SOLVED. YA WW2 set in England, 3 friends foil a nazi plot [s]

[Dave]

The book was part English Literature class in early-mid nineties in the UK.

Set on the south-east coast of England, I think. Two boys and a girl. Told from the point of view of one of the two boys (though it might not have been first person narration). Romance blossoming between main character and girl, she came from a higher social class. Main plot about the youngsters finding a radio device being used to signal information to Nazi forces, and the foiling the plot.

Things that stick in my mind (minor spoilers further on) - the youngsters smoked, typical of the time (or at least one of the boys did - and he still was "the fastest on the soccer pitch"), there was a subplot of a Grecian (name began with an X) living in England getting smuggled olive-oil, there was a boat where the captain spoke crudely (used the word "Whoremongering", much to our amusement), the father of the main character was a bit of a communist / socialist, the girl was sent to boarding school before the end, and when the Nazi sympathiser was identified by the youths, his fear of capture made him lose control of his bladder. I seem to think that the youths figured it out just before the authorities and so didn't need to be the finger-pointers - there was some reason they didn't seek the esteem of being the heroes of the hour.

That's about it!

[arratavy]

I have no idea if all the details fit, just giving it a shot.
Hornet Flight by Ken Follett

[Dave]

Not this one I'm afraid; the details don't really fit.

Thanks anyhoo :)

[Anna]

This is Fathom Five by Robert Westall; it's told from the point of view, more or less, of Chas McGill, the main protagonist of Westall's earlier The Machine-Gunners.

[Dave]

Excellent!! Many thanks for that. A prequel and a not-quite-sequel of supernatural short stories to go with it. WIll re-read!!

[Anna]

Dave wrote: "Excellent!! Many thanks for that. A prequel and a not-quite-sequel of supernatural short stories to go with it. WIll re-read!!"

Glad you've identified the book(s)! I found Break Of Dark terrifying as a child - not sure I'm brave enough to revisit it, but I did enjoy re-reading both The Machine Gunners and Fathom Five.