The Shadow Network by Deborah Swift

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The Shadow Network by Deborah Swift

Welcometo The Book’s Delight and a stop on the Coffee Pot Book Tour for Deborah Swiftand her new book. We have a fantastic excerpt for you so get comfy and check itout.

The Details:

BookTitle: The Shadow Network

Series:Secret Agent Series (but can be read as a stand-alone)

Author:Deborah Swift

PublicationDate: 13th February 2024

Publisher:HQ Digital

PageLength: 376

Genre:Historical Fiction / WW2

Blurb:

Onewoman must sacrifice everything to uncover the truth in this enthrallinghistorical novel, inspired by the true World War Two campaign Radio Aspidistra…

England, 1942: Having fled Germany after herfather was captured by the Nazis, Lilli Bergen isdesperate to do something pro-active for the Allies. So when she’s approachedby the Political Warfare Executive, Lilli jumps at the chance. She’s recruitedas a singer for a radio station broadcasting propaganda to German soldiers – ashadow network.

ButLilli’s world is flipped upside down when her ex-boyfriend, Bren Murphy, appears at her workplace; the very manshe thinks betrayed her father to the Nazis. Lilli always thought Bren was aNazi sympathiser – so what is he doing in England supposedly working againstthe Germans?

Lilliknows Bren is up to something, and must put aside a blossoming new relationshipin order to discover the truth. Can Lilli exposehim, before it’s too late?

Set in the fascinating world of wartimeradio, don’t miss The Shadow Network, a heart-stopping novel of betrayal,treachery, and courage against the odds.

The Shadow Network by Deborah Swift

Extract from Chapter 4

England,1941

It was all very mysterious, being summoned like this by letter. Afterall, he was no use to anyone, hobbling about with two smashed legs. These daysit took him fifteen minutes to struggle up a flight of stairs. Neil hopedwhatever it was would have something to do with coding, because that was whathe did before – well, before that awful year when his life had gone off therails. He shuddered. Just the thought of it had the power to make him sweat. Ifthey were going to drag all that up again, he’d be in serious trouble.

He concentrated on the view through the dusty window. The car turnedleft between two sentries, and down a short drive to a country house with achurch tower at the front.

‘Wavendon Tower,’ Harrison said, as the wheels crunched to a halt onthe gravel. ‘Isn’t it spectacular? I’ll take you in to meet Mr Delmer.’

Neil eased himself out onto a gravelled drive. So not Bletchley andcoding after all. The plot thickened.

He was led through a gloomy corridor and into a library where a coalfire gave out sooty smoke in the corner.

Delmer, bear-like and bespectacled, stood up with his hand out and abig smile. Neil leant his stick against a chair and grasped hold. Delmer’shandshake was firm and warm. He had that air of easy confidence born of gettingwhat he wanted.

‘Do sit,’ he said. ‘Harrison will bring us some tea.’

Neil was glad to get off his feet and into one of the leatherarmchairs.

‘I expect you’re wondering what this is all about,’ Mr Delmer said,wedging himself into a too-small armchair. ‘Have you heard of the PoliticalWarfare Executive?’

‘I’ve heard of it, yes, but I’m not really sure what they do.’

‘Ah. Exactly the position I was in a few weeks ago.’ Delmer laughed.He had a broad open face and eyes that were very alive. He was a littleoverweight, which was unusual in these times, and balding already, though hewas only, Neil guessed, in his late thirties. ‘Basically,’ Delmer went on,‘it’s psychological warfare we’ll be involved in. You know I was a journalist?’

The ‘we’ bothered him, as if his job was a foregone conclusion, butNeil nodded.

‘Well, now I’m going into broadcasting. Radio. We’re going to make a radio stationthat will spout our propaganda. With me so far?’ He didn’t wait for Neil’sanswer. ‘The idea is to undermine Hitler – pretend to be his fanaticalsupporters, grow a base of his listeners, and then, once we’ve reeled them in,do everything we possibly can to damage German morale.’

‘If you’relooking at me to do this,’ Neil said, ‘I don’t think my spoken German’s goodenough. Not for radio broadcasting.’

‘No, MrCallaghan. We’re going to use captured prisoners of war, people who’ve fledGermany and have a grudge. They’ll all be native speakers. The thing is, weneed someone listening in; someone who can make sure these people are followingthe script. A chap who can alert us if they say or do anything out of order. Aminder, if you like. And of course I can’t be everywhere, so I need someGerman-speaking helpers. People who pick things up quickly. Are you willing tohave a go? It’s a desk job. Beauclerk thought it might suit, since you’re . . .less mobile these days.’

Just at thatmoment, Harrison brought in a tray of tea. She gave him a wink before passinghim the plate of biscuits.

Neil wondered ifBeauclerk had told Delmer about his less-than-salubrious past. It seemed not,and he certainly wasn’t going to enlighten him. After last year, he wasn’t surehe could cope with any more Germans, even the thought was terrifying.

‘I’m not sureI’m really ready for it,’ he said, searching for an excuse. ‘The bomb reallyknocked my confidence. I have bad days, you know, when I can’t—’

‘I don’t thinkI’m being clear. We need you, Mr Callaghan. And MI5 said you would be glad tohelp, particularly as you made a few . . . how shall we say? A few faux pas inyour last post.’

So Delmer didknow. And now he was piling on the pressure. Guilt kicked in, as Delmer musthave known it would. And shame. Neil straightened his tie and tried to thinkpositively. Maybe this time it wouldn’t all go belly-up and he’d be able to dosomething positive for his country. Reparation for his wrongs, if you like.

He had nochoice. And somehow that was a relief. That he didn’t have to choose a side.

‘I’m in,’ hesaid. He grabbed a Marie biscuit from the plate and took a bite.

Buy Links:

UniversalBuy Link: mybook.to/RadioLies

Linkto bookshop: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-shadonetwork-ww2-secret-agent-series-deborah-swift

Author Bio:

Deborah Swift isthe English author of eighteen historical novels, including Millennium Awardwinner Past Encounters, and The Lady’s Slipper, shortlisted for theImpress Prize.

Her most recentbooks are the Renaissance trilogy based around the life of the poisoner GiuliaTofana, The Poison Keeper and itssequels, one of which won the Coffee Pot Book Club Gold Medal. Recently she hascompleted a secret agent series set in WW2, the first in the series being The Silk Code.

Deborah used towork as a set and costume designer for theatre and TV and enjoys the researchaspect of creating historical fiction, something she loved doing as ascenographer. She likes to write about extraordinary characters set against thebackground of real historical events. Deborah lives in North Lancashire on theedge of the Lake District, an area made famous by the Romantic Poets such asWordsworth and Coleridge.