Alan Furst is the King of the noir World War II espionage novel. His characters, brave, cynical, but still full of human compassion are unforgettable, and he captures the murky atmosphere of Eastern Europe perfectly. In this novel we follow Captain Alexander de Milja from transporting all the gold in the Polish treasury to the West, to working as a spy in occupied France, to a desk job with the Polish government in exile in London, to finally back on the Eastern front taking a last stand against the Whermacht. It’s not going to end well for him we sense, but we know that he is a brave man of principle. I can’t wait to read another one of his books. ( )

Good, but not up to the best in this series. The coincidences are a little too improbable. The character depth is not a strong. ( )

Excellent story about a Polish military officer who becomes a spy during WW II. The details paint scenes and actions well without being too obtrusive or overly done. The characterizations present characters, even minor characters, in enough detail to get a real impression of them. The action moves all across Europe during WW II and tells a compelling and suspenseful story. ( )

A little more eventful than "Dark Voyage," but choppy, meandering, many intense scenes and people left hanging. "Night Soldiers" was so good, I've given Furst more of a chance. But, these last two have left me uninterested, Voyage and Officer. Still, will always recommend Soldiers. ( )

A very atmospheric book, capturing the situation in Poland, Paris and London during the early years of WW2. It's written in a world-weary/cynical/tongue-in-cheek style which is a little different, and consists of five separate episodes in which the protagonist is involved as a spy. The attack on Calais in an attempt to prevent the invasion of England is particularly vivid. An unusual viewpoint on some otherwise well-known events. ( )