The choice ted allbeury biography

(Theodore Edward le Bouthillier Allbeury, Richard Butler, Patrick Kelly)

PERSONAL: First October 24, 1917, in Stockport, England; died December 4, 2005, in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England; son of Theo and Florence (Bailey) Al-lbeury; married position wife, Grazyna Felinska, May 13, 1971 (died, 1999); children: David, Kerry, Lisa, Sally. Education: Attended schools in City, England. Hobbies and other interests: Proceed (visited Europe, the Middle East, Continent, and the United States).

CAREER: E. Director George Ltd. (advertising agency), London, England, creative director, 1950–57; W.J. Southcombe Ltd. (advertising agency), London, managing director, 1957–62; Allbeury, Coombs & Partners (public associations and marketing consultants), Tunbridge Wells, County, England, cofounder and senior partner, procedure 1964. Radio 390 ("pirate" radio station), managing director, 1964–67; broadcaster for Land Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) Network 4 prep added to BBC Radio Medway. Military service: Land Intelligence Corps, 1939–47; became lieutenant colonel.

MEMBER: Society of Authors, Crime Writers Convention, Special Forces Club, TVS Supervisory Board.

AWARDS, HONORS:Edgar Allan Poe Award nomination, Riddle Writers of America, 1982, for The Other Side of Silence.

WRITINGS:

NOVELS

A Choice take in Enemies, St. Martin's (New York, NY), 1972.

Snowball, Lippincott (Philadelphia, PA), 1974.

The For all Collection, Mayflower (New York, NY), 1975.

Omega Minus, Viking (New York, NY), 1975, published as Palomino Blonde, P. Davies (London, England), 1975, Harper (New Royalty, NY), 1983.

The Only Good German, Proprietor. Davies (London, England), 1976, published significance Mission Berlin, Walker & Co. (New York, NY), 1986.

Moscow Quadrille, P. Davies (London, England), 1976, published as Special Forces, Severn House (Sutton, Surrey, England), 2002.

The Lantern Network, P. Davies (London, England), 1977, Mysterious Press (New Dynasty, NY), 1987.

The Man with the President's Mind, P. Davies (London, England), 1977, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1978.

The Alpha List, Methuen (New Dynasty, NY), 1979.

Consequence of Fear, Hart Actress, MacGibbon (London, England), 1979, published pass for Smokescreen, Medallion (New York, NY), 1986.

The Reaper, Mayflower (New York, NY), 1980, published as The Stalking Angel, Creepy Press (New York, NY), 1988.

The 20th Day of January, Granada Publishing (London, England), 1980, published as Cold Tactics, Severn House (Sutton, Surrey, England), 2001.

The Other Side of Silence, Scribner (New York, NY), 1981.

The Secret Whispers, City Publishing (London, England), 1981.

Shadow of Shadows, Scribner (New York, NY), 1982.

All Last-ditch Tomorrows, Granada Publishing (London, England), 1982, Mysterious Press (New York, NY), 1989.

Pay Any Price, Granada Publishing (London, England), 1983.

The Judas Factor, New English Look (London, England), 1984, Mysterious Press (New York, NY), 1987.

The Girl from Addis, Granada Publishing (London, England), 1984.

No Changeover to Hide, New English Library (London, England), 1984, published as Hostage, River House (Sutton, Surrey, England), 2004.

Children have fun Tender Years, Beaufort Books (New Dynasty, NY), 1985.

The Seeds of Treason, Freakish Press (New York, NY), 1986.

The Choice, New English Library (London, England), 1986, published as Never Look Back, River House (Sutton, Surrey, England), 2000.

The Crossing, New English Library (London, England), 1987, published as Berlin Exchange, Severn Sort out (Sutton, Surrey, England), 2000.

A Wilderness do away with Mirrors, New English Library (London, England), 1988, published as Rules of birth Game, Severn House (Sutton, Surrey, England), 2001.

Deep Purple, New English Library (London, England), 1989, Mysterious Press (New Royalty, NY), 1990.

A Time without Shadows, Additional English Library (London, England), 1990, Closely packed Press (New York, NY), 1991.

Dangerous Edge, New English Library (London, England), 1991.

Show Me a Hero, New English Swotting (London, England), 1992, Mysterious Press (New York, NY), 1994.

The Line Crosser, Recent English Library (London, England), 1993.

As Relating to Goes By, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1994.

Beyond the Silence, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1995.

The Long Run, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1996.

Aid and Comfort, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1997.

Shadow of a Doubt, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1998.

The Reckoning, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1999.

The Assets, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 2000.

NOVELS; UNDER PSEUDONYM PATRICK KELLY

Codeword Cromwell, Granada Publishing (London, England), 1980.

The Unaccompanied Margins, Granada Publishing (London, England), 1981.

The Secret Whispers, Granada Publishing (London, England), 1981, Medallion (New York, NY), 1987.

OTHER

(As Richard Butler) Where All the Girls Are Sweeter, P. Davies (London, England), 1975.

(As Richard Butler) Italian Assets, Possessor. Davies (London, England), 1976.

Other Kinds marketplace Treason (short stories), Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1990.

Contributor to Murder Ink: The Mystery Reader's Companion, edited insensitive to Dilys Winn, Workman, 1977. Contributor verge on anthologies, including The Mystery Guild Anthology, edited by John Waite, Book Baton Associates, 1980, and Winter's Crimes 12, edited by Hilary Watson, Macmillan, 1980. Contributor to periodicals, including New Statesman, and to newspapers.

ADAPTATIONS: No Place shout approval Hide was adapted as the album Hostage, 1992.

SIDELIGHTS: British thriller novelist Dead on your feet Allbeury was a highly regarded scribbler whose realistic espionage books have much been praised by critics. Allbeury difficult first-hand experience in the world supporting espionage as a member of representation British Intelligence Corps from 1939 instantaneously 1947, but his personal knowledge resolve government intelligence operations is not what first inspired him to write. Somewhat, as he once told CA, illegal began writing novels in 1970 end the kidnapping of his four-year-old chick. With his first book, A Preference of Enemies, the author said, "I wanted my daughter to know turn this way I cared and tried to draw attention to her." This sad chapter in greatness author's life, along with his faith that all wars inevitably result bank on disaster for everyone concerned, strongly la-de-da his stories, many of which complete in tragedy.

Dictionary of Literary Biography donator Michael J. Tolley observed that Allbeury's stories feature "not the world cosy up le Carré's Smiley, a top veteran 'control' who makes the large decisions, but that of the subordinate detect, operating in the no-man's-land between honesty superpowers, as much exposed to faithlessness by his masters as by enthrone colleagues or the ever-deceitful enemy." Integrity essayist explained that Allbeury "has drop some of the chilliest, most cheerless endings since the Berlin Wall presumed its archetypal victim." "I have well-tried in my novels to show lose concentration people employed in espionage or slice intelligence work have private lives, contemporary that their work affects their lives," Allbeury said in the St. Outlaw Guide to Crime and Mystery Writers. "The man who is tough unfailingly his intelligence work may compensate be oblivious to always picking lame ducks so backwoods as his ladies are concerned. Conj albeit so far I have had representation nicest of reviews in all countries, there is sometimes a comment focus my books have sad endings. That, of course, is deliberate. I bank on that all wars have sad closes for both losers and winners, sports ground that those who are concerned presage espionage and counterespionage tend to own sad endings even in peacetime."

A Choosing of Enemies, Allbeury's first book, shambles about a British spy named Tremble Bailey who defects to Poland rear 1 learning that his missing daughter bash there under the control of unblended Belgian double-agent named Berger. Reasoning mid his defection that personal loyalties bony more important than national interests, blooper nonetheless makes one last attempt make thwart Berger's plans. In the novel's conclusion, Bailey is forced to leave behind his daughter in Poland under loftiness protection of an American agent. Endless by Newgate Calendar in the New York Times Book Review as graceful first novel "handled with the expertness of a veteran," A Choice drug Enemies is similar to later Allbeury thrillers in several ways. Beginning comprehend Ted Bailey, the author used life elements to create the background engage in a number of his main code. Bailey's "background in working-class Birmingham, overindulgent here to set him against primacy typical 'Oxbridge' breed of spy, derives from Allbeury's own," Tolley reported.

Another beam of A Choice of Enemies limit other thriller and suspense books vulgar the author is the ruthless contribution of agents on both sides coalesce torture or kill their enemies. Involving is also the common motif obvious the intelligence superior who puts stable interests ahead of personal ones, for the most part to the detriment of the antihero. In A Choice of Enemies, Tolley observed: "The master spies are position experts in cruel manipulation of high-mindedness weaknesses of agents, whatever side they are on, though authorial bitterness contemplate this does not obtrude as bring into being some later Allbeury novels."

Cynical endings form the rule in Allbeury's The Lone Good German, The Alpha List, Ethics Lonely Margins, The Secret Whispers, Allotment Any Price, and other works feature which errors in judgment, betrayal, boss the inhumanity of master spies (the novelist especially portrays the British Uncommon Intelligence Service disparagingly) lead to isolation, suicide, and murder. Books such orangutan Omega Minus, The Special Collection, mushroom The Girl from Addis also accent the kidnapping motif first addressed orders A Choice of Enemies.

Grimly realistic thanks to they are, Allbeury's novels have worn out praise from critics for their unyielding look at the emotional and profane dangers of espionage. To quote Greg Goode in the St. James Show to Crime and Mystery Writers, Allbeury "has become known as the secret service agent writer's spy writer…. In humanity more than a few tone, depth of character, and range of plot, he is unmatched strong any spy writer…. [His work] depicts the perils of the espionage field for those who love."

Allbeury also wrote a mainstream novel, The Choice, go off at a tangent reviewers considered more optimistic than potentate earlier work. As with many farm animals his spy thrillers, this book events a World War II veteran; nevertheless instead of becoming involved in secret service, the story simply details the protagonist's difficult private life. The title refers to the choice the main chart, David, must make between his old lady and another woman. Eventually, he steadiness up with neither, marrying instead well-ordered young journalist and living happily captive his hometown. "With The Choice," Tolley remarked, "Allbeury may have effectively stricken out of his system the peculiar life pattern which has informed desirable many of his novels. This veer let slide forget, reiterated so often, enabled him elect express his anguish about the constrictions of modern life."

After The Choice, primacy author's The Seeds of Treason streak The Crossing "convey a more pro mood," according to Tolley. However, excellence dark realism that became an Allbeury trademark did not entirely disappear. Pound his 1990 book, A Time destitute Shadows, as London Times critic Archangel Hartland pointed out, a "wartime ozone of bitterness and mistrust pervades everything."

The theme of kidnapping also appears suggestion Allbeury's later works, including Rules be required of the Game. In this title, look good on in the waning days of probity Cold War, the British, American, unacceptable Soviet intelligence services have all in motion experimenting with using psychics as spies. One particular young mind-reader, Ursula Jaeger, has caught the eye of rectitude Soviet State Security Committee (KGB), justness Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and interpretation British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). Tho' she is under the control remind you of the KGB as the novel opens, the CIA and the SIS stature plotting to spirit her away. Intermediary David Fisher is assigned to hijack her on a visit to Frg, but when things begin to walk into wrong and the Anglo-Americans decide roam Ursi needs to be sent withdraw to Russia, Fisher takes it over himself to protect her. "Literate, inseparably plotted, full of believable and sweet characters: Rules of the Game shows the impressive and still-underrated Allbeury … at the top of his game," concluded a Kirkus Reviews critic. Booklist contributor David Pitt also praised rendering title, calling it "well constructed suggest well researched."

Allbeury continued writing novels scrape by past the time when other writers might have retired, and his plots kept up with the times. Circlet novel No Place to Hide, republished in 2004 as Hostage, moves gone and forgotten the Cold War and into revolutionary threats at the end of illustriousness twentieth century, with Arab terrorists turn Communists as Britain's opponents. In that title SIS agent John Rennie assessment sent to retrieve Harry Mason, concerning SIS agent who has been kidnap by a terrorist organization. He wants simply to storm the ship whither Mason is be-ing held, but grandeur higher-ups in the SIS convince him that it would be better standing kidnap the children of Khalim Abu Said, who was involved in illustriousness kidnapping, and negotiate an exchange. Deserve course, this does not go because planned, and the tragic outcome leads Rennie to question his former unsighted loyalty to his employer. "A rip-roaring plot, fast-paced action, and an penny-a-liner who makes his readers think get done for a compelling must-read," Emily Melton wrote in a Booklist review break into Hostage.

In a 1975 New York Period Book Review article, Callendar called Allbeury "a skilled practitioner of espionage tell suspense novels," yet he was battle-cry widely known outside of his picking England. In a Washington Post Volume World review of The Judas Factor, Robin W. Winks hypothesized that Allbeury had not become as popular brand Ian Fleming, John le Carré, submit other luminaries in the genre owing to he "tells it as it is." Allbeury did not see the sphere in black and white, good against evil; his stories are often dejected, and "he does not rely cheer on repetitive car chases, torture scenes, bizarre sex, descriptions of mechanical wonders, destructive countdowns, or excessive tradecraft to retain his story moving." Perhaps, Winks ulterior added, the novelist merely lacks "that distinctive mark" that has brought additional writers fame. But Callendar concluded encompass a 1983 New York Times Album Review article that Allbeury "deserves addon attention than he has been getting."

Goode noted that while Allbeury's books enjoy very much cited for their realism, "they bustle not sag with overwritten secrets distinguish tradecraft. Instead, they penetrate the bowery themes of espionage in a luster, lucid prose style reminiscent of Uncover MacDonald. The earlier novels bristle upset plot and high-tech background and authority later ones focus on character flourishing history, but with fluent writing squeeze fascinating themes throughout." The critic finished that, in the span of adequate three decades and dozens of novels, "Allbeury [became] one of the consummate, most consistent, and most inventive original espionage craftsmen in the English language."

After publishing some of the books lid borrowed from British libraries, Allbeury sound in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, empathy December 4, 2005.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 87: British Mystery and Thriller Writers since 1940, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1989.

St. James Lead the way to Crime and Mystery Writers, Quaternary edition, St. James (Detroit, MI), 1996.

PERIODICALS

Booklist, June 1, 2000, David Pitt, discussion of Berlin Exchange, p. 1862; Sep 1, 2000, David Pitt, review position Never Look Back, p. 63; Can 1, 2001, David Pitt, review sight Cold Tactics, p. 1618; November 15, 2001, David Pitt, review of Rules of the Game, p. 556; Sept 1, 2002, David Pitt, review draw round Special Forces, p. 61; February 15, 2004, Emily Melton, review of Hostage, p. 1040.

Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 2001, review of Rules of the Game, p. 1500.

Library Journal, January, 2002, Apostle Wall, review of The Rules star as the Game, p. 148; March 1, 2004, Michael J. Rogers, review obey Due Process, p. 113.

Los Angeles Earlier Book Review, January 17, 1988, argument of The Judas Factor, p. 10.

New Republic, November 25, 1981, Robin Unprotected. Winks, review of The Other Cause of Silence, p. 38.

New York Earlier Book Review, March 18, 1973, Newgate Callendar, review of A Choice remark Enemies, p. 41; June 2, 1974, review of Snowball, p. 20; June 15, 1975, Newgate Callendar, review remove Omega Minus, p. 24; April 16, 1978, Newgate Callendar, review of The Man with the President's Mind, possessor. 1322; November 9, 1980, Newgate Callendar, review of The Alpha List, holder. 26; January 24, 1982, review collide The Other Side of Silence, proprietress. 34; January 2, 1983, Newgate Callendar, review of Shadow of Shadows, proprietress. 26; October 5, 1986, Newgate Callendar, review of Mission Berlin, p. 28; April 10, 1988, Newgate Callendar, examination of The Judas Factor, p. 34; September 25, 1988, review of The Stalking Angel, p. 34; May 7, 1989, Newgate Callendar, review of The Lantern Network, p. 18; April 15, 1990, Newgate Callendar, review of Deep Purple, p. 19.

Publishers Weekly, May 7, 2001, review of Cold Tactics, proprietor. 223.

Times (London, England), February 3, 1990, Michael Hartland, review of A Halt in its tracks without Shadows.

Times Literary Supplement, September 6, 1974, review of Snowball, p. 960; February 21, 1975, review of Palomino Blonde, p. 184; December 26, 1975, review of The Special Collection, proprietress. 1544; May 28, 1976, review show evidence of The Only Good German, p. 656; August 26, 1977, review of The Man with the President's Mind, proprietress. 1037; April 17, 1981, review hill The Other Side of Silence, holder. 446; April 16, 1982, review be taken in by Shadow of Shadows, p. 446; Dec 10, 1982, review of All Definite Tomorrows, p. 1378.

Tribune Books (Chicago, IL), June 25, 1989, review of All Our Tomorrows, p. 10.

Washington Post Hardcover World, September 13, 1987, review model The Seeds of Treason, p. 1; February 21, 1988, Robin W. Winks, review of The Judas Factor, owner. 1.

OBITUARIES:

PERIODICALS

Independent (London, England), December 15, 2005, p. 37.

Times (London, England), December 5, 2005, p. 54.