Game Without Rules - (Herald Classics) by Michael Gilbert (Paperback)

About the Book

Miss Marple meets John le Carré in these linked short stories of espionage and mystery, with two middle-aged British Intelligence agents (and a dog!) as sleuths. Game Without Rules features Samuel Behrens and Daniel Calder, two secret British Intelligence operatives who work in the "E" (External) Branch of the Joint Services Standing Intelligence Committee. Under the direction of Mr. Fortescue--a mild-mannered bank manager and secret spy-master--Behrens and Calder will sleuth, entrap, and, if necessary, assassinate whomever dares to threaten the peace of Britain and its inhabitants. Whether they are investigating the identity of a dead officer in a secret bunker, infiltrating a dangerous circle of fellow spies, or rescuing a double agent, Behrens and Calder will keep the realm safe with precision, efficiency, and British camaraderie.

Book Synopsis

Miss Marple meets John le Carré in these linked short stories of espionage and mystery, with two middle-aged British Intelligence agents (and a dog!) as sleuths.

Game Without Rules features Samuel Behrens and Daniel Calder, two secret British Intelligence operatives who work in the "E" (External) Branch of the Join Services Standing Intelligence Committee. Under the direction of Mr. Fortescue--a mild-mannered bank manager and secret spy-master--Behrens and Calder will sleuth, entrap, and, if necessary, assassinate whomever dares to threaten the peace of Britain and its inhabitants.

Whether they are investigating the identity of a dead officer in a secret bunker, infiltrating a dangerous circle of fellow spies, or rescuing a double agent, Behrens and Calder will keep the realm safe with precision, efficiency, and British camaraderie.

Review Quotes

"In this exceptional story collection . . . Gilbert (1912-2006) flexes his gifts for clever plotting and rich characterization. . . . [and] combines the comforts of a cozy mystery with the ingenuity of John Le Carré. Espionage fans will cherish this rediscovered gem."--Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review

"These are short thrillers and also short works of art."--New York Times

"The old Gilbert expertise applies to everything he sets his hand to. Game without Rules gave me great pleasure. Good spies and good stories: rare."--Eudora Welty

"[Gilbert] has given us an evening of pure joy in this collection of tales."--The New Yorker

About the Author

Michael Gilbert (1912-2006) was a lawyer in London for many years before turning to writing. Over the course of his career, he penned police procedurals, spy novels, courtroom dramas, classical mysteries, adventure thrillers, and almost every possible combination of these, all with the same competence and dry, detached wit.