Sadly this book just was not for me. This sat on my kindle for quite some time - twice I have attempted to read and twice I did not finish.

Thankyou for the opportunity but I will not be providing feedback on any commercial sites for this book.

Picking up right from where it left off in the first book, this book felt even better than book one. Again Prince is thrust into the mouth of danger to help the Allied war efforts. And this time around he willingly goes into further danger without a second thought and without any help from MI6 and their agents. Again a brilliantly researched book, the descriptions so beautiful and vivid that you can see it right in front of your eyes. And Richard Prince is a wonderful character, a clever man who was born to be a spy. Another brilliant book in this series and I'm moving on straight to the third book in this series. Again a big thank you to Alex Gerlis for this wonderful book. Also a big thank you to NetGalley and Canelo, Action for giving me this book in exchange of my review.

Curate’s eggish

Apparently, this is the second in the series of the Richard Prince series, but it is a proper stand-alone thriller with few, if any, references to the first novel.

The book is set during the Second World War and takes the reader from the UK to Turkey, Greece, Egypt etc. Nazi Germany is on the back foot after the recent success of the Allies in the region. Richard Prince was a police Superintendent before the war started and is now a spy who gets sent behind enemy lines. His mission on this occasion is to prove that neutral Turkey is supplying Germany with chromium. There is a decent family-related subplot as well, but to describe it here might spoil the first few chapters.

So why – good in parts rather than good all the way through?

The plot took a long time to get going. In fact, apart from the odd death, the first half was mostly scene-setting, where not a lot happened. In comparison, the ending and tying up of loose ends was achieved in just a few pages. The writing style at times was rather wooden and would have benefitted from a change of pace, and a little passion and the events which occurred when our hero had his back against the wall were all together just a little too convenient which meant that there was a lack of tension. In fact, Price came across as rather a poor spy, making basic mistakes on several occasions and relying more on luck than judgement to extricate himself from a difficult situation.

On the whole, though, the main characters were well developed and fleshed out even if some of the minor ones were archetypal. Despite being slow at times, the plot moved along nicely and was never ponderous.

In conclusion, therefore, it’s a solid, if uninspiring, thriller which will have the reader wanting to know how it ends, which in itself is a worthy achievement.

mr zorg

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

Sea Of Spies Is A Well-Researched, Informative And Suspenseful WWII Spy Thriller,


Sea Of Spies is the second book in the WWII spy series by Alex Gerlis featuring Richard Prince, an ex-policeman now on another important spy mission for England. I won’t describe the plot of this book, as it is readily available in the Amazon And GoodReads Book Description sections. Instead, this review will focus on my opinion of it, which is virtually identical to my opinion of Prince Of Spies.

Overall, Sea Of Spies is a well-researched, informative and interesting thriller. As I felt to be true about Prince Of Spies, I found the first half of this book to be quite slow-moving and requires considerable patience on the reader’s part, as it focuses heavily on character development, the specific training required for Richard Prince’s latest mission, and setting the atmosphere of the places to which Prince is sent to carry out his missions. Once you get to the second half of Sea Of Spies, I think you’ll find that your patience will be rewarded, as it, for the most part, is attention-holding, gripping and suspenseful. Further, I particularly enjoyed how the author allows for exciting things to happen without the reader being bombarded with the hero involved in an array of shoot-outs, fistfights and car chases. While it wasn’t a drawback for me, you should know that Sea of Spies (as does Prince Of Spies) has a “cliffhanger” ending in that an important plot line was left unresolved. It seems pretty clear to me that this unresolved plot line is going to be a major part of the plot in the third (and final) book in the Richard Prince series.

Bottom line, I enjoyed Sea Of Spies and plan to go along with Richard Prince in the next book in this series.

#Sea Of Spies. #NetGalley

A gripping and excellent spy story, well researched and well told.
I learned a lot of new things and appreciated the well crafted plot and the great cast of characters.
I can't wait to read the next instalment in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This is the first time that I have read a book by Alex Gerlis and on the strength of this novel, it won't be the last.

Only after reading the story did I notice that it is the second book to feature the central character Richard Prince.

Soon after I started reading I found myself resorting to some Internet research about aspects of the story. This is one of the strengths of this novel, the fact that it is a work of historical fiction which is closely based on real events.

I like the style of writing, the geographical descriptions and the development of the characters adds a lot to my enjoyment.

I won't say too much about the story for fear of spoiling the plot for other readers: Suffice to say that there are plenty of twists and turns as the book progresses.

This is a well-crafted spy story which is told at a fast pace. I also learned a lot about aspects of World War Two, about which I knew very little.

I give my thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for a copy of this book in exchange for this review.

A very solid spy tale, told in an engaging way. I learned few a historical facts along the way, although it's blend of fact and fiction. The author is quite talented, and weave a good story which probably took a fair amount of research given the amount of geography covered. A solid bet of you're seeking an entertaining story.

I really appreciate the review copy!!

Sea of Spies is the second instalment in the Richard Prince Espionage Thrillers series detailing his time in MI6 and set against the backdrop of World War II. I highly recommend reading the series opener before this as although the main plot is self-contained there are a few sub-plots that are a continuation of the occurrences in Prince of Spies. Hand-picked and plucked from the obscurity of his job as a Police Detective to be trained as a spy to be used against the Axis Powers in the Second World War, Prince diligently carries out his missions which come with the utmost danger and it is no different in this second book. It's 1943 and the war efforts are starting to take a toll on all involved so a shift towards employing different tactics is more important than ever. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill holds a crucial meeting with the Turkish President to attempt to get the neutrally-declared Turkey to join the Allied efforts to halt Nazism knowing full well that Turkey had been supplying Nazi Germany with tonnes of chromium (under the Clodius Agreement) in return for receiving military equipment from the Germans. The mineral was an essential raw material in the production of steel which could be used in weaponry and other military necessities and therefore sustained the Nazis and lengthened the war.

At the same time as the PM’s effort towards Turkey back in London, Prince receives his assignment. Under the guise of being an innocuous journalist called Michael Doyle, he is sent to Istanbul to trace and collate evidence on the route used for the shipments. Despite it being well known that Turkey is trading with Germany, the Turks deny this is the case and so irrefutable evidence must be sought to put a stop to the supply chain altogether. Weaving his way across occupied Europe he ducks and dives trying to evade the Nazis and their backers in order to bring the information he has collected back to Britain. Along his journey he is aided by many people each with different motives for helping; for some it’s merely money but for those who are members of the Resistance this is a lifestyle. He must get the requested information back to his handlers no matter the cost; not least because those at MI6 have said they will help trace Richard’s missing son Henry if he carries out this latest mission. Richard is also desperate for any information on his beau, Danish police officer Hanne Jakobsen, who after aiding him on his last assignment was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp. Are they both still alive?

Gerlis is extremely underrated and pens exceptionally captivating historical spy thrillers that could rival even le Carré. The fact meets fiction narrative has you engrossed throughout and is so realistic you have no problem imagining that these characters are real-life individuals; certainly a rarity when it comes to reading espionage. It’s a fast-paced, superbly written and high-octane thrill ride from the moment it opens right through to the denouement, and at times it had my heart-pounding and a bit of a jittery mess. The idea that Prince never knew who to trust as Nazis frequently employed underhand techniques to catch those working in foreign intelligence has you questioning everyone he comes into contact with. The author creates a palpable tension that grows with each turn of the page and there is always the oppressive feeling that danger may be lurking just around the corner and frequently is. On top of all this, Gerlis has crafted the perfect protagonist; he's likeable, resourceful and really quite fascinating and the fact that the author subverts the usual ”superhuman” characters often portrayed in these novels and presents a mere mortal trying his best for his country takes my appreciation the next level. A real nail-biting page-turner. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Canelo Action for an ARC.

I was unaware of the importance of chromium and the role of Turkey in supplying it during WWII but this wonderfully written espionage series has once again informed and entertained me. Richard Prince, a former detective now working for MI-6, is an unlikely spy on an unlikely mission- to find out what the Turks are doing. He's also coping with personal loss and emotions. Things don't go well and he's once again behind enemy lines. That's a short synopsis but it doesn't describe the way that Gerlis has so ably created atmosphere and tension. This is the second in the series and while I do think it helps to have read the first one (you'll be more sympathetic toward Prince), don't turn away if you haven't. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is smart writing and an intelligent thriller.

My thanks to the Author publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
This a the second book in the Richard Prince series, and while there are some references to his previous adventures, I personally don't think it would spoil someones enjoyment of reading it as a standalone book. Well researched and written with engaging characters, particularly our resourceful hero. Atmospheric and entertaining from first to last page. However I don't feel it had the tension that was present throughout the first book.However I hope there is at least one more book to come, as there is some unfinished business Prince needs to attend to.
Recommended.

Reading this after the first in the series provides a pleasing sense of continuity over the lead character’s exploits in Nazi-occupied Europe, with a spell in Turkey thrown in for good measure in this book. As such, ‘Sea of Spies’ shares the same strengths and weaknesses as ‘The Prince of Spies’. For sure, this is a rollicking good yarn with lead character, Richard Prince, again defying the odds in surviving a truly remarkable series of threats and perils as he pursues evidence that would see Turkey ceasing to provide Nazi Germany with strategic raw materials. However, it is hard to imagine real life permitting an agent to have so many more lives than the proverbial cat. The balance between creating and sustaining tension in the developing narrative and testing the reader’s credulity too far is still in the author’s favour, but only just! The book manages to wrap up at least one of the questions left hanging at the end of the first book, but there remains a teaser in the final pages of ‘Sea of Spies’ that will ensure that this reader, at least, eagerly looks forward to the next instalment. Recommended

Reading 'Sea of Spies' I was immediately reminded of some of the great classics of the genre - 'The Mask of Dimitrios', 'The Riddle of the Sands', 'The Third Man' and 'The Thirty-Nine Steps' - but Alex Gerlis has somehow managed to combine the literary skills of Eric Ambler, Erskine Childers, Graham Greene and John Buchan into his own extraordinary talent. 'Sea of Spies' stands head and shoulders above the great spy classics.
There's a huge cast of characters, a multitude of locations and a complex multi-layered plot that in the hands of a lesser writer could have come unstuck but Alex Gerlis manages to keep his story hurtling along faster than the Orient Express.
All the sights, sounds and smells of the wartorn Dardanelles, and the uneasy neutrality of Istanbul, jump off the page. You can even taste the difference between Turkish and Greek coffee as the story permeates all our senses.
A tour-de-force for all lovers of spy fiction grounded in well-researched fact.

Richard Prince returns in Sea of Spies which is the latest spy novel from Alex Gerlis.

This time Prince is required to go to Turkey in order to track down some shipments of goods from there to Germany.

Set against a well described backdrop of World War 2 this is an excellently written thriller that keeps you turning the pages as Prince tries to overcome the odds and return home in order to find his missing son

Definitely recommended

It's 1943 and World War II is finely balanced. Former police detective Richard Prince now works for MI6 (British military intelligence) and his latest mission is to trace the route of "The Chromium Trail".
Britain's Prime Minister Winston Churchill is also on a mission - a secret meeting with the President of Turkey to try to persuade the Turks to join the Allies in the war against Nazi Germany. Although neutral, Turkey has been supplying the Germans with large quantities of chromium, vital to their war machine in the production of stainless steel. If the Turks join the Allies, the chromium supplies will cease and the war will be shortened.
So begins Prince's tortuous journey. Posing as a journalist, he travels to Turkey and later from there to Greece on a rescue mission as a favour to a criminal who has promised Richard he will help him..
On his return to Turkey, he begins following the Chromium Trail on a journey by ship up the River Danube on through Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia and into Nazi Germany itself. Along the way, Prince is helped by various people. Some are criminals and others do it for money, but most because they are members of the Resistance.
The entire trip unfolds in nerve wracking detail as Prince is constantly on his guard to avoid being arrested by police or the Gestapo, not always knowing who he can trust.
Parts of the story reads like a travelogue more than a spy thriller, but it's all part of building the tension of this vital mission - the sort of espionage that lasts for months and has the agent in constant danger.
He also has to endure long spells where he waits in safe houses to avoid capture, before continuing his perilous journey.
There are two sub plots which are a continuation of the first book in the series. Prince's young son Henry went missing after an air raid and MI6 have promised to search for him if he undertakes this latest mission.
And there is Hanne Jakobsen, a Danish police officer who helped him during his first secret mission and with whom he fell in love. When Hanne's link to him was discovered by the Gestapo, she was arrested and is currently in Ravensbruck concentration camp. Richard is determined to find out whether she is alive or dead.
Although the action slows in parts, this is a solid World War II spy thriller partly based on actual events. I hope there's another in this series.

A tightly written story that keeps you on the edge of the sea and holding your breath. Great characterisation. Thank you for the ARC

Sea of Spies by Alex Gerlis – 5 Stars
Publisher: Canelo
ISBN: 9781788639026

As in Mr. Gerlis’ previous book Prince of Spies, Richard Prince continues with his escapades with a second mission that challenges every one of his faculties. Unlike the typical spy novel where things frequently go right, it seems Richard hits every possible obstacle and rabbit hole. His mission is to report on the Chronium trade between Germany and Turkey, the raw material being used to build armored vehicles and other equipment. Obviously, this needs to be stopped to prevent the Germans from gaining an advantage in WW II. Turkey, a supposedly neutral country, is covertly trading when it should not be, but won’t admit it. Richard, as Michael Doyle, gets the call to uncover the lie and expose Turkey. What was intended to be a 30-day mission turned out to be months, all during the same period the British government promised to find Richard’s son Henry.

The life of this WW II spy couldn’t be more exciting – for the reader that is. Not for Richard who has to work with dozens of new contacts, not all trustworthy. The Gestapo is constantly searching for him and captures most of his trustworthy contacts just before he escapes them. His adventure is nail-biting – so many close calls, so many suspicious contacts, so many locations he is not familiar with, not to mention his lack of experience in the necessary languages and customs. His life is relegated to that of a rat hiding from an army of cats. It is unbelievable how anyone can endure this life. Yet, Richard, of course, finally succeeds in his mission which I must state doesn’t end with a pleasant flight with champagne back to England. A complete, realistic life of a spy is depicted from the absolute beginning to end.

To complement the story of a spy, Mr. Gerlis presents a historical background of the Turkey’s involvement in the war, the locales Richard visits, and many real incidents. I always enjoy learning history by reading such a novel.

I’d love to continue to write about some of the details since I enjoyed it so much, but I’ll leave them to you to do so. As for Richard’s son Henry, same deal. Enjoy the book.


Reviewer: Rich

Ah, Richard Prince, a true hero. Set against the background of World War II, Prince's events are totally believable. This tale brought me there as an observer to history. Well done....and please keep the series coming!

Richard Prince, an English detective, goes abroad for the second time as a spy during WW2. This time to trace how chromium is sent from Turkey to be used in the essential Nazi war effort.

As usual, a few things go wrong in his search which starts in Istanbul. Being a resourceful chap, he eludes the enemy and finally completes the task after many months.

As a reader, we are not only treated to an action packed story, but also a WW2 geography lesson e'g trips up the Danube river to Pilsen and the Nazi war machine based in the Skoda factory!

There is a side story involving his son who was illegally adopted; it does not detract from the whole book.

Thanks to Net Galley and Canelo for the chance to read and review.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the ARC.

This is #2 in the Richard Prince series of WWII espionage thrillers - and it's brilliant! No need to worry if you haven't read book #1 - the author succinctly brings the reader up to speed on background without losing the momentum of the current story - and momentum there is: this is a real page-turner with heart-stopping moments as Prince once again has to use all his resourcefulness and skills to obtain information and get it safely across occupied Europe in 1943/1944. Although fictional, some of it is based on fact - it all feels extremely realistic, which I found exceptionally enjoyable.

Prince's son Henry is still missing; Hanne Jakobsen, a Danish police officer who helped him on his last mission, and with whom he fell in love, is incarcerated in Ravensbruck concentration camp, and he's called upon once more to carry out a clandestine operation to obtain proof that Turkey is exporting large quantities of Chromium to the Germans. The metal is integral to the manufacture of their armaments. Turkey, a neutral country, denies it is happening unless they are given proof.

Under the guise of being a journalist. Prince's journeys take us to Istanbul, over to Greece and thence through occupied Europe. Resistance groups and sympathisers help to smooth his way but when his back is against the wall - well, he does what needs to be done.

He will get his information back to London come what may, not least in the hope that whilst he's away the whereabouts of his son is being traced.

Hair-raising exploits, perilous journeys, heart-stopping moments, all encased in the atmosphere of war-torn Europe and the prospect of bringing the war to an end.

What can I say, if you like Le Carre, you'll love this. I'd really like this in film, or perhaps a good long series on TV based on each book. Can't wait for the next instalment.

Police detective turned spy Richard Price is on the move again in this fast - paced sequel to his first adventure. He's still eluding SS capture as he makes his way back and forth across enemy lines tracking the transfer of chromium from Turkey to Germany : the metal is essential to the war machine, and proof of neutral Turkey's role in assisting the Axis powers in getting it is the evidence Britain needs to stop it. If Price needed any convincing to take on this dangerous mission, his colleagues back in England have promised to find his missing child and the woman he loves. A strong second appearance for an increasingly interesting and appealing protagonist.