Set in the early 1950s, this topsy-turvy adventure story tells of a clique of amateur British officers, who plot to trap the faceless civil servants who are relaying their signals to enemy agents.

An aura of authenticity and a cornucopia of Soviet-era and British army anecdotes both engage and bring to life a bygone spirit and outlook.

Shifting from East Germany and Libya to Beirut and Otterburn Moor – though with its origins in Tangier – its anachronistic heroes with the aid of the East German spy mistress, succeed in pulling off an unexpected coup.

This was strange with and odd writing style and uncomfortable innuendos. Seems like this wasn’t for me

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Paperback version of this book to read and honestly review.
This is the second book I have read by this Author and once again features a very original quirky writing style. Well researched atmospheric with an authentic feel for time and place. Clever imaginative with plenty of surprises and twists along the way. The main character was engaging, but I much preferred The East German Police Girl from the first book.
Completely recommended

Thanks to BrownDog Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance copy of this book in return for my honest review.
This co-written book takes us back to the dawn of the Cold War and the Spy vs. Spy intrigue that consumed Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa. It is a fun read, but with a few too many characters to keep all of them straight, but the plot and story comes together as we shift from locale to locale. We follow some spies who die, some who defect or become counterspies, and there is one, our East German Spy Mistress who stands alone among all the characters. The book does a very good job of showing how the best laid plans among spies many times blow up in their faces. In this regard I am reminded of some of the books by Donald Westlake and especially his classic "The Hot Rock". At times head-shaking, at times insightful, as well as having many funny parts, this book surprised me with its authenticity and I can very well see this writing duo collaborate on a sequel to this book.

The premise of The East German Spy Mistress sounded intriguing but unfortunately it did not take long to discover it is far different than the spy thriller it is touted as. Instead there is a steady stream of vile innuendos and vile characters with very little to redeem it, at least from what I read. Not finishing a book is rare for me but I just couldn't do it.

I found this title in the Mystery and Thriller section. Unfortunately it reads more like a bodice ripper written in some faux 1950's style, chock full of puerile innuendo, bints, lasses and gals.
If you like the following random quotes you will probably enjoy the book:

"He throbbed with a pugnacity too long thwarted."
"He eyed her small but well shaped paps, her strictured waist."
"He detested the 'what-ho' pith helmeted British, ditto the supercilious slimy French."
"she coddled his pine-cone mechanically and slid said hefty arrow into her quiver six times."

John leCarre it ain't and I'm sorry but I didn't enjoy this book at all.