Frankie's Letter

A thrilling World War One spy story from the author of the acclaimed Jack Haldean series.

“There’s a spy in England. Frankie’s letter. Read Frankie’s letter . . .” The last words said by a dying man to Anthony Brooke in Kiel in Germany during the height of World War One. But who is Frankie? With his cover blown and the German army at his heels, English secret agent Anthony Brooke’s search to discover the truth leads him to an innocent-seeming country house. Here, deep within the English countryside, as Anthony uncovers a web of spies, treachery and terrorists, the war becomes close and very personal.

“Packed with adventure, action, and unforeseen twists, Gordon-Smith’s latest will appeal to Ken Follett fans.”
Booklist

“Gordon-Smith presents an exciting spy thriller full of period charm.”
Kirkus Reviews

This book  was an absolute labour of love.  My Jack Haldean stories are English classic crime, traditional Golden Age detection, set in the 1920's.  They all have the seismic shock of the First World War in the background, but Frankie's Letter is about the war itself and what happens to one man - a decent, resourceful man - who is caught up in the shadowy world of the infant MI5("Spooks"). In addition to telling Anthony's story, with its tension, deceptions and troubled romance, I wanted to kill some of the cliches about the war. I've been to the battlefields, read "proper" histories extensively and was lucky enough to attend a high powered academic conference with leading historians.  Despite the cliche, WW1 wasn't a succession of tragic blunders by incompetent generals that the Allies somehow - mysteriously - won , but a series of hard won lessons, sometimes at tragic cost, against a clever, determined and ruthless enemy.  In telling Anthony's story I hope some of that desperate struggle comes across.  I also wanted to capture the pace and verve of the time.  I hope you enjoy reading it.  If you did, I'd love to hear from you.