Dead Ground by Graham Hurley
Summary:
A young British nurse experiences the devastating Spanish Civil War and the dark side of the espionage game in this gripping World War Two thriller from Graham Hurley.
1936. Anglo-Breton translator Annie Wrenne is working in Madrid when the Spanish Civil War breaks out. Annie becomes a nurse on the front line, but after falling in love with a patient, she ends up pregnant – and abandoned – by a man she thought she knew.
Annie passes the rest of the war in a haze, her only consolation her relationship with mysterious Republican fighter Carlos Ortega. Annie finds herself caught up in Ortega's world, a web of intrigue, which leads to her recruitment into MI5.
On her first mission, Annie must pose as Ortega's wife and head to Algeciras. Hitler's Operation Felix – his plan to control the Mediterranean and force Churchill to the negotiating table – has been set into motion, and the 'couple' must help prevent the Nazis from seizing Gibraltar.
But Ortega has secretly been working for the Nationalists, part of Madrid's Fifth Column. If it falls to Annie – and Ortega – to save the day for the Allied cause, can she trust a man who has changed sides yet again?
From award-winning author Graham Hurley, the latest thrilling instalment in the Spoils of War Collection, a non-chronological series of novels set during World War II and featuring some of the most momentous stories and figures of the era.
My Review:
Just released is the latest in the series in the Spoils of War collection, by Graham Hurley, Dead Ground is set in Spain in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. As with others in the series you will find some of the characters that will appear in the novel. Annie Wrenne, who is stationed in Madrid finds herself caught up in the heat of the front line from being a translator to a nurse. This is a country that she has come to love but now finds itself at a civil war due to Franco being in power. But now as a nurse on the front-line Annie has met an Englishman who is recovering from his wounds, Annie has found herself falling in love, and abandoned after a passionate affair Annie is left bereft and dazed. But that is not all.
What happens next is that Annie and her friendship with Republican fighter, Carlos Ortega who also goes by another name, now the world of spying is opened to Annie, but can she really trust Carlos? But there is something much bigger going on here, Annies, language skills are perfect for the role she is about to play next. This is where Tam Moncrief comes in as he recruits Annie and Carlos to play a vital part in stopping the Nazis getting hold of Gibraltar, in what Hitler called Operation Felix, this the Nazis feel would force Churchill to the negotiating table. Annie and Carlos must succeed at all costs.
As with the previous novels Dead Ground is an exhilarating read, and the series I can really recommend. Graham's research is thorough, for Dead Ground, he visited key locations such as Guernika, Teruel, Murcia, and Algeciras as well as Madrid.
Each of the novels can be read as a stand-alone book as each is a non-chronological in the Spoils of War series. I am intrigued as to what comes next in the series and cannot wait.
396 Pages.
My thanks to Sophie Samsom (Ramsom PR) and Poppie Delingpole and, also Head of Zeuz for the review Copy of Dead Ground by Grahm Hurley. Published on 4th July 2024 and is now available through Waterstones, Amazon and also through your local independent bookshop or through Bookshop.org that supports your local independent bookshop. UK Bookshop.org
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