Scotland. 1941. Fiona, rich and privileged, is trapped in a loveless marriage to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force. Although, at thirty-seven, she is no longer the pretty young thing she used to be, she still secretly clings to the romantic dreams of her youth. The very young and very handsome Flight Lieutenant Matthew Manfred, in the same squadron as her husband, is starting to figure … figure very strongly in those dreams… Out there, meanwhile, in the real world, Great Britain is on its knees, and Germany triumphant. War threatens not just the survival of Great Britain, but also Fiona’s position and wealth. And even her life… You see, murder has raised its ugly head… Someone close to her has been killed. But who is the murderer? And who might be his (or her) next victim? Fiona sets out to investigate, but it’s not going to be easy, because, you see, there are another two mysteries she needs to solve. Firstly, who has been writing love letters to her? Very beautiful letters, but letters of an extremely intimate nature… Then there’s the other mystery, probably the most important, and the most threatening of all. You see, she fears there is a spy in her midst…who is about to strike the most lethal blow of all… She will have to find out who that person is, not just to protect her country, but to protect herself. She must tread carefully, without arousing suspicions. Are the murderer and the spy one and the same person? Or could they possibly be two different people? Who is implicated? Is it dour, dull Squadron Leader Jackson? Or Belinda, his cheeky, promiscuous wife? Is it ladies’ man, Flight Lieutenant George Turnbill? Or Paula Wentworth, his latest, shameless squeeze? What about the moustachioed Group Captain Jenkins? Or Mary Wilkinson, looking far too attractive in her smart blue-grey uniform? And, to Fiona’s annoyance, looking far too young… And what is the role in all this of gorgeous, young Flight Lieutenant Matthew Manfred, who once gave Fiona a soft, lingering kiss she just can’t forget? What secrets are hidden in his beautiful, throbbing breast? And is he the person who has been writing sweet nothings to her? Fiona hopes so, but fears he might turn out to be something a good deal worse, and quite terrifying… And what is young Mary Wilkinson to him? Fiona has to tread warily, as if on eggshells, because, if she makes one false move, it could well turn out to be her last.
more
Taking place in Scotland in 1941, The Nazi Spy by Alan Hardy is a spy thriller I couldn’t put down. Brilliantly written with suspicion cast in every direction, this story of a Scottish woman caught up in espionage prior to the US entrance into World War II. I loved the ultimate-faceted characters of Matthew and Fiona, and her beautiful estate with mansion and gardens. I’m excited to see this is Book One!!
Living in Scotland in 1941, the very rich, entitled, and unstable Fiona MacIntosh has pretty much everything in life, except she also has a boorish husband and a loveless marriage. World War II has just started and the outcome looks grim for Britain, but for Fiona a dream has come true. Her husband has died in battle and the handsome (and young) Lt. Matthew Manford has entered her life. Finally, she has the love and passion she has longed for. But there is a mystery surrounding her husband’s death. Could Matthew be involved? What about his squadron? The more mysteries Fiona uncovers, the more it reveals about British Intelligence and herself.
This was an interesting book and a very taut thriller. The author did a terrific job of making the reader want to follow the journey of what became an unlikable character. The mystery of who and who wasn’t a spy took a circuitous journey, so you do have to pay attention. However, it pays off in the end. Definitely a page turner. Great job.
Intrigue. Suspense. Romance. My mind was running as wild as Fiona’s fantasies with the possible outcomes to the story, as she and Matthew attempt to track down a Nazi spy.
The characters are zany at times, and the situations comedic. Spitting. Biting. Then passionate love. Fiona is a pampered, privileged woman of means, who’ll do what is best for HER. She often lives in her made-up world of what she believes life and love should be like. Matthew, too, puts himself first: his goals above the needs of others and even above his country. You may not like either of them at times, because of their selfish ways, but when it comes to critical situations, people will do what it takes to ensure they survive.
There’s also a sobering look at the tactics of war. The games those in charge play so that they, too, will win. Lives are lost as part of the overall strategy. And so, in some ways, the individual selfish actions of Fiona and Matthew pale in comparison to the games the politicians play with the lives of many. Who can blame individuals for doing what’s best for them, when the government does the same?
Thought provoking to the end, with plenty of twists to the story to keep you guessing how it might end.
The story of Fiona MacIntosh, her troubled marriage with Flight Lieutenant Freddie MacIntosh of the Royal Air Force, and Freddie’s murder or possible murder kept me enthralled. She suspects a Nazi shot down her husband’s plane. Fiona doesn’t know which of the officers in her husband’s RAF squadron she can trust. She is attracted to Flight Lieutenant Matthew Manford. Can he be the one sending her love letters, which she assumed had come from her husband? But the love letters continue after Freddie’s death.
Against the dark backdrop of WWII, the story thrusts us into Fiona’s fears for her life and journey to find the truth. Twists and turns lead us to a satisfying conclusion.