1945, the war is over and former spy, Professor Tom Wilde, has finally been permitted to return to teaching in Cambridge and enjoy 'normal' life.

But his natural curiosity is piqued when his wife is prevented from visiting a sick friend in a nearby village. Why could that be?

Rumours of a virus outbreak are circulating amongst certain circles, and Wilde is keen to find out the truth. Which means his 'normal' life is suddenly anything but ... again.

This is a fast-moving thriller than fans of this genre will love, and it will bring something new for those not familiar with the genre.

The war may be over, but has the Nazi threat disappeared?

I previously reviewed The Man in the Bunker which I enjoyed immensely and was thrilled to be given the opportunity to review The English Fuhrer. I was not disappointed, Rory Clements books are well researched and written making them a real pleasure to read.
World War 2 is over and the Professor is back in Cambridge and academia preparing himself for his first lecture. His wife Lydia has been invited to attend an interview to be admitted into St Ursala’s medical school which means she leaves her family in the hands of a housekeeper- who is not all she seems.
The Professor is pressed again into the Intelligence Service and to investigate a village in Cambridge which has been sealed off due to a highly contagious disease and is killing off the residents, to complicate matters further the village is located next to an American Air Base. Consequently he is brought into contact with his old colleagues from MI5 and MI6 plus his friends from the American secret service. The book is fast moving and a thoroughly enjoyable read and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I am looking forward to reading Rory’s next book.

Clements keeps up a really fast-paced, energetic pace with the plot which makes it very hard to put down!

It is autumn 1945 and Cambridge history professor Tom Wilde, American citizen, has returned to his daytime job. The war is over. Or is it. ‘The English Führer,’ seventh in the Tom Wilde spy series by Rory Clements, hits the ground running as a Japanese submarine waits off the coast of Norfolk.
Yet again, Tom and his wife Lydia are in danger. But Lydia is living in a hostel in London as she trains as a doctor – pretending to be a single woman in order to qualify for study – while Tom and Johnny have a new housekeeper at home in Cambridge. When the quiet Norfolk village next to an American airbase is subjected to a strange plague, its residents dead and dying, Wilde finds himself pulled back into the world of the security services. He calls on familiar faces – Philip Eaton of MI6, ‘Dagger’ Templeman of MI5, old friend and GP Rupert Weir and Bill Donovan, Wilde’s old boss of America’s wartime security service, Office of Strategic Services [OSS] – and new ones, some of whom may not be who they appear to be. As a spy during the war, Tom has grown used to dissembling but acting a role is a new territory for Lydia who must convincingly appear to be unmarried and not a mother, or be thrown out of St Ursula’s Hospital Medical School. New characters include Lydia’s fellow medical student, room-mate and addict of spy stories Miranda March; Danny Oswick, new history student with a dodgy moustache and even dodgier past; and widow Syliva Keane who moves into the Wilde house as Tom’s new housekeeper in Cambridge but who disappears once a week.
As previously, Wilde must work out who to trust, treading a fine line between wrong and right, to get to the heart of the truth. What is a Japanese biological weapon doing in England and who are the plotters? Japanese. Fascists. Communists. The clues are myriad and the web woven by Clements is at times impenetrable, the story telling is compelling.
A series that is so addictive that when you finish one book you want to start the next immediately.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

An incredible book - one of the best I've read in years. I was at first concerned when I realised, after having been granted this book, that it was the 7th in a series, but this fact made no difference. It reads beautifully as a standalone, though now I've purchased the entire rest of the series and hope to make short work of it, because once you start you don't feel like you can put it down.

Professor Tom Wilde wants to return to a normal life. To his professorship at Cambridge, to his wife and child, to the book he wants to write. But somehow it seems the world isn't quite ready for him to retire to normality, and he is thrown into a plot that could change the course of England's future, and the world's as well.

Clements does an incredible job with setting the scene of post-war England, torn apart by the events of the previous six years, trying to rebuild itself and its people. The description of the destruction across the cities, and the feeling that those living through it must have sensed was incredibly relatable, and you really felt as though you fully understood the struggles and difficulties the characters would have been going through, from the rationing still in effect, to the difficulty of returning to normal life both mentally and physically. The destruction across also came through really well.

Clements characters are also incredibly well crafter, and you never know what to fully expect, or who you can trust to be good.I constantly felt on edge of which characters I should like and who I should not, and when the plot twisted and turned, I was frequently surprised with the outcomes, rarely expecting what was going to happen.

Though in the past I haven't read many spy novels, this book has certainly set an incredibly high bar for what I would expect and want from the in the future going forward. Clements ability to cause the reader to feel the same tension that Wilde must be feeling is fantastic, you're constantly on the edge of your seat, not wanting to put the book down just so you can see what is going to happen next.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone, especially those who like spy novels, but also to anyone with an interest in history and especially the second world war, and second world war social history. I cannot wait to go back and read the rest of the series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for gifting me this ARC and the chance to fall in love with these characters and this series.

I came quite late to this series starting with book 6 The Man in the Bunker. Its not normally the type of book I would pick up, but I found that I raced through it, and it was no different with The English Fuhrer. The war has ended, and Tom Wilde is hoping that at long last he can finally continue as a professor at Cambridge and spend time with his wife and son. Its not long however he is drawn back into his previous career, and it is not only him that is at risk this time.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book as the opening chapter left it a little unclear as to what was ahead, but it wasn’t long before I was glued to the pages. Tom Wilde is an interesting character, as much as he wants a quieter life you can also see that there is a part of him that loves the danger and intrigue. What is also clear is that he really does not know who he can trust or what exactly is going on apart from the fact both him and his wife Lydia have somehow ended up on a German kill list and there is definitely someone who intends to see it is completed.
The setting of post war England where everyone was trying to come to terms with the new normal, highlighted that there were those that struggled with what they had seen and done. Unfortunately for Tom Wilde he was up against those that were not happy with the new world and believed that they would be better in charge and would use any method and means possible to achieve it no matter who was harmed in the process.
We did get to see more of Tom’s home life in this book, with his wife Lydia starting out in her career as a doctor away from the family home, which in turn brought new faces into his life that were clearly hiding things and you had to wonder what and why and if they were in on the plot to kill him.
With chemical warfare and kill lists there was certainly plenty to keep the pace going and it was interesting to see it all playing out in the English countryside rather than foreign shores. There did seem to be a bit more of a finality about this book as loose ends from The Man in the Bunker also seem to be closed but if it is the last one then it was a good one to go on. What I do need to do now however is start at the beginning of the series because I definitely want to know more about the exploits of Tom Wilde

Having read all previous books by this author: the plot surrounding bio-weapons was pertinent (post-pandemic) & an improvement on the previous book in this series. Unfortunately the disappointment was due to two historical errors (which I really hate pointing out.) I love this author because of the historical veracity of his writing, 1) Multiple references to USAF. Throughout WWII & after, the air force section of the US forces was known as the USAAF, the United States Army Air Force. 2) The plot references the "death of the Duke of York in a plane crash." This title was held by King George VI before his ascension to the throne. The king's brother, the Duke of KENT, actually died in the plane crash. What's also disappointing is that this was the main plot line in an earlier book in this series too! So how did these fundamental errors slip through? Shame.

I enjoyed this next installment of this historical thriller series. It was well written and kept you guessing. Looking forward to the next installment

This was an enjoyable historical mystery, more of a light read than a gripping one. I did enjoy the time period focused on and the variety of characters.

I love this series featuring American Cambridge History Professor Tom Wilde, and always look forward to the latest book.
Set in England in 1946 something strange happens in a small village ending in quarantine for all the residents, including a close friend of Lydia, Tom’s wife. Tom tries to find out what’s going on, but gets locked up by the US military who are still in England following the end of the war.
Of course Tom ends up working for the security services again, even though he’s supposed to be back at his Cambridge college teaching History. MI5 want him to look into various suspicious situations and individuals, including fascist groups in Cambridge. Meanwhile Lydia goes down to London in the hope that she can begin her journey into becoming a doctor, and so they need to find a housekeeper/babysitter to keep an eye on Johnny their young son.
This was another fab book in this fantastic series, with more of a storyline for Lydia, which I’m always happy about. It was more action packed than the previous book and felt more like the earlier ones in the series, full of twists, turns and lots of untrustworthy characters. As always with this series I learnt quite a bit about what happened to various people of interest to the Allies after WW2. I was horrified at what I found out and wish I hadn’t looked for further information. 😱
Highly recommended if you enjoy spy thrillers set in post war Britain.

Alternate history at its best. A book that deals with right wings groups, pandemics and the aftermath of WWII.
A gripping and highly entertaining story featuring great characters. Excellent storytelling and plot development.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

The English Führer by Rory Clements

It is the autumn of 1945. The war is over but not for everyone. While many war criminals wait in their cells for trial, others have hidden themselves and continue the work of their Führer or emperor. A Japanese submarine reaches the end of its very long journey at the quiet town of Flowthorpe. It’s not long before many of the inhabitants become extremely ill and the town is sealed off by the military. Former spy Tom Wilde has returned to his job as Professor of History at Cambridge University but he is not to be left in peace. He is given the task of investigating a suspected ring of fascists who will stop at nothing to keep their cause alive, with a new leader, here in England. Tom and his wife Lydia are right to be concerned. They are told that their names are on a Nazi hitlist. Others on that list are already murdered. England has never been more dangerous for Professor Tom Wilde and his family.

The English Führer is the seventh novel in a series that I have loved from the beginning. They are usually published in January and it’s hard to imagine a better way to start off the reading year. You can read any of them on their own but I recommend reading them as a series. We have been on a dangerous journey with Tom and Lydia from before the war with Tom’s undercover missions taking him to the heart of Nazi Germany. It’s so good to learn that the series continues even though the war is over. Now the trouble is all on home shores.

Rory Clements is such a good writer of spy novels set in any period. Tom Wilde is an expert on Elizabethan espionage, which is a wonderful reference to the author’s other novels set in the 16th century. Parallels are found between the past and present and Tom has learnt much from Elizabeth I’s spymaster Walsingham. I really enjoy the idea of a history professor transforming himself into a spy. But the fact that he appears in the hit list shows just how well he performed that role. His wife Lydia has had a secondary role for later books in the series and so it is good to have her back for this book. There is something very appealing about Lydia.

The English Führer tells a great story, complex at times, as you might expect from a spy novel. It’s impossible to know who to trust and Tom and Lydia find themselves in very real danger. These novels have always considered the nature of evil and here we discover what can happen to it when it is driven underground or, worse, is found to be useful by the victorious nations.

I think the novel suffers a little from not including one of Tom’s missions abroad but this is a minor point. It’s an excellent novel that continues a series I really don’t want to be without and I heartily recommend it.

The war is over and Professor Tom Wilde is back in Cambridge. When his wife Lydia tries to visit a sick friend, and is turned away by an army roadblock, Tom heads off to investigate. He soon finds himself returning to his wartime work as they race to discover who is behind the new attacks.

The English Fuhrer is the latest in Rory Clements series of Tom Wilde’s adventures, and it is, once again, a masterpiece. Throughly enjoyable from the start, Clements has created characters who come alive on the page and keep your interest until the end. Each have their own little storyline within the overall picture.

Another great story.

Professor Tom Wilde is back in the thick of things trying to foil a Nazi plot to destabilise Britain.
What makes these thrillers so good is their plausibility and basis on historical events.
Rory Clements is a gifted plotter and the action is never to OTT. Plenty of political intrigue, espionage and most of all, an excellent and enjoyable page turner.

I had expected a fairly straightforward espionage novel, but this was so much more with twists and turns throughout. The protagonist, Tom Wilde, an American born Cambridge professor who had previously worked for the OSS, plays a major role in uncovering the players behind deaths caused by biological pathogens in a sleepy village in the United Kingdom. When he discovers he has been listed in the ‘Black Book Addendum’ by opposing forces for elimination, he takes the investigation seriously. Extremely well researched, this is a fast paced historical novel, thoroughly enjoyable. Not my usual genre, I was pleasantly surprised how engrossing I found this thriller. This book would make a brilliant movie!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Zaffre Bonnier Books for this ARC.

The war has ended or has it……. Once again Professor Tom Wilde is called upon to thwart dangerous men trying to carry on the aims of Hitler and the Nazi movements in England. He has returned to his teaching and reluctant to be yet again a spy but circumstances force him to act. As always Mr Clements’ writing is as good as his story telling. It is a joy to read his thrillers.

I was eager to read more about Tom Wilde after enjoying The Man in the Bunker so much, and I haven't been disappointed with this latest installment!! You'd think with the war now being over his work would be done - nothing could be farther from the truth!

So we are taken back to Cambridge, in 1945 as the world starts to try living again but with a mysterious death leading those in power to fear a bio attack, there's a whole new set of people to investigate and it's a pulsating story as more deaths follow and the uncovering of a black book of secret agents is uncovered so who will be next?!

You can really understand why there is so much mistrust around considering what the world has just witnessed, and seeing how Tom Wilde operates to get answers is extremely subtle and clever. I also enjoyed the storyline featuring his wife, Lydia, which is showing a woman going after her own career at a time where that was really frowned upon, especially as she had a child, and it was intriguing to see the obstacles she faced while still wanting to be there for her family.

It was full of twists and turns, fast paced and a really thrilling read from the get go! I also found the notes at the end about the real life war events and it's made me even more intrigued to read up more! And to also go back in the series to read the earlier installments of this fabulous series!

8/10

I was unsure where the series could go with the end of the war but what a fool I am as the last couple of novels in the series have been very enjoyable and that nasty old Hilter fella is well out of it.

Tom Wilde has been able to put that spying business behind him and return to his Cambridge professor gig, but as always there is a spanner to be thrown into the mix. The Japanese have only gone and brought some biochemical agent over to the UK to cause some harm, those swines. Not only that, Tom's wife wants to get a job as a Doctor of all things making her head off to study away from Tom and get into her own escapades. The skill in this series is the ability to bring alive the world around the characters without ever bogging down the action or intrigue leading to a interesting read.

A combination of fast paced writing with intriguing plot lines, characters and a war torn European backdrop led to a very enjoyable thriller and I hope for more in this series.

I really enjoyed this follow up story about Tom Wilde and the aftermath of the Second World War.
It is a good spy plot set just after the war with no modern technology, The characters are well drawn and the story is complex and well constructed.
I couldn’t wait to pick it up again and although I was keen to read to the end I was sorry it was over -
Very well written

I have enjoyed all Rory Clements books to date. The English Fuhrer however I found quite slow. This is the latest in the Tom Wilde series, moving on from wartime to post WW2. The Germans and their allies have been defeated, however incidents continue to happen on mainland Britain which suggest that not every enemy is defeated, nor are they all foreign. This was enjoyable enough but this instalment would not have me rushing to the next. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance reader copy, for which I have provided my own opinion.