Most of Harris's novels are historical fiction with a twist. While this covers the history and drama of the period of rocket development it is less thriller than a description of two people's lives on opposite sides of a grim situation at the end of war. We know how it will end, and the two characters are simply trying to reach that end in one piece; one with something left of their morality, the other having played more of an active role. As one is male and the other female, and both single (one through public shaming following an affair the other due to British bombing) it's inevitable that they will meet. That doesn't make it a romance as it will take some time. The story is more about the claustrophobia of working in organisations among ruthless people, the cruelty of groups (whether black clad Gestapo or the ostracism of air force officers), and preserving our humanity by protecting those who may be on the wrong side of our laws.

Historical fiction is a good way of learning historical facts; more people died making the V2 missile than were killed by it. Its victims included 200,000 slave labourers as well as 2,700 civilian casualties mostly in greater London. With this in mind its creator Wernher Von Braun, who was after all an officer in the SS should have been put on trial for War Crimes. The V2 Rocket, correct name Retribution Weapon II is the subject and title of Robert Harris latest novel. The novel revolves around two opposing groups of people; those who launched it and those employed to stop it. Kay Caton-Walsh, an officer Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) is part of a group of women using mathematical formula to calculate the location of the V2 launch sites. She is stationed in the northern Belgian town of Mechelen, recently liberated by the allies. Kay is led astray by vivacious friend Barbara; a touch of Bletchley Girls meets Sex and the City. The local population is desperately short of food and it is difficult to know who to trust. Around eight thousand Belgians joined the Walloon Legion; later integrated into the SS and responsible for numerous atrocities in the Soviet Union. Although it was largely destroyed by Soviet forces in the Korsun–Cherkassy Pocket in February 1944. It’s founder Leon De Grel saw the SS as the first European Army. Are there any more reasons why Remainers should shut themselves away in darkened rooms and hang their heads in shame? Ninety-four miles away (Google Maps) in the Dutch town of Scheveningen, close to the Hague is Dr Rudi Graf. His job is to launch the V2s. Graf’s story is intertwined with innocent boyhood dreams of space travel, combined with disillusionment with an evil and soon to be defeated regime. Much of Graf’s story concentrates on the technical failings of the V2 and as the novel reaches its climax Graf struggles continually harder with his conscience. V2 was written in the first lockdown in the spring of 2020. There are no doubt parallels between today’s NHS workers of in the fight against Covid-19 and those, like the WAAF who worked in the backrooms of World War II to limit the damage done by V-weapons. Harris, despite his dreadful politics is still a master of historical fiction and V2 is no exception.

Robert Harris does not disappoint - meticulous research, strong characterisation and an enthralling story. As you read the book you do not realise you are having a history lesson on the development of rockets in pre war Germany through to the destruction of the V2 rockets. Although technical in parts, V2 is another entertaining read from a master story teller.

The story is set in the final phase of WW2 and the V2 programme is used as the background. It is a good read with credible figures on both sides with a sense of no purpose on the German side shown by the engineer. Highly recommendable.

Normally I don't like novels where there is so much technology. However it works very well in this one. Basically there are 2 parallel stories which flank the development and use of the V2 bomb. The technicalities about the bomb, slow the pace of the characterisation and background to the plot. The two characters are well developed and Harris manages the difficult job of making the German scientist who is one of the main characters, fairly sympathetic. That I didn't really understand the science, didn't take from my enjoyment of the book.