A Toast to Tomorrow

Rating:
Summary: Pray Silence
Review: 'Pray Silence' is the title under which I purchased this book some thirty five years ago. It is a sequel to 'Drink to Yesterday' and the present title is possibly more apt.
Why should I want to write a review after all these years?
I found the first book, in what is quite a long series, to be a little stiff in style, but this, the sequel moves at a fair pace and is much easier to read in consequence. All of the books in the series stand alone although they employ the same central character, more often than not in a leading role. This second book in the series will make you want to enjoy more of the author's work.
The genre is basic spy with additions, but if you don't like spy stories don't be put off. During those thirty five years I have read the book at least once a year even though I know it virtually off by heart. I even know where most of the missprints are in my old copy, but they still come as a surprise, I get so engrossed with the story!

Rating:
Summary: Better than Ambler
Review: I have been reading the fine novels of Alan Furst, and they
remind me of Manning Coles more than the more commonly
mentioned inspiration, Eric Ambler. I read "A Toast To
Tomorrow", then its predecessor, "Drink to Yesterday", and
preferred the former, though they're both pretty good. I liked
the distinction between the German civilians and the Nazis, as
another reviewer mentions. There is also a certain amount of
plausible humor, which I liked, not the terrible James Bond
"movie humor" (can't blame Ian Fleming for that, though). Also
like another reviewer, I find myself coming back to this book
again and again....It's very good!

Rating:
Summary: Why reading can sometimes lead to wonderful moments.
Review: Toast to Tomorrow is best read by first reading its more somber prequel, Drink to Yesterday. Once you've finished the first book immediately pick up A Toast to Tomorrow and read the first chapter to enjoy one of the great funny moments in fiction. It's high adventure combined with great wit and a book I've pushed into literally hundreds of very satisified hands. It's also remarkable in that it was published during World War II (but before the U.S. entered the war) and the authors draw a very careful distinction between German civilians and Nazis.