Traitor's Exit

Boysie Oakes #6

by John Gardner

London, 1938. Europe is on the brink of war. And in England Anthony Eden’s resignation as Prime Minister has rocked the tottering foundations of the country. So not much attention is paid when Michael Hensman, Member of Parliament for Crayshott East, leaves Westminster for a short holiday with his wife — and vanishes without trace. But Fleet Street journalist Simon Darrell is sent to investigate. His unorthodox methods get him taken off the case. But he decides to do some unofficial investigating of his own… After people connected with Hensman are found dead, it is clear that something sinister is going on. And before long Simon finds a disturbing connection between the murders and the threat of Nazi Germany. He is soon caught up in an ugly conspiracy that involves political intrigue, corruption, blackmail, death — and the fate of an entire nation.... And he must Run A Little Faster to stay alive. 'Run A Little Faster' is a classic adventure story from a master story-teller. 'Rich in intricacy, ingenuity and intrigue' - Sunday Times 'Good, tight-knit pre-war spy thriller.' - Manchester Evening News 'Neat thriller.' - Times Literary Supplement 'A good old-fashioned absorbing read.' - Good Housekeeping Before coming an author of fiction in the early 1960’s John Gardner was variously a stage magician, a Royal Marine officer and a journalist. In all Gardner has fifty-four novels to his credit, including Maestro, which was the New York Times book of the year. He was also invited by Ian Fleming’s literary copyright holders to write a series of continuation James Bond novels, which proved to be so successful that instead of the contracted three books he went on to publish some fourteen titles, including Licence Renewed and Icebreaker. Having lived in the Republic of Ireland, the United States and the UK, John Gardner sadly died in August of 2007 having just completed his third novel in the Moriarty trilogy, Conan Doyle’s eponymous villain of the Sherlock Holmes series. Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher. For more information on our titles please sign up to our newsletter at www.endeavourpress.com. Each week you will receive updates on free and discounted ebooks. Follow us on @EndeavourPress and on Facebook via We are always interested in hearing from our readers. Endeavour Press believes that the future is now.

150 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Before coming an author of fiction in the early 1960s, John Gardner was variously a stage magician, a Royal Marine officer and a journalist. In all, Gardner has fifty-four novels to his credit, including Maestro, which was the New York Times book of the year. He was also invited by Ian Fleming’s literary copyright holders to write a series of continuation James Bond novels, which proved to be so successful that instead of the contracted three books he went on to publish some fourteen titles, including Licence Renewed and Icebreaker.

Having lived in the Republic of Ireland, the United States and the UK, John Gardner sadly died in August of 2007 having just completed his third novel in the Moriarty trilogy, Conan Doyle’s eponymous villain of the Sherlock Holmes series.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A writer of slightly trashy espionage novels is about to hit bottom when some British agents come to recruit him for a super secret mission.

The mission is to abduct a Kim Philby analogue and smuggle him to the other side of the Iron Curtain. His assistant is an expert agent posing as his camerawoman.

Things go wrong. At some point Boysie Oakes shows up, but doesn't really do much.

I guess the series was running out of steam at this point.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Offbeat spy story with Boysie a minor player

Main character is a downtrodden novelist who’s in debt and agrees to help in a kidnapping of a British spy who defected to the Soviets. Oakes is a bit player in this story.

[Jorn Barger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very different, partially successful. The minefield scene was a failure. The circus was fun.