Double Cross - the true story of the D-Day spies

This book by Ben McIntyre sets out the story of the 'double cross system' where spies who the Germans thought were working for them, were actually working for British Intelligence.

Although a work of non-fiction, it reads like a gripping adventure yarn.

The central claim of the book, is that the culmination of the deception was that the German military where misled into thinking the D-Day landings were a division for the 'real' invasion planned for Calais. This is both undoubtedly true and also meant that many lives were saved and that WWII ended sooner than it might otherwise have done.

It is heartening in a way to read of the often deliberate incompetence of many Germans working for the German intelligence services.   Resistance to the Nazi regime could take many forms.

The bravery shown by those of the agents that flitted back and forth between England and occupied Europe is extra-ordinary.

McIntyre paints them all as complex and often flawed individuals - who never the less did extraordinary things.  Some of the stories seem almost beyond belief, as has been said, fact is often stranger than fiction.

More book reviews

David Lloyd George - the Great Outsider - by Roy Hattersley.

ISBN  9781408 700976

One would hope that Roy Hattersley as a former deputy Labour Party Leader and Cabinet Minister would bring some useful insights into Lloyd George.

I think he does a reasonable job - it is not very sympathetically written but it serves as a good introduction into what was a long and complicated life.  I was struck how often Lloyd George and the Liberal Party  really were the great reforming party of the 20th Century.

The Hairy Dieters - Dave Myers and Si King

Some good recipes and sensible advice on healthy eating - but a bit too meat based for me.