The Assassins

Johnny Swift Thrillers, Book 1

By: Alan Bardos

Narrated by: Jack Bennett

1914.

Tensions are reaching boiling point in Europe and the threat of war is imminent.

Johnny Swift, a young and brash diplomatic clerk employed by the British embassy is sent to infiltrate the "Young Bosnians", a group of idealistic conspirators planning to murder Franz Ferdinand. The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, in a bid to liberate their country from the monarchy’s grip.

Swift has been having an affair with his employer’s wife, Lady Elizabeth Smyth. Sir George Smyth dispatches the agent on the dangerous mission, believing that it will be the last he will see of his young rival.

The agent manages to infiltrate the Young Bosnian conspirators’ cell, helped by Lazlo Breitner, a Hungarian Civil Servant.

However, Swift soon realises that he may be in over his head. His gambling debts and taste for beautiful women prove the least of his problems as he struggles to survive on his wits in the increasingly complex - and perilous - world of politics and espionage.

Desperate to advance himself and with the lives of a royal couple unexpectedly in his hands, Swift tries to avert catastrophe.

Alan Bardos studied an MA in TV Script Writing at De Montfort University. He has experimented in different genres and media, and has found his voice in writing historical fiction.

©2021 Alan Bardos (P)2021 Alan Bardos

Critic reviews

"Written with polished panache, it kept me gripped from the first to last." (A.A. Chaudhuri, author of The Scribe)

"A cracking read, highly recommended." (Roger A Price, best-selling author of Nemesis)

"Part historical fiction, part thriller and part love story, this is a compelling and entertaining read." (Gary Haynes, best-selling author of The Blameless Dead)