Product Description

This book offers a superb thriller from the bestselling author Greg Iles. The Spandau Diary - what was in it? Why did the secret intelligence agencies of every major power want it? Why was a brave and beautiful woman kidnapped and sexually tormented to get it? Why did the entire history of World War II have to be rewritten as the future hung over a nightmare abyss? Takes the mystery of Rudolf Hess's unexplained flight to Scotland in the early years of World War II, and mixes it with a brilliant Fourth Reich nuclear conspiracy story, Iles out-Ludlums Ludlum!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #57680 in Books
• Published on: 1998-01-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 695 pages

Review
'A scorching read' - John Grisham. 'An incredible web of intrigue and suspense, an avalanche of action from first page to last' - Clive Cussler. 'Masterful action and suspense... a sizzling hot read' - Stephen Coonts. 'One of the great unsolved mysteries of World War II... a terrific thriller in the great tradition of Jack Higgins and Len Deighton... entirely plausible, totally engrossing... a remarkable, impressive novel.' - Nelson DeMille

Long but largely rewarding first thriller in which the apparent suicide of imprisoned Nazi Rudolf Hess sets the KGB, the Stasi, the CIA, Israelis, South Africans, and the Berlin police to chasing each other and some embarrassing papers - which may or may not have been written by Mr. Hess, who may or may not have been Mr. Hess. It's the late 80's, and the cracks in the Eastern bloc are just starting to show. Berlin is still controlled by the WW II Allied powers, who've spent millions to keep Hess locked up in Spandau Prison. It was Hess who made the mysterious flight to England at the beginning of the war, supposedly to seek a separate peace through negotiations with sympathetic aristocrats. Now, the prisoner has hung himself. Or has he? He's certainly dead, but it may have been murder. There has always been doubt about his identity - and the Russians have always been strangely adamant about paroling the old fascist. Then, as Spandau is being razed, Hans Apfel, a young German policeman, finds a hidden sheaf of papers written in Latin by the old prisoner, a document that, if released, will prove immensely embarrassing to a number of people, including the British royal family, a good hunk of the British aristocracy, and far too many German policemen on both sides of the Iron Curtain. A long line forms to try to get the papers back from Apfel, who wants to sell them, and his pretty wife Ilse, who wants to turn them in. Things become terribly violent terribly quickly, and Hans has to accept help from his estranged father, the best cop in Berlin.... The central mystery, why Hess went to England and why so many people don't want the truth to get out, isn't quite interesting enough to last the great length here. It's up to a few heroic, middle-aged policemen to hang onto the reader. They're usually successful. (Kirkus Reviews)

About the Author
Greg Iles is the internationally bestselling author of nine highly acclaimed thrillers, including DARK MATTER and BLOOD MEMORY. He lives with his family in Natchez Mississippi, USA.

Customer Reviews

Tries to outdo Ludlum, but did not quite manage it!!!
The book is very long, 690 pages,but could have been reduced by a couple of hundred. An exciting book with an unusual theme, supposing that the long time prisoner in Spandau was not Rudolph Hess. At times it became all rather confusing and even having read it I am still having some difficulty in deciding who are the good guys and who are the bad. Despite its length I found it an exciting story which despite my reservations I found difficult to put down. Not a great deal of real character building, probably down to the fact there were too many!!

The best historical thriller ever
Greg Iles has managed to combine the historical espionage of authors such as Jack Higgins and Len Deighton with the techno-realism of Tom Clancy in Spandau Phoenix. Mr. Iles offers an intelligent trade to authors like Higgins, with sharply drawn characters, whether historical or fictional, in a way that Jack Higgins has never done. This book has the subtle feel of authenticity, whether Mr. Iles is describing the murky situation of post WWII international relations, or an assault on Horn's house in the Transvaal. I honestly have to say that this book ranks up there with The Day of the Jackal, The Manchurian Candidate, and all of the world's best thrillers. Congratulations, Mr. Iles! You've got me hooked!

Spandau Phoenix
This book is a must read for all. I could not put the book down. With every turn of the page there was a twist or a turn that was not expected.
If you only read one book this year read this book. Then check out other Greg Iles books they are brilliant.