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The Second Midnight

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About this listen

From the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author comes a World War Two tale of one boy’s fight for survival in Nazi Europe

A secret mission…
1939. As Europe teeters on the brink of war, Alfred Kendall is tasked with carrying out a minor mission for the British Intelligence Service. Travelling to Prague, he takes his troubled young son, Hugh, as cover.

A terrible choice…
When Hitler invades Czechoslovakia, Alfred is given an ultimatum by the Czech Resistance. They will arrange for him to return to England, but only if he leaves his son Hugh behind as collateral.

A young boy stranded in Nazi terrain…
Hugh is soon taken under the wing of a Nazi colonel – Helmuth Scholl. But even though Scholl treats Hugh well, his son, Heinz, is suspicious of this foreigner. And as the war across the continent intensifies, they are set on a path that will ultimately lead towards destruction…

©2019 Andrew Taylor (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
20th Century Action & Adventure Coming of Age Espionage Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Fiction Exciting War Imperialism

Critic reviews

‘An epic, punchy thriller from a fantastic storyteller’ The Times

Praise for Andrew Taylor:

‘If you like C. J. Sansom, or Hilary Mantel, you’ll love Andrew Taylor’ Peter James

‘Effortlessly authentic … gripping … moving and believable. An excellent work’ C. J. Sansom

'Taylor has long been the pre-eminent chronicler of beautifully atmospheric historical crime' The Times

‘A breathtakingly ambitious picture of an era’ Financial Times

‘This is how historical crime should be written, with rich authenticity underpinning a twisting plot’ The Times

‘One of the most reliably enjoyable of historical novelists’ The Sunday Times

‘An atmospheric pleasure, full of twists and memorable characters’ The Times

‘With a fast-moving, complex plot underpinned by solid but unobtrusive research and plenty of drama and intrigue, Taylor brings the 17th century to life so vividly that one can almost smell it’ Guardian

‘Once again, Taylor combines his detailed research with a deviously twist-laden storyline’ Observer

‘A most artful and delightful book, that will both amuse and chill, and it will have you desperate to search out a quiet corner to continue your acquaintance with it’ Daily Telegraph

'Taylor's mastery of plot and character show to great effect in a story that has a depth few other historical crime novels can match' Sunday Times

'A hugely engaging, atmospheric historical thriller with not one but two smart and lovable protagonists. Andrew Taylor is one of our finest storytellers' Antonia Hodgson

‘Andrew Taylor’s historical crime novels have proved a benchmark for the genre’ Mick Herron, bestselling author of Slow Horses

‘Taylor remains to my mind at the top of the list of historical novelists writing in English today’ Reviewing the Evidence

All stars
Most relevant
I really enjoyed Taylor's Marwood novels and was curious to see how he'd handle the shift from seventeenth to twentieth century - happy to say her was more thank equal you the challenge! Really well narrated too. Just the right amount of variation to differentiate the characters without histrionics and phoney accents

Excellent multilayered narrative

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Andrew Taylor has a gift for creating vivid pictures of a time in history and three-dimensional characters.
The narrator was brilliant.
I look forward to re-reading this novel many times in the future.
Thank you.

Original and engrossing story

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Good story well told, about a different war time, and the life after for interesting characters.

Good story we’ll told

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had listened to other works by author. very different setting but original and absorbing. I would recommend.

excellent listen

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I love Andrew Taylor’s books but this one is the best by far! The characters are so well drawn and the plot is exciting, drawing you in at each turn. I just didn’t want it to end! Its description of a boy surviving WW2does not do it justice as it is the story of his life and how events shape his future. The narrator was excellent bringing it all to life.

Brilliant

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