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A review by shropgirl
Our Friends in Berlin by Anthony Quinn
3.0
This storyline was told over four different timelines 1935, 1941, 1944 and 1948.
Starting in 1941 we are introduced to Jack Hoste, the main character who is described as being a non-descript man, quiet, distant, somebody who easily blends into the crowd, which is a distinct advantage for someone employed in Intelligence.
Jack is a double agent and is employed by British Intelligence to infiltrate a group of Nazi sympathisers and potential Fifth Columnists. Jack needs to track down a female follower of Oswald Moseley named Marita who is regarded as extremely dangerous. Amy, a former friend of Marita, runs a marriage/dating agency and Jack, wanting to use Amy to locate Marita, goes to the agency on the pretence of looking for a wife. The 1941 section tells of the meeting and the so-called recruiting of Marita, Amy's disillusionment with Jack and the situation she finds herself in, feelings of betrayal and the difficult game that Jack is playing.
The story jumps back to 1935 and the reader learns how Jack was recruited to British Intelligence and the reasons why. The author also describes how the friendship between Amy and Marita came about despite them having two very different personalities.
The plot moves to 1944. Jack is now leading the group and is supposedly feeding the information provided by them to German headquarters. However, the Nazi sympathisers and especially Marita, are beginning to wonder how much of their intelligence is being relayed back to Germany. Marita tries to force Jack's hand. Marita feels that Amy is the only person that she can trust and so seeks her out. this part of the plot ends with a shooting.
The novel concludes by forwarding to 1948 where we learn the outcome of the characters and where the author ties up loose ends.
Most of the main characters are well defined. The plot is fairly simple and a certain amount of tension is achieved in the final part of the book. I thought that the 1935 section was perhaps was unnecessary. This was quite a lengthy chapter which could have easily been condensed if there was a need to explain how the characters became who they were in 1941. The style of writing was quite good and this was a easy read for those who enjoy stories of espionage. Although I would read another of Quinn's novels I would not actively seek them out.
Starting in 1941 we are introduced to Jack Hoste, the main character who is described as being a non-descript man, quiet, distant, somebody who easily blends into the crowd, which is a distinct advantage for someone employed in Intelligence.
Jack is a double agent and is employed by British Intelligence to infiltrate a group of Nazi sympathisers and potential Fifth Columnists. Jack needs to track down a female follower of Oswald Moseley named Marita who is regarded as extremely dangerous. Amy, a former friend of Marita, runs a marriage/dating agency and Jack, wanting to use Amy to locate Marita, goes to the agency on the pretence of looking for a wife. The 1941 section tells of the meeting and the so-called recruiting of Marita, Amy's disillusionment with Jack and the situation she finds herself in, feelings of betrayal and the difficult game that Jack is playing.
The story jumps back to 1935 and the reader learns how Jack was recruited to British Intelligence and the reasons why. The author also describes how the friendship between Amy and Marita came about despite them having two very different personalities.
The plot moves to 1944. Jack is now leading the group and is supposedly feeding the information provided by them to German headquarters. However, the Nazi sympathisers and especially Marita, are beginning to wonder how much of their intelligence is being relayed back to Germany. Marita tries to force Jack's hand. Marita feels that Amy is the only person that she can trust and so seeks her out. this part of the plot ends with a shooting.
The novel concludes by forwarding to 1948 where we learn the outcome of the characters and where the author ties up loose ends.
Most of the main characters are well defined. The plot is fairly simple and a certain amount of tension is achieved in the final part of the book. I thought that the 1935 section was perhaps was unnecessary. This was quite a lengthy chapter which could have easily been condensed if there was a need to explain how the characters became who they were in 1941. The style of writing was quite good and this was a easy read for those who enjoy stories of espionage. Although I would read another of Quinn's novels I would not actively seek them out.