Riptide Paperback – April, 2002

John Lawton's Frederick Troy novels are some of the best writing I've read. Lawton draws you in slowly and purposefully using very well developed, rich and believable characters.War torn London is the backdrop to Riptide. A high ranking Nazi who was spying for the allies took his chance to fake his own death in Berlin and run for England. An American secret service man, working with a VERY London police sergeant, try to track him down and bring him in. The police sergeant is murdered by another American and ... well, you'll have to read the rest.Lawton's strength is his character development and his ability to color in a story with such clarity you can almost smell the setting. He knows London like the back of his hand and, I haven't researched his history but I'm almost positive he must have witnessed war-torn London.If you're new to Lawton's Inspector Troy series, I'd suggest Riptide be your starting point then move on to Black Out: An Inspector Troy Thriller Very well written and fully deserving of your time.Another reviewer commented that Riptide is another name for a Lawton novel: Fooling (or bluffing) Mr. Churchill. I add that only as reference so you don't get fooled.In summary: Pure Lawton. Extremely well developed and well rounded characters. Sure to engage you early on and keep you so.

This is one of the first "Inspector Troy's". The story is split into two halves. The first part has an American Army Officer teaming up with a Special Branch officer attempting to locate a high ranking Nazi who has been spying for the Allies. This spy has escaped to London after the Nazi's discover his duplicity. He is hiding in London rather than coming into his Controller because he does not trust anyone.The second part of the story is Troy's investigation into a several murders that occur during the search for the spy. The conclusion pulls the two parts together to result in a very satisfying readA good solid historical procedural. Lawton will not disappoint, his stories are well written and appear to be historically accurate from what I can locate through reading other sources..

Another great book in the Inspector Troy series. The only problem was that I already owned "Bluffing Mr Churchill"! Oh well, I'll pass it on to a friend. This is set in WWII and provides wonderfully researched detail. Lawton's books always have me getting out maps and research on his locales. Great stuff.

I find the books written by John Lawton very special and buy all the ones in which Frederick Troy appears. Troy was born in London, but the rest of the Troy family left Russia to come to London before he was born. Because of his family Troy speaks perfect Russian and in many situations understands what is being said by the Russians, but the Russian don't realize this. Khrushchev caught on that Troy knew Russian and they had an adventure together in London when the Russians came on a state visit to London. I loved it.

The only problem with reading a book by John Lawton is that it's almost impossible to find any other books that are as well written. I have tried and failed to get into 6 books since reading this one. Not a reason to avoid the book, but I must warn you. This man can write like almost no one else. The genre doesn't matter - this is top of the line writing.

I love this author's Frederick Troy novels, therefore I purchased all of them. Imagine my disappointment when this book was the SAME book as Bluffing Mr. Churchill as novel I had purchased as being the first Troy novel, and I like to read a series from start to finish. Wow, I started reading and, thought this sure sounds familiar!! And, it is the same novel??? Why did they publish this with two different names? Very frustrating. Be aware if you are a new fan of the Troy mysteries that you don't want to waste your money!!

Troy series start slowly as the characters are developed but the more it goes on the harder it is to put down , love them

Good read!! Good service on the delivery .