Book Reviews

 

"A fascinating journey into the past to uncover one of the most colourful rogues who spied for Britain." - Michael Smith, bestselling author of a wide variety of books on spies and special forces including The Anatomy of a Traitor and The Secrets of Station X.

“The wartime double agent is one of the most indelible figures in all of literature. But there are few characters as bizarre and intriguing as the rascal who was codenamed Celery by MI5. In telling the story of her grandfather’s adventures, Carolinda Witt has added a rollicking chapter to our understanding of World War II. And here's the incredible part: It’s all true.” Peter Duffy, bestselling author Double Agent and The Bielski Brothers.

"A classic recipe of wartime espionage with romance, perfidy and tragedy as added ingredients." - Nigel West, bestselling author and intelligence expert. Voted 'The Experts' Expert' by a panel of other spy writers in The Observer in November 1989. "

"An incredible story, a tangled family history and a gripping insight into the murky world of the double agent." - Dr Nick Barratt, author and historian The Forgotten Spy, TV presenter and researcher, Who Do You Think You Are, and Hidden House Histories. 

Firetrench Reviews: "Spy stories, fiction and non-fiction, are enduringly popular. This story of a British agent during WWII will be no exception, with all the elements to keep the reader turning pages to the end – Highly Recommended.

"The author is the granddaughter of agent 'Celery' and has produced an absorbing story of 'Celery' that lifts corners on a grey and murky world. One of the difficulties of the intelligence world is that rarely is anything black and white and the game being played can have many surprising aspects. Little is what it seems and the story of 'Celery' displays some of these traits. It is also a fertile area for conspiracy theory. 'Celery' was intended to be a double agent, but some may suspect that he was a triple agent, whatever proofs are offered to the contrary. Perhaps this is part of the fascination and enthusiasm  for histories and fictions about spies.

"Readers must draw their own conclusions but, whatever they conclude, they will find this a most enjoyable, absorbing and exciting story that is told well and supported by some very interesting images in the photo-plate section." Read full review ...

 

 

“As gripping and immersive as any spy novel. This tells the real story of agent Celery.” – Dr Helen Fry, author and historian The M Room: Secret Listeners who Bugged the Nazis and Spymaster: The Secret Life of Kendrick

"Powerful feel for the period and a sure touch generally on the techniques of spycraft. Without the Double Cross system Britain would probably have lost the Second World War." -  Professor Paul Moorcraft, former UK Ministry of Defence and prolific author on security issues.

"An important and engrossing espionage history of the flawed but brave double agent, Dicketts." - John Lewes, bestselling author of Jock Lewes Co-founder of the SAS and A Spy After All.

"The incredible true story of a significant and daring piece of counterespionage activity by members on both sides of the conflict." - Katharine Ritter, author Aurora and translator of her father Nikolaus Ritter's memoirs, Deckname Dr. Rantzau into English.

"Spy, lover, scoundrel. Walter Dicketts was the real deal." - Sydney Morning Herald. Read full article..

"This has been a truly absorbing read with Carolinda demonstrating just how much can be achieved with such whole-hearted perseverance." - Anne Morjanoff, author The Joy of Living – Postponing the Afterlife on radiooutthere.com.  Read full review... 

"An amazing story which has remained untold for far too long. The story of a very brave but also very complex man. This man was my Father and I wish he had been able to explain his life to me in person. However Carolinda has done this exceptionally well." - Robert Dicketts,  5th son of Walter Dicketts aka Double Agent Celery.

My Father would have been very envious and spellbound to see his civilian and wartime exploits so vividly and accurately portrayed by Carolinda Wit. The book says it all - no holds barred - a unique and intriguing picture of a profound and perilous risk taker. There is a strong echo from author John Buchan's all action hero - Richard Hannay - who also had the miraculous knack of getting himself out of sticky situations - viz. The Thirty-Nine Steps." -  Dick Tudhope (Born - Dicketts), 4th son of Walter Dicketts aka Double Agent Celery.

Wall Street Journal - March 2019 - Five Best Books on Clandestine Agents in WWll. "He was recruited in a pub in 1940 and became one of MI5’s most effective wartime agents, successfully persuading the Germans that he had switched sides. His heroic work involved penetrating the Abwehr, Hitler’s military intelligence service. " Dr Helen Fry, bestselling author of The London Cage

        

Goodreads Reviews