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Lying with the Enemy: A Novel
The peaceful world of German-occupied Guernsey, the only British territory to be occupied by the Nazis during World War II, turns horribly mad after the body of a murdered young woman turns up, igniting an atmosphere of suspicion and anger as the search for the killer reveals dark secrets. Reprint.
360 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 1999
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424 people want to read
About the author
Tim Binding
25 books10 followersNovelist Tim Binding was born in Germany in 1947. A former editor at Penguin Books in London, he is a part-time commissioning editor at London publishers Simon & Schuster. He is the author of the novels, In the Kingdom of Air (1993), A Perfect Execution (1996) (shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Prize), Island Madness (1998), set on Guernsey during the Second World War, and Man Overboard (2005).
He co-wrote a comedy drama series for BBC television in 1998, entitled The Last Salute, working with Simon Nye, creator of the Men Behaving Badly comedy series. On Ilkley Moor: The Story of an English Town (2001), is a memoir and history of the area where he grew up. Anthem, a moving and entertaining story of the horror of war and its consequences, was published in 2003. His latest novel is Sylvie and the Songman (2008) and is illustrated by Angela Barrett.
Tim Binding lives in Kent with his wife and daughter.
He co-wrote a comedy drama series for BBC television in 1998, entitled The Last Salute, working with Simon Nye, creator of the Men Behaving Badly comedy series. On Ilkley Moor: The Story of an English Town (2001), is a memoir and history of the area where he grew up. Anthem, a moving and entertaining story of the horror of war and its consequences, was published in 2003. His latest novel is Sylvie and the Songman (2008) and is illustrated by Angela Barrett.
Tim Binding lives in Kent with his wife and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
April 15, 2021
Since we shouldn’t speak unless we can improve on the silence (or background noise?)- i will start with Jane Shilling’s review:
“How close is the relationship between menace and protection, how powerful the seduction of treachery and how intense the relationships forged in the crucible of a small island…” and i add - especially during war and occupation?
How many of us have been put to that test? We want to believe we’d never...but how singularly precious do we think we are, really, and courage carries a high price. The characters are believable, subtle, agonizingly true.
This was a handful of new history for me as well.
I did find one passage particularly prescient - in light of months of lockdown:
“‘I think he must sleep in those gardening clothes of his.’
‘He’s of the old school...Once it’s on there’s not much point in taking it off. Except Sundays of course.’
‘Ah, The power of religion.’
Ned shook his head. ‘Bowls.’”
Highly recommended.
“How close is the relationship between menace and protection, how powerful the seduction of treachery and how intense the relationships forged in the crucible of a small island…” and i add - especially during war and occupation?
How many of us have been put to that test? We want to believe we’d never...but how singularly precious do we think we are, really, and courage carries a high price. The characters are believable, subtle, agonizingly true.
This was a handful of new history for me as well.
I did find one passage particularly prescient - in light of months of lockdown:
“‘I think he must sleep in those gardening clothes of his.’
‘He’s of the old school...Once it’s on there’s not much point in taking it off. Except Sundays of course.’
‘Ah, The power of religion.’
Ned shook his head. ‘Bowls.’”
Highly recommended.
January 15, 2011
This book took a long time to get rolling. Until I got to page 112, I was reconsidering my choice and wondering if, locale and time period notwithstanding, I would have to make this a DNF. Then things really started to sizzle.
The Channel Islands were the only part of England to be occupied by the Germans during WWII. There were a lot of difficult issues to navigate here. Homes were commandeered (i.e., stolen) for the officers and anything that might allow contact with the outside world was confiscated. Being "nice" to a German soldier who fancied you might mean a bit more food on the table for your family, at a time when food was extraordinarily scarce. Fraternizing with the Todt slave laborers (or, "the foreigns," as they're called here, could get you sent to the camps.
In the midst of all this are several characters: Ned, who is a civilian police officer just trying to stay out of trouble; Lentsch, a German officer who would like nothing more than to have all of this be over with; the denizens of the Hallivand estate, with their own secrets and grudges. And then there are the girls. Sometimes young ladies in love; sometimes young ladies who see an opportunity. No matter - it usually won't go well for them in the end. Either they'll upset the wrong officer and "disappear," or they'll be ostracized by the other Islanders, or both. It's a very difficult line to cross.
Given that this, by the end, is a very tightly-woven mystery, there's not a lot I can say about it without unwittingly giving clues as to how it turns out. It is a high compliment indeed to say that, in this 360 page book, I didn't know what the heck was going on until page 355. So carefully conceived was the plot, and so seemingly random were the threads, that it was almost a complete garment before I caught on. Only the slow start cost it its 5th star.
The Channel Islands were the only part of England to be occupied by the Germans during WWII. There were a lot of difficult issues to navigate here. Homes were commandeered (i.e., stolen) for the officers and anything that might allow contact with the outside world was confiscated. Being "nice" to a German soldier who fancied you might mean a bit more food on the table for your family, at a time when food was extraordinarily scarce. Fraternizing with the Todt slave laborers (or, "the foreigns," as they're called here, could get you sent to the camps.
In the midst of all this are several characters: Ned, who is a civilian police officer just trying to stay out of trouble; Lentsch, a German officer who would like nothing more than to have all of this be over with; the denizens of the Hallivand estate, with their own secrets and grudges. And then there are the girls. Sometimes young ladies in love; sometimes young ladies who see an opportunity. No matter - it usually won't go well for them in the end. Either they'll upset the wrong officer and "disappear," or they'll be ostracized by the other Islanders, or both. It's a very difficult line to cross.
Given that this, by the end, is a very tightly-woven mystery, there's not a lot I can say about it without unwittingly giving clues as to how it turns out. It is a high compliment indeed to say that, in this 360 page book, I didn't know what the heck was going on until page 355. So carefully conceived was the plot, and so seemingly random were the threads, that it was almost a complete garment before I caught on. Only the slow start cost it its 5th star.
August 16, 2015
Mid 4. This is a formidable novel which raises the question of allegiance and loyalty amongst a population subject to occupation by enemy forces, and the moral complexities of fraternisation with the latter. In addition, how empathy with the culture and lives of those under their jurisdiction from any member of the occupying force could be interpreted by a distant leadership. Binding sets this novel on the idyllic island of Guernsey, under occupation by the Nazis at the height of the Second World War. The lives of his main protagonists, Major Lubitsch, commander of the occupying forces, and Ned Luscombe, head of the native police force, are woven irretrievably together by the love they share for the same woman, and a murder which will have them both question what they believe in and who they can confide in. The plot of the novel cleverly incorporates a cast of memorable characters and a heady mix including slave labour, amateur dramatics, black marketeering, and even the shadow of the Fuhrer himself as his birthday approaches. The author intelligently and deftly builds the tension to a satisfying climax and sublimely captures the mood and feel of the time and place.
July 15, 2007
Great story, set in Channel Isles under German occupation. The story is great, the telling is great, and a wonderful insight into a odd little corner of history.
August 13, 2017
Taking place on the island of Guernsey during Word War II, this is a novel is not sure if it wants to be a murder mystery, an historical novel, or a scintillating romance. The first 100 pages introduce all the characters - German officers (one referred to as "Major" and the other as "Captain - very confusing), too many Guernsey girls, Todt workers, police constable Ned Luscombe, and the Van Dielens. Mr Van Dielen, a builder of large projects, is working with the Germans to construct fortifications around island. Isobel Van Dieleln, the prettiest and richest girl on the island, has become a favorite of German Captain Lentsch. Over 100 pages into the novel, Isobel is found murdered at the bottom of a German bunker. New Luscombe is asked to work with the German officers to help solve the murder. Isobel's cooperation with the Germans has made her unpopular with the native population - was it one of them? But how could one of the natives get to a German bunker, off limits and carefully guarded? What could have been good murder mystery is way laid by black market scandal, the disappearance of Isobel's rich father, antagonistic feelings of Captain Lentsch for Hitler, and the need of the Guernsey population to resist while appearing to accept the German command. Unlikely friendships develop in the course of the story. Multiple plot threads get wrapped up at the end, but lead to an over-loaded and confusing novel .
September 16, 2012
Ever since reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and The Soldier's Wife, I have been intrigued by the story of this Guernsey Island's occupation by the German forces during the Second World War. I have a difficult time rating this one - at times I was ready to quit reading it altogether, but I did stick with it.
This book is much darker than either of the previously mentioned books. Perhaps it is a more accurate depiction of what might happen to people living under the stress and deprivation that was visited upon the Guernsey Islanders during that horrific time.
I found writing a bit scattered as it's viewpoint would swing between the various Islanders as well as several of the officers in the invading army. There is not much heroism displayed - mostly people doing whatever it was they felt they needed to do to survive. And that was often grim.
Ultimatley, however scattered, sometimes tedious and often vague the writing is, there are so many passages that are completely brilliant.
This book is much darker than either of the previously mentioned books. Perhaps it is a more accurate depiction of what might happen to people living under the stress and deprivation that was visited upon the Guernsey Islanders during that horrific time.
I found writing a bit scattered as it's viewpoint would swing between the various Islanders as well as several of the officers in the invading army. There is not much heroism displayed - mostly people doing whatever it was they felt they needed to do to survive. And that was often grim.
Ultimatley, however scattered, sometimes tedious and often vague the writing is, there are so many passages that are completely brilliant.
Read
October 17, 2017Got 120 pages in and it is still going nowhere - time to gas it and move on.
April 5, 2020
This was just, quite simply, brilliant. So much in it, can't find a thing to fault. And I don't know whether it was a little more relevant reading it at the moment - not that we're at war or living in an occupied country. But lockdown in the UK with covid-19 puts plenty of restrictions on your life and anxiety in your head.
I love the Channel Islands. I've only been to Jersey so far, would love to go to Guernsey, where this book is set, and one day I hope to. I read a lot about Jersery during the war and saw the insane number of concrete bunkers and watchtowers on the island, so I have a good mental picture of what is being described in this book.
It's set during the second world war, a couple of years in to the German occupation of the Channel Islands. Beautiful places, essentially a holiday camp for the army, with scenary, good food and lots of the local girls desperate to get themselves a German boyfriend - maybe the kudos, maybe giving the finger to older generaions, but certainly food and priviledges would have been a bonus. And the islanders called them Jerrybags. Islanders wrote annoymous letters to the Germans, telling tales on their neighbours. Some is hiding food. Someone has a radio (banned). Someone has done this or that. In times of stress people revert to type and you really find out who the good people are and who the worthless are.
So, there's a stack of stuff going on in this book, and on top of all that, there is a very well plotted murder mystery. It's just fabulous. We follow a number of characters, from both sides. A German Major who is in love with the daughter of a Dutch construction magnate living on the island. The police officer who got trapped on the islands attending his father's funeral, and then is put in as head of the police by the Germans when many of the policeforce are tried for smuggling and black marketering. The Dutch father, who is moarning his wife's death (drowning) and is over protective of his daughter. The local girl trying to get by and get in with the Germans and ends up helping one of the "foreigns" (POWs from many countries were brought over by the Germans and used as slave labour to build all of the concrete constructions). The old uncle, seemingly harmless, who keeps house at the big house on the island where the German military elite are housed. And all the interactions. It's just so wonderfully plotted and written. I don't want to write anymore and give away anything of the plot. But why this isn't more well known as one of the great WWII fiction stories, I do not know.
I love the Channel Islands. I've only been to Jersey so far, would love to go to Guernsey, where this book is set, and one day I hope to. I read a lot about Jersery during the war and saw the insane number of concrete bunkers and watchtowers on the island, so I have a good mental picture of what is being described in this book.
It's set during the second world war, a couple of years in to the German occupation of the Channel Islands. Beautiful places, essentially a holiday camp for the army, with scenary, good food and lots of the local girls desperate to get themselves a German boyfriend - maybe the kudos, maybe giving the finger to older generaions, but certainly food and priviledges would have been a bonus. And the islanders called them Jerrybags. Islanders wrote annoymous letters to the Germans, telling tales on their neighbours. Some is hiding food. Someone has a radio (banned). Someone has done this or that. In times of stress people revert to type and you really find out who the good people are and who the worthless are.
So, there's a stack of stuff going on in this book, and on top of all that, there is a very well plotted murder mystery. It's just fabulous. We follow a number of characters, from both sides. A German Major who is in love with the daughter of a Dutch construction magnate living on the island. The police officer who got trapped on the islands attending his father's funeral, and then is put in as head of the police by the Germans when many of the policeforce are tried for smuggling and black marketering. The Dutch father, who is moarning his wife's death (drowning) and is over protective of his daughter. The local girl trying to get by and get in with the Germans and ends up helping one of the "foreigns" (POWs from many countries were brought over by the Germans and used as slave labour to build all of the concrete constructions). The old uncle, seemingly harmless, who keeps house at the big house on the island where the German military elite are housed. And all the interactions. It's just so wonderfully plotted and written. I don't want to write anymore and give away anything of the plot. But why this isn't more well known as one of the great WWII fiction stories, I do not know.
June 24, 2019
This is a very special book.
It is an historical novel as well as a murder mystery.
Set on the Channel Islands during German Nazi occupation,
it masterfully gets into the main character lives and describes
their inner feelings and deals with the essence of humanity, as well
as inhumanity.
The only flaw that I detected that would prevent it from being a masterpiece
was a somewhat rushed and uncertain ending.
It was as if the author was preparing us for a sequel, although many of the
main characters' fates had been resolved.
Still, there remained the unresolved fates of others.
This writer has an uncanny ability to get into the minds of his characters
and make us feel what they are feeling.
I read this book straight through.
It is a tale of good and evil that showed clearly two sides at war, both trying
to coexist as well as possible on an island cut off from the rest of the world.
It is an historical novel as well as a murder mystery.
Set on the Channel Islands during German Nazi occupation,
it masterfully gets into the main character lives and describes
their inner feelings and deals with the essence of humanity, as well
as inhumanity.
The only flaw that I detected that would prevent it from being a masterpiece
was a somewhat rushed and uncertain ending.
It was as if the author was preparing us for a sequel, although many of the
main characters' fates had been resolved.
Still, there remained the unresolved fates of others.
This writer has an uncanny ability to get into the minds of his characters
and make us feel what they are feeling.
I read this book straight through.
It is a tale of good and evil that showed clearly two sides at war, both trying
to coexist as well as possible on an island cut off from the rest of the world.
February 21, 2016
Excellent. Well-written, lyrical, suspensful. I did not know about the German occupation of Guernsey, it was good to learn something new.
March 21, 2023
Mixed feelings on this one. From one standpoint, it’s an excellently written historical narrative that includes a very intriguing mystery. It’s sucked me right in from the beginning. However, in my opinion, the objectification of women in this book is appalling, the violence and sex uncomfortably graphic, and the whole book extremely dark. I do understand that these things occur because the author is being authentic to the time period that the novel is set, but I wouldn’t read it again or recommend it. A little too dark for me.
July 19, 2019
Based in Guernsey during the WW11 and the German occupation. Very interesting read. Makes you wonder if one might collaborate with the occupying army, if it fills the families bellies and makes life a little more tolerable. Found it an interesting read to understand how the life was under the jackboot. These Islands being the only part of the UK to be occupied by the enemy. Plot was good , but some of the characters were instantly forgettable . Overall worth the read.
December 23, 2020
I really am not sure how to rate this one.
On one hand, the subject matter (Nazi occupied Guernsey) is fascinating; on the other, it's 70% about which fictional local girls are sleeping with which officers.
On one hand, the writing is clearly excellent; on the other there were times when my attention waned.
On one hand, fascinating to have a murder mystery; on the other, although it drove the plot it also didn't get much attention or resolution.
On one hand, the subject matter (Nazi occupied Guernsey) is fascinating; on the other, it's 70% about which fictional local girls are sleeping with which officers.
On one hand, the writing is clearly excellent; on the other there were times when my attention waned.
On one hand, fascinating to have a murder mystery; on the other, although it drove the plot it also didn't get much attention or resolution.
September 28, 2018
This is my kind of novel. A well researched book that seems to give an authentic feel of time and place. In depth characters, vivid descriptions, stream of consciousness passages and a taught plot. I hadn't read a Tim Binding novel for years, I remember being impressed A Perfect Execution. I will be reading more in future.
October 20, 2017
An emotional portrait of people under unbearable stress and how they respond
November 4, 2017
loved this book. intricate story of life in war & compromises made in order to survive.
May 21, 2019
A little slow to start with but develops into an intriguing tale of life in German Occupied Guernsey and the life lived by both sides
September 8, 2019
While this could be a good book for someone, it just wasn't what I was expecting and wanting.
Read
March 27, 2020This was a bit of a slow read. The premise was interesting but sometimes the writing seemed a little disjointed.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
August 16, 2020
A murder mystery set during the German occupation of the Channel Islands. A well crafted story that keeps the reader guessing.
May 16, 2021
I liked the story, a great plot for a mystery. Finished well. But I didn’t particularly warm to any of the characters. And there’s never been moles in Guernsey.
December 27, 2010
Having read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, I was already intrigued by the German occupation of the Channel Islands.
This is a much darker book. It points out the dilemmas the Islanders must have felt at the time: What if Germany wins the war: If they are to be the rulers long term, is co-operation with them wrong?
Some are growing up with an established occupation. For the young women there is limited choice of men even in peace time. The war has meant that many have already left to fight, so the young German soldiers have appeal.
For the Islanders food on the Island is in scarce supply. Only Germans have easy access to adequate supplies.
Under such circumstances one is not surprised that murder is committed. Discovering the truth is put into the hands of a British policeman who had already been co-opted by the Germans to police the Island.
This is a much darker book. It points out the dilemmas the Islanders must have felt at the time: What if Germany wins the war: If they are to be the rulers long term, is co-operation with them wrong?
Some are growing up with an established occupation. For the young women there is limited choice of men even in peace time. The war has meant that many have already left to fight, so the young German soldiers have appeal.
For the Islanders food on the Island is in scarce supply. Only Germans have easy access to adequate supplies.
Under such circumstances one is not surprised that murder is committed. Discovering the truth is put into the hands of a British policeman who had already been co-opted by the Germans to police the Island.
March 15, 2017
The concept sounded good. Set in Guernsey during the occupation of the island by the Germans during World War II. It promised to pose questions about the moral choices of living in an occupied environment - would you be a rebel or a collaborator? There purported to be a love story/triangle between Ned (the local policeman), Lentsch (one of the German officers) and Isobel who, as you quickly find out, has been killed. Possibly the problem was that I am not a big fan of murder mysteries so it would have taken something special to make me enjoy this. On the other hand, I just didn't find any of the characters likeable. The point may have been that they are all flawed so as to make them more realistic. However, I don't think you find out enough about Isobel to actually care who killed her or even why so I found myself skim-reading through the book just to get to the end.
July 3, 2013
Very interesting and well written. As someone else pointed out, it's much darker than the Guernsey Potato Peel Society (or whatever that title was) giving a much more closer read on the interactions between the occupiers and, especially (given the title) the, women of the island. Add in a bombing plot, a sympathetic German, former romances between island men and women now involved with the Germans and it is an engaging read.
It was here in our beach rental, not a new book. Dates back to 1998. But a nice read. The cover is actually a photo described in the book with the woman being the murder victim.
It was here in our beach rental, not a new book. Dates back to 1998. But a nice read. The cover is actually a photo described in the book with the woman being the murder victim.
October 4, 2015
Described as a suspense novel, the suspense / mystery took a back seat to the interesting situation / characters in the novel. (I almost forgot about the unsolved crime!)
The setting is World War II, the German occupied Channel island of Guernsey, the only "British" soil occupied by Germany. The book shows the corrupting effect of close contact between enemies and the betrayals that happen. A murder unravels many of the relationships.
My favorite characters were the investigating constable, Ned Luscombe and the sympathetic soldier, Gerhardt Lentsch. The book was written with "exceptional style" as one review noted.
The setting is World War II, the German occupied Channel island of Guernsey, the only "British" soil occupied by Germany. The book shows the corrupting effect of close contact between enemies and the betrayals that happen. A murder unravels many of the relationships.
My favorite characters were the investigating constable, Ned Luscombe and the sympathetic soldier, Gerhardt Lentsch. The book was written with "exceptional style" as one review noted.
May 12, 2010
It took me a while to get into this one, partly because of the shifts in narrative voice and tenses, but I ended up loving the twists and turns of the plot and liking at least one of the characters a great deal. It's so, so, so much better than the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society which deals with similar subject matter in a much more superficial way. (Also Tim Binding's lyrical descriptions of Guernsey have created in me a hitherto unknown desire to visit the Channel Islands in the spring!)
Read
November 3, 2012The villian was not proven as so to me, at least not entirely. Although Tempest did grevious things within the context of his life, his treatment of Rose never waivered, in fact his love was proven through the narrative. I was actually more sad for his rejection than I was for the love he followed who found herself pursued. It was a fast moving and well-written story about how disappointing life can be when we have choices to manuever.
February 3, 2011
A mystery set in WWII occupied Guernsey. I continue to be intrigued by the relationship between occupiers and occupied - how much do you 'collaborate' with the enemy in order just to survive daily life? the characters were intriguing but something just left me a little flat. a little raw in parts, which was partly for character/plot development, but not always.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews