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The Málaga-based expat who has just published a historical novel about Gibraltar's secret WWII cave
A new mystery from Paul S Bradley delves into Gibraltar’s wartime secrets and modern political tensions
Author Paul S Bradley, who lives in Málaga province, is set to launch his latest historical mystery, Darkness in Gibraltar, on November 13, 2025 at the Spirit of the Rock Distillery in Gibraltar town. The event, running from 5.30pm to 7pm, will also feature local historian Phil Smith from the Gibraltar Museum, who will join Bradley to discuss the real events that inspired the book.
Darkness in Gibraltar is the sixth title in Bradley’s Andalusian Mystery Series, which follows Detective Inspector Leon Prado and his team of volunteer translators as they unravel crimes set across southern Spain. This new instalment takes readers deep beneath the Rock of Gibraltar, blending real wartime history with contemporary intrigue.Bradley describes the novel as “Operation Tracer reimagined”, a reference to a top-secret British mission during World War II. In 1942, engineers constructed a concealed observation post inside the Rock, known as the “Stay Behind Cave”, designed to house six men who would remain hidden and monitor enemy movements in the event of a Nazi occupation. The existence of this secret chamber remained unknown until its accidental discovery in 1997.
In the novel, a mysterious explosion at a farm in Cádiz province draws DI Prado into Gibraltar’s underground tunnels, where remnants of Operation Tracer’s legacy surface once again. As evidence emerges of an old conspiracy threatening Gibraltar’s delicate post-Brexit relationship with the European Union, Prado faces mounting political pressure and personal danger. The team must race against time to uncover the truth before the Rock’s fragile future is compromised.
In addition to the launch, Bradley will appear at this year’s Gibraltar Literary Festival, giving a midday presentation and book signing at the BOOKgem Bookshop as part of the Local Authors programme, also on November 13.Finally, as part of a community and education initiative, Bradley will also donate personally signed copies of Darkness in Gibraltar to local youth organisations and secondary school history departments in order to inspire students to explore Gibraltar’s remarkable wartime history through fiction.
For more information about Paul S Bradley and his work, you can visit his website www.paulbradley.eu.
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