CJ Sansom: Winter in Madrid (August 2023)

Winter in Madrid is set in 1940 during the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War with General Franco on the verge of siding with Hitler.

It is basically a spy novel. Harry Brett is sent to gain the confidence of his old school friend Sandy Forsyth, but he is inexperienced in espionage, traumatised from Dunkirk and reluctant to take on this mission.

Forsyth lives with Barbara Clare, an ex Red Cross nurse who was in love with another of their school friends, Bernie Piper. A committed communist and member of the International Brigade, Bernie is believed killed in action but is in a grim prison camp. Barbara is trying to discover whether he is still alive with the intention of rescuing him.

Sandy Forsyth is engaged in very shady business dealings and Madrid is a dangerous place in complex political upheaval. The inhabitants are impoverished and close to starvation living under a repressive regime.

As in his Tudor novels, CJ Sansom writes with clarity and great compassion about the suffering of the people. Orphaned children in particular who have witnessed death and horror are living in the ruined streets. Cold, starving and in shock they are treated with cruelty and contempt by those who should be caring for them.

Most of us found it to be, overall, a good story, though perhaps it did drag in parts and some aspects were a little predictable.

Of the main characters, Barbara proved to be the most interesting in the way that she grew in resourcefulness, confidence and strength.

We realised that our knowledge of this complex period of Spanish history was very sketchy. The useful notes at the end of the book would have better at the beginning, we felt.

4/5