-
Your next favorite book
is waiting.
A Novel
by Mark Mills
Summer 1942: Malta, a small windswept island in the Mediterranean, has become the most bombed patch of earth on the planet, worse even than London during the Blitz. The Maltese, a fiercely independent people, withstand the relentless Axis air raids.
Max Chadwick is the British officer charged with manipulating the news on Malta to bolster the population's fragile esprit de corps. This is all, besides a few broken-down fighter planes, that stands in the face of Nazi occupation and perhaps even victory—for Malta is the stepping-stone the Germans need between Europe and North Africa.
When Max learns of the brutal murder of a young island woman—along with evidence that the crime was committed by a British officer—he knows that the Maltese loyalty to the war effort could be instantly shattered. As the clock ticks down toward all-out invasion, Max must investigate the murder—beyond the gaze of his superiors, friends, and even the woman he loves.
Filled with remarkably poignant and atmospheric details of life under siege, and indelible characters who live and breathe, The Information Officer is a taut, transporting thriller—an enthralling novel told with exceptional skill and style.
"Starred Review. Once again, Mills has crafted a story filled with rich history, tension, and characters whose frailties and strengths move the plot along at a taut and satisfying pace." - Library Journal
"As historical fiction, as mystery, and as love story, this one hits on all cylinders." - Booklist
"Mills paints a vivid portrait of a tenacious people, embattled and besieged troops, and a principled man trying to resolve the conflict between duty and justice." - Publishers Weekly
"Mark Mills is a superb writer, and The Information Officer is a
superb read." - Joseph O'Neill, author of Netherland
"The Information Officer ratchets up the tension with each page, leading
to a pulse-pounding climax that will remain with you long after the tale has
ended. Wartime Malta comes alive in this meticulously researched and beautifully
written portrait of an island on the edge." - Olen Steinhauer, author of The
Tourist
"A forgotten corner of World War II rediscovered and expertly revealed to us.
Fascinating and shrewdly compelling—Mark Mills does it again." - William Boyd,
author of Restless
"A lush, romantic thriller, skillfully crafted by master stylist Mark Mills."
- George Pelecanos, author of The Way Home
"The Information Officer is both great historical fiction and a
first-rate thriller. Mark Mills has taken a harrowing and often-forgotten
conflict, populated it with believable and compelling characters, and then
turned up the heat. This is a novel that works on every level."—David Liss,
author of The Devil's Company
This information about The Information Officer was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Mark Mills is a screenwriter whose first novel, Amagansett, was published in a dozen countries and received the British Crime Writers' Association John Creasey Memorial Dagger Award. His other novels include The Savage Garden and The Information Officer. A graduate of Cambridge University, he lives in Oxford with his wife and two children.
If you liked The Information Officer, try these:
by Abdulrazak Gurnah
Published 2023
From the winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature, a sweeping, multi-generational saga of displacement, loss, and love, set against the brutal colonization of East Africa.
by Maaza Mengiste
Published 2020
Shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize, and named a best book of the year by the New York Times, NPR, Elle, Time, and more, The Shadow King is an "unforgettable epic from an immensely talented author who's unafraid to take risks" (Michael Schaub, NPR).
by Mohammed Hanif
Published 2019
A powerful novel about war, family and love, from the bestselling, prize-winning author dubbed 'Pakistan's brightest voice.' (Guardian)
We have to abandon the idea that schooling is something restricted to youth...
Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!
Can you name the title?
Test your book knowledge with our daily trivia challenge!
Your guide toexceptional books
BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
