Review - Stalin's Gold by Mark Ellis
By Carmen, 15 May 2021
Book Cover
Year Published: 2018
Genre: Crime; Historical Fiction; War
Blurb:
Josef Stalin has lost some gold. He is not a happy man. He asks his henchman Beria to track it down. September 1940 London.
Above the city the Battle of Britain rages and the bombs rain down. On the streets below, DCI Frank Merlin and his officers investigate the sudden disappearance of Polish RAF pilot Ziggy Kilinski while also battling an epidemic of looting unleashed by the chaos and destruction of the Blitz. Kilinski's fellow pilots, a disgraced Cambridge don, Stalin's spies in London, members of the Polish government in exile and a ruthless Russian gangster are amongst those caught up in Merlin's enquiries. Sweeping from Stalin's Russia to Civil War Spain, from Aztec Mexico to pre-war Poland, and from Hitler's Berlin to Churchill's London a compelling story of treasure, grand larceny, treachery, torture and murder unfolds.
Eventually as Hitler reluctantly accepts that the defiance of the RAF has destroyed his chances of invasion for the moment, a violent shoot-out in Hampstead leads Merlin on the final truth....and Stalin to his gold.
About the Author:
Mark Ellis is a thriller writer from Swansea and a former barrister and entrepreneur.
He is the creator of DCI Frank Merlin, an Anglo-Spanish police detective operating in World War 2 London. His books treat the reader to a vivid portrait of London during the war skilfully blended with gripping plots, political intrigue and a charismatic protagonist.
Mark grew up under the shadow of his parents' experience of the Second World War. His father served in the wartime navy and died a young man. His mother told him stories of watching the heavy bombardment of Swansea from the safe vantage point of a hill in Llanelli, and of attending tea dances in wartime London under the bombs and doodlebugs.
In consequence Mark has always been fascinated by WW2 and in particular the Home Front and the fact that while the nation was engaged in a heroic endeavour, crime flourished. Murder, robbery, theft and rape were rife and the Blitz provided scope for widespread looting.
Mark Ellis is a member of the Crime Writers Association. 'Merlin At War' was long-listed for the CWA Historical Dagger in 2018.
Connect with the Author:
Facebook: Mark Ellis Facebook
Twitter: Mark Ellis Twitter
Author Website: Mark Ellis Author Website
Buy the Book:
Amazon: Amazon Purchase Link
My Take on the Book:
The first thing I’ll say is that this is a character driven book. If you enjoy crime books that has WW2 weaved into it, and don’t mind the slow pace, you’ll enjoy this one.
I ended up giving this book a four star rating and got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Last Word:
I enjoyed reading another book by this author again.
Enjoy,
Carmen