Scan barcode
A review by richardrbecker
The British Lion by Tony Schumacher
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.