The Hidden Army from Matt Richards & Mark Langthorne, from John Blake. A bit thin. Review here.

In a gap between receiving review copies I am reading Bess of Hardwick by Mary Lovell. I had no idea until I opened the book that she is the former wife of Cliff Lovell, the father of the British aircraft restoration industry. She claims to be an aviator herself, and has also written biographies of, inter alia, Amelia Earheart and Beryl Markham. I have not read either but have read Errol Trzebinski's Lives of Beryl Markham. She was the most interesting lady. I don't know if she ever met my heroine, the Hon. Mrs. Victor Bruce, but if she had, they would have had much to discuss - men as well as aircraft!

I reviewed Escaping Hitler by Monty Halls many moons ago - see here . But I now have fresh admiration for those who made it over the Pyrenees. I flew over this mountain range recently, and even in June there was plenty of snow about. At 14,000 feet it was around zero. The hills rise incredibly steeply from the French side. How escaped prisoners in a poor physical state made over those mountains, I shall never quite understand.

Nimrod Boys - the latest Boys title from Grub Street. Some good yarns. My review contains a Nimrod tale that (almost ) inexplicably is not contained in the book. Review is here.

It's been a while, so you get two for the price of one.

Spitfire Leader, a biography of a Battle of Britain ace who died in tragic circumstances, and a history of BOAC. To be found here and here.