John Gardner Troubled Midnight

Troubled Midnight

John Gardner

Dunne, Mar 2006, $23.95, 272 pp.

ISBN: 0312337213

In 1943 in Wantage, England, someone tortures before killing Lieutenant-Colonel Tim Weaving and his lover; the bodies found in her cellar. Concern over this homicide is extremely high because Weaving has been a key participant in the planned D-Day invasion of the mainland.

Scotland Yard Reserve Squad lead the investigation, as much into who committed the killings and what did they learn from the late military officer. In spite of RS chief Tommy Livermore's chagrin, the War Office Intelligence Liaison Curry Shepherd takes over much of the inquiries claiming security. He also persuades Woman Detective Sergeant Suzie Mountford to switch sides at work, joining his team and in bed, dropping Livermore for her new boss. Still the concern remains whether top secret Operation Overlord has been breached.

This intriguing World War II espionage police procedural is a fine thriller that provides an interesting look at the pre D-Day planning. The who-done-it is more critical than just a double homicide investigation, as the allies need to capture the culprit to learn what he or she might know and who they divulged that information to. In her fourth appearance, Mountford remains a bit weak needing male rescuing, but in spite of her seemingly pathetic skills, John Gardner provides a fine historical spy story.