Tag: historical fiction

The Straits of Treachery by Richard Hopton #BookReview @AllisonandBusby

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The Straits of TreacheryAbout the Book

September 1810. Raids across the Straits of Messina to disrupt preparations for the French invasion of the island have been repulsed with heavy casualties.

George Warne, a bright young British officer, suspects treachery back in Messina, and is ordered to investigate. Warne uncovers a shadowy underworld of spies, traitors and informers where nothing is quite as it seems and where danger lurks around every corner.

If the long-threatened French invasion erupts will Sicily’s defenders be prepared?

Format: ebook (352 pages)               Publisher: Allison & Busby
Publication date: 23rd April 2020 Genre: Historical Fiction, Military

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My Review

The events in the book unfold over the course of September 1810 with each chapter representing a day and moving frequently between various characters, but principally focussing on Captain George Warne. The setting is Sicily with the British forces facing the French under the command of Joachim Murat, brother-in-law of Napoleon, across the Straits of Messina. Such is the proximity of the opposing forces that each side can observe the other. It’s a waiting game for the British with a French invasion expected at any time.

Ordered to investigate when it becomes apparent there is the possibility of a spy within the British command giving vital information to the enemy, George enlists the help of his mistress, Carlotta. She is a very merry widow who, it has to be said chiefly provides him with assistance of a more intimate nature. There are no shortage of suspects including a local lawyer with high-placed friends and fingers in many pies and a suspiciously helpful member of the nobility.

The book has a generous number of secondary characters and subsidiary storylines. For example, the rivalry between two officers for the affections of a young lady arrived from England to visit her soldier brother which has dramatic consequences.

The author’s background as a historian is evident in the meticulous descriptions of weaponry, uniforms, and military and naval assets. The action scenes, both at sea and on land, are vividly depicted. I also liked the way the author conjured up the bustling piazzas and thoroughfares of Messina.

“The street itself was a seething flood of city life: pedestrians, men on horseback, carts, mules and donkeys uncomplaining under spreading loads, the occasional carriage, its whip-flicking driver impatiently clearing a passage through the crowd, a sedan chair making its stately way among the throng, the odd mangey dog, an aged priest bent over his walking stick, a couple of chickens pecking sneakily in the gutter, men labouring under weighty parcels, a peasant pushing a small handcart laden with lemons, a prim posse of nuns, a pair of young boys rolling a barrel.”

I enjoyed the setting of the book, the period detail and the exciting action scenes, however I’ll confess to being a little disappointed by how the book ended. It seemed to fizzle out with the results of Warne’s investigation wrapped up rather rapidly and some storylines left unresolved. However, perhaps the author is saving those for the planned sequel. But I did like the clever touch of having the ending of the book mirror the opening with George gazing out across the Straits of Messina towards Calabria and the French forces gathered there.

The Straits of Treachery will definitely appeal to fans of historical fiction with a strong naval or military element. If my review has piqued your interest you can view the book trailer here.

My thanks to Allison & Busby for my digital review copy via NetGalley.

In three words: Detailed, action-packed, authentic

Try something similar: The Traitor of Treasure Island by John Drake

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a-b-6-wbAbout the Author

Richard Hopton is an author, historian and journalist. He has published three works of non-fiction, and The Straits of Treachery will be his first historical novel. Richard graduated from the University of Oxford with an M.A. in Modern History. His interests include architecture, the British countryside, art, politics, cricket, racing and springer spaniels. He lives in Dorset with his wife and two children. (Photo/bio credit: Publisher author page)

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#BookReview The Hidden Village by Imogen Matthews @AmsterdamPB

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The Hidden VillageAbout the Book

Wartime Holland. Who can you trust?

Deep in the Veluwe woods lies a secret that frustrates the Germans. Convinced that Jews are hiding close by they can find no proof. The secret is Berkenhout, a purpose-built village of huts sheltering dozens of persecuted people.

Young tearaway Jan roams the woods looking for adventure and fallen pilots. His dream comes true when he stumbles across an American airman, Donald C. McDonald. But keeping him hidden sets off a disastrous chain of events.

Sofie, a Jewish Dutch girl, struggles to adapt to living in Berkenhout, away from her family and friends. As weeks turn to months, she’s worried they’ll abandon her altogether.

Henk Hauer, head woodman, is in charge of building the underground huts and ensuring the Berkenhout inhabitants stay safe. But many grow suspicious of his liaisons with the Germans. Is he passing on secret information that could endanger lives?

All it takes is one small fatal slip to change the course of all their lives for ever.

Format: ebook (374 pages)             Publisher: Amsterdam Publishers Publication date: 18th May 2017 Genre: Historical Fiction

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My Review

The story of the Berkenhout village hidden deep within the Veluwe forest is a fascinating one. In telling the story, the author has chosen to focus on some of the young people caught up in the undertaking, either those involved in helping to sustain the village, such as Jan and his brother Oscar, or those living there, such as Sofie. Therefore it’s only natural that much of the story is dominated by their teenage preoccupations – the strain on friendships, separation from family members, the limitations on their freedom and the drudgery of daily chores, such as fetching food and water.

Although other readers may feel differently, personally I would have welcomed a little more detail about the construction of the village. Initially, I found it hard to picture what the huts looked like, what they must have been like to live in and how a community housing so many people could remain undiscovered. The photographs on the author’s website helped greatly in this respect.

What wasn’t difficult to appreciate was the courage of the local people involved in supplying the village. Their willingness to take strangers into their homes, knowing the risks involved should they be discovered, was inspiring. I enjoyed finding out about the ingenious hiding places and how they rehearsed procedures in the event of an unexpected raid by the Germans.

I found the pacing of the book a little uneven. Having proceeded at a measured pace, dramatic and life-changing events affecting some of the characters and the village as a whole were wrapped up very quickly in the last few chapters. Although the epilogue provided closure in relation to some characters and storylines, I was left with unanswered questions about others. However, perhaps the author has saved the answers to those for the sequel, Hidden in the Shadows (published in December 2019). Look out for my review of it as part of the blog tour in May 2020.

By the way, if you’d like to find out more about how Imogen came to write the book, check out her guest post from July 2017 hosted by Sonia at A Lover of Books. You can also see the photographs of the hidden village mentioned above.

The Hidden Village is a fascinating story of wartime courage, ingenuity and community spirit.  My thanks to the author for my digital copy of the book and for her patience in waiting for it to reach the top of my review pile.

In three words: Emotional, intimate, inspiring

Try something similar: A Quiet Genocide by Glenn Bryant

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IMG_7785About the Author

Imogen Matthews lives in Oxford, England and is the author of two romantic fiction e-novels. The Hidden Village is her first foray into historical fiction.

Born in Rijswijk, Holland, to a Dutch mother and English father, the family moved to England when Imogen was very young. She has always enjoyed holidays in Holland and since 1990 has gone regularly with her husband and two children to Nunspeet on the edge of the Veluwe woods. It was here that she discovered the story of the hidden village and, together with her mother’s vivid stories of life in WW2 Holland, she was inspired to write her next novel, Hidden in the Shadows. (Photo credit: author website)

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