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Ratlines
Ireland 1963. As the Irish people prepare to welcome President John F. Kennedy to the land of his ancestors, a German national is murdered in a seaside guesthouse. Lieutenant Albert Ryan, Directorate of Intelligence, is ordered to investigate. The German is the third foreigner to die within a few days, and Minister for Justice Charles Haughey wants the killing to end lest a shameful secret be revealed: the dead men were all Nazis granted asylum by the Irish government in the years following World War II.
A note from the killers is found on the dead German's corpse, addressed to Colonel Otto Skorzeny, Hitler's favorite commando, once called the most dangerous man in Europe. The note simply "We are coming for you."
As Albert Ryan digs deeper into the case he discovers a network of former Nazis and collaborators, all presided over by Skorzeny from his country estate outside Dublin. When Ryan closes in on the killers, his loyalty is torn between country and conscience. Why must he protect the very people he fought against twenty years before? Ryan learns that Skorzeny might be a dangerous ally, but he is definitely a deadly enemy.
A note from the killers is found on the dead German's corpse, addressed to Colonel Otto Skorzeny, Hitler's favorite commando, once called the most dangerous man in Europe. The note simply "We are coming for you."
As Albert Ryan digs deeper into the case he discovers a network of former Nazis and collaborators, all presided over by Skorzeny from his country estate outside Dublin. When Ryan closes in on the killers, his loyalty is torn between country and conscience. Why must he protect the very people he fought against twenty years before? Ryan learns that Skorzeny might be a dangerous ally, but he is definitely a deadly enemy.
354 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2013
114 people are currently reading
1832 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Neville
39 books1,038 followersI have been a musician, a composer, a teacher, a salesman, a film extra, a baker and a hand double for a well known Irish comedian, but I'm currently a partner in a successful multimedia design business in the wilds of Northern Ireland.
I have published short stories in Thuglit, Electric Spec and Every Day Fiction. THE TWELVE is my first novel, and will be published in the UK and Commonwealth by Harvill Secker, an imprint of Random House, on July 2nd 2009. It will be published in the USA as THE GHOSTS OF BELFAST by Soho Press, New York, and by Random House Kodansha in Japan.
I have published short stories in Thuglit, Electric Spec and Every Day Fiction. THE TWELVE is my first novel, and will be published in the UK and Commonwealth by Harvill Secker, an imprint of Random House, on July 2nd 2009. It will be published in the USA as THE GHOSTS OF BELFAST by Soho Press, New York, and by Random House Kodansha in Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
November 15, 2021
Published in 2013, Stuart Neville's hard hitting historical fiction covers a fascinating period of post-WW2 Irish history where the country was a stepping stone in the Ratlines established by the Nazis. It is 1963 and Ireland is preparing for a welcome imminent visit from President JF Kennedy to his ancestral home. There have been a number of killings, and the Minister for Justice, Charles Haughey is keen for them to stop, particularly as they might make public the shameful secret that the victims were all Germans, Nazis that had been granted asylum by the Irish government. He brings in Albert Ryan, of the Directorate of Intelligence, who had fought with the British in the war, to investigate. On his own, with barely anyone he can trust, he finds himself caught in the dangerous political intrigue and powerplay surrounding the famous Nazi, Otto Skorzeny, living in Ireland, closely connected to Haughey and who the killers are targeting, and then there is the shady involvement of Mossad. This will appeal to those readers who are interested in this period of history and anyone who love a great historical mystery and thriller.
January 6, 2013
Set yourself in Ireland 1963, 18 years after the end of WWII but 18 years is hardly enough time for people to forget the horrors that occurred in and by Nazi Germany. During the war Ireland stayed neutral not wanting to get pulled into another one of Britain's fights, though some like the main character Ryan, did fight with the British. Many Nazi's sought refugee in Ireland after the war to try and save themselves persecution. It is true that Skorzeny, like in the novel, lived in Ireland. It isn't hard to believe that many people hated that he was there and would have liked him to be dead.
This is an interesting article about several Nazi's in Ireland: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknew...
While only the roots of this book are fact the most part is fiction though it is not hard to believe that parts could be true.
This mystery was creative in the fact that you hated both sides, you hated the victim and you hated the villain.
The Victim:
[image error]
Otto Skorzeny aka The Most Dangerous Man in Europe
With the scar on his face I couldn't help but thinking of Scar from The Lion King, the head of the Nazi hyenas.
But back to Skorzeny. Like most I was aware of the name and that he was a Nazi but besides that I knew little about him, which luckily my father is a big WWII buff so I learned more about him then what I asked. In the book Skorzeny is filthy rich, he has "friends" in the government and isn't afraid to break off people's fingernails. While I still don't know a lot about Skorzeny in reality in the book he is a cold hearted jerk. It wouldn't surprise me that a lot of people want him dead. In the book several other Nazi's are being killed all of them in the inner circle of Skorzeny and one corpse has a note for him with the words: "We are coming for you."
This is the start of it all and trying to find out who is blackmailing and threatening Otto Skorzeny. But he isn't even in the book for 10 pages and I already hated the man, as did almost everyone else in the book.
The Villain(s):
The villains of the book you don't know much about at first. Are they Jews wanting to kill Nazi's and especially Skorzeny for revenge? Are they just Irish citizens not wanting Nazi Germans to live in their country? All you know is that they are good at killing, they have a plan, and they aren't going to let anyone get in the way of their plan.
Pretty much the detective of the novel is going to have to choose the lesser of two evils… if a lesser evil even exists.
The Detective: Lieutenant Albert Ryan, Directorate of Intelligence
Pretty much he is a man torn between his country and his conscience. He is a soldier, and quite a good one actually, so he has been taught to always follow orders from your superior officers and when someone high up from the government asks him to investigate the murders he takes it. But as he gets deeper into the mystery he is not only tortured and beaten several times his moral compass also tells him to stay as far away from Skorzeny as possible. He finds that Skorzeny is not only a dangerous enemy but a dangerous friend. So what will he choose to do? How can he fight these two evils?
I would highly recommend this book, it was a very good mystery and I really was unclear at how it was going to end which is a very good thing when you are talking about a mystery novel. This is the first book that I have read by Stuart Neville but after how good this one was i am going to have to pick up another one. I also found it funny how the G6 was compared to British MI6 and near the beginning of the novel Ryan goes on a date to see James Bond: Dr. No. It is commented on how unlike real life it is and how being a spy isn't so glamorous which while this book wasn't nearly as glamorous as a James Bond movie there were a lot of parallels which I found enjoyable. Again I would recommend this book to those that like mystery novels of those that have some footing in the issues of WWII. 4.5/5 stars.
This is an interesting article about several Nazi's in Ireland: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknew...
While only the roots of this book are fact the most part is fiction though it is not hard to believe that parts could be true.
This mystery was creative in the fact that you hated both sides, you hated the victim and you hated the villain.
The Victim:
[image error]
Otto Skorzeny aka The Most Dangerous Man in Europe
With the scar on his face I couldn't help but thinking of Scar from The Lion King, the head of the Nazi hyenas.
But back to Skorzeny. Like most I was aware of the name and that he was a Nazi but besides that I knew little about him, which luckily my father is a big WWII buff so I learned more about him then what I asked. In the book Skorzeny is filthy rich, he has "friends" in the government and isn't afraid to break off people's fingernails. While I still don't know a lot about Skorzeny in reality in the book he is a cold hearted jerk. It wouldn't surprise me that a lot of people want him dead. In the book several other Nazi's are being killed all of them in the inner circle of Skorzeny and one corpse has a note for him with the words: "We are coming for you."
This is the start of it all and trying to find out who is blackmailing and threatening Otto Skorzeny. But he isn't even in the book for 10 pages and I already hated the man, as did almost everyone else in the book.
The Villain(s):
The villains of the book you don't know much about at first. Are they Jews wanting to kill Nazi's and especially Skorzeny for revenge? Are they just Irish citizens not wanting Nazi Germans to live in their country? All you know is that they are good at killing, they have a plan, and they aren't going to let anyone get in the way of their plan.
Pretty much the detective of the novel is going to have to choose the lesser of two evils… if a lesser evil even exists.
The Detective: Lieutenant Albert Ryan, Directorate of Intelligence
Pretty much he is a man torn between his country and his conscience. He is a soldier, and quite a good one actually, so he has been taught to always follow orders from your superior officers and when someone high up from the government asks him to investigate the murders he takes it. But as he gets deeper into the mystery he is not only tortured and beaten several times his moral compass also tells him to stay as far away from Skorzeny as possible. He finds that Skorzeny is not only a dangerous enemy but a dangerous friend. So what will he choose to do? How can he fight these two evils?
I would highly recommend this book, it was a very good mystery and I really was unclear at how it was going to end which is a very good thing when you are talking about a mystery novel. This is the first book that I have read by Stuart Neville but after how good this one was i am going to have to pick up another one. I also found it funny how the G6 was compared to British MI6 and near the beginning of the novel Ryan goes on a date to see James Bond: Dr. No. It is commented on how unlike real life it is and how being a spy isn't so glamorous which while this book wasn't nearly as glamorous as a James Bond movie there were a lot of parallels which I found enjoyable. Again I would recommend this book to those that like mystery novels of those that have some footing in the issues of WWII. 4.5/5 stars.
February 14, 2013
The strengths of Ratlines are the characterisation, plot, contextualisation, and pacing and prose. Neville revels in tales of conflicted, outsider characters placed in difficult circumstances. The lead character in Ratlines is Albert Ryan, an Irishman, but also protestant who has served in the British army fighting the Germans, who has some sympathies with those administering justice to Nazis on the run. He thoroughly dislikes his mission of protecting Skorzeny and the politics underpinning it, but he’s prepared to do his duty. However, when all around are using you as a pawn with little regard for your well-being or justice, fulfilling that duty stretches resolve and loyalties, and Neville very nicely explores such tensions. Moreover, by using real events and characters, such as Haughey and Skorzeny, and capturing some of the social constrictors of 1960s Ireland, Neville firmly embeds Ryan and the story in the political landscape of Ireland of the time. The result is a thriller that is not simply framed as good versus evil, but is much more textured, nuanced and ambiguous. The prose is tight and expressive, and the story rattles along at a fair clip. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read.
September 17, 2016
Have enjoyed his series with DI Jack Lennon immensely with the style of writing spot-on, down with excellent levels of “grit”. Having caught up with all of DI Lennon & wanting more of the Neville fix it was time to turn to this standalone work whose plot centres on Nazis in Ireland C 1963, namely one Colonel Otto Skorzeny, a Nazi commando, famed for rescuing El Duce from the Italians after they’d changed sides & their Ratlines. If yer not familiar with the term I won’t spoil for you.
The central character is a tough no-nonsense protestant who fought for the Brits in the war, then the directorate of Intelligence (G2) since demob & this alone brings him into conflict with many of the local populace where Albert Ryan rubs/grates along jus so.
Characters are fictional whilst others real, drawn from Irish History of the post-war era, all our believable as is the plot which goes at a good pace throughout combining intrigue, double-cross & crime noir as we go. I use Crime Noir as a genre term which encompasses this style of crime thriller.
Really enjoyed it, a pg turner for sure & recommend to all my crime reading goodfarians who need to “find” Stuart Neville on their trl lists!
The central character is a tough no-nonsense protestant who fought for the Brits in the war, then the directorate of Intelligence (G2) since demob & this alone brings him into conflict with many of the local populace where Albert Ryan rubs/grates along jus so.
Characters are fictional whilst others real, drawn from Irish History of the post-war era, all our believable as is the plot which goes at a good pace throughout combining intrigue, double-cross & crime noir as we go. I use Crime Noir as a genre term which encompasses this style of crime thriller.
Really enjoyed it, a pg turner for sure & recommend to all my crime reading goodfarians who need to “find” Stuart Neville on their trl lists!
January 12, 2013
It's often the case that a well-crafted novel can teach the rider about a subject. In this case, I learned something I never knew: that Ireland had sheltered high level Nazis after WWII. Ireland was officially neutral in WWII. However, perhaps due to the animosity between Ireland and Britain, the Irish government chose to allow a large number of high level Nazis as well as sympathizers to settle in Ireland after WWII.
I also learned that some Bretons of the French province of Breton (Brittany,) had aligned themselves with the Germans after being promised that they would be given autonomy when the Germans won. (One can only wonder at the naivete of someone who would believe that when the Nazis were rolling over most of Europe they would exempt Breton, but I guess there are always people who will want to believe.)
This book is a sharp departure from Neville's "Belfast Trilogy" which take place after the IRA has accepted peace and is now burrowed in Ireland's political hierarchy.
"Ratlines" takes place in 1963 just before the schedule visit of President John F. Kennedy to Ireland. A high level Nazi, Otto Skorzeny, who has been living in a luxurious compound in Ireland. (Skorzeny is a real person, but who lived in Spain under the protection of Franco and also in County Kildaire, Ireland.)
Lt. Albert Ryan of the Directorate of Intelligence is assigned to find out why a German national was killed. The first Irish-Catholic President of the US is about to visit Ireland. The authorities don't want any problems. Soon Ryan finds himself up to his shoulders in Nazis and plots and sub plots. At the same time he meets a beautiful young woman.....
This book, to be honest, is not my usual choice, but Neville is such an incredibly good writer, I had to read it. I'm glad I did. It's fast paced and dark and often violent and ugly. However, Neville is a terrific writer. As always, after reading his books, I look forward to the next one!
I also learned that some Bretons of the French province of Breton (Brittany,) had aligned themselves with the Germans after being promised that they would be given autonomy when the Germans won. (One can only wonder at the naivete of someone who would believe that when the Nazis were rolling over most of Europe they would exempt Breton, but I guess there are always people who will want to believe.)
This book is a sharp departure from Neville's "Belfast Trilogy" which take place after the IRA has accepted peace and is now burrowed in Ireland's political hierarchy.
"Ratlines" takes place in 1963 just before the schedule visit of President John F. Kennedy to Ireland. A high level Nazi, Otto Skorzeny, who has been living in a luxurious compound in Ireland. (Skorzeny is a real person, but who lived in Spain under the protection of Franco and also in County Kildaire, Ireland.)
Lt. Albert Ryan of the Directorate of Intelligence is assigned to find out why a German national was killed. The first Irish-Catholic President of the US is about to visit Ireland. The authorities don't want any problems. Soon Ryan finds himself up to his shoulders in Nazis and plots and sub plots. At the same time he meets a beautiful young woman.....
This book, to be honest, is not my usual choice, but Neville is such an incredibly good writer, I had to read it. I'm glad I did. It's fast paced and dark and often violent and ugly. However, Neville is a terrific writer. As always, after reading his books, I look forward to the next one!
October 12, 2015
Before getting into my review, I have to give full disclosure -- I almost never read historical fiction. In fact, the only other historical fiction novels I can think of that I've read are Operation Napoleon (review) and The Guns of Navarone (review). Also of note is that I am a poor student of history, and did not know that Otto Skorzeny or ratlines were real, non-fictional aspects of this book, though the specifics of the plot were entirely fabricated.
With that out of the way, I'll admit that I enjoyed this book, although not as much as I thought I would from its description. The prologue -- where an as-of-yet unidentified murderer palavers with and then kills a former Nazi -- was great for setting the mood, but that same slow, tense, minutely descriptive style ran through the entire book, slowing the pace down far too much for my personal tastes.
For example, if two characters are having a conversation in this book, and one is smoking a cigarette, and the other is drinking a whiskey, the reader will be made aware the cigarette being lit, how many puffs were taken of it, how many pulls were taken of the whiskey, which of its owners' hands they were being held in, and where they were ever put down, if, in fact, they were.
Also slowing down the plot were the flashbacks to Skorzeny's time in Spain, which added little to the overall plot of the book. And then there was the anti-climactic climax.
Despite the issues I had with the pacing and climax, this novel has a lot of good qualities -- the aforementioned prologue, a few very well written torture scenes (this book is not for the faint of heart), the overall tension, and a number of interesting -- if not thoroughly developed -- characters.
With that out of the way, I'll admit that I enjoyed this book, although not as much as I thought I would from its description. The prologue -- where an as-of-yet unidentified murderer palavers with and then kills a former Nazi -- was great for setting the mood, but that same slow, tense, minutely descriptive style ran through the entire book, slowing the pace down far too much for my personal tastes.
For example, if two characters are having a conversation in this book, and one is smoking a cigarette, and the other is drinking a whiskey, the reader will be made aware the cigarette being lit, how many puffs were taken of it, how many pulls were taken of the whiskey, which of its owners' hands they were being held in, and where they were ever put down, if, in fact, they were.
Also slowing down the plot were the flashbacks to Skorzeny's time in Spain, which added little to the overall plot of the book. And then there was the anti-climactic climax.
Despite the issues I had with the pacing and climax, this novel has a lot of good qualities -- the aforementioned prologue, a few very well written torture scenes (this book is not for the faint of heart), the overall tension, and a number of interesting -- if not thoroughly developed -- characters.
December 12, 2012
Excellent!
I have decided that I like Irish authors and this book is a perfect example why. There so much history to draw from. This book had it all - murder mystery, plot twists, back stabbing.....what more could a reader ask for?
Thank you to Soho Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Publish date: January 1, 2013
I have decided that I like Irish authors and this book is a perfect example why. There so much history to draw from. This book had it all - murder mystery, plot twists, back stabbing.....what more could a reader ask for?
Thank you to Soho Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Publish date: January 1, 2013
June 30, 2024
I've read two of Northern Irish author, Stuart Neville's Jack Lennon thriller series set in Belfast. I've enjoyed them both. Ratlines is one of three standalone stories he's written. It is set in Ireland in 1963. The country is waiting to welcome a visit by President John F. Kennedy. Department of Intelligence Lieutenant Albert Ryan is called in by the Minister of Justice, Charles Haughey, to investigate who is murdering German nationals living in Ireland.
It seems that there are many ex-Nazis living in Ireland after the war, both German and other nationals, what has become an embarrassing national secret. They seem to be under the thumb of one Otto Skorzeny, an Austrian who worked for Adolf Hitler during the war. A note has been discovered on the most recent body, addressed to Skorzeny, 'We are coming for you.' Ryan is a Protestant who, during WWII, went north and joined the British army, fighting against the Nazis, in Egypt, in North Korea, etc. His parents have been harassed ever since by local IRA in his home town, something Ryan tries to rectify.
But the story follows Ryan as he works, not too willingly for Skorzeny and Haughey trying to discover who is after Skorzeny. The feeling is that it might be the Mossad, Israeli intelligence. But there is more to it than that. What you end up with is a tense, exciting, often violent thriller as Ryan tries to stay alive and play off various people against the other and survive to live another day. There is even a romantic element with the lovely Celia, who he also must keep alive.
It's a well-written, entertaining, exciting story leaving you wondering how Ryan will accomplish everything. Excellent thriller. (4.0 stars)
It seems that there are many ex-Nazis living in Ireland after the war, both German and other nationals, what has become an embarrassing national secret. They seem to be under the thumb of one Otto Skorzeny, an Austrian who worked for Adolf Hitler during the war. A note has been discovered on the most recent body, addressed to Skorzeny, 'We are coming for you.' Ryan is a Protestant who, during WWII, went north and joined the British army, fighting against the Nazis, in Egypt, in North Korea, etc. His parents have been harassed ever since by local IRA in his home town, something Ryan tries to rectify.
But the story follows Ryan as he works, not too willingly for Skorzeny and Haughey trying to discover who is after Skorzeny. The feeling is that it might be the Mossad, Israeli intelligence. But there is more to it than that. What you end up with is a tense, exciting, often violent thriller as Ryan tries to stay alive and play off various people against the other and survive to live another day. There is even a romantic element with the lovely Celia, who he also must keep alive.
It's a well-written, entertaining, exciting story leaving you wondering how Ryan will accomplish everything. Excellent thriller. (4.0 stars)
December 18, 2017
A stand alone novel from the talented Stuart Neville, Ratlines explores a fascinating premise that includes historical fact with mostly fiction. Though I would not consider this a work of historical fiction, the basis for the story line is grounded in the post WWII movement of both Nazis and their ill gotten gains out of Germany into countries such as Ireland, Argentina, and other refuges.
In Ratlines, we have a protagonist, Lt. Albert Ryan, assigned to investigate the murders of several German Nationals who had been living quite well in Ireland. These murders, occurring at a most inconvenient time for the politicians (just a week before then President of the US, John F. Kennedy was scheduled to visit Ireland), prompt the involvement of the Directorate of Intelligence and Lt. Ryan instead of the local constabulary. What separates this from a typical murder mystery is the primary antagonist, former Nazi Col. Otto Skorzeny, who has managed to amass a fortune and wields considerable political influence in Ireland. The "ratlines" for which the book is named, refer to the connections through which Skorzeny manages to facilitate the safe passage of both persons (former Nazis) and monies out of Germany, thus facilitating quite an empire for himself.
To say more might spoil the story, which is a corker, but for one complaint-- I was irked by how often Lt. Ryan screws up, getting himself into untenable situations that anyone with his military and law-enforcement experience would have avoided. It serves the plot but fails the sniff-test and I found it bringing down my overall enjoyment of what is otherwise a well told and interesting story. Nevertheless, I continue to enjoy Neville and his tales involving Ireland and its inhabitants.
In Ratlines, we have a protagonist, Lt. Albert Ryan, assigned to investigate the murders of several German Nationals who had been living quite well in Ireland. These murders, occurring at a most inconvenient time for the politicians (just a week before then President of the US, John F. Kennedy was scheduled to visit Ireland), prompt the involvement of the Directorate of Intelligence and Lt. Ryan instead of the local constabulary. What separates this from a typical murder mystery is the primary antagonist, former Nazi Col. Otto Skorzeny, who has managed to amass a fortune and wields considerable political influence in Ireland. The "ratlines" for which the book is named, refer to the connections through which Skorzeny manages to facilitate the safe passage of both persons (former Nazis) and monies out of Germany, thus facilitating quite an empire for himself.
To say more might spoil the story, which is a corker, but for one complaint-- I was irked by how often Lt. Ryan screws up, getting himself into untenable situations that anyone with his military and law-enforcement experience would have avoided. It serves the plot but fails the sniff-test and I found it bringing down my overall enjoyment of what is otherwise a well told and interesting story. Nevertheless, I continue to enjoy Neville and his tales involving Ireland and its inhabitants.
July 30, 2014
Ratlines by Stuart Neville is a weird book for me. On the basis of plot alone, I should’ve loved this book. A secret underground network known as the Ratlines smuggles Nazi perpetrators and collaborators out of Germany and onto the somewhat friendly territory of Northern Ireland. But now, days before a visit by US President John F. Kennedy, someone is murdering Nazi collaborators. Political leaders are desperate to solve the case out of fear of what having a Nazi-murdering killer could do to the countries international reputation. There’s plenty of action told at a brisk almost cinematic pace with an interesting sounding premise. This book seemed to be crying out “LOVE ME”, but I could not.
The entire book just sort of happens. There was not that moment that sucked me in that I feel needs to happen with any mystery and thriller that I read. The best books tend to linger with the reader for hours, days, even years later. That did not happen with Ratlines. In spite of the engaging premise that drew me to first pick up this book, I never felt part of the world that Ratlines is supposed to inhabit. Whether that is a problem with the writing and characterization process Neville went through or whether I just missed something, I’ll leave that to other readers.
Oh Ratlines, how I wanted to love you.
The entire book just sort of happens. There was not that moment that sucked me in that I feel needs to happen with any mystery and thriller that I read. The best books tend to linger with the reader for hours, days, even years later. That did not happen with Ratlines. In spite of the engaging premise that drew me to first pick up this book, I never felt part of the world that Ratlines is supposed to inhabit. Whether that is a problem with the writing and characterization process Neville went through or whether I just missed something, I’ll leave that to other readers.
Oh Ratlines, how I wanted to love you.
November 2, 2012
So pleased that I have discovered this author, I just love his style. This is a standalone and so compelling that when I had to put it down for a few days I was annoyed!
My history is somewhat ignorant, so I really enjoy novels that incorporate slices of history.
Ratlines are the escape avenues set up by the Nazis, ways out, channels, escape routes. In 1963 Ireland, someone is killing off the "Nazis" that have escaped there.Lieutenant Albert Ryan is ordered to investigate the killings but at the same time protect Colonel Skorzeny, one of Hitlers commandos and once the most dangerous man in Europe, who is now living in Ireland. Soon Ryan's loyalties are being tested as he starts thinking why should he be protecting people he fought against during the war. Other factions enter the mix and its who is double crossing who. Very readable!
My history is somewhat ignorant, so I really enjoy novels that incorporate slices of history.
Ratlines are the escape avenues set up by the Nazis, ways out, channels, escape routes. In 1963 Ireland, someone is killing off the "Nazis" that have escaped there.Lieutenant Albert Ryan is ordered to investigate the killings but at the same time protect Colonel Skorzeny, one of Hitlers commandos and once the most dangerous man in Europe, who is now living in Ireland. Soon Ryan's loyalties are being tested as he starts thinking why should he be protecting people he fought against during the war. Other factions enter the mix and its who is double crossing who. Very readable!
September 29, 2014
A good compelling read about Nazis in Ireland in the 1960's.
February 9, 2013
Well-plotted albeit violent thriller set in Ireland on the eve of John F. Kennedy' visit, Ratlines is a tale of the enemy of my enemy is my friend or is he? The protagonist is Lt. Albert Ryan, a member of Ireland's G-2 Directorate, an intelligence agent. His assignment is to find out who is threatening Otto Skorzeny, the Austrian Nazi who rescued Mussolini in 1943. The paradox of our hero is that he finds out that the Irish government tolerates the presence of Nazis (human beasts) and their collaborators while he and his family suffer financially and in other ways for Ryan's voluntary service in the British army during WWII. It doesn't help that Ryan and his family are Protestant in the overwhelmingly Catholic Irish Republic.
The Irish government wants the case solved before JFK's visit but all this must be done quietly. If the presence of Nazis in Ireland becomes known, the visit might be canceled. Think of the furor that erupted when Reagan visited a German war cemetery that turned out to contain the remains of SS officers. They were dead and the visit caused a major scandal. Skorzeny et al are alive and that is a huge problem if their presence becomes widely known at this critical time.
There are many twists and turns which kept me turning the pages. Additionally, there is a love interest who is interesting because she is not cowed by the potential for social condemnation that a sexually non-conforming woman faced in that time and pace. There is a nicely handled commentary of a spy' life being light years removed from the world depicted in the then new James Bond films of the early 1960s.
The Irish government wants the case solved before JFK's visit but all this must be done quietly. If the presence of Nazis in Ireland becomes known, the visit might be canceled. Think of the furor that erupted when Reagan visited a German war cemetery that turned out to contain the remains of SS officers. They were dead and the visit caused a major scandal. Skorzeny et al are alive and that is a huge problem if their presence becomes widely known at this critical time.
There are many twists and turns which kept me turning the pages. Additionally, there is a love interest who is interesting because she is not cowed by the potential for social condemnation that a sexually non-conforming woman faced in that time and pace. There is a nicely handled commentary of a spy' life being light years removed from the world depicted in the then new James Bond films of the early 1960s.
November 10, 2016
A bit far-fetched and rather predictable in places, I found this nonetheless kept me turning the pages and wanting to read on.
It's a bold tale which blends real people - Charles Haughey, former Justice Minister and later Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, Otto Skorzeny, a former Waffen-SS officer - with presumably fictitious characters like Lt Albert Ryan from G2 Military Intelligence, although the Rhodesian SAS character was very like someone I used to go out with!
Ireland was neutral in the war, with some factions even hoping for a German win because of long-standing hostilities of their own with Britain. The book is set in the early 60s, before President Kennedy's visit to the republic and involves Ryan being called in to investigate the murders of former Nazis who have taken refuge on Irish soil.
Our Albert is quite a likeable chap, who joined the army to fight on the British side which brought trouble to himself and his family. He is, however, a bit naive (trying to avoid spoilers) and seems incapable of spotting either a Mossad agent who couldn't be any more obvious if he had Mossad tattoed on his forehead, or members of The Regiment who lacked only Who Dares Wins cap badges to make them stand out any more. As a consequence, he manages to get himself badly beaten and tortured and we're not spared many details so if you don't like torture scenes, definitely look away now for that part of the book.
There, is, inevitably, the girl for young Albert to get, and that's another bit of an implausible plot line.
Overall, I quite enjoyed the read and like the little cameo scenes of rural Irish life of the period.
It's a bold tale which blends real people - Charles Haughey, former Justice Minister and later Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, Otto Skorzeny, a former Waffen-SS officer - with presumably fictitious characters like Lt Albert Ryan from G2 Military Intelligence, although the Rhodesian SAS character was very like someone I used to go out with!
Ireland was neutral in the war, with some factions even hoping for a German win because of long-standing hostilities of their own with Britain. The book is set in the early 60s, before President Kennedy's visit to the republic and involves Ryan being called in to investigate the murders of former Nazis who have taken refuge on Irish soil.
Our Albert is quite a likeable chap, who joined the army to fight on the British side which brought trouble to himself and his family. He is, however, a bit naive (trying to avoid spoilers) and seems incapable of spotting either a Mossad agent who couldn't be any more obvious if he had Mossad tattoed on his forehead, or members of The Regiment who lacked only Who Dares Wins cap badges to make them stand out any more. As a consequence, he manages to get himself badly beaten and tortured and we're not spared many details so if you don't like torture scenes, definitely look away now for that part of the book.
There, is, inevitably, the girl for young Albert to get, and that's another bit of an implausible plot line.
Overall, I quite enjoyed the read and like the little cameo scenes of rural Irish life of the period.
June 1, 2013
Starting with the historical fact that many Nazi war criminals escaped after World War II with fortunes stolen from their victims and became ensconced in various countries like Franco’s Spain, Peron’s Argentina and anti-British Ireland, Stuart Neville has created a first-rate mystery. The protagonist is a Lieutenant in the Directorate of Intelligence, Albert Ryan, who lied about his age to enlist in the British army and fought in the European theater, Egypt and Korea before returning home.
Ryan is asked at the behest of the Minister of Justice to investigate the murder of a German national, weeks before a pending visit by Pres. John F. Kennedy because he fears the publicity might force cancellation of the trip. The authorities are desirous of hiding the fact that the country is providing sanctuary to a bunch of Nazis. Ryan’s efforts become more complicated than a mere murder investigation, and thereby hangs one helluva tale.
The title refers to escape routes by which Nazis were able to travel, avoiding detection, and the methods used to finance their travels to and establishment in new locations. While based on historical fact, more important is the plot, which twists and turns in wholly unexpected directions. And the character study of Ryan is deep and penetrating. Another top-notch novel from this author, and highly recommended.
Ryan is asked at the behest of the Minister of Justice to investigate the murder of a German national, weeks before a pending visit by Pres. John F. Kennedy because he fears the publicity might force cancellation of the trip. The authorities are desirous of hiding the fact that the country is providing sanctuary to a bunch of Nazis. Ryan’s efforts become more complicated than a mere murder investigation, and thereby hangs one helluva tale.
The title refers to escape routes by which Nazis were able to travel, avoiding detection, and the methods used to finance their travels to and establishment in new locations. While based on historical fact, more important is the plot, which twists and turns in wholly unexpected directions. And the character study of Ryan is deep and penetrating. Another top-notch novel from this author, and highly recommended.
January 8, 2013
A stand alone book by the author of the Lennon series. This book remains me of the departure that Lehane made from the Kenzie series and moved to what I call the "quasi" historical fiction genre. This book has as it main character an Irishman, Lt. Ryan, that fought for the English during the WW II and Korean wars despite the stance the Irish took against helping Britain during the conflict. In 1963, prior to the JFK visit to Ireland, several expatriated Nazi are murdered by unknown individuals. Lt. Ryan, of G2 Intelligence is assigned to solve the crimes in order to prevent chaos that could interrupt JFK's visit.
The book also dwells with some of the reason why the Irish and French Breton population refused to side with the Allies and stayed out of the war or helped the Nazis. The main character is well developed and comes across as very human rather than a larger than life individual. There is a lot of action and very good dialogue but in a couple of places it tend to drag. If you are looking for a crime noir book, this is not your book. On the other hand, if you enjoy a book with good action, interesting story and fast paced, you will enjoy this book.
The book also dwells with some of the reason why the Irish and French Breton population refused to side with the Allies and stayed out of the war or helped the Nazis. The main character is well developed and comes across as very human rather than a larger than life individual. There is a lot of action and very good dialogue but in a couple of places it tend to drag. If you are looking for a crime noir book, this is not your book. On the other hand, if you enjoy a book with good action, interesting story and fast paced, you will enjoy this book.
January 10, 2013
Really enjoyed this. Great idea for a novel, although had to skip the torture scenes...
December 5, 2024
Rounded up to 3.5, this was a sold action thriller that had a likeable main character and a decent supporting cast, but more importantly for me, revealed a dark section of 20th century Irish history that I was completely unaware of, but which was unexpected and hugely interesting. The less noble human traits often had free reign in WW2 and subsequently, and many surface here to be kicked against and smothered for a fairer and more wholesome future.
Recommended.
Recommended.
January 5, 2014
First, to say what it isn’t about. Ratlines. To be honest, it would have been more interesting if it actually had been an investigation into these escape routes for ex-Nazis, their workings and that of the Israelis in trying to expose them. If it had been, it may well have been more exciting, more tense and more of a thriller, than what we got from after the half way mark, which boils down to an ordinary extortion and robbery set in Ireland just after the Second World War.
Our main man, Albert Ryan, is a decent man, an ex-soldier. Unfortunately for him and many of his fellow country men's opinion of him, he was fighting for the ‘wrong' side. The English side. This presents one of the novel's (several) interesting points. That the Irish may well have been more anti-British in WWII than they were anti-Germany. A theme echoed and perhaps more fully realised in the situation of the Breton nationalist characters' situation. Where they were so anti-France, that they used the opportunity of the Nazi invasion, to ally themselves with the Nazis against the rest of France. Though they try to excuse themselves from being tarred by the holocaust brush. It is pointed out several times that they can't pick and choose. He works for the Irish government's intelligence services and is set to investigating the murders of several foreign nationals which may or may not be linked to the presence of a successful German businessman/ex-Nazi, living quite openly and participating quite prominently in Dublin's social life in the early 1960's. As his investigations progress, links to Skorzeny become more compelling and more dangerous. He also gets on the wrong side of an Israeli Mossad officer, who contrary to expectations, doesn't want Skorzeny dead and also claims not to know who has been killing Skorzeny's associates.
I did feel a bit short-changed, when it became clear it was basically about a gold robbery and kind of money-laundering operation. But that may just be me. The style reminded me a little of Len Deighton in SSGB. Which is a good thing. Yeah, the Nazi link, but more the period feel. Neville doesn't go so much in for the descriptions as Deighton does, but there's a real sense of time and place about the writing. The plotting is good and tight, the characters believable and interesting.
As I say, it does raise some very interesting ideas and themes concerning the aftermath of WWII in Europe, in Ireland. Apart from the possibility of Mossad operating unchecked, under Europe's radar in tracking ex-Nazi war criminals, there is the Irish position during and after the war. And the Irish attitudes to those of their countrymen who fought for one old enemy, the English, against a new enemy, the Nazis. There was one conversation, where I got the idea that a thought prevalent in Ireland at the time of the Second World War and when the book was set, would be that the Nazis were an enemy on paper, but the Irish could clearly see they wouldn’t be one that would last too long, so it really wasn’t worth hating them in the way they should the English. The Nazis would soon be gone, but the English had been and would be (unfortunately, in Irish eyes) an enemy for a long time yet. I thought the book suggested an Irish view towards war-time Germany, was ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend'. But it also posed the question of what was the Irish view of those Irish people who had fought for Britain, when they returned to Ireland? And what of Charles Haughey? I'm guessing he's dead, because he doesn't come out of this book very well at all. These really interesting themes are raised, but not for me, developed and taken where they should be. They seemed to be swept aside at the expense of what started out as looking like an intriguing exploration of the Nazi escape routes from justice in Europe, but then became a more traditional-feeling bullion robbery heist.
It got bogged down around the half to two thirds mark in some eventually much too drawn-out, unnecessarily unpleasantly detailed torturing and people basically just moving things on by just questioning other people. I think as a whole, it does all hang together. Just. I could have done with, as I say, with more of an espionage angle, less of a Great Boat Robbery angle.
I think over all I'll allow it hang by its fingertips to a 4. But with reservations. It did grip me - I read it in two days (though I never know if that's good or bad to get so little time out of a £16.99 spend), it is well put together and plotted and it does all make sense with believable characters, believable situations and plenty to keep you thinking about under way.
Our main man, Albert Ryan, is a decent man, an ex-soldier. Unfortunately for him and many of his fellow country men's opinion of him, he was fighting for the ‘wrong' side. The English side. This presents one of the novel's (several) interesting points. That the Irish may well have been more anti-British in WWII than they were anti-Germany. A theme echoed and perhaps more fully realised in the situation of the Breton nationalist characters' situation. Where they were so anti-France, that they used the opportunity of the Nazi invasion, to ally themselves with the Nazis against the rest of France. Though they try to excuse themselves from being tarred by the holocaust brush. It is pointed out several times that they can't pick and choose. He works for the Irish government's intelligence services and is set to investigating the murders of several foreign nationals which may or may not be linked to the presence of a successful German businessman/ex-Nazi, living quite openly and participating quite prominently in Dublin's social life in the early 1960's. As his investigations progress, links to Skorzeny become more compelling and more dangerous. He also gets on the wrong side of an Israeli Mossad officer, who contrary to expectations, doesn't want Skorzeny dead and also claims not to know who has been killing Skorzeny's associates.
I did feel a bit short-changed, when it became clear it was basically about a gold robbery and kind of money-laundering operation. But that may just be me. The style reminded me a little of Len Deighton in SSGB. Which is a good thing. Yeah, the Nazi link, but more the period feel. Neville doesn't go so much in for the descriptions as Deighton does, but there's a real sense of time and place about the writing. The plotting is good and tight, the characters believable and interesting.
As I say, it does raise some very interesting ideas and themes concerning the aftermath of WWII in Europe, in Ireland. Apart from the possibility of Mossad operating unchecked, under Europe's radar in tracking ex-Nazi war criminals, there is the Irish position during and after the war. And the Irish attitudes to those of their countrymen who fought for one old enemy, the English, against a new enemy, the Nazis. There was one conversation, where I got the idea that a thought prevalent in Ireland at the time of the Second World War and when the book was set, would be that the Nazis were an enemy on paper, but the Irish could clearly see they wouldn’t be one that would last too long, so it really wasn’t worth hating them in the way they should the English. The Nazis would soon be gone, but the English had been and would be (unfortunately, in Irish eyes) an enemy for a long time yet. I thought the book suggested an Irish view towards war-time Germany, was ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend'. But it also posed the question of what was the Irish view of those Irish people who had fought for Britain, when they returned to Ireland? And what of Charles Haughey? I'm guessing he's dead, because he doesn't come out of this book very well at all. These really interesting themes are raised, but not for me, developed and taken where they should be. They seemed to be swept aside at the expense of what started out as looking like an intriguing exploration of the Nazi escape routes from justice in Europe, but then became a more traditional-feeling bullion robbery heist.
It got bogged down around the half to two thirds mark in some eventually much too drawn-out, unnecessarily unpleasantly detailed torturing and people basically just moving things on by just questioning other people. I think as a whole, it does all hang together. Just. I could have done with, as I say, with more of an espionage angle, less of a Great Boat Robbery angle.
I think over all I'll allow it hang by its fingertips to a 4. But with reservations. It did grip me - I read it in two days (though I never know if that's good or bad to get so little time out of a £16.99 spend), it is well put together and plotted and it does all make sense with believable characters, believable situations and plenty to keep you thinking about under way.
February 22, 2020
finished this a couple days ago good read four stars really liked it kindle library loaner and the first from neville
July 20, 2013
As expected from Stuart Neville, this is a good, solidly crafted story that quickly captures the imagination with a morally complex mystery set in 1963 Ireland. The title "Ratlines" refers to a system of escape routes through Europe utilized by Nazis after the end of WWII. Having never heard the term before, I was surprised when a quick internet search revealed that the novel's villain, Otto Skorzeny, was not only a real historical figure, but the very Nazi who masterminded the "Odessa File" underground railroad for fleeing fascists. As Neville expertly builds a multi-layered foundation for his story, much is explained about Ireland's role in WWII. A large portion of the Irish population seemed to believe the old chestnut, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Unfortunately, Ireland's neutrality and some citizen's quiet support of Hitler's war with Britain brought the country to the slippery slope that is the background of "Ratlines."
Some reviewers have taken exception to Alan Smyth's narration of this book. While I see that Neville's previous titles are in my Audible library, I must not be as passionate about their narrator, the truly excellent Gerard Doyle. I thought Smyth's Irish accent pleasant and understated. A testament to Smyth's versatility is his ability to handle the narrative cocktail of several different European accents (so many old Nazis popping up!) with a South African and American chaser. He disappeared into the story and that's my definition of great narration.
Finally, I feel compelled to tell you that several scenes in this book are quite graphic in their description of torturous interrogation. I mean quite graphic. I mean, I pulled my earphones out for awhile, then listened again for a sec, then pulled them out for another while. To the author's credit, the scenes are so chillingly real, the dread experienced by the characters was easily grasped, giving further understanding of how fear drove their actions - and inactions.
December 25, 2012
Though based partly on fact, RATLINES is mostly fiction. This thriller is set in 1963 Ireland. They are preparing for a visit from the young American President Kennedy.
Something has happened that may or may not be connected. A German national has been murdered, the third of three foreigners dead within a few days of each other. Lieutenant Albert Ryan of the Directorate of Intelligence has been assigned to find out who's doing the killing and stop them.
You see, the three men all have a connection. They were Nazi sympathizers and had lived in Ireland since the war. There were other such people living int he country as well and Ireland wants that secret kept.
A note is found on the dead German addressed to Otto Skorzeny promising "We are coming for you!" Skorzeny is a former Nazi commando living in Ireland.
As Ryan probes the case, which he has no taste for as he fought for England in the war and protecting Nazis goes against all he believes, he discovers that Skorzeny is a most dangerous man, more so than the public persona he projects nowadays.
I'd never read any of Neville's work before. This was quite an absorbing story set against true events. Skorzeny was real, th politician backing him was real, and later stated no such person wever lived in Ireland. As mentioned, the rest is fiction.
Well done and written. Had a quite good time reading this one.
Something has happened that may or may not be connected. A German national has been murdered, the third of three foreigners dead within a few days of each other. Lieutenant Albert Ryan of the Directorate of Intelligence has been assigned to find out who's doing the killing and stop them.
You see, the three men all have a connection. They were Nazi sympathizers and had lived in Ireland since the war. There were other such people living int he country as well and Ireland wants that secret kept.
A note is found on the dead German addressed to Otto Skorzeny promising "We are coming for you!" Skorzeny is a former Nazi commando living in Ireland.
As Ryan probes the case, which he has no taste for as he fought for England in the war and protecting Nazis goes against all he believes, he discovers that Skorzeny is a most dangerous man, more so than the public persona he projects nowadays.
I'd never read any of Neville's work before. This was quite an absorbing story set against true events. Skorzeny was real, th politician backing him was real, and later stated no such person wever lived in Ireland. As mentioned, the rest is fiction.
Well done and written. Had a quite good time reading this one.
February 6, 2014
This was not the book I expected based on the title and references in Pilgrim Soul by Gordon Ferris.
However, I was not disappointed in the least. Stuart Neville has taken the idea of "ratlines" running through Irelend and on to South America with 'support' from the Church and government collusion and spun a facinating tale. Set around the time of the cinema release of James Bond in Dr No this is a homage to that type of government spy thriller.
Lieutenant Albert Ryan, Directorate of Intelligence, is engaged to seek out a group of killers targetting ex Nazis living new lives in the Irish Republic. That matter takes on new urgency when they seem to be ready to eliminate Colonel Otto Skorzeny, a 'friend' of the Ministry of Justice and someone a group from Mossad are investigating as he seems to be the paymaster for the ratlines themselves.
Unlike James Bond, Albert Ryan is placed in a situation where he is without any support and can trust no-one. Furthermore as he becomes more involved his sense of right and wrong are blurred to the point he can only question whose side is he on.
Clever and exciting thriller this is a breath taking ride that carries you along with plot turns and additional intrigues at times. Neville writes well and engages his readers with tense dialogue and original story developments as you fear for Ryan as he closes on the truth but without any escape for himself or the girl he loves.
However, I was not disappointed in the least. Stuart Neville has taken the idea of "ratlines" running through Irelend and on to South America with 'support' from the Church and government collusion and spun a facinating tale. Set around the time of the cinema release of James Bond in Dr No this is a homage to that type of government spy thriller.
Lieutenant Albert Ryan, Directorate of Intelligence, is engaged to seek out a group of killers targetting ex Nazis living new lives in the Irish Republic. That matter takes on new urgency when they seem to be ready to eliminate Colonel Otto Skorzeny, a 'friend' of the Ministry of Justice and someone a group from Mossad are investigating as he seems to be the paymaster for the ratlines themselves.
Unlike James Bond, Albert Ryan is placed in a situation where he is without any support and can trust no-one. Furthermore as he becomes more involved his sense of right and wrong are blurred to the point he can only question whose side is he on.
Clever and exciting thriller this is a breath taking ride that carries you along with plot turns and additional intrigues at times. Neville writes well and engages his readers with tense dialogue and original story developments as you fear for Ryan as he closes on the truth but without any escape for himself or the girl he loves.
June 12, 2014
This book intrigued me for ages before making it's way into my collection after hearing good things about it via Ben Kane way back in 2013, it then languished in my 'To Be Read' pile for quite a while until it finally reached the top.
Definitely worth the wait!
Very well written, Ratlines keeps a good balance between dialogue and physicality (some of which won't be for the more squeamish amongst you).
I really enjoy when an authors writing style easily allows me to conjure images of what I'm reading and in this case I had a strong mental picture of almost every single moment, playing like a gritty thriller of yesteryear.
I imagine that many people may know very little of the timeframe this novel is set in (Ireland 1963) , by comparison to it's immediate preceding global history (WWII) and the events that happen towards the very end of the book (JFK) but it is a time that clearly offers up it's own interesting pockets of history.
The titular 'Ratlines' are brought to into focus for the reader and give light to events post war but drawn as a backdrop to a neatly crafted investigation/ espionage drama
Gritty and at times brutal, this book is unflinching in it's action set pieces, yet the author also gives us taut and realistic dialogue delivered by some very well crafted characters.
There are what appear to be a few loose ends in this novel, but they may well pave the way to a follow up so I can have no complaints at that.
More please Mr Neville
Definitely worth the wait!
Very well written, Ratlines keeps a good balance between dialogue and physicality (some of which won't be for the more squeamish amongst you).
I really enjoy when an authors writing style easily allows me to conjure images of what I'm reading and in this case I had a strong mental picture of almost every single moment, playing like a gritty thriller of yesteryear.
I imagine that many people may know very little of the timeframe this novel is set in (Ireland 1963) , by comparison to it's immediate preceding global history (WWII) and the events that happen towards the very end of the book (JFK) but it is a time that clearly offers up it's own interesting pockets of history.
The titular 'Ratlines' are brought to into focus for the reader and give light to events post war but drawn as a backdrop to a neatly crafted investigation/ espionage drama
Gritty and at times brutal, this book is unflinching in it's action set pieces, yet the author also gives us taut and realistic dialogue delivered by some very well crafted characters.
There are what appear to be a few loose ends in this novel, but they may well pave the way to a follow up so I can have no complaints at that.
More please Mr Neville
December 13, 2016
Ratlines is a historical-fiction novel based in the early 1960s preceding a visit to Ireland by US President Kennedy. There's one 'real' character, an ex-Nazi big-shooter (Otto Skorzeny) who's spending his post-war years in Ireland, and a bunch of fictional characters and situations. The plot is pretty tricky: someone is assassinating ex-Nazis living in Ireland, Skorzeny receives a threat from whomever is doing the killing, and the Irish police are interested in both stopping the killings and keeping them quiet so as not to interfere with JFK's visit. An inspector is selected to investigate and is quickly mired in political and romantic intrigue that both hinders and helps his progress.
The plot is solid but the characters are a little too one-dimensional. For example, Skorzeny is portrayed as the epitome of evil and the ultimate puppet master, but very little else is expressed about him that could help readers understand his motivations. The writing is very straightforward, not quite up to the standards of the Belfast novels in Neville's catalog, but perfectly acceptable for this type of book. The conclusion was a bit 'out there', but things were wrapped up nicely at the end.
I can certainly recommend Ratlines, particularly if you have an interest in historical novels and where ex-Nazi officers ended up after the war (and how they got there).
The plot is solid but the characters are a little too one-dimensional. For example, Skorzeny is portrayed as the epitome of evil and the ultimate puppet master, but very little else is expressed about him that could help readers understand his motivations. The writing is very straightforward, not quite up to the standards of the Belfast novels in Neville's catalog, but perfectly acceptable for this type of book. The conclusion was a bit 'out there', but things were wrapped up nicely at the end.
I can certainly recommend Ratlines, particularly if you have an interest in historical novels and where ex-Nazi officers ended up after the war (and how they got there).
July 29, 2012
Albert Ryan's strong moral code has not made it easy for him. He never really fit in anywhere, but compromise to get along wasn't in his DNA. He fought with the British against the Nazis in WWII, making him very unpopular in Ireland and branding his family as turncoats in their small village. His Irish countrymen wanted nothing to do with "The Emergency" as they called the war. After all, any enemy of the British is a friend to the Irish. In 1963, Ryan is a Lieutenant for the Directorate of Intelligence, charged with covertly investigating the murders of former Nazis, now protected residents of Ireland, an assignment he finds particularly repugnant. On the other hand, the assassins are living by their own code, and their objectives go beyond ridding the world of monsters.
As he gets deeper into the investigation, it becomes more difficult to separate the good guys from the bad, including the higher ups in his own agency and in the Ministry. He must make choices that become the lesser of evils, or rather the evils that will result in the least harm to him and those he cherishes.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, found it suspenseful, well researched and plausible. It was a complicated and satisfying plot that kept me guessing until the end. Highly recommended.
As he gets deeper into the investigation, it becomes more difficult to separate the good guys from the bad, including the higher ups in his own agency and in the Ministry. He must make choices that become the lesser of evils, or rather the evils that will result in the least harm to him and those he cherishes.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, found it suspenseful, well researched and plausible. It was a complicated and satisfying plot that kept me guessing until the end. Highly recommended.
September 16, 2013
(This was a free review copy from Dead Good Books- a review has been submitted to them & will appear on their website.)
This is on the CWA shortlist for this year- but I'm not entirely sure why....
Ratlines has an intriguing premise- it's about a nazi colonel, Otto Skorzeny, who fled to Ireland after WW2; when he is pursued by unknown killers, he uses his friendship with the then Minister of Justice Charles Haughey to have Albert Ryan from G2 (the Irish secret service) assigned. There then follows lots of crossing & double-crossing, with rogue Mossad agents & former SAS men also in the mix...
As I said, the premise is intriguing, & the plot moves on at a steady pace. What lets the book down is the characterisation, which is frankly cardboard. Albert Ryan (an Irishman how fought for the British in WW2) should be an intriguing & complex character, likewise Captain Carter (ex SAS officer), but they are both 1-dimensional, whilst Skorzeny comes across as a really bad pastiche of a Bond Villain.
Best avoided
This is on the CWA shortlist for this year- but I'm not entirely sure why....
Ratlines has an intriguing premise- it's about a nazi colonel, Otto Skorzeny, who fled to Ireland after WW2; when he is pursued by unknown killers, he uses his friendship with the then Minister of Justice Charles Haughey to have Albert Ryan from G2 (the Irish secret service) assigned. There then follows lots of crossing & double-crossing, with rogue Mossad agents & former SAS men also in the mix...
As I said, the premise is intriguing, & the plot moves on at a steady pace. What lets the book down is the characterisation, which is frankly cardboard. Albert Ryan (an Irishman how fought for the British in WW2) should be an intriguing & complex character, likewise Captain Carter (ex SAS officer), but they are both 1-dimensional, whilst Skorzeny comes across as a really bad pastiche of a Bond Villain.
Best avoided
January 25, 2013
Wow! Super book. Set in Ireland in 1963. After WWII Ireland offered refuge to some Nazi war criminals (this is fact). One of them Otto Skorzeny, seek the help of the Minister of Justice,. Charles Haughey. Both these men are also real as is the relationship between them. Now the fiction takes over. Someone is killing off the Nazis in Ireland and Lt. Albert Ryan of G2 is assigned to track the killers down quietly so the scheduled presidential visit of JFK will not be cancelled.
Now the convolutions start.Each time you think you have the story straight something else occurs. There is a lot of blood and gore so don't tackle this book if that bothers you. I'm not fond of it and usually avoid it but the premise of this book hooked me. As I said, I thought it was great.
Now the convolutions start.Each time you think you have the story straight something else occurs. There is a lot of blood and gore so don't tackle this book if that bothers you. I'm not fond of it and usually avoid it but the premise of this book hooked me. As I said, I thought it was great.
July 11, 2021
I was torn between rating it 3.5 and 4. It is an interesting and "twisty" story. I was aware that Ireland did not want to fight with the British against Germany, but some men did anyway. I was not aware that the government was so accommodating to the Nazis after the war. Ireland is a mass of contradictions.
The main character is complicated and in some ways emotionally very naive. He makes some mistakes that were surprising. I thought the relationship with the young woman unrealistic-- hard not to write spoilers. Some of the scenes were quite graphic and brutal. The author has a writing style that I enjoyed. I had already read Ghosts of Belfast. This is very different. He is a good author.
The main character is complicated and in some ways emotionally very naive. He makes some mistakes that were surprising. I thought the relationship with the young woman unrealistic-- hard not to write spoilers. Some of the scenes were quite graphic and brutal. The author has a writing style that I enjoyed. I had already read Ghosts of Belfast. This is very different. He is a good author.
February 22, 2013
a mystery/police procedural and a semi-noir novel set in ireland 1960's in where the protag is a badass uk army commando who gets assigned to minister of justice (corupt greedy douche bag) and tasked with taking care of a very rich nazi living the life in ireland. lots and lots of torture, murder, and mayhem ensue. another, and better take on nazis and germans in ireland is vargas llosa's novel The Dream of the Celt: A Novel it was just serendipity that i read both at same time.
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