Winter in Madrid - C J Sansom

A big book with a great mix of intricate but satisfying plot, detailed historical setting and believable characterisation - the social and political realities of Madrid in 1940 are vividly described, as are the complex interactions of a small group of English people whose past relationships lead them to keep powerful secrets from each other in situations that they do not fully understand and cannot really hope to control. The back cover blurb mentions "the profound impact of impossible choices" which seems like a fair assessment...