The Spies of Warsaw: A Novel

This is a novel about a French military attaché in Warsaw, Poland, in 1937 in the pursuit of proof that the Germans are planning to attack France through Belgium rather than attempting to cross the Maginot Line. It was a fast read but, I must confess, I was not overly impressed by the writing style. Why? I'm not sure. There were places the writing seemed juvenile while other places were excellent; places the writing was exciting while other places bogged down.

I found "Spies" to be interesting and well written, but was disappointed by its rather abrupt conclusion. I found myself waiting for the other shoe to drop (with respect to Mercier's spying activities and the discovery thereof by the SS), but it never did.

The book could have easily accommodated another 100 pages of narrative

Prior to World War II, most people either thought that Hitler and his generals were intent on world domination based on using any tool available or that these were reasonable people who could be persuaded to go elsewhere if you cut a deal with them. In between those views were the French, who thought that their Maginot Line could stop the Germans at the border in any future European war. Those who bet that Hitler and his generals were serious were right.

This book examines those perspectives from the vantage point of the Western spies operating in Warsaw in 1937 and 1938. The fictional Colonel Jean-Francois Mercier steals enough secrets to come to the right conclusion about what France faces. In the process, you learn a lot about spy tradecraft in that era and how the various countries oriented to one another.

The book has an oddly cold tone, as though this story was written in an attempt to keep out emotion, patriotism, and strong feelings of any kind. As a result, the plot, although interesting, failed to engage me into the story. I felt like I was reading a light, nonfiction magazine article about pre-World War II espionage instead.

For a reading public that likes to exalt the importance and impact of espionage, this story is a sort of anti-story . . . suggesting that perhaps espionage was then more a game than serious business.

To me, the best parts of the book were those that attempted to capture tradecraft in that era. Those were well done.

Unlike many spy stories where the ending is up in the air . . . due to an optional, fictitious result, The Spies of Warsaw ends up being a bit too predictable in leading up to the well-known events of 1939 and 1940.

Realistic fantasy

Alan Furst consistently delivers realistic fantasies well supported by the color of the period leading up to World War II. I note that one reviewer questions Furst's research based upon his supposed error as to when the French General Staff knew about the Germans plan of battle for their assault on France.

Right or wrong, Furst delivers a plausible set of encounters with fleshed out heroes, heroines and a supporting cast despicable creatures of the Third Reich. He effectively transports you into the period and give you consistently detailed characters that you can see and almost touch.

My one and minor fault that I find with his latest book is the shallow picture that he gave of the heroes romantic interest. It came on too fast and did not convey her texture well.

And yes, though well past middle age I can see why the featured negative reviewer found problems with the detailed sex scenes. A little too much James Bond a la Ian Fleming. Ambler never resorted to a Pussy Galore moment.

I look forward to each Furst book and this one is enjoyable enough. It's hardly a page-turner but his books rarely are. Instead they capture the darkness and randomness of the life of a spy. They are buffeted about and improvise rarely knowing who is friend or foe. This book does not have that feel. Without suspense (except for some near the end) and the darkness it's just a nice story.