Synopses & Reviews
Can Magnus prove he is innocent of murder without implicating his brother? And can both men get to the heart of the twisted secrets that blighted their childhoods?
Oli and Magnus Jonson have spent years trying to escape from the shadows of their past. Raised by their grandparents in Bjarnarhöfn, a remote farmstead in Iceland, both brothers had to endure brutal violence at the hands of their grandfather. Now, two decades later, the past has returned to haunt them. When Constable Páll Gylfason gets a dispatch call to investigate a suspected homicide in a remote farmstead, he is surprised to find that Detective Jonson is already at the scene. Magnus identifies the dead man as his estranged grandfather. As Páll begins to review the crime scene it becomes apparent that forensic evidence has been tampered with and that Magnus' version of events doesn't add up. Before long, Magnus is arrested for the murder of his grandfather. When it emerges that his younger brother, Oli, is in Iceland after two decades in America, Páll begins to think that Magnus may not be the only family member in the frame for murder. What unfolds is a tale of familial ties and bloodthirsty vengeance, of isolated communities scarred by the tragedies of the past—and of a final, painful reckoning.
Review
"Brilliant! Loved it beginning to end. Traitor's Gate delivers on every level: the writing is typical top-calibre Ridpath, the pace relentless, the research impeccable, the characters compelling and beautifully crafted. Every page is a gem." —Craig Russell, author
Review
"Thought provoking and absorbing, Michael Ridpath's Traitor's Gate is a terrific alternate history thriller. It takes rare skill to inject so much suspense into a story with an outcome we thought we knew, but Ridpath's mix of wonderfully skilled plotting, fast paced narrative and atmospheric period detail combine to make this a compelling and hugely satisfying read." —Chris Ewan, author
Review
"A fascinating story, compellingly told." —Simon Brett, author
Review
"Michael Ridpaths novel carries all the hallmarks of his previous books, with the tension building ever-tighter as those brave enough try to prevent Germany spiralling towards its inevitable fate." —Daily Mail
Synopsis
Arriving in Nazi Germany, Englishman Conrad de Lancey feels sick at heart. Even Berlin - infamous haven of decadence and vice - salutes fascism. Himmler's black-shirted troops rule the city, and every German arm bears a Swastika. But does every German heart belong to Hitler?
When Conrad is arrested by the Gestapo on suspicion of spying, he is rescued by Theo, an old friend from university, now a lieutenant of the Wehrmacht. Together they are drawn into a world of danger and deceit, of plots, paranoia and intrigue where the brave few are united by a single ambition: to free the fatherland from the F hrer.
Synopsis
A nerve-shredding, intelligent thriller based around the first plot to kill Hitler, the story of a secret conflict ignited on the eve of World War II Conrad de Lancey has seen enough of evil: the shadow of fear on the faces of innocents; the roar of tanks through empty streets; the sudden lull before the slaughter begins. Franco's bloody insurrection taught this Englishman all about hell. Arriving in his mother's country, the now Nazi Germany, Conrad is sick at heart. Even Berlin—infamous haven of decadence and vice—salutes fascism. Himmler's black-shirted troops rule the city, and every German arm bears a swastika. But does every German heart belong to Hitler? When Conrad is arrested by the Gestapo on suspicion of spying, he is rescued by Theo, an old friend from college, now a lieutenant of the Wehrmacht. Together they are drawn into a world of danger and deceit, of plots, paranoia, and intrigue where the brave few are united by a single ambition: to free the fatherland from the Führer.
About the Author
Michael Ridpath is an author who spent eight years as a bond trader. His financial thrillers include Final Venture, Free to Trade, and Trading Reality.