A Conversation with Local Author Alex Gerlis: Unmasking The Second Traitor

If you're a fan of gripping historical thrillers, then Ealing's own Alex Gerlis should already be on your radar. The author of the acclaimed Spies series, Gerlis is known for expertly weaving complex plots with richly detailed research, drawing readers deep into the murky world of WWII espionage. Now, he's back with a brand-new thriller, The Second Traitor, launching on 14th August - and it’s shaping up to be one of his most electrifying novels yet.

Set in September 1940, with Britain on the brink of Nazi invasion, The Second Traitor plunges readers into a world of looming danger, shifting loyalties, and high-stakes espionage. The action sweeps from bomb-threatened London to Nazi-held Berlin, and from the neutral shadows of Ireland to the war-prepped ports of Rotterdam. With British intelligence scrambling to uncover not one but two double agents, and a treacherous network of Nazi collaborators known only as The Group operating from within, the clock is ticking for MI6 to expose the traitors before it's too late.

We sat down with Alex to talk about the inspiration behind the book, his meticulous research process, and how life in Ealing occasionally finds its way into his thrillers.

Q&A with Alex Gerlis

Your new book, The Second Traitor, explores the tense atmosphere of 1940 Britain on the brink of invasion. What inspired you to focus on this particular period and set of events in your latest espionage thriller?

The Second Traitor is the second in a planned four-part series that begins in 1936 and moves through WWII and into the early Cold War. For this book, I wanted a historical backdrop that offered both real urgency and fertile ground for intrigue - and 1940, with its very real threat of a German invasion, felt ideal.

The Germans had assembled thousands of barges in ports like Rotterdam in preparation for Operation Sealion, their invasion plan. The Battle of Britain was directly connected to this - Hitler’s navy wouldn’t proceed unless the RAF was neutralised. It was a time of deep anxiety and uncertainty in Britain, and that atmosphere lends itself perfectly to a story of spies, sabotage, and betrayal.

Throughout your writing career, you've been praised for your detailed research and intricate plots. Can you share some insights into your research process when developing the complex characters and secretive organisations in your WWII espionage series?

I always start with real events - historical touchpoints that anchor the fiction. In the first book of this series, that was Stalin's Purges. For The Second Traitor, it was the German invasion threat in 1940. These real events often shape and inspire plotlines in unexpected ways.

I also make a point of visiting the locations I write about. For this book, I travelled to Hamburg and Rotterdam. Walking the streets, seeing the architecture, and imagining the past helps me bring authenticity to the settings and the characters. In London, I often retrace the paths of my characters using an original 1940s A-Z, to ensure historical accuracy. The emotional sense of place is just as important as the facts.

As a local author based in Ealing, how do your surroundings influence your writing, and are there any local landmarks or history that have inspired elements within your books?

Yes, Ealing does feature from time to time! While I tend to keep most of the action in central London for clarity and pace, I’ve used Acton on several occasions - there was a rather brutal assassination on Churchfield Road in the first book of the series.

I enjoy walking around Ealing and West London, observing buildings and neighbourhoods that would have been standing during the war. There’s something powerful about connecting those real places with imagined events and characters. Ealing is a great place to live and write, and it occasionally slips into the pages of my books - just enough to keep it interesting.

With The Second Traitor, Alex Gerlis continues to prove himself as a master of the espionage thriller. As tensions rise and secrets threaten to bring down the very institutions meant to protect Britain, readers can expect a suspenseful, immersive journey through one of the most pivotal moments in modern history.

The Second Traitor is published on 14th August 2025 and will be available from major booksellers and online retailers.