The Second Midnight did not hold my attention whatsoever, very slow-moving in some parts of the story. I won this in a Goodreads giveaway, so I have never read anything by this author. I was not impressed with his writing style at all. ( )

The blurb for Andrew Taylor’s The Second Midnight promises a thrilling story of war and survival. When I read it, however, I got an awkwardly paced story lacking any true thrill. I felt incredibly bored as I waited for Hugh to actually get to Czechoslovakia. Then, when he is left behind, Taylor shares a few more (boring) scenes, fast-forwards through the next few years, and suddenly, it is time for Hugh to go back to England—with half of the book still left!

Maybe I would have enjoyed The Second Midnight had the blurb not led me to expect a certain type of story. Maybe the author’s style of storytelling kept me disengaged for what could have been an exciting story. Or maybe the World War II-drama just is not working for me right now (considering I really did not like A Sister’s Courage a couple weeks ago). I do not know, but whatever the case, this book has not been a bad read for everyone. Check out some better reviews—it could be a good book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )

Hugh Kendall is a young boy in England, 1939. Hugh is seen as a burden by his father and after Hugh is kicked out of school, Hugh's father is offered a mission through the British Intelligence Service. Alfred Kendall or Captain Kendall, as he prefers to be called is sent to Prague on a simple exchange mission and takes Hugh as a cover. While in Prague, Hitler invades and Hugh is left behind. Hugh is taken in by one of the Resistance contacts and is given a new identity as Rudi. Hugh is eager to learn the language and picks up Czeh and German. As the war progresses, Hugh's caretakers fall victim to the violence and Hugh ends up with Bela Juriga, a violent member of the resistance until Nazi Colonel Scholl come into Bela's shop and Hugh saves his life. Scholl thanks Hugh with a place in his household. Hugh quickly adjusts to life at the Scholl's as a gardener. The Scholl children, Magda and Heinz see Hugh in different ways, Magda is entranced while Heinz is filled with contempt. When Hugh finally makes it back to England 10 years later, he is changed and wants to leave his ordeal in the past, except for Magda, that is. Although, it seems that the past will continue to haunt him.

The Second Midnight is a historical spy thriller that begins at the start of World War II and continues throughout the 1950's. There is a lot going on in the story with secret missions in England, Germany and Czechoslovakia, the political spread of Nazi's and Communism and changing allegiances. At the heart of the story, however, is Hugh and his will for survival as well as his knack for continuously being able to adapt to new situations. Through ten years in a strange place, Hugh was able to learn the languages and customs, maintain his cover as Rudi and earn the trust and friendship of Colonel Scholl and Magda. Hugh's is story the driving force in the book. Through Hugh, I was able to see many faces of Nazi Germany and the Resistance. However, the writing bounces back and forth between Hugh and his family in England. The point of the focus on the rest of Hugh's family does not become apparent until the end of the book. After Hugh escapes back to England, the pacing slowed down for me and I was just wondering when and how he would reconnect with Magda. While I didn't quite know where all of the background espionage was leading, it was interesting to see all of the different players, their impact on the War and how Hugh fit into it all.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ( )

In ‘The Second Midnight’, Andrew Taylor unpicks the connections between a group of people – a dysfunctional family, spies, ordinary people – before, during and after World War Two in England and Czechoslovakia. Essentially it is a novel of relationships wrapped up in the parcel of wartime spying, lies and romance. In its scope it reminds me of Robert Goddard’s Wide World trilogy, except Taylor covers the subject in one book rather than three.
It is 1939 and twelve year old Hugh Kendall is bullied by his father, sighed over by his harried mother, ignored by his older brother and manipulated by his older sister. Hugh retreats into imaginative games with his toy soldiers. His father, failing glass importer Alfred Kendall, is recruited by the Secret Services as a courier on a glass-buying trip to Czechoslovakia. In tow is Hugh, recently expelled from school, a nuisance to his father. Alfred is not a natural spy, though he thinks he is. When things get sticky and Alfred must return to England, the Czech Resistance keeps Hugh as collateral to ensure his father’s quick return. But Hugh finds himself alone in Prague after the German invasion, unsure who to trust, unsure if he will be rescued. He quickly learns to live on his wits. This for me was the best section of the book.
The thing that makes this story stand apart for me is Hugh. He makes an uncanny narrator, giving us a view of life in an occupied country, stranded from everything that is safe and familiar. Adept at languages, Hugh quickly becomes familiar with Czech and German allowing him to assume a false identity as Rudi Messner, a Czech-Hungarian boy. Cared for by a German officer, Colonel Helmut Scholl, Hugh works as the gardener’s boy at Scholl’s mansion in Prague and meets the colonel’s children, Heinz and Magda. These relationships weave across the years and the pages into the post-war years and the fight against communism.
The significance of the title left me wondering if I had missed something. It is set up with an intriguing connection between two characters, then abandoned. The connection with the Prologue was also lost on me as it is only mentioned again at the end and I had forgotten what happened; ends neatly tied without adding understanding. Taylor knows how to tell a page turning story, I read this quickly. This is a fascinating read over a complex time period, but an enormous subject; I wish it had been given the space of three books to explore fully.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/ ( )

Alfred Kendall is asked by the Secret Services to carry out a small mission in pre-War Prague. He takes his son Hugh along but is forced to abandon him when war is declared. Hugh is stranded in a hostile country but his papers and knack for languages enable him to survive, eventually working for a German officer. The Officer's son doesn't trust Hugh and many years later, after the war this leads to further tragedy.
I found this a very interesting tale both in terms of content and also in terms of the style of writing. What begins as a fairly gently tale about a dysfunctional family develops into more of a family sage with a touch of forbidden romance and then ends as spy thriller. There are subtle hints about John Buchan through out and this is a good model to take. The story itself jumps from pre-War to the end of the War to post-War to Cold War but the characters are engaging and the plot is entertaining. Taylor never disappoints this reader. ( )