The second in a series of which I hadn’t read the first one so assumed from the title that the action would be based on interline rather than rural Sussex but nonetheless, it was a good read, full of atmospheric settings and fast action interspersed with the totally domestic. On the one hand, the rooting out of German spies and on the other, of the necessity of getting in the harvest. A curious, rather “hanging”, ending leaves things open for a third in the series, which I will look out for. Thanks to the publishers snd Netgalley for the opportunity to read a pre-publication copy.

A fast-moving home-front spy tale. The narrative follows ex-soldier Cook, recruited to do covert work routing out traitors at the onset of WW2.

It’s a good story, with spycraft and mystery elements.

I had read and enjoyed the authors previous novel The Last line which is set in the period of World War II when it appeared that German invasion of England was inevitable. During the first novel we meet John Cook who has been tasked with staying undercover as a south coast UK farmer in order to disrupt German invading forces.
This novel is the sequel to the previous novel and we are in 1940. John must react when an enemy parachute is appears to land in one of his fields
The book grabbed me from the first chapter and I was greedily devouring it in one sitting . Reading the novels is like reading a grown-up famous five or should it be secret seven with added violence and a bit of sex. the story is fast moving and keeps your attention throughout the characters are realistic enough to make you believe in them but have that two dimensional quality perhaps if they goodies and baddies in Dick Barton special agent or the war magazines my older cousins used to read and which my grandmother called Trash Mags . all great fun you know the goodies will prevail in the end and you keep reading.

The authors writing style is clear flowing and easily read reading these novels has been fun.

I thoroughly recommend for those who like a fast paced historical action story .

I read copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. The novel is published on the 7th of November 2024 by Hodder and Stoughton
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, and my book blog by SarahSbooks.WordPress.com.

After publication it will also appear on Amazon UK

Summary: John Cook, Esq. and Lady Margaret return in the sequel to The Last Line. Cook is getting prepared for the season harvest when he sees a parachuter descend from a German bomber into his field in the dark of night. He finds the parachute and a crate of mysterious damaged equipment but no sign of whoever landed in the field. In the countryside people begin to pick up snippets of German radio broadcasts and there are whispers of German sympathizers, or Fifth Columnists as they are known. Who can be trusted, and who is secretly working for the other side? John and Margaret are ordered to do ‘whatever it takes’.

Thoughts: This second novel featuring John Cook and Lady Margaret delves into the subject of Nazi sympathizers and WWII propaganda, which I knew very little about previously. They inveigle their way into a circle of Fifth Columnists to discover their plans and find a German agent. Radio communications, including an actual secret wartime radio installation called Aspidistra, are a central feature in the novel. In the midst of all this intrigue and the threat of German bombers, the harvest still needs to be done and life must continue. Like the first novel, it is an interesting look at the home front in the thick of wartime. I appreciate the amount of research and work that must go into these novels as the setting, tone and details all feel so authentic. Fans of historical fiction will dive in and love this series.

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton/Hachette UK for the copy to read.

I really like this author's writing style.
I see a lot of other authors state "If you like Reacher...." etc and when you buy the books, they rarely compare.
Despite no such claim, Mr Ronson, in my opinion, comes the closest despite a completely different time and location for his books.
His sentences are punchy, sharp and utterly engaging with solid plots and a very likable maverick hero (Despite being a bit annoying that he considers himself an old man in his mid forties!)
I don't normally read historical fiction but for this writer I make a very willing exception.

When Hodder and Stoughton got in touch to say they were publishing a novel called The Berlin Agent and I might like to request it on NetGalley because the author was Stephen Ronson and I’d previously enjoyed his first novel The Last Line, quite frankly they had me at “Berlin”. Having lived in the city and with strong family ties there going back to the late 1940s, I’m a big fan of anything connected to the city’s twentieth-century history.
However, this story turned out to be set in Uckfield, so I put my expectations aside and settled in for a wartime romp through the Sussex countryside. It kicks off one month after the events of the previous novel. We are again in the capable hands (or should that be fists?) of John Cook, part farmer, part sleuth, part killing machine. A veteran of the Great War, Cook is battle-hardened, battle-weary and battle-ready.
Following the evacuation of Dunkirk and the surrender of France, many inhabitants of England’s south coast expect a Nazi invasion any day. In anticipation of this, Cook has been appointed to a secret disruptor force to commit acts of sabotage against the invaders after they arrive. In the meantime he is kept busy trying to track down an enemy parachutist believed to have landed close to his farm. But it’s not the only mystery he’s investigating. Why have an elderly couple been murdered in their home? What is a flamboyant, appeasing local landowner really up to? Who are the trio of soldiers who’ve taken up residence on Cook’s land? And why does Cook keep seeing an apparently carefree young couple with a minder in tow?
A great one for fans of all-action adventure and a sure-fire hit for Stephen Ronson.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
At publication, I will post my review on my blog.

Found this one a bit hard to get
Into as I didn’t reliase
There was
One before. Thanks for the early
Read but I’m going to
Go
Back and
Find the first
One.

Really enjoyed this book which gives you a glimpse of what rural life was like at the start of WWII.
From the rationing to blackout protocol it starts with an ex soldier turned gentleman farmer trying to do his bit for his country but evolved into much more.
The author really shines a light on both the good things and the bad of this period.
If you are interested in this period of UK history or just want to read a story then I really recommend this book.
Definitely worth a look.

The Berlin Agent is the latest Historical Fiction offering from Stephen Ronson and his hero character, farmer John Cook, introduced in his debut novel The Last Line. The setting is the same, rural Sussex in the early phases of WW2 with the scrambled evacuation from Dunkirk complete and the near certainty of German troops launching an invasion of Britain.
Ronson cleverly uses the tension which much have existed in the country at this time to build the drama and expectation in his fictional story. He creates very believable characters woven together with an intriguing story involving German spies, top secret technology, Nazi sympathizers and rural turf wars. His books are real page turners and difficult to put down so be prepared for some late nights! He is setting the foundation for a lengthy series with his main character, Crook, a seasoned and fearless military veteran recruited into a secret government resistance organization as his country is facing certain peril. In The Berlin Agent we meet a new character, Lady Margaret, a society heiress also in the organization who is both co conspirator and lover to Cook. Together they form a formidable team so I hope she appears in future books.
Lovers of Historical WW2 fiction will love this book. It’s well researched and captures a terrifying time for many people just waiting for the sight of enemy troops on British soil.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for providing pre publication access to this book.

This book follows a previous book I read by the author called The last line. I have to say I’d forgotten a lot of the first book but a few things like the main character and his farm I did remember.

The book is, as with the first book, set during the Second World War, 1940, and John cook is again on a mission to help save Great Britain from his farm. With the help of his friends and new acquaintances he is tasked with carrying out top secret orders to do whatever it takes to help keep the Germans off the British land as long as possible.

For me books set during the war can be hit and miss but as with The last line I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this trip to 40’s Britain and John Cook’s mission. The book is fast paced and kept me wanting to turn the page, with its twists and constant action it’s a must read.

The second novel in the exciting historical thriller series sees WW1 veteran and farmer John Cook and his charismatic lover Lady Margaret await the German invasion. Fast paced, it is a clever and compelling book. The novel is impeccably detailed in its historical research and I hope at some point the series will make it to television. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton & specially to the author via Netgalley.co.uk for the opportunity to review The Berlin Agent ARC pre publication. This is Stephen Ronson's second outing with John Cook the down to earth farmer with a dearth of experience behind him both in local knowledge, 1st WW trench fighting the Huns and no holds barred when the need arises. First off when reading the authors notes at the end of the story you can feel the depth of knowledge and research that's gone into this novel, factual information with some embellishment like all good stories have. I do enjoy action. thrillers and war and learnt a few things - looking them up to realise for instance that the Aspidistra (yes the front parlour plant so well loved by the UK and the comical song sung by Gracie Fields in 1942 'The biggest Aspidistra in the World') was also used as the name for a secret broadcast generator built in 1942 in Sussex! well you learn something new every day.
In this second outing we learn much about John Cook and his determination to thwart Hitlers invasion of the UK during the 'phoney war' and the tension you can cut with a knife awaiting to see if Hitler will invade, his motto being 'if you want something done , do it yourself'; John gets himself embroiled with 5th Columnists, British sympathisers and anti jew propaganda to infiltrate Hitlers spies dropped in by parachute. Getting himself firmly in the action with huge risks to himself. I can feel that we will read more about John and the balancing act between law and disorder. Book three perhaps.

The Berlin Agent is a seriously clever 5 star compelling read that once I started I just did not want to stop. So atmospheric and written in such a way I felt like I was truly there transported back in time living it all through John Cook.
This maybe fictional but it felt so real and realistic and whilst I'm not an historical expert the storyline was written in a way that was very believable.

It was brilliant to pick up John Cooks life in this second book and after reading The Last Line I had been patiently waiting for book 2.
The Berlin Agent did not disappoint and delivered a highly thrilling, fast paced and totally captivating unforgettable read.
The partnership of John Cook and Lady Margaret was as fascinating dynamic and brilliant as ever.
I found myself trying to slow myself down as it is action packed and fast paced in places I didn't want to miss any details or clues as to how this intriguing story would play out. No spoilers from me but I did not see a lot of it coming and that is down to the intelligent writing and the fascinating characters with their intrigue and many layers within the story.
who to trust? Would you do what ever it takes when called upon?
The bravery, loyalty and sacrifice in the face of an invasion with parachutes landing and enemies hidden amongst them I definitely wouldn't want to be on the opposite team to John Cook that's for sure.
I cant wait for The Berlin Agent to hit the shelves. Stephen Ronson has created a magnificent first class masterpiece that delivers a truly brilliant vivid and unforgettable thrilling reading experience. It is an absolute must read for any historical thriller fan.

My thoughts about Stephen Ronson’s The Berlin Agent is a gripping World War Two thriller that masterfully blends historical accuracy with intense action. Set in England in 1940, the novel follows farmer John Cook and society heiress Lady Margaret as they prepare to resist the looming Nazi invasion. The discovery of a German parachutist’s crate during an air raid sets off a suspenseful chain of events, plunging the characters into a tense game of cat and mouse with a mysterious enemy agent. Stephen Ronson excels at creating an atmosphere of dread and uncertainty, capturing the psychological strain of living under the constant threat of invasion. The characters are well-developed, with Cook and Margaret’s transformation from ordinary citizens to resistance fighters providing a compelling emotional core. The novel’s pacing is tight, balancing moments of quiet tension with bursts of action that keep the reader on edge. The Berlin Agent is a well-crafted, fast-paced read that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and thrillers alike. Ronson’s attention to detail and ability to weave suspense throughout the narrative make this book a standout in the genre. Overall Stephen Ronson’s The Berlin Agent is a masterful blend of historical accuracy and suspense, where every shadow hides a potential threat, and the tension never lets up. A must-read for fans of World War Two thrillers. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥