A much as I am into to history, I just couldn't keep an interest in this book very well. It was very easy to put down and no rush to pick it back up.

I picked up this book to branch out into a rarely read genre. Unfortunately I DNF. I enjoyed the time period in which it was set as well as the crime/spy thriller aspects, but there was too much focus on the sexual relationships of various characters and illicit relationships to make the book enjoyable for me.

This appeared in Epoch Times's Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading for Feb. 16–22

In 1933, Winston Churchill visits Cuba during an American speaking tour. An IRA assassin, working in Cuba after fleeing Ireland, spots Churchill and attempts to kill him, seeking vengeance for his dead brother. The attempt is foiled by Walter Thompson, Churchill’s bodyguard. Eight years later, during the height of the London Blitz, the assassin returns to finish the job. Thompson knows the stakes are amplified with Churchill as prime minister. A historic thrill ride.

This was an enjoyable, pulse pounding historical thriller. The story was a stirring ride, filled with tension, and with history in the balance
Many thanks to The Book Whisperer and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you Book Whisperer for allowing me to read and review Mission Churchill on NetGalley.

Published: 01/31/24

Stars: 2.5

Couldn't get into it.

In all fairness, I believe Mission Churchill is a better movie than book for me. I have recently come to realize my experiences dictate that an advertised fast paced spy thriller book format doesn't work; I'm bored. As far as this fast paced spy thriller in a movie format I want to be first in line. Sadly I didn't know this about myself prior to asking for Mission Churchill.

I would purchase and gift this to the person who enjoys the genre.

This book was actually recommended to me by a fellow NetGalley reader. It turned out not to be for me, even though I read huge amounts of World War II fiction. One of the things that I didn't love was how closely truth was incorporated with fabrication. I don't think I've ever read a book that had quite so much that confused me about whether it was true or untrue--especially given that I have an incredible amount of historical knowledge. I also, to be honest, didn't really like the characters much. It just felt very cold to me. That said, I can appreciate the skill of the writing and the intricate plot.

The tale of Churchill and his security man during WWII is quite amusing. Early on, I began to suspect that some of the scenarios and facts of his life were not quite as they happened, so I checked with my political scientist spouse and my suspicions were correct. An alternate history is what we have here. It is still a good read and worth your time. My thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book.

I didn't read the books that Mission Churchill is inspired by, but Alex Abella has given us a slamdinger of a mystery here! Mission Churchill is about Winston Churchill in a fictional world of intrigue and wh0-done it. Churchill was a prolific man in a very prolific era, this book makes him more winsome, entertaining, and jovial.

While Winston Churchill is visiting Cuba during one of their revolutions he meets a man bent on killing Churchill because of what happened in his Country fighting for freedom from the British Empire.

This book is entertaining, it brings in many aspects of World War II and the Cuban Revolution. I've studied Churchill and this book brings some fun into his quirky personality. The surrounding cast of characters will make you wonder if any of their personality is based on the real people surrounding Winston Churchill. I sure hope so.

Thank you, Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

My thanks to NetGalley for the copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion. We meet Winston Churchill in Cuba in 1933 where he was at the time and his bodyguard thwarts a would be assassin. We see a side of Churchill that we have never seen before. He does not get along with his wife and they lead almost separate lives. He is also dependent on a vast number of people. A very interesting book about the man.

Mission Churchill by Alex Abella is the first in a new historical thriller series, Churchill’s Shadow, begins in 1933 Cuba with an Irish assassin on his trail. I found it entertaining and a new look at Winston Churchill from the point of view of his personal bodyguard, Walter Thompson of Scotland Yard. A well-told and intricately plotted thriller always holds my attention and propels me quickly to the finish. I’ve been a bit tired of WWII stories, but this one was a treat that started before the war and leaves the door open for more historical intrigue.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Adler Entertainment LLC for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review Mission Churchill by Alex Abella.
4 stars- Pub. Date: 1-29-24

This is an enjoyable, well-crafted story about a fictional assassination attempt on Churchill's life. If you can get past trying to figure out what was real and what wasn't (something I found myself hung up on), the plot and its progression are rather intriguing.
I find I might not be as fond of historical fiction as I thought I was! My problem here is because it is recent history, my parent's generation, anyway.
Therefore, I was constantly breaking my focus to research what was fact and what was fiction. Maybe I should have paid more attention to WWII history in school. One last issue is that I didn't see the point of including and naming Archie Leach (who we all know as Cary Grant), and that segment could have surely been left out.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC edition in exchange for an honest review.

This political thriller introduced me to a Winston Churchill unlike any other characterization I had known.
The story starts in Havana Cuba where Churchill is writing articles for London in 1933 about the impending revolution of Batista to overthrow the government. In the midst of the revolution is an IRA sharpshooter intent on assassinating Churchill for his part in IRA deaths.
The intervention of his bodyguard, Walter Thompson prevented this and the book moved onto 1940 UK when London endured the nightly Blitz from the Nazis. Thompson remains as Churchill’s bodyguard with frequent strategizing with Scotland Yard and MI 6. Marcus Riley (the sharpshooter) is in London too plotting with his nuclear to kidnap Churchill for ransom - although he would rather assassinate him.Thompson uncovers a plot within British government and among British Nazi sympathizers to assassinate him as well and cede the UK to Hitler.
The book was well plotted and described the various plots and foils around Churchill. It also provided some of his weaknesses and excesses. I liked the book and this cat and mouse game among the assassins.

Mission Churchill" is a pulse-pounding ride through history. A vengeful assassin stalks Churchill across continents, raising the stakes in a deadly game. The fast-paced plot keeps you guessing, and the backdrop of war adds tension. While characters could be deeper, the suspense is undeniable. If you enjoy action-packed historical fiction, this one's worth a shot!

While competently enough written, this wasn't a book that held my interest. Neither the characters nor the narrative were nearly interesting enough to draw me in. What should have been a suspenseful tale was curiously flat, both in its substance and in its pacing.

On top of that, I found the not infrequent interjections of explicit sexual references both unnecessary and annoying. It was as if it occasionally occurred to the author that he probably ought to spice up the otherwise fairly pedestrian narrative and this was how he chose to do it. I wish he had chosen to do it with suspense and pacing instead.

I enjoyed reading this historical fiction. As I have said before in my reviews, I enjoy reading stories that blend fact and fiction. This is a new to me author, and I will be looking for more of his works. I can’t wait to see what else Mr. Abella will bring to the table.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is a fun, even-paced historical thriller that held my attention to the end. From Cuba to the U.K., the target is the larger than life Winston Churchill - much beloved, much despised - depending on your viewpoint. Much is at stake - vengeance, independence, victory. Marcus Riley, staunch IRA supporter; Winston Churchill the irascible British politician who later became Britain’s prime minister; and Churchill’s bodyguard Walter Thompson are the main characters. As Riley doggedly pursues Churchill, Thompson must keep Churchill safe at all costs, despite the combined forces that are determined to bring down the pugnacious Churchill. I enjoyed the storyline, writing - engaging and at times humorous, insights into the characters, and the historical backdrop against which the story is set. This was definitely an enjoyable and fun read. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Unfortunately I could not finish this reading.
thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read it. Sorry it wasn’t what I expected.

Once Winston Churchill was naked in bed with the niece of former president Zayas, I realized this was not the historical fiction I was looking for. It started off slow and seemed just dumb. Not worth it in my opinion.

I received this book as an ARC for my honest opinion.

From Cuba in 1933 to England during WWII there was an assassin on Winston Churchill's trail. Why? It was up to his loyal and skilled bodyguard, William Thompson, to protect Churchill no matter what. In this well written work of historical fiction, the story moves very quickly. Well plotted and complex, secrets are revealed, and tension builds as the assassin gets closer to achieving his goal.
Packed with drama and intrigue, I found Mission Churchill to be an exciting story. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Book Whisperer through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Courtesy of Netgalley and The Book Whisperer, I received the ARC of Mission Churchill by Alex Abella. This historical and suspenseful thriller captured the political era of the 1933 Cuban revolution, and also reflected the horror of the WWII London Blitz spot on! Both Churchill and his dedicated bodyguard Walter Thompson were well portrayed. I found Riley, the assassin, to be intriguing and inventive, with a believable motive, even though this story was more like "revisionist history". No doubt Churchill was a frequent target! Quite a page turner, highly recommended!