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Silesian Station. David Downing (2009)

by David Downing(Favorite Author)

3.95 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1905847580 (ISBN13: 9781905847587)

languge

English

genre

Mystery & Thriller

publisher

Old Street Publishing

series

John Russell

review 1: Although I enjoyed Zoo Station, the first book in the John Russell WWII espionage series from David Downing, I still had a few minor qualms, but I found this follow-up to be a step in the right direction. Where Zoo Station sometimes felt a little convenient and at times heavy handed in showing the evils of Nazism, Silesian Station does an excellent job of expanding upon the varying shades of Nazism among the Berliners Russell meets, as well as the many shades of resistance, and Russell juggles considerably more tasks than in his introductory tale too. War inches closer and the risks are higher than ever. Downing still loves to take you down every street, tram, and railway in Germany, naming them all and the corresponding stations and cafes, but I've gotten used to his deta... moreiled style after making the leap directly from Alan Furst's more atmospheric and literary espionage stories (although I admit I've found Furst's last couple lacking). Yes, Downing packs in a lot of details, a lot of characters, and a lot of challenges for John Russell, so many that there were scenes throughout the middle of the book where I wondered, Who is this again? Why is that important? What role does she play again? But it all comes together by third act, and this one had a bit more tension and "action" than the previous book too. All in all, an enjoyable, satisfying read, a step up from book one, and it already launched me into book three. When you're the author of a series, that's the main goal, isn't it? To keep the reader reading on to the next one? Mission accomplished, Mr. Downing.
review 2: This is the second of Downing's WWII espionage novels I've read, and I'll probably read more of them. I enjoy the straightforward writing style, and also the absence of atrocity set-pieces that are so commonly found in the genre. There is certainly action, and plot crisis-points, but much of the focus is on the experience of the characters. Downing isn't Le Carré, but no one else is, either, though Alan Furst sometimes can come close. less

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