About the author: Valentine Williams (1883–1946) was an English journalist and writer of popular fiction. Williams was awarded the Military Cross as a soldier and wrote two autobiographical books about his war-time experiences. In the aftermath of war, he travelled widely as a reporter. It was during this period that he began writing thrillers and around 1926 he gave up his post at the Daily Mail to pursue a full-time career as an author. (Wikipedia)
Major characters:
- Olivia Dunbar, a British subject; our narrator
- Dr. Van Hentsch, a judge; Olivia's employer
- Major Vivian Abbott, escaped British officer
- Nigel Druce, British Secret Service
- Dr. Adolf Grundt, "Clubfoot"
- Floria Pelligrini, of Berlin
- Rudi Von Linz, a German officer
Locale: Germany
Synopsis: It is 1914 Germany, and everyone is on edge as war is certainly imminent. Our narrator, Olivia Dunbar, a British subject, is working as secretary for judge Dr. Von Nentsch; at his home. His home, the Kommandanten-Haus, is adjacent to Schlatz Castle; which is being used as a prison for German military officers convicted of minor infractions - such as drinking or gambling.
Olivia is alone one night when she encounters a man outside her window. He enters, and identifies himself as Major Vivian Abbott, a British officer. He tells a story of being stranded and seeking money for train fare. Then they hears the cannon sound from the Castle, a signal that a prisoner has escaped - and Abbott confesses it is he. He asks a sympathetic Olivia to perform a task to clear his name: to travel to Berlin and obtain an envelope from Floria Pellegrini, and deliver it to Joseph Bale.
As Olivia agrees, Abbott slips out into the garden as searchers approach. Gunshots are heard, and Sylvia goes to the garden to see if Abbott escaped safely. There she encounters a gruff, evil-looking man crouching in the garden who warns her against aiding Abbott - he is Dr. Adolf Grundt, a.k.a. "Clubfoot" due to having one foot encased in a large orthopedic boot. Dr. Von Nentsch returns, and Grundt tells him to fire Olivia, as she is British and likely sympathetic to Abbott. This is somewhat fortuitous, as it now allows her to go to Berlin on her errand.
Olivia arrives in Berlin, retrieves the envelope, and meets up with Nigel Druce, a British Secret Service agent. Clubfoot also arrives in Berlin, in pursuit of Olivia. She and Nigel hole up in an attic garret in the red light district, while making plans to escape Germany via Holland to return to England.
Olivia and Nigel seize their opportunity and break for the border as Clubfoot and his minions give chase. They seek sanctuary in a monastery within sight of the border.
Review: This is an exciting spy thriller which encompasses all of World War I. It is a cat-and-mouse game between the menacing Clubfoot and our protagonists Olivia and Nigel. Of course, Clubfoot survives to live another day and additional books (this being #4 of 7 in the Clubfoot series).
I particularly enjoyed the final chase as Nigel and Olivia take refuge in the monastery with sympathetic friars, and the delicate balancing act when the friars are questioned by the Germans - for they cannot lie, but they can choose their truths selectively. It reminded me of the similar scene in The Sound of Music as the Von Trapp family escapes from German-occupied Austria.
The political scene is described throughout as the war takes shape - but the reader need not be conversant with the history to enjoy the Clubfoot series.
No comments:
Post a Comment