Traitor's Doom

Dr Palfrey #1

by John Creasey

Nazi Agents are at work in the neutral countries of Europe - attempting to subvert so as to provide further easy victims for the Third Reich. Dr. Palfrey and the 'Rescue Squad' are faced with the challenge and danger of meeting this treachery and overcoming the full might of the German state in its quest for power. There is much standing against them, and they are likely to be uncovered and caught at any moment, but they must succeed as the fate of the allies may depend upon it.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1942

About the author

AKA Gordon Ashe, M E Cooke, Norman Deane, Robert Caine Frazer, Patrick Gill, Michael Halliday, Charles Hogarth, Brian Hope, Colin Hughes, Kyle Hunt, Margaret Lisle, Abel Mann, Peter Manton, J.J. Marric, Richard Martin, Rodney Mattheson, Anthony Morton, Jeremy York, Henry St. John Cooper and Margaret Cooke.

John Creasey (September 17, 1908 - June 9, 1973) was born in Southfields, Surrey, England and died in New Hall, Bodenham, Salisbury Wiltshire, England. He was the seventh of nine children in a working class home. He became an English author of crime thrillers, published in excess of 600 books under 20+ different pseudonyms. He invented many famous characters who would appear in a whole series of novels. Probably the most famous of these is Gideon of Scotland Yard, the basis for the television program Gideon's Way but others include Department Z, Dr. Palfrey, The Toff, Inspector Roger West, and The Baron (which was also made into a television series). In 1962, Creasey won an Edgar Award for Best Novel, from the Mystery Writers of America, for Gideon's Fire, written under the pen name J. J. Marric. And in 1969 he was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been exploring the works / series of English writer John Creasey who was prolific and wrote under a variety of pseudonyms. He's famous for his Commander Gideon, Inspector West, The Baron, The Toff and Department S. Traitor's Doom was the first book in his Doctor Palfrey series, written in 1942.
This book is set during the build up to WWII and Doctor Palfrey and a few others; some fellow Brits, a Russian, a Frenchman and a Russian are asked to work for the mysterious Marquis, who works for the British Secret Service. They are asked to form a team to rescue important people from German concentration camps as they are to help form a new Europe when and if the war is over. However, this might not actually be the plan and they might just be marks to hide the true purpose. As well, the Marquis warns Byron that he suspects one of the group is a spy.
The story takes place in the fictitious county of Catania, on the border of Spain, and it's a neutral country suffering under blockades. The government is under siege by a Nazi supported group who are also trying to destroy the Socialists. It's a busy story of cross and double cross and filled with action. Not my favorite story and I never really warmed to anybody but still a good story filled with action. (2.0 stars)

[MEK · Rating 2 out of 5]

Struggled through the audio book; the first half was quite interesting and intriguing to me as I met the different characters. However, the last half became very slow and confusing. It may be me, as I listened in snippets here and there. I never really understood the "who" and "why" of the traitor. I wish someone would write a nice review with spoilers to illuminate me! I'll try another John Creasey work, but found this one slow and, as another reviewer stated here, "Dull."

[Kirk Weikart · Rating 2 out of 5]

A WW II espionage book. In memory of my mom (who looooooved John Creasey), I decided to dig in. Unfortunately, I found the characters to be hard to visualize and the plot very ordinary. It did bring back warm feelings of remembering my mom reading these books, may she rest in peace.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very violent. No more of this series for me.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A superior Creasey thriller. Even better, I answers many questions I have long had about the Palfrey books.

[Cyn (RaeWhit) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first Dr. Palfrey book. I had a bit of trouble following the plot, but I liked the protagonist, and Creasey's writing, so I'm going to go on to another in the series.

[Tom · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull

[Delores Alger · Rating 4 out of 5]

palfrey

[Gabriel · Rating 2 out of 5]

did impressed me much, not much happening or super action like I was looking for...
but hey, maybe it's just me