Basil's War
A WWII Spy Thriller
by Stephen Hunter
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Pub Date May 04 2021 | Archive Date Apr 30 2021
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Description
A swashbuckling British agent goes behind enemy lines to search for a religious text that might hold the key to ending the second World War.
Basil St. Florian is an accomplished agent in the British Army, tasked with dozens of dangerous missions for crown and country across the globe. But his current mission, going undercover in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, might be his toughest assignment yet. He will be searching for an ecclesiastic manuscript that doesn’t officially exist, one that genius professor Alan Turing believes may hold the key to a code that could prevent the death of millions and possibly even end the war.
St. Florian isn’t the classic British special agent with a stiff upper lip—he is a swashbuckling, whisky-drinking cynic and thrill-seeker who resents having to leave Vivien Leigh’s bed to set out on his crucial mission. Despite these proclivities, though, Basil’s Army superiors know he’s the best man for the job, carrying out his espionage with enough charm and quick wit to make any of his subjects lower their guards.
Action-packed and bursting with WWII-era intrigue (much of which has basis in fact), Basil’s War is a classic espionage thriller from Pulitzer Prize-winning critic, essayist, and bestselling novelist Stephen Hunter.
About the Author:
Stephen Hunter won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism as well as the 1998 American Society of Newspaper Editors Award for Distinguished Writing in Criticism for his work as film critic at The Washington Post. He is the author of several bestselling novels, including Time to Hunt, Black Light, Point of Impact, and the New York Times bestsellers Havana, Pale Horse Coming, and Hot Springs.
A Note From the Publisher
LibraryReads votes due by 4/1/21.
Advance Praise
"An outstanding World War II spy thriller. Basil St. Florian was the James Bond of his time." - Nelson DeMille, #1 New York Times-Bestselling Author
"An outstanding World War II spy thriller. Basil St. Florian was the James Bond of his time." - Nelson DeMille, #1 New York Times-Bestselling Author
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781613162248 |
| PRICE | $23.95 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Randal W, Reviewer
I think that I have read all of Hunter's many books. My favorites were the early Swagger novels. I'm happy that he has now moved on to a new character, one Basil St. Florian. He's a British spy with a witty sense of humor. Quite a difference from the Swagger series. I found it refreshing. I hope that Hunter continues the St. Florian storyline. The story itself is quite good. I found myself intrigued, interested, and surprised throughout the book. The ending was quite surprising. This is a short read, I finished it in two evenings. But it's highly satisfying. It's good to have Hunter back on top of his game!
Andrew E, Reviewer
Wow! I have read most of Stephen Hunter’s books from the very beginning, but I have not enjoyed one as much as this one—-the first of what I hope will be a series of books featuring Basil Florian— British adventurer, cad, spy,,and all around cool guy. This book is set during WWll and features cameos by real people including Churchill and Vivian Leigh. Its a short novel-which is a good thing-not bloated like many thrillers. Hunter is historically accurate but dozens teach but shows and the book moves fast leavened with humor and sex. And always intelligent. Read it and Mr. Hunter keep writing these!
Steve E, Reviewer
To give you an idea how I didn’t want Stephen Hunter’s rousing new novel #Basil’s War to end ,upon finishing I immediately read it again. What a book - action, adventure, espionage, mystery - quite simply a thriller that never lets up thanks to its charming rogue protagonist, Basil St. Florian. It’s World War Two London and Basil is about to bed his most recent and glamorous lady friend when an “ Action This Day” memo arrives sending Basil into a very intriguing and dangerous mission that could drastically alter the outcome of the war. Behind enemy lines ,to Paris ,Basil must clandestinely travel to retrieve information that will be used to hopefully break enemy codes. Relying on his wiles, wisdom and wit, he sets upon his mission impossible with the savoir faire of James Bond. Perhaps the most amazing thing about #Basil’s War is the fact that this seemingly very British tale was written by an American - a bit of literary prestidigitation that allows Mr. Hunter to pay homage to his predecessors admirably. Another big plus is the pacing : the story moves like a bat out of hell, with a style that is lean and mean. All in all, five stars to Stephen Hunter for #Basil’sWar and a sincere wish that this is just the beginning of Basil’s adventures.
Stuart A, Reviewer
Stephen Hunter's name has become associated with realistic sniper novels, starring his protagonist Bob Lee Swagger. But in Hunter’s newest novel, we meet Basil St. Florian, an agent in the British Army. Set during WWII, he has to go undercover in Nazi-occupied France.
In a classic spy novel, with scents of Nelson DeMille’s Charm School and LeCarre’s Smiley books, Hunter has created a fantastic spy thriller with Basil’s War.
It felt strange stepping away from the Swagger series, and I am a huge fan of Bob Lee. I missed reading about the sniper, but I do appreciate how Hunter never froze Swagger in time. We’ve seen him slowly get older, and it’s great to see Hunter introduce a new character in Basil. I thought this novel was fantastically written, and it instantly felt like a classic spy novel. Although it is not the high-octane shoot-em-up thriller, it is a slow burn that keeps burning through the novel’s entirety. Hunter has always had well-crafted novels that suck the reading in immediately, and Basil’s War is no different.
A fantastic thriller that perfectly accompanies a cold beer on a hot day. If you’re a fan of Hunter, you’ll love this novel, or if you just enjoy a good spy novel, make sure you grab a copy.
Ron B, Reviewer
An interesting novel by Stephen Hunter. I have always enjoyed his novels and this one was great. The story was interesting and a James Bond (without the gadgets) type of humor. I did not want to put this down till I finished the book. I hope that this character is in more novels in the future.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
David O, Reviewer
Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An aloof British spy more concerned with avoiding the war is asked to jump into France and recover by whatever means a missing code book that will convince the Russians of German plans to invade Kursk. This could add years to the war and millions more dead.
Comments: Hunter writes a comedic spy thriller that will have you chuckling along. As much as we love Hunters Bob the Nailer series, this is a great spy novel and shows exactly how talented and researched Hunter really is. Have fun it’s a great novel.
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