The latest novel from Graham Hurley, Prey which is the latest in the fine series " Spoils of War ".

Prey is featuring the war in the air from the winter of 1943 against the backdrop of Lancaster bombers night raids over the cities of Germany.
To combat this the Luftwaffe has developed a tactic of using the BF 110 night fighter squadrons in what they term schrage Musik . This tactic developed by a senior officer Merz capitalises on the Lancaster weakness of no protection from underneath the bomber.
Tam Moncrieff MI5 operative tries to influence Arthur Harris head of Bomber Command , to alter the bombers configuration to protect against these hug losses the RAF is having against these German night fighters.

While the main thrust of Prey is the air warfare, other peripheral influences on Tam Moncrieff are clouding his life such as the death of a soldier of a widow he has become fond of. His investigations into this death take him into areas that he would rather not go .

A really great read , I have always enjoyed Graham Hurley's novels . His style of writing is both exciting and refreshing leaving the reader always wanting more. Enjoy, nobody would be disappointed in Grahams' latest.

I was absolutely transfixed reading this novel. The tension, the suspense and the adrenaline rush are all at their most extreme pitch. This was the first book that I've read by the author in this series that he calls "The Spoils Of War" about World War Two and I have eight to read to bring me up to date!

1943. The war is turning against the Third Reich, but the Luftwaffe are eagerly exploiting a lethal blind spot in the RAF's Lancaster bombers with their innovative upward-firing cannon.

MI5's Tam Moncrieff lobbies ceaselessly for a solution in the face of officials' indifference. His quest sees him accompanying a bombing raid deep into Nazi Germany that will change the course of the war.

The target is the Nazis' flagship city of Nuremberg. With bright moonlight and clear visibility, the conditions are perfect… for the enemy. The Luftwaffe are jubilant as they take out plane after plane.

With so many men dead or captured, can RAF Bomber Command overcome their darkest hour, when the predators have become the prey?
This won't be the last book that I read in this series and I have read several of his Faraday and Winter series titles and I appreciate his great skills as a researcher and innovative author. Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for the review Copy.

Graham Hurley returns to the darkest days of World War II with Prey, the gripping eleventh instalment in his acclaimed Spoils of War collection. Masterfully blending the high-stakes tension of aerial combat with the shadowy world of wartime intelligence, Hurley delivers a historical thriller that is as meticulously researched as it is pulse-pounding. If you are looking for a visceral, grounded WWII narrative, Prey is for the most part an absolute must-read. However, the last few chapters tying up loose ends detracts from the earlier fast-paced momentum!

The Premise: Predators and Prey in the Night Sky
Set in 1943, the novel plunges readers into a terrifying reality for RAF Bomber Command. While the tide of the war is slowly turning against the Third Reich, the Luftwaffe has discovered a lethal blind spot in the RAF’s Lancaster bombers. Armed with innovative upward-firing cannons, German night fighters are tearing through the British squadrons with devastating, unchecked efficiency.

Against this backdrop of staggering losses, MI5’s Tam Moncrieff steps into the fray. Refusing to accept the mounting casualty rates and the stubborn indifference of military officials, Moncrieff relentlessly lobbies for a tactical solution. His quest culminates in him accompanying a terrifying bombing raid deep into Nazi Germany, targeting the flagship city of Nuremberg under the worst possible conditions: bright moonlight and perfectly clear visibility.

What Makes Prey Stand Out
Breathtaking Aerial Combat: Hurley excels at putting the reader directly inside the freezing, claustrophobic fuselage of a Lancaster bomber. The action sequences are not just exciting; they are authentically terrifying, capturing the profound vulnerability of the bomber crews as they are hunted in the dark skies.
A Multi-Layered Protagonist: Tam Moncrieff serves as a brilliant anchor for the story. As an MI5 agent, he bridges the gap between the calculated, often cynical world of intelligence and the brutal reality faced by the airmen. His bureaucratic battle against the apathy of his superiors is just as compelling as his fight against the Luftwaffe.
Historical Accuracy: Hurley is widely respected for his deep historical dives, and Prey is no exception. The technical details of the aircraft, the strategic nuances of the bombing campaigns, and the grim geopolitical realities of 1943 Europe are woven seamlessly into the narrative without ever slowing down the momentum.

Even though it sits within the Spoils of War framework, Prey works brilliantly as a standalone novel. Readers can easily pick this up and be immediately swept into the action without needing prior knowledge of the series.

Prey is historical thriller writing of the highest order. It pays profound respect to the bravery of the RAF bomber crews while delivering a taut, tightly plotted espionage narrative. The pacing is relentless, leading to a climax over Nuremberg that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Graham Hurley is such a versatile and gifted writer and has received far less acclaim than he deserves.

The Faraday/Winter Portsmouth police procedurals were a magnificent achievement that I still return to and this is the eleventh in the ongoing Spoils of War series which has enthralled me from the beginning.

This is an excellent addition and is a brilliantly paced and researched account of the dog fights over Germany and a fatal weakness and flaw in design that led to many unnecessary deaths amongst the crews of Lancaster bombers and the struggle to rectify it.

An absorbing read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

First of his Spoils of War series I've read having previously enjoyed his crime novels set in Portsmouth.

Told through two main characters on opposite sides of the war, the book is part detective as Tom looks to find out more about the killing of a British soldier at Dunkirk. The other part being set around the Lancaster bombers and the ease at which they are shot down by the Luftwaffe.

The air combat parts of the book are proper edge of the seat reading. A very enjoyable WW2 based novel

Tam Moncrief is sent to invetigate an aircraft designer who is stirring up trouble regarding a wekness in the defenses of the Lancaster bomber.
As part of his investigation he uncovers the suspiucious death of a soldier at Dunkirk.
Meanwhile on the Axis forces Metz a German nightfighter is try to gain an edge against the British bombers pounding German cities.
An excellent read, part detective, part war sequences with the polotics of war thrown into the mix where both men question the hierarchy of their respective countries.

1943. The war is turning against the Third Reich, but the Luftwaffe are eagerly exploiting a lethal blind spot in the RAF’s Lancaster bombers with their innovative upward-firing cannon.
MI5's Tam Moncrieff lobbies ceaselessly for a solution in the face of officials' indifference. His quest sees him accompanying a bombing raid deep into Nazi Germany that will change the course of the war.
The target is the Nazis' flagship city of Nuremberg. With bright moonlight and clear visibility, the conditions are perfect… for the enemy. The Luftwaffe are jubilant as they take out plane after plane.
With so many men dead or captured, can RAF Bomber Command overcome their darkest hour, when the predators have become the prey?

Another well-written and well-paced novel from Graham Hurley. It's definitely a can't-put-down read and thoroughly enjoyable.


Thanks to #NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Graham Hurley does a splendid job in presenting a flaw with the Lancaster bombers and how the Luftwaffe exploited it. One person, Albert Emile Murray was in prison because he chose to bring it to anyone's attention who would listen, as the top brass didn't want to know. MI5's Tam Moncrieff was sent to interview him in prison as reports came in of the innovative mounting position in German aircraft of an upward firing cannon. This was shredding the Lancaster's wings off and downing the aircraft. Murray believed that the modified Lancasters using Frazer-Nash turrets were the answer but only the Canadians had the luxury of using those. So that's the basis of the story but Graham Hurley usually likes to mirror characters from either side and Dieter Merz is giving the Luftwaffe perspective. The underlying theme is that both the British and German high command seem to have their collective heads in the clouds, not wanting to listen to those of lower rank but greater experience.
Hurley brings history to life without doubt but the constant reference to "Schräge Musik" became a little boring. That was the only flaw in an otherwise excellent novel. It had pace and interest and a conclusion that didn't really conclude so maybe there's more to come?

A tense crime novel where a hunt for truth leads into dangerous territory. The plot follows shifting loyalties and rising threats. Many thanks to the publisher for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

I think the last book I read about war heroes who flew was a Biggles story, so this was quite a departure from my usual genre. Haven’t read anything by Graham Hurley, but was absolutely engrossed in this story. It centres on Bomber Command and RAF efforts to combat losses of Lancaster bombers because the Luftwaffe is using upward cannons to shoot them out of the skies. But more than that, it’s a spy story with an MI5 agent lobbying for change and investigating the death of a soldier. Clearly, there’s a strong historical thread throughout the book and I feel sure there’s a lot of accuracy in the action and scenes depicted. This book really gripped; at times it was like being part of the action and the writing is tight and emotional in that it takes the reader to the heart if air warfare. On the basis of this story, I’m going to look for more in the series and Hurley has created an interest in a totally new genre for me. Brilliant storytelling and outstanding historical fiction.