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What Sherlock Holmes is among detectives, R. V. Jones was among scientific intelligence officers of WW2. Unlike Holmes, Jones was a real person and his factual account of British scientific intelligence in WW2 makes for riveting reading. He describes in detail how he collated intelligence from a variety of sources and reached his conclusions. He also points out that his work was only a small part of the British war machine and depended on a great number of individuals and organisations.

Review: This is without question the most fascinating book about WW2 that I have ever read. Jones was a scientist who, throughout the war, was at the very centre of the UK intelligence services. He played a cat-and-mouse game with his German counterparts, attempting to outwit their technical developments with counter measures that, at times, verged on the hilarious. His role brought him into contact with Churchill, top civil servants, senior armed forces leaders and other scientists. He was, therefore, in a privileged position to observe and comment on their strengths, weaknesses and rivalries, which he does with admirable objectivity. He was also in close contact with Bletchley Park and shows that their everyday code-breaking successes went far beyond the cracking of Enigma that makes the headlines.

It is a lengthy tome but is superbly written with honesty and humour, making it a real ‘page-turner. If you read only one historical account of WW2, make it this one. It is worth all of the others put together – and he was there!