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A review by lawyerperson
A Prince and a Spy: A Novel by Rory Clements
1.0
Well let’s start with the irrelevance of the title. It had precious little to do with the plot. A McGuffin at best. Hardly a mystery that “goes to the heart of the British Monarchy”
Then there is the writing. The dialogue was inane. As two examples, the exchanges between Harriet and Tom when he tells her that her father was killed. Second, the ridiculous Lydia questioning Tom about Harriet. Impossible to suspend disbelief.
Tom sneaking in to meet Georgie’s widow? Are you kidding???
If you are going to write historical fiction, you can’t use modern language. I cannot believe that two people in a common law relationship in 1942 would describe themselves to others as “partners”.
And finally, get the history right. On page 191, the MI5 head describes secret reports that the NAZI’s murdered and deported the population of Lidice. They did, but it was never any secret. They did it as an object lesson to other potential assassins. Lidice’s destruction was filmed by the NAZIs and made public. That was the point of that horrible event.
Reading time I will never get back.
Then there is the writing. The dialogue was inane. As two examples, the exchanges between Harriet and Tom when he tells her that her father was killed. Second, the ridiculous Lydia questioning Tom about Harriet. Impossible to suspend disbelief.
Tom sneaking in to meet Georgie’s widow? Are you kidding???
If you are going to write historical fiction, you can’t use modern language. I cannot believe that two people in a common law relationship in 1942 would describe themselves to others as “partners”.
And finally, get the history right. On page 191, the MI5 head describes secret reports that the NAZI’s murdered and deported the population of Lidice. They did, but it was never any secret. They did it as an object lesson to other potential assassins. Lidice’s destruction was filmed by the NAZIs and made public. That was the point of that horrible event.
Reading time I will never get back.