First Snow of Winter

“The whole country is afraid. People favour the armistice and support the Maréchal. Do not assume anyone will not betray you. Above all, remember the French now hate the English...” It is Christmas 1940, Harry Cardwell and his son Frank escorting downed airmen across Vichy France and fascist Spain to safety in Gibraltar. Harry and Frank will be parachuted back into that confusing triptych of danger and death, Switzerland’s borders with Germany, France and Italy... where Harry’s wife, Frank’s mother, runs a British fifth column from the Rheinsprung and the station buffet in Basel, to gather information, set up escape lines, filter agents into Germany – while alarming mandarins at the Embassy in Berne: ‘This Annie Cardwell, she’s mature and full of lived-life. She goes back a long way for someone who still looks young and beautiful...' Fourth Volume of Six in Harry and Annie Series