by Eric Ambler
First published 1973
Josef Vadassy expects nothing more than peaceful final days at the Hotel de la Reserve before heading back to Paris. His Riviera vacation has been exactly what he wanted. But when he collects his developed film from the local chemist in St. Gatien, the photographs show scenes he never captured. Someone has used his camera without his knowledge. The discovery transforms his quiet retreat into something far more dangerous. French authorities view him with immediate suspicion. The hotel guests become potential threats. The American siblings, the British expatriates, and the German traveler with his questionable identity all carry secrets. War looms over Europe, and paranoia infects every conversation. Vadassy must prove his innocence while surrounded by people who may be spies themselves. His simple mistake has trapped him in a web of international intrigue where trust becomes impossible and every friendly face might hide an enemy.
Genres: historical-fiction, suspense, mystery, espionage
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, mistaken-identity
Setting: France, Riviera, St. Gatien
Period: 20th-century
219 pages · Paperback · Coronet Books