I enjoyed this book because we see Robotham move away from the war stories that I have come to associate with this author. Instead, we are in 1950s London where Dexie and Harri are on the hunt for a suspected Nazi war criminal.

Robotham’s books are always so vivid in terms of the historical content: it does feel like I learn something new every time I read their stories. In this case, it is post-war Britain and, most significantly, the killer fog that descended onto the capital in 1952. I knew very little about this time and found I was frantically researching after completing the story, curious to know how this fog caused such devastation.

I could not begin to imagine how dense this fog was, let alone trying to work in it. For Dexie and Harri, they are trying to follow a trail to lead them to this Nazi and ensure he does not cause more chaos in the world. Harri, a police detective from Germany, teams up with Dexie to navigate around this strange city – all the more stranger for the fog.

I sympathised with Dexie’s character because of the sexism she experiences as a police officer. She is not taken seriously and instead seems to be the “token” female who is good for making cups of tea – not serious policing. However, on the case with Harri shows her grit and determination. They make such a good team – a crime-fighting duo – and I loved how their friendship develops in the story. Both characters have an interesting past and I enjoyed how Robotham gradually brings this in to the narrative, so readers can understand more about how the characters react to situations.

This was a good crime read steeped in history. I was fascinated by the weather and how atmospheric it made the story – although I wouldn’t fancy experiencing it myself. Yet, the city tries to keep going and not grind to a halt. I admired this strength that is shown by the Londoners – I don’t think we would have that same determination today. I think I was more interested in this aspect than the actual crime story, but I liked the main characters and can see that the writer could use these again for future stories.

With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In a Nutshell: A historical fiction set in 1950s London. This continues Harri Schroder’s story from ‘The Hidden Storyteller’, but it can be read as a standalone. Excellent characters, decent plot, great use of the place and period, slow pace. Though not a bad read, I liked its predecessor better.

Plot Preview:
1952, London. Helen Dexter, aka ‘Dexie’, is a woman police officer trying to prove her capabilities to the male officers around her. However, she is stuck with basic policing duties and making tea for her male colleagues. Things change when a German officer from Hamburg arrives on some secret assignment. Inspektor Harri Schroder is the first policeman to treat Dexie as a fellow police officer, and she is immediately intrigued.
When Harri learns the details of his assignment – tracing an ex-Naxi officer masquerading as an English businessman, he asks for Dexie to be assigned as his fellow officer. Together, they need to focus on the dangerous task ahead, even as London is engulfed by a deadly fog.
The story comes to us in the first-person perspectives of Harri and Dexie.

As I mentioned in my review for ‘The Hidden Storyteller’ (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7311888132), I meant to get to this book directly. But as some other reviews revealed that this had a returning character, I read that book first. Officially, these books are tagged as standalone novels, and having read them, I can confirm the same. The story does have some continuity across three books, but that’s mainly in terms of the character’s life continuing ahead from their earlier story. On a macro scale, the plots are independent.
FYI, Georgie Young is the main character common to ‘The Berlin Girl’ and ‘The Hidden Storyteller’. Harri Schroder is the main character common to ‘The Hidden Storyteller’ and ‘A Dangerous Game.’ (Georgie has a cameo appearance in this latest novel.)
Many of my points of feedback are the same as from the earlier book, because though the plot itself was new, I felt the same about the writing style, character development, and historical research. Only the storyline wasn’t as gripping to me as in the earlier novel.

Bookish Yays:
🎖️The introductory note by the author, containing details of the great fog of 1952. Chilling!
🎖️Harri – His character development continues well from the earlier book in almost all respects. I love that he finds healing and closure in this book.
🎖️Dexie – A woman who acts her age (thirty-three) and isn’t afraid to step where others might not. At the same time, she is also practical in her decisions and knows when to retreat. I like how she is not portrayed as a feminist more suited to the 21st century. Most of her behaviour is consistent with the era, unlike many female HF leads who are depicted either as too progressive or too aggressive.
🎖️A special Yay to Scooter, the terrier belonging to Harri's landlady. Dogs make every story better and brighter!
🎖️Harri and Dexie are excellent as a team. They get a chance to show their skills together as well as individually.
🎖️Though written in third person, the writing lets us know each character intimately. There’s hardly any internal rambling. Both the perspectives are written equally well.
🎖️Appreciate the clear dates given for each chapter. Very easy to keep track of the number of days passing by as complete dates are provided at the start of every chapter.
🎖️The depiction of 1950s London, from the roads to the people to the post-war climate to the mildly xenophobic attitude towards outsiders (especially Germans) and even the gender discrimination in the London police force: everything feels absolutely real.
🎖️The book also highlights the fate of the Nazis after the war, and the various tactics they used to escape sentencing at Nuremberg.
🎖️I had never heard of the Great Fog of 1952, so reading about it was an eye-opening [pun unintended] experience in many ways. The author writes not just the visuals but also the feeling of helplessness in a vivid manner. Her description of the fog was outstanding.
🎖️I had predicted in my review of the earlier book that Harri would be given a relationship in this book. I was right, but also wrong. It doesn’t take a genius to see that Harri and Dexie will end up together. But almost the entire book has no romance. The focus is more on the case, their professional interactions, and their friendly camaraderie. I appreciate how the author didn’t make romance the focus of the story.
🎖️It was nice to see a cameo from Georgie and Max, returning from the earlier book and in a much happier place.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
⚔️ This book also has a prologue written in first person. However, unlike in ‘The Hidden Storyteller’, the identity of the “narrator” took me a long time to figure out. I don’t think this prologue was necessary for the main story, though it does create an impact. I think the true intensity of the prologue is revealed only if you reread it after the end of the book.
⚔️ Yet again, this book straddles multiple genres: police procedural, espionage, historical fiction, suspense, and action thriller. However, the suspense is quite minimal, the procedural and espionage content is only random, and the action is limited to a few scenes. The first half is more about Harri and Dexie learning to work as a team and to go beyond their individual past traumas. The action comes quite late in the story. Most of the book reads as a general historical fiction, which isn't bad but also isn't exciting.
⚔️ For some reason, this story didn’t grip me as much as the earlier one. It might be because I’d rather read a serial killer story than one about politics and spies. Though I wasn’t bored by the book, I also wasn’t hooked onto the narrative and could also keep the book aside easily. At no point did I feel compelled to read “just one more chapter.” The slow pace didn’t help.

Bookish Nays:
💣 For some reason, Harri’s character suddenly seems obsessed with using English idioms in his conversations, appending something like “as you might say” or “as the English say” to the line. After a while, it gets annoying.
💣 At times, certain reveals and character actions felt more like a way of forcing a twist into the story than as a genuine common-sense move. Such scenes didn’t flow smoothly as the deliberate change in character stance was quite evident.
💣 Dexie was only supposed to be Harri’s local liaison and partner. It didn’t make sense to see her be a part of secret meetings with MI5 and high-ranking officials, especially considering the general attitude towards female officers.

All in all, this was still quite good, especially in the way it brought the Great Fog alive and highlighted the attitude towards women officers. However, the slow pace and the minimal action meant that this didn’t end up as captivating as ‘The Hidden Storyteller.’ This won't be my favourite Mandy Robotham work, but that’s also because I expect more of her.
Recommended to historical fiction fans looking for an unusual post-war story set during the Great Fog of 1952 and don’t mind slow pace and spies.
3.75 stars.

My thanks to Avon Books UK for providing the DRC of “A Dangerous Game” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC! A Dangerous Game by Mandy Robotham is a fast paced detective novel about a German detective invited, by the English government, to perform secret operations. When Harry is invited to Scotland Yard to help in an investigation about a former friend of his, he could not have dreamed up the events that would take place. Over the course of the novel, Dex, becomes a permanent fixture by his side. She helps him get out of many tight spots and ultimately becomes his partner at solving crimes. Overall, a novel I would recommend to others who are interested in facts related to the deep smog event in London, England in 1952 as well as information about the Nazi regime post World War II.

Thanks to netgalley for providing this advanced copy for the purpose of review
I have read and enjoyed other books by the author so I had high hopes for this. It's a historical mystery which is well written and continuously interesting. I enjoyed the setting and the characters.

A very good historical story set in 1952 during the Great fog. This was a spy story and I found it very interesting and a different take on prewar stories. I found the big about the terrible fog that was in London was very interesting and how terrible that so many people died.very bleak times. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A great historic read!
Not everything that emerged from the ruins of WW2 was positive, and one Hamburg Inspector Harri Schroder is been seconded to London to find someone from his pre-war past. Joined by a young WPC, Grace Dexter (Dexie), Schroder is soon on the hunt for an ex-Naxi who has established himself as an influential business man in the centre of London. Helmut Praxer was a Kripo recruit alongside Harri, but he went on to excel as a financier for the Nazis. Harri is tasked with finding this dangerous man, quickly, just as London descends into the worst smog on record. I really enjoyed the story which kept me gripped throughout. The authors research shines throughout, and I particularly enjoyed learning more about the terrible smog of the winter of 1952 and how it impacted the population. It really added to the story as the search spread throughout London. The other highlight was learning about these early WPCs and how they were regarded, or should I say disregarded, during this period. This is a gripping story, with a great piece of history included. Recommended read!

A Dangerous Game by Mandy Robotham is a tale about life post-war in London. Widowed Helen ‘Dexie’ Dexter longs to prove herself as an officer in the London Metropolitan Police, yet she’s stuck intervening in domestics and making tea for her male colleagues.Then Harri Schroder arrives, seconded from Hamburg to the Met. Haunted by the loss of his wife and child, Harri is unlike any man Dexie has ever known. Compassionate and sharp-witted, he sees her not as a threat, but as an intelligent, canny officer full of potential. When Harri is tasked with hunting down a Nazi war criminal-turned-respected-businessman, with connections to the upper echelons of British society, it’s Dexie he turns to for help. But as their bond deepens, a deadly fog engulfs London. Dexie and Harri must expose the fugitive before he vanishes, risking everything for justice – and each other.

Robotham does a wonderful job creating an inspirational story of mystery in London during post World War II. A Dangerous Game had me turning the pages to the very end. This book is an easy 4 stars. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction.

I received a free advanced copy and all opinions are my own. I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

A DANGEROUS GAME, by Mandy Robotham, is a captivating historical mystery that unfolds in the intriguing backdrop of 1952. Inspector Harri Schroeder, uprooted from his tranquil life in Hamburg, finds himself in the midst of post-war London. His official mission: diplomacy; his covert mission: to hunt down a Nazi war criminal camouflaged in plain sight. He forms an alliance with Helen “Dexie” Dexter, a fiercely independent woman in the police force. Together, they plunge into a world of deceit, danger, and betrayal, only to realize that a trusted ally is working against them.

A DANGEROUS GAME is an unpredictable thriller that weaves intricate historical detail with sharp, captivating character dynamics. Dexie, a trailblazer in a world that underestimates her, forms an unlikely but compelling team with Harri. When Harri is abducted, it falls on Dexie to rescue him. The plot is a rollercoaster of unexpected twists, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. This book is a must-read for historical fiction enthusiasts.

I am deeply thankful to Netgalley Avon Books UK for entrusting me with an advanced reader’s copy of A DANGEROUS GAME in exchange for an honest review. Mandy Robotham, your storytelling is truly exceptional. This book was my first encounter with your work, and I can confidently say it will not be my last!

This was a good read that linked in enough elements from the previous novels but would not be too jarring if you haven’t read them: fully recommend

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon Books for this ARC!

I enjoyed this take on a post WWII world in London. Harri is asked to go to London by his police station for help hunting a former Nazi. Little does Harri know that he will be paired with a brilliant Constable WPC Dexie that will be his best and most valuable resource in London. Dexie quickly becomes a partner to Harri as they track down a former early colleague of Harri’s when he was joining the police force that ended up becoming a higher upper in Hitler’s ranks. With only a limited time to catch the Nazi, Harri & Dexie must race against the clock & keep themselves from getting smothered by the noxious fog that’s settled over London.

I was there with Dexie and Harri as they try to find and identify an ex nazi soldier, now turned respectable, respected businessman. The thick, killer fog in 1950’s London does nothing to help them, but they do find something that they weren’t expecting!
Loved it!

Thank you to net galley for giving me this opportunity to read this book.
I have read all of Mandy Robotham books and have enjoyed every one of them.
This story takes place in London, England in 1952 during a deadly fog.
Helen Dexter is a young widow who works in the London Metropolitan Police.
Harri Schroeder is a police officer with the Hamburg police in Germany. Harri is requested by the Met to help hunt down a former Nazi who has turned into a successful English businessman but with a different name.
Harri is teamed up with Helen to hunt the former Nazi down.

I have to say that I really liked the characters of Helen and Harri. The book was an exciting read. There were twists and turns in the story.
Will be recommending it to others to read.

Fun story set during the Great Smog of London during 1952. Never before have I read a book in that setting, very original. Great characters hunting Nazis. A little bit of romance. Very enjoyable book. For some reason I did not lose myself in the book like I have in some of her other stories.

Great read, thanks for this ARC!

Mandy Robotham is an auto buy for me as you are always guaranteed a great read. Once again her story is from post World War II - on this occasion, 1952 London during the Great Smog. It was at times frightening to be on the streets of smoggy London as our two leads battled not only the elements but also Nazi war criminals. Who are the leads? None other than ‘your beloved grumpy Inspektor, Harri’ from Mandy’s last book, The Hidden Storyteller. Mandy states, “... in writing the closing pages of my previous book, The Hidden Storyteller, I sensed I wasn’t finished with Harri - he needed space to show us more of his unorthodox policing methods, to shed some of his cynicism, and to heal” - and we could not be happier! To read another story with Harri is reward enough - he is such an endearing character and although he berates his ‘self-conceit that he can actually right the wrongs of an entire war’, you can’t help but cheer him on!

‘You mean former Nazis - war criminals and murderers - are now employed by various security services? As agents? That governments are now rewarding these bastards for doing the Fuhrer’s bidding? You can’t be serious.’

Interestingly, this is a story of not only historic details surrounding the infamous London Smog but also incorporates a thriller detective drama. Mandy does well in combining the gripping tale of a Nazi war criminal on the loose. Towards the end the pace is fast with danger and several tense moments for all involved and readers are sure to be cheering loudly for Harri and Dexie.

‘She can’t die, not here or now, not from a bloody fog!’

Congratulations Mandy on yet another winning book. I have read and adored all your books and cannot recommend them highly enough. 'A Dangerous Game' is a fabulous thriller with a dash of romance. A tale of cat and mouse espionage during the real-life 'Great Smog' of 1952 where it's estimated some 4,000 - 10,000 people died.

‘The hunters have become the hunted.’








This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

I loved this one it was engaging and so good and I loved the setting after the war in England
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

I loved this book from the beginning. It helps that it's a time period that is fascinating and I didn't know too much about (I had to start the book by googling if Hamburg was in east or west Germany, but as someone who has lived in London, it was easy to picture the foggy city after the decay of the Blitz, all powered by cups of milky tea. There was strong sense of place that I felt like I was there, queuing for the tube impatiently while breathing in the coal.

Too often in historical fiction, the characters (particularly the women characters) are coded as "ahead of their time", which can really e a bit jarring. But our main characters, Women's Police Constable Helen "Dexie" Dexter and German Inspektor Harri Schroeder, are very much products of their time, with different expectations and experiences as a result of living through World War II. The characters gave me a chance to feel like I better understood them and the time, which I really appreciated.

There is not really a traditional mystery - we know from the outset whodunnit, but the how and why really give our characters a chance to reflect on who they are and how their experiences changed them. This is a reflective mystery with a great sense of place and character, and I'd recommend to fans of Agatha Christie, Tana French or Sophie Hannah.

Another fantastic read from one of the very best writers of historical fiction. This was a brilliantly plotted, fast paced thriller of a book, which kept me turning the pages as I was so desperate to know what would happen next. Set in the infamous December 1952 "pea soup" London fog, it tells the story of Harri Schroder (loved that he, plus Georgie and Max, came back from the last book) on secondment to the UK from Germany, and ambitious but downtrodden WPC Helen Dexter who are suddenly on a mission to find a missing Nazi man believed to have reinvented himself in the UK. Really good.

This book was a great read! I loved it.

1. I really enjoyed the writing style of this novel and I liked how the history was written. It wasn't too dense but it was interesting all the same! I really liked Mandy Robothams writing style and plot development.

2. I found the characters really interesting, they were really well constructed but also well written. I loved how Helen was in the spotlight and I loved the whole 'woman in a mans world' vibe but also making her a strong, intelligent, willful character. Harri was also great, witty, intelligent. I think they were a great duo! It really helped the story along and made it even more interesting.

3. The historical atmosphere and setting was really good!

I loved this so much! I highly recommend this read. It is a great historical fiction!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this eCopy to review

A Dangerous Game is a captivating read! Set in 1950s London, the story follows Helen 'Dexie' Dexter, a determined woman trying to prove herself as an officer in the London Metropolitan Police. When Harri Schroder, a German detective haunted by personal loss, arrives from Hamburg, their paths cross in an unexpected way.

The plot thickens as they team up to hunt down a Nazi war criminal who has integrated into British society. The chemistry between Dexie and Harri is palpable, and their journey is filled with danger, suspense, and emotional depth. The backdrop of post-WWII London adds a rich historical layer to the narrative, making it a compelling blend of historical fiction and thriller.

Overall, it's a gripping tale with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

December 1952, London. Inspector Harri Schröder from Hamburg is seconded to liaise with the Metropolitan Police Force in an Anglo-German liaison between the two former warring nations. Upon his arrival in London, he received notification that he was required to report to New Scotland Yard. It transpired that there was an additional reason for this request; the Metropolitan Police were merely a front, as his true purpose was to assist in locating a specific individual—someone he had known before the war. He was among the few who could identify a man named Helmut Praxer, a former classmate of Harri's from police training school nearly two decades earlier. It is understood that Praxer may have undergone significant plastic surgery. It appears that Praxer joined the Nazi Party in 1936, quickly advanced within its structure, and that he became their money man. He now goes by the name James Remmington, the chairman of a substantial holding company. The reason they need to find him urgently is that he is about to sign a very lucrative contract that will be embarrassing for the British government if it turns out that he profited from the war. They need Harri to positively identify him.

Harri is thus assigned to investigate a man he barely knew, for a foreign country and agency. He proposed to his superiors that WPC Helen Dexter (Dexie), whom he had met on his first day, be his partner.

All of this plays out during the deadly smog that hit London and lasted for five days, a time when over 10,000 people died as a direct result. Will Harri and Dexie be able to find Praxer before it is too late, and at what cost?

Another brilliantly woven tale from Mandy Robotham! I love how she incorporates fact into her stories and the brilliant characters she develops. I hope to see more of Harri and Dexie!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.