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Stratton's War

(DI Ted Stratton #1)

Laura Wilson

3.47 · Rating details · 424 ratings · 77 reviews

London, June 1940. When the body of silent screen star Mabel Morgan is found impaled on railings in Fitzrovia, the coroner rules her death as suicide, but DI Ted Stratton of the CID is not convinced. Despite opposition from his superiors, he starts asking questions, and it becomes clear that Morgan's fatal fall from a high window may have been the work of one of Soho's ...more

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Kindle Edition, 464 pages

Published August 27th 2009 by Orion (first published January 1st 2008)

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May 02, 2012 Jennie rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, abandoned, detective-fiction

This book probably would have played out much better if Wilson had stuck with the murder (or is it?) mystery with Stratton as its central character. Unfortunately, there's also the story of Diane (Diana? I don't really care, though I was just reading this yesterday), a married socialite-turned-sort-of-spy, who's trying to get information on I don't care what.

I don't know how these stories are supposed to intersect, because 150-plus pages in, the two main characters haven't met and their plots This book probably would have played out much better if Wilson had stuck with the murder (or is it?) mystery with Stratton as its central character. Unfortunately, there's also the story of Diane (Diana? I don't really care, though I was just reading this yesterday), a married socialite-turned-sort-of-spy, who's trying to get information on I don't care what.

I don't know how these stories are supposed to intersect, because 150-plus pages in, the two main characters haven't met and their plots seem to have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Stratton is asking questions about the apparent suicide of an aging silent screen beauty, while the trapped-in-a-loveless-marriage Diane or Diana or whatever is going to parties, where she meets - you guessed it - a fabulously, ridiculously handsome man and the story gets incredibly stupid.

This ridiculously handsome man won't take no for an answer. Their exchanges consist of the following:

"Have dinner with me." "No, I don't want to." (man lists menu items) "Have dinner with me." "No." "You know you want to." "No." (they have dinner).

They go to dinner again. There's an air raid; she gets a cut on her ankle. He takes her to his apartment, where he dresses her ankle then pins her down on the couch and shoves his hand up her skirt.

"Stop it!" "You know you want it." "You're hurting me - let me go!" "Come on, you know you want it." "I said you're hurting me! I'm married! Stop!" "I'll take care of you, you know you want it." "Let me go!" "You want me." "I do want you." Blessedly off-screen consensual sex, followed by I love yous on both sides.

WTF????????? I'm supposed to believe this s***?

Yes, folks, we're still in the age of "no" means "I really want you and I love you even though you're a philandering, demanding prick and I'm bored and spineless."

I don't even care how the story plays out. The only remotely sympathetic characters are Stratton and his wife, and Joe Vincent - the rest are just...whatever.

Ranting, I know, but I just....hate this book....so.....much!

For WWII British murder mysteries, I think I'm gonna stick with the excellent BBC series "Foyle's War." This is just stupid.

...more

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May 12, 2012 Rob Kitchin rated it liked it · review of another edition

Stratton’s War is part of the burgeoning number of crime novels using the Second World War as its backdrop. The intersection here of MI5, police and London underworld makes for an interesting story, and the double, intersecting plot lines of Ted Stratton and Diana Calthrop is for the most part well constructed. Wilson has managed to capture the class divisions and social order of London, and the sensibilities and lives of those working and living in the city. The book recreates the tense, Stratton’s War is part of the burgeoning number of crime novels using the Second World War as its backdrop. The intersection here of MI5, police and London underworld makes for an interesting story, and the double, intersecting plot lines of Ted Stratton and Diana Calthrop is for the most part well constructed. Wilson has managed to capture the class divisions and social order of London, and the sensibilities and lives of those working and living in the city. The book recreates the tense, claustrophobic atmosphere of the time and portrays a strong sense of place. However, for all its positive attributes, there were a few things about the novel that undermined my reading experience a little. First, the character and role of Ted Stratton felt somewhat dislocated from his status, especially in the first half of the book where the way he acts and the role he plays seem incongruous. He effectively acts as a sergeant – out and about making enquiries, working for the most part as a lone detective. There is little to indicate he is a Detective Inspector in CID, where he would be running a large team, directing several others to do the kind of basic work he’s doing. This status is also missing in his dealings with his brother in law – he lays out the law to hardened criminals, but is a meek as a mouse to his bullying family member. Second, the workings of the police are extremely simplified in terms of station organisation and dynamics. Several dozen people would be working out of a London city centre police station, but the impression given is just a handful do so. Third, there is a significant subplot that ultimately goes nowhere at all and is left hanging, and the coincidence with respect to a family member was unneeded and unlikely. Finally, the book is too long. Certainly a good fifty or more pages could be cut out, which would serve to increase the pace and dramatic tension. Overall, an entertaining read, but a little undermined by some flaws in the realism of character and context, and unnecessary length. ...more

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Apr 30, 2015 Laura rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Those who enjoy English books set during WWII.

Shelves: international-authors, mystery, historical-fiction, millenials-2000-s

"The Innocent Spy" by Laura Wilson takes place in London, England in the early part of WWII (while America is still trying to decide if they will join the Allies). The stories of Ted Stratton, police detective, and Diana Calthrop, upper class socialite who decides to join the war effort as a spy alternate throughout the opening chapters without seeming to overlap at all. Meanwhile, Wilson sets a convincing atmosphere of terrifying nightly bomb raids while the citizens huddle in shelters and hope "The Innocent Spy" by Laura Wilson takes place in London, England in the early part of WWII (while America is still trying to decide if they will join the Allies). The stories of Ted Stratton, police detective, and Diana Calthrop, upper class socialite who decides to join the war effort as a spy alternate throughout the opening chapters without seeming to overlap at all. Meanwhile, Wilson sets a convincing atmosphere of terrifying nightly bomb raids while the citizens huddle in shelters and hope their flat isn't hit, rations, propaganda, and lives uprooted (such as the majority of children being sent out to the English countryside).

Pros: As mentioned previously, Wilson does a great job with the time period, and brushing on my "English" words (such as boot, torch, knickers, etc) was fun.

The relationship between Ted and his wife Jenny is very well done, and their bond is a refreshing change from some of the other dysfunctional couples in the book.

Some sections of the book made me actually laugh out loud, for instance the following passage, which takes place when Ted and Jenny spend a weekend in the countryside with their two children who are staying on an estate with a well off family--
"Oh Ted, that was awful."
"You turned bright red."
"I didn't, did I?"
"Scarlet"
Jenny gave him a little shove. "Oh, stop it."
"All right." Stratton took hold of her hand and started to nibble her fingers.
"Ted we can't. Not here."
"Why not? They do it too, you know."
"Ted!"
"Well, they do. Upper class people don't lay eggs, you know."

Cons: Like some other reviewers, I felt Diana's character was fairly unbelievable, and I had a hard time understanding some of the choices she made.

Most of Diana's ... intimate... moments with either her husband or Claude are pretty much nonconsensual, and were difficult to read. I had a hard time reconciling her submissive posture in the bedroom with her willingness to be a spy.

Again, as a few others have said, while I can certainly believe that 1940's London had its share of closet homosexuals, the sheer number of "powers that be" who ended up having skeletons in their closets was a bit unbelievable, and added to the unreality of the sex scenes mentioned above. All in all, both points I felt took the focus away from the tension of a spy and/or police procedural novel.

All in all I felt this book deserved 3 stars or a "good" rating. ...more

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Aug 22, 2013 Nelda Pearson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is a good complicated read. Two life plots intertwine and its more than half the novel beforethe two key characters Diana Calthrop and Ted Stratton come together. Diana, terribly unhappily married and very young, goes to work for the War Dept during WWII and ends up in MI5--hence the title of the novel. DI Ted Stratton,the key character and core of the series, is suspicious of the suicide of a former silent screen star beauty. The plot combines the spy novel of LeCarre and the psychological ...more

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Mar 15, 2015 Dorothy rated it it was ok · review of another edition

This is a fat book that would've been much better as a thin one. The novel is called "Stratton's War", and I wish the author had told the whole story from Stratton's point of view, uncovering everything in the course of his investigations. However she chose to tell Diana's story in parallel and that spoiled the book for me - because I simply didn't find Diana believable.

Diana is working at MI5 and meets a devastatingly handsome charmer, Claude. She's warned that he's a womanizer and probably a ...more

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Aug 07, 2009 Jeffrey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: historical fiction fans who enjoy mysteries and spy novels

Shelves: mystery, espionage, historical-fiction, read-in-2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 12, 2010 Sharron rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-suspense

title read by me was Stratton's War. this would have been a much better read at 300 rather than 450 pages. way too wordy though the description of London during WWII is well-done.

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Jul 31, 2019 Peggy rated it liked it · review of another edition

I picked this up as a used book at a new independent (yes!) bookstore near me. Hardcover exlib for 25 cents. Then to make it even better, it is a really good book, mashing WWII England, police procedural, romance and despair, MI5, class differences, family drama—well, that makes it sound messy but it isn’t at all. It’s just thick in a very pleasing way. Of course, this means now I have another author to follow up on. This is an old book—1964–and she has four more listed so I hope to find a ...more

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Jul 17, 2017 LecturerRich rated it really liked it · review of another edition

very twisty - but compelling read

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Sep 05, 2009 Maddy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-reads

PROTAGONIST: DI Ted Stratton
SETTING: London in 1940
SERIES: 1 of 2
RATING: 3.0

London in 1940 is a city under siege. Every night, the residents must seek protection from the bombing raids of the enemy. Although the average person's life is very much centered around surviving the Blitz, there is one area that has not changed. In spite of the war, crime has not taken a vacation. And Detective Inspector Ted Stratton is very convinced that a crime has taken place when he investigates the death of PROTAGONIST: DI Ted Stratton
SETTING: London in 1940
SERIES: 1 of 2
RATING: 3.0

London in 1940 is a city under siege. Every night, the residents must seek protection from the bombing raids of the enemy. Although the average person's life is very much centered around surviving the Blitz, there is one area that has not changed. In spite of the war, crime has not taken a vacation. And Detective Inspector Ted Stratton is very convinced that a crime has taken place when he investigates the death of silent screen star Mabel Morgan, despite his superior's declaration that the death was a suicide. Certainly, Mabel's young roommate and friend, Joe Vincent, doesn't believe that ruling. Stratton is directed to work on other cases; however, he continues to investigate Mabel's death on his own time, believing that it was the work of one of the notorious gangsters of the area.

Another result of the war was that many citizens were recruited to become spies. Diana Calthrop is an MI5 agent working undercover to learn more about the workings of a group known as the "Right Club". As she is drawn into their inner circle, she finds herself falling in love with a possible double agent, Claude Ventriss. Diana is unhappily married to a man who is in the military; although she suffers pangs of guilt at her own behavior, she is obsessed with Claude. There comes a point in the narrative where Diana and Ted's paths cross, and they experience a great attraction as well. Unlike Diana, Ted is happily married, although his wife is going through a difficult time as a result of their having to send their children away from the city to protect them from the nightly bombings.

The narrative is rich in period detail. Wilson presented the time in a vivid way that focused strongly on the impact of the war on the individuals in the city. In a way, the war is a character in the book, an ominous and unpredictable presence that guides the actions of everyone that it touches. DI Stratton is also an interesting character. He is not an exceptional man, but he does have common sense and the drive to search for truth even when it is inconvenient. Diana was a less appealing character. She succumbed to her own weaknesses and engaged in some very stupid behavior. Her husband was presented as an unlikable lug, his actions directed by his overbearing mother.

In spite of these strengths, the book didn't quite work for me. For one thing, there was a preponderance of gay characters who were willing to do almost anything to hide their sexual preferences. If this had been confined to a character or two, that wouldn't have been an issue; however, it becomes almost a theme and that just didn't feel very credible. Overall, the biggest problem for me was that the book had no resolution. Many major plot points had not been resolved by the conclusion of the book. It felt like Wilson reached her word count goal and ended the book. I felt cheated as a reader to not learn how some of the main threads of the narrative were resolved.

The Innocent Spy is the first in a series, with the second book, An Empty Death, released in July of this year. Prior to The Innocent Spy, Laura Wilson was acclaimed for her psychological crime fiction. It appears that her new direction will work for most readers, as she was recently awarded the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award for Innocent.

...more

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Jul 02, 2008 Karen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: review-books, crime

STRATTON'S WAR is the first in an new planned series of crime novels featuring Ted Stratton, a Detective Inspector in the London police during the Second World War. This book includes a second protagonist - Diana Calthorp, young, socialite, not long and unhappily married and unexpected MI5 agent, involved in a covert operation against sympathisers and spies in the local community.

It's a very elaborate, multi-layered story. The death of a silent film star who hasn't worked for many years is the STRATTON'S WAR is the first in an new planned series of crime novels featuring Ted Stratton, a Detective Inspector in the London police during the Second World War. This book includes a second protagonist - Diana Calthorp, young, socialite, not long and unhappily married and unexpected MI5 agent, involved in a covert operation against sympathisers and spies in the local community.

It's a very elaborate, multi-layered story. The death of a silent film star who hasn't worked for many years is the starting point. It's an investigation that Ted cannot put aside, despite a verdict of suicide. Diana starts work as a clerical assistant in MI5 but soon finds herself infiltrated into a group of well-to-do and well-known people, suspected of being Fascist sympathisers or spies. There's Ted's own family situation - a loving relationship with his wife, made tense by the evacuation of their two young children. There's the brother-in-law that Ted really struggles to deal with, and a problem nephew. Diana has gotten herself into a very unhappy marriage, with an overbearing and controlling mother-in-law, her husband is now serving in the Armed Forces. Diana's romantic liaison with another MI5 operative - a known womaniser - despite all the warnings that he's not to be trusted, despite threats from her mother-in-law, makes her realise she doesn't want to be married to her husband anymore.

The book weaves its way through all of the various threads of investigation and private life as it slowly draws a complicated web of crimes, espionage and the personal, slowly to the point where Diana and Ted's paths cross and the realisation that the Underworld and the Secret Service operate in very similar ways.

The thing that made STRATTON'S WAR really work for me was the way that there were multiple threads and a strong dose of the personal throughout the book. Some readers may find that less satisfactory, but for this reader, it created an atmosphere - a world if you want, that the characters inhabit. Some readers might find Diana's affair and the concentration on her personal feelings annoying (and I will agree she was a bit dangerously close to being whiny in places), but she's a young woman, in a weird time in the world, and it illustrated that she was a very young, inexperienced woman - one of the least likely people called upon to perform the most unlikely duty in the middle of war. The crime investigation, conducted within the background of a war, with nights spent in air-raid shelters, police stations being bombed into oblivion, and an old body being revealed in the bombed out remains of a church starkly revealed that even in extraordinary times, in the middle of a war, local criminals continue operations and family relationships remain complicated.

STRATTON'S WAR won the 2008 CWA Ellis Peters Historical Award. The award is given to the best historical crime novel (set in any period up to 35 years prior to the year in which the award will be made) by an author of any nationality.

...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Lizzie Hayes rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

‘Stratton’s War’ by Laura Wilson
Published by Orion. February 2008.
ISBN 978-0-7528 7623-8 (Hardback) 978-0-7528-7624-5 (Trade Paperback)

DI Ted Stratton is a policeman working in central London in 1940. He is married to Jenny and their two children who have been sent out of London for safety. His home life is happy, apart from the constant entreaties from his wife, which he is beginning to dread, to bring back the children from the country as she misses them. His extended family leave something ...more

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May 23, 2016 Kalen rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-reads, 2016-books-by-women

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I liked this one and got sucked into it but not without a few issues. In the beginning I looked several times to check to see when this had originally been published (2008) and for an author bio (fruitless--it isn't in the book and why not?) This reads like it was written in the 40s or 50s which is a testament to Wilson's writing and style--strong. She is so good at setting the scene. But this is where my issues come in.

And I say this realizing that I am reading this a person who lives in 2016 ...more

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Jun 03, 2016 Jan Edwards rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 09, 2010 Ian Mapp rated it liked it · review of another edition

Or should it be called Calthorpe's war.

Interesting tale, with a good sense of place and time and nice characterisation. Let down by an outrageous piece of co-incidence.

Sratton is a central london detective in the 1940 london. A land of the blitz, moral posters, black marketing and cockney geezers.

A silent movie actress is found on the railings outside her fizgrovia flat and it peaks his interest.

In alternating chapters, we are introduced to Diana Calthorpe. She works for the secret service and ...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Shawn Davis rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Set during the London Blitz, DI Ted Stratton is investing the death of silent film star Mabel Morgan. On the surface an obvious suicide, Stratton can't shake the gut feeling that there is more to her death than it initially seems.

At the same time, upperclass Diana Calthrop finds herself digging deeper into the intrigue of wartime MI5 as she retreats from her unhappy marriage.

Although they don't know each other, their cases are intricately intertwined in a tangle of espionage, multiple murder, ...more

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Sep 24, 2009 Viccy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: top-books-2009

I'm glad I got this one in during 2009. It has moved directly to the top of my best reads. I will have to track down the rest of Laura Wilson's books.
DI Ted Stratton is in charge of the investigation into the death of Mabel Morgan, former silent screen star. The coroner quickly rules it a suicide even though Stratton is not certain about the veracity of the ruling. Meanwhile, Diana Calthrop, high society lady, begins a job in MI5 that quickly turns deadly. The path between these two disparate ...more

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Sep 25, 2017 Lee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, war, uk, historical-fiction, british-author, sean-barrett-narrated, audible-uk, 2017

I've loved this series but I did it all out of order, unintentionally though. This was my last read and I enjoyed it. As usual a gripping plot with sub plots and a real sense of the time plus an explanation for some incidences that come along in the later books.

My only quibble is the naivety of Diane, I thought she was so gullible and had no back bone. I don't know if she would have been recruited into the secret service as she wasn't made of "sterner stuff". I always imagined that the women who ...more

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Jul 25, 2013 Deb rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Very disappointed in this book. It was 200 pages too long. I thought from the awards it received and the synopsis of the book that it would be a great read. Way too detailed about things that had no bearing on the case. The ending left u guessing and never wrapped the mystery up. Diana's affair is pathetic and her reappearing husband is not relevant to anything. Stratton is happily married, but author yoyo's back and forth on that relationship for no reason. As this murder combined a local ...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Michele rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-crime

Laura Wilson in a foreword talks about how she didn't want to get stuck with a main character that she eventually gets to hate. She says some authors say I wish I knew he/she were going to stay around because I wouldn't have made him so tall, short, annoying etc. With Ted Stratton she doesn't have to worry about annoying characteristics because he's so nice and normal he's bland. I did like him and I'll carry on with the Ted Stratton books to see what happens but there's no burning need to turn ...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Alistair rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was quite entertaining largely due to the world war 2 London setting and the character of Chief Inspector who is a straight down the line man who is happily married and not an alcoholic nor depressed .
The writer moves easily between the various settings of the criminal underworld , the film business , high level government mostly led by homisexuals . right wing pro Hitler gatherings , the cop shop and the domestic life of CI Stratton fluidly and the strands of all these elements are well ...more

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Feb 16, 2014 Nancy Seaman rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book does not settle well into one genre. The title says spy. The cover says police procedural. A cover quote says murder mystery. It is set early in the second world war in Britain. There are British who admire Hitler and British who do not. There is an American who wants America to stay out of the war. There is a policeman who just wants justice for a murdered woman. Then there is Diana, a recently recruited spy, who is in over her head, both in the spy work and in her family. It felt ...more

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Mar 12, 2010 Bill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mystery, espionage

I really enjoyed this book - a cross between a murder mystery and espionage thriller. The characters rang very true for me, fitting nicely with what I know about WWII London (which only comes from other books and movies). The relationship of Ted Stratton and his wife was central to the book and I found it a very believable and moving portrait of a marriage. I did find the ending a little disappointing in that I wanted it to resolve more like a mystery where the good guys prosper and the bad ones ...more

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Dec 14, 2014 Marilyn Lagier rated it liked it · review of another edition

Three stars instead of four because I did like it--but not really liked it. If there was a 3 & 1/2 stars, that would be better. Very interesting spy novel: murder, murder, more murder. Lots of British-speak, tea drinking, intrigue all taking place during the bombing of Britain in WWII. If there is a DI Ted STratton #2, I think I actually might read it simply because I like the character--he's no nonsense, humble, and even though I'm fond of reading the end of novels once I've gotten about a ...more

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Jun 13, 2015 Amy Paget rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A wonderful debut mystery. Laura Wilson should know of what she writes, as the crime fiction reviewer for the Guardian newspaper. Set in 1940s war-torn London, we are introduced to Detective Ted Stratton as he investigates the gruesome murder of film star Mabel Morgan -- then then becomes enmeshed in right wing intrigue. Stratton and his milieu are wonderfully well drawn. The author does not do as well in depicting the upper class world into which Stratton is thrown. I am eagerly awaiting the ...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Susan Brown rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I started this book because of the time and place (London in the second world war), hoping for a cozy detective read, and this is indeed how it started out. But then MI5 entered the plot and for me the whole story became convoluted and plodding, not to say confusing. It seemed the author could not decide between a cozy and a spy novel, and in this case the two did not mix well. I did like the protagonist and his relationship with his wife, Jenny. They were a close, demonstrative couple - rare in ...more

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Nov 14, 2011 Naomi rated it liked it · review of another edition

I don't know if I hyped it or not, but I wasn't as excited about this book as I thought I was going to be. This book had three components that I love Historical Fiction, the UK and mystery, yet I didn't find myself connected to any of the characters as I thought I would be. They were almost lacking and I found myself simply wanting to "get through the book." What a let down!! I am not even sure if I would continue on with the series. The one thing I did find fascinating was how the author wove ...more

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Sep 11, 2009 Jennifer rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, mystery

Really a 2 1/2 from me - although I would have given it a 3 until it ended way too abruptly and predictably. This mystery involves Stratton, a detective working his "beat" during London in WWII, and Diana, a spy (although her role is never quite believable). I enjoyed the interweaving of the two worlds, but I was hoping to be surprised by the villain. Alas, I was not rewarded. The denouement was rushed and I couldn't quite buy Diana's role. Stratton's character, however, was the best thing in ...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Mary rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I found this book enthralling. Set in WWII London it follows paralleling plot lines. In the first, a veteran police officer is bristling at being pushed to treat a crime scene as a suicide. In the second an upper class beauty begins working for what will become MI5. Eventually the two plot lines merge. Interesting and human characters, dense period detail and careening plot twists are a part of the ride. Highly recommended!

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Nov 27, 2009 Jennifer rated it liked it · review of another edition

A somewhat plodding police procedural with great characters. Ted Stratton, working class copper and Diana Calthorp, glacial misguided debutante, brought together by espionage and crime in London 1940. The Blitz details sharpen the sense of doom and dread. I'm not sure whether the book has overtones of anti-semitism and homophobia or is commenting on the existence of such in that world. Certainly Miller draws the class-based distinctions vividly.

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About Laura Wilson

Laura Wilson

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There is more than one author with this name

Laura Wilson is an English crime-writer based in London, where she was born and raised. She has degrees in English Literature form Somerville College, Oxford, and University College London, and has worked as a teacher and editor of non-fiction.

Many of her novels have either a historical setting or a distinct historical connection, and often have split or ...more