After Midnight

Post War Trilogy #1

by Robert Ryan

In 1964, a young Australian girl, Linda Carr, is trying to track down the wreckage of the Liberator bomber in which her father died when it crashed in northern Italy in 1944 during World War Two. She employs the help of motorcycle TT racer Jack Kirby, a man who has his own inner demons to combat. He was a Mosquito fighter pilot during the war and experienced at first hand the astonishing courage of the Italian partisans in the face of Nazi brutality. Jack is keen to find one of the partisans, a woman with a past as dark as the secrets she still holds close to her heart. What Jack and Linda discover in their journey deep into an uncharted Italian mountain region is more dangerous and life-changing than they could ever have imagined.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Novels, European History, Adult Fiction, 20th Century, War

310 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 2005

About the author

aka Tom Neale

Robert Ryan was born in Liverpool but moved to London when he was eighteen to attend university. He lectured in natural sciences for several years before moving into journalism in the mid-1980s, first with The Face and then the Dylan Jones-edited Arena. During this time, he also wrote for The Daily Telegraph, US GQ, US Conde Nast Traveler, Esquire and The Sunday Times.

Robert Ryan lives in North London with his wife and three children.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book by Robert Ryan that I have read, I knew little about the role of Italian partisans during WWII which along with the fact that the book was said to be inspired by a true story the main reasons that attracted me to this book.

The book is set in 1964 some 20 years after the end of WWII and is based around a Northern corner of Italy. Now I must admit that the first three quarters of this book had me gripped as the author skillfully mixed past and present, fact and fiction, gradually turning the screw of tension as the story built in intensity. The details of the danger and bravery of those rather unsung bomber pilots was very moving and the description of Kirby's lap on the TT course had me gripped but the final quarter rather ruined the overall effect. The ending seemed a little rushed with things (not wanting to give too many details away) conveniently coming to hand. Then it could be just that the story seemed to veer too far from fact and that the search proved unsuccessful was what really disappointed me. In fact in the end the 'true story' became more fluff rather than anything else. Perhaps the over-riding message is that War never really truly leaves its participants no matter how many years may pass, all are in some way marked by it.

Overall some interesting background information and a nice writing compact style but ultimately an average read IMHO.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I have read of Robert Ryan's and i found it to be written very well. The way in which he ties he different time together works perfectly and reading the acknowledgements I could tell there had been huge amounts of research into the WWII Italian partisans and the lives of those who lived during the times written. So even if much of it was fictional I really felt the essence and feelings of the characters and time was captured.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

During WWII, Mussolini sided with Hitler, thinking it would keep his country safe, but there were Italians who did not agree with him, and these partisans did what they could to fight the Germans and the Italian national guards, to keep Italy free from Hitler's grasp. To their aid came the Allies, dropping canisters of rations and weapons from planes, making dangerous flights up and over mountains in the night to do so, and many died in their efforts to do what they felt was right.

Based on a true story of a young woman who lost her father when she was a child, who continued to search for his remains based on a letter he wrote just before he went on his fateful flight. To aid her with her search, she hires an ex-British Liaison Officer pilot who assisted one partisan group in their attempt to rid the Germans from their particular town and set up a free Republic.

In searching for the plane that went down with his client's father, old memories are resurrected as are old friends. But there are forces who don't want him to find the plane or the remains, and he is beset with unexpected and nasty surprises at almost every corner.

[Happy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really think I would like this novel. I picked it up secondhand and chose it because it is based on events during WW2 in Italy and the main characters are English and Australian - enough for me to chose it because I bought it in England and was planning to read it in Italy and I am Australian, sometimes it is the little things that help you select a book.
As it turned out it was very interesting and I enjoyed reading it. A bit of a male perspective on things but still a good read.
After reading it I found out it is book 4 of a series 'Morning, Noon & Night', I might even find the others to read.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually think this was the best of the trilogy although I enjoyed the other two very much. However, I was puzzled that these three books have been called a trilogy because they had no comm characters. The only common factor was that they all dealt with World War II. I like the idea that these books were all based on real stories and some of the characters were real whereas others were fictitious. Robert Ryan is a real craftsman and wordsmith.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a book that explores the tangled loyalties in Northern Italy towards the end of the Second World War when Mussolini had lost control this in the main succeeds. It also illustrates the risky (and short) careers of pilots who risked their aircraft supplying the Partisans. However, while it is a gripping tale that switches constantly from the sixties and back to forties, it falls just short in the final quarter.

[Chirag M · Rating 5 out of 5]

It tends to become a thriller towards the end, and disappoints as the genre is best left to the likes of Ludlum. That being said, the book is by far one of the best works of story-telling you'd come across in recent times, comparable to Ondaatje and Slouka. There is a tranquility about the slow pace at which the story unfolds.

[mac ireland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can't remember how this got in my possession, but it sounded interesting so I tried it out. great plot line but too many references. Planes, cities, names of things I have no idea what they are. I didn't want to look up everything everytime I turned a page.

[Michele Delimont · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting but you have to have a mechanical mind and a knowledge of what was happening in Italy in WWII. I did enjoy the story but felt lost quite a bit. I didn't realize it was part of a series and reading that might have had a better understanding. There was a of lot of motorcycles and airplanes here if there.


































lped

[Christina Ruvoldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. Based on the description on the back of the book I thought I was going to get a very different story than what I got. Learned a bit about a part of WW2 that I didn't know much about before. I will for sure be looking up some of the things that happened in this book.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a random choice boom of mine , i did like it but not as much as others i have read set in WW2.

[David Patton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

Enjoyed the story, very surprised the author keeps referring to the Mosquito as a "Mozzy" , always have seen it spelled "Mossie".

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy historical fiction in between some darker fiction. This one has it all maybe too much. Romance, war, airplanes, motorcycles, did I mention plane crash and a search for the crash site, while evading someone trying to kill him and the cops/military.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad little book.

Set in the 1960's with constant flashbacks to wartime Italy this story never loses its fast pace. Well written with good characters and an interesting plot.