Jack Tanner Book 5
I’ve had a few queries recently about whether there is a new Jack Tanner in the pipeline – I suppose because for the past four years, a new one has always come out around this time. The answer is, yes, there is, and it’s underway, but will be coming out in hardback a bit later – in the autumn this time. The paperback will be out this time next year, as normal – in fact HELLFIRE is published in paperback this coming week, on the same day as DAM BUSTERS.
I’m setting the new book in Sicily in July and August 1943, and has a working title of ‘Betrayal’ – for all sorts of reasons, but not least because by 1943 the original moral reasons for Britain entering the war have started to become blurred by the terrible compromises that have to be made in times of war, and especially now that the war is being fought on densely populated territory. But this new book will also have the Mafia playing a part; they had been almost eradicated during the Mussolini years, but swiftly come to dominate many Sicilian’s lives once more as they work alongside the Allies to help with the invasion.
Tanner himself is recently returned from a stint working with the Americans in Tunisia and is a company commander under a new battalion commander – and a man who takes against him from the outset. There is also the death of one of the long-standing characters, and all in all, Tanner is getting pretty browned off with the whole affair and questioning both his future and what they are fighting for.
Seaborne invasions, a dusky Sicilian beauty, the murder of some Italian troops, a vicious commanding officer, Mafia hoodlums, a few Yanks, and the mortal wounding of Hedley Verity – and lots and lots of action against the Hermann Goering Fallschmirpanzerkorps. I hope it’ll be more than up to scratch…
I’m really glad to hear about the next Jack Tanner book. I was have a few questions.
Do you have any intention of sending Tanner up Italy and into the Cassino area? I don’t mean to be nosy and you may not know yet-I was just wondering.
Also, although this probably isn’t the correct place to put this post, I would like to know whether you have any intention of producing another Johny Hawke book. I enjoyed the first one imensly love to read another.
Thanks for taking time to read this.
Just checked this post and realised how bad the grammar is. Apologies.
Thanks for the message. I’m not sure about Cassino – I might whisk him back to Britain for D-Day, but to be honest, I’m not sure. I’ll definitely have him in Italy at some point, though.
I’m doing another Duty Calls book, which is out in June, but it follows Archie Jackson, the pilot at the beginning of the Dunkirk book. I might come back to Johnny at some point, but no concrete plans at the moment!
Thanks for replying. Glad to hear about that Tanner will be heading into Italy. Would love him to go to Cassino but obviously that’s just me.
Also glad about the Archie Books.
Over and Out.
Dear Mr Holland
As somone else who enjoys your Jack Tanner books I was wondering as you have had him fighting just the Germans if you had any plans to take him to Burma and Bill Slim and fight Japanese at all ?
Hi James,
Having just read (and enjoyed immensely) The Dambusters and The Battle of Britain, I’m looking forward to reading some of your fiction. I have the first two Jack Tanner books on order and they should be arriving soon.
I, like a lot of Irish people, grew up reading comics like Victor and Warlord in the seventies and eighties (although a lot of people here would deny that for reasons I can’t quite fathom). This sparked a interest I have had ever since in the British role in World War Two, especially the RAF. I would just like to say that I found your books amongst the best I’ve read on their respective subjects and I was reminded of how much I enjoyed Len Deighton’s Bomber the first time I read it, so congrats on all you’ve achieved so far and I look forward to reading the rest of your work, both past and future.
AP.
Hi James,
I am currently reading the third of 4 jack novels on my kindle and I must say I am enjoying them a great deal, they past the hours of inactivity here in Afghanistan great.
But can I ask will we get to find out what Jack and the crowd get upto between books as there are some gaps like between Dunkirk and Crete – how does Jack get his WO2 and so on…
Don’t get me wrong this does in no way take away from the reading of the novels. But being a little of a military history bore I would love to know these things
Thanks for the good work and I look forward to the next chapter in Jack and the gangs exploits
Keith
Kabul
Dear Keith,
Good to hear from you and keep up the good work in Afghanistan. To be honest, I’ve left gaps in the story deliberately so that I might return to those episodes at a future date. So, Tanner and Co are involved in the Greek campaign, there is also a plot of a novel all written up for a story around the Battle of Gazala and the French outpost at Bir Hacheim – Tanner gets involved with the Frenchman Chevannes again – and there is another post-Alamein set in Tunisia with Tanner and Sykes seconded to US II Corps. The one I’m working on at the moment – out next July – is set during the Sicilian campaign. His promotions that you don’t know about will take place in these yet-to-be-written books. Anyway, really glad you’re enjoying them and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you want to know more… Cheers, James
Hello James,
Just finished The Odin Mission and I have to say I absolutely adored it. I was actually carrying it in my backpack as I spent a few wonderful hours in the Imperial War Museum (London) last weekend.
I was wondering which historical novelists (WWII) you admire most and which particular books you would recommend.
Regards,
Anthony.
Hello James,
Just finished The Odin Mission and I have to say I absolutely adored it. I was actually carrying it in my backpack as I spent a few wonderful hours in the Imperial War Museum (London) last weekend.
I was wondering which historical novelists (WWII) you admire most and which particular books you would recommend.
Regards,
Anthony.
I’m a big fan of Alan Furst among contemporary writers and also Evelyn Waugh. The Sword of Honour trilogy is just brilliant. I’ve also just read a really good novel called ‘The Girl Who Fell from the Sky,’ which was very well done. And I used to love reading all the Sharpe novels, of course…
Thanks for the reply. Those books/authors will certainly be investigated.
AP