Midnight in Europe

Furst’s latest historical espionage novel explores the ominous landscape of Europe in the late 1930s. Christián Ferrar, a young Spanish attorney working in Paris, undertakes a dangerous mission to purchase and smuggle arms for the desperate forces of the Spanish Republic, who are trying to hold off the advances of Gen. Francisco Franco. Furst’s material, steeped in the historical complexity of the period, may not be accessible for casual listeners as they seek to distinguish among Ferrar’s band of outlaw colleagues and his various romantic conquests. Yet it remains undeniable that Gerroll, the reader of previous productions of Furst’s titles, intimately knows the atmosphere and emotions surrounding the author’s view of a continent on the verge of collapse. His portrayal of Marquesa Maria Cristina, a mysterious love interest of Ferrar at the center of a complex web of betrayal, is especially engrossing. The tension and sensuality are palpable, even when the events surrounding the story line are hard to follow. Fans already steeped in the genre will appreciate the experience. A Random House hardcover. (June)