Above Suspicion , published in 1941, was the first published book for Helen MacInnes. This is also the first book of hers that I have read, and it won't be the last.
The story takes place in 1938, when Hitler and his Nazi henchmen are in
power, and demonstrates the beliefs of that time, from the German
believer, to the American worrier, to the English peace lover. By
describing the characters so well, you can understand how they developed
their feelings, and how some of them change their beliefs based on what
they observe.
The plot revolves around a couple, Richard and Frances Myles. Richard is a professor at a British college, and they travel regularly during term breaks. This term, they are asked by a friend involved in the British espionage organization to travel to France and follow directions that should lead them to an important member of the British spy network. He feels that since they have traveled during many other term breaks, this would be in character and keep them above suspicion. They agree to help out.
This was a book that I didn't want to put down after I started it. I was involved in the characters, and was enthralled with the character development. I was a little disappointed at one point at the chances that the main characters took, after seeing what they had already seen, and their trust in people, but then I'm a little cynical, and it ended up being an important part of the story.
I will be reading more of Helen MacInnes, and wish I had known how well written her stories were years ago. This book was made into a movie, also entitled Above Suspicion, starring Joan Crawford, in 1943.
This is the eleventh book I've read for the Vintage Mystery Challenge 2013.
This book fulfills requirement #28. Book to Movie of the Vintage Mystery Challenge 2013
This book also fulfills a requirement in the 2013 A to Z challenge. Title--A and Author--M
I'm also using this to fulfill the Up or Down category in the 2013 What's in A Name 6 Challenge
Read March 15-16, 2013.
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