Then We Take Berlin
A Novel
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4.1 • 51 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
"A stylish spy thriller" of postwar Berlin—the first in a thrilling new series from the acclaimed author of the Inspector Troy Novels (TheNew York Times Book Review).
John Wilfrid Holderness—aka Joe Wilderness—was a young Cockney cardsharp surviving the London Blitz before he started crisscrossing war-torn Europe as an MI6 agent. With the war over, he's become a "free-agent gumshoe" weathering Cold War fears and hard-luck times. But now he's being drawn back into the secret ops business when an ex-CIA agent asks him to spearhead one last venture: smuggle a vulnerable woman out of East Berlin.
Arriving in Germany, Wilderness soon discovers he's being played as a pawn in a deadly game of atomic proportions. To survive, he must follow a serpentine trail through his own past, into the confidence of an unexpected lover, and go dangerously deep into a black market scam the likes of which Berlin has never seen.
The author of the acclaimed Inspector Troy Novels, "Lawton's gift for atmosphere, memorable characters and intelligent plotting has been compared to John le Carré. . . . Never mind the comparisons—Lawton can stand up on his own, and Then We Take Berlin is a gem" (The Seattle Times).
"[The Joe Wilderness novels] are meticulously researched, tautly plotted, historical thrillers in the mold of . . . Alan Furst, Phillip Kerr, Eric Ambler, David Downing and Joseph Kanon." —The Wall Street Journal
"[It] will thrill readers with an interest in WWII and the early Cold War era." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A wonderfully complex and nuanced thriller." —Kirkus Reviews
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This intelligent first in a new series from Lawton (A Lily of the Field and six other Inspector Troy thrillers) opens on the eve of President Kennedy's 1963 Berlin visit, but the real meat lies in the compelling backstory of John Wilford Holderness, an East London Cockney who joins the RAF in 1946. Aircraftman Wilderness (or "Joe Wilderness," as he prefers to be called) is cheeky to the point of risking court-martial, but an RAF colonel spots Joe's potential, sends him to Cambridge, and makes him a spy. Joe is posted in 1947 to Berlin, where he tries to identify former Nazis (while making a packet in black market trading), and falls in love with Nell Burkhardt, a German woman who by 1963 is an aide to Mayor Willi Brandt. Despite a relatively weak subplot about the effort to smuggle a woman out of East Berlin, this is a wonderfully written and generally wise book that will thrill readers with an interest in WWII and the early Cold War era.
Customer Reviews
Then We Take Berlin
Lawton can write like le Carre, Deighton, Steinhauer, Kerr, making his protagonist believable as a spy. His relationships with both men and women are also real and well-developed. The ending of this book was a let down, but whets the appetite for Joe Wilderness #2, which I’m going to buy as soon as I’m done here.
Very realistic view of Berlin
As a young person, I was in Berlin during the years of the latter part of the novel. The novel is wonderful—such a trip back in time. My compliments to the author.
Then We take Berlin by John Lawton
This excellent read take place during WWII and the early Cold War era in primarily West Berlin leading up to president Kennedy”s visit. The primary character is a young Englishman, a thief. Highly intelligent and well educated. His name is John Holderness who becomes a highly efficient spy. He is known by the name of Wilderness. This is a very complex thriller with numerous characters. An excellent read!!! My highest recommendation!!