An all-action World War II thriller with agents from Britain's Special Operations Executive (SOE), an American, Sam Cooper of the OSS (The Office of Strategic Services, the forerunner to the CIA) and a member of the Free French forces, Christophe Valvert parachuted into France in order to create havoc in the Normandy area and, more importantly, to assassinate a German rocket scientist. Their target is Professor Gaerte, the man in charge of the developing of the ME 163 Komet, a revolutionary jet fighter that might influence the outcome of the war.
The leader is Harry Walsh, a maverick spy who has completed several missions in occupied France. With him is fellow agent Emma Stirling, who Harry has recently rescued from a German trap after the resistance network she was working for was betrayed. Harry and Emma have a romantic past although Harry has told Emma that he will never leave his wife for her, even though he is in a loveless marriage.
These 3 men and one woman join with a group of desperate, poorly trained French resistance fighters to carry out various missions in the countryide around the French city of Rouen.
The non-stop action involves sabotage of tanks, railway tracks and a bridge along with the killing of a Nazi collaborator before this Resistance group is also betrayed and many of its members killed or captured. With Cooper wounded and Valvert dead, Harry and Emma must attempt the assassination of Professor Gaerte on their own.
Throughout the book, various real characters from the hierarchy of the SOE make appearances with brief mentions of Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond books and Kim Philby, who more than a decade later was revealed as a traitor in the employ of the Soviet Union.
But mainly, this story is all about Harry and Emma and their bid to carry out the order to kill Gaerte. There are plenty of historical facts scattered throughout this fictional tale, although credulity is stretched here and there.
We learn of Harry's background in the Army including how escaped after fighting a rearguard action during the British Army's evacuation from France in May/June 1940.
Throughout, we're repeatedly reminded of Harry's dislike for many of Britain's senior military and military intelligence officers. I found the latter got a bit wearing and didn't really like Harry Walsh since he seemed to be nothing more than a tough guy who thought himself better than anyone else. Also, I thought many of the French and German characters seemed no more than cardboard cutouts, but that said this is a work of fiction. All in all it's a rattling good yarn.
My thanks to Oldcastle Books/No Exit Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
