Tag: historical fiction

Book Review – The Millionaire Waltz by Anthony Quinn @AbacusBooks #20BOS26

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About the Book

London in the 1920 a young woman treads the path between danger and desire.

Against a backdrop of thuggish blackmail, constricting high society and the gillter of a London still fragile from the war, Edie Greenlaw is trying to decide what she wants from the world. The closer the prospect of marriage with her handsome war hero fiance becomes, the less fulfilling it seems.

Defying caution she goes to the aid of a friend and entangles herself in a dangerous demi-monde of sexual extortion and violence.

Format: Hardcover (416 pages) Publisher: Abacus
Publication date: 6th August 2026 Genre: Historical Fiction, Crime

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My Review

The Millionaire Waltz was not quite what I expected based on the book description. Edie’s entanglement with the ‘dangerous demi-monde’ doesn’t take place until quite far into the novel although, to be fair, the seeds are sown when Edie becomes friends with a man, who like many others at that time, must hide his sexuality.

Much of the book focuses on Edie’s relationship with her fiance David, a successful solicitor from a wealthy family. She loves him but has growing misgivings about the prospect of marriage and what it will mean for her theatrical ambitions. Her solution is to repeatedly defer the date of the wedding, unaware of what will ensue as a result.

I admired Edie’s feisty spirit, sense of adventure and determination to retain her independence but I’m afraid I found her a largely unsympathetic character mainly because of her treatment of David. Okay, so he has rather conventional views about marriage but I didn’t think he deserved how things turned out. Rather mean-spirited of me, I know, but I wasn’t altogether unhappy about how things ended for Edie.

For me, the most enjoyable part of the book was the vivid depiction of theatre life. The struggle to get an audition, the disappointment of being turned down for parts, the succession of dismal digs when part of a touring production, the demanding directors, the petty rivalries. On the other hand there are the lifelong friendships formed, the sense of satisfaction of delivering a line perfectly, and the excitement of opening nights.

Those who’ve read the author’s previous novel, Curtain Call, will welcome the appearance of theatre critic for the Chronicle newspaper Jimmy Erskine, renowned for his often waspish reviews of West End theatre productions. The 2023 film The Critic starring Sir Ian McKellen was the author’s own adaptation of Curtain Call and I found it impossible not to picture Sir Ian whenever Jimmy appeared in the book. Another character from Curtain Call, which is set a decade or so after this book, also features in The Millionaire Waltz, and there are walk-on parts for notable figures of the period such as Ivor Novello and Noel Coward.

Edie mostly moves in privileged circles, a seemingly endless round of cocktail parties, soirees and weekend house parties. But just occasionally she gets a glimpse of the realities of life for those less fortunate than her, or those for whom the impact of the First World War is a burden they will carry for the rest of their lives.

If I’m honest I was hoping for more of the suspense and ingenuity of the author’s previous book The Mouthless Dead. Having said that The Millionaire Waltz is an engaging story, full of colourful characters which effortlessly captures the milieu of 1920s London.

I received an uncorrected proof copy courtesy of Abacus. The Millionaire Waltz is book 13 of my 20 Books of Summer.

In three words: Entertaining, evocative, spirited
Try something similar: A Little London Scandal by Miranda Emmerson

About the Author

Anthony Quinn was born in Liverpool in 1964. From 1998 to 2013 he was the film critic for the Independent. His novels include The Rescue Man, which won the 2009 Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award; Half of the Human Race; The Streets, which was shortlisted for the 2013 Walter Scott Prize; Curtain Call, soon to be a feature film starring Ian McKellen and Gemma Arterton; Freya, Eureka, Our Friends in Berlin and London, Burning. He also wrote the recent Liverpool memoir Klopp.

Book Review – Invitation from a Dictator by Rory Clements @VikingBooksUK #20BOS26

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About the Book

On the eve of war, a royal guest is lured into Hitler’s deadly web…

Munich, 1937. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor have arrived in Germany for a historic meeting at Hitler’s mountain retreat.

But recent attacks by ruthless Communist band, Red Freedom, has brought fear and bloodshed to the area. As brutal as the Nazis, their next targets are Edward, Wallis and the Fuhrer himself.

Detective Sebastian Wolff is charged with their protection, but the conflict between his job and his politics becomes even more complicated when Wolff realises who is behind Red Freedom: Ulrike, his first love and the mother of his son.

Format: Hardcover (400 pages) Publisher: Viking
Publication date: 13th August 2026 Genre: Historical Fiction

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My Review

I was a fan of Rory Clements’ John Shakespeare series, I’m a fan of his Tom Wilde series (present tense because I hope we get another one soon) and I’m now a fan of this series featuring Berlin detective Sebastian Wolff. Invitation from a Dictator follows on from Munich Wolf and Evil in High Places but don’t worry if you haven’t read either of those because the opening chapters provide some useful background information about the main characters and events to date.

A rather gruesome discovery sets Sebastian Wolff and Sergeant Hans Winter, initially seconded from the Gestapo to keep track of Wolff’s movements but now an ally, on the trail of Red Freedom, a Communist group opposed to the Nazis but just as capable of ruthless acts of violence. As always Wolff’s determination to bring culprits to book brings him up against some old adversaries in the Gestapo, two men who are more interested in arresting someone for the crime even if it’s not the perpetrator. After all, once in their hands for a few hours a person is likely to confess to anything.

Wolff is frustrated to find his investigation brought to a halt and assigned to the security team for the visit to Germany by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, a visit which will culminate in a meeting at Berghof, Hitler’s alpine retreat near Berchtesgaden. Wolff’s suspicions are aroused by two individuals, one of whom is dismissed as nothing more than a fanatical Royalist. The other? Well, let’s just say Wolff’s detective instincts tell him something’s not right. The proof of that comes when he has a very narrow escape.

The author is particularly good at creating seemingly disparate storylines and then bringing them together in a satisfying way. He does exactly that in this book. There’s also a great melding together of the professional and the personal, the fictional and the factual. For example, Wolff and his partner Hexie are keen to start a family but have met with no success as yet, although not for the want of trying. When they learn of an abandoned child that may be suitable for adoption they get a terrifying insight into a sinister Nazi programme and Hexie also realises her family history may make her a target for something even worse. She also has a chilling up close and personal encounter courtesy of her friendship with former colleague, Eva Braun. Yes, that Eva Braun.

Being set in 1937, we know what’s coming but of course Wolff doesn’t. However he has a growing sense of foreboding. ‘All pretence of open justice, fair play and democratic rule had long since been swept away. In his own life, he was trying to bring killers to court to protect the people of his beloved Germany from the forces of evil. But he knew he was fighting a losing battle.’ He’s even disgusted at himself for some of the things he’s had to do in the course of the investigation.‘ Was he totally lost? Was he becoming one of them?’

His failure to join the Nazi party has already earned him the hostility of his superiors. Only the fact Wolff’s uncle is a man of influence is keeping him in his position, even out of prison or a much worse fate. How much more can Wolff take? Let’s hope there’s another book that will answer that question.

Invitation from a Dictator is a terrific historical thriller with a gripping plot, great period detail and a constant sense of jeopardy. It would be perfect for fans of the late Philip Kerr’s Bernie Gunther novels.

I received an advance reader copy courtesy of Viking via NetGalley. Invitation from a Dictator is book 12 of my 20 Books of Summer 2026.

In three words: Compelling, dramatic, authentic
Try something similar: A Death in Berlin by Simon Scarrow

About the Author

Rory Clements writes full time in a quiet corner of Norfolk. He was raised all over the world while his father served in the Royal Navy, an experience that went on to inspire Rory’s beloved historical thrillers. Previously a journalist for various papers, he is now a Sunday Times bestselling author, two-time winner and three-time nominee of the CWA Historical Dagger Award. His books have sold over 1 million copies to date.

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