Five English prisoners of war are recruited by the Nazis to be trained as spies and returned to England to work for Germany. One is killed, three land on an English beach and are more than happy to be captured by the police, and another remains at large—until a mysterious figure claiming to be Major Aylwin Brampton, the nephew of a prominent English Nazi sympathizer and the fifth man to be chosen by the Nazis, turns up asking to speak to British Intelligence. It falls to our old friend Tommy Hambledon to interview Brampton (who is really escaped prisoner Anthony Coleman) and he is treated to an enthralling story of stolen identities, hair-raising escapes from almost certain discovery and death, and a final forced placement in London as part of a German spy ring. Realizing that Coleman has much to offer British Intelligence, Tommy puts him to work as a double agent, a job at which Coleman shines, outwitting the Nazis at every turn until the very end, when it looks as if his luck will run out for good. First published in 1946 but taking place early in World War II, it introduces a character who’s very nearly as resourceful and quick-witted and sardonic as Tommy himself. Sixth in the series.

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