I first read The Great Impersonation twenty-five years ago and the memory of that first reading still keeps me breathless each time I reread this masterful story. The characters are well drawn (although they are typical of the genre - Pre-WWI, English upper class, and "foreign" royalty), the pace is swift, and the plot is both simple and ingenious. Although I consider myself savvy when it comes to "thrillers", Oppenheim kept me in great suspense until the very last page. In subsequent years, I have read as many of Oppenheim's books and stories as I can get my hands on - about a dozen, obtained from used book stores - (he wrote hundreds - practically all of which are out of print), and these certainly vary in quality, but I can state, unequivocally, that The Great Impersonation is his best, and, in fact, one of the best stories of all time.

This is storytelling at its peak. Although a rather just-state-the-facts author, Oppenheim created a delightful story by doing just that: weaving facts into a web that cannot be deciphered until the final chapter. He led the reader through a seemingly straightforward spy novel, only dropping hints at what was to come. This is a great read for anyone who likes their classics served with a twist.

The Double Traitor is an espionage novel set in the days leading to the first World War. It presents a fascinating picture of the political mindset of the day to go along with the twists and turns of the story. It was a gentler time (at least in fiction), and the prose and characters have an elegance rarely found in more modern fiction.

E Phillips Oppenheim was a prolific author, and I have enjoyed many of his novels. Another excellent book from WWI era is The Great Impersonation. Most often, Oppenheim books must be found in the dusty recesses of used book stores (or bibliofind or abebooks one the net), so it is nice to see a new printing available.