The Continental Affair by Christine Mangan

Meet Henri and Louise.

Two strangers, travelling alone, on the train from Belgrade to Istanbul. Except this isn’t the first time they have met. It’s the 1960s, and Louise is running: from her past in England, from the owners of the money she has stolen―and from Henri, the person who has been sent to collect it. Across the Continent―from Granada to Paris, from Belgrade to Istanbul―Henri follows. He’s desperate to leave behind his own troubles and the memories of his past life as a gendarme in Algeria. But Henri soon realises that Louise is no ordinary traveller.

As the train hurtles toward its final destination, Henri and Louise must decide what the future will hold―and whether it involves one another. Stylish and atmospheric, The Continental Affair takes you on an unforgettable journey through the twisty, glamorous world of 1960s Europe.

All the way through the novel I kept thinking of The Thomas Crown Affair, the glamorous and seductive 1960’s film starring Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen as a rich playboy suspected of stealing a priceless painting and the insurance investigator sent in to catch the thief. The Continental Affair had that same mix of incredible style, plot twists and wonderful locations. I mustn’t forget the sexual tension – that chess scene alone is a masterclass in seduction! Christine Mangan’s third novel is similarly alluring, from the Hitchcock-esque cover design to the incredible cat and mouse tale within.

The story is told through a dual timeline narrative, enhancing the sense of cat and mouse between the characters. Yet they have more in common than we might initially think. Yes, the chase has this cat and mouse running in the same direction but it’s not just about the chase, they’re both trying to escape their past as well. From the moment they ‘meet’ in a train compartment on the way to Istanbul they’re playing a game. They might be acting as if they’ve never met, with their polite conversation, but Henri knows who she is because he’s been tracking her from country to country. Similarly, Louise knows exactly who Henri is and why he’s there. She first ventured into Europe as an escape from a cruel and restrictive family life in England. Then, in Granada she stole from a criminal gang and went on the run. Henri was related to the criminal gang who sent him to collect an amount of money, only to witness Louise stealing it right in front of him. Yes, he’s been sent to retrieve the money but he’s also driven by a fascination in Louise and the more he follows her, the more fascinated he is. Interestingly, Henri worked in Algeria as a gendarme and this past plays on his mind constantly, yet once he starts pursuing Louise he’s distracted from his own demons. This is a police officer who finds himself on the wrong side of the law. Henri is the first narrator and once I got to know him I expected to be on his side. Then I heard Louise’s back story and I felt sorry for her, struggling with her disabled father after her mother left the family home. The only joy and escape she had was in books and I was torn between my understanding for her and my knowledge that she’s taken someone else’s money.

Reading this book felt like the Saturday afternoons I spent with my grandad watching old black and white films, where he’d teach her me who all the actors and actresses were. This could have been the gentleman Cary Grant pursuing Grace Kelly with her sleek, sophisticated glamour. I’m now waiting for a gap in reads so I can go back and read the author’s previous novels on the strength of this one. I enjoyed all the settings, the incredible landmarks, the food and the two intriguing people I was travelling alongside. I was glued to this tale wondering whether Henri would overcome his fascination and retrieve the money or whether this developing relationship would take our pair to becoming friends, or even more. I’d had this book on NetGalley for quite a while and I can’t believe I left it until the Squad Pod got the chance to read and review? It’s the sort of book I love to get lost in because it combines such evocative descriptions of European destinations and the 1960’s era. I felt like I was there for every moment and I when I was away from the book, I missed it. I loved the journey, the actual and the emotional one. Henri and Louise want the same things and it was delicious watching them realise this and become ever closer. I was transfixed, waiting to see if Henri would actually complete his mission to retrieve the family money, or whether he’d forget their game of cat and mouse. Christine Mangan has created two such intriguing characters who despite their mistakes are incredibly likeable and memorable. This a wonderful escapist read full of both style and substance.

Meet the Author

Christine Mangan has a PhD in English from University College Dublin, where her thesis focused on eighteenth-century Gothic literature, and an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Southern Maine. Tangerine is her first novel