WW II Spy Novels discussion

Clive Lee is the author of the screenplay Darkfire Nova which attained Semi-Finalist in the 2009 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards, within the top 25 in the Science-Fiction category, out of several thousand total entrants. His eclectic background of hobbies and academic interests include investigative forensics, psychology, and martial arts. He has worked full-time professionally in the realms of computer network security and web development, both in the federal and private sector. Clive often incorporates multiple elements of the aforementioned disciplines into his fiction writing and is a passionate hobbyist filmmaker and writer.

I'm an avid reader, with an interest in millitary history, particulary WW2 the European theater. I think my interest was awakened by the somewhat tall tales my family told me about the German occupation and the Norwegian resistance during WW2.

Welcome Karl! =)

Just generally history-minded; both by training and inclination. Special interest in military science and military history, as well as espionage fiction & nonfiction.

Here's some work I've done on Goodreads, to help promote awareness of these great titles:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...-

Welcome Feliks! Thanks for the list!

Hi,

I am a great fan of WWII espionage novels and history. I am the author of a post-WWII espionage/mystery thriller Return of the Falcon.


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'Return of the Falcon'!?

Any copyright issues?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Falc...

No...that's just the title, not the character of the book. My protagonist is named Joe Ganzer.

Long time fan and reader of military history, and a few other genre's as well.
Most lately I've been going through David Glantz and David Stahel's WWII's voluminous works on the Eastern Front, fascinating reading..

Don wrote: "No...that's just the title, not the character of the book. My protagonist is named Joe Ganzer."

Well it sounds cool especially if you're using analogies and metaphors from the sport of falconry.

Thank you Feliks for inviting me to this group. Already I like the photo collage in the header on the group page! I have a real passion for spy and espionage stories both in book and good films. I am honored to be among you here.

I'm happy to be invited to join this group. My own contribution to the genre, "The Great Liars," is just out. It is the product of years of research and borrows, with permission, from Winston Churchill's "My Early Life" and "The River War," as well as literally dozens of histories, biographies, autobiographies, memoirs and other sources. Yes, I fell under the enchantment of research. Can crack be any more addictive?

i dont think ive read any WW2 spy fiction, but it sounds good. ill add some to my to-read-list.

who doesnt love a story with a double agent, involved in quadruple cross schemes.

I have read all of Alan Furst and Phillip Kerr. So enjoyed MISSION TO PARIS. Bernie Gunther is turning a little too Forrest Gump because of all his associations with high government officials.

My particular interest is WWII Washington. David Brinkley's memoir WASHINGTON AT WAR is my favorite. Recently finished 2 CNF books set during WWII, THE IRREGULARS about the Brit spy ring in DC during the war, and another called PRISCILLA, The Hidden Life of an Englishwoman in Wartime France. Neither of these touched Larsen's IN THE GARDEN OF THE BEASTS.

I like Alan Furst, but lately he has been writing the same book over and over. The British intelligence operation in the U.S. is little understood even today. They had enough agents at one point to fill two floors of the Rockefeller building in NYC. With the approval of the White House, they helped organize counter demonstrations to those mounted by the America First people, called the shots in Hollywood in determining how the Germans and English were portrayed, and wielded influence in countless other ways. Larsen's book is indeed excellent. We needed a tough-minded ambassador in Berlin, but instead sent over a decent, fair-minded academic who was soon beyond his depth. His daughter the skank didn't help matters.

Jerry wrote: "I like Alan Furst, but lately he has been writing the same book over and over. The British intelligence operation in the U.S. is little understood even today. They had enough agents at one point to..."

Liked the part about Roald Dahl in THE IRREGULARS, but the author had only enough primary source material about Dahl for an ATLANTIC length article, not a book. So THE IRREGULARS is padded with bits about other British spies.

Yes, the British spy ring in the States was part spy and part PR for the Brits. According to the book, Dahl and others befriended Wallace, FDR's VP, but were instrumental in making sure Wallace didn't get the VP slot for FDR's final term.

The naïve and erratic Wallace was on his way out anyhow. Hoover discovered he was attending séances, and FDR didn't need him to bring in the farm vote: he was heading for a blowout against Wilkie.

Jerry wrote: "The naïve and erratic Wallace was on his way out anyhow. Hoover discovered he was attending séances, and FDR didn't need him to bring in the farm vote: he was heading for a blowout against Wilkie."

Yes, he dabbled in mysticism, but there's something quirky and very American about him.

And likeable in a way. He was just out of his depth like our ambassador to Berlin.

I've found Phillip Kerr's Bernie Gunther novels likeable, if uneven. Telling the stories though a first person central charachter limits the scope, and as the series movies along, this storytelling device hampers the series' credibilty, as Ellen commented earlier. In Hitler's Peace -a stand alone novel about the darker machinations among the Allies- the multiple/alternating viewpoints makes it a better novel.

Jerry wrote: "And likeable in a way. He was just out of his depth like our ambassador to Berlin."

True. One scene that really irked me with our ambassador to Berlin occurred when a famous Jewish scientist came to him and asked for a visa to go to the States; our ambassador told the scientist he couldn't help him, which could not have been true. He was the US ambassador. He could have found a way.

I'll download HITLER'S PEACE.

My favorite WWII novel from last year was CITY of WOMEN set in Berlin during the last grubby years of the war there. Not really a spy novel, it is about the resistance.

Karl wrote: "I've found Phillip Kerr's Bernie Gunther novels likeable, if uneven. Telling the stories though a first person central charachter limits the scope, and as the series movies along, this storytelling..."

I hear you about multiple points-of-view, but a writer can overdo this like in Russell's A THREAD OF GRACE, in which she shows the entire situation in Italy slightly before and after the German retreat from so many points-of-view, the narrative feels splintered and often loses its way.

Hi, I'm the author of the Jackson Guild Saga, a serial about espionage in the aftermath of a nuclear event. I wrote about fiscal policy covering the White House and Congress for National Journal. And I may be -- no joking -- among the world's foremost authorities on the seven days between June 16, 1942 and June 23, 1942.

Welcome Jeff. Y'know I'm thinking that maybe all author introductions might go in the 'Promotions & Giveaways' thread. I guess people naturally gravitate to the Introductions thread because its the most welcoming. But is it really effective?

This is such a small group I really ought not make a fuss about it (and I'm not) but ...well, I'm just a neatnik I guess...

I hope it isn't it self promotion to say who I am. Sorry if it came off that way. Apologies too. It's a Popeye thing "I yam what I yam." :-) If I didn't say I was a writer, I wouldn't know how to introduce myself. And if I say, merely, I'm a writer, people say What do you write? And we're off to the races! Really, I had no intention to promote my work. I mean it. It's just who I yam.

My interest in WWII stems from this: my parents, Dad, a young marine, and Mom, a government girl, met on a trolley in Washington, DC in June 1944. I have Mom's ration book beside me issued by the OPA. Inside are many coupons she saved in case things got bad here again, and she needed new shoes.

Mom and dad on a Trolley in DC; love it, Ellen. Ever find out which trolley? Where they were headed, and what the young Marine was doing riding around on trolleys in DC!? I too am a fan of Washington at War. And like you, I have my Mom's ration book, but only the barest of stories about the tiny postage-like tickets. My mother simply said Things were scarce during the war. Lucky for her she didn't drive!

I got interested in WW II fiction and non-fiction because it's interesting, a part of my past in some ways. I narrowed my view of the era through Mary Lovell's bio of "Cynthia," which I read about in Brinkley's book, by the way, Washington at War. I'm a fan of Alan Furst, and I think I've discovered an young writer, a Brit named Graeme Shimmin. If you've got Prime and a Kindle you can read his short story, Veronika at no charge. He's got a great web site too, http://graemeshimmin.com/

Felix, am I allowed to say these things?

Feliks wrote: "Welcome Jeff. Y'know I'm thinking that maybe all author introductions might go in the 'Promotions & Giveaways' thread. I guess people naturally gravitate to the Introductions thread because its the..."

My apologies Felix. You'll see my explanation below.

Like I said, I have a thing about order and organization; but this is one case where I might have to just go with the flow. I don't enjoy nagging people, and this seems like one of those situations where its best to just 'let things ride'.. its all good..

Well, Feliks, I'm slow on the uptake. !!! I'm going to go where people discuss things, not carry on discussions as I've been doing here. Do you know where I put my cup of coffee...?

I have nothing to recommend me, except that I have read and loved WW2/espionage stories for decades. I'm always looking for new work, especially these days when there is so much emphasis on the Middle East, probably because my whole family served in that war and I grew up during the Cold War era. I'm very pleased to have found this group.

Just joined another WWII-based Goodreads Group. I hadn't been aware of it before, looks pretty active.

'World War Two Readers' its called. Feel free to enjoy dual memberships in both groups!

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Feliks- thank you for your recent post to WWII Readers. Glad to be among those of you who also enjoy the spy novel end of this incredible conflict. In the interest of neatness and good order (no apology from you is necessary) I've also posted to the author page. Looking forward to some great discussions and insight.

Welcome!

I've been reading espionage novels for around 45 years; some of my favorite WW II are the obvious: Furst, Kerr, Rebecca Cantrell, David Downing (and those are the relatively recent ones). Always seeking sage counsel on recommendations--which is why I'm here. BTW: anyone know of any WW II naval espionage works (aside from W.E.B. Griffin)?

Thanks.

Welcome aboard! I sent you a few recommendations did you get them?

Yes I did; thanks!

Hello. My name is Laura. I just joined World War II Readers in GoodReads. I am pretty much crazy for Winston Churchill, WWI, and WWII literature. My favorite writers right now are Alan Furst, Eric Ambler, Graham Greene, and David Downing. I would love to find more good writers to delve into. I enjoy spy novels.

It is funny, my dad was a WWII vet, but he went to Iwo Jima. I have never read any books about the war in the Pacific. Maybe I should try harder to find one.

I will enjoy your comments and feedback.

Has anyone read Alan Furst's latest novel yet???

Welcome aboard and no I haven't, have the previous 2 and waiting for the newest one before i get back to reading them.

Welcome Laura

Welcome Laura! I think you would find this book to be just what you're looking for.

Dead Ringer

Hi,

I'm Graeme. I'm a big fan of classic espionage and war thrillers like Alistair Maclean's Where Eagles Dare.

My own novel, A Kill in the Morning, is partly set in Britain during WWII and takes a lot of its inspiration from classic spy thrillers.



Looking forward to the discussion.

Graeme.

Welcome! We have a Promotions & Giveaways section should your title have any upcoming sales or bargains; and we have an Alistair MacLean thread as well..I guess you just have to poke around and see what interests you...group has been pretty quiet lately..

Y'know I just love the image I found for our group avatar. The only thing that would make that avatar better is if it were a girl commando in a bikini holding that knife between her teeth.

I adjure any of you with free time--or Photoshop skills--to help me find such a visual.

Is this any use?

I am Patrick Nolan Clark and just joined this group. I have been working on a series of novels about the experience of a fictional OSS intelligence officer in World War II, trying to focus on some of the little known aspects of the war. I presently have three books on Kindle:

The Sportpalast: Total War
The Taurus Express: Doublecross Gone Wrong
A Strange Murder in the Persian Corridor

I am interesting in exchanging recommendations, comments, and observations with other fans of WWII fiction.

As a further to the introduction I just posted, I just finished a review of

This book is non-fiction but I found it fascinating and recommend it as source material for any authors writing about the OSS. Review is as follows:

I have seen some reviews that suggest this book is poorly written and poorly edited. Fair enough, but this chronicle was originally written as a contemporaneous diary. If the reader can deal with a manuscript that is not polished, he can get a fascinating view of OSS ops in the war. This is real history, first hand accounts of events that shaped the battles and the war. If you are a student of history, this is the real deal.

William wrote: "Welcome Laura! I think you would find this book to be just what you're looking for.

Dead Ringer"

happy wrote: "Welcome Laura"

Thank you,
I just added it to my Want To Read list. I will look for it. Looks like it will be good.

Avid WWII fan and reader of spy and espionage novels as well as non fiction. Pleasure to join your group.