Munich is Robert Harris’s latest spy thriller, and it transported me to the Führerbau for the Munich Conference of 1938. Revolving around the Oster Conspiracy, the political machinations behind the annexation of the Sudetenland, and an intrigue of Mr. Harris’s imagining, the tale has its strengths and its weaknesses.

Fictional and historical characters alike fill the pages. The suspense revolves around two central characters: both junior diplomats who were classmates and friends at Oxford; one British, the other German; both embroiled in a conspiracy against Hitler. Neither of the main characters were fleshed out with any depth, and while I do not need a thriller to have a lot of character development, the overall impression was one of flat, dimensionless protagonists.

What I liked best in terms of characters is Mr. Harris’s sympathetic and humane treatment of the historically maligned Chamberlain. Here, he is not a naive, blundering appeaser of Hitler. Instead, he is an insightful, strategic man desperate to stave off war for a country woefully ill-prepared to defend itself. This multi-dimensional, genteel handling of a much vilified man is refreshing and thought-provoking.

Though there were moments of breathless intrigue and suspense, this was largely a slow read that required a suspension of belief in a number of places and contained dialogue that read stiltedly and awkwardly. That said, Munich is a brilliant entwining of fact and fiction. The solid research, detailed bibliography, and map of the Führerbau added to my enjoyment of the read. While this is not Mr. Harris’s best offering, it still made for a solid read.