Books I'd Recommend

Some of the books I read recently. In no particular order:) 

Duncan Falconer Mercenary

A British secret agent murders a CIA colonel in Washington. The investigation brings two FBI men to a small Latin American country where they learn a tragic story of corruption and betrayal. A great book written by a British man (under pseudonym) who used to be a secret agent himself. It warms one's heart to know that at least one bastard in this world got his just deserts (in fiction, of course). This is a recent book from 2009 (translated into Dutch in 2012).

Dick Frances Rat Race

My mother and her friends used to be great fans of Dick Frances but this is a first book of his that I read. This is a story of a commercial pilot Matt Shore who finds himself in reduced circumstances after his divorce and has to accept a job as a flying taxi pilot which brings him in contact with the world of horse racing with its dark secrets. Will he find his true love there? The story was very interesting and even touching but the end is somewhat open and unclear. Written in 1970 just before the "s8xual revolution" it presents a refreshing contrast to modern morals (or lack of them).

Alex Rowson The Young Alexander

I'm actually quite proud of myself of reading this quite intellectual book in its original language;) It's been a long time since I had read something similar. Despite its title, the book is more a story of King Philip than his son. You could probably summarise it with one phrase: the wages of sin is death. King Philip had 7 official wives and who knows how many unofficial affairs with as the palace gossip went, the persons of both s8xes which finally led to his dramatic demise. If you are academically minded, this book is for you. It is also quite recent, as it was first published in 2022. 

Terry Deary The Prince of Rags and Patches

A part of a mystery series written for younger teenagers about the times of Elisabeth the 1st, it also deals with the story of King Richard and two Princes in the Tower. It is a great story and funny, too. I'll just leave you with this quote to give you a general idea of the style:

"...he...sent me to gather a group of the best six armed men in our garrison. Naturally I chose the men of Marsden Manor. They would murder their own mothers if I told them to - and they would murder me if someone paid them enough money. Loyal men. Honest Men. Vicious men".

(p.46 of 2005 Dolphin paperback edition. Originally published in GB in 1997)

Alistair MacLean San Andreas.

Probably one of the last books written by him it nevertheless tells another great WWII story with a nuance I have not expected from this author actually hinting at noble allies' war crimes in that conflict. One of the most sympathetic characters is a wounded German pilot whose love interest, a nurse taking care of him, is half German herself. San Andreas is a hospital ship relentlessly pursued by the Germans apparently for no reason and it's only in the end that we find out what the story was all about. Highly recommend as most anything written by this author (one of my favourite). 

Well, that's about it for today:)