Reading the 20th Century discussion

Oooooh. A new name to investigate...




Cphe wrote: "I wanted to ask if anyone has read and enjoyed Helen MacInnes?"


Barbara wrote: "I read a couple of Helen MacInnes books back in the 60s. My parents, big readers with a personal library of 7000 books, had a few of her books. I really liked them at the time, though I can't remember any details. I know one took place in Salzburg. Maybe time for a re-read."


Cphe wrote: "I've read many of her novels over the years and enjoyed them immensely.

I've always thought that she was unusual in that she was writing "Spy"/Cold War novels when it seemed it was primarily a male dominated genre back in the day."


G wrote: "That, Cphe, was exactly why someone recommended her to me."

Helen MacInnes....



Helen MacInnes (born October 7, 1907, in Glasgow, Scotland; died September 20 or 30, 1985, in New York, U.S.) was a Scottish-American author best known for her international espionage thrillers. She is sometimes called the "queen of international espionage fiction." 

MacInnes graduated from the University of Glasgow with an M.A. in French and German and later received a diploma in librarianship in London. She married classics scholar Gilbert Highet in 1932, and the couple moved to the United States in 1937, where they later became naturalized U.S. citizens in 1951. 

Her first novel, Above Suspicion (1941), a tale of espionage in Nazi Europe, was an immediate success and was made into a motion picture. She wrote over 20 novels, many of which were best-sellers and frequently adapted into films. Her books are noted for their detailed and accurate geographical backdrops, suspenseful plots, and a focus on themes of justice, freedom, and individual dignity. Her early works focused on World War II, and later ones covered Cold War intrigue. 

Among her most popular and well-regarded books are:

• Above Suspicion (1941) 

• Assignment in Brittany (1942)—reportedly required reading for some Allied agents during the war due to its accuracy. 

• The Venetian Affair (1963) 

• The Salzburg Connection (1968) 

• Decision at Delphi (1960) 

• Neither Five nor Three (1951) 

She published her final book, Ride a Pale Horse, in 1984. 

Here's a list of all her work...


1941 Above Suspicion - Filmed in 1943
1942 Assignment in Brittany - Filmed in 1943
1944 While Still We Live - Also published as The Unconquerable
1945 Horizon
1947 Friends and Lovers
1949 Rest and Be Thankful
1951 Neither Five Nor Three
1953 I and My True Love
1955 Pray for a Brave Heart
1958 North from Rome
1960 Decision at Delphi
1963 The Venetian Affair - Filmed in 1966
1964 Home Is the Hunter: A Comedy in Two Acts (Play)
1966 The Double Image
1968 The Salzburg Connection - Filmed in 1972
1971 Message from Málaga
1974 The Snare of the Hunter
1976 Agent in Place
1978 Prelude to Terror - Robert Renwick #1
1980 The Hidden Target - Robert Renwick #2
1982 Cloak of Darkness - Robert Renwick #3
1984 Ride a Pale Horse

I loved her book, Above Suspicion. Another author I want to read more by. This is my review, as it has some background on her:

Above Suspicion is the first thriller by Helen MacInnes, an author largely forgotten about now, but once a very established and successful writer. She married Gilbert Highet, a Classics scholar, in 1932 and translated German literature with him. Like the characters in this novel, both her and her husband spoke fluent German and spent their summers travelling in Europe. Gilbert Highet also served as an MI6 British intelligence agent and his wife's novels were so realistic that her third book, "Assignment in Brittany" was required reading for Allied intelligence agents about to be sent to work with the French Resistance. As you can tell, you are in safe hands for a realistic novel about Europe in 1939, which is where Above Suspicion is set.

Frances Myles lives with her Professor husband Richard in Oxford. The married couple enjoy climbing and travelling in Europe, as MacInnes did herself. It is 1939 and Europe is poised on the brink of war. Frances and Richard are hoping for one last summer of peace, but it is not to be. When Frances goes to collect Richard from his rooms for a party, she finds an old friend visiting and he wants them to do a job. He is hoping they will go abroad that summer as usual, meet a man in Paris and then continue the journey as he directs them to obtain information the authorities need badly. An agent who has been running an underground railway in Germany has stopped sending the normal messages and they are afraid he has been captured or compromised and they are hoping that "a couple of innocents abroad might be able to get through all suspicion."

Richard is happy to go, but does not want Frances involved. Frances is, however, absolutely not going to be left and, as things should continue as normal, she gets her way. What follows is a chase across Europe, with the couple under scrutiny from the moment they leave England. Europe has changed - now men march everywhere, there is violence in the air, their rooms are searched and they are followed. While in France a woman states, "one war is enough for one lifetime," but war is coming and both Frances and Richard know it is unavoidable. While in Europe they meet up with Robert Thorney, who they know from Oxford, and Henry Van Cortlandt, an American journalist. "You're not the kind of people to handle trouble; you're not tough enough," Van Cortlandt tells Frances, but this is the story of normal people being called upon to do extraordinary things.

This really is a superb story - with excitement, seriously unpleasant bad guys and a real undercurrent of fear. With hindsight it is easy to say that everyone knew what would happen. In 1941 it was not sure at all which way the war would go and so, in many ways, MacInnes is writing some stirring propaganda here. During the novel, Frances attempts to explain to their new American friend why war cannot be avoided and gives a plea for friendship and involvement to the country she was later to spend the rest of her life in. Frances is an excellent heroine - headstrong, opinionated and always very brave, she believes in what she is doing. Above Suspicion was made into a film in 1943, with Joan Crawford, and it is wonderful to see her books appearing on kindle.

Thanks Susan


That's a fabulous review which makes me keen to read Above Suspicion

Interestingly a few of her books, including Above Suspicion, are free to listen to with an Audible subscription

It's a good read, Nigeyb. I think you would enjoy it and it is definitely one I would like to re-revisit.

Buddy read, anyone?

Life un the US has become
So grim I find myself listening to more and more spy thrillers, because usually in them the bad guys get checked, if not completely defeated. WWII thrillers are even better, because we know that fascism was defeated…for that generation at least.

I'm up for a buddy read of Above Suspicion


When would suit you G? And Susan too if you're in?

Any time, since I can do the audio.

I re read one or two every year as part of my Retro Reads challenge.

I've read it but would be up for another read as well.

So many books.....so many authors........so little time!!

BTW there is also Wolf Winter (Clare Francis) but she came after MacInnes who was a trailblazer IMO

I have four books to read for Detectives before I can even think about it. Depends when you do it, but I will join in if I can.

Let’s go for January then


I’ll sort out the admin tomorrow

Great. I will look forward to a re-read.

I might have Above Suspicion. I'll have to check. Years ago I think I read Assignment in Brittany and maybe one or two others. It Was when I was in college.

This discussion prompted to give her a try. Since I plan to join the buddy read at the end of the year, I went with Assignment in Brittany. A disappointing experience. I'll still give the buddy read a try, though.

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

Oh dear. Thanks G. Expectations duly modified

That's one that I haven't read as yet

Nigeyb wrote: "Interestingly a few of her books, including Above Suspicion, are free to listen to with an Audible subscription"


This title is no longer free with an Audible subsription which is very frustrating - which is the basis we selected it for a buddy read

I'm interested to read/listen but not enough to splash an £8 credit on it. I'll try and find another way of accessing it.

EDIT: About a fiver on eBay and for Kindle - and not available in my library

I'm about halfway through Assignment in Brittany and enjoying it . Not my usual read so can't say how well it stands up in the spy / espionage cannon but it was clearly written and published at a time when England was thirsting for heroic war stories . So far the misogyny is typical for it's time which just goes to show how deeply embedded certain tropes were in the minds of all.

Thanks Hester - that's encouraging (misogyny aside)

Re: message 20 above about Above Suspicion no longer free on Audible UK…..


The only one of her books that is currently "free" with an audible subscription is called Prelude to Terror (1978) which looks pretty good. So we could switch to that one if it suits the rest of you


What do you think?


New York art expert Colin Grant is sent to Vienna and bid on a priceless Old Master on behalf of a Texan millionaire. No sooner has Grant landed in Austria than his seemingly simple assignment turns into a nightmare, as he finds himself at the center of a conspiracy to unleash a wave of international terrorism.

Nigeyb wrote: "Re: message 20 above about Above Suspicion no longer free on Audible UK…..


The only one of her books that is currently "free" with an audible subscription is called [book:Prelude to Terror|230624..."

I can get that from Hoopla, one of the digital platforms my library uses, so I'm fine with the switch.

Thanks G

I have Prelude to Terror when I checked.

When do you want to start/do you want to wait to see if

Above Suspicion becomes free again?

I suggest we just switch Prelude To Terror for Above Suspicion, if that works for you?

So instead of AS we’ll read PTT in January 2026. I’ll just update the thread and do the other bits of admin

Please let me know if you are okay with that

We know G is fine with it which is helpful

Okey dokey - January 2026 is looking to be a heavy month regarding reading.

I'm hoping Prelude to Terror will be quick and easy


You can always go early, or delay, or just not do it all

It's no biggie! I'll be diving in no matter what

I've created a new discussion thread and deleted the old one. We're all set.

Here's to another splendid discussion

Finished Assignment in Brittany and felt it descended into a predictable melodrama . The central premise of the story was , I felt , hard to believe from the start but there were some good passages in and amongst that kept the plot moving space . While I understand the novel is very much of its times the saint or sinner binary of the main female characters put my teeth on edge .