Review: The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers

For a spy novel that is over 100 years old 'The Riddle in the Sands' by Erskine Childers holds up remarkably well, which proves that a good story is a good story regardless of age. The fact that this novel is the first modern spy thriller and started the whole genre makes reading it not only entertaining but historic for the fan of the spy thriller genre.

Two Englishmen taking a sailing cruise along the German coast in 1903 stumble upon a discovery that almost costs one of them his life and makes both want to risk themselves further to solve the mystery.

The first half of the book is entirely made up of setting the stage and introducing us to the characters and the mystery they stumble upon. Reading this part is a bit slow for the contemporary reader because we are used to a faster pace. This is written at a 1903 pace, with an Edwardian attention to detail. Yachting and sailing enthusiasts will particularly enjoy this part as the two protagonists settle down and get to know each other, the sailboat and the setting of the islands off the coast of Germany. Fortunately the Edwardians had a good command of the English language for all this is very well written. Moreover, it is obvious that sailing and these waters are something that the author, Erskine Childers, knew well. Another attraction to me was reading about the era and how things were before two World Wars were fought. In the second half of the book the the mystery is confronted and the investigated by our heros. And once the action starts the pace quickens until the mystery of what the Germans are up to is revealed.

Author Erskine Childers was himself a spy for the British, and ended up writing The Riddle of the Sands as a warning to the public and the British government about Imperial German power and plans over 11 years before the start of World War I! This is very prophetic stuff.

I did wish the book was a little shorter but I still found it beautifully written and entertaining without the frantic speed of modern espionage thrillers. This is a book hard core spy novel fans should read in order to see the evolution of the genre.

You can get this book from the following places:

You can download a free ebook of The Riddle of the Sands or read it online for free at Blackmask.com.

You can find a copy of The Riddle of the Sands from Powells.

You can buy a print copy of The Riddle of the Sands from Amazon.