If you’d asked me for my thoughts about City of Spies at the end of Part One, I might have observed that it reminded me of other books I’ve read that feature women working undercover with the French Resistance in World War 2. Set in June 1943 and written in a rather breathless style made up of short or incomplete sentences, the first part of the book sees SOE agent and wireless operator Elisabeth (codename Cecile) forced to make a rapid escape from occupied France. Having said that, not only does it vividly illustrate the constant risk of discovery faced by SOE agents, it also reveals something of Elisabeth’s character. She’s resourceful, courageous, has a keen instinct for danger and, when required, is a deadly opponent.
If the first part of the book was all action, once the story moves to the melting pot that is wartime Lisbon, it’s intrigue and drama that take centre stage. In adopting her new identity, that of French widow Solange Verin, Elisabeth has to use all the espionage skills she learned during her SOE training – adopting disguises, establishing a safe house, following people without being detected and losing those trying to keep tabs on her. Oh, and her skill with a gun or knife comes in useful too.
Elisabeth’s new mission takes her to the glamorous hotels of Lisbon, the beachfront bars of Estoril and exclusive soirees in private villas. There she rubs shoulders with society ladies, diplomats and German officers hoping she may come across useful information to convey back to Britain. As she recognises, this involves her setting herself up as “live bait” but it’s a challenge she relishes, for both patriotic and personal reasons, in order to take the fight to the Germans.
Officially neutral, Lisbon is in reality anything but, living up to its reputation as the “City of Spies”. Among the lessons Elisabeth learns are that there are informers everywhere, few people are exactly what they seem and knowing who to trust is not easy. As one character observes to Elisabeth, “In our line of work…there is rarely certainty. We have to make do with probability, with calculated risks”.
I won’t reveal any more of the plot except to say there are twists and turns aplenty and the tension and excitement really builds in the final chapters. For me, it also had the perfect ending. To find out why I say that you’ll have to read City of Spies for yourself!
If the first part of the book was all action, once the story moves to the melting pot that is wartime Lisbon, it’s intrigue and drama that take centre stage. In adopting her new identity, that of French widow Solange Verin, Elisabeth has to use all the espionage skills she learned during her SOE training – adopting disguises, establishing a safe house, following people without being detected and losing those trying to keep tabs on her. Oh, and her skill with a gun or knife comes in useful too.
Elisabeth’s new mission takes her to the glamorous hotels of Lisbon, the beachfront bars of Estoril and exclusive soirees in private villas. There she rubs shoulders with society ladies, diplomats and German officers hoping she may come across useful information to convey back to Britain. As she recognises, this involves her setting herself up as “live bait” but it’s a challenge she relishes, for both patriotic and personal reasons, in order to take the fight to the Germans.
Officially neutral, Lisbon is in reality anything but, living up to its reputation as the “City of Spies”. Among the lessons Elisabeth learns are that there are informers everywhere, few people are exactly what they seem and knowing who to trust is not easy. As one character observes to Elisabeth, “In our line of work…there is rarely certainty. We have to make do with probability, with calculated risks”.
I won’t reveal any more of the plot except to say there are twists and turns aplenty and the tension and excitement really builds in the final chapters. For me, it also had the perfect ending. To find out why I say that you’ll have to read City of Spies for yourself!