Game of Spies [Paperback]

John Altman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 2002

'If there are thriller writers better than this, I'd like to know who they are.' Jack Higgins It is February 1940, and England is desperate to find out when and how Hitler will make his move west toward France. Eva Bernhardt, a young sleeper agent in Berlin who has been seduced into spying by a roguish MI6 agent, receives a vital piece of information and makes a run for it. But the Germans are on to her fast -- too fast. In a lethal game of ruse and counter-ruse, the British and Germans engage in an intelligence war. Uncertain whom to trust, Eva must take her future into her own hands -- and with it, perhaps, the future of the entire war. A book to devour at one sitting, with dazzling set pieces, unpredictable twists and unforgettable characters.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The game of spies was one the British played exceedingly well during World War II, and their successes have generated a vast literature. This novel posits that a British espionage coup was ignored by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in 1940, thus allowing the German blitzkrieg to overrun the Low Countries and France in just six weeks. Most of the book is about the flight of two people from the Nazis. One is Hobbs, a British operative with a dubious reputation as a con man and opportunist. The other is Eva Bernhardt, a young German woman "recruited" by Hobbs. Hobbs is inserted into Germany to extract Eva after she obtains information about the Germans' thrust into the west. Chasing these two are Hagen and Frick, smart and relentless officers in the Gestapo's intelligence unit. It's spy versus spy, agent and double agent, double cross and triple cross. It's taut and lean and filled with action, yet author Altman still finds room for insightful reflections on the motives, morals, and misgivings of all the primary characters. A first-rate military thriller. Thomas Gaughan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Praise for 'A Gathering of Spies': 'A ripping read, a book to devour at one sitting.' Alan Hill, Daily Telegraph 'An exceptional page turner.' Bookseller 'A sizzling zinger of a classic spy story, full of action, suspense and wheels within wheels. With his lean, taut style, Altman doesn't waste a word. Wow!' Stephen Coonts 'A pulse-pounding debut thriller.' Glamour

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Fourth Estate Paperbacks (August 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007138865
• ISBN-13: 978-0007138869
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,895,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars powerful historical spy tale, March 10, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Game of Spies (Hardcover)

In 1939, M16 espionage agent William Hobbs seduces naive twenty-year old German Eva Bernhardt to work undercover in Germany spying for the British. After obtaining Eva's cooperation, William callously drops her leaving her at the mercies of M16, who believe Eva is the prefect person to drop in Berlin to learn when and where Hitler's invasion of France is to begin. The Nazis hope to uncover British moles to use them to transmit misinformation to the Allies.

In 1940, Eva hates both the Nazis and the British for their callous misuse of people. She is trying to obtain invasion information from Otto Klinger, a person who might have a grudge against the Nazis. However, the German Secret Service know Eva works for the British and plan to use her as a courier for disinformation to fool their enemies. Hobbs, who arranged a kidnapping of himself in Holland by the Gestapo, realizes the Nazis are using Eva as a pawn. He now knows he loves Eva and will risk his life to insure her safety even as the Nazis pursue him.

In his debut tale, A GATHERING OF SPIES, John Altman provided espionage fans with a taut World War II thriller. His second novel, A GAME OF SPIES is even better as readers receive a powerful historical spy tale that never slows down as both sides use people as fodder in a deadly game of trump. Fans of the genre will want to read this superb World War II novel that brings the era alive through the actions and reactions of a powerful ensemble.

Harriet Klausner

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Winner!, May 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: A Game of Spies (Hardcover)

I'm a fan of Altman's based on his first book and I think the new one is even better. It's fast paced, although not as much so as "A Gathering of Spies" with better developed characters and a fascinating plot line. Don't miss this one!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great vacation book, June 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: A Game of Spies (Hardcover)

Pack this one in your suitcase. I did and it was great diversion on the plane. Couldn't put it down. The characters, while not as exciting as Katrina in the author's first book, really get to you and the plot is terrific.