The Spies of Warsaw
By Alan Furst Thorndike Press, Large Print Edition (2008)
ISBN 10: 1-4104-0803-5
ISBN 13: 978-1-4104-0803-7
Genre: Espionage Thriller, Historical Fiction
Reviewed by Herbert White - July 3, 2008
In the burgeoning days of World War II, spies, counter espionage, and secret agents of every ilk could be found lurking all over Europe and providing ample fodder for novelist and historians alike. In this case, Alan Furst has crafted a cunning thriller set in 1937 Poland. The story follows the exploits of Colonel Jean-Francois Mercier, a decorated veteran of World War I who is currently serving as the military attache at the French Embassy, while in his spare time acting as the leader of a string of spies. One of them, Edvard Uhl, who is a German engineer and an erstwhile secret agent for the French, has run into a spot of trouble. He thinks that the Gestapo is on to him. To save Uhl and the information he possesses, Mercier will have to pull out all the stops in a deadly game where one false move could spell doom for not only Uhl, but also his contacts.
In this book, The Spies of Warsaw, Furst has caught the essence of Warsaw in 1937, and he presents a compelling portrait of a town on the brink of destruction. He has also crafted an unforgettable thriller filled with tension and intrigue, and compelling characters that will have you on the edge of your seat as you become immersed in the deadly game of espionage roulette that could impact the course of the war to come.
Furst is a well-respected author of espionage novels, and The Spies of Warsaw is one of his best. Historically accurate and suspenseful, this book is a must for all of Furst's fans, as well as anyone looking for a well-plotted story of suspense with which to wile away a few hours. Without reserve, I give The Spies of Warsaw a five star rating.
Related Reviews:
Double Cross Blind, by Joel N. Ross.
A World War II espionage thriller that pits spy against spy in a race to find a hidden stash of microfilm that might provide the means to stop the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Thirty-Nine Steps, by John Buchan.
This nonstop spy thriller follows the adventures of a man framed for murder, who is being pursued by not only the police, but also by a vicious band of spies. In addition he is trying to get to the bottom of a mystery - should he fail, the world may well erupt into war.
