Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Pedestrian

This is billed on Amazon as “the most anticipated spy thriller of 2021” so it was not without a certain amount of dread and misgivings that I started the first chapter. I appreciate that publishers must do their best by their authors and their company to maximise sales and generate interest but it reaches a point where every single new publication proclaims something similar and quotes several famous authors and newspapers that this book outshines any other and stands head and shoulders above the rest. Surely, they can’t all be right.

The plot is set during the Second World War and dives straight into the action with a plane crash in Scotland which kills most onboard including the brother of the British monarch, hence the use of “Prince” in the title. The action moves around the country and then on to Sweden. For some reason which I have yet to fathom the plot revolves around Professor Tom Wilde (the spy) trying to establish and prove that the Nazis are murdering thousands of Jews in death camps in Eastern Europe. To what end remains a mystery to me. Even if FDR and Churchill could be convinced it’s not clear what action would or could be taken.

The prequel to this thriller is Hitler’s Secret which based on this offering won’t be on my birthday or Christmas present wish list but this is the 5th in the Tom Wilde series. The characters have little to commend them and in many cases are caricatures of the British aristocracy or the wicked German High Command. The dialogue is flat and stilted and, in many instances, appeared to try to recreate the atmosphere of the 1940s without a great deal of success.

mr zorg

Elite Reviewing group received a copy of the book to review.

A tragic accident or was it? The brother of the King is killed in a plane crash on a remote Scottish hillside and Tom Wilde is asked to look into it as a courtesy to FDR, Godfather to the Prince's newborn son. What Tom finds raises more questions than answers and suddenly he is on a chase to find a defector from the Nazi regime hiding in Sweden. The evidence he carries is proof that the Nazis are killing masses of Jews in Poland.
Clements has honed his craft over the years and his books are always a treat. Here Professor Tom Wilde is implausibly caught up in a search for missing German in the Swedish islands, chased by Nazis, and then back in England pursued by several different factions. It's a twisty plot but driven by high excitement and a solid twist of humour.

Rory Clements is fast becoming an author I turn to when I need a page-turning read to relax into. ‘A Prince and a Spy’ is fifth in his Tom Wilde Second World War series and it doesn’t disappoint. Woven into true history of the conflict – the fatal crash in Scotland of the Duke of Kent’s plane, the holocaust – Clements adds real and fictional characters, intrigue and competing spies, to make this an enjoyable read.
When history professor Wilde returns by train home to Cambridge he bumps into a former student. Cazerove seems distracted, distressed, munching on a bag of sweets. Before the train reaches its destination, Cazerove dies of poisoning. So begins a typical Clements thriller – strong characters, true history and a string of unrelated incidents. When the Duke of Kent’s plane crashes on a remote hill in Scotland, the public is told his plane came down in heavy fog when taking off for Iceland on operational duties. In the world of ‘A Prince and a Spy’, the flying boat was returning from a secret diplomatic mission in Sweden where the Duke met his German cousin, a former member of the Nazi party. Wilde, working for the newly-established American secret intelligence service, OSS, is sent to Scotland to sniff around at the crash site and ask questions on behalf of his president. FDR wants to know why the plane crashed, was Prince George at the controls, was it shot down, and how did one person survive?
A keynote of this series is the multi-layering of rival spy agencies in the UK – the British, the Americans – the infiltration of Nazi agents, Soviet agitators and, in this book, a secret society. Clements is excellent at showing history through the eyes of fictional characters, a challenging task, and I particularly liked the Scottish segment with fisherman Jimmy Orde. A continuing thread from book to book is Wilde’s relationship with his partner Lydia, and Philip Eaton, the British spy who first involved Wilde in espionage. Clements twists reality in this book so Wilde doesn’t know who to trust, who to believe, and who is spying on him. So much so that at times, I lost track too.
An excellent weekend read.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

A fascinating historical novel giving a spin around the true mystery of the Duke of Kent killed in a plane crash during WWII. When news of the crash appears, Tom is sent Scotland to investigate accompanied a MI 5 minder to keep him in line. There after follows his adventure when he slips his minder and other stake holders who do not want the truth to be revealed. His quest takes him all over the highlands and into contact with the only survivor and clues that lead him to a secret female passenger who had also survived the crash. She is the key to the mystery, also anxious to keep out of sight with a mission to complete, a femme fatale whose charms he must resist in order to bring matters to a conclusion with himself intact, to return safely to Lynda. A most complex story of high-level politics and of Nazi atrocities and efforts to bring them to light.

I always get very excited when a new Rory Clements book appears. This series of Tom Wilde adventures is particularly good. The novel is inspired by the real-life events surrounding the death of King George V’s brother, the Duke of Kent, in a plane crash in the far north of Scotland in August 1942. I had absolutely no knowledge of this so was sent off to Google to find out more!

All but one of the occupants of the plane were killed, including the Duke. The author has used the continuing mystery surrounding the circumstances of the crash as the starting point for a story involving wartime atrocities, covert operations and a conspiracy at the heart of the British establishment. You get drawn in and the book really is unputdownable, I read well into the night, superb!

Thoroughly recommend all of Rory Clements books however this one was one of the best.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

I always find myself immersed when reading a Rory Clements novel and this is no exception. Mentally slipping into a pair of Oxford bags and following Prof Tom Wilde into an WW2 espionage plot that, as it progresses, becomes clear is only border line fiction. Characters old and new add both charm and menace as he endeavours to find out, at the request of the President, what really happened to the Prince and who’s hiding what from who.
It’s pacy, well researched and thought provoking describing a time and a sequence of events that make for an excellent read but left me feeling, as was probably intended, that we should never forget what really happened.

A Prince and a Spy by Rory Clements
Having read Rory Clements last novel featuring Tom Wilde, the Cambridge professor, I was very much looking forward to reading this novel. The opening of the story in 1942 captures your imagination immediately; dealing as it does with a secret meeting between two cousins Philip Von Hesse and Prince George. One is a close ally of Hitler and the other the brother of the King of England.
Within a matter of days Prince George is killed in a plane crash over Scotland and the crash is registered as an accident due to pilot error. This story is not however believed by everyone and Tom Wilde, as an American, is sent to investigate events and report back to Roosevelt.
What he uncovers leads him into danger and encounters with members of M15, M16 and a group called Athels (who all attended the same school) who, due to their fabulous wealth, wield huge power behind the scenes. He also comes into contact with a star of the silent movies and those who attend the Dada club.
It is a thrilling story and one which keeps you entertained for its duration. The historical notes referring to the real events which are fictionalised are also very interesting. A book I would thoroughly recommend and which works very effectively as a stand-alone. I would however recommend the first four books in the series and eagerly await book six.
I would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

As far as I’m concerned it’s always a cause for celebration when a new book in Rory Clements’ Tom Wilde series arrives. As my reviews will testify, I’ve loved all the previous books in the series – Corpus, Nucleus, Nemesis and Hitler’s Secret – but to my mind A Prince and a Spy is the best yet.

The novel is inspired by the real-life events surrounding the death of King George V’s brother, the Duke of Kent, in a plane crash in the far north of Scotland in August 1942. All but one of the occupants of the plane were killed, including the Duke. The author has used the continuing mystery surrounding the circumstances of the crash as the starting point for a story involving wartime atrocities, covert operations and a conspiracy at the heart of the British establishment.

If that isn’t enough to whet your appetite there are also dramatic pursuits across land and sea by ruthless enemies who will stop at nothing, the use of truth drugs to extract information and some rather unconventional flight accommodation. And fans of the series will no doubt share my delight as Tom Wilde fires up his trusty Rudge Special motorcycle for breakneck journeys across the country.

Sent to Scotland to investigate the air crash, Wilde just can’t stop himself from asking questions that go well beyond his stated cover story, bringing him to the attention of some particularly dangerous individuals and to others whose motives are less than clear. At one point, Wilde is warned, “Now you’re getting in tricky waters, Tom. Any herring man will tell you to stay away from the shallows and the rocks”. But, as anyone familiar with Tom Wilde will know, he’s just as likely to steer straight towards them.

Moving between Scotland, Sweden and wartime London, at certain points the author also transports the reader to the heart of the Third Reich giving a chilling insight into its evil efficiency and the personal rivalries between its key figures.

Eventually all the threads are brought together in order to explain the background to the dramatic event that opens the book. Although dark deeds dominate most of the book, its ending is just perfect and offers a much needed ray of light. However Tom being Tom, there are still unanswered questions that linger in his mind. I would have liked a more prominent role for Lydia, Wilde’s partner and the mother of his son, as she’s rather consigned to the domestic sidelines. However, that’s only a very minor gripe because in every other respect A Prince and a Spy has everything I look for in a historical thriller.

The author’s historical note provides fascinating information about the individuals who inspired some of the fictional characters, about the afterlives (where known) of the real characters and about some of the events portrayed in the book. Sadly, some of the most shocking scenes in the book are based on historical fact.

I'm a big fan of Rory Clements' John Shakespeare Tudor thrillers and was interested to read this novel to see if I would be as enthusiastic with a book of his set in a different time period with other characters. The answer is a resounding yes! 'A Prince and a Spy' is the latest novel in the Cambridge spy Tom Wilde series (note to self - read the others). It's set in 1942. When the King's brother, Prince George, dies in a mysterious plane crash, Wilde is sent to investigate whether anything nefarious had gone on. I obviously won't give away any spoilers but there are lots of twists, turns, cliffhangers interspersed with skulduggery! Wilde is a great lead character too. Highly recommended.

1942 Sweden. Prince George of England meets his cousin Prince Philipp von Hesse of Germany in secret . A meeting that would have stayed secret, if Prince George’s plane hadn’t crashed on its return. The question being asked - was it an accident or was it sabotage?
An investigation is required and Professor Tom Wilde is sent to the crash site in a remote part of Scotland to find out the truth, but he finds more than he bargains for.
With people from all sides trying to thwart Tom, he must use all his contacts and knowhow to avoid being the next target in a race to reveal the truth.
This is another extraordinary novel by Rory Clements. His writing is outstanding. The the plot is sublime. His characters are brilliant, and with his ability to mix fact and fiction, you will be totally absorbed from start to finish.
A truly magnificent addition to his ever brilliant run of Tom Wilde books.
I highly recommend this novel.

Another brilliant thriller from Rory Clements. Prof Tom Wilde is drawn into intrigue yet again, and soon finds himself embroiled in a very dangerous mission in the midst of WW2. The Kings brother dies when the seaplane he is in crashes in the Scottish mountains. But what was he doing there and who was with him? Spies and enemies are all.around, and noone really knows who can be trusted? Absolutely brilliant storytelling- I couldn't put the book down! You know that a huge amount of historical research has gone into these novels and the story clearly benefits from the authors hard work! With twists and turns throughout, a fascinating story based on facts and really well-written characters- I loved this book and can't wait for the next episode in the story of Prof Wilde and the Second World War!

I love this series featuring American Cambridge History Professor Tom Wilde and his partner Lydia Morris.
Set in the summer of 1942 the book opened with Professor Wilde being asked go up to Scotland to check out the crash site on behalf of OSS, the new American Intelligence section and FDR, the American President. As is usual for Tom Wilde it wasn’t a simple task as he wasn’t wanted up there asking awkward questions. Add subterfuge and characters that I really wasn’t sure if I should trust, plus a plot had me turning the pages really fast as I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next!
Characters from previous books make reappearances, including the enigmatic Philip Eaton. He always makes me feel wary as I know something bad is probably going to happen to poor Tom or Lydia.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, in fact it’s one of my highly anticipated reads for 2021. I’m very happy to say that it lived up to my expectations. Rory Clements once again took a historical event that I knew nothing about and worked a fantastic spy story into it. It was fascinating to read at the end of the book about the real events it was based on and the people who were involved.
I thoroughly recommend this book and the series, especially if you enjoy spy thrillers set in World War Two.

A Prince and A Spy is the latest book in the excellent Professor Tom Wilde series from Rory Clements and it definitely does not disappoint.

As usual the story interweaves actual events and historical characters into an engaging narrative which is set in Scotland, Sweden, Suffolk, London and Cambridge as Wilde continues his activities for the American services whilst facing unseen and unknown foes.

There are a number of twists and turns throughout which keep the pages turning at a rapid pace.

All the main characters who have featured in previous books reappear in this book and due to them being so well sketched out and established they feel like old friends!

This series has been consistently excellent and A Prince and A Spy is thoroughly recommended.

Rory Clements obviously does a lot of research before writing his historical thrillers featuring Oxford Don turned spy, Professor Tom Wilde. I’ve read all of them and they are without exception, interesting and compelling.
In this book it is very difficult to tell the difference between fact and fiction. I did in fact google a couple of the characters to see if they really existed.
“A Prince and a Spy” is about a plane crash in Scotland in 1942. After a meeting with his German cousin, German aristocrat and Nazi, Phillip Von Hessen, in Sweden to discuss top secret war business, The Duke Of Kent, otherwise known as Prince George, is flying back home when his plane comes down. He is killed but there is a survivor who is transported to the local hospital. Was the crash an accident or was it deliberately sabotaged?
Tom Wilde is asked to investigate on behalf of the Americans as the British are trying to hush up the situation and Roosevelt wants to know what is going on.
This plane crash actually happened and there was indeed a survivor but the rest of the plot is obviously fiction. In 1942 little was known about the Nazis “final solution”and this too features in the novel although, defector Rudi Coburg did not exist: in this book he is trying to escape the Nazis and reveal the truth to the world.
As in other books by this author there is a lot of excitement and nail biting, edge of your seat action. Tom Wilde is a great hero who is constantly striving to do the right thing, even resisting romantic temptation when it is put in his path.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read which intermingled fact and fiction to make a compelling novel. Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have now read all of Rory Clements's historical thrillers and can attest that they are all well written with clever and original plots, historically accurate and feature interesting and well developed characters.

I won't spoil the excitant by revealing the plot but this is an exceptionally clever and exciting triller that deserves a wide audience.

Totally recommended.

Another excellent book by Rory Clements. Some of the events and characters are real, some not - but everything is intertwined to create an excellent page-turner. The Prince is the Duke of Kent, George VI's younger brother who died when his aircraft crashed - an accident, or not; and that is the beginning. The action takes place in England, Scotland, Germany, Sweden and Poland and keeps the reader's attention from page 1 to the end.

Highly recommended