. Don't think it really matters to be honest but an excellent series if you like books set in WW2.
47 reviews
May 20, 2025
Another good story although the pace not quite as good as the first book in the series. The English based characters seem a bit one dimensional, jolly old private schoolboy chaps a bit caricatured. The key characters and the key elements of the plot seem much more realistic.
Profile Image for Gerard Lafferty.
38 reviews
July 18, 2022
Another excellent and informative read from Alex Gerlis. No point in describing the plot here read it for yourself and enjoy.
5 reviews
October 22, 2022
Not as good as other titles

Everything moved slowly, not a real character to latch on to, and the English bosses are just too stuffy. Overall interesting, but not exciting.
Profile Image for David.
Author 7 books41 followers
January 22, 2023
I’m really ending this WW2 spy series and the two main characters Jack and Sophia.
Profile Image for Matt Shaw.
60 reviews2 followers
February 10, 2023
The suspense of the last quarter of the book was intense. I actually was reluctant to read the last few chapters because I was in dread of the unknown.
52 reviews
March 12, 2023
A good spy story

A well-written and well researched story that is, I think, let down by a lack of the magic of good character development.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews

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