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Morning, Noon And Night Trilogy #3
Night Crossing
Berlin 1938. The body of an English businessman lies dead in the street. Was it simply a mugging gone wrong, or was he also a spy carrying vital information and assassinated by the German secret police? Inspector Cameron Ross is sent over from London to investigate. He soon becomes caught up in a web of intrigue and deceit and finds himself in mortal danger as Berlin becomes a nightmare of suspicion, reprisal and violence and Germany prepares for war with Britain. Then, Ulrike Walter, a young German woman from a musical family with a strange, beguiling gift, seems to offer Ross refuge. Soon he is falling in love with her but she is engaged to Erich, a member of the Hitler Youth, and his posting to the submarine U-boat arm of the German navy could have terrifying consequences as Ross and Ulrike attempt to flee a Germany in the grip of iron-clad brutality.
Paperback
First published April 5, 2004
About the author
Robert Ryan
42 books82 followersaka Tom Neale
Robert Ryan was born in Liverpool but moved to London when he was eighteen to attend university. He lectured in natural sciences for several years before moving into journalism in the mid-1980s, first with The Face and then the Dylan Jones-edited Arena. During this time, he also wrote for The Daily Telegraph, US GQ, US Conde Nast Traveler, Esquire and The Sunday Times.
Robert Ryan lives in North London with his wife and three children.
Robert Ryan was born in Liverpool but moved to London when he was eighteen to attend university. He lectured in natural sciences for several years before moving into journalism in the mid-1980s, first with The Face and then the Dylan Jones-edited Arena. During this time, he also wrote for The Daily Telegraph, US GQ, US Conde Nast Traveler, Esquire and The Sunday Times.
Robert Ryan lives in North London with his wife and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 2, 2017
Cameron Ross is a policeman from Scotland Yard sent to Germany to investigate a mugging for his father who works in British intelligence when he is reacquainted with the Walters who he knows from his youth. Ulrika Walter is already engaged to a German Soldier named Erich who has been stationed on a U boat for the war. The story of the book unfolds around World War II and the three character's lives and the love triangle between them. I didn't know that this book was part of a series which is good because it stands alone and I only realized there were two books before this one when I went to write my review. The writing is really good also. I just got really bored while reading this one. There's a lot of fiction about the World Wars so after a while you need something more to make it interesting. I didn't care about the military strategy stuff or the intelligence aspect at all. I think someone who is more interested in the war side of things would enjoy this more than I did though, and it's well written so if you like World War II fiction totally pick this one up.
May 24, 2017
A bit too contrived for my liking
Having read Robert Ryan’s Dr John Watson’s WW1 series I was looking forward to this, however I sorry to say I found it little too contrived.
The period detail and historical facts are sound, but there were a few too many implausible coincidences for me.
It’s an entertaining read that progresses at quite a pace, but not credible enough for me.
Having read Robert Ryan’s Dr John Watson’s WW1 series I was looking forward to this, however I sorry to say I found it little too contrived.
The period detail and historical facts are sound, but there were a few too many implausible coincidences for me.
It’s an entertaining read that progresses at quite a pace, but not credible enough for me.
May 20, 2023
On the brink of WWII, in Berlin one of Britain's spies has been killed in an alley. Cameron Ross has been sent to see what can be learned. It is believed the dead man carried important information, but when Ross is given what little there was in the man's pockets, nothing of any interest was found. Well, of course not.
Ross is invited to a Sunday gathering of a family he knew when a teenager. The daughterm who he knew only as a small child, has turned into a beautiful woman. Also at the gathering is a man who suggests the secrets the dead man was carrying might be given to Britain should Ross become a double agent. The plot thickens.
I thought this the weakest of the trilogy. One of the things that was so compelling about the two earlier installments was that they involved real people. Though they were novels, there was more than a germ of truth in the telling. In this novel, some of the events were based on fact, but that is the case in many war novels. It felt as though Ryan tried a bit too hard to make this a trilogy, to have a Night follow Morning and Noon. For me, this one slips just below the 3-/4- star line.
Ross is invited to a Sunday gathering of a family he knew when a teenager. The daughterm who he knew only as a small child, has turned into a beautiful woman. Also at the gathering is a man who suggests the secrets the dead man was carrying might be given to Britain should Ross become a double agent. The plot thickens.
I thought this the weakest of the trilogy. One of the things that was so compelling about the two earlier installments was that they involved real people. Though they were novels, there was more than a germ of truth in the telling. In this novel, some of the events were based on fact, but that is the case in many war novels. It felt as though Ryan tried a bit too hard to make this a trilogy, to have a Night follow Morning and Noon. For me, this one slips just below the 3-/4- star line.
March 24, 2026
3.5 stars. The reason I read this book was because I gave it to my Mum for Mother’s Day in May 2012. A few weeks later she was suddenly taken from this world. My Dad said she stayed in bed a little later that morning reading. Almost 14 years later Dad gave me this to read. The books pages are a little yellowed and Dad marked the place Mum had her bookmark in (also still in the book). She was at page 314, a mere 25 pages from finishing. I imagine my Mum reading this and getting ready to tell me over a phone call what she thought of it. To be honest it is not the sort of book I would read, but I actually became invested in the story and found myself eagerly turning pages to find out what happened to the main characters. It was a bit brutal at the end, the bit my Mum never got to read. Even in stories, as in life, we can’t always pick the ending.
June 27, 2017
In this book, Detective Inspector Cameron Ross reluctantly takes on an investigative assignment for his father, who works for British intelligence, placing him in 1938 Berlin. While on the job there, he meets a young woman musician, Ulrike, and is also recruited to do some intelligence work of his own. Both of these events alter his world in far-reaching ways. I was pleased to read a copy of this book through Netgalley. I found the writing to be compelling, with well-paced action, an interesting setting and a far reaching plot. I was also impressed with the character development portrayed throughout the book. Highly recommend.
September 17, 2019
I was fully engaged in this yarn from the start. It is basically a romance set against the background of the Second World War, but it covers aspects of the conflict that I was only vaguely aware of. So, at the same time as naturally hoping boy gets girl (because we do, don't we?), there was all this other stuff going on. It was well-researched and an easy read - actually did it in a few hours one day when I was ill. The main criticisms I have are with the characters, which didn't always ring true; the male lead, for example, seemed inconsistent and his dad's behaviour was somewhat bizarre. But it's still a good read!
March 22, 2022
Set between 1938 and 1945 , the story follows the paths of 3 main characters during these years . One is a talented violinist from Germany who has links to the Jews and has to flee her country . A second is a young member of the Hitler Youth who finds himself assigned to U-Boats in the North Altantic war zone. The third is a Scottish police Inspector based in London who is drawn into spying , thanks to his German language skills . By the end of WW2 , all have met one another with varying results .A decent read .
December 2, 2025
A little slow, but I liked Ross, his father less so. Uli was a spoiled brat, but came right when she realised what the world was really like.
The cover says it is ‘inspired by actual events’ but they were well hidden in the book, revealed only by the reports of atrocities that had been committed by the German POWS.
More action would have been appreciated.
The cover says it is ‘inspired by actual events’ but they were well hidden in the book, revealed only by the reports of atrocities that had been committed by the German POWS.
More action would have been appreciated.
January 19, 2018
An above-average Second World War spy story, with love interest and the eternal triangle thrown in.
Fortunately I only read the cover blurb after reading the book, as it would have been a spoiler.
Fortunately I only read the cover blurb after reading the book, as it would have been a spoiler.
July 8, 2018
A World War II story. It includes characters from both sides of the war – and some for whom it is not entirely clear which side they are on. In that way it is clever, in making you question your own sympathies.
July 7, 2019
Brilliant
October 3, 2019
Loved it!
November 20, 2020
Learnt quite a lot about POW camps in WW2 from this book. I enjoyed his style of writing.
February 22, 2021
Completely opened my eyes, once again, to the harsh realities of war. Very well researched and written
May 27, 2024
Good writing. The author has researched the time period - however the characters needed to have more depth.
June 18, 2024
V good on detail, character not so much. But a good story and enlightening .
July 1, 2026
This one didn’t do it for me. I was kind of confused what was happening and the whole story was too slow for me.
August 17, 2017
Date read: 17.08.2017
Date of review: 21.03.2018
Rating: 3.5/5
Story:
Night Crossing is a novel based during the times of the Second World War, and we explore individuals, Erich, Ulrike and Cameron, the former two German individuals, and the latter British. Each of them have completely different perspectives and stand-points about the war. While Erich has been roped into the Hitler Youth in his prime, Ulrike and her father are Germans who do not support the ideals of racism, and genocide. Cameron, on the other hand, belongs to the police force, with his father being an esteemed Colonel, and immensely involved in the war scenario and secret service. The three of the interact before the war breaks, and their meeting is such that it leaves an indelible impact upon them. Erich and Ulrike were engaged, and it did not take Cameron more than a second glance to start falling for Ulrike too. When the war begins, all of them are thrown into different scenarios and undergo strife, only to meet again when Erich is a prisoner of war in the UK, and Ulrike is torn between the affections of both men.
The book is based on a time which is not easily relatable to me, and perhaps, people akin to me, belonging from my generation, and in countries that did not sense a direct connect to the war. The writer explains not just the scenario but even the technicalities involved in the battles extensively, but to me, a layperson, it was difficult to really imagine the battalion and the submarine and its function, and more often than not, felt slightly like a gap in the storyline. However, it does paint a picture of the time of the war and makes you realise how horrific it was, and how many people lost lives and livelihoods. It indicates the mentality of people varyingly involved in the war, ranging fro exasperation to fanaticism.
Writing Style:
Robert Ryan paints a haunting picture of the wartime scenario, be it through the eyes of the cautious English officer, the spirited German soldier or the insightful German young lady. While each character is attempting to pick up their pieces and find their own peace, their stories have been tied up together very well. The focus on the technical aspects of warfare is rather impressive.
Will I recommend it?
My limited experience of reading wartime novels makes me refrain from passing a judgment, if I were to choose to make one, but I sure am glad I read this book.
Favourite Quote:
"Night rises tranquil on the land;
Dreaming, she leans on the wall of the hills.
Her eyes behold the golden scales
Where time's at rest in peaceful vessels.
But bold the springs and the fountains rush fort,
They sinf in rhe ear of the Night, the mother, of day,
Of the day that is ended now."
Happy Reading!
-Love, Devashree
Date of review: 21.03.2018
Rating: 3.5/5
Story:
Night Crossing is a novel based during the times of the Second World War, and we explore individuals, Erich, Ulrike and Cameron, the former two German individuals, and the latter British. Each of them have completely different perspectives and stand-points about the war. While Erich has been roped into the Hitler Youth in his prime, Ulrike and her father are Germans who do not support the ideals of racism, and genocide. Cameron, on the other hand, belongs to the police force, with his father being an esteemed Colonel, and immensely involved in the war scenario and secret service. The three of the interact before the war breaks, and their meeting is such that it leaves an indelible impact upon them. Erich and Ulrike were engaged, and it did not take Cameron more than a second glance to start falling for Ulrike too. When the war begins, all of them are thrown into different scenarios and undergo strife, only to meet again when Erich is a prisoner of war in the UK, and Ulrike is torn between the affections of both men.
The book is based on a time which is not easily relatable to me, and perhaps, people akin to me, belonging from my generation, and in countries that did not sense a direct connect to the war. The writer explains not just the scenario but even the technicalities involved in the battles extensively, but to me, a layperson, it was difficult to really imagine the battalion and the submarine and its function, and more often than not, felt slightly like a gap in the storyline. However, it does paint a picture of the time of the war and makes you realise how horrific it was, and how many people lost lives and livelihoods. It indicates the mentality of people varyingly involved in the war, ranging fro exasperation to fanaticism.
Writing Style:
Robert Ryan paints a haunting picture of the wartime scenario, be it through the eyes of the cautious English officer, the spirited German soldier or the insightful German young lady. While each character is attempting to pick up their pieces and find their own peace, their stories have been tied up together very well. The focus on the technical aspects of warfare is rather impressive.
Will I recommend it?
My limited experience of reading wartime novels makes me refrain from passing a judgment, if I were to choose to make one, but I sure am glad I read this book.
Favourite Quote:
"Night rises tranquil on the land;
Dreaming, she leans on the wall of the hills.
Her eyes behold the golden scales
Where time's at rest in peaceful vessels.
But bold the springs and the fountains rush fort,
They sinf in rhe ear of the Night, the mother, of day,
Of the day that is ended now."
Happy Reading!
-Love, Devashree
March 5, 2017
Others will have given a synopsis of this novel so I'll not recap the story.
Much of the novel naturally is centered around lesser known real events from World War II.
Just a few comments:
Firstly, I already know a lot about certain aspects of WWII but I came away having learned more which is always a bonus for me, most especially in this book about what it was like to be part of a submarine crew during the war (NOPE, NOT GOING, NEVER, EVER) and about the tactics used and the development of the weaponry, life on board, and the competition between sub-boat captains in the Reich. I found myself holding my breath at the same time as Erich and his fellow submariners when the allied ships send depth-charges down in hopes of sinking the submarine (AIEYEIYEI). The author was very good at capturing the close, claustophobic atmosphere in these scenes...bolts popping, water spraying (NOT GOOD). sailors hanging onto anything to keep them upright).
The author is very good as feeding us information about the time, like the various levels of British intelligence and government factions battling for really what amounted to credit for a great job done; like the development of torpedos during the war, the submariners code of honour, and the lack of communication with the mainland Reich; the British governments' problem of what to do with so many German refugees and what if there are spies among them; and about the spy networks established before the outbreak of the war among many other details.
I find there are some questions that require further study for me, just things I'd like to know more about, like:
Were there really internment camps specifically for displaced German refugees which included women and children in Canada?
How many high-ranking Nazi's ended up being housed in British POW Camps? or in allied camps for that matter?
Was every German landed immigrant or former citizen rounded up and put into camps in the UK in the same way Canadians of Japanese, Ukrainian and Italian (and others) were interned?
Was there a system of red and green lights used in the interrogation of prisoners anyway or was this a figment of the authors imagination? Either way, I applaud the idea.
Unfortunately, what didn't work for me was the love story, which is the thread that binds our trio and the stories together. It just didn't really ring true for me, not because that sort of thing didn't happen during the war, but more because I stopped believing in it almost right away.
The romance with Emma I believed. Ulrike, I did not.
So for this reason I really rank this book at a 3.75/5 which rounds up to an even 4 stars.
Much of the novel naturally is centered around lesser known real events from World War II.
Just a few comments:
Firstly, I already know a lot about certain aspects of WWII but I came away having learned more which is always a bonus for me, most especially in this book about what it was like to be part of a submarine crew during the war (NOPE, NOT GOING, NEVER, EVER) and about the tactics used and the development of the weaponry, life on board, and the competition between sub-boat captains in the Reich. I found myself holding my breath at the same time as Erich and his fellow submariners when the allied ships send depth-charges down in hopes of sinking the submarine (AIEYEIYEI). The author was very good at capturing the close, claustophobic atmosphere in these scenes...bolts popping, water spraying (NOT GOOD). sailors hanging onto anything to keep them upright).
The author is very good as feeding us information about the time, like the various levels of British intelligence and government factions battling for really what amounted to credit for a great job done; like the development of torpedos during the war, the submariners code of honour, and the lack of communication with the mainland Reich; the British governments' problem of what to do with so many German refugees and what if there are spies among them; and about the spy networks established before the outbreak of the war among many other details.
I find there are some questions that require further study for me, just things I'd like to know more about, like:
Were there really internment camps specifically for displaced German refugees which included women and children in Canada?
How many high-ranking Nazi's ended up being housed in British POW Camps? or in allied camps for that matter?
Was every German landed immigrant or former citizen rounded up and put into camps in the UK in the same way Canadians of Japanese, Ukrainian and Italian (and others) were interned?
Was there a system of red and green lights used in the interrogation of prisoners anyway or was this a figment of the authors imagination? Either way, I applaud the idea.
Unfortunately, what didn't work for me was the love story, which is the thread that binds our trio and the stories together. It just didn't really ring true for me, not because that sort of thing didn't happen during the war, but more because I stopped believing in it almost right away.
The romance with Emma I believed. Ulrike, I did not.
So for this reason I really rank this book at a 3.75/5 which rounds up to an even 4 stars.
July 28, 2013
Night Crossing: my introduction to Robert Ryan who apparently specialises in novels about World War II. I've ended up reading this out of sequence (it's number 3 in the series) simply because I was drawn-in by the back cover description. It concerns father and son Douglas and Cameron Ross, both working for the intelligence services and the machinations caused by the internment of thousands of German and other 'undesirable' aliens when war breaks out.
The story is well written and moves along at a good pace, keeping the excitement coming and the pages turning. Cameron's love is Uli, escaped from Germany only to become another sort of prisoner in Britain. She's torn between Ross and Erich (her schoolgirl sweetheart), who is a submariner in the German U boats. Ryan really brings to life the scenes set onboard U-40, effectively capturing the hellish physical and psychological claustrophobia of the environment.
The book also gave me some insight into the treatment of enemy aliens by the British, which doesn't seem to cover us in historical glory if taken at face value. Many of the behaviours and attitudes were not far removed from how the Germans treated their prisoners (genocide aside).
There wasn't much of a central mystery to this book; at first I'd expected some tale of cross and double-cross concerning the respective British and German intelligence networks, and whilst there were peripheral elements, the main focus was on the re-connecting of the love triangle of Cameron, Uli and Erich.
I enjoyed Ryan's writing and despite starting in the 'wrong' place, I will certainly be reading more of his novels.
© Koplowitz 2013
The story is well written and moves along at a good pace, keeping the excitement coming and the pages turning. Cameron's love is Uli, escaped from Germany only to become another sort of prisoner in Britain. She's torn between Ross and Erich (her schoolgirl sweetheart), who is a submariner in the German U boats. Ryan really brings to life the scenes set onboard U-40, effectively capturing the hellish physical and psychological claustrophobia of the environment.
The book also gave me some insight into the treatment of enemy aliens by the British, which doesn't seem to cover us in historical glory if taken at face value. Many of the behaviours and attitudes were not far removed from how the Germans treated their prisoners (genocide aside).
There wasn't much of a central mystery to this book; at first I'd expected some tale of cross and double-cross concerning the respective British and German intelligence networks, and whilst there were peripheral elements, the main focus was on the re-connecting of the love triangle of Cameron, Uli and Erich.
I enjoyed Ryan's writing and despite starting in the 'wrong' place, I will certainly be reading more of his novels.
© Koplowitz 2013
October 15, 2014
I normally look forward to writing a review as soon as I have finished a book as it gives me a chance to reflect upon what I’ve read and share the experience with those of you willing to suffer my rantings and gushings. I casually logged on to my Goodreads account today and realised that it has been a full two weeks since I completed the book and I still hadn’t got round to writing anything.
The reason for this is that I don’t really have anything to say. This book was a bit ‘meh’ and I have no strong feelings either way.
I can’t critique Ryan’s writing style as it flows really well, there isn’t too much description (something I find agonisingly redundant in a book), and he has obviously done his research. It’s just that it’s not really my cup of tea.
I will normally give any genre a go, as I usually find that even if I don’t like the story, I will generally learn something from it. But if I had to choose my least favourite genres they would be ‘war’ and ‘romance’. You can see, then, why Night Crossing wasn’t really up my street.
In fact, I disliked the war parts so much that I actually looked forward to the romantic bits. I was gutted again when he started talking about U-boat torpedoes and the secrets of military intelligence. This book was, in a nutshell, forgettable.
There was a twist at the end, but two weeks later I can’t even remember what that was.
If you like war, you’ll probably enjoy this. Nothing personal, Robbo lad – It’s just not for me.
The reason for this is that I don’t really have anything to say. This book was a bit ‘meh’ and I have no strong feelings either way.
I can’t critique Ryan’s writing style as it flows really well, there isn’t too much description (something I find agonisingly redundant in a book), and he has obviously done his research. It’s just that it’s not really my cup of tea.
I will normally give any genre a go, as I usually find that even if I don’t like the story, I will generally learn something from it. But if I had to choose my least favourite genres they would be ‘war’ and ‘romance’. You can see, then, why Night Crossing wasn’t really up my street.
In fact, I disliked the war parts so much that I actually looked forward to the romantic bits. I was gutted again when he started talking about U-boat torpedoes and the secrets of military intelligence. This book was, in a nutshell, forgettable.
There was a twist at the end, but two weeks later I can’t even remember what that was.
If you like war, you’ll probably enjoy this. Nothing personal, Robbo lad – It’s just not for me.
January 8, 2015
So having read Night Crossing we now aware that the author knows a lot about Berlin before the Second World War, and quite a bit about the war itself, including the slang used on German submarines, and where the prisoner of war camps were in the UK. And since this is an "Eye of God" novel we can follow the progress of a number of people through the duration of the conflict and keep our fingers crossed that all the loose ends will be tied up by the end of the book.
In fact the plotting of the story within the context of real events is admirable, but does it lead to a gripping story? And really, should we be present at meetings between senior military figures in Germany which result in very slightly obscure events back in Britain? And while I am prepared to suspend disbelief with the best of them, I think to have a German journalist met at a party in 1938 in Berlin, met again, years later, when she is driving a milk cart in central London so that our hero can receive some important information, is pushing coincidence a bit far.
But in the end Night Crossing is like a damp handshake, a slight unsatisfactory event which one might not want to experience again.
In fact the plotting of the story within the context of real events is admirable, but does it lead to a gripping story? And really, should we be present at meetings between senior military figures in Germany which result in very slightly obscure events back in Britain? And while I am prepared to suspend disbelief with the best of them, I think to have a German journalist met at a party in 1938 in Berlin, met again, years later, when she is driving a milk cart in central London so that our hero can receive some important information, is pushing coincidence a bit far.
But in the end Night Crossing is like a damp handshake, a slight unsatisfactory event which one might not want to experience again.
February 7, 2017
Thought it clever, enjoyed the twist..
March 22, 2011
Apparently, this is one of a "double trilogy" of spy stories based roughly on true stories. Does a good spydiscern from that that there is no such term as "sexology" - it is a double trilogy?
Anyway, it's a cracking yarn, based on the true story of German POW's escaping from a camp in Bridgend during WW2, and weaving in a Foyle type character, part detective, part intelligence agent. All good fun, and a very easy read.
I must discover more of the double trilogy....
Anyway, it's a cracking yarn, based on the true story of German POW's escaping from a camp in Bridgend during WW2, and weaving in a Foyle type character, part detective, part intelligence agent. All good fun, and a very easy read.
I must discover more of the double trilogy....
Read
December 25, 2008A wel written book about the second world war from both sides.
July 28, 2011
Ok. But his other books are better. This one doesn't have the same climax at the end as some of his better reads.
January 4, 2013
Really liked this book - very interesting facts about elements second world war woven between a beautiful story. Definitely worth a read.
Read
April 27, 2013Intriguing novel.
September 23, 2013
An enjoyable historical read
January 25, 2016
Very Good. Based on Historical events
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews