A GATHERING OF SPIES - Book review

 

John Altman’s 2000 debut thriller is quite an accomplished first novel, even if flawed.

It begins in New York City in 1933. Catherine, a young woman is walking along the dockside with her friend Katarina. Then Catherine is murdered and her body is consigned to the river. Next we skip to Salisbury, UK in 1942 and one-time pacifist Winterbotham is approached by Taylor, a friend, to join him in some secret work. Winterbotham refuses the offer. Now we jump to New Jersey, 1943 and Richard Carter is moving from Princeton with his wife Catherine to join ‘the greatest thinkers in the world’ at a place called Los Alamos. In England, as the war drones on Winterbotham relents and joins Taylor at a secret destination where he learns about the ‘Double Cross system’ – British Intelligence is using captured German spies to feed misinformation to the Nazis. Winterbotham has his reason: in return for helping Taylor he wants to learn the whereabouts of his wife who has been interned. 

At Los Alamos Catherine, in reality the sleeper Katarina, discovers vital documents in her husband’s office, information that she must get to Germany. How she manages this is quite intriguing, landing her in England after an Atlantic voyage. Thereafter there is a good cat-and-mouse chase which keeps the pages turning.

There are some good observations; here’s one: ‘Nitrates from the burning shells had enriched the soil. There were purple crocuses everywhere he looked, and even Sisymbrium irio, the London rocket – more irony – which had t been seen in England since the great fire of 1666.’ (p82) 

Katarina proves a deadly and resourceful woman. Perhaps she is portrayed slightly superhuman in her methods and ability to escape from threat. But suspend disbelief and enjoy the action-packed ride. She manages to get a signal off to Germany to arrange to be picked up from the eastern coast of England. This message is intercepted but the actual coordinates are coded. Winterbotham and Taylor attempt to second-guess her. I was surprised and amused to read that one possible pick-up point was Whitley Bay on the north-east coast – my home town! Sadly, there was no real feel for the place – and the well-known lighthouse – St. Mary’s – was not mentioned.

The background, notably the Nazi interludes, is quite well done. We get to see Hitler, Admiral Canaris, and several spymasters on both sides. Even Churchill appears. The ending is satisfying with the possibility of a sequel.

A first novel that showed promise. 

We all make mistakes, but sometimes maybe we can blame the editor:

‘train chugging across railroad ties’ (p166) – railway joints rather than ties? The tie used to be made of wood; the rails are metal and the sound made is the wheels crossing the joints between two rails. 

Norfolk, UK: ‘She could hear the hum of cicadas…’ (p189) There is only one type of cicada in UK – and they are found in the New Forest, a long way from Norfolk. However, in Norfolk, Virginia you will encounter them (the 17-year variety)!

‘… to make matters worse the sky above them was clouding over…’ (p207) Where else would the sky be? Omit ‘above them’, perhaps? 

‘… looked down at the bulkhead beneath his feet.’ (p221) A bulkhead on a ship is the wall; beneath your feet is the deck.