‘Spies of the Balkans’ one of Furst’s best
July 20, 2010 - 4:00 am
Alan Furst’s books transcend the spy genre.
Furst writes masterfully crafted atmospheric tales, which mainly take place in Europe just before and during World War II. His 11th novel, “Spies of the Balkans,” is one of his best.
Furst’s novels appeal to those who like the subtleties of a well-written tale that avoids cliches and takes unpredictable twists.
“Spies of the Balkans” is set in the Greek port of Salonika in 1940. The residents fear that Italy’s Fascist leader, Mussolini, Hitler’s junior partner, will invade the country.
Salonika is filled with intrigue as strangers infiltrate the city prior to the Italian invasion. Constantine Zannis, who has no exact title but is a senior police official, is the man who is tasked with handling difficult political situations. He tracks a shadowy German and keeps his eye on a British travel writer, who just happens to be a spy.
Zannis, who is also a romantic, is shocked to find out his English girlfriend is also an agent. His troubles mount after he is called up along with his army reserve unit to defend Greece against the Italians. Mussolini’s forces bog down and Greece faces an imminent invasion from the far more powerful Germans. Meanwhile, Zannis has become involved in a ring that is smuggling Jews out of Germany, where they face savage persecution.
He finds unlikely allies in France and Hungary as his boss turns a blind eye to Zannis’ activities, which are certainly not in his police job description. His position becomes desperate as the German army closes in on the Balkans. Furst does not wrap up every loose end, but his conclusion is realistic and in keeping with the tone of the novel.