"A Gathering of Spies"

"A Gathering of Spies" was John Altman's debut novel.  Although Altman is an American thriller writer, this novel is set mostly in Britain with some tie in with the United States in the years 1942-45.

I had picked up one of Altman's later novels but, when I saw that it was a sequel to this one, I immediately returned it to the library and searched for a copy of "A Gathering of Spies" to read.

The plot centers around a female Nazi sleeper agent/spy who has managed to live undetected in the United States despite many of her fellow agents being found and executed.  She's a ruthless and accomnplished killer able to assume the identities of her victims and remain undetected.  Her current husband was invited to work at Los Alamos and, as his wife, she accompanies him.  She uncovers secrets (that she is able to retain in her head without committing to paper) that lead her on a journey back to Germany via Britain to get word to the Fatherland of the new mass destruction weapon America has developed.

Meanwhile back in London, Andrew Taylor, whose wife is in a German concentration camp, has been contacted by an old friend, Winterbotham, who works for the government.  He wants Taylor to go to Germany on an undercover assignment for the British government.  Taylor, hoping to rescue his wife, agrees.

In the meantime, our female German spy is on her way to Britain to connect with fellow spies there and find a way back to Germany.  Along the way, all their paths cross but she doesn't make it easy for them to stop her.  You'll have to read the book to learn how it all ends but I'm on my way to look for the next book at the library.  pazt