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Hidden in Plain Sight: A British Military Agent's Story
When World War Two splits Fred Read-Jahn and his English bride, Molly, she is forced to face the Blitz alone while he carries out secret missions on an epic journey from London to Moscow, travelling through North America, Canada, and much of Asia to the USSR. Only recently has it been released that he was working as an undercover intelligence agent for MI-19.
334 pages, Paperback
Published April 2, 2019
2 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Read-Jahn
21Ìýbooks11ÌýfollowersShirley Read-Jahn was born during World War II and educated in England before becoming a hippy and living in an ancient Roman burial tomb in Matala, Crete. She went on to take up many different colourful careers, including swimwear model, interpreter, landscape gardener, paralegal and events organiser. She also co-founded the highly-successful San Francisco Jazz Festival as well as running her own landscape business in the United States.
Shirley has belly-danced since her thirties, still plays table-tennis, and now lives in Australia. In retirement, she has finally found time to devote to her passion for writing and the books swirling around in her head.
Shirley has belly-danced since her thirties, still plays table-tennis, and now lives in Australia. In retirement, she has finally found time to devote to her passion for writing and the books swirling around in her head.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 6, 2019
Hidden in Plain Sight provides a fascinating insight into the life of an undercover secret agent during WW2. The author has painstakingly researched the secret life of her father's past (unknown even to her until recently), charting his global travels as an MI-19 intelligence agent and the vital role he played in bringing this brutal war to a close.
Shirley Read-Jahn's book will appeal to those interested in WW2 feats of bravery and espionage but it is also so much more than that: at heart, this is a moving and compelling story about a normal man in extraordinary circumstances and the impact that the war, like so many of his generation, had on him and those close to him. Very highly recommended.
Shirley Read-Jahn's book will appeal to those interested in WW2 feats of bravery and espionage but it is also so much more than that: at heart, this is a moving and compelling story about a normal man in extraordinary circumstances and the impact that the war, like so many of his generation, had on him and those close to him. Very highly recommended.
December 17, 2022
I’ve just finished reading this book by Shirley Read-Jahn. Hidden in Plain Sight is a remarkable and fascinating biography/memoir of her father’s life as a military intelligence officer, firstly in Russia and then in England and post war Europe. Drawn from letters written by both her mother and father, as well as his coded notes, Shirley has woven the story into a novel-style account that makes fascinating reading. Thank you, Shirley. I thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt a lot about World War II and your own childhood in the process.
January 2, 2023
Real life spy story
This is a memoir that reads like a novel. Shirley does a wonderful job of telling the story of her father's espionage career during WW2. Fred's diaries, and correspondence between him and his wife Molly, were luckily preserved, giving Shirley the material for this book. I was fascinated by Fred's journey to Moscow in the early part of the war, and his life there before the German invasion. And the love story between him and Molly is beautifully written. Definitely recommended.
This is a memoir that reads like a novel. Shirley does a wonderful job of telling the story of her father's espionage career during WW2. Fred's diaries, and correspondence between him and his wife Molly, were luckily preserved, giving Shirley the material for this book. I was fascinated by Fred's journey to Moscow in the early part of the war, and his life there before the German invasion. And the love story between him and Molly is beautifully written. Definitely recommended.
April 14, 2019
I beta-read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A tale of espionage and love during WWII. The author manages to captivate the reader - she has used her father’s diaries and has taken much from actual correspondence between the two main characters - Freddie and Molly. How wonderful to have such information - giving a glimpse into what life was like. I found it interesting and captivating.
October 23, 2023
Drawing on ample correspondence and coded notes, Shirley Read-Jahn provides an intimate view of an astonishing period in the life of her father, a wartime spy. We’re also given profound insights into the life of the wife he leaves behind, temporarily, in London, during the darkest days of the Second World War.
The author expertly shows us the first-hand reality of a multilingual British agent. This period of his life is characterized by extremes � patience and frustration, boredom and intense excitement, confusion and certainty, confidence and distrust, apprehension and certainty, optimism and unease.
The protagonist of Hidden in Plain Sight is no James Bond, rather he typifies the ubiquitous competence and determination � characteristics of both the military and the civilian population --that helped Britain win World War II.
The author expertly shows us the first-hand reality of a multilingual British agent. This period of his life is characterized by extremes � patience and frustration, boredom and intense excitement, confusion and certainty, confidence and distrust, apprehension and certainty, optimism and unease.
The protagonist of Hidden in Plain Sight is no James Bond, rather he typifies the ubiquitous competence and determination � characteristics of both the military and the civilian population --that helped Britain win World War II.
March 26, 2021
I was very impressed with how well written this book is. Obviously Shirley knows the subject and complete background but this would be extremely hard when the story is true and written about your family and yourself.
It was a real page turner in that wanting to know the next step in an exciting life. There is information in this book that I had never been alerted to and have since followed up and it has piqued my interest in reading more of the same.
I urge all to pick this one up, a real Good Read.
It was a real page turner in that wanting to know the next step in an exciting life. There is information in this book that I had never been alerted to and have since followed up and it has piqued my interest in reading more of the same.
I urge all to pick this one up, a real Good Read.
April 25, 2021
I enjoyed this book. It's a fascinating account of a real British spy before, during, and after World War II, how he tried to balance his demanding work with his family life, and how his wife and daughters handled it. Additionally, there are many interesting characters and scenarios involved in this true story, during dangerous times in England and in many other countries. Of course, all his secrets couldn't be told, but many were revealed.
November 28, 2021
A fascinating story and excellently written/documented by the author. It shows how you can have a parent (or any relation) in your life but not really know or be aware about their life. I have experienced this myself and have said to my children "never be afraid to ask me anything."
I very much enjoyed how Fred Read-Jahn dealt with his ancestry and how it assisted him with his career.
A great read.
I very much enjoyed how Fred Read-Jahn dealt with his ancestry and how it assisted him with his career.
A great read.
April 15, 2020
Hidden in plain sight is an interesting, captivating and thrilling page-turner. The author has managed to capture all aspects of mystery and love, whilst giving an insight into what life was like in the strenuous times of WWII. This novel is an absolute must-read.
January 20, 2020
A great story based on real events and real people, full of suspense as well as love. Difficult to put down.
February 10, 2020
Found this book absolutely fascinating and really look forward to any new book this author writes.
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March 26, 2021This is a review by Bluewars on OnLineBookClub:
4 out of 4 stars
Review of Hidden in Plain Sight: A British Military Story
Author: Shirley Read Jahn
Hidden in Plain Sight: A British Military Agent’s Story is a historical fiction based on the adventures of Fred Read-Jahn, the author’s father. The story ships off from an old Chinese man confusing Stephen to be Fred, this kicks off his curiosity in wanting to know where Fred went. He reaches out to Shirley, Fred’s daughter. Shirley goes to Worthing, Sussex where her mother had been staying as she recuperates from several stroke attacks. Her mother, Molly had been struggling to pull out words after the stroke but manages to reveal to Shirley that she has some copies of the love letters between her and her father. The next chapter introduces us to Fred’s father, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, an editor in Berlin of the Berliner Zeitung Newspaper. He meets his love Clara, with whom he starts a family. Fred is born and later his brother, Hermann.
Fred is portrayed as charming and good-looking with fluency in both English and German. He gets an unexpected job as a spy and later weds Molly before he is compelled to leave her just at the start of their newly wedded life as war was looming . Molly, in the absence of Fred is left to face the harshness of pregnancy and war. Fred on the other hand, as a member MI19 , worked his way into extracting vital information that would aid the British efforts in the war.
I was never a fan of historic fiction but after reading this book, I’ve been proven wrong. It’s like a meal you really hate, but someone makes it in such a way that you cannot get your taste buds to calm down. The way Shirley Read- Jahn presents this book is just hands down enthralling. Makes you feel like you were part of that very enchanting historical moment. She has a way with words that you don’t feel left out or hanging. The story has been skillfully edited and has a very smooth flow. The author has depicted her father’s life fictitiously not leaving any stone unturned to make any reader completely smitten with his story.
I recommend this book to everyone who is a fan of historic fiction. I give the book a 4 out of 4 rating because I liked the spirited tone the author used for the book, and we get to know the sacrifices military officials have to make when Fred had to leave his newly married life, his brother and mother behind for his mission. There was not much depth into the characters but she finishes up each character so artfully as she tells the reader where each ends up. I did not have so much expectations from this book. But it has blown me away in a way I didn't see coming.
*
4 out of 4 stars
Review of Hidden in Plain Sight: A British Military Story
Author: Shirley Read Jahn
Hidden in Plain Sight: A British Military Agent’s Story is a historical fiction based on the adventures of Fred Read-Jahn, the author’s father. The story ships off from an old Chinese man confusing Stephen to be Fred, this kicks off his curiosity in wanting to know where Fred went. He reaches out to Shirley, Fred’s daughter. Shirley goes to Worthing, Sussex where her mother had been staying as she recuperates from several stroke attacks. Her mother, Molly had been struggling to pull out words after the stroke but manages to reveal to Shirley that she has some copies of the love letters between her and her father. The next chapter introduces us to Fred’s father, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, an editor in Berlin of the Berliner Zeitung Newspaper. He meets his love Clara, with whom he starts a family. Fred is born and later his brother, Hermann.
Fred is portrayed as charming and good-looking with fluency in both English and German. He gets an unexpected job as a spy and later weds Molly before he is compelled to leave her just at the start of their newly wedded life as war was looming . Molly, in the absence of Fred is left to face the harshness of pregnancy and war. Fred on the other hand, as a member MI19 , worked his way into extracting vital information that would aid the British efforts in the war.
I was never a fan of historic fiction but after reading this book, I’ve been proven wrong. It’s like a meal you really hate, but someone makes it in such a way that you cannot get your taste buds to calm down. The way Shirley Read- Jahn presents this book is just hands down enthralling. Makes you feel like you were part of that very enchanting historical moment. She has a way with words that you don’t feel left out or hanging. The story has been skillfully edited and has a very smooth flow. The author has depicted her father’s life fictitiously not leaving any stone unturned to make any reader completely smitten with his story.
I recommend this book to everyone who is a fan of historic fiction. I give the book a 4 out of 4 rating because I liked the spirited tone the author used for the book, and we get to know the sacrifices military officials have to make when Fred had to leave his newly married life, his brother and mother behind for his mission. There was not much depth into the characters but she finishes up each character so artfully as she tells the reader where each ends up. I did not have so much expectations from this book. But it has blown me away in a way I didn't see coming.
*
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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