Hammer To Fall is a spy book set at the time of the Cold War. John Lawton writes extremely well about this time in history. The author starts by setting the background to the story introducing his main character, Joe Holderness, known as Wilderness, who is stationed in East Berlin after the Second World War. Joe, with Frank and Eddie, smuggles goods into West Germany for some Russian forces personnel. The story then moves onto the 1960s when Joe is working as a secret agent and is sent to Finland to get him out of the way when an incident he is involved in attracts the attention of politicians. He is there as a Cultural Attache driving round showing British films to the Finnish people. He meets up with Kostya, a Russian agent, who he met previously in Germany and supplied with goods. Once again Joe agrees to supply Kostya with goods, this time it's vodka, however he can't help but delve into the real reason for Kostya's presence in Finland. After confronting Kostya Joe is recalled to London temporarily then sent to Czechoslovakia working undercover as a tractor salesman. Nell, an old girlfriend from his time in Germany appears in Czechoslovakia, not long afterwards the Russians invade with devastating consequences. This book was a great read and very enjoyable - right up to the end when it finished on a cliffhanger. This is not a standalone book and no doubt this ending is calculated to ensure readers buy the authors next book. I strongly feel readers are entitled to expect a complete book with all loose ends cleared up particulary if they've paid the cover price of £16.99. Very disappointed in this author's tactics.