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Today is our stop on the blog tour for Dead Ground by Graham Hurley
The start of Annie Wrenne`s tumultuous adventures occur when she is an art student in Madrid, just before the Spanish civil war breaks out. Fighting between Franco`s militia and the Republican armies becomes vicious as his army reaches the northern cities, so Annie, unable to study, volunteers as a nurse. Conditions worsen, with food and medicines scarce. After struggles with emotional entanglement at the hospital of La Paz, Annie becomes involved in caring for the many refugees fleeing the turmoil. One such Is Carlos “El Diablol” Ortega, badly wounded and begging in the street. She treats is severely scarred head and face but when he saves her life, she discovers that “El Diablo” is not at all what he presents himself to be. He introduces her to Tam Moncrieff, an MI5 agent - Annie has now entered the world of spies, working for England against the relentlessly advancing tide of Hitler`s Wehrmacht.
She makes friends with the foreign reporters who gather in La Florida hotel, gleaning information, both true and false to dispatch to her contacts at the embassy.
Simultaneously, on the enemy side, Admiral Canaris of the Abwehr, Hitler`s Secret Service, is covertly gathering intelligence around Spain, colluding with Franco as Germany is owed a debt for aiding him in his victory over the Republicans. Hitler`s ambition to conquer the whole of Europe by annexing The Rock –the historically impenetrable British fortress of Gibraltar. Operation Felix, must be successful. Canaris has doubts. He also doubts whether Franco will agree to such a move as he has always coveted Gibraltar as Spanish. Will Operation Felix succeed? What integral part will Annie and Ortega play in the plans?
Graham Hurley has thoroughly researched the facts encapsulated in this segment of history. He cleverly entwines the fictional characters within the dangerous and furtive activities of those dedicated to justice and freedom. I found this an absorbing read and felt the humanity of the characters throughout.
5 stars
Thank you to Poppy and Sophie at Ransom PR for including us. Check out the banner to follow the other stops on the tour.
