The Second Midnight

(Paperback)

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From the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author comes a World War Two tale of one boys fight for survival in Nazi Europe
A secret mission
1939. As Europe teeters on the brink of war, Alfred Kendall is tasked with carrying out a minor mission for the British Intelligence Service. Travelling to Prague, he takes his troubled young son, Hugh, as cover.

A terrible choice
When Hitler invades Czechoslovakia, Alfred is given an ultimatum by the Czech Resistance. They will arrange for him to return to England, but only if he leaves his son Hugh behind as collateral.

A young boy stranded in Nazi terrain
Hugh is soon taken under the wing of a Nazi colonel Helmuth Scholl. But even though Scholl treats Hugh well, his son, Heinz, is suspicious of this foreigner. And as the war across the continent intensifies, they are set on a path that will ultimately lead towards destruction

Reviews

An epic, punchy thriller from a fantastic storyteller The Times

Praise for Andrew Taylor:

If you like C. J. Sansom, or Hilary Mantel, youll love Andrew Taylor Peter James

Effortlessly authentic gripping moving and believable. An excellent work C. J. Sansom

'Taylor has long been the pre-eminent chronicler of beautifully atmospheric historical crime' The Times

A breathtakingly ambitious picture of an era Financial Times

This is how historical crime should be written, with rich authenticity underpinning a twisting plot The Times

One of the most reliably enjoyable of historical novelists The Sunday Times

An atmospheric pleasure, full of twists and memorable characters The Times

With a fast-moving, complex plot underpinned by solid but unobtrusive research and plenty of drama and intrigue, Taylor brings the 17th century to life so vividly that one can almost smell it Guardian

Once again, Taylor combines his detailed research with a deviously twist-laden storyline Observer

A most artful and delightful book, that will both amuse and chill, and it will have you desperate to search out a quiet corner to continue your acquaintance with it Daily Telegraph

'Taylor's mastery of plot and character show to great effect in a story that has a depth few other historical crime novels can match' Sunday Times

'A hugely engaging, atmospheric historical thriller with not one but two smart and lovable protagonists. Andrew Taylor is one of our finest storytellers' Antonia Hodgson

Andrew Taylors historical crime novels have proved a benchmark for the genre Mick Herron, bestselling author of Slow Horses

Taylor remains to my mind at the top of the list of historical novelists writing in English today Reviewing the Evidence

Author Bio

Andrew Taylor is the author of a number of novels, including the Dougal and Lydmouth crime series, the historical thrillers Bleeding Heart Square and The Anatomy of Ghosts, the ground-breaking Roth Trilogy, which was adapted into the acclaimed drama Fallen Angel, and The American Boy, his No. 1 bestselling historical novel which was a 2005 Richard & Judy Book Club choice. He has won many awards, including the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger, an Edgar Scroll from the Mystery Writers of America, the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Award (the only author to win it twice) and the CWA's prestigious Diamond Dagger, awarded for sustained excellence in crime writing. He also writes for the Spectator. He lives with his wife Caroline in the Forest of Dean.