The Double Traitor by E. Phillips Oppenheim, 1915

 

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About the author: Edward Phillips Oppenheim (1866 – 1946) was an English novelist, a prolific writer of best-selling genre fiction, featuring glamorous characters, international intrigue and fast action. Notably easy to read, they were viewed as popular entertainments. He was featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1927. (wikipedia)

Major characters:

• Francis Norgate, the "double traitor"
• Baroness Anna Von Haase, his Austrian girlfriend
• Herr Selingman, a German spy
• John Hebblethwaite, British M.P.
• Captain Fred Baring, British Admiralty, friend of Anna

Locale: Germany and England

Synopsis: It is the volatile period in the runup to World War I. Diplomat Francis Norgate is dining in Berlin with Austrian baroness Anna Von Haase. She is known to be the liaison between the German Kaiser and Vienna. German Prince Karl enters and demands Norgate give up his seat that he may entertain the Baroness instead. Norgate refuses, and leaves with the Baroness.

Word of this incident gets back to embassy, and Norgate is sent home to England as he did not defer to the prince, a diplomatic error. On his trip home, he encounters Herr Selingman, a German crockery manufacturer with many agents around Europe and England. Norgate finds Seligman is actually a spy gathering information on military facilities; and manages to steal Seligman's list of agents. 

Back in England, Norgate tries to provide the list to authorities, but is rebuffed as no one seems to think war is imminent. Norgate resents this further embarassment, and takes up Seligman's offer to work for him (Germany) instead. Norgate meets Anna in England, and tells her he is now a double agent, but his sympathies lie with England. Anna, now suspected herself of duplicity by the Germans, is enlisted by Seligman to spy on Norgate; now her fiancé.

Review: It is fascinating to realize this spy novel must have been written in real time - published in 1915, it includes the real-life 1914 assassination of the Austrian archduke which started World War I. It is historical fiction (names of prominent people have been changed) but is closely based on fact. After comparing this book with the Wikipedia account of World War I (they agree right down the line) I came away with a greater understanding of the causes of the war. If I were teaching a history course, I would suggest this book!

The characters are lively and fully developed, especially the "spy triangle" formed of Norgate, Anna, and Selingman. Spies spying on spies abound.

The only critique I have is that a lot of text is spent as the characters discuss various what-if scenarios among the various countries involved. 

The only other spy/mysteries of this period I have read are those by Valentine Williams (my reviews), which are all fascinating as well - although they are set in the period between World Wars are are completely fictional. 

The Man Without Nerves by E. Phillips Oppenheim (1934)

(Also published in the UK as The Bank Manager)

image: Fadedpage

About the author: Edward Phillips Oppenheim (1866 – 1946) was an English novelist, a prolific writer of best-selling genre fiction, featuring glamorous characters, international intrigue and fast action. Notably easy to read, they were viewed as popular entertainments. He was featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1927. (wikipedia)

Major characters:

• James Huitt, the precise bank manager, "the man without nerves"
• Timothy Sarson, wine merchant
• Pauline Sarson, his daughter; becomes girlfriend of Christopher Tyssen
• Anthony Sarson, his son
• Andrew Cressit, corset manufacturer
• Roland Martin
• Sybil Cresset, girlfriend of Anthony Sarson
• Sam Jesson, deceased at beginning of story
• Sir Julian Bott, financier
• Lord Milhaven
• Madame de Sayal, a reclusive artist
• Christopher Tyssen, the mysterious young writer, new in town

Locale: Sandywayes, England

Synopsis: Four men (banker James Huitt, Timothy Sarson, Andrew Cressit, and Roland Martin) from "The Oasis", a village within Sandywayes, share a train compartment every day as they commute to Waterloo. They hear of the suicide death of another Sandywayes resident, Sam Jesson. Jesson had left a note to his wife alluding to financial difficulties.

At the same time a young writer,  Christopher Tyssen, arrives in Sandywayes and begins to poke his nose into everything, including Jesson's death. Townspeople badger banker Huitt (who was Jesson's banker) for details about Jesson's finances, but Huitt remains quiet until the inquest, when he testifies Jesson had depleted his accounts and his opinion was he was a victim of blackmail.

Lord Milhaven hosts a dinner with James Huitt and Sir Julian Bott as guests. Later, as Anthony Sarson and Sybil Cresset are returning from a dance, they encounter a gruff chauffeur waiting with his car in a dark lane near the cottage of the enigmatic Madame de Sayal. Anthony returns to the scene later and is struck in the head. The next morning, Sir Julian's body is found in the spot. Suicide is suspected, but no weapon can be found. Suspicion then points at Anthony Sarson, but as it mounts, the police arrest Christopher Tyssen instead and spirit him away.

Review:

This was my first E. Phillips Oppenheim, and it won't be my last. It dances the edge between between a classic detective story (who done it?) and a thriller (you know who done it, but can he be stopped?)

About halfway through, the murderer of Jesson and Bott (previously believed suicides) is revealed in a surprising turn of events when a third murder occurs; although the murderer's motive is not yet clear. The story turns into a thriller of who-can-you-trust when even police are not above suspicion.

One enjoyable aspect of this book is the oh-so-proper village of The Oasis, a small settlement adjacent to Sandywayes; with careful description allowing the reader to see it all in the mind's eye. 

One disappointment came from a big loose end: It is found that Huitt is receiving coded radio messages from persons unknown, and much is made of this at the time; yet the purpose of this is never revealed and this story line is abandoned.