Troubled Midnight

by John Gardner

Book Overview

In 1943, The United Kingdom is alive with men and women making ready for the greatest invasion in history: preparing to assault Hitler's Fortress Europe. The skies are full of training aircraft, their engines merging with the throb of the RAF and USAAF bombers heading on round-the-clock missions against Germany. With fresh bloodshed on the horizon, the coming Christmas preparations seem even more poignant. But with just ten days to go, the seasonal...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312337213
• ISBN13: 9780312337216
• Release Date: February 2006
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

History Plus Excitement

I had to read the UK edition because I couldn't wait the year it took to get published in the US. It is the 4th book in a series about a female Detective Sergeant in war torn England (1943), investigating a double murder. It's an exciting tale of military espionage, secrets and romance relating to the planned Allied invasion of Europe. Hard to put down. I enjoy the historical aspect of this series of stories as well as the pre-feminism perspective of a "woman detective". I've enjoyed Suzie's investigations as much as all of John's previous characters, and can only hope there will be a lot more stories.

fine historical spy story

In 1943 in Wantage, England, someone tortures before killing Lieutenant-Colonel Tim Weaving and his lover; the bodies found in her cellar. Concern over this homicide is extremely high because Weaving has been a key participant in the planned D-Day invasion of the mainland. Scotland Yard Reserve Squad lead the investigation as much into who committed the killings and what did they learn from the late military officer. In spite of RS chief Tommy Livermore's chagrin, the War Office Intelligence Liaison Curry Shepherd takes over much of the inquiries claiming security. He also persuades Woman Detective Sergeant Suzie Mountford to switch sides at work joining his team and in bed dropping Livermore for her new boss. Still the concern remains whether top secret Operation Overlord has been breached. This intriguing World War II espionage police procedural is a fine thriller that provides an interesting look at the pre D-Day planning. The who-done-it is more critical than just a double homicide investigation as the allies need to capture the culprit to learn what he or she might know and who they divulged that information to. In her fourth appearance, Mountford remains a bit weak needing male rescuing, but in spite of her seemingly pathetic skills John Gardner provides a fine historical spy story. Harriet Klausner