Mawer, Simon

Billed as historical spy fiction, this newest work from Mawer (The Glass Room) succeeds as an infiltration into the nuanced territory of Alan Furst and Joseph Kanon. Though the sensuous attraction of lovers teasing each other could be a distraction, here it is a mirror of the interplay of youthful Czechoslovaks who believe in the burgeoning political springtime yet also fear it.

Heroine/"traitor" Marian, introduced in Trapeze, is compelling and complicated. Even if the concept "cold war thriller" has been a bit overworked, the fast-paced, compelling narrative structure could almost be called "first-person-omniscient." Excellent for historical thriller readers and those interested in the dawn of the nuclear era. [See Prepub Alert, 6/21/15.]

Blending fact with fiction, Mawer's (The Glass Room) latest novel is a historical spy thriller with a realistic feminine voice that should appeal to a wide readership. The writing is fast-paced and engrossing. Occasional dry spots are juiced up with plenty of Paris dazzle, heart, and action. [See Prepub Alert, 2/27/12; for a nonfiction account of the SOE's activities, see Sarah Helm's A Life in Secrets: Vera Atkins and the Missing Agents of WWII.—Ed.]