Trapeze

By: Simon Mawer

Narrated by: Kate Reading

A propulsive novel of World War II espionage by the author of The Glass Room

Barely out of school and doing her bit for the British war effort, Marian Sutro has one quality that makes her stand out—she is a native French speaker. It is this that attracts the attention of the SOE, the Special Operations Executive, which trains agents to operate in occupied Europe. Drawn into this strange, secret world at the age of nineteen, she finds herself undergoing commando training, attending a “school for spies,” and ultimately, one autumn night, parachuting into France from an Royal Air Force bomber to join the Wordsmith resistance network.

But there’s more to Marian’s mission than meets the eye of her SOE controllers; her mission has been hijacked by another secret organization that wants her to go to Paris and persuade a friend—a research physicist—to join the Allied war effort. The outcome could affect the whole course of the war.

A fascinating blend of fact and fiction, Trapeze is both an old-fashioned adventure story and a modern exploration of a young woman’s growth into adulthood. There is violence, and there is love. There is death and betrayal, deception and revelation. But above all there is Marian Sutro, an ordinary young woman who, like her real-life counterparts in the SOE, did the most extraordinary things at a time when the ordinary was not enough.

©2012 Simon Mawer (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A war-torn adventure story that’s eerily erotic and tremendously exciting…[A] gorgeous novel.” ( Washington Post on The Glass Room)

Fantastical Fictional History

Where does Trapeze rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was a fantastic book, probably in my top 20.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character was amazing. Such a heroine, complex and yet simple.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Anne Hataway would make this story into a fantastic movie as the lead. Is it the Catholic or Protestant spy?

Good story...distracting narration

Any additional comments?

The story was interesting, but the over-the-top accents made me not want to listen. I might try to read it in print instead because my friends love this book, and I feel like I am missing out.

Good book bad ending

I understand that books have to end even if I am attached to characters. This one ends so abruptly it is jarring. So much detail then it ends mid scene. Otherwise I really liked the book. The tension was palpable.

Great narration

This was a really enjoyable listen. The story is a very good, straightforward one and a nice example of the genre, but I really adored the narration. The French words are pronounced well and the narrator handles her characters beautifully. I will seek out more books read by Kate Reading.

Story line is good

This book could have been great. The female character in this book was completely unbelievable. Why is she did things her thoughts were shallow. She was totally unbelievable and the ending was abruptly ended. Glad it was free or I would never have finished it!