The English Führer

For whatever reason I only got round to starting this series earlier this year, and I’ve made up for it by tearing through all 7 books within a few weeks. They’re just so good.

I really enjoyed all of Clements’ John Shakespeare books, but these are even better. The English Fuhrer is everything you want from a thriller, and also everything you expect from a historical novel. The novel takes place just after the ending of the war, Tom Wilde is back at Cambridge, but gets drawn back into the espionage life he thought he’d left behind.

The audiobook is narrated by Adam Simms, who is just brilliant. He’s that good in fact, ive now started a number of different series solely based on the fact that he narrates them. Brilliant all round.

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

"The English Führer" is the seventh thrilling novel in the “Tom Wilde” series, written by Rory Clemens. Set in post-World War II United Kingdom, the story follows ex-OSS American spy, Tom Wilde, as he comes out of spy-retirement to look for a rogue agent, whose mission is to eliminate people on a long-forgotten kill list, including Tom and his family.

The novel is full of action-packed adventures, as Tom Wilde travels around the UK following leads and unraveling the mystery of the murderer’s identity. Along the way, he encounters a host of interesting characters, including British intelligence agents, locals trying to rebuild their lives after the war, and many more. These minor characters also take the spotlight from chapter to chapter or in-between paragraphs, adding depth and complexity to the story.

"The English Führer" is not just a thriller, but also a reflection on the aftermath of World War II and the lingering effects of the conflict on individuals and society. The author does an excellent job of capturing the tension and anxiety of the time, as well as the challenges faced by those who survived the war and had to pick up the pieces and start anew.

Overall, "The English Führer" is a well-written, and engaging novel that will keep listeners engaged, as Adam Sims narrates Tom’s latest adventures. With its mix of espionage, adventure, and human drama, it is a must-read for fans of the thriller genre.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier UK Audio, Zaffre, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #TheEnglishFührer #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning

The English Führer by Rory Clements Narrated by Adam Sims is the first book I have read/listened to, and I did know what to expect. Based in Autumn 1945 and off the east coast of England, a Japanese sub surfaces, unloads its mysterious cargo, then blows itself to pieces.....WoW I so want more........

When former spy Professor Tom Wilde was enjoying peacetime in Cambridge, settling back into teaching and family life. Until a call from senior MI5 boss Lord Templeman brings him out of retirement.

A nearby village has been locked down by the military, its residents are blighted by a deadly illness. No one is allowed in or out.

But where has this illness come from?

There's also been rumours that a Nazi machine is still operational, with links to Unit 731, a notorious Japanese biological warfare research laboratory. But how could they possibly be plotting on British soil - and why?

This book was so good especially as I wouldn't of chosen this gene to read or listen to.......So, where have I been?

I highly recommend this book and Rory Clement's books in this series.

I really enjoyed this story and the characters, had me hooked to the end. This is a new author for me and so although there have already been several Wilde adventures, I didn't feel like I was completely lost. In fact, the bits that appeared to allude to previous books just made me want to go back and find out more!

This was a new author for me. I did enjoy this audiobook and thought that the subject covered was quite interesting and thought provoking.
I thought the narrator was excellent, switching from one character to another in a conversation.
Recommended.

Good post wartime thriller of what could have been if the nazi's were still in operation.

Really enjoyed the narrator, he delivers the characters very well.

I read this in manageable chunks over a few weeks. It was memorable and strong enough to flit to and from.

Tom Wilde returned to university life at the end of WWII. His peace was to be disrupted in a terrible way and his life plus his wife’s placed in danger.

This audiobook is well read and a great way to enjoy this fast paced novel. Who wishes us harm, how dangerous are they and can they be stopped?

Listen, enjoy and hope all will be well.

It’s the end of the war and Tom Wilde is back at Cambridge University teaching his students when he gets a call from his former boss at MI5 saying he needs Wilde’s help.
There has been an outbreak of a deadly illness in a village close to his home. No one allowed in or out of the village and Tom is asked to investigate.
Before Wilde knows it he is embroiled in a conspiracy with Nazi sympathies who plan an attack on the nation’s capital. To top things off, he and his wife are on a Gestapo kill list, so he will have to watch his back whilst trying to prevent a biological catastrophe that will kill millions.
Rory Clements is truly a wonderful writer. The Tom Wilde series of books are astonishing pieces of historical fiction and The English Fuhrer is as good as it gets.
Along with the audio narration by the ever brilliant Adam Sims, the reader or listener is in for a treat. One not to miss out on.

My thanks to Bonnier Audio for an unabridged audio recording of The English Führer. More ripping yarns from Rory Clements. This is the seventh in the Tom Wilde series - all thoroughly good reads. Clements takes real historical events and builds excellent stories around them. This one takes us beyond the end of the war as Tom Wilde, Cambridge history professor and the secret services battle with enemies who provide as great a threat as Hitler did.
Not great literature, and some of the characters rather two dimensional but Clements does capture the atmosphere of immediate post war Britain - rationing, bomb sites, remaining coastal defences and desperately low living standards..
One point of accuracy in the historical notes: Nancy Astor was not ‘the first female MP’. She was the first to take her seat -in 1919. The first elected was Constance Markiewicz the previous year, though as elected for Sinn Fein she did not take her seat.

My goodness, this was my first audio book by this author and I wasn't sure what to expect. At the beginning I wasn't sure but kept going and then it did get really interesting. Yes it is part of a series but it didn't really matter that I hadn't read/listened to the previous ones. However I am now invested in the characters and cant wait to see what happens next.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

My thanks to Bonnier U.K. Audio Zaffre for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘The English Führer’ by Rory Clements. The audiobook is narrated by Adam Sims.

This is the seventh in Clements series of historical espionage thrillers set in 1940s Europe featuring Cambridge history professor turned spy, Tom Wilde. As always, Clements provides background for readers new to the series, so that it can be read as a standalone.

Early October 1945. Off the east coast of England, a Japanese submarine surfaces close to a deserted beach. Its mysterious cargo is unloaded and then afterwards it is blown up by its crew and all disappear into the depths of the North Sea. Quite a dramatic opening!

In Cambridge former spy Professor Tom Wilde is settling back into teaching and family life. Then he receives a call from senior MI5 boss Lord Templeman, who advises that a nearby village has been locked down by the military as its residents have been blighted by a deadly illness. There are rumours of German involvement with links to Unit 731, a notorious Japanese biological warfare research laboratory. What might they be plotting on British soil?

In addition, Templeton advises Tom that a Gestapo kill list of 250 names has recently come to light, containing not only his own name but that of Tom and his wife, Lydia. One person on the list has already been murdered and another is missing. These crises bring Tom out of retirement in order to assist in tracking down those responsible and to ensure that his family as well as his country remains safe. Meanwhile, Lydia Wilde seeks to realise her dream of becoming a doctor despite the obstacles placed by society. No further details to avoid spoilers.

Rory Clements again demonstrates great skill in integrating historical events and figures into his narrative. While in ‘The English Führer’ the war is officially over it is clear that there are still those in British society who remain sympathetic to the fascist cause.

The pacing is a bit more measured here than in those books in the series when Tom was in a wartime setting. Yet conversations in drawing room soirées, country houses, pubs and the like bring their own dynamics as well as more subtle dangers.

I felt that Clements did well in portraying postwar Britain including the collective sense of loss and the need to rebuild a shattered economy. Such details of everyday life enrich the narrative beyond the drama of its main plot.

With respect to the audiobook edition, actor Adam Sims has been the narrator for all of the books to date in the Tom Wilde series as well as many other titles across a variety of genres. He has a pleasant husky voice that held my attention throughout and brought life to the novel’s various characters.

Overall, I enjoyed ‘The English Führer’ very much and am so pleased that Rory Clements has continued with this series as the postwar years and the beginnings of the Cold War is such a rich period of history as a setting for spy fiction.

Tom has barely resumed with academic life before he is drawn into more intrigue. There is an outbreak of plague in a coastal village which effects one of his wife Lydia’s friends. When Tom tries to make contact, the area is in lockdown and he is arrested. Lord Templeton manages to intervene and enlists his help in investigating what is going on. He also imparts some disturbing news. The Nazi’s ‘black book’ of people to be arrested if there was a successful invasion of the British Isles was well known but there has been discovered an addendum list of people to be killed which Tom and Lydia are on. This would not be significant except that some on the list have already been murdered using phenol.

Tom’s wife Lydia is getting bored of a life of domesticity in the shadows and wants to make her mark in society, she dreams of being a doctor, a profession she would be well suited to. Few women were then accepted into the profession and there are two obstacles, she is married and a mother. Tom’s wartime deceptions appear to be rubbing off on her as she applies for a position in her maiden name. She’s accepted and their domestic life is thrown upside down as she must start immediately. Luckily, she has found a young widow with a daughter to act as housekeeper and look after Tom and her son. This comes as a big surprise to her long-term cleaner and is the cause of some friction. Is the housekeeper all she all she appears to be, or does she harbour secrets of her own?

The plot is a little outlandish but based on enough historical fact to remain plausible and is one that should please fans of conspiracy theories and what if scenarios. The ‘black book’ certainly existed, Unit 731 was real, and I suspect that we will never get the full truth on what happened to all the German and Japanese experimenters at the end of the war. Certainly, chemical, and biological weapons remain a chilling threat to this day.

Home grown fascism is central to the plot and seems to be quite vogue in current wartime thrillers. It is a subject that has been somewhat played down in the past and well deserves to be exposed the bleaching effect of sunlight. Perhaps it’s the result of the last few years with Brexit and immigration controls that are providing the inspiration for a reassessment within literature?

The storytelling style remains that of the old school thriller, pacey with full on action, plenty of jeopardy and quite a few murders but never gratuitous or graphic. As someone who loved the books of Alistair Maclean and his ilk in my youth it’s great to see the tradition continued. The reader’s attention is grabbed at the start and from then on it is thoroughly absorbing. The pacing may well be quick and the action relentless at times but there is also great characters and snapshots of life to fill out the storyline. So we see that the war has ended but rationing is still a major headache for ordinary people, consuming their day unless they can afford the black market. Tom even has to beg for petrol in order to carry his pursuit down to London.

Tom Wilde remains an unlikely hero, but the series works because he is kept believable, he’s boxed a bit but doesn’t win fist fights against ludicrous odds, he’s intelligent and analytical but even he can be taken in and confused as he is here. No superhero but typical of many who were thrust into extreme circumstances by war, somehow finding the fortitude to survive and display extraordinary bravery in the face of death.

The other main characters are well portrayed. Wife Lydia is much more to the fore in this one as her determination sees her getting a place at medical school and her exploits along with roommate Miranda add a nice diversion and another thread to face imminent danger.

The narration is perfect for the style of novel and Mr Sims demonstrates a broad range of voices and accents.

The English Führer is another wonderful action packed addition to the Tom Wilde series of intelligent wartime espionage thrillers. The war may be over but I think there’ll be a few more scrapes to come, I certainly hope so.

My first Rory Clements book and I enjoyed it. Set just after WWII Tom Wilde is called back to his old job as a spy to investigate why a town has been lockdown, they also discover a Nazi hit list and people start getting killed. Highly enjoyable with plenty of twists along the way. Adam Sims delivers a outstanding narration.
I received this audiobook from Bonnier Audio and Netgalley for a review.

An exciting thriller and a big improvement on Tom Wilde's previous outing.
Tom needs very little persuasion to abandon Cambridge once again to investigate a suspected biological attack in a nearby village. The plot is uncomfortably credible and the various locations in East Anglia and London were brought vividly to life with local characters and action. Tom's wife and family played a much more substantial role in this story, his domestic problems providing a welcome contrast to his espionage activities. I enjoyed the sub plots which supplemented the main thread and filled out the narrative with human interest stories. Characters from previous books are further developed together with new and interesting additions and while familiarity with previous books would increase the enjoyment for the reader I don't think that it would be essential as basic background is filled in along the way but this is not heavy handed by any means.
There are moments of great tension throughout the story which kept me on the edge of my seat especially the threat to Lydia in London and I relished her persistent determination and ambition in embarking on medical training to become a doctor.
Highly entertaing with sound historical facts underlying events this is a fine addition to the Wilde chronicles although how Tom ever gets any teaching done is another question. The ending is satisfying and fitting to the story.

Adam Sims reads as always with great competance and if the narrative seems a llittle dry occasionally this is more due to the author's tendancy to over explain things a little and Wilde's slightly moralising thoughts. The accents are varied German, Russion, English and Americans all feature in the story with regional English accents adding to the mix but characters are easily recognisable and clearly defined, the male characters particularly successful. Overall it was a very enjoyable narration and I look forward to the next instalment.

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