Reviews

The Swiss Spy by Alex Gerlis

didactylos's review

3.0

At times I liked this but at other times I found it lacking. Partly I think that is because it concentrates more on events than a central character, hence you are reading about numerous people who either are or are not central to the plot, and come and go. As I like the period I think I sustained the reading more than otherwise. Will try another and see if its better.

laurenboys's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

usbsticky's review

2.0

I really liked Gerlis's Prince series but this series is pretty bad. I dnf'd this at about 33%. The plotline was messy and wasn't straightforward. The story jumped from one POV to another and one timeline to another. On top of that, I didn't like the protagonist, or one of them. I wasn't sure if the others were main characters or not. Anyway, I lost interest a third of the way through.

Spoilers ahead.
Summary: yea this was about a Swiss/British man who was turned by the Russians and then turned by the British. And then the story started talking about someone else, who was or wasn't connected with him. Not sure.

adammp's review against another edition

3.0

Good read, although I didn't find the protagonist to be very compelling. I would give this 3.5 stars if I could. I don't know if the seeming allusions to Conrad's "Under Western Eyes" were intentional, but they were enjoyable.

flogigyahoo's review

3.0

I liked Alex Gerlis first spy story but this 2nd one is a bit disappointing. Quite long it tells of a double agent, Henri Hesse, living in Switzerland who gets involved in a ruse to make Soviet Russia believe that an invasion by the German Army is not planned for the near future. The British believe that should the Soviets think the invasion is imminent they will be ready and Hitler will abandon Operation Barbarossa thus avoiding the trap of a war on two fronts. Hesse is sent into Germany and back to Switzerland, into Germany and back to Switzerland. There is a lot of detail involving train schedules and air flights which allow him to do his double dealing.
The book is overlong. One never really cares about any of the characters--not the Germans of course, not the Swiss who are raking in money in their banks while the war goes on (and where it comes from is very clear), not the English who are too cold and uncaring and not even the Jewish citizens who seem stereotyped trapped in a nightmare. No one is likable. A good spy story needs a hero, a love story helps and lots of 1940's atmosphere--something Alan Furst does so well. Gerlis doesn't quite get it, but I'm sure if he tries harder, he will. I would still read his books.

ericwelch's review against another edition

4.0

Henry is on his way back to Switzerland from Britain. It’s 1939 and he’s stopped at the border before getting on his flight. Edgar, a member of the British Secret Service then blackmails him into spying for them. After some training he’s sent back to Switzerland through France where he is to wait for more instructions. In France, however, Henry circuitously and surreptitiously sneaks away briefly to meet with his Russian handlers. Turns out he’s a Russian spy and his handlers now think they control a double agent. But then we learn the British are fully aware of Henry’s relationship with the Russians. Add a Jewish woman and her daughter hiding from the Gestapo and the plot thickens beyond stew.

I love complicated spy thrillers.

briang_67's review

2.0

Good for spy craft and Swiss relationship to WW2, but what is the point of the book as a work of fiction? I've been spoiled by the books of Alan Furst.