
In wartime London, the modest Mr. Mackwayte navigates a world that feels both familiar and increasingly precarious. A once‑renowned sketch artist now reduced to modest tea‑and‑bread meals, he shares his cramped dining room with his determined daughter Barbara, a crisp‑dressed War Office clerk. Their daily conversations reveal a city strained by rationing, dwindling opportunities, and the shadowy stirrings of a secret service that seems to be pulling them into something larger than their ordinary lives.
As the first act unfolds, the ordinary clashes with the covert: whispers of missing money, a desperate former colleague, and a looming investigation hint at a network of intrigue beyond the kitchen table. Readers are introduced to a cast of eccentric officials and enigmatic strangers, each hinting at hidden motives and looming danger. The stage is set for Major Okewood’s entry, promising a blend of domestic realism and espionage that will keep listeners keenly tuned to every whispered clue.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (493K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2000-12-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1883–1946
A journalist turned thriller writer, he helped shape the early spy novel with fast-moving plots, wartime intrigue, and memorable villains like Dr. Adolph Grundt, better known as Clubfoot.
View all books