Basil’s War is a classic spy vs. spy story with old school James Bond vibes. Taking it one step further, Stephen Hunter has channeled John le Carré and combined it with Ted Bell’s character Alexander Hawke to create an alluring WWII tale pitting the British against the Germans in occupied France. This book has all the hallmarks of a timeless spy thriller – a debonair gentleman spy who’s got financial means and a deft touch with the ladies, a dangerous mission requiring impeccable spy craft to survive in enemy territory, a cat and mouse game with the players trying to guess the other side’s motivations in order to outwit them, and a few twists in the tail to keep the reader guessing.
Known for the Bob Lee Swagger series, this book reminds readers that Stephen Hunter is a talented writer who has range beyond the fictional sniper. Basil’s War feels like it could be real, dipping its toe into the historical fiction waters without actually diving into that genre. Hunter vividly paints the picture of the environment surrounding the war and puts the reader in the middle of the action. It might not contain flashy action with guns blazing all over the place and explosions left and right, but it does have plenty of suspense, tension and intrigue via a tête-à-tête between adversaries. Like I said, more of a classic spy novel where each side attempts to read the intentions of their enemy, focusing on the chessboard to see several moves ahead in an effort to best their opponent without them even knowing they’ve been had.
As a result, Basil’s War is an enjoyable book by a fantastic author that will appeal to a broad range of thriller fans. If you are into historical fiction and/or WWII, this is a book you should definitely check out. But even if those aren’t your genres, I encourage you to read this book and enjoy a well crafted story.
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