I think I would have preferred to read this book. I like audiobooks but for this particular topic, it was difficult to stay focused. It may have been the narrator or the topic, I'm not sure which. This is probably just my idiosyncrasy but when I listen to audiobooks, I want to be listening to and engaged in a story. I'm sure this book is an interesting book with a lot of fascinating details but it was a little too dry for me. I would probably enjoy reading this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this work in exchange for my review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A very enjoyable narrator that made this book even better than reading it in print. I think any WWII buff or even just British history nut will love this book.


I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* 3.5, pretty good read, would buy but not sure if i would read again, i would recommend though

3.5 stars

A well researched look at the early days (pre-WWI) of British intelligence, & Thomas Kendrick’s role in establishing MI6 & guiding it through WWII.

[What I liked:]

•It was quite interesting to learn about the early days of the British intelligence services. I had no idea that they largely grew out of innovations during the 1st & 2nd Boer Wars, & that so many of the integral players were South African or recruited in South Africa.

•Likewise, it was interesting to read the details of how certain (now ubiquitous) espionage techniques were pioneered, such as embedding intelligence officials into foreign embassies under diplomatic cover.

•The writer obviously cares very much about her subject, & the afterword is a heartfelt tribute to Kendrick’s efforts to help Jews escape Europe during the Nazi era. Due to his career in intelligence, much of Kendrick’s work was classified until recently (or still is), & this book is an effort to recognize his untold story.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•I realize this is largely due to a lack of resource material, but for a book that focuses on a particular figure he is missing from much of the narrative. We get the bare facts of his life, but don’t get much insight into Kendrick’s & feelings or views. Most of the story is told by piecing together Kendrick’s actions & movements based on those of the people he worked with & diplomatic records. It felt like something key was missing at the center of this biography, who Kendrick was as a person, why he was motivated to do the work he did.

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

Wow this book was amazing.  I could not put it down, its definitely a really good page turning book full of atmosphere and so thrilling, with exciting information.  I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator was perfect for this novel and very engaging. He really made learning about history enthralling. This book is so well written and you can tell it has been well researched and that the author has extensive knowledge in this area of history. The flow of the writing was perfect leading to a thoroughly fascinating read. I learnt so much from reading this book.  Its easy of the reading and understanding of the information held within its pages made me take in the information more readily.  I would go as far as saying its one of the best history books I have read in a long time. The book held a lightness about it as there was no unnecessary facts or overload of facts and information.
I really do recommend this book to every WWII reader out there. I will definitely be looking out for more of this authors works on netgalley.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for bringing this magnificent and fact full portrayal of spies during the second World War.

Already posted the above review to goodreads under lady Reading365 , waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK and my blog https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/spymaster-by-helen-fry-tantor-audio-5-stars
Under the name ladyreading365

This is a fantastic book. For anyone who knows a bit about WWII, especially Britain’s home war when it came to some of the spy work they did, they might already know about the homes that they had bugged that they kept German POWs in, but the story around the man who came up with and executed that idea is something else.
Spymaster is so engrossing that it is an easy 5 star for me. I did not want to stop reading this book. Thomas Kendrick is fascinating when he is at his craftiest doing his spy work for England, and when he is at his most human doing what he can to try to rescue every person in Vienna after the Germans occupy Austria. I came into this book fully expecting nothing but spy master handling agent type stories, and the section where he was in Vienna working on helping Jews flee by any means necessary was one of the best parts. Perhaps because I knew so much already about Camp Z and how they had Rudolf Hess.
For anyone with an interest in WWII history, spycraft, and even a bit of German resistance, this is an amazing look at one man’s life and what he accomplished. It was nice to hear that he was getting recognition for the lives that he and his team saved as well. Thank you to NetGalley and Yale University Press for the copy of this audiobook.

Good narrator, engaging and able to bring sense to slightly jumpy text.



This book focuses mostly on the career of Thomas Kendrick, who served British intelligence through three wars and likely revitalised MI6. It was an interesting narrative but due to the paucity in some areas of information (a lot is still classified) there is a fair bit of necessary fudging and vagueness going on. As well as a lot of jumping around the timeline. Fry also drops a lot of names without very much explanation. I didn’t find this a hinderance because I’ve read a lot of spy non fic but I imagine it would be very off putting to someone who didn’t have that baseline of knowledge. It’s very noticeable that she seems to be far more interested on male intelligence officers too, and sort of skips over just how much of the structural set up of MI5 and MI6 was due to female intelligence officers. Basically during WW2 we were failing at intelligence work which had become an old boys club for the wealthy and privileged. SOE and other projects meant a radical shift in spy work and we know that it was intelligence where we bested the axis powers. I don’t doubt Kendrick was a key figure, but it was bizarre that people like Virginia Hall was never mentioned, for example. Anyway, an interesting if slightly incomplete read.

The audiobook tells the story of Thomas Kendrick following him from his early years in South Africa through his efforts in World War I and World War II. Kendrick was under appreciated during his time and for years after. The reason was two fold. First, most things he did were top secret and not released to the public until recently. Second, he was not a boastful man, and many who knew him in later life knew very little about this spy days.

This book was excellently researched by Helen Fry. The information provided was insightful and through. My only negative would be the amount of information sometimes bogged you down as you were listening and was a lot to keep track of. While that was a slight negative, It didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. Thomas Kendrick was an interesting man, who was at the heart of Britain’s spy craft versus German forces in World War II. He did a number of ingenious things such as bugging the window sills of German POWS, so that they could hear them talking when they thought they were safe.

Overall this is a very good book that covers the life of one the great British spies with a heavy emphasis on World War II. It would appeal to history buffs who are interested in the World Wars specifically or spy craft in general. Thank you to @Netgalley, @yalepress, and @DrHelenFry for an advance copy for an honest review.

Interesting subject matter, but the narrative didn't quite gel into a cohesive story for me; I felt distanced from the main subjects and that there were a lot of names and places that dropped in and out unpredictably. I had a hard time keeping everything straight, and wasn't motivated to keep trying, even though the writing style was readable and the narrator had a pleasant voice.

If 20th century history and the origins of major institutions that helped shape the modern world are your jam, give it a shot!

Soldier to Spymaster

Double agents, fake passports, invisible ink, prisoners of war, hidden microphones, and planted spies, and so much more can be found in this historical read! Helen Fry delivers binge-worthy information on the beginnings of MI6 and the vital role that Thomas Kendrick played in the establishment. Fry discusses Kendrick’s beginnings in South Africa, his involvement in the Bicycle Brigade during World War I, his work throughout Europe between the wars, and his work in Britain during World War II. Kendrick’s reputation as a soldier as being level headed, having great discretion and charisma all played a role in his development into espionage. After WWI, Kendrick spent time in Cologne tracking Communists before being sent to Austria. Under the cover of the Consulate’s Passport office, Kendrick used his position to socialize and learn of Communists in the area. As Hitler and the Nazi party rose to power, Kendrick then began to use his position in the Passport office to aid Jews in escaping. Kendrick was questioned and subsequently banned from Austria and sent back to Britain after being questioned by the Gestapo. Kendrick was placed in Latimer House. This undercover prison held many prisoners of war including Hess (HItler’s second in command). Through his secret listeners at Latimer House and Trent Park, Kendrick helped gather useful information about the German mechanical and strategical intelligence. Due to the secretive work that Kendrick conducted, he is just now beginning to be recognized for all of his work.

This is a great read for a WWII or British history buff. I was going to give this a 4 star review because the list of names and locations was a bit difficult to keep track of. However, I contribute this to listening to the audiobook as opposed to the written copy. I don’t find it fair to dock it based on this so a 5 star review it is! I loved the flow of the book, and the fact that Fry is trying to gain recognition for Kendrick. I am curious about Fry’s other works and may read more after I finish researching Kendrick and the MI6!

Excellent read, story is full of adventure and suspense. I highly recommend this book. Definitely will be on my holiday gift giving list.