What can I say, Rory Clements you have done it again!!!

It's 1937 in Munich, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor are in Germany for a historic meeting with Hitler at his home in the mountains. There have been attacks by a communist gang called Red Freedom who have brutally killed a couple in front of their young child. They are as brutal as the Nazis and their next targets are The Duke and Duchess and Hitler. Seb is unhappily put in charge of their protection but things become even more complicated with Seb's politics and when he finds out who is involved with Red Freedom brings it all closer to home.

I think this book has been my favourite in the series so far but they have all been so good. Seb is a brilliant character, he's a good man and I am excited to see what he gets caught up in next. Hexie and Winters are great characters as well. Hopefully Jürgen gets some sense. I will be recommending this series to everyone, it's just so damn good!

Thank you to NetGalley and many thanks to the publisher Penguin General for the opportunity to read this brilliant book.

Another cracking story from Rory Clements. The central characters are now becoming firm favourites for me with more personal storylines developed alongside a gripping set of mysteries that come together in spectacular style in this outing. This is a fascinating period in history and this is nuanced writing that really helps build an understanding of the challenges that people faced in these times, arguably reflecting the dilemmas that many face in these current day. I look forward to the next instalment!

Munich, 1937, captain of detectives Seb Wolff has just been given a body,mutilated beyond recognition to investigate and is also charged with overseeing the security for the visit of the Duke of Windsor who is touring factories in Bavaria before meeting Hitler at the Eagles nest. As usual the gestapo are being violently unhelpful. Hanging over the visit is the threat of an attack by a communist group, who Seb suspects his ex,and mother of his son, is associated with. Sebs girlfriend Hexie is desperate to get pregnant or adopt sohas to see a racial purity doctor. So there are threats on several fronts and a tense adventure is setup. As usual Rory Clments is spot on with the historical details and it's wonderfully timely of him to tell the story of a dim member of the British royal family being manipulated by a shady American financier.

It is now 1937 in Munich and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor are due to visit Hitler in his mountain retreat. The day before their visit, a Communist group launches a series of attacks throughout the city and Detective Sebatian Wolff is put in charge of an operation to keep the important visitors safe. Everything becomes more complicated, though, when he realises that one of the terrorists is Ulrike, the mother of his son.

With Sebastian Wolff, Rory Clements has managed to establish a new series of books that rivals his own Tom Wilde series (set in Britain during World War II) in excellence, not an easy feat. The atmosphere is superb, with a sense of ever-growing danger for anyone who does not whole heartedly follow the regime (and many who do), and no way of knowing who can be trusted, even within your family. Each instalment is cranking up the tension and it’s a beautifully researched glimpse of life for those in Germany at the time.

The action is well paced but the plot is always based on much more than non-stop action. There is an excellent balance of each book’s individual plot and the continuing background story – each one can be read alone, this one included, but it is very much worth your time to go back and read from the beginning (for both series). These are superb historical thrillers.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

Set in 1937, Detective Sebastian Wolff is once again faced with a tough mission—protecting the Duke and Duchess of Windsor during their tour of Germany, which ends with a visit to Hitler’s mountain retreat. The threat escalates as the communist “Red Freedom” gang launches a series of attacks, and Seb fears his ex may be part of their deadly scheme. Meanwhile, closer to home, he must also safeguard Hexie, who finds herself in danger while trying to adopt an abandoned child.

Clements masterfully weaves multiple storylines into a single gripping narrative, blending literal and political threats against the backdrop of the Nazi party’s rise. This instalment also features “Evie’s” unsettling interaction with Hitler, revealing a softer side to his persona despite the violence and cruelty surrounding him.

The series offers a compelling glimpse into pre-war Germany and its effect on its people. One particularly harrowing plotline involves the Nazi party’s abhorrent policy to create a “pure race” by using young women to bear so-called perfect children—a disturbing reminder of real events that should never be forgotten. This is, in my opinion, the best book in the series so far, and I highly recommend it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

A marvellous continuation book featuring Detective Seb Wolff of the Munich Police, circa 1937.
You will have the gist by way of book description and from many worthy reviews. I will simply say this is one author who I have followed for some time and on each occasion simply surpasses himself.
For those who like the genre this book is no exception - brilliant.

What can i say?

This is book three of the Seb Wolff series and honestly the first two were such a good read and i was highly excited to get my mitts on this!

I was not disappointed at all was so happy to be in this world that Clements builds for us.

' ON THE EVE OF WAR, A ROYAL GUEST IS LURED INTO HITLER'S DEADLY WEB . . .' This is some wording from the book and refers to 1937 and The Duke and Duchess of Windsor arrive at Hitlers mountain retreat. Seb Wolff continues to work within the limitations of the Nazi regime, but this time not only is he charged with the investigation of a handless and faceless body, he is again joined by his political partner Hanz Winter, of which throughout all of the books has became closer.

The plot is engaging, but there is more than one plot going on throughout the book, which Clements always manages to blend seamlessly, we have the murder, the former King of England and his wife Wallis Simpson threatened by a group called the 'The Red Freedom' we have the personal tribulations of his relationship with his girlfriend, his mother and his son which is nice to see that side of this main character.

This book bounds on at a relentless pace, building into a gripping page turner, it is so much more than i have explained today, with these books Clements is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine.

READ THIS!!
(However start at the beginning of the series, as then you will appreciate the character building so much more )

Rory Clements has knocked it out of the park with Invitation from a Dictator. If you’re looking for a historical thriller that manages to be both a relentless page-turner and a deeply clever piece of storytelling, this is it. The Sebastian Wolff series just keeps getting better with every installment, and this latest entry feels like its most ambitious and rewarding yet.

What makes this book so brilliant is how Clements captures the chilling, claustrophobic atmosphere of pre-war Nazi Germany. The level of insight into 1937 Munich is excellent, making the tension of the era feel more than just a backdrop. The plot is a masterclass in multi-threaded storytelling; it weaves together the high stakes arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor with the brutal emergence of the “Red Freedom” communist group. It’s a complex web that manages to surprise you at every turn, yet it never feels contrived or forced.

The personal stakes for Wolff add emotional weight to the political intrigue, forcing him navigate the impossible choice between protecting the royals at the Berghof and confronting his first love, Ulrike. Everything builds toward an ending that is both thrilling and satisfying, leaving you reeling but completely impressed. It’s a five-star read through and through.

It's impossible for Rory Clements to write a bad book - the Seb Wolff series just gets better and better. The plot had twists and turns as well as a sensitive approach which didn't leave the reader feeling like the period or topic had been glamourised. This series could run for forever and a day and we'd still read every book.

Another winner from Rory Clements in the Captain Sebastian Wolff series.

It's 1937 in Munich and Wolff has been summoned to look at a dead body found with the face sliced off and the hands are missing, at the same time he has been instructed to look for and destroy the leaders of the 'Red Freedom' who have recently assassinated a Nazi officer and his wife, in front of their daughter.

Added to this, the former King, Edward VIII, now known as the Duke of Windsor, with his wife the Duchess of Windsor have arrived for a faux state visit which will end at Berchtesgaden, Hitler's country home and a meeting with the Fuhrer.

Wolff is assigned to be part of the security team covering the visit, made even harder when his fiancee has been invited by her friend, Eva Braun to spend some time at the retreat at the same time.

Brilliantly written, interwoven with historical events, and giving an insight to the new rules and laws that were enabled once Hitler came to power.

I have been lucky enough to have read the previous Seb Wolff books and this one is undoubtedly the best so far, but to be fair, they are all pretty good!

Highly recommended

Another brilliant addition to the Seb Wolff series. The plot is fantastic, writing exceptional and it really had me gripped throughout. The blend of historical facts and fiction works brilliantly in this period and i cant wait to see where the series goes next!

A book where the reader can almost imagine themselves in the midst of the action and intrigue, as Seb Wolff attempts to stop a communist led plot aimed at the Duke and Duchess of Windsor"s visit to the Third Reich Germany.

Rory Clements really has hit his form with this series of novels. Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this.

Another gripping read from this master of the historic crime genre! And what a read-I couldn't put my book down and found myself reading late into the night.

Seb Wolfe, Munich detective is back on the case of a Communist gang who threaten havoc, death and disaster during the visit of Edward (ex-King of England) and his new wife, the notorious Wallis Simpson to Germany. The Communist gang are not afraid to kill and main anyone who gets in there way, and Seb is on a race to stop their killing spree.
I really enjoyed the historic detail included in the story- the lebensborn programme, life at the Berghof and the details of Hitlers life there with Eva Braun - all brought interest and true life into the story. The characters came alive within the book and the reader really feels that they would know these people in real life.
This is a gripping and intriguing read. So many different factors come to the fore leaving the reader wondering what will happen next. Absolutely brilliant!! Highly recommend.

A great read! Thoroughly enjoyed and recommend yet another of this author’s espionage novels featuring Sebastian Wolff. As chief of detectives of the Munich police, Seb doubles up as a member of the protection team for a Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s visit to Bavaria prior to the outbreak of WW2. Serb’s remit is initially to find a murderer, but this overlaps into hunting down members of a communist group called Red Freedom, intent on killing senior officials and the Royal couple. Fast paced, clever storyline and an excellent page turner.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Penguin for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.