"The Double Agent" by William Christie

Sequel to “A Single Spy”

1943-1944

This is the story of Alexsi Smirnoff, a Russian, who was trained as an agent by the Russian Secret Agency Service and inserted into the Nazi Germany, where he rose to a position in German intelligence services. As the war goes on, feeling trapped between two brutal dictatorships Alexi betrays both sides and attempts to disappear but is caught by the British...Alexsi finds himself once again a double agent ..But deep down Alexsi is loyal only to himself.

No doubts this is a compelling novel of espionage set in the most momentous and dangerous of times. It is well-paced, very suspenseful and most of all engaging. The story explores the problems one faces as an agent to two masters: information fed to one agency without giving away too much and harming the other. Alexsi plays his role here beautifully.

Back in the field, assigned to the German SS headquarters in Rome there he transmits coded messages back to England, has a fling with an Italian princess, manages to avoid reprisal form Germans soldiers and partisans. The tradecraft is all-out and the portrayal of the Ardeatine massacre haunting. The violence is stunning and off the chart. All well-done

Mr. Christie has a way with words and knows how to pen a storyline that will capture his audience full attention. It surely got me hooked from the beginning. I simply couldn’t wait to see what troubles Alexsi will get into and how he will wiggle out of them.

Excellent and entertaining adventure

I received this ARC from St-Martin Press via Netgalley