'Once I started I just did not want to stop. So atmospheric and written in such a way I felt like I was truly there transported back in time living it all... A highly thrilling, fast paced and totally captivating unforgettable read... An absolute must read for any historical thriller fan' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A country at war. Bombers fill the skies. A parachute drops in the dead of night...
England 1940: Paris has fallen to the Third Reich. Farmer John Cook and society heiress Lady Margaret are waiting for the day when German tanks roll across the green fields of their homes. Both are ready for the moment they will disappear into the woods and the fields to carry out their top-secret orders - to do whatever it takes to fight the Nazis once they arrive on British soil.
Their worst fears are realised when a parachutist drops from a German bomber during an air raid. Arriving at the scene, Cook finds the white silk hanging from a branch, and a mysterious crate containing a complex piece of machinery. The spy is nowhere to be found.
But at night, Cook and Margaret hear German voices in the darkness. Reports come in of others hearing similar things, and there are whispers of an agent from Berlin...
With enemies already hiding among them, how far will Cook and Margaret go to protect the country and the people they love?
Everyone is gripped by the John Cook novels:
'Thrilling WWII set thriller that has heart-pounding action, but more importantly, a lot of heart... Completely gripping... A narrative that is as taut as piano wire! ...Not to be missed if you enjoy action-packed historical thrillers' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'My God, this was great. It left me with a book hangover. I felt like I was there in 1940s England... I learned so much from this book... The writing is really 3D. You really feel like you're there. It's very immersive, and I love the witty humour. John Cook is a wonderful character' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'John Cook is the Jack Reacher of 1940s Britain' Damien Lewis
'Gripping World War Two thriller that masterfully blends historical accuracy with intense action... a tense game of cat and mouse with a mysterious enemy agent... A must-read for fans of World War Two thrillers' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A compelling read and felt as if I was actually back in 1939. A delicious group of main characters... Great read' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A brilliant noir thriller set in the darkest days of the Second World War' Stephen Leather
Stephen Ronson grew up in Sussex, and spent a large part of his childhood exploring the woods and fields around Uckfield, many of which were still dotted with reminders of WW2 - pill boxes, tank traps, nissen huts, and graffiti left by soldiers awaiting D-Day. He is a passionate student of local history, and when he learnt about Auxiliary Units - groups of men who were instructed to lay low during the predicted nazi invasion and lead the fight back - he knew he had to write about a Sussex farmer, one with a love of the land, and a natural desire and ability to get the job done. Many of the locations and characters in the John Cook series are inspired by real places and real people. In particular, Stephen was inspired by his grandparents, Eric, Bessie, Peter and Vera, each of whom did their bit on the home front.
Nowadays, Stephen divides his time between Vermont, USA, and Uckfield, East Sussex. When he's not writing, he can be found renovating his house, or walking the woods and the fields.
