Operation Mincemeat

Mincemeat was one of the supreme intelligence deceptions of WWII, or any war. The body of a supposed British officer with faked papers indicating impending invasions of Sardinia and Greece (the real target was Sicily) was dropped off the coast of neutral Spain, and as expected, the Nazis got hold of the papers and believed them. John Lee's reading is energetic, fast paced, clear, and very British--clipped and precise. He gives the many quotes from non-British sources in the appropriate accent (German, Spanish, Russian, etc.), which helps the listener keep clear who's speaking. The accents, including the American ones, are good. This is a great espionage tale, a fascinating look at wartime Spain and German military intelligence, in a spirited, likable reading. W.M. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Starred review from August 30, 2010
Attain a corpse, load it with forged secret documents, and drop it off the coast of Spain where Nazi spies would be certain to discover it. These were the bare-bone essentials of one of the most important yet largely unknown Allied missions of WWII, which changed the course of history and saved thousands of lives. John Lee dazzles listeners with his seamless delivery that never ceases to excite; his classically trained tone is assertive and determined, capturing the importance of the mission and the dedication of the men at its helm. His voice shifts slightly to capture various British dialects, each as excellently executed as the last. A rousing listen. A Harmony hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 12).