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A Time Without Shadows
A group of British agents working with the French Resistance against the Germans are annihilated, possibly on orders from Churchill himself
289 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1990
5 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Ted Allbeury
167 books43 followers1917 - 2005. Also wrote under the pseudonyms Richard Butler and Patrick Kelly.
Ted Allbeury was a lieutenant-colonel in the Intelligence Corps during World War II, and later a successful executive in the fields of marketing, advertising and radio. He began his writing career in the early 1970s and became well known for his espionage novels, but also published one highly-praised general novel, THE CHOICE, and a short story collection, OTHER KINDS OF TREASON. His novels have been published in twenty-three languages, including Russian. He died on 4th December 2005.
See also: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/j...
and
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/t...
Ted Allbeury was a lieutenant-colonel in the Intelligence Corps during World War II, and later a successful executive in the fields of marketing, advertising and radio. He began his writing career in the early 1970s and became well known for his espionage novels, but also published one highly-praised general novel, THE CHOICE, and a short story collection, OTHER KINDS OF TREASON. His novels have been published in twenty-three languages, including Russian. He died on 4th December 2005.
See also: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/j...
and
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/t...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 17, 2025
The plot is probably worth four stars, but although Ted Allbeury writes a great story, he hadn’t the literary skills to turn it into great literature.
I always enjoy his books and I can tell that he draws extensively on his own experiences. Should I have awarded four stars?
I always enjoy his books and I can tell that he draws extensively on his own experiences. Should I have awarded four stars?
November 1, 2021
Told by a writer with intricate experience as a spy in WW2 and it really showed through in the writing. A convincing, authentic and genuine account of an investigation into whether or not there was a deliberate betrayal of a WW2 SOE (Special Operations Executive) network named 'Scorpio'. A rather complex but satisfying read which this person would rate 3.75 rounded up to four stars.
In the story, the reader will find that the alleged betrayal happened some forty years ago and the only survivor was a Frenchman, Henri Masson. A young bright eyed SIS (Secret Intelligence Service: MI6) agent, Harry Chapman, has been put on the case in the 1980's, by a 'little man in a brown suit', Travers, his superior. The story was told in two parts: the first part took the reader back during the war where the alleged betrayal occurred and the second and far more interesting part was about the stories about the characters that were brought back from the past and the characters, not just the Chapman character, that were on the case in the 1980's. You see, as with most spy novels, there were eyes watching and people lurking in the shadows. Whilst Chapman might be the only person on the case that didn't mean there weren't other people watching with interest. Don't get too caught up with all the different characters in the first half of the story. Instead, just remember Chapman as a shining light in a bleak, grey, mirky cold war landscape 'turning over a few rocks to see if any thing was there'.
Actually, not too different from, "A Wilderness of Mirrors" which this reader would also recommend. Read both if you want, but one or the other would probably suffice. Both got four stars from this reader.
Ted Allbeury wrote a staggering 42 novels and used two other pen names ~ Richard Butler and Patrick Kelly as well. Here are 26 read’s from Allbeury, all rated accordingly:
THE GOOD (Four to Five Stars): 'A Wilderness of Mirrors', 'A Time Without Shadows' aka 'Rules of the Game, 'The Only Good German' aka ‘Mission Berlin’, 'The Dangerous Edge', ‘Palomino Blonde’, ’The Crossing' aka ‘The Berlin Exchange’, 'Seeds of Treason', 'Other Kinds of Treason', 'Special Forces' aka 'Moscow Quadrille', the feel good, 'The Girl From Addis', 'Pay Any Price' and the rather exceptional, and this person's favourite, 'The Line-Crosser' (published in 1993).
THE AVERAGE: (Two or Three Stars): Some other novels that this person thought were either bad, average or only okay were: 'Show Me a Hero', 'Aid and Comfort', 'No Place to Hide' aka ‘Hostage’, ‘The Reckoning’, ’The Twentieth Day of January’ a.k.a. ‘Cold Tactics’, 'The Reaper' aka 'The Stalking Angel' and ‘Deep Purple’.
THE UGLY (One Star): It’s, however, probably best to stay away from: ‘Aid and Comfort’, ‘The Assets' aka “Due Process’, 'The Secret Whispers’, 'The Alpha List', ’Consequences of Fear' aka ‘Smokescreen’ and ’The Spirit of Liberty' aka ‘Beyond the Silence’. He also wrote, ’The Choice' which is not espionage and this reader thought (even though it was critically acclaimed) not a good one. Cheers.
In the story, the reader will find that the alleged betrayal happened some forty years ago and the only survivor was a Frenchman, Henri Masson. A young bright eyed SIS (Secret Intelligence Service: MI6) agent, Harry Chapman, has been put on the case in the 1980's, by a 'little man in a brown suit', Travers, his superior. The story was told in two parts: the first part took the reader back during the war where the alleged betrayal occurred and the second and far more interesting part was about the stories about the characters that were brought back from the past and the characters, not just the Chapman character, that were on the case in the 1980's. You see, as with most spy novels, there were eyes watching and people lurking in the shadows. Whilst Chapman might be the only person on the case that didn't mean there weren't other people watching with interest. Don't get too caught up with all the different characters in the first half of the story. Instead, just remember Chapman as a shining light in a bleak, grey, mirky cold war landscape 'turning over a few rocks to see if any thing was there'.
Actually, not too different from, "A Wilderness of Mirrors" which this reader would also recommend. Read both if you want, but one or the other would probably suffice. Both got four stars from this reader.
Ted Allbeury wrote a staggering 42 novels and used two other pen names ~ Richard Butler and Patrick Kelly as well. Here are 26 read’s from Allbeury, all rated accordingly:
THE GOOD (Four to Five Stars): 'A Wilderness of Mirrors', 'A Time Without Shadows' aka 'Rules of the Game, 'The Only Good German' aka ‘Mission Berlin’, 'The Dangerous Edge', ‘Palomino Blonde’, ’The Crossing' aka ‘The Berlin Exchange’, 'Seeds of Treason', 'Other Kinds of Treason', 'Special Forces' aka 'Moscow Quadrille', the feel good, 'The Girl From Addis', 'Pay Any Price' and the rather exceptional, and this person's favourite, 'The Line-Crosser' (published in 1993).
THE AVERAGE: (Two or Three Stars): Some other novels that this person thought were either bad, average or only okay were: 'Show Me a Hero', 'Aid and Comfort', 'No Place to Hide' aka ‘Hostage’, ‘The Reckoning’, ’The Twentieth Day of January’ a.k.a. ‘Cold Tactics’, 'The Reaper' aka 'The Stalking Angel' and ‘Deep Purple’.
THE UGLY (One Star): It’s, however, probably best to stay away from: ‘Aid and Comfort’, ‘The Assets' aka “Due Process’, 'The Secret Whispers’, 'The Alpha List', ’Consequences of Fear' aka ‘Smokescreen’ and ’The Spirit of Liberty' aka ‘Beyond the Silence’. He also wrote, ’The Choice' which is not espionage and this reader thought (even though it was critically acclaimed) not a good one. Cheers.
May 16, 2020
A Time Without Shadows was a very satisfying read; a complex plot starting with some obscure events of SOE in France in 1943 leading to an even more obscure SIS inquiry in 1986. I thought this novel was quite similar to The Lonely Margins, yet different enough to be worth reading. Just that couple of coincidences too much which help unlock the resolution of the plot; but then again, without them it would have taken a couple hundred pages more to get there, so in the balance that’s alright.
What’s good is there are no shootouts in the book, no fistfights, no car chasing....just a lot of brain grease and some leg work, eg the simple ingredients of a genuine, good old espionage novel.
This is Ted Allbeury in his top form, which is not always the case for this incredibly prolific writer whose works had a highly volatile quality, spanning from excellent to less than mediocre; so, for the readers approaching Allbeury from scratch, there is a risk of starting on the wrong foot and to stop there and this would be a shame as in his best clothes, Allbeury can be as good as Len Deighton. Some navigation guidance is therefore needed for handling properly Allbeury's body of work; here's my take on it.
Good/Very Good (4-5 stars): Seeds Of Treason (my personal favourite), The Other Side Of Silence, The Dangerous Edge, A Wilderness Of Mirrors, Moscow Quardille, The Only Good German, Shadow Of A Doubt, The Lonely Margin, The Line-Crosser, Beyond The Silence
About OK (3 stars): The Twelfth Day In January, The Crossing, The Lantern Network, Shadow Of Shadows
Not Worth (1-2 stars): Show Me A Hero, Deep Purple, No Place To Hide, The Girl From Addis, Pay Any Price, Snowball (these last two probably the worst)
What’s good is there are no shootouts in the book, no fistfights, no car chasing....just a lot of brain grease and some leg work, eg the simple ingredients of a genuine, good old espionage novel.
This is Ted Allbeury in his top form, which is not always the case for this incredibly prolific writer whose works had a highly volatile quality, spanning from excellent to less than mediocre; so, for the readers approaching Allbeury from scratch, there is a risk of starting on the wrong foot and to stop there and this would be a shame as in his best clothes, Allbeury can be as good as Len Deighton. Some navigation guidance is therefore needed for handling properly Allbeury's body of work; here's my take on it.
Good/Very Good (4-5 stars): Seeds Of Treason (my personal favourite), The Other Side Of Silence, The Dangerous Edge, A Wilderness Of Mirrors, Moscow Quardille, The Only Good German, Shadow Of A Doubt, The Lonely Margin, The Line-Crosser, Beyond The Silence
About OK (3 stars): The Twelfth Day In January, The Crossing, The Lantern Network, Shadow Of Shadows
Not Worth (1-2 stars): Show Me A Hero, Deep Purple, No Place To Hide, The Girl From Addis, Pay Any Price, Snowball (these last two probably the worst)
November 18, 2020
The Author effortlessly creates the atmosphere of wartime France as ordinary people try to get on with their live while some patriots try create a Resistance against the occupying Germans. Phillip Maclean, a Scot living in France is desperately in love with a pretty French girl and misses evacuation as the Germans move in. He escapes clandestinely and is recruited by the SOE to head a resistance network south east of Paris. He's good in his job and is given greater responsibilities. Then one day, summoned to England, he is motivated to discard his cautious approach and go in for widespread sabotage. Meanwhile, he meets his girl, gets married to her and spends a few idyllic moments with her from time to time. The activity of the network is betrayed and it is rounded up by the Germans and the survivors sent to Auschwitz. Years later Harry Chapman of MI6 is asked to trace out the mystery of the betrayal of the Scorpio Network because an MP, the brother of one of the dead operatives, raises a question in Parliament. The journey of Chapman in tracing out the story of the Network is beautifully brought out by the Author. The pathos of all these idealistic figures stands out against the crass cynicism of people in authority for whom they are just expendables in the fight for the greater good. The Author brings out his expertise of the writing craft with a sure hand and one leaves the book with a tinge of sadness about a past era and all those valiant lives wasted. Worth reading.
March 4, 2022
I am currently re-reading several of Ted Allbeury's books, which had me captivated at the time. His writing is still skilful and pacey, but I find in some of his books the storytelling ages in a way that his contemporaries Le Carré, Price and Deighton don't. This is not one of them.
I am coming to the conclusion that his best work is that which draws most directly on his own experience during and after World War II. This falls into that group and focusses on a post-war effort to unravel the betrayal of a Special Operations Executive (SOE) network in France. It mixes in the bitter rivalry between SIS (MI6) and SOE, and blends fictional characters into real events in the manner of the best historical fiction.
Thematically, then, it has a certain amount in common with The Dangerous Edge. Both are worthwhile reads or re-reads. The world they describe feels real and relevant while some of his more imaginative works can seem a bit laboured in retrospect. Some of the phrasing is 'of its time' but less so than many others.
I am coming to the conclusion that his best work is that which draws most directly on his own experience during and after World War II. This falls into that group and focusses on a post-war effort to unravel the betrayal of a Special Operations Executive (SOE) network in France. It mixes in the bitter rivalry between SIS (MI6) and SOE, and blends fictional characters into real events in the manner of the best historical fiction.
Thematically, then, it has a certain amount in common with The Dangerous Edge. Both are worthwhile reads or re-reads. The world they describe feels real and relevant while some of his more imaginative works can seem a bit laboured in retrospect. Some of the phrasing is 'of its time' but less so than many others.
November 30, 2016
Ted Allbeury has been writing since the early 1970s and is best-known for his espionage novels which he wrote based on his experiences as an intelligence officer in Britain. He writes with a certain flair; he knows his subject and is always interesting. This book tells the story of a modern day investigation into the betrayal of a Resistance network during WW II run by a British arm of the forerunner of MI6 by another arm of the same British department. The book could have been written yesterday and not 17 years ago. Well written, wise; it reminded me of Alan Furst's wonderful spy novels set during WW II in Europe, especially Paris, where men risked their lives to fight the occupation of France by the Germans only to suffer constant setbacks and often death. Allbeury is not as good on atmosphere as Furst, but still a really intelligent, enjoyable thriller.
April 7, 2010
This is a real page turner. In the tradition of Robert Ludlow and the Jackdaws comes another novel of World War II with a detailed personal inside look at the French Resistance and British Intelligence.
January 5, 2016
What a good book about World War II.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews