About this series
More short stories about the deceptively harmless but sometimes lethal pair of agents, Calder and Behrens, who are also met in ‘Game Without Rules’. Calder lives in Kent with a golden deerhound named Rasselas, whilst Behrens lives with his aunt and keeps bees. No one suspects they are in fact agents for the British security services and that, if necessary, they are prepared to kill. The first story deals with Behrens pre-Calder days inside wartime Germany, and the adventures progress through time to the late twentieth century. Ruthless in defence of the Crown, friends and those deemed innocent, but equally ruthless in disposing of wrongdoers and enemies of the state, the conclusive nature of which is arrived at through logic and reasoning. A lovable lethal pair!
Titles in the series (2)
- Game Without Rules
1
Mr. Calder lived with a golden deerhound named Rasselas in a cottage in Kent. Mr. Behrens lives with his aunt and keeps bees. No one would in the least suspect that the pair are in fact agents for the British Joint Services Standing Committee and they are often tasked with jobs that no one else can take on – simply because of the extreme nature of the action needed. They are dangerous – and they are watched. Their adventures in this series of thrillers show the author to have a clear grasp of counterintelligence operations. Written with Gilbert’s usual dry wit, panache and style, the suspense is at times killing!
- Mr Calder And Mr Behrens
2
More short stories about the deceptively harmless but sometimes lethal pair of agents, Calder and Behrens, who are also met in ‘Game Without Rules’. Calder lives in Kent with a golden deerhound named Rasselas, whilst Behrens lives with his aunt and keeps bees. No one suspects they are in fact agents for the British security services and that, if necessary, they are prepared to kill. The first story deals with Behrens pre-Calder days inside wartime Germany, and the adventures progress through time to the late twentieth century. Ruthless in defence of the Crown, friends and those deemed innocent, but equally ruthless in disposing of wrongdoers and enemies of the state, the conclusive nature of which is arrived at through logic and reasoning. A lovable lethal pair!
Michael Gilbert
Born in Lincolnshire, England, Michael Francis Gilbert graduated in law from the University of London in 1937, shortly after which he first spent some time teaching at a prep-school which was followed by six years serving with the Royal Horse Artillery. During World War II he was captured following service in North Africa and Italy, and his prisoner-of-war experiences later leading to the writing of the acclaimed novel 'Death in Captivity' in 1952. After the war, Gilbert worked as a solicitor in London, but his writing continued throughout his legal career and in addition to novels he wrote stage plays and scripts for radio and television. He is, however, best remembered for his novels, which have been described as witty and meticulously-plotted espionage and police procedural thrillers, but which exemplify realism. HRF Keating stated that 'Smallbone Deceased' was amongst the 100 best crime and mystery books ever published. "The plot," wrote Keating, "is in every way as good as those of Agatha Christie at her best: as neatly dovetailed, as inherently complex yet retaining a decent credibility, and as full of cunningly-suggested red herrings." It featured Chief Inspector Hazlerigg, who went on to appear in later novels and short stories, and another series was built around Patrick Petrella, a London based police constable (later promoted) who was fluent in four languages and had a love for both poetry and fine wine. Other memorable characters around which Gilbert built stories included Calder and Behrens. They are elderly but quite amiable agents, who are nonetheless ruthless and prepared to take on tasks too much at the dirty end of the business for their younger colleagues. They are brought out of retirement periodically upon receiving a bank statement containing a code. Much of Michael Gilbert's writing was done on the train as he travelled from home to his office in London: "I always take a latish train to work," he explained in 1980, "and, of course, I go first class. I have no trouble in writing because I prepare a thorough synopsis beforehand.". After retirement from the law, however, he nevertheless continued and also reviewed for 'The Daily Telegraph', as well as editing 'The Oxford Book of Legal Anecdotes'. Gilbert was appointed CBE in 1980. Generally regarded as 'one of the elder statesmen of the British crime writing fraternity', he was a founder-member of the British Crime Writers' Association and in 1988 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, before receiving the Lifetime 'Anthony' Achievement award at the 1990 Boucheron in London. Michael Gilbert died in 2006, aged ninety three, and was survived by his wife and their two sons and five daughters.
Read more from Michael Gilbert
The Man Who Hated Banks & Other Mysteries Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Death In Captivity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Night Of The Twelfth Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Crack In The Teacup Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Black Seraphim Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Body Of A Girl Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Trouble Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Shot For Six Pence Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Flashpoint Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Paint Gold And Blood Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dust and The Heat Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSky High Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5After The Fine Weather Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Killing Of Katie Steelstock Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Empty House Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStay Of Execution Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Etruscan Net Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anything For A Quiet Life & Other Mysteries: And Other Mysteries Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe End Game Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ninety Second Tiger Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Queen Against Karl Mullen Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Calder and Behrens
Related ebooks
Flying Saucers Vs. the Earth #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMy Alabaster Box...: Poetry, Prose, and Prayer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFemale Force: Anne Rice Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Extreme Rhyming Poetry: Over 400 Inspirational Poems of Wit, Wisdom, and Humor (Five Books in One) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsQuatermain #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIs God In Your Yard? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBatty: The Adventures of Boomer and Matilda Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJustly Poetic Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPolitical Power: Portrait Gallery Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSherlock Holmes: Victorian Knights #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMessages from the Heart of Love - Spirituality Basics in 144 Empowering Quotes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBruce the Fire Dog and His North Pole Friends Say Hello Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJudo Girl: Silencer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNanny & Hank #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsViolet Rose #0 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKyron and The Meadow Monster Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChildren's Ten Commandments Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVincent Price Presents #25 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Forgotten Spoon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOMWG Oh, My Wonderful God!: A Tribute in Verse to Our Lord and Savior Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThailand Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Accidental Warriors: The Accidental Warriors, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStep By Step to Solve Word Problems Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOur Dream House Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe GOD of Isreal (ISRAEL) and the Legend of The Christ: The LORD of Life, Light, & Love Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOdyssey Presents: Anthology #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMicroguardians explain HIV and AIDS Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVincent Price Presents: Phibes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMonster’s Among Us: A War of Witches Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNurse Best's Medicinal Cocktails and Mocktails: Over 100 Cocktail and Mocktail Recipes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Thrillers For You
Fairy Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Animal Farm Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Paris Apartment: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Perfect Marriage: A Completely Gripping Psychological Suspense Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pretty Girls: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Housemaid Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Institute: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Little Secrets: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'm Thinking of Ending Things: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Flight: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Family Upstairs: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Daughter: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Needful Things Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Maidens: A Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The It Girl Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Whisper Man: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Troop Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Huntress: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5We Have Always Lived in the Castle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Leave the World Behind: A Read with Jenna Pick Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Razorblade Tears: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5You: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sometimes I Lie: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Eyes of the Dragon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Billy Summers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Different Seasons Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Golden Spoon: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Calder and Behrens
26 ratings0 reviews