Trouble on the Thames

by Victor Bridges Narrated by David Thorpe

Overview

Owen Bradwell is a courageous naval officer who returns to England in the 1930s. He believes that his career is over because he has become colour-blind - but with Nazi Germany an increasing menace, the authorities cannot do without Bradwell, and he is assigned a special mission. A former acquaintance of Bradwell's has been trapped into betraying his country's secrets by a Nazi agent. Bradwell is sent to spy on the spy, and travels down the Thames on a surveillance trip. Things soon take an unexpected turn, and Bradwell finds himself in the company of a dead man, and a pretty young interior decorator called Sally. Will Bradwell triumph over the villains, and will he and Sally fall in love?

Editorial Reviews

Netgalley - Susan Riaz

Written during the Second World War, but set just before the outbreak of hostilities, this is a great war thriller by Victor Bridges (1878-1972); pen name of Victor George de Freyne. Bridges was a prolific thriller writer, who began his writing career in 1911 and continued until the 1960’s – his most popular book being, “Greensea Island”. I was delighted to see that Poisoned Pen Press are re-issuing some of the British Library Crime Classics and Spy Classics from the Golden Age of crime fiction (generally the period between the wars). This novel is not only a great example of Golden Age writing, but is an exciting and enjoyable read with a good cast of characters and lots of plot twists.

We meet the hero of this novel, Lieutenant-Commander Owen Bradwell, after he has visited a specialist in Harley Street. Bradwell has been diagnosed with colour blindness and is worried that his career in the Navy might be over. However, when he goes for a meeting at the Admiralty, he is given a new task. An acquaintance of his, Medlicot, killed himself shortly before facing arrest for treason. Having got into debt with nightclub owner, Mark Craig, he betrayed secrets to Craig; who is suspected of being in the pay of the Nazi’s. Bradwell is asked to spy on Craig’s home on the river and see whether it is visited by the man behind the scenes – Count von Manstein. Meanwhile, Craig is linked to a man who is attempting to blackmail the sister of interior designer, Sally Deane. Sally’s mission and Owen’s collide and they end by teaming up to try to uncover a spy ring.

This novel is not only an interesting spy story but has a great deal of side stories and characters to help flesh out the storyline; as well as a good sense of the historical period. There are various blackmail attempts, an escaped convict whose actions also collide with the plot, German spies, vamps, indiscreet letters, amnesia and all sorts of other sub plots and side stories; including a little romance... Owen Bradwell was an interesting character and Sally, and her business partner, Ruth Barlow, brought a sense of fun and warmth to the plot. I am not sure whether Bradwell appeared in any further novels, although the ending of this book suggests he did, but I would certainly like to read on if this became a series. Victor Bridges really deserves to be back in print and, if you enjoy spy stories, then you should like this. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

NetGalley

The book, which really is great fun, is an entry from the British Library Spy Classics series, and includes another wonderful introduction from Martin Edwards. Prolific author Victor Bridges (1878-1972)–real name Victor George de Freyne Bridges set his novels “among the tidal estuaries and rivers of Kent, Essex and Suffolk.” (Harald Curjel, Twentieth Century Crime and Mystery Writers.) Trouble on the Thames is a very cinematic novel, so it came as no surprise to read that several of Bridges’ novels made it to film. It did come as a surprise, however, that this author, once so popular in his day, has almost completely faded from view.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170714315
Publisher:	Soundings, Limited
Publication date:	02/01/2018
Series:	British Library Crime Classic
Edition description:	Unabridged

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