An ok book, but not at all as good at the first one, [b:Then We Take Berlin|17347336|Then We Take Berlin (Joe Wilderness, #1)|John Lawton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377648161l/17347336._SY75_.jpg|24087534], so I am a bit disappointed. This takes place 15 years later when as Joe Wilderness is again sucked into the world of British Intelligence, but much of the book centers around two other characters. A Russian spy in England and a British spy in Moscow.

My overall impression is that the author is trying to find a middle ground between copying a previous success and writing a novel novel. In the end the book becomes a lot of independent fragment that don't form an interesting whole. ( )

LAWTON'S TROY SERIES IS 5 STAR, THIS SERIES IS NOT.

I am a huge fan of John Lawton, author of the seven book, Frederick Troy series. I am a so-so fan of John Lawton, author of the two (so far) book, Joe Wilderness series. In "The Unfortunate Englishman" Lawton does his usual thing of flashing back, flashing forward, and flashing to the present - but after a while I wasn't sure of when the present was. Early 60's? mid -60"s? Certainly not the early 50s nor the mid to late 40s. And there wasn't a pattern to these flashes, but then there never is. I grew used to it in the Troy series, even when book 5 might flash back to a time prior to the events of book 3. A few years from now I'll probably re-read the Troy series, I doubt I'll ever re-read the Joe W series, though I did have to pick up the first one again ("Then We Take Berlin") in the midst of the subject book just to refresh myself on events; I may not read #3 of Joe W, if there will be one.

I don't care for the Joe W characters. Joe himself is a bit of a cynic, out for himself. He expects the worst from everyone and isn't often disappointed. The only character with a worse mouth and attitude is his wife, Judy, daughter of Loe's boss, and mother of his two baby girls. Joe is too much the cliched Berlin spy, out in the cold too long, seen it all etc etc. And there's Frank, the ugly American, a mid-high level CIA guy. Contrast this with Frederick Troy who wants to enlist ( many of the timelines in that series fall between 1939-44) but is told his job as police inspector is too critical. Though Troy comes from money, he starts as an honest, hard working cop who rises through the ranks. For the most part he wants to do the right thing though he will occasionally bed a married woman).

"Englishman" is about a business man who volunteers to spy for MI6 while visiting post-WWll Russia. Part of the plot includes hijacking expensive French wine now legally owned by an ex-Nazi (or Nazi), and of course a spy swap on an East Berlin/West Berlin bridge, and there are passports all over the place, too. ( )

This book lacked the clean writing of Lawton's WWI series with Inspector Troy. It's full of twists and turns, most not plausible.but it makes for a good read. ( )