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Joe Wilderness Series

This series plunges readers into the turbulent decades of the mid-20th century, spanning the Blitz in London to the divided city of Berlin. It follows a resourceful protagonist whose unique skills lead him from petty crime to the dangerous world of espionage during the Cold War. The narrative masterfully blends historical detail with thrilling plots, exploring themes of loyalty, survival, and the personal cost of international conflict. Prepare for a gripping journey through espionage, black markets, and daring escapes.

Hammer to Fall
The Unfortunate Englishman
Then We Take Berlin

Recommended Reading Order

  1. 1

    Then We Take Berlin

    • 432 pages
    • 16 hours of reading
    3.8(1179)Add rating

    An historical thriller from the author of the Inspector Troy series, moving from London during the Blitz, to divided post-war Berlin - and introducing Joe Wilderness. John Holderness, known to the women in his life as 'Wilderness', comes of age during World War II in Stepney, East London, breaking in to houses with his grandfather. After the war, Wilderness is recruited as MI5's resident 'cat burglar' and finds himself in Berlin, involved with schemes in the booming black market that put both him and his relationships in danger. In 1963 it is a most unusual and lucrative request that persuades Wilderness to return - to smuggle someone under the Berlin Wall and out of East Germany. But this final scheme may prove to be one challenge too far. Then We Take Berlin is a gripping, meticulously researched and richly detailed historical thriller - a moving story of espionage and war, and people caught up in the most tumultuous events of the twentieth century

    Then We Take Berlin
  2. 2
  3. 3

    Hammer to Fall

    4.2(416)Add rating

    In swinging sixties London, MI6 spy Joe Wilderness finds his assignments far from glamorous. Despite his talent for thriving in challenging situations, his past misadventures have landed him in trouble. A coffee-smuggling operation in divided Berlin turned disastrous when he had to return a spy to the KGB, resulting in a reprimand and a new posting in remote northern Finland under the guise of a cultural exchange program. Bored and with little to spy on, Wilderness turns to smuggling vodka across the porous border into the USSR, capitalizing on a vodka shortage caused by Khrushchev's agricultural policies. He partners with his old KGB acquaintance, Kostya, but suspicions arise about Kostya's sudden appearance and its connection to cobalt mining in the area, crucial for atomic bomb casings. As Wilderness navigates the complexities of Cold War tensions, his assignment becomes increasingly perilous. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of the Prague Spring, featuring familiar allies and adversaries, weaving a tale rich in deception, art, and politics, capturing the thrilling life of a British spy.

    Hammer to Fall