Psychological thriller set on the MANI PENINSULA (Peloponnese)
WW2 espionage thriller set in DOVER
20th March 2025
When The Germans Come by David Hewson, WW2 espionage thriller set in Dover.
When The Germans Come lives and breathes Dover in 1940. The town is absolutely on the front line, softened up day and night by bombing raids and artillery from across the Channel. A full scale German invasion is expected at any moment…Some people seemingly carry on as normal, others do not. The town is a garrison controlled by the army, a local police force exists (sort of…) but the army calls the shots. Bawdy vaudeville shows and prostitution are tolerated as the needs of an impatient army are met. One David Shearer, allegedly in charge of the local branch of the Ministry of Information, has his fingers in every pie. David took under his wing a Canadian journalist, Jessica Marshall. He spiked her first copy for being too defeatist and encouraged her – with promises of syndication and fame – to write more upbeat stories. She obliged.
Louis Renard, an ex detective from Scotland Yard, appears in the local police station. He had left Scotland Yard somewhat suddenly (for reasons unknown) to fight in France, and had been evacuated back – wounded both physically and mentally – from Dunkirk. Currently recuperating with his Aunt Veronica (one of Kent’s stalwarts) she had arranged via her friend, the Chief Constable, for him to be gainfully but gently employed. She was also a friend of the Lord Lieutenant of the county (that was the way that Kent then worked). Louis was living in exalted circles.
But his work was real. A murder occurred, followed by two suspicious deaths. Getting anyone to take them seriously or properly investigated was almost impossible (after all a land invasion was expected at any moment…). Louis was largely on his own. And he had the distinct feeling that he was not getting the help or information he needed from David Shearer and his team. Was there more to the deaths than met the eye? Were they perhaps not simple murders? Could intrigue in high places and espionage be involved? Dover was a very murky place…
All is eventually revealed as Louis persists and won’t be diverted from his enquiries. The revelations are dramatic.
What is so brilliant about When The Germans Come is the sense of both time and place that David Hewson conjures up. You are in 1940 Dover… And this is typical of his work. From the Amsterdam of his Pieter Vos books, the Rome-based Nic Costa series, to the Venice of stand alone novels and the historic Arnold Clover detective series, his books are meticulously researched. He is a really good writer.
One final word. Don’t think you have finished When The Germans Come until you have read the very last page! Could be a set up for the next in a series?
Tony for the TripFiction team
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