Review of The Spy who Sank the Armada

Sou Hi · Post by **Sou Hi** » 18 Dec 2021, 01:49

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Spy who Sank the Armada" by David West.]

3 out of 4 stars

Share This Review

The Spy who Sank the Armada by David West is a historical novel that follows the life of Sir Antony Standen, an English intelligencer, who usually went by the name Anthony. Wishing to serve his country and make his father proud, he accepted Sir Henry's offer and became a spy. Because of his inexperience, Anthony's targets quickly discovered him. As a warning, they decided to beat him to a pulp. Realizing his mistake, Henry asked his men to teach Anthony various skills before sending the young man on his way again. This time, Anthony would be spying on the Kingdom of Spain, one of England's biggest threats. Could he succeed? Would he receive an honor for his services?

If you are interested in decoding and lock picking like me, this book will appeal to you. The author explains in detail the methods one can use to decipher secret messages and pick locks. A shopping list or a normal letter can contain an encoded report. Any information can provide helpful hints, such as the quantities or the dates. With chemicals and clay molds, Anthony and Robert are able to unseal and reseal confidential documents after reading and copying them. Their methods and skills work perfectly so that people can't tell if someone has tampered with the papers.

On the downside, the story is not very intriguing. The pace is slow, and not many twists or suspenseful events happen. Sometimes, I would forget why Anthony became an agent. Despite the title, the armada is hardly mentioned.

The huge cast with identical names is another challenge for the readers to remember. For example, Anthony Standen has a biological sibling with the same name. Anthony Bacon is his good friend. He is also acquainted with Anthony Rolston, a fellow spy. Moreover, the cast consists mostly of minor characters, appearing once in a while with little impact on the plot. Because of that, nobody but the protagonist truly stands out. Personally, I think the author should remove some of them and focus on a few special individuals, giving them enough screen time to be remarkable.

I think this book deserves 3 out of 4 stars. The mentioned negative aspects are not enough to deduct 2 stars, but I didn't really enjoy the story either. I would also suggest a second round of editing. If you are interested in Europe during the 16th century or Sir Antony Standen, you can try this novel. It contains details about the conflict between Protestants and Catholics. The plot covers decades of history, so you will need some certain knowledge to follow the flow.

******
The Spy who Sank the Armada
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Post by **Vivian Stones** » 19 Dec 2021, 07:25

Though I spot some flaws mentioned by the reviewer, I would still love to read this book,I love historical books. I hope to have a different opinion.

Emeka Nwankwoala · Post by **Emeka Nwankwoala** » 19 Dec 2021, 13:02

Nothing pass the man whose son is making him to be proud in life. It is a tin of joy always. And teaching a skill to someone mean securing a future for someone. Thanks.

19 Dec 2021, 18:13

I hope in the process of making his father proud, Anthony got to live his life and also make himself happy. Great review!

Muskan Upadhyaya · Post by **Muskan Upadhyaya** » 24 Dec 2021, 06:12

I like the stories with some mysterious and suspicious elements. I would definitely like to read this book to learn some decoding skills.
Thank you for the review.

Hana_Fabro · Post by **Hana_Fabro** » 24 Dec 2021, 06:40

Writing an honest review may be a little challenging but you justified your review well. It's just saddening the effort that the author exceeded wasn't enough to make this book impactful.

AvidBibliophile · Post by **AvidBibliophile** » 24 Dec 2021, 13:29

Espionage, decryptions, clandestine missions, and secret documents… all in the name of honor, service, and loyalty? Now that sounds like a promising storyline for sure, so thank you for providing such an insightful review!