Operation Tulip (WW2 Secret Agent Series)
This is the final book in Swift’s trilogy (The Silk Code, The Shadow Network) detailing the wartime exploits of British agent Nancy Callaghan and her lover, code-breaker Tom Lockwood. Nancy goes undercover as a wealthy author to attract the attention of a key SS officer. It is based on actual events during the occupation of Holland in 1944.
A well-written series should allow the reader adequate information to read each novel as a standalone, with adequate reveals of the main protagonist’s backstory, but that was not the case here, which initially made for a frustrating experience.
The story is pacy and fun: a quick read, packed with historical detail and a large cast of supporting characters. However, occasionally the plot seems far-fetched, especially when compared with the historical notes provided at the back of the book. There are frequent exposition and over-emphasised plot points. I prefer a novel that allows the reader to do the heavy lifting. Some of Nancy’s motivations for action are surprisingly naïve, given her background as an experienced agent. The ending will no doubt satisfy avid readers of this series, but Operation Tulip offers little new or surprising in a saturated WWII fiction market.
