THE WALLS HAVE EARS is the second book that I have purchased and read written by Dr Helen Fry and once again I learnt about it on Social Media where I "follow" Dr Fry.
The cover of the book states THE GREATEST INTELLIGENCE OPERATION OF WORLD WAR 2 and through the pages of the book we really learn it was exactly that as we discover while reading the book just how ! I have put the !, because once more Dr Fry takes the reader into the world of intelligence at the time and the real people involved, the good and the bad, friend and foe.
Of the many things that I loved about the book was how the intelligence was obtained, the many ways which I found astounding and astonishing and that I didn't know and I politely suggesst that most wont know unless they read this book or have other means of getting the information.
The "human and inhuman" side of what happened during the world war, is told and reading the book I wondered how I would have reacted to hearing the evil evidence given by those guilty of it as the listeners did. Honestly I am not sure if I could have controlled my anger and at the very least would have had a lasting emotional and mental scar, which I wonder how many of them did.
The importance of the many ways of the gathering and confirmation of the intelligence is shown throughout this book and you know that it saved lives.
I was horrified to learn from this book, that evidence gathered could not be used at the Nurumberg trials of some who took part in the crimes, that however is, as is stated in the book, still a matter of debate, but also as the book tells us one of the reasons why was because of the "Cold War" that followed.
Such is the writing of the book, that we become ears as the listerners did and we can hear the words as they were spoken, over 80 years ago as if we're hearing them now (naturally they have been translated into English for us to understand). Yet we are left as well with, what more could we have listened to that we are now made deaf to?
In conclusion.
In The Walls Have Ears Dr Fry has done what she does best, tell the facts, the story and makes us think. Like all great authors she leaves you interested to learn more about the people mentioned. I have no hestitation in saying that for my first completed book of 2025 it is a great read and a great start to the year of reading ahead.
