Washington Shadow

Peter Cotton #2

by Aly Monroe

September 1945. Bankrupt and desperate, Britain sends John Maynard Keynes to boom town Washington to beg for a loan. Under cover of the backup team, agent Peter Cotton is sent to investigate the break-up of America's wartime intelligence agency. Cotton finds himself caught up in a world of shadows involving an extraordinarily attractive girl from the US State Department, a Soviet ex-tank commander claiming to be his opposite number, a contrarian African academic, an ambitious, quick-tempered boss from the world of misinformation ...and an Anglo-American conspiracy that will change the world of post-war intelligence for ever.

Genres: Espionage, Historical Fiction, Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published November 5, 2009

About the author

Author of the Peter Cotton series, which begins in 1944, and takes us to different countries around the world during the aftermath of the second world war and the dismantling of the British colonies

The first three books in the series, 'The Maze of Cadiz', 'Washington Shadow', and 'Icelight' received excellent reviews. (See my website)

Washington Shadow' was shortlisted for the 2010 CWA Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award.

Icelight was the winner of the 2012 CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger.

All the books are available to buy on amazon.co.uk. and also amazon.com
and can also be downloaded on Kindle

The fourth book in the series, 'Black Bear', is published on 9 May 2013 and is now available to buy on amazon.

You will find more information and reviews, Q&As and extracts from the books on Aly's website (see above)

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this was not the typical "cloak and dagger" espionage novel, it provided an interesting view of the changing nature of relations --- both political and economic --- between the U.S. and Britain in the immediate post-Second World War era.

A British officer --- Peter Cotton --- is sent from Europe to the U.S. in September 1945 to investigate the imminent breakup of the U.S. wartime intelligence agency, the OSS (Office of Strategic Services). Britain is broke and has sent representatives to Washington (led by the eminent economist John Maynard Keynes) to negotiate for a loan to help it address its pressing financial needs. Cotton, on attachment to the British Embassy, finds himself immersed in the subterfuge and machinations of Washington power politics. His experiences in and around Washington (as someone who lives in Washington, I enjoyed the author's descriptions of some areas of the city as they were in that time), which are superimposed over some of the larger events, give the reader the palpable feel of a world struggling to readjust from what was a "hot war" into a cold one.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The war is over, and in September 1945 Peter Cotton is sent to Washington, ostensibly as part of the team accompanying John Maynard Keynes as he endeavours to negotiate a desperately needed loan for the British government. Cotton's actual mission, however, is to investigate the imminent break-up of America's wartime intelligence agency, the OSS. During his stay, he finds himself caught up with a variety of potentially questionable characters, including an attractive young woman from the State Department, an African professor, and a Soviet ex-tank commander.

Like the first one, atmospheric and intriguing, dropping in a wealth of little historical details here and there.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up for two reasons: I've got a soft spot for spy fiction set in the 1930s and 40s (the books of Alan Furst for example), and I'm a sucker for fiction set in my hometown of Washington, D.C. I quickly realized that this is the second in a series (preceded by Maze of Cadiz, followed by Icelight) featuring Peter Cotton, a British officer engaged in very loosely delineated espionage work. Indeed, it is that very looseness that is the major of weakness of the book. While the background, setting, and various characters are all given enough bones and color to feel real, the plot itself is so oblique as to be missing.

The story has Cotton as part of the British delegation sent to D.C. in the fall of 1945 to negotiate the repayment terms of America's wartime loans. However his true assignment seems to be to try and suss out what the postwar American intelligence apparatus will be, in the wake of the dissolution of the OSS. I say "seems to be" because he winds up entangled in various other affairs, such as paying off a Howard University professor to undermine the legitimacy of the 5th Pan-African Congress, which was convening in Manchester at the time, keeping tabs on a mysterious Soviet officer who may be a tank commander, or may be something quite different, cleaning up after the sexual shenanigans of various Brits, and dealing with FBI thugs who seem to lurk around every corner.

All of which makes the book sound rather more exciting than it actually is. There's a nice snappy style to the writing, the setting is well-researched and described, and it all clips right along, but such plot as there is never really kicks in. One could argue that the real subject of the book is Cotton's uncertainty about his postwar prospects. He visits with his sister, who's married a wealthy American and had several children. He develops a friendship and then more with a smart career woman working at the State Department. He wonders what his own place in the world should be. These are where the story really comes more alive, the more introspective personal stuff, not the ostensible espionage. Mildly interesting for the convincing glimpse back in time, but don't pick it up expecting a gripping story.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second in a series of historical thrillers featuring Peter Cotton, a British Intelligence Officer. Set in Washington at the end of WWII when John Maynard Keynes has come to Washington to strike a 'bail out ' of the English economy after the economic desolation of WWII. Monroe strikes a nice note with historic detail but there's an oomph missing in the thriller part of the equation.

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Washington Shadow is the second book in the Peter Cotton series following the exploits of an economics graduate who works as an intelligence officer. Whilst the first book was set in Spain, the second sees Cotton move to Washington DC after his old unit is wound up and he waits to find out if he’s going to be demobbed. Despite winning the war, Britain is on its knees financially and is severely weakened politically with respect to its empire. The nice hook to the story is John Maynard Keynes presence in the city, trying to negotiate a loan from the Americans. The first half of the tale is atmospheric and evocative, and the historical contextualisation concerning the relationship between the US and Britain is interesting. Cotton is a little out of his depth and struggling to work out his role in what seems a fluid situation as the Americans re-organise their intelligence agencies and prepare for a new world order, and he hesitantly starts a relationship, his first serious one since the death of his fiancée to a blitz bomb. However, in the second half the storyline becomes a little disjointed, bitty and opaque, and rather than Cotton being at the centre of the action with respect to the Keynes negotiations, which might have provided a stronger hook, he’s hovering around the edges with an uncertain role. Perhaps Monroe is projecting the uncertainty and haphazardness of the British position onto Cotton, but it means the plot fizzles rather than sparkles. This was a shame as the first half was excellent. Nevertheless, it’s still an interesting read, with an engaging lead character and intriguing context.

[Gerald Sinstadt · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Beware," says Aesop, "that you do not lose the substance by grasping at the shadow." The thought lingers after closing Aly Monroe's intelligent book. If one ultimately feels a sense of an objective only partially attained, one can but respect a brave and interesting attempt.

Peter Cotton is an army major at the end of WW2. With a few months left until demobilisation, he is posted to Washington to join an understaffed and under-resourced Intelligence department. Maynard Keynes is present, attempting unsuccessfully to extricate Britain from wartime debts. The Soviets are dabbling in the background. President Truman is attempting to restructure US Intelligence. The FBI meddle jealously. This is a shadowy world, indeed. It proves a difficult background for Cotton's romantic entanglement with the daughter of a wealthy American family.

Perhaps Monroe could have defined more clearly the central theme she wished to pursue: is this a spy story or a grown-up account of a complex relationship? One reads on, engaged with the people and impressed by the recreation of an era; it is only at the end that one feels that the beguiling shadows may indeed have left the substance elusive. Read it, though, and look for Ms Monroe's next.

[Paul Dumont · Rating 4 out of 5]

An impressive and fascinating follow up to The Maze of Cadiz, this kept me turning the pages way into the small hours of the morning. Not all the plot strands seem to work out conclusively or convincingly, but as a result the book feels much more realistic. Reminded me a lot of the ambiguities and uncertainties of le Carre, especially The Looking Glass War or The Spy who came in from the Cold.

[History King · Rating 1 out of 5]

The description of the book is miss leading in the fact that there is no greater Anglo-American conspiracy. The book is also very confusing and adds to many unnecessary characters that serve no point. And to top it all of his friend and girlfriend die and there death is never solved in the book. Would give 0 stars if I could.