Be Shot For Sixpence

by Michael Gilbert

A gripping spy thriller with a deserved reputation. Philip sees an announcement in 'The Times' from an old school friend who has instructed the newspaper to publish only if they don’t hear from him. This sets a trail running through Europe, with much of the action taking place on the Austro-Hungarian border. The Kremlin, defectors, agitators and the People’s Court set the background to a very realistic story that could well have happened …

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

218 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Born in Lincolnshire in 1912, Michael Francis Gilbert was educated in Sussex before entering the University of London where he gained an LLB with honours in 1937. Gilbert was a founding member of the British Crime Writers Association, and in 1988 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America - an achievement many thought long overdue. He won the Life Achievement Anthony Award at the 1990 Boucheron in London, and in 1980 he was knighted as a Commander in the Order of the British Empire. Gilbert made his debut in 1947 with Close Quarters, and since then has become recognized as one of our most versatile British mystery writers.

He was the father of Harriett Gilbert.

Reviews

[K.J. Charles]

Unexpectedly brutal 1950s thriller, marred by a lot of tedious period misogyny.

[Jim Bogue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Gilbert never wrote a dull book, and this one (written rather presciently in 1956) is a typical thriller. The hero is drawn into a plot to spark trouble in Hungary (book seems to have been written before the Revolution) without ever really understanding what is going on.
The action moves quickly from London to Cologne to Austria (and eventually Hungary itself). There are a couple of doublecrossers, various villains, and some friendly (if short term) ladies.
This is a fun and quick read which recalls a time when the bad guys were pretty obvious (with even some Nero, or maybe old, Nazis thrown in) and the good guys laconic and effective.

[William Pugsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ever increasing momentum propels this story of an Englishman searching for his spy friend in post-war Europe along the Hungarian - Yugoslavian border with plenty of jabs at Soviet politics. A good adventure with a likeable narrator with enough intrigue to keep wondering who is on whose side.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strangely compelling, grim, and very spare. Not really something I enjoyed, though I respect it.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good '50s spy-thriller from prolific British crimer writer Gilbert.

[Regine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bleak.