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richardrbecker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Another author recently asked which book has been on my TBR pile the longest. It was The British Lion by Tony Schumacher. I added it in 2017, shortly after reading the author's highly imaginative thriller debut, The Darkest Hour.
I don't know why I put off reading The British Lion for so long. Maybe it was the alternative reality (Germany occupies London at the close of World War II). Maybe it was the invincibility of the principal hero, John Rossett. Maybe it was slow on the debut or the simplicity of the plot. Whatever the reason, I know now that I was missing out. The British Lion is a better book than the debut.
This time around, John Rossett is recruited by his frenemy and boss, Ernst Koehler — the same Gemrna officer Rossett spent most of the debut novel trying to avoid. But to save his own skin, Koehler changes the narrative and makes Rossett a hero at the onset of The British Lion.
It's a good thing an arrangement can be made because American spies kidnap Koehler's wife and daughter in an attempt to blackmail the major into locating and surrendering a Jewish scientist who has reportedly figured out how to create a nuclear bomb. The Americans hope that by making the bomb first, they will prevent a future conflict with Nazi Germany instead of becoming slaves to it.
There are several problems with the plan. With Lindbergh elected President, many Americans were sympathetic to the German cause and anxious to capitalize on trade agreements. The spies sent to do the job grossly underestimate Koehler’s wife and daughter. Likewise, they don't know that Koehler and Rossett are now on friendly terms, which means Koehler intends to unleash the British Lion on anybody in the way.
Because Schumacher has fully embraced the world he created in The Darkest Hour, The British Lion is free to explore this alternative reality on its own terms without explanation. And, in doing so, Schumacher can pit several factions against one another after the bungling Americans put their ill-fated plan in motion. Thus, Schumacher opens up an endless series of alliances and betrayals between Americans, Germans, and the British — all of which keep this thriller burning hot while serving up a healthy dose of post-war espionage and military action.
If you like WWII thrillers or wartime spy novels, never mind the alternate reality setting. There is no doubt you will enjoy the ride. The British Lion will convince you to add the next on your TBR list too (and I likely won't wait so long to read it). Tony Schumacher has a hard-to-put-down winner here.
I don't know why I put off reading The British Lion for so long. Maybe it was the alternative reality (Germany occupies London at the close of World War II). Maybe it was the invincibility of the principal hero, John Rossett. Maybe it was slow on the debut or the simplicity of the plot. Whatever the reason, I know now that I was missing out. The British Lion is a better book than the debut.
This time around, John Rossett is recruited by his frenemy and boss, Ernst Koehler — the same Gemrna officer Rossett spent most of the debut novel trying to avoid. But to save his own skin, Koehler changes the narrative and makes Rossett a hero at the onset of The British Lion.
It's a good thing an arrangement can be made because American spies kidnap Koehler's wife and daughter in an attempt to blackmail the major into locating and surrendering a Jewish scientist who has reportedly figured out how to create a nuclear bomb. The Americans hope that by making the bomb first, they will prevent a future conflict with Nazi Germany instead of becoming slaves to it.
There are several problems with the plan. With Lindbergh elected President, many Americans were sympathetic to the German cause and anxious to capitalize on trade agreements. The spies sent to do the job grossly underestimate Koehler’s wife and daughter. Likewise, they don't know that Koehler and Rossett are now on friendly terms, which means Koehler intends to unleash the British Lion on anybody in the way.
Because Schumacher has fully embraced the world he created in The Darkest Hour, The British Lion is free to explore this alternative reality on its own terms without explanation. And, in doing so, Schumacher can pit several factions against one another after the bungling Americans put their ill-fated plan in motion. Thus, Schumacher opens up an endless series of alliances and betrayals between Americans, Germans, and the British — all of which keep this thriller burning hot while serving up a healthy dose of post-war espionage and military action.
If you like WWII thrillers or wartime spy novels, never mind the alternate reality setting. There is no doubt you will enjoy the ride. The British Lion will convince you to add the next on your TBR list too (and I likely won't wait so long to read it). Tony Schumacher has a hard-to-put-down winner here.
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
3.0
The British Lion is the second alternative history novel that I have read recently. By far the better one but I still found it a difficult book to read at times. I have to admit that this due partly to my lack of knowledge regarding the people who were in power at the time and the events in the first few years after WW2. But it is also a very dark novel, full of characters who all had no hesitation at using violence and there were only a couple of characters who had any loyalty to others.
The author was fantastic at describing the darkness of England at the time. The level of mistrust, the bad weather and bleakness everywhere was very convincing and just a little claustrophobic.
It is the sequel novel and I hadn't read the first but it didn't matter. There were a few hints but no great spoilers.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received for review.
cleap1967's review against another edition
4.0
“Chess wouldn't work without pawns.”
This sequel to Darkest Hour has Rossett trying to rescue innocents again. When SS Major Koehler's wife and daughter are kidnapped by Americans, he asks Rossett for help. Their demand is a Jewess scientist broken out of a top-secret facility and delivered to them.
“You're about the only friend I have. I don't know what that says about you or me, though.”
Alternative history, thriller, and espionage British Lion covers a lot of ground. Should you read Darkest Hour first? Yes, just to know Rossett. Do you have to? No.
Darkest Hour was Schumacher's debut, and it's worth the time, but British Lion is even better and can stand alone. You'll have a spoiler alert if you read them out of order, but you'll still enjoy them.
“You see, Koehler, whatever I do, however badly I behave, and whatever carnage I leave behind, I'm just an amateur compared to you, and I always will be.”
This sequel to Darkest Hour has Rossett trying to rescue innocents again. When SS Major Koehler's wife and daughter are kidnapped by Americans, he asks Rossett for help. Their demand is a Jewess scientist broken out of a top-secret facility and delivered to them.
“You're about the only friend I have. I don't know what that says about you or me, though.”
Alternative history, thriller, and espionage British Lion covers a lot of ground. Should you read Darkest Hour first? Yes, just to know Rossett. Do you have to? No.
Darkest Hour was Schumacher's debut, and it's worth the time, but British Lion is even better and can stand alone. You'll have a spoiler alert if you read them out of order, but you'll still enjoy them.
“You see, Koehler, whatever I do, however badly I behave, and whatever carnage I leave behind, I'm just an amateur compared to you, and I always will be.”
pakebrokenshire's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bonnieflaps's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy these books but by god do I hate the way they end. Never enough closure!
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