What do you think?
Rate this book
Spymaster Pym #1
Codename Lazarus: The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead
Spring 1938 and Great Britain is facing potentially lethal the looming war with Germany; the fear that her Secret Service has been penetrated by Nazi agents and the existence of hundreds of British citizens, who are keen to pass information to her enemies.
John King, a young academic, is approached by his Oxbridge mentor to participate in a stunning deception that would frustrate Britain’s enemies. As King struggles to come to terms with the demands of his mission, he must learn to survive in a dangerous and lonely ‘no man's land�, whilst remaining one step ahead of those in hot pursuit.
Adapted from a true story, ‘Codename Lazarus� takes the reader on a journey from the dark heart of Hitler’s Germany, across the snowy peaks of Switzerland to the horrors of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain and the London Blitz, before reaching a thrilling and decisive conclusion, from which none of those present emerges unscathed.
John King, a young academic, is approached by his Oxbridge mentor to participate in a stunning deception that would frustrate Britain’s enemies. As King struggles to come to terms with the demands of his mission, he must learn to survive in a dangerous and lonely ‘no man's land�, whilst remaining one step ahead of those in hot pursuit.
Adapted from a true story, ‘Codename Lazarus� takes the reader on a journey from the dark heart of Hitler’s Germany, across the snowy peaks of Switzerland to the horrors of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain and the London Blitz, before reaching a thrilling and decisive conclusion, from which none of those present emerges unscathed.
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2016
31 people are currently reading
547 people want to read
About the author
A.P. Martin
6books50followersOriginally from the North of England, since taking early retirement from my academic post, I’ve really enjoyed immersing myself in reading and writing. Essentially, I read purely for pleasure, and my single goal in writing is to produce books that people will thoroughly enjoy as a ‘cracking story.�
My first two novels are historical fiction, a genre which, in my view, almost always benefits from a close connection to something that actually happened. The inspiration for my first two books, Codename Lazarus and Spy Trap, came from little known, but truly incredible events from the Second World War. It gave me huge pleasure to adapt the courageous actions of two unsung heroes, into what, I hope, readers have experienced as exciting thrillers.
My third novel, Sentence of Death, represented an exciting new direction for me. It’s a crime thriller, set on Tyneside in the summer of 2016. Strangely, the basic framework for this book also comes from a real event in Gateshead at that time. I’ve always been a bit of a fan of crime fiction, and I hope that readers of this book agree that I’ve created an original plot for their entertainment.
I've just published my fourth book, 'Death of an Asylum Seeker,' which is the second in the Clavel & Snow thriller series.
I'm currently working on a third Second World War novel, featuring Bill Blake, John King and Professor Pym. As yet untitled, it once again takes a virtually unknown, but extremely important story of bravery, and adapts it into what I hope readers will find a thrilling adventure story.
Details of all my work and updates on my progress can be found on my website at
There is also a facility on the website for you to send me a private message and to sign up for a quarterly newsletter. It would be great to hear from you, either via the website, or via GoodReads!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
December 21, 2016
I really enjoyed the second half of this novel when the pace moved up a notch and there was much more danger and intrigue.
The first half seemed to follow along a well trodden path of stories written about the time leading up to WWII and I found the writing a little slow. I wanted to get on with the danger � the real spy stuff.
Martin uses real world events to create a sense of time and place but I found some famous names were dropped into the story that had no relevance to the scene or plot.
I liked how Martin tied the three main characters together, in a very convincing and believable way, for an explosive ending.
Worth a read for those new to spy thrillers but probably not for hardcore WWII buffs.
The first half seemed to follow along a well trodden path of stories written about the time leading up to WWII and I found the writing a little slow. I wanted to get on with the danger � the real spy stuff.
Martin uses real world events to create a sense of time and place but I found some famous names were dropped into the story that had no relevance to the scene or plot.
I liked how Martin tied the three main characters together, in a very convincing and believable way, for an explosive ending.
Worth a read for those new to spy thrillers but probably not for hardcore WWII buffs.
April 12, 2021
This debut novel is well written and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Set in 1938-1940 it successfully weaves a story of personal conflict with an imaginative and true British secret service deception. It makes great use of actual historical events and people and is obviously well researched.
The plot is well paced and reaches a plausible and satisfying conclusion.
The plot is well paced and reaches a plausible and satisfying conclusion.
July 27, 2017
Codename Lazarus is a very good spy story set alongside an excellent potted history of England and Germany during the approach to and early stages of the Second World War. However, you will need to be patient; stay with it and you will be rewarded.
A.P. Martin is a social historian who uses his knowledge and experience to good effect. As a backdrop he includes the major events of the time but the real joy of the work is his detail on everyday life in both England and Germany during those difficult times. He also provides a good insight into the political dilemmas of the period, showing how the situation between the UK and Germany was not clear cut with many people believing that Russian Communism was the true enemy.
The first part of the book follows the academic John King in Germany. I found this section of the book somewhat dry but I was kept intrigued by the detailed descriptions of life in Germany at that time. It also included a romantic episode which was unrealistic and cheesy.
The thriller then comes alive as we follow a second protagonist in his dramatic journey to England. From then on you will struggle to put the book down. Did the writing style and the depth of characters improve or did I just lose my objectivity in the excitement of the plot? Who knows, who cares? Just go with the flow and you will turn the final page contented.
I’ve commented on the historical and social detail but the book is not without historical errors. If you spot them you can feel smug, if you do not spot them your life will not be ruined by the misinformation. (A.P. feel free to message me via Whispering Stories if you want more detail).
Codename Lazarus is not perfect but it’s a lively spy thriller with an excellent political and social history. I have awarded four and a half stars.
Reviewed by Clive on
A.P. Martin is a social historian who uses his knowledge and experience to good effect. As a backdrop he includes the major events of the time but the real joy of the work is his detail on everyday life in both England and Germany during those difficult times. He also provides a good insight into the political dilemmas of the period, showing how the situation between the UK and Germany was not clear cut with many people believing that Russian Communism was the true enemy.
The first part of the book follows the academic John King in Germany. I found this section of the book somewhat dry but I was kept intrigued by the detailed descriptions of life in Germany at that time. It also included a romantic episode which was unrealistic and cheesy.
The thriller then comes alive as we follow a second protagonist in his dramatic journey to England. From then on you will struggle to put the book down. Did the writing style and the depth of characters improve or did I just lose my objectivity in the excitement of the plot? Who knows, who cares? Just go with the flow and you will turn the final page contented.
I’ve commented on the historical and social detail but the book is not without historical errors. If you spot them you can feel smug, if you do not spot them your life will not be ruined by the misinformation. (A.P. feel free to message me via Whispering Stories if you want more detail).
Codename Lazarus is not perfect but it’s a lively spy thriller with an excellent political and social history. I have awarded four and a half stars.
Reviewed by Clive on
September 4, 2017
A well conceived plot, apparently based on a true story ... three characters and plot lines are joined at the beginning and the end ... some parts were predictable but even if I could guess what was going to happen, Martin did a good job showing how it was done ... also, the historical context was very well integrated into the story.
January 29, 2017
This book becomes a tight spy thriller toward the end, but it’s much more than that. It’s historical fiction at its best, the kind that is thoroughly researched and yet filled with fully developed characters through whom I felt I could experience at least some of what it must have been like in England and also Germany from 1933 to 1940. David King, the protagonist, is a British student in Germany just as Hitler is coming to power. Then in 1938 he returns to Germany just as the persecution of the Jews is escalating. From then on he’s in Britain where for a long time Chamberlain believed Hitler wanted only a small part of Czechoslovakia. The slow brutalization of Germany as well as the slow realization by the British of the scope of Hitler’s ambitions reminded me of The Balkan Trilogy by Olivia Manning, which I strongly recommend. I think we tend to look back at historical events as if they happened at the pace of a movie, one dramatic scene after another, when in fact they unfolded at the same slow pace things are unfolding now—with many conflicting points of view while most people just try to go on with their lives. With the spy business Martin keeps the tension going while the war slowly unfolds, but it’s also a terrific vehicle with which to explore the complexity of human motivations in the caldron of that horrendous war.
October 21, 2016
Codename Lazarus is a very interesting espionage story set during the last years of the thirties and the early stages of the Second World War.
The author has gone to great trouble to ensure authenticity and the sense of time and place is convincing. The dialogue is contemporary and, in a way, Codename Lazarus feels like one of those golden age detective stories so beloved of the British Library.
The plot is convincing although there are one or two co-incidences towards the end which do raise the eyebrows but, so what? this is a story and these co-incidences lead us to an exciting climax.
Most of all the novel is written in an-easy-to-follow style and is very enjoyable.
David Lowther, author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen and Two Families at War, all published by Sacristy Press.
The author has gone to great trouble to ensure authenticity and the sense of time and place is convincing. The dialogue is contemporary and, in a way, Codename Lazarus feels like one of those golden age detective stories so beloved of the British Library.
The plot is convincing although there are one or two co-incidences towards the end which do raise the eyebrows but, so what? this is a story and these co-incidences lead us to an exciting climax.
Most of all the novel is written in an-easy-to-follow style and is very enjoyable.
David Lowther, author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen and Two Families at War, all published by Sacristy Press.
March 20, 2017
Codename Lazarus takes us first to Germany in the mid-1930s as Hitler and the Nazis rise to power. We see the unpleasant changes through the eyes of John King, an English academic, whose friends include a Jewish family, the Bernsteins and a young German, Joachim Brandt, who has decided to join the SS.
Moving to 1938, King is recruited by his former professor to the world of espionage, in an attempt to foil the efforts of Nazi sympathisers in England. This requires him to cut off all ties with his former life and after another visit to Germany, he must disappear. However his under-cover activities take place in London, where he has to cultivate relationships with British nationals who wish to aid Germany. A significant relationship with a young German nurse, is suspended, but old friends from the past will take a dramatic part in the denouement.
This is an exciting plot-driven story and although we gain knowledge of King’s feelings early in the story, he becomes increasingly more distant as other protagonists take a more active part in the storyline. One of the Nazi sympathisers gains our sympathy and we realise that she has trapped herself in a web of deceit. I was especially interested in the vivid description of pre-war Germany and in the realistic account of the evacuation scene at Dunkirk. The final scenes intensify in excitement and are real page-turners, but I was disappointed at the sudden conclusion which left questions about other threads in the book.
This debut novel is a fluent tale set in a fascinating time. Plotting and descriptions are sound but the earlier parts of the book lead me to expect greater knowledge of the hero’s emotions and confusion at his use of subterfuge and his abandonment of his friends and family. I look forward to reading the next book by this promising author.
Moving to 1938, King is recruited by his former professor to the world of espionage, in an attempt to foil the efforts of Nazi sympathisers in England. This requires him to cut off all ties with his former life and after another visit to Germany, he must disappear. However his under-cover activities take place in London, where he has to cultivate relationships with British nationals who wish to aid Germany. A significant relationship with a young German nurse, is suspended, but old friends from the past will take a dramatic part in the denouement.
This is an exciting plot-driven story and although we gain knowledge of King’s feelings early in the story, he becomes increasingly more distant as other protagonists take a more active part in the storyline. One of the Nazi sympathisers gains our sympathy and we realise that she has trapped herself in a web of deceit. I was especially interested in the vivid description of pre-war Germany and in the realistic account of the evacuation scene at Dunkirk. The final scenes intensify in excitement and are real page-turners, but I was disappointed at the sudden conclusion which left questions about other threads in the book.
This debut novel is a fluent tale set in a fascinating time. Plotting and descriptions are sound but the earlier parts of the book lead me to expect greater knowledge of the hero’s emotions and confusion at his use of subterfuge and his abandonment of his friends and family. I look forward to reading the next book by this promising author.
February 15, 2018
I am so glad I did not pay attention to the negative reviews. This is by far the best spy story I have ever had the privilege to read. This totally captivated me and gave me a glaring insight as to some of the atrocities that occurred during that period of WW2. I
was pleased to read at the end that this was based loosely on a true story.
This was far better than any other spy book I have EVER read.
Thoroughly recommended.
was pleased to read at the end that this was based loosely on a true story.
This was far better than any other spy book I have EVER read.
Thoroughly recommended.
September 12, 2018
A truly great novel. I was sad when it ended.
March 28, 2017
Codename Lazarus is taken from a true story and set in pre World War II Britain and Germany. It’s John King’s last day of an eighteen month research stay in Heidelberg. Although he will be sorry to leave his friends, the threatening climate in Germany, the increase in Hitler’s dictatorship and the ensuing violence against Jews only disgusts and horrifies, somewhat neutralising the sadness at leaving.
Several years later, John King is a gifted academic with a Doctorate and a major interest in the Second Reich. He is approached by his erstwhile tutor, Professor Pym with an incredible proposition. If John agrees, his life will never be the same but his help would be invaluable to Britain in the fight against Germany.
John’s struggles with the constraints of his new role, and the position he finds himself in, are compelling and I enjoyed the danger, intrigue and resulting tension.
A very good story with a well thought through plot, which I found extremely interesting. The build up was slow and steady, most of the action takes place in the second half of the book. The author obviously has an incredible knowledge and huge enthusiasm for this period of history, and it shows. The re-creation of certain points, such as the rise of the Nazis and the growing persecution of the Jewish community in Germany, an impromptu execution, the Blitz and the evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk were written realistically and very well done. I liked the way Dunkirk was experienced from the perspective of Joachim Brandt, John King’s erstwhile friend. The feeling of time and place is apparent and the narrative gives an authentic sense and of events.
However, I do feel that the narrative needs a little smoothing out, some of the dialogue, a couple of characters and situations were unconvincing, most notably John and Greta’s relationship. Also, I think there was scope for more development of John King’s character. Having said that all that, Codename Lazarus is a promising debut.
I chose to read and review Codename Lazarus for Rosie Amber’s book review team, based on a digital copy from the author.
Several years later, John King is a gifted academic with a Doctorate and a major interest in the Second Reich. He is approached by his erstwhile tutor, Professor Pym with an incredible proposition. If John agrees, his life will never be the same but his help would be invaluable to Britain in the fight against Germany.
John’s struggles with the constraints of his new role, and the position he finds himself in, are compelling and I enjoyed the danger, intrigue and resulting tension.
A very good story with a well thought through plot, which I found extremely interesting. The build up was slow and steady, most of the action takes place in the second half of the book. The author obviously has an incredible knowledge and huge enthusiasm for this period of history, and it shows. The re-creation of certain points, such as the rise of the Nazis and the growing persecution of the Jewish community in Germany, an impromptu execution, the Blitz and the evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk were written realistically and very well done. I liked the way Dunkirk was experienced from the perspective of Joachim Brandt, John King’s erstwhile friend. The feeling of time and place is apparent and the narrative gives an authentic sense and of events.
However, I do feel that the narrative needs a little smoothing out, some of the dialogue, a couple of characters and situations were unconvincing, most notably John and Greta’s relationship. Also, I think there was scope for more development of John King’s character. Having said that all that, Codename Lazarus is a promising debut.
I chose to read and review Codename Lazarus for Rosie Amber’s book review team, based on a digital copy from the author.
April 22, 2017
This is an engrossing, and thought provoking, story of espionage during WWII.
John King is a graduate student who is completing two years of research in Heidelberg, Germany. As he and friends gather to commemorate his last days in Germany in 1933, he is saddened that one of his best friends has joined the SS - the Schutzstaffel, paramilitary, surveillance forces under Hitler. His friend, Joachim Brandt, rejects John for socializing with other friends who are Jewish. Joachim becomes angry that John does not show proper deference or respect to Joachim’s new uniform and life choice. From this point on the lives of these young men are on different paths.
John helps two half-Jewish friends, Rachel and David, to leave Germany to find careers in Britain while being helped by John’s parents. He later finds their parents in need of rescue and tries to arrange to get them out of Germany to safety.
A few years after returning to Britain, John is asked to return to Germany under the guise of ‘security research� interests, while observing what he can of German activities. This work expands as John is asked to fake his own death so that he can become an intelligence operative infiltrating the German intelligence network in Britain.
The story describes the covert training that John is given and the planning for his accidental death. It then moves to his experiences as he steps into the role of a German Abwehr agent leading several sympathizer cell groups. The story pace picks up in the last quarter. John’s former German friend, Brandt, who has been undercover in America, is reassigned to Britain. His activities set him on a collision course with John's world. David, the other friend whom John helped move to England, has become a cop tasked with investigating the meager leads to a cell leader known as “Lazarus�. David is pulled in to help find German infiltrators and his path weaves towards Brandt and John’s tense confrontation.
The history is interesting with strong detail of physical settings, as well as social and political sentiments. The author does a good job describing the devastation and fears, first at battle scenes at Dunkirk, and again during the German bombing of London and surrounding communities. The author also portrays the impressive strength and resilience of the British people. The detail makes this story very engaging, if a bit slower in pacing. There were a couple of awkward point of view shifts and stronger editing might have helped to move the story through better action. I was wrapped in the intense climax when the book abruptly ended, leaving me with several questions.
This is a worthwhile read, especially for history buffs interested in life-like details of the earlier years of WWII. I also found the portrayed thought processes of the German and Russian sympathizers interesting as it made me more aware how citizens could betray their country with justifications of different political ideologies, including fascism, communism and socialism.
I received this title through NetGalley.
John King is a graduate student who is completing two years of research in Heidelberg, Germany. As he and friends gather to commemorate his last days in Germany in 1933, he is saddened that one of his best friends has joined the SS - the Schutzstaffel, paramilitary, surveillance forces under Hitler. His friend, Joachim Brandt, rejects John for socializing with other friends who are Jewish. Joachim becomes angry that John does not show proper deference or respect to Joachim’s new uniform and life choice. From this point on the lives of these young men are on different paths.
John helps two half-Jewish friends, Rachel and David, to leave Germany to find careers in Britain while being helped by John’s parents. He later finds their parents in need of rescue and tries to arrange to get them out of Germany to safety.
A few years after returning to Britain, John is asked to return to Germany under the guise of ‘security research� interests, while observing what he can of German activities. This work expands as John is asked to fake his own death so that he can become an intelligence operative infiltrating the German intelligence network in Britain.
The story describes the covert training that John is given and the planning for his accidental death. It then moves to his experiences as he steps into the role of a German Abwehr agent leading several sympathizer cell groups. The story pace picks up in the last quarter. John’s former German friend, Brandt, who has been undercover in America, is reassigned to Britain. His activities set him on a collision course with John's world. David, the other friend whom John helped move to England, has become a cop tasked with investigating the meager leads to a cell leader known as “Lazarus�. David is pulled in to help find German infiltrators and his path weaves towards Brandt and John’s tense confrontation.
The history is interesting with strong detail of physical settings, as well as social and political sentiments. The author does a good job describing the devastation and fears, first at battle scenes at Dunkirk, and again during the German bombing of London and surrounding communities. The author also portrays the impressive strength and resilience of the British people. The detail makes this story very engaging, if a bit slower in pacing. There were a couple of awkward point of view shifts and stronger editing might have helped to move the story through better action. I was wrapped in the intense climax when the book abruptly ended, leaving me with several questions.
This is a worthwhile read, especially for history buffs interested in life-like details of the earlier years of WWII. I also found the portrayed thought processes of the German and Russian sympathizers interesting as it made me more aware how citizens could betray their country with justifications of different political ideologies, including fascism, communism and socialism.
I received this title through NetGalley.
July 7, 2018
Fun Historical Espionage Fiction
There are a lot of WW2 era spy and detective novels produced in recent years. This fist effort by Martin does not disappoint. While the character development might be rather thin, the pacing is just right---not too slow and not reading like the novelization of an action flick.
One other small critique---halfway through the story, the narrative switches from being told exclusively through the protagonist to alternating between characters. This was a bit jarring.
This said, the book is very good, especially for a first novel.
There are a lot of WW2 era spy and detective novels produced in recent years. This fist effort by Martin does not disappoint. While the character development might be rather thin, the pacing is just right---not too slow and not reading like the novelization of an action flick.
One other small critique---halfway through the story, the narrative switches from being told exclusively through the protagonist to alternating between characters. This was a bit jarring.
This said, the book is very good, especially for a first novel.
January 18, 2018
A spy novel in the same style as Le Carre and others. A good read with great insight into the early days of the German Blitz on Britain. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
March 4, 2017
A good spy novel where the story takes place in the run-up to WW2 and the first year or so thereof. Apparently it is based on true facts/events although there are no sources/bibliography in my Kindle edition to support this. Maybe an afterword would have been helpful here. Still, I did enjoy this. While most novels about espionage are pretty much action-packed and fast-paced, this one is quite slow in comparison. Admittedly I found the build-up a bit tedious, it did take time until the story got going. Even then the pace is slow but I still had a hard time putting it down; it certainly had me gripped. The ending was a huge disappointment, though. It was so abrupt that I was certain the last pages had been omitted. I'd have appreciated an epilogue. Or will it be continued in a second book?? Whatever, I just felt that there were some loose ends that could have been tied up.
3.5 - 4 stars.
3.5 - 4 stars.
October 26, 2016
Superb WW2 Thriller
It has been some time since I have seen a good WW2 movie or read a good WW2 book. For that reason, when I came across Codename Lazarus by A.P. Martin, I was unable to resist the temptation to give it a try. And was that ever an inspired choice? Right from the outset I was captivated by the brisk, efficient writing, the meticulous attention to detail, the fiercely authentic milieu, historical and social, in which the story is set.
In the early chapters, the author effortlessly encapsulates the rise of Nazi Germany in the late 1930s with an absorbing mix of narrative, dialogue and action. Add to that the author’s erudition, his intimate knowledge of the Germany’s language and culture, and the reader is captivated by a tale that never loses its unmistakeable air of truth.
Codename Lazarus is the gripping story of a young English university lecturer whose experience of Germany and his knowledge of the language have made him an ideal candidate for a hazardous, off-the-book, undercover role on behalf of the British Government. There is a slow build–up of tension as the young spy infiltrates himself into a number of groups of British Nazi sympathisers, knowing that one mistake might cost him his life.
I suppose I could say that in the first half of the book the excitement is largely cerebral. It is like a living chess-game. Initially nothing appears to be happening as the protagonists ease slowly forward towards their inevitable confrontation, keeping a close eye on the enemy’s moves, making one’s own moves with heart in mouth. As other players enter the fray, the apprehension mounts, and the reader can see the lurking dangers, the possible traps, and all sorts of possibilities for catastrophe, that hover on the fringes of the action as pawns are sacrificed and the opposing forces move closer and closer to checkmate. This book may not have the frenzy of the breakneck thriller, but the taut trepidation which underpins the seemingly calm progress of the novel’s events contains its own gut-clenching brand of suspense. The finale, however, when the key protagonists clash in the thrilling denouement, leaves the realm of foreboding and catapults the reader into real and heart-stopping action.
This is a long book that allows the author to look at some of the events of the Second World War, and he often does so with an original eye. His recounting of the horrors of the terrible defeat of the British Expeditionary Force and the miracle of Dunkirk, as seen through the eyes of a German spy who has infiltrated the retreating army, is masterfully conceived.
Kudos, also, to the author for eschewing the boring, repetitive, blow-by-blow bedroom couplings that seem de rigueur for the modern novel but which add nothing to the story. Martin’s restrained treatment of the inevitable sexual liaisons that arise, maintains the story’s decorum, and absolutely nothing is lost by this constraint.
Codename Lazarus is an utterly absorbing page turner that kept me awake long into a couple of nights until I finished it. It has regenerated my taste for WW2 novels and while I may not be fortunate enough to find writers who can spin tales as brilliantly as AP Martin, I am still encouraged to search for some exciting reads, among which, I hope, will be a new book by this very accomplished writer.
December 5, 2016
I read this novel as a publisher's ARC.
CODENAME LAZARUS by A.P. Martin is a WW2 spy story. I found it compelling and fascinating because it was believable and well written. It provided insight into pre-war Germany and Britain, as well as the shadowy world of intelligence and espionage. Just how far both sides were prepared to go to gain advantage was astonishing.
Without giving away the story, the Brit side was filled with unlikely characters doing dangerous things. Mostly out of academe, they endeavoured to prevent the German sympathisers from channelling info to Berlin. The Germans had to discover what was going on and reorganize the sympathizers.
Martin created well delineated characters, fast-paced action, and much tension. The plot was filled with twists and catastrophes. The context of the times is described with clarity.
This is an excellent page-turner and has a satisfying ending. I recommend it to all readers who enjoy WW2 military and intelligence history, as well as a good thriller.
CODENAME LAZARUS by A.P. Martin is a WW2 spy story. I found it compelling and fascinating because it was believable and well written. It provided insight into pre-war Germany and Britain, as well as the shadowy world of intelligence and espionage. Just how far both sides were prepared to go to gain advantage was astonishing.
Without giving away the story, the Brit side was filled with unlikely characters doing dangerous things. Mostly out of academe, they endeavoured to prevent the German sympathisers from channelling info to Berlin. The Germans had to discover what was going on and reorganize the sympathizers.
Martin created well delineated characters, fast-paced action, and much tension. The plot was filled with twists and catastrophes. The context of the times is described with clarity.
This is an excellent page-turner and has a satisfying ending. I recommend it to all readers who enjoy WW2 military and intelligence history, as well as a good thriller.
November 30, 2016
A great story of espionage in the UK as Germany sent agents to England to gather info to support a planned invasion by Hitler. It's amazing the way Hitler fooled the Brits, Americans, Russians and many others to believe in his cause, sympathize with him and take his side. The book emphasizes the resiliency of the British however, standing alone in the beginning of the air battles and bombings. The greatness of the story is the way the author weaved what appeared to be some early loose ends into a critical sequence of events to a final showdown. Excellent historical accuracy and a great read. Stay with the book during its early beginning as it has a slow start. Hopefully you will be pleased with its development.
December 11, 2017
I did enjoy this. Excellent effort for a first novel and recreated London in the pre-war and Blitz phases very well I thought. The plot was a good spy effort with the English academic Dr John King having to fake his death so he could reappear as a supposed Nazi agent in the UK. This was because it was believed the SIS was infiltrated by the Germans already so a separate operation outside this remit was necessary. Don't think it was ever explained if there actually was an enemy agent in the SIS but the plot rattled along quite well and the ending was well executed if a little predictable. Overall though, enjoyable to read and hope for more from this author to follow.
January 3, 2017
Descriptions of immediately pre-WW2 Berlin very dramatic and quite disturbing! I was glad when the location turned to Switzerland and then London, albeit during the "Bltz". Political intrigue on both sides made for an excellent spy novel.
December 27, 2016
Set up wasted more than first third of book. Somewhat better after that, albeit with a telegraphed conclusion..
October 19, 2019
I have not read a good spy novel for a long time and this one was good. The people in this novel came alive for me. I became involved, I wanted to know and cared about what happened to them. What more could you ask from a good book.
The novel also seemed to provide a good glimpse pf pre-war Germany and a batted battle of Britain London. In this time of political turmoil we so easily forget the horrors of the past. Having recently moved to Germany I connoted to this book in other ways as well. The plot was perhaps a little too unbelievable relying on set of individuals scattered to the wind coming back together for the climax of the story. The ending was obvious in many ways from an early stage in the story, but it didn’t take away from the thrill of the story unfolding and you still wanting to know what happened. I have not finished a book so quickly in a long time a good read!
The novel also seemed to provide a good glimpse pf pre-war Germany and a batted battle of Britain London. In this time of political turmoil we so easily forget the horrors of the past. Having recently moved to Germany I connoted to this book in other ways as well. The plot was perhaps a little too unbelievable relying on set of individuals scattered to the wind coming back together for the climax of the story. The ending was obvious in many ways from an early stage in the story, but it didn’t take away from the thrill of the story unfolding and you still wanting to know what happened. I have not finished a book so quickly in a long time a good read!
January 17, 2017
Codename Lazarus: The Spy Who Came Back from the Dead plunges us into pre-World War II Britain and Germany when the issue of whether those countries would become enemies or allies was not clear. We see developments unfold through the perspectives of three characters: Englishman John King; German Joachim Brandt; and German-Welsh Jew, David Bernstein. Though friends at Heidelberg University, after Brandt joins the Nazi SS, the three take different paths. When they meet again, conflict is inevitable.
One of the story’s great strengths is the immersive sense of time and place. Author Martin masterfully recreates the attitudes, speech and tension of life during the 1938-1940 period. John King spends 1938 in Berlin, where he’s befriended by a German military intelligence officer whose greatest hope is that Germany will ally with Britain. King falls in love with the more practical Greta, who fears there can be no future for a couple from countries soon to be at war.
In 1939, King returns to England to focus on his anti-espionage work. We witness the first Blitz attack on London in 1940 and the Battle of Dunkirk. All of these scenes are well researched and detailed.
My only criticism of Codename Lazarus is the rather abrupt ending, which left questions in my mind. Perhaps a sequel will cover the rest of the war. I look forward to reading more of A.P. Martin’s work.
One of the story’s great strengths is the immersive sense of time and place. Author Martin masterfully recreates the attitudes, speech and tension of life during the 1938-1940 period. John King spends 1938 in Berlin, where he’s befriended by a German military intelligence officer whose greatest hope is that Germany will ally with Britain. King falls in love with the more practical Greta, who fears there can be no future for a couple from countries soon to be at war.
In 1939, King returns to England to focus on his anti-espionage work. We witness the first Blitz attack on London in 1940 and the Battle of Dunkirk. All of these scenes are well researched and detailed.
My only criticism of Codename Lazarus is the rather abrupt ending, which left questions in my mind. Perhaps a sequel will cover the rest of the war. I look forward to reading more of A.P. Martin’s work.
March 30, 2019
Having discovered a liking for spy novels after reading a couple of Len Deighton books, I decided to try A P Martin's "Codename Lazarus", that was recommended by another ŷ contributor.
I'm glad I took that person's advice. A P Martin has a style of writing that's easy to get into and a subject that I've loved for many years---the period of World War Two.
Lazarus appears in and around London and takes over a ring of British people who have become disenchanted with Britain after the First World War and who apparently have no problem with becoming traitors and selling secrets to the Nazis.
Eventually, Lazarus' identity is accidentally revealed after he performs an heroic act during one of the Luftwaffe's many air raids. He is then pursued by a former friend, who catches up with Lazarus, with catastrophic consequences.
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading Spy Trap.
I'm glad I took that person's advice. A P Martin has a style of writing that's easy to get into and a subject that I've loved for many years---the period of World War Two.
Lazarus appears in and around London and takes over a ring of British people who have become disenchanted with Britain after the First World War and who apparently have no problem with becoming traitors and selling secrets to the Nazis.
Eventually, Lazarus' identity is accidentally revealed after he performs an heroic act during one of the Luftwaffe's many air raids. He is then pursued by a former friend, who catches up with Lazarus, with catastrophic consequences.
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading Spy Trap.
April 19, 2017
The whole book was very good but the ending was more like a movie. Overall a very good read.
August 22, 2017
Terrific story, all the better for being based on the truth. I greatly enjoyed this and am grateful to another ŷ contributor for pointing me towards it after reading one of my reviews of an Alex Gerlis book
February 19, 2017
This is a story of intrigue involving British Intelligence, which has some very solid chaps indeed and the Wehrmacht, whose personnel are not all bad, through to the SS who recruit only the nastiest of rotters. So far, so promising. If you add in the period of the story - 1933 -1940 - you have a fertile backdrop for an historical thriller.
The tension comes with the insertion into pre War Germany of a British agent which is followed by a German coming to Britain post Dunkirk posing as a Canadian.
The book's description of Germany as Hitler racked up the anti Semitic rhetoric and abuse is convincing and the buildup of tension towards the denouement was satisfying. However I felt the story had some flat spots in the middle and at times I felt that the author could benefit from the 'show, not tell' line of advice to a writer.
If you like the works of Alan Furst and David Downing, as I do, perhaps you will agree with me that this is a superior thriller which could have benefited from some more rigorous editing.
The tension comes with the insertion into pre War Germany of a British agent which is followed by a German coming to Britain post Dunkirk posing as a Canadian.
The book's description of Germany as Hitler racked up the anti Semitic rhetoric and abuse is convincing and the buildup of tension towards the denouement was satisfying. However I felt the story had some flat spots in the middle and at times I felt that the author could benefit from the 'show, not tell' line of advice to a writer.
If you like the works of Alan Furst and David Downing, as I do, perhaps you will agree with me that this is a superior thriller which could have benefited from some more rigorous editing.
March 21, 2017
I was looking forward to reading Codename Lazarus for two reasons; that it’s adapted from a true story and that it’s set against the background of WW2, a particular time in history I’m interested in.
This is a dense story to read due to the extensive details and descriptions built around the actual plot. I admire the author’s obvious knowledge and research to set the story in both the era and the places the protagonist moves around in. There is a wonderful sense of place.
The lead up to the war, the settling in of the plot, although well written and described, is too slow for me, mainly because I didn’t feel I was getting to know the protagonist, John King. I didn’t get any sense, initially, or as the plot progressed, of his emotions at what must have been an extremely tense time. I don’t think his internal dialogue works; a lot of the time the thoughts portrayed were too formalised and revealed nothing of the tension and apprehension of a young man newly learning to survive under cover in an dangerous and threatening situation.
And I felt the same about his personal life. The love angle with Greta became instantly too intense and then abruptly dismissed. Although I am aware that such immediate and tempestuous relationships must have happened during wartime, this neither felt passionate or particularly dangerous for either of them, despite them being citizens of countries almost at war with one another.
Saying that, as the story progresses , there are other characters who are extremely well rounded, who stand out by the way they are portrayed. And their dialogue is excellent and gives greater insight to them and their part in the plot.
All in all, I would have liked the beginning to move at a faster pace; I thought the pacing of the plot in the middle just right; but I would have liked a more gradual lead up to the ending, which felt as though it all came in a rush and finished the story too suddenly.
I don’t know if it was the way the novel was downloaded onto my reader but there are times when sentences, dialogues and paragraphs run together where there should be spaces so I ignored that. But there were quite a few punctuation errors.
This is a good story. If it weren’t for the fact that I felt the protagonist to be too distant from the reader I would have given five stars. A rewrite of only a few places to bring John King/James Kemp to life and another final, tighter edit, would make this an excellent 5* read.
This is a dense story to read due to the extensive details and descriptions built around the actual plot. I admire the author’s obvious knowledge and research to set the story in both the era and the places the protagonist moves around in. There is a wonderful sense of place.
The lead up to the war, the settling in of the plot, although well written and described, is too slow for me, mainly because I didn’t feel I was getting to know the protagonist, John King. I didn’t get any sense, initially, or as the plot progressed, of his emotions at what must have been an extremely tense time. I don’t think his internal dialogue works; a lot of the time the thoughts portrayed were too formalised and revealed nothing of the tension and apprehension of a young man newly learning to survive under cover in an dangerous and threatening situation.
And I felt the same about his personal life. The love angle with Greta became instantly too intense and then abruptly dismissed. Although I am aware that such immediate and tempestuous relationships must have happened during wartime, this neither felt passionate or particularly dangerous for either of them, despite them being citizens of countries almost at war with one another.
Saying that, as the story progresses , there are other characters who are extremely well rounded, who stand out by the way they are portrayed. And their dialogue is excellent and gives greater insight to them and their part in the plot.
All in all, I would have liked the beginning to move at a faster pace; I thought the pacing of the plot in the middle just right; but I would have liked a more gradual lead up to the ending, which felt as though it all came in a rush and finished the story too suddenly.
I don’t know if it was the way the novel was downloaded onto my reader but there are times when sentences, dialogues and paragraphs run together where there should be spaces so I ignored that. But there were quite a few punctuation errors.
This is a good story. If it weren’t for the fact that I felt the protagonist to be too distant from the reader I would have given five stars. A rewrite of only a few places to bring John King/James Kemp to life and another final, tighter edit, would make this an excellent 5* read.
July 4, 2017
“Codename Lazarus� eBook was published in 2016 and was written by A. P. Martin (). This is Mr. Martin’s first publication.
I received an ARC of this novel through in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG� because it contains scenes of Violence and Mature Situations. The story is set in Germany and England during the years 1933-1940. The primary character is history professor Dr. John King.
King has spent time in 1933 Germany before Hitler rose to power and left just as the Nazis were beginning to take control of the country. Later in 1939 his old Oxford professor called him in to a secret meeting. The professor had been working for British Intelligence and sought King as a new recruit for a secret mission. King agrees even though the though of faking his own death does not sit well. King returns to Germany to find out more about the ever more powerful Nazis before a well conceived hiking ‘accident� in Switzerland renders ‘John King� dead.
King, now using the name James Kemp, takes the place of an ousted German who has been leading a spy ring in the UK. King works the traitors, gathering information on each of them and their contacts. The Battle for Britain is at its height and all fear that Germany will soon invade. King finds himself the subject of a search by Scotland Yard’s Special Branch and by a real German spy sent into the UK to revive the spy network.
I enjoyed the 10.5 hours I spent reading this 365 page World War II Thriller. I liked the time scale that the novel covered. The plot was interesting, though not exactly unique. There was intrigue and a little action, though I think more action would have made this a better read. I also was not happy with the conclusion as it left many loose ends. Perhaps a sequel is planned. The cover art is OK, in line with the Swiss accident. I give this novel a 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at .
I received an ARC of this novel through in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG� because it contains scenes of Violence and Mature Situations. The story is set in Germany and England during the years 1933-1940. The primary character is history professor Dr. John King.
King has spent time in 1933 Germany before Hitler rose to power and left just as the Nazis were beginning to take control of the country. Later in 1939 his old Oxford professor called him in to a secret meeting. The professor had been working for British Intelligence and sought King as a new recruit for a secret mission. King agrees even though the though of faking his own death does not sit well. King returns to Germany to find out more about the ever more powerful Nazis before a well conceived hiking ‘accident� in Switzerland renders ‘John King� dead.
King, now using the name James Kemp, takes the place of an ousted German who has been leading a spy ring in the UK. King works the traitors, gathering information on each of them and their contacts. The Battle for Britain is at its height and all fear that Germany will soon invade. King finds himself the subject of a search by Scotland Yard’s Special Branch and by a real German spy sent into the UK to revive the spy network.
I enjoyed the 10.5 hours I spent reading this 365 page World War II Thriller. I liked the time scale that the novel covered. The plot was interesting, though not exactly unique. There was intrigue and a little action, though I think more action would have made this a better read. I also was not happy with the conclusion as it left many loose ends. Perhaps a sequel is planned. The cover art is OK, in line with the Swiss accident. I give this novel a 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at .
September 17, 2018
I was recommended this book and have to say I was happy to read it. This book was written in a way to keep you hooked. Yes the pace is a little slow at the beginning, but the action builds and at times you are keeping your fingers crossed that the main character is able to hold on to his secret life.
This book introduced me to something I knew little about, how ordinary people were called into service during the war with no prior knowledge. I also liked the way that those who betrayed their country were portrayed- as normal people doing what they felt were write.
I would recommend this book and will be looking out for more by this author.
This book introduced me to something I knew little about, how ordinary people were called into service during the war with no prior knowledge. I also liked the way that those who betrayed their country were portrayed- as normal people doing what they felt were write.
I would recommend this book and will be looking out for more by this author.
March 8, 2017
Ok
This was a good idea but it didn't quite work for me. I don't like being critical but the bad typos and stereotypical characters annoyed me. You didn't really get involved with the characters and there wasn't the tension you get with other authors like Kerr. It was a really abrupt ending which left you wondering what happened next or if another book is in the pipeline.
This was a good idea but it didn't quite work for me. I don't like being critical but the bad typos and stereotypical characters annoyed me. You didn't really get involved with the characters and there wasn't the tension you get with other authors like Kerr. It was a really abrupt ending which left you wondering what happened next or if another book is in the pipeline.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.