*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Aspects of History for providing the ARC Ebook in exchange for an honest review*
Deborah Swift’s latest novel The Silk Code is full of deception, espionage and romance that continue to surprise at every twist and turn. Swift expertly crafts a narrative that continually questions who is trustworthy, who the enemy is and whether a double agent is lurking in the heart of the SOE (Special Operations Executive). This novel is fast-paced and gripping with the dynamic locations of London and Nazi-occupied Holland. The novel is set during the Second World War, 1943, with bombsites and air-raid sirens featuring prominently throughout the story. Swift’s attention to historical context strikes a harmonious balance between immersing the reader in the setting of the Second World War that doesn’t overshadow the narrative. The developing romance between the novel’s protagonist Nancy and Tom, who enjoy dancing and having dinner together. This provides light relief to the darker themes of living during the Second World War of rationing and bomb raids.
Nancy leaves her life in Glenkyle, Scotland to pursue hands-on work in London at the SOE. Nancy begins her journey by confronting her fiancé for having an affair; this choice gives her agency and sets her as an intelligent and determined individual. Swift artfully develops Nancy as a character who would not willingly throw herself into danger at the start of the novel, but grows in confidence and strength. This creates a fascinating and dynamic character. The choice to use a female protagonist visibly acknowledges the vital role of women during the war and explores the dangers they faced.
Nancy’s suspicious brother Neil adds a sense of danger and mystery to his character suggesting that not everyone is what they seem. As the plot unfolds, the number of members of the British Union of Fascists infiltrating deep within society becomes apparent. Neil is consumed and trapped by his double life by keeping-up appearances in the SOE and feeding information to the Fascists. Furthermore, Swift creates several sub-plots to propel the novel’s pace with Nancy’s isolation in Nazi-occupied Holland and Neil and Tom’s unlikely alliance in London.
Swift’s command of language orchestrates intense scenes that are chilling and action-packed. The transition between the coding room in London and occupied Holland is particularly emotive and tense. Nancy befriends many allies during her mission and Swift explores the oppressive and distressing life that many people suffered during the war. There are open-ended questions by the novels’ denouement, such as what happened to Agent Hurling, whether Iris recovers from her injuries and whether Neil publicly repents for his crimes of betraying government secrets. As Swift notes, that “nothing’s ever tidy or finished, every victory has a cost too blisteringly painful to think of ”, while it is distressing to think that the war caused many ‘loose’ ends, The Silk Code’s ending doesn’t suggest that everything is tidied up with a bow, but emulates reality. This approach makes an interesting, emotive and powerful read.
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