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Men at War #7
The Spymasters
Summer 1943. Two of the Allies' most important plans for winning World War II are at grave risk--Operation Overlord's invasion of France, and the Manhattan Project's race to build the atomic bomb. A furious FDR turns to OSS spy chief Wild Bill Donovan--and Donovan turns to his top agent, Dick Canidy, and his team. They've certainly got their work cut out for them.
In the weeks to come, they must fight not only the enemy in the field--including figuring out how to sabotage Germany's new "aerial torpedo" rockets--but the enemy Someone is feeding Manhattan Project secrets to the Soviets. Moles are bad enough. But if the Soviets build their own atomic bomb . . . who knows where that might lead?
In the weeks to come, they must fight not only the enemy in the field--including figuring out how to sabotage Germany's new "aerial torpedo" rockets--but the enemy Someone is feeding Manhattan Project secrets to the Soviets. Moles are bad enough. But if the Soviets build their own atomic bomb . . . who knows where that might lead?
466 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2012
251 people are currently reading
719 people want to read
About the author
W.E.B. Griffin
273 books1,283 followersW.E.B. Griffin was one of several pseudonyms for William E. Butterworth III.
From the Authors Website:
W.E.B. Griffin was the #1 best-selling author of more than fifty epic novels in seven series, all of which have made The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and other best-seller lists. More than fifty million of the books are in print in more than ten languages, including Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, and Hungarian.
Mr. Griffin grew up in the suburbs of New York City and Philadelphia. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1946. After basic training, he received counterintelligence training at Fort Holabird, Maryland. He was assigned to the Army of Occupation in Germany, and ultimately to the staff of then-Major General I.D. White, commander of the U.S. Constabulary.
In 1951, Mr. Griffin was recalled to active duty for the Korean War, interrupting his education at Phillips University, Marburg an der Lahn, Germany. In Korea he earned the Combat Infantry Badge as a combat correspondent and later served as acting X Corps (Group) information officer under Lieutenant General White.
On his release from active duty in 1953, Mr. Griffin was appointed Chief of the Publications Division of the U.S. Army Signal Aviation Test & Support Activity at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Mr. Griffin was a member of the Special Operations Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Army Aviation Association, the Armor Association, and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Society.
He was the 1991 recipient of the Brigadier General Robert L. Dening Memorial Distinguished Service Award of the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, and the August 1999 recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, presented at the 100th National Convention in Kansas City.
He has been vested into the Order of St. George of the U.S. Armor Association, and the Order of St. Andrew of the U.S. Army Aviation Association, and been awarded Honorary Doctoral degrees by Norwich University, the nation’s first and oldest private military college, and by Troy State University (Ala.). He was the graduation dinner speaker for the class of 1988 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He has been awarded honorary membership in the Special Forces Association, the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, the Marine Raiders Association, and the U.S. Army Otter & Caribou Association. In January 2003, he was made a life member of the Police Chiefs Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and the State of Delaware.
He was the co-founder, with historian Colonel Carlo D’Este, of the William E. Colby Seminar on Intelligence, Military, and Diplomatic Affairs. (Details here and here)
He was a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. And he belongs to the Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Pensacola, Florida, chapters of the Flat Earth Society.
Mr. Griffin’s novels, known for their historical accuracy, have been praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer for their “fierce, stop-for-nothing scenes.”
“Nothing honors me more than a serviceman, veteran, or cop telling me he enjoys reading my books,” Mr. Griffin says.
Mr. Griffin divides his time between the Gulf Coast and Buenos Aires.
Notes:
Other Pseudonyms
* Alex Baldwin
* Webb Beech
* Walker E. Blake
* W.E. Butterworth
* James McM. Douglas
* Eden Hughes
* Edmund O. Scholefield
* Patrick J. Williams
* W. E. Butterworth
* John Kevin Dugan
* Jac
From the Authors Website:
W.E.B. Griffin was the #1 best-selling author of more than fifty epic novels in seven series, all of which have made The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and other best-seller lists. More than fifty million of the books are in print in more than ten languages, including Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, and Hungarian.
Mr. Griffin grew up in the suburbs of New York City and Philadelphia. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1946. After basic training, he received counterintelligence training at Fort Holabird, Maryland. He was assigned to the Army of Occupation in Germany, and ultimately to the staff of then-Major General I.D. White, commander of the U.S. Constabulary.
In 1951, Mr. Griffin was recalled to active duty for the Korean War, interrupting his education at Phillips University, Marburg an der Lahn, Germany. In Korea he earned the Combat Infantry Badge as a combat correspondent and later served as acting X Corps (Group) information officer under Lieutenant General White.
On his release from active duty in 1953, Mr. Griffin was appointed Chief of the Publications Division of the U.S. Army Signal Aviation Test & Support Activity at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Mr. Griffin was a member of the Special Operations Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Army Aviation Association, the Armor Association, and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Society.
He was the 1991 recipient of the Brigadier General Robert L. Dening Memorial Distinguished Service Award of the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, and the August 1999 recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, presented at the 100th National Convention in Kansas City.
He has been vested into the Order of St. George of the U.S. Armor Association, and the Order of St. Andrew of the U.S. Army Aviation Association, and been awarded Honorary Doctoral degrees by Norwich University, the nation’s first and oldest private military college, and by Troy State University (Ala.). He was the graduation dinner speaker for the class of 1988 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He has been awarded honorary membership in the Special Forces Association, the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, the Marine Raiders Association, and the U.S. Army Otter & Caribou Association. In January 2003, he was made a life member of the Police Chiefs Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and the State of Delaware.
He was the co-founder, with historian Colonel Carlo D’Este, of the William E. Colby Seminar on Intelligence, Military, and Diplomatic Affairs. (Details here and here)
He was a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. And he belongs to the Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Pensacola, Florida, chapters of the Flat Earth Society.
Mr. Griffin’s novels, known for their historical accuracy, have been praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer for their “fierce, stop-for-nothing scenes.”
“Nothing honors me more than a serviceman, veteran, or cop telling me he enjoys reading my books,” Mr. Griffin says.
Mr. Griffin divides his time between the Gulf Coast and Buenos Aires.
Notes:
Other Pseudonyms
* Alex Baldwin
* Webb Beech
* Walker E. Blake
* W.E. Butterworth
* James McM. Douglas
* Eden Hughes
* Edmund O. Scholefield
* Patrick J. Williams
* W. E. Butterworth
* John Kevin Dugan
* Jac
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
March 15, 2022
After rereading The Spymasters by W.E.B. Griffin I am now ready for Peter Kirsanow to release his continuation of this series. It will be released in December 2022. I hope Tom Colgan made a good choice and that the book is great but Tom usually picks a good writer. This book is mostly about the upoming invasion on Italy and the Germans newfangled V1 and V2 rockets but it still has all the fun dialogue that one expect from this author.
September 7, 2020
I have never before given a WEB Griffin book less than a five star review. This is a good book and a good read, but it is not quite up to his usual standards. In most of his books he has stuck with stuff he knows, the military and the wealthy, and, of course, wealthy people in the military. But, to successfully invade Sicily the OSS had to make a deal with the Mafia. Griffin did his homework, but he doesn't know either Italy or the Mafia intimately, and, no surprise, he doesn't like the Mafia much. As a result several important characterizations are somewhat sketchy. And, maybe this is present day political correctness, but I find the terms "wop" and "guinea" pretty jarring. Dick Canidy, the hero of thus series, is a bit of a wild man, but a pretty good guy. Here he comes across as something of an a-hole. I still recommend this book, with those reservations.
November 6, 2012
This is the latest (Volume 7) in the Men At War Series, which W.E.B. Griffin started back in 1984 and which his son is continuing. A good read--but I often wonder, when I read these accounts of frictional heroes who did things at pivotal points that changed history why some of the actual survivors of those times and battles do not rise up and cry havoc. I have to admit that realization that this is fiction and that therefore the reality of the events did not happen quite this way has a tendency to spoil the story for me, but it was an engrossing read, truly representative of the Griffin style … from frequent tumbles in bed with willing women to the high consideration of fine liquor (in this case Haig & Haig Pinch Scotch Whiskey).
The plot is that Dick Canidy, still ready for derring-do as he and Wild Bill Donovan create the OSS (Office of Strategic Services), the forerunner to the CIA, discovers that the radio man he left behind in Palermo to provide information on Axis movements (and who was quite willing to be left behind after seeing the beautiful Andrea, sister to some boatmen who have ties all the way to Lucky Luciano) has been replaced by someone who does not transmit code as well. Despite orders from Eisenhower to the contrary, therefore, Canidy decides to go find out what's happening, and takes along with him a young radio man who suffers from claustrophobia and therefore cannot go by submarine, so they parachute in. Meanwhile, von Braun is building the V-1 rockets that Hitler expects to defeat the British, and it turns out one of the Nazi's plans is to stuff them full of poison gas instead of explosives. The plot gets involved and becomes pretty much of a page-turner, despite the plodding Griffin style.
The plot is that Dick Canidy, still ready for derring-do as he and Wild Bill Donovan create the OSS (Office of Strategic Services), the forerunner to the CIA, discovers that the radio man he left behind in Palermo to provide information on Axis movements (and who was quite willing to be left behind after seeing the beautiful Andrea, sister to some boatmen who have ties all the way to Lucky Luciano) has been replaced by someone who does not transmit code as well. Despite orders from Eisenhower to the contrary, therefore, Canidy decides to go find out what's happening, and takes along with him a young radio man who suffers from claustrophobia and therefore cannot go by submarine, so they parachute in. Meanwhile, von Braun is building the V-1 rockets that Hitler expects to defeat the British, and it turns out one of the Nazi's plans is to stuff them full of poison gas instead of explosives. The plot gets involved and becomes pretty much of a page-turner, despite the plodding Griffin style.
April 25, 2015
Pretty fun read, quick and easy, scenes with FDR and Wild Bill Donovan, Werner von Braun and others were interesting.
February 17, 2018
This is the 7th book in Griffin's Men at War series, stories of the WWII Office of Strategic Services. This book continues the story of agent Dick Canidy's infiltration of Sicily prior to the Allied invasion of the island in 1943. The end of book six saw two of Canidy's team, an OSS radio operator, Tubes, and a Sicilian cooperator working on the island. Then, it appeared that the team was in trouble and the radio man perhaps forced to act as a double agent for the Nazis, or worse.
Here, Canidy and a new radio operator who determined that Tubes was no longer the person transmitting. The reentry by air is exciting and unexpectedly heroic, but followed by difficulties in contacting the missing original team in Palermo.
The book shifts between views of the action in Algiers where Canidy is operating from for this story, Sicily, and Germany where the Nazi side of the story is unfolding. The latter involves Nazis who are looking to subvert Hitler and end the war. One of these is an SS officer whom is to be killed or brought out alive, in part to influence his industrialist father in his efforts to sabotage
von Braun's rocket program. Lots of moving parts in which coincidence, a favorite plot strategy of Griffin's, makes numerous appearances.
While the book provides a tale well told, the book lets lapse a number of plot lines in the series. There is no mention of the operative in the Philippines behind Japanese lines, or the plan to rig explosive laden B-17s for remote control operation to take out submarine pens (a story line incorporating young Joe Kennedy), or what another key character, Eric Fulmar is doing. It is now
over five years since this book was published, but the author's website gives no indication of a new book in the series. I hope the various unfinished stories are not being left to die.
Here, Canidy and a new radio operator who determined that Tubes was no longer the person transmitting. The reentry by air is exciting and unexpectedly heroic, but followed by difficulties in contacting the missing original team in Palermo.
The book shifts between views of the action in Algiers where Canidy is operating from for this story, Sicily, and Germany where the Nazi side of the story is unfolding. The latter involves Nazis who are looking to subvert Hitler and end the war. One of these is an SS officer whom is to be killed or brought out alive, in part to influence his industrialist father in his efforts to sabotage
von Braun's rocket program. Lots of moving parts in which coincidence, a favorite plot strategy of Griffin's, makes numerous appearances.
While the book provides a tale well told, the book lets lapse a number of plot lines in the series. There is no mention of the operative in the Philippines behind Japanese lines, or the plan to rig explosive laden B-17s for remote control operation to take out submarine pens (a story line incorporating young Joe Kennedy), or what another key character, Eric Fulmar is doing. It is now
over five years since this book was published, but the author's website gives no indication of a new book in the series. I hope the various unfinished stories are not being left to die.
November 30, 2018
This is (apparently) the last in the Men at War series, unfortunately. Warning note: I love all the military-themed series written by the Griffin/Butterworth team. This book involves events leading up to the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943/44, and also the now little-publicized German development and potential use of nerve agents in WWII. The usual intrepid OSS agents, led in the field by Dick Canidy, are involved in securing the clandestine American radio station in Sicily before the Allied invasion, while the OSS brass are working to gain intelligence of German activities in Germany. The usual thrilling heroics are performed, with the continued insights into the characters of the people involved, and how they continue to perform tasks that are not always to their liking, but are necessary to the war effort. Griffin's characterized tend to fit into various stereotypes which are basically the same in all the series, but that doesn't (for me) detract from the story-telling.
January 24, 2025
My Putnam edition only had 447 pages.
Another good addition to the series. It's bit nice to get a bit more about Dick Canidy and also some of the other characters around him.
One thing I noticed is that the back cover mentioned that someone is feeding Manhattan Project secrets to the Soviets. However, that was either missed in the book or was such a minor point that I missed it. Pretty well most of this book was focused on gas and V1/V2 rockets.
That aside, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one in the series.
Another good addition to the series. It's bit nice to get a bit more about Dick Canidy and also some of the other characters around him.
One thing I noticed is that the back cover mentioned that someone is feeding Manhattan Project secrets to the Soviets. However, that was either missed in the book or was such a minor point that I missed it. Pretty well most of this book was focused on gas and V1/V2 rockets.
That aside, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one in the series.
October 23, 2018
Thoughts on the series as a whole. The early books are pretty standard Griffin. You know exactly what you are getting. A bunch of Gary Sue military men doing manly things. Throw in a few one-dimensional females for the men to awaken the sexuality of. Rinse, wash, repeat. Its stupid but the well done kinda stupid. Man, why he bothered picking things back up though over a decade later is beyond me, as the last several books are just godawful. Skip 'em.
November 22, 2019
W.E.B. Griffin (bless his soul) has entertained me for years. With the completion of The Spymasters, I have now read every series books that he wrote.
I was not disappointed. It was exciting with various twists and turns. Great characters and fantastic story. He makes it all come to life.
His storytelling will truly be missed.
I was not disappointed. It was exciting with various twists and turns. Great characters and fantastic story. He makes it all come to life.
His storytelling will truly be missed.
September 24, 2021
general comment for this series
The books are informative and read easily. However for a person reading all 7, there is too much repetition from the other books in the series. For instance Book 6 didn’t begin the new plot until 50% through the book. Not sure I’ll continue with this author because of this repetition.
The books are informative and read easily. However for a person reading all 7, there is too much repetition from the other books in the series. For instance Book 6 didn’t begin the new plot until 50% through the book. Not sure I’ll continue with this author because of this repetition.
April 22, 2019
What a waste of time. 25% of the book was a repeat of previous books and activities. There was very little that materially happened in this book. This reminded me of why I don't read Patterson anymore. Try harder...
July 15, 2020
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July 14, 2018
A very exciting read! I'd like to get my hands on another from this series!
January 3, 2020
A very inreresting historical fiction novel! Well worth the money!
February 13, 2020
It is 1943 and follows the American spies in Italy.
September 17, 2020
The last book in the “Men at War” series! Exceptional!!!!
October 10, 2022
Great book.
November 7, 2022
A very good historical detailing allied intelligence efforts in the Italian theater during the period just before the landings in Italy and ultimately the Normandy invasion.
January 8, 2023
Interesting injection of the mafia into the plot but, distracting.
Concur with other, stick with what works and what you know. Looking forward to the final installment of this series.
Concur with other, stick with what works and what you know. Looking forward to the final installment of this series.
May 12, 2023
Fantastic story! Exciting behind the scenes missions keep you turning the pages.
May 18, 2023
Well written, and I can see why he is a best selling author many times over.
July 2, 2024
action packed
Another riveting action packed story of the dark days of ww2 told in a rat a tat tat style. My second time thru and just as good as the first
Another riveting action packed story of the dark days of ww2 told in a rat a tat tat style. My second time thru and just as good as the first
August 19, 2012
I’ve read enough of the W.E.B. Griffin books that were actually written by his son, W.E.B. IV, to know better than to expect too much. The Spymasters was not any different. Too much dialogue between characters and no action. It’s not that WEB IV can’t write, he just doesn’t write with the same intensity as his father. To put a point on it, his books are just plain boring when compared to his father’s style with the same characters and plot lines.
I’ve been reading W.E.B. Griffin’s Men At War series since Griffin, writing under the name Alex Baldwin, first started in in the mid 80’s. It’s been five years since there was a book in this series. That’s the only reason I bothered with this.
I’m not going to tell anyone who is a fan of this series to not bother. That wouldn’t be fair. I will tell anyone who has not read any of the earlier books to go to the beginning and start the series there. Enjoy what Alex Baldwin (W.E.B. Griffin) had in mind when he started this so many years ago.
On the plus side, W.E.B. IV is pretty good at research. There were several items of interest to me in all of the fluff that IV puts in the books to expand the page count.
December 25, 2012
This is the latest installment in the Men at War series. I have read all of Griffin's books. My very favories are the Brotherhood of War, The Corps and Badge of Honor series.
Griffin always incorporates real people and events with fictional characters. In the spymasters - which takes place in the European theater in 1943, there are Bill Donovan, Allan Dulles, FDR, Eisenhower and all of the German bad guys as well as some traitors to the Allies.
The OSS is the forerunner to the CIA. There is a covert operation to prevent Von Braun's nerve gas torpedo from being launched.
Much of the action takes place in occupied Palermo, Sicily during June 1943 with the assistance of Local women and some of the mob.
Griffin always incorporates real people and events with fictional characters. In the spymasters - which takes place in the European theater in 1943, there are Bill Donovan, Allan Dulles, FDR, Eisenhower and all of the German bad guys as well as some traitors to the Allies.
The OSS is the forerunner to the CIA. There is a covert operation to prevent Von Braun's nerve gas torpedo from being launched.
Much of the action takes place in occupied Palermo, Sicily during June 1943 with the assistance of Local women and some of the mob.
June 11, 2013
I love W.E.B. Griffin books and can't wait for new ones to come out, but his last few have begun to drag. He repeats far too much information I already knew from the last book that doesn't really impact the current book and could be left out. I think the repetitiveness and minutiae is beginning to pall and I probably won't bother with new additions to any of his established series unless I can borrow them from the library on CD to listen to in the car. I wish he'd start a new series with totally new characters and leave off repeating himself.
September 28, 2022
I just finished this second reading of this entire series. This novel focuses on certain events that could have changed the outcome of WWII had the timing of those events changed by a few months. Or maybe if Hitler had just a little bit less psychotic and more patient, then ?? And again, Mr. Griffin juggles multiple factions on each side working against each other to help the other side; intentionally (or sometimes unintentionally) sabotaging the other side. It really makes your head spin (in a fun way).
October 7, 2012
"The Spymasters" is an improvement over the last two books in this series, but still lacking the "oomph" of the first four books. Perhaps I'm a bit jaded on the W.E.B. Griffin formula? Given the scope of OSS activities during WWII, there is plenty of potential fuel out there for future books. Hope this series gets some of its "bang" back, and doesn't fizzle to conclusion like Griffin's Marine Corps series did.
March 12, 2013
It's been a while since I've read from the Man at War series by Griffin. Luckily a good portion of the book is spent reminding the reader of who's who and where the story was left off. This is the story of the OSS in Europe/North Africa. At this point, Sicily is about to be invaded but Canidy and his crew need to do a little work there beforehand. A typical Griffin novel in that the work goes into presenting the problem and then the end is rushed through since the build up was so detailed.
May 30, 2015
The Spymasters contains three interlocking track about intelligence operations and guerrilla warfare leading up to the invasion of Sicily. It is believed that an American OSS team in Sicily has been compromised. In Poland resistance fighters are trying to rescue Jews destined for slave labor camps. And in Switzerland, Allen Dulles is trying to compromise a German industrialist. While a good read, the story does not have the intensity of earlier books by Griffin and his son.
August 29, 2012
Really good book, but it seemed like they got tired of writing and just wrapped it up. A great story up till the last 20 pages or so, when all of a sudden, it's over. This seems to characterize many of Griffin and son's latest works, which I don't understand in light of the earlier, almost exhaustive works. Worth a read, but I'm a little disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews