Munich detective Sebastian Wolff makes his third literary appearance in Rory Clements’ latest work: Invitation from a Dictator. If there is a way to make the life of his protagonist even more complicated and dangerous, trust Rory to find it. While Seb suffers, the reader follows every word on the edge of their seat.
About the book
One year on from the events of Evil in High Places involving a missing film star and a murdered SS officer in 1936, Invitation from a Dictator is a historical spy thriller which is set in Munich in 1937. The story follows German detective Sebastian Wolff, an anti-Nazi who has been on the radar of the Gestapo since book one, Munich Wolf. In his latest outing, he must solve an impossible case as well as protect the Fuhrer himself as well as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor while they tour Bavaria and meet Hitler at his mountain retreat.
With a Communist terror group known as Red Freedom causing violence across Munich and Wolff’s personal life intertwining with every single strand of events, the battle lines become increasingly blurred. To save lives, Wolff must navigate politics, terrorism and those he loves in extremely complicated circumstances.
The use of political ideologies
Invitation from a Dictator is full of twists, mystery and action. At its core, however, is political ideology. Fascism and Communism play a central role in the story as plotlines and conflicts are all born out of the constant war they wage against each other.
The battle between these ideologies is a consistent theme theme in Clements’ Sebastian Wolff series, as well as Tom Wilde series. No matter who the protagonist faces and what circumstances they are up against, the political ideologies of Fascism and Communism remain ever-present.
The use of these ideologies works well to give the protagonist an overarching enemy they cannot defeat, regardless of what happens to the antagonists of the story. Using political ideologies is also great for fans of politics as it injects interesting facts about the politics of the day into the story, facts which still have relevance and effects today.
The ideologies also throw themselves into the personal lives of the characters and pit them against each other. Friends and family are Nazi, Communist and anti-Nazi, leading to conflicts of interest and strained relationships. Layers of complexity with extra twists and stakes are added in, making for a real written ride.
Five stars for Rory Clements
As soon as I began reading, I was hooked. Rory Clements does not just write; he creates a world that immerses the reader and keeps them glued to the pages. Once you read his work, it is impossible to put down as you become caught up in the lives of the characters and the stakes they face. Their lives become your life; their stakes become your stakes. For Invitation from a Dictator, I give Rory Clements five stars.
Thrilling action, political conflict and immense personal and emotional stakes, Invitation from a Dictator delivers a rollercoaster of a read on every front. Buy the book but be forewarned: once you pick it up, there is no putting it back down.
