Second Violin cover art

Second Violin

An Inspector Troy Thriller

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Second Violin

By: John Lawton
Narrated by: Lewis Hancock
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About this listen

 March 1938. The Germans take Vienna without a shot being fired. Covering Austria for the English press is a young journalist named Rod Troy. Back home, his younger brother joins the CID as a detective-constable.

November 1938. Kristallnacht. The Jews leave Vienna - Sigmund Freud with an American escort on a sleeper train, Josef Hummel tied to the underside of a box car.

June 1940. Sergeant Troy is seconded to Special Branch to help round up the 'enemy' aliens, among who are Hummel and his brother Rod. Rod and Hummel are interned on the Isle of Man... Meanwhile a lunatic is killing Rabbis in the East End of London. Troy asks for time off from Special Branch to return to his true calling...Murder.

©2008 John Lawton (P)2008 Oakhill Publishing Ltd. Espionage Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Mystery Police Procedural Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense War & Military Military War Thriller Transportation

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Critic reviews

"One of the unsung (at least until now) heroes of the genre, as good as LeCarré." ( Chicago Tribune)
All stars
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excellent story, beautifully read, finished it too quickly.
I couldn't stop listening to this story; I found it a fascinating portrayal of Austria and England in 1939-40 when the Germans took over Vienna and then the start of WWII in London.

more please

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Lawton deserves to be better known, this is much much more than a thriller, more an enthralling history lesson with real and fictional characters. It puts you there on the spot, almost smelling the atmosphere and living in the period, posing lots of questions, particularly about the concept of identity, along the way.
This is actually the 1st Troy novel chronologically, a sort of "prequel" to Blackout (also set during World War II), which I'd read and Old Flames which, fortunately, I haven't yet but certainly will. Pity Audible do not appear to have it.
The narration was absolutely first class and added immeasurably to the experience. I am now buying Blue Rondo precisely because it is also read by Lewis Hancock - thank you for such a superb performance!

A great discovery

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Any additional comments?

Although one of the main characters is a policeman, this is not a police procedural. The focus of the book shifts from one character to another and from place to place, with only slight links between them. The murders that purport to be the subject of the book get dealt with only in the last quarter of the book and most of the book has nothing to do with them.

A word of praise for Lewis Hancock who has done an outstanding job with the narration.

Not quite what you might expect

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Very good book, full of interesting characters, dark and sombre in places, light and funny in others. A thoughtful, well written and engaging book with a narration that is timed to perfection. Top marks from me.

Best listen I have had for ages

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As a pice of war history this is very informative but also disturbing.As always it is well written and read. I was deeply engrossed.

War history more than crime.

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I found the Second Violin fascinating. True it dealt with the horrors of the Third Reich without pulling any punches but I do not think it does any of us any harm to be reminded of the consequences of racism and bigotry. If you enjoy stories based around the Second World War you will enjoy this audio book!

Gripping!

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This unusual and thoughtful book deals with the big themes: prejudice, heroism and sense of identity. Via the fictional Troy family the reader is taken through some of the most significant historical events of the twentieth century in a vivid and - at times - rightly horrifying manner. It provides the reader with a shocking insight into the casual racism of the 'thirties and 'forties. The characters are credible and the writing is detailed. It is not a conventional thriller in that the murder being investigated is not the central theme of the book, but nonetheless it does draw the reader in. However, where this fascinating book really does score is as a commentary on the zeitgeist of the period, and for those readers interested in this aspect I would unhesitatingly recommend it.

The narration is first rate too.

Engaging and Intelligent

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found this heavy listening at first but the seconed half was better

second violin

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This series spans a very wide period and the books don’t appear in chronological order. It’s very irritating.

This is one of the ‘early ones’ and although written in the Bush era, it’s perfect for our own time, mulling, as it does what it takes to belong; to a community, to a nation.

Please give us a clue of chronology

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I love anything set in wartime, story is full of the era's detail.....have read Lawton before..well worth a listen.

enjoyable listen

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