Mystery and Crime Oppenheim, E. Phillips: The Double Traitor. V1. 23 Aug 2011

[crutledge]

Edward Phillips Oppenheim (October 22, 1866 – February 3, 1946), was an English novelist, in his lifetime a major and successful writer of genre fiction including thrillers .A best-selling author of novels, short stories, magazine articles, translations, and plays, Oppenheim published over 150 books. He is considered one of the originators of the thriller genre, his novels also range from spy thrillers to romance, but all have an undertone of intrigue.

Excerpt
"My friend," she said, "when we first met—I am ashamed, considering that I dine alone with you to-night, to reflect how short a time ago—you spoke of your removal here from Paris very much as though it were a veritable exile. I told you then that there might be surprises in store for you. This restaurant, for instance! We both know our Paris, yet do we lack anything here which you find at the Ritz or Giro's?"

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[JeremyR]

This covers the same ground as at least one of his other novels (Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo), political intrigue right before World War 1. A member of the British diplomatic service accident stumbles into a German spy ring. The trouble is, no one in England believes him. So he takes matters into his own hands.

There's not much tension in the book though, and the characters are more annoying than likable. I suppose it could have been a critique of the apathy of the higher social classes of England, but...still not his best work, I would say.