This is a bleak picture of wartime Germany. Scarrow’s knowledge of the Third Reich is evident, with historical individuals providing authenticity. It is a nuanced novel demonstrating a new string to his story-telling bow.
It is set in Berlin in 1939. The lead character is Horst Schenke, a Kripo
detective with anti-Nazi leanings. Schenke is assigned to the murder of an
actress with links with the Nazi Party but worries he is being set up. He must navigate Nazi bureaucracy, illogicalities,
oppression, and the pervasive racism of the regime. He’s against a ticking
clock, as failure is unacceptable, and must uncover the truth before evil strikes
again.
THE STUNNING SECOND WORLD WAR THRILLER FROM THE CELEBRATED SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR SIMON SCARROW - COMING MARCH 2021.
'Taut and chilling - I was completely gripped' Anthony Horowitz
'A wonderfully compelling thriller, reeking of authenticity, and a terrific depiction of the human world within the chilling world of the Third Reich' Peter James
'Pivotal moments in history; utterly authentic characters; a gripping plot. The perfect way to bring history alive' Damien Lewis
Berlin, December 1939
As Germany goes to war, the Nazis tighten their terrifying grip. Paranoia in the capital is intensified by a rigidly enforced blackout that plunges…
This is a lyrical and vividly painted story set in the WW2 occupation of France.
A little blind girl and her locksmith father escape Paris
for the seaside St Malo. Elsewhere, a German orphan boy with a precocious talent
becomes part of the Nazi war machine. Their lives collide in a beautifully told
story where the senses, particularly touch and sound, are evocatively used to
tell the story of a blind girl trying to survive in a terrifying world.
Doerr tells a heart-breaking tale of suffering
and triumph during shocking times. His tale also provides a realistic, balanced, and nuanced view of both sides of conflict, which is refreshing in its honesty
and even-handedness. He writes beautifully too.
WINNER OF THE 2015 PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR FICTION
A beautiful, stunningly ambitious novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II
Open your eyes and see what you can with them before they close forever.'
For Marie-Laure, blind since the age of six, the world is full of mazes. The miniature of a Paris neighbourhood, made by her father to teach her the way home. The microscopic…
Barnard is a favorite author of mine, particularly
his aviation thriller series, which has been an inspiration to my own writing.
This novel is a bit of a departure for him, anchored in twisty, very British
historical fiction, but is also, to some extent, an autobiographical ‘coming of
age’ story, as well as being a mystery and a properly chilling ghost story. It
is very evocative of post-WW2 Britain and the legacy of the World War’s traumas
on the country.
Barnard’s characters and dialogue are beautifully drawn; the story is at times dark, at other times deliciously well-observed, and very
witty with biting humor. In my view, this is an underappreciated novel from a very
fine author indeed.
Scotland 1939 - Jox McNabb, a Scottish schoolboy, is expelled from school and must look to his future. Inspired by the sight of a
Hurricane flying overhead, he is determined to join the RAF.
Can he make it
through the grueling training to become a fighter pilot? Many are deemed unfit
for service, tragedy strikes, and Jox questions if he’s got what it
takes.
He earns his wings in time to face the deadly
Blitzkrieg, going on to defend his country in its hour of need. Does he have
the courage and skill to survive the Battle of Britain to become one of The
Few?Will he
survive the crippling odds, let alone live through his most challenging air
combat?
