Secret agent Peter Quintain is sent undercover on an Allied convoy to Murmansk. The convoys have taken a battering from the Germans, and the admiralty suspect a spy in the midst of the ships’ crews. Quintain’s task is twofold: unearth the traitor, and ideally prevent another attack. This is a competent but rather thin naval thriller. Some of the writing is overly dramatic, and the characters don’t really have much personality (except for the cartoonishly awful Fanshawe). I would definitely not rank this anywhere near MacLean (whose Ice Station Zebra and HMS Ulysses are much better reads). It is a quick read, though, so if this is the flavour of brain candy you like best and you aren’t too fussed about thin characterization, this might do the job. ( )