Trouble on the Thames (British Library Spy Classics) - Softcover

Bridges, Victor

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1464204934 ISBN 13: 9781464204937

Verlag: POISONED PEN PR, 2015

Über diesen Titel

Críticas:

Written during the Second World War, but set just before the outbreak of hostilities, this is a great war thriller by Victor Bridges (1878-1972); pen name of Victor George de Freyne. Bridges was a prolific thriller writer, who began his writing career in 1911 and continued until the 1960's - his most popular book being, "Greensea Island." I was delighted to see that Poisoned Pen Press are re-issuing some of the British Library Crime Classics and Spy Classics from the Golden Age of crime fiction (generally the period between the wars). This novel is not only a great example of Golden Age writing, but is an exciting and enjoyable read with a good cast of characters and lots of plot twists. We meet the hero of this novel, Lieutenant-Commander Owen Bradwell, after he has visited a specialist in Harley Street. Bradwell has been diagnosed with colour blindness and is worried that his career in the Navy might be over. However, when he goes for a meeting at the Admiralty, he is given a new task. An acquaintance of his, Medlicot, killed himself shortly before facing arrest for treason. Having got into debt with nightclub owner, Mark Craig, he betrayed secrets to Craig; who is suspected of being in the pay of the Nazi's. Bradwell is asked to spy on Craig's home on the river and see whether it is visited by the man behind the scenes - Count von Manstein. Meanwhile, Craig is linked to a man who is attempting to blackmail the sister of interior designer, Sally Deane. Sally's mission and Owen's collide and they end by teaming up to try to uncover a spy ring. This novel is not only an interesting spy story but has a great deal of side stories and characters to help flesh out the storyline; as well as a good sense of the historical period. There are various blackmail attempts, an escaped convict whose actions also collide with the plot, German spies, vamps, indiscreet letters, amnesia and all sorts of other sub plots and side stories; including a little romance... Owen Bradwell was an interesting character and Sally, and her business partner, Ruth Barlow, brought a sense of fun and warmth to the plot. I am not sure whether Bradwell appeared in any further novels, although the ending of this book suggests he did, but I would certainly like to read on if this became a series. Victor Bridges really deserves to be back in print and, if you enjoy spy stories, then you should like this. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.--Susan Riaz "Netgalley "

Wonderfully evocative of London in the 1960s This book is a rare gem for fans of the genre--NetGalley

I'm a life-long mystery fan, and this book was a good, old-fashioned classic mystery (although it really is a thriller). The story is well-written and kept me engaged from beginning to end. The main character, Owen Bradwell, struck me as a character who might have stepped straight off a BBC mystery series. If you love mysteries and appreciate superb writing and a well-crafted story, you will enjoy Trouble on the Thames.--NetGalley

The villain of the piece was just as well drawn. He was one of those who thought that there would be a war and that Britain would lose, and so he was going to make sure he was on good terms with the Nazi victors. Everything works together very well. I wasn't quite sure how the convict who made a daring escape from Dartmoor Prison was going to fit in, but he did. The story rolls along beautifully. It's firmly rooted in it's period, but it doesn't feel dated...--NetGalley

First published in 1945, this charming entertainment from British author Bridges (1878-1972) stars Lt.-Cmdr. Owen Bradwell, a naval officer whose sudden onset of color-blindness sidelines him shortly before the outbreak of WWII. Luckily, Captain Greystoke of Naval Intelligence is keen to employ a smart young man like Bradwell to help foil a dastardly German spy ring led by the crooked Mark Craig. Meanwhile, Sally Deane, an interior decorator, is set to intervene on her sister's behalf with vile blackmailer Granville Sutton, who is also trying to put the squeeze on Craig. Sutton meets a sticky end, and Bradwell wakes up next to his body after being hit with a cosh, just in time to be rescued by the pretty Miss Deane. Gents call each other "my dear chap," and young women respond to news of murder with a heartfelt "gosh!" It's all jolly good fun, though perhaps too light to appeal to today's hardcore action junkies. (Oct.)--Publishers Weekly

"Trouble on the Thames" is a spy thriller set in the 1930's in England, and it was written in 1945. The story was well-written and has elements that give it an enduring appeal, so I was surprised it hadn't been reprinted more often....While Owen is our main viewpoint character, we also follow several bad-guy characters. Each character had their own plans and motives, and this created twists just when you think things might be wrapping up. The characters were engaging and came across as real people, and the setting was vividly described. This brought the story to life in my imagination. Though the romance happened quickly, I could see why they liked each other and their personalities were a good fit....There was a fair amount of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this fun book to fans of spy versus spy stories.--NetGalley

The book, which really is great fun, is an entry from the British Library Spy Classics series, and includes another wonderful introduction from Martin Edwards. Prolific author Victor Bridges (1878-1972)-real name Victor George de Freyne Bridges set his novels "among the tidal estuaries and rivers of Kent, Essex and Suffolk." (Harald Curjel, Twentieth Century Crime and Mystery Writers.) Trouble on the Thames is a very cinematic novel, so it came as no surprise to read that several of Bridges' novels made it to film. It did come as a surprise, however, that this author, once so popular in his day, has almost completely faded from view.--NetGalley

...punts and agent provocateurs!...1930's pre World War II and Naval Lieutenant-Commander, Owen Bradwell, freshly returned from the China station, has just been diagnosed as colour blind. A disorder apparently acquirable at a later stage of life given appropriate stimuli, and in this case, a writer's raison d'être for the commander having to resign his post. This leads to Bradwell becoming tied up with the secret service and Nazi spies. The language is that of a bygone time, lending a certain piquant attractiveness to the story. Somehow it colours the thrill of the chase with a different brushstroke to what we are used to. I did feel like I'd fallen into The Thirty-Nine Steps or Foyle's War. Owen Bradwell's belief in his sidelined new life is given a certain cachet. His task is dangerous yet honourable, for 'King and Country.' As Bradwell refelects, he is looking forward to the 'prospect of lending a hand in this desirable and highly patriotic task.' Today the language used would not be politically correct in terms of referencing people's antecedents....There's plenty of action, tempered by the leisurely use of punts, mysterious murders and blackmail in this 1940's thriller. Amusing and stylish complete with the requisite evil doers, traitors, Whitehall types, and a budding romance.--NetGalley

Reseña del editor:

“A literary craftsman, who could spring surprises with his humour and sense of suspense.” -The Times

Owen Bradwell is a courageous naval officer who returns to England in the 1930s. He believes that his career is over because he has become colour-blind but with Nazi Germany an increasing menace, the authorities cannot do without Bradwell, and he is assigned a special mission.

A former acquaintance of Bradwell’s has been trapped into betraying his country’s secrets by a Nazi agent. Bradwell is sent to spy on the spy, and travels down the Thames on a surveillance trip under cover of a fishing weekend. Things soon take an unexpected turn, and Bradwell finds himself in the company of a dead man, and a pretty young interior decorator called Sally.

Will Bradwell triumph over the villains, and will he and Sally fall in love?

This neglected thriller from 1945 is a pacy and entertaining read, rich with the classic twists of the genre: amnesia, blackmail, and a convict’s escape from Dartmoor.

Über diese Auflage

• Verlag: POISONED PEN PR
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1464204934
• ISBN 13: 9781464204937
• Einband: Tapa blanda
• Anzahl der Seiten: 234