Trapeze

This is one of those fantastic wartime spy novels that I can't put down. Adventurous, but somewhat naive, Marian Sutro, signs up to be an English spy, tasked to assist the Resistance in France. The book shows, in great detail, her training and gradual maturing, her coming of age in love and war. Then they send her off to parachute into France to support one group of fighters, but also, to arrange for the exfiltration of an atomic scientist (who happens to be a one-time love interest of hers) from dangerous Nazi-occupied Paris. Mawer builds in an enormous amount of suspense and psychological intrigue. He has an extremely deft touch when it comes to describing the life of a female spy in an occupied country. His knowledge of tradecraft of the period is impressive. To my mind, he is certainly the equal of Alan Furst and a few other masters of the WWII spy genre. If you want a good, irrestible and somewhat offbeat World War II spy novel and love story, you could do a lot worse than this able offering by master wordsmith Simon Mawer.

I really liked the book, particularly toward the end, but the author failed to develop some of the relationships between characters that made subsequent events appear artificial. Besides that, it is a great spy story with a dramatic ending. SPOILER ALERT -- some plot twists are revealed below but not the dramatic conclusion. The relationship between the main character and both of her lovers were undeveloped, particularly her fellow commando. She went from "I don't want to parachute into France as a virgin" (never saying why) and immediately into bed with him and then giving him the cold shoulder in just a few paragraphs. He was clearly not a "one night stand" but someone she cared about--particularly as the story develops. I think the author could have given us just a bit more insight into her thinking. Even now, I don't know why it was so important that she not go back as a virgin. If it was an important point--tell us why. If not, don't confuse us. Her relationship with her older professor lover was also undeveloped until nearly the end. Throughout the first half of the book she often gushes, "Clement" as if a prayer, but the exact nature of the relationship doesn't come through until nearly the end. Finally, her relationship with France itself is not really developed until the end. Her final argument with Clement about doing something for France by going to England to develop an atomic bomb to help end the war is suddenly filled with a patriotism not previously shown, particularly since she is from Switzerland. Did she parachute into occupied France out of patriotism, for Clement, or for both? We don't really know until the last chapter. Having said all that, I really liked the action sequences. Having lived in Paris for almost three years, I found the descriptions of particular sites spot on and the description of the constant stress living as a spy in the occupied city very believable. The book is worth reading just for these scenes. Bottom line: could use some character development, but the action sequences and thrilling chase scenes are well-worth the price of this novel.

So much potential, difficult to say whether this book is really worth reading, as it is more like half a novel, the author has created a wonderful foundation in so many aspects, yet does his protagonist and his readers a disservice with a hasty conclusion and two broken promises. Disappointing because the majority of the span of this story is so nicely rendered; then late in the game we are teased with an imminent payoff in the form of a planned mission, explicitly promised and involving a key character, but it is simply not included, it's sadly evident that the writer simply put in so much work in research and development and emotional investment that he couldn’t be bothered to do the work of writing a full third act. It’s his choice to create an ironic ending, however in this case he’s obviously confused about his role, he dodges the responsibility of writing through the final sweep of the characters’ journey and simply chooses a kitschy, gratuitous and abrupt ending that yet again is evidence of writing fatigue, transparent and disrespectful. If an author can lay the foundation, develop the nuances and build up momentum and suspense, establish a character web and bring us into the story, why not do the work of developing a complete story? Finally, having implicitly promised the reader a tangible denouement, he pulls the rug out, apparently thinking that it will somehow appear graceful by subverting the expectation of a Hollywood ending, yet the conclusion we are offered after so much buildup is simply clumsy, lazy and cliché in its own pathetically abbreviated broad strokes, immensely disappointing after so much subtle literary underpainting. As an avid reader of the works of John Le Carré, I can appreciate the artful subtext, the musical chairs, ambiguous genre sleight-of-hand, and an ironic, contrary or tragic conclusion, however Simon Mawer fails to meet that standard, since the ending must be earned, the material delivered in completion, and the organic arc, foundation and spine of the story satisfied, otherwise it is doubly disappointing by having to witness so much potential squandered.

The plot moves along at breakneck speed....this man can really write! I'd just finished his novel "The Glass Room," a serious book which I admired. This is the best sort of escape reading... meticulous attention to the details of spy craft that never gets in the way of the narrative drive.

Really enjoyed this holiday read, with a great twist at the very end....not expected but so simple. Mawer writes well...always enjoy his books. Why did they change the name for UK publication - Trapeze is much better and ties in with the story

Purchased as addition to my Simon Mawer collection BUT it turned out to be identical texzt to oine already purchased - no reference from one to the other!

I love it but have stopped reading it at the moment and have ordered the book that comes before it so that I can keep Marian's life in order!

If this book was an attempt to celebrate the heroism of female members of the SOE during WWII, it failed. The story lacks any place and drags along at inordinately slow pace. The characters are lightly sketched and have no form or depth to them and there is very little description or interesting dialogue: a lot of navel-gazing does not make an interesting story. SOE training was looked at but not with enough depth or understanding. This is not a thriller in the true sense of the word. I was very dissapointed with this (lack of) effort.