“City of Spies” is a debut novel by Mara Timon and is an easy to read, espionage thriller set in neutral Portugal in 1943.
“When her cover is blown, SOE agent Elisabeth de Mornay flees Paris. Pursued by the Gestapo, she makes her way to Lisbon, where Europe's elite rub shoulders with diplomats, businessmen, smugglers, and spies. There she receives new orders - and a new identity. Posing as wealthy French widow Solange Verin, Elisabeth must infiltrate a German espionage ring targeting Allied ships, before more British servicemen are killed. The closer Elisabeth comes to discovering the truth, the greater the risk grows. With a German officer watching her every step, it will take all of Elisabeth's resourcefulness and determination to complete her mission”
As ever in books of this nature, there is often some harrowing events that unfold. The plight of the French resistance in the story and their heroism and bravery made me realise how important they were to the war effort and how they all put their lives on the line, often to the point of being brutally murdered in public. The author covered this and highlighted just how important they were to helping the allies to safety. British Special Operatives who were recruited and trained to fight and spy on the enemy were also worth their weight in gold, something I certainly wouldn’t have had the confidence to do.
I enjoyed the bulk of the story, not too spy based so you didn’t know what was going on, though I would recommend you read in a few a sittings as possible for continuity. There is a helpful cast of characters at the start and I do admit I’d have being a bit lost without it.
The characters were true to their loyalties, however I was a bit suspicious of Elisabeth’s romantic behaviour, being so intensely trained, she let her heart rule her head on many occasion, even when duty didn’t call. This just didn’t sit right with me, in a war where you truly can’t trust anyone and your life depended on your identity staying secret. Bertie Jones, a shipwrecked SOE was my favourite character, he brought some much needed, lighthearted banter in a time of war and death and I would love to see him in further stories in the series.
There’s some interesting sections at the end of the book with historical and geographical notes the author has detailed and it’s plain to see the author carried out extensive research regarding the era, the setting and the type of characters who would have been involved the world of espionage.
I believe there is a follow up story in the making, where Elisabeth and two other special operatives pave the way for the Normandy landings and I will be very tempted to read, to see how Elisabeth’s life and ‘career’ develops further.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
“When her cover is blown, SOE agent Elisabeth de Mornay flees Paris. Pursued by the Gestapo, she makes her way to Lisbon, where Europe's elite rub shoulders with diplomats, businessmen, smugglers, and spies. There she receives new orders - and a new identity. Posing as wealthy French widow Solange Verin, Elisabeth must infiltrate a German espionage ring targeting Allied ships, before more British servicemen are killed. The closer Elisabeth comes to discovering the truth, the greater the risk grows. With a German officer watching her every step, it will take all of Elisabeth's resourcefulness and determination to complete her mission”
As ever in books of this nature, there is often some harrowing events that unfold. The plight of the French resistance in the story and their heroism and bravery made me realise how important they were to the war effort and how they all put their lives on the line, often to the point of being brutally murdered in public. The author covered this and highlighted just how important they were to helping the allies to safety. British Special Operatives who were recruited and trained to fight and spy on the enemy were also worth their weight in gold, something I certainly wouldn’t have had the confidence to do.
I enjoyed the bulk of the story, not too spy based so you didn’t know what was going on, though I would recommend you read in a few a sittings as possible for continuity. There is a helpful cast of characters at the start and I do admit I’d have being a bit lost without it.
The characters were true to their loyalties, however I was a bit suspicious of Elisabeth’s romantic behaviour, being so intensely trained, she let her heart rule her head on many occasion, even when duty didn’t call. This just didn’t sit right with me, in a war where you truly can’t trust anyone and your life depended on your identity staying secret. Bertie Jones, a shipwrecked SOE was my favourite character, he brought some much needed, lighthearted banter in a time of war and death and I would love to see him in further stories in the series.
There’s some interesting sections at the end of the book with historical and geographical notes the author has detailed and it’s plain to see the author carried out extensive research regarding the era, the setting and the type of characters who would have been involved the world of espionage.
I believe there is a follow up story in the making, where Elisabeth and two other special operatives pave the way for the Normandy landings and I will be very tempted to read, to see how Elisabeth’s life and ‘career’ develops further.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.