Epitaph for a Spy cover art

Epitaph for a Spy

Penguin Modern Classics

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Josef Vadassy, a Hungarian refugee and language teacher living in France, is enjoying his first break for years in a small hotel on the Riviera. But when he takes his holiday photographs to be developed at a local chemists, he suddenly finds himself mistaken for a Gestapo agent and a charge of espionage is levelled at him. To prove himself innocent to the French police, he must discover which one of his fellow guests at his pension is the real spy. As he desperately tries to uncover the true culprit's identity, Vadassy must risk his job, his safety and everything he holds dear.

©1938 Eric Ambler (P)2020 Penguin Audio Espionage Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense

Critic reviews

If you want to experience the feel of the Continent in the 1930s, you will find few better guides (Robert Harris)
Unquestionably our best thriller writer (Graham Greene)
The source on which we all draw (John le Carré)
All stars
Most relevant
The twists and turns of the story and the way the characters are developed and reveal themselves

Highly engaging

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Unfortunately the book doesn’t stand the test time. Additionally, I found it quite boring in places.

Fran

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I adore Eric Ambler but (and I am sorry to say it because it sounds really mean) the narration ruined it for me. The narrator went over the top giving every character ridiculous accents. It took me out of the story and had me focussed (and irritated) by the various "impressions" being done.

I couldn't finish this....

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