From the Bookshelf of Retro Reads…

The Lonely Skier

Hammond Innes

Start date: March 7, 2021

Finish date: April 6, 2021

Discussion: Group Reads

Discussion leader: Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 204 topics — 5,396 comments total

Group Reads

* Group Reads for 2024
By Carol She's S… , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah! · 13 posts · 54 views

last updated Apr 05, 2024 11:48AM

Northbridge Rectory 5th of July 2025 read Spoiler thread!
By Carol She's S… , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah! · 8 posts · 15 views

last updated Jul 23, 2025 01:17PM

What Members Thought

Apr 07, 2021 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: italy, mystery, wwii, suspense, spy-vs-spy

The Dolomite mountains in Italy

3.5 stars for this 1947 thriller/suspense novel, set in the mountains of Italy in the post-WWII era ... so it’s a safe bet that there will be a bunch of Nazis menacing our hero. British journalist Neil Blair, recently released (demobbed) from the army, is having a hard time finding a decent job. He happens to run into his former superior officer, Engles, who offers him a job ostensibly writing a film script in an isolated ski chalet in the Dolomites, but Blair’s re ...more

36 likes · Like · see review

Mar 12, 2021 Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: espionage-action-suspense-thriller

This was my first Innes book & it quite definitely won't be my last!

Post World War Two, ex-soldier & ex-journalist Neil Blair is down on his luck. A chance meeting with another former soldier in London sees him travelling to Cortina to write a film script. It all sounds too good to be true - & it is!

I liked Neil & there were parts of the story I found genuinely thrilling, such as the ski run from hell. I did used to ski (very badly) and the narrative perfectly captured the out of control feeling ...more

35 likes · Like · see review

Mar 03, 2021 Susan in NC rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars - I had never read this thriller author before, but was intrigued by the post World War II plot premise involving Nazi gold hidden at an Italian ski lodge.

Our hero is Neil Blair, a down on his luck former soldier in London looking for work. He runs into his former commanding officer, Engles, who has become a very successful film director, and offers Neil a job as a screenwriter. Neil is thrilled with the offer, but Engles is rather shy on details of the project – but Neil is desperate, 3.5 stars - I had never read this thriller author before, but was intrigued by the post World War II plot premise involving Nazi gold hidden at an Italian ski lodge.

Our hero is Neil Blair, a down on his luck former soldier in London looking for work. He runs into his former commanding officer, Engles, who has become a very successful film director, and offers Neil a job as a screenwriter. Neil is thrilled with the offer, but Engles is rather shy on details of the project – but Neil is desperate, and soon on his way to the Dolomite Mountains in Italy, where the film is supposed to be shot. Engles was rather mysterious about the job, saying he already had a script, just telling Neil to keep an eye on whatever happens and keep him informed - he has to finish up another film, and will join him in Italy as soon as possible.

Right away I mistrusted Engles as a character, he seemed quite shifty and pompous. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Neil - I understood his desperation for work, and he knew Engles was not a very likable guy, indeed, hard on subordinates (sounded like a real jerk to me), but they had gotten along during the war, and he seemed to think this could be a good opportunity to break into writing.

So, Neil heads off to Italy meet some interesting people, and attends an auction for the ski hut he is staying at. He is assured by a local power broker and hotelier bidding on the chalet, that the deal is all cut and dried, he will walk away with the property, turn it into a luxury ski destination. But in a very exciting and tense scene, unknown and unexpected parties starting a bidding war. Something is up at the very basic chalet that several people seem to want!

Another very exciting scene happens on the slopes, as a villain attempts to lose Neil in the snow -by the time he realizes what is happening and how how much danger he is in, it’s almost too late. The snow is falling heavily, he is alone and trapped and exhausted and has a deadly journey ahead of him. This was a very gripping and terrifying scene, and very well done.

I started getting frustrated, however, with some of the behaviors of the several of the characters in the last few chapters of the book – stiff upper lips aside, it just seemed nonsensical. No spoilers, but I skimmed to the end. For the most part it was an exciting post-war thriller, and I’m glad I read this new-to-me author with the Retro Reads group. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review