• Most Secret

  • By: Nevil Shute
  • Narrated by: Roger May
  • Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (203 ratings)

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Most Secret  By  cover art

Most Secret

By: Nevil Shute
Narrated by: Roger May
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Publisher's summary

It is the Second World War and France has fallen. In their trusty fishing boat, Genevieve, armed with only a flame-thrower and limited ammunition, a small group of officers and men take a stand against the might of the German army. This is classic Shute: a thrilling adventure about the heroism of ordinary men that will keep you on the edge of your seat, cheering them on.

©2012 Nevil Shute (P)2012 Audible Ltd

Critic reviews

"A magnificent thrill; it is also a tale of character, for every member of the little ship's company is worth meeting. A book that should not be missed." ( Daily Telegraph)
"Mr. Shute's style is ideal for this kind of book. He revels in incident and he draws his people with loving care. Here, he's reminiscent of H.E. Bates at his best; that same ability to make you passionately interested in anything he's interested in, and to make the most outlandish happening seem credible his characters are so real." (Monica Dickens)
"Mr. Shute always has good things to offer...the power to convey the springs of heroic conduct in the lightest and least assuming of tones." ( Times Literary Supplement)

What listeners say about Most Secret

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Censored for 3 years

A most interesting earlier Shute. Written in 1942 and kept under wraps till the end of WW11. Britian (and the Commonwealth and Territories) were 'on their own' and I expect it was written to inspire hope.

In this story Britian is getting ready for a German Invasion, many European people had escaped to England to support the war effort, and the German Army was heading into Russia.The Air raids on London had started.

This is a story of a commando raid proposed by a couple of Navy blokes who really want to do more and are supported by a third man (Army Intellegence) who privately wants to give hope to the people of Brittany.

It is a good story and, although perhaps based on Shute's knowlege and experience to some extent, it is written as popular fiction.

While Nevil Shute is better known for his later stories, 'On The Beach' and 'A Town like Alice' , this one sits well along with his 'Pied Piper' as good war time stories about individuals.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I am a sucker for Neville Shute

If you could sum up Most Secret in three words, what would they be?

Best Shute Ever!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Neville Shute is a master of plot. You can feel the tension the war engendered in the English people. He masterfully weaves together sub plots which converge with great dramatic tension.

What about Roger May’s performance did you like?

Wait, What? ONE person narrated this? Every character was so distinctly voiced that the "narrator" disappeared.

If you could take any character from Most Secret out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I heard ut awhile ago, and now don't remember the names. The young woman driver, though, seems very appealing.

Any additional comments?

Bravo!

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Not recommended

Some of Nevil Shute's best work, including A Town Like Alice, Pied Piper and even Requiem for a Wren, opens our eyes to life in wartime in a quiet, devastating, and remarkably balanced way. But this book, written in the early years of WWII (finished in 1942 but censored until 1945), lacks the balance of hindsight and falls into overheated—literally, since it deals with the development and use of flamethrower guns—semi-propaganda. The narrative device of introducing each officer's backstory in turn is simplistic and unsatisfying, and their suffering, however sad, never seems to equate, for modern listeners, to the glee they take in raining acid death down on every German they can. Nuance is abandoned, not just by a weirdly bloodthirsty French priest, but even by the supposedly-objective narrator. Gruesome and flat, not recommended unless you want a cartoon look at how the English viewed the Germans in 1942.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Inimitable Nevil Shute Style

One of my favorite witers, Nevil Shute unfolds his story in an intelligent and unique manner. His historical and technical understanding and accuracy are superb as always.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Neville Shute knew how to tell a story

I have to admit I I am a huge Neville Shute fan. Great literature? No. But he unselfconsciously tells compelling stories about decent, ordinary people doing extraordinary things. This is not quite on par with the Pied Piper, and not even close to his utterly unforgettable masterpiece A
Town like Alice, but I thoroughly enjoyed it even the second time I listened to it.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Ordinary people, extraordinary times, no easy answers

No cliches, no magic, no superpowers, no ulterior moralizing. Shute manages interesting, real people making a noble go at life. The characters are so touching and personal you will find yourself being touched by something quite different from what someone else who is listening to it with you is.

The narration is astounding! The American, British, and French characters!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Well read historical fiction

This book has a great story and is very well read. I love this unique setting and story.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my top Three Shute books

This story is just a great WWII story, made even better by the narrator. I’ve listened to it repeatedly, and the reasons are the glimpses it gives us of the mind of the occupied French, the conflict between loving what you do and the love of country, the motivations of individuals in a war, and the general inter workings of the British Navy. Above all the story is intriguing and well-crafted. Fully recommended!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding novel.

This is a terrific book, written by a master craftsman at the top of his game. And the narration is one of the best I have encountered - Roger May does an outstanding job of giving each character a subtly unique voice.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Shute does it again

Loved it. Shute is a master at taking ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances and drawing you in to their performance. Enjoyed it very much. Thanks

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