{"id":4387,"date":"2025-10-09T09:24:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T09:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=4387"},"modified":"2025-10-09T09:24:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T09:24:16","slug":"book-review-we-are-made-by-john-ludlam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=4387","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: We Are Made by John Ludlam"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4b2eccd6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong><em>We Are Made<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-regular-font-size\">by John Ludlam<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Genre:<\/strong> Mystery, Thriller &amp; Suspense \/ Historical Fiction<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>ISBN: <\/strong>9781068757426<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Print Length:<\/strong> 372 pages<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"align-button-center ub-buttons orientation-button-row ub-flex-wrap wp-block-ub-button\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/46M6k5B\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main   ub-button-flex\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Amazon<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Reviewed by Tomi Alo<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"ub_advanced_heading wp-block-ub-advanced-heading\"><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong>A compelling story of espionage across Europe<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><em>We Are Made<\/em> covers the political tension, uncertainties and courage of pre-war London in the late 1930s, all while drawing readers into a suspenseful story of spies and secret missions.<\/p>\n<p>Set in North London, 1938, the story begins with William Hand grieving the loss of his beloved teacher and mentor; he was killed by fascists while fighting for the Republicans in Spain. To William, Cedric was not only a coach, but the steady figure who encouraged him to pursue the classics at university and guided him toward a different kind of future than the one he seemed preconditioned to have. Yet, with his father\u2019s illness and the growing tension sweeping across Europe, William is forced to abandon his academic ambitions and take a job at Lea Albion Metal Tubing Company Limited.<\/p>\n<p>During one of his shifts at the Aircraft Shed, while sorting out shipments, William suspects foul play with the production of certain tubes and believes Cable, the foreman whose presence is as horrible as it is domineering, is behind the sabotage. This little observation soon leads William on a path filled with hidden meetings and dangerous missions.<\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Author John Ludlam brilliantly creates the tension and the political divide of the late 1930s in <em>We Are Made<\/em>. He depicts the complex reality of the period not just in the newspaper headlines, but also in the small, simple conversations that happen at the dinner table, in pubs, gatherings or in arguments among old friends. With the Great War still fresh in the memories of those who survived it, the city moved under the constant shadow of fear and uncertainty, especially with the rise of Hitler propaganda in Germany and Mosley\u2019s fascist rallies in Britain. It was hard to feel safe and trust in anyone as friends and family could hold very different beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>We see William in the midst of this divide, especially with his father and Steven, a former school friend and current boss, due to their support of the British Union and fascist views. Through these interactions, Ludlam explores how easily one\u2019s ideology can slip as well as the power other people have on how we view the world around us.<\/p>\n<p>Ludlam introduces his readers to a nice set of well-developed and relatable personalities, most especially with the two protagonists, William and Elizabeth. William\u2019s growth and evolution from the first chapter of the novel to the last is bittersweet. He goes through a lot of hard situations where he is forced to flee. But through these risky missions, William stands strong and brave. He is not hard to like or sympathize with and that is what I loved about his character most.<\/p>\n<p><em>We Are Made<\/em> is an intriguing exploration of pre-war London. Historical fiction fans will love this mix of espionage, crime, love, and a little action.<\/p>\n<div class=\"align-button-center ub-buttons orientation-button-row ub-flex-wrap wp-block-ub-button\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/46M6k5B\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main   ub-button-flex\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Amazon<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Thank you for reading Tomi Alo\u2019s book review of<em> We Are Made <\/em>by John Ludlam! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.<\/p>\n<div class=\"align-button-center ub-buttons orientation-button-row ub-flex-wrap wp-block-ub-button\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/category\/book-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main   ub-button-flex\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Book Reviews<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/category\/blog\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main   ub-button-flex\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">IBR Blog<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/writers-only\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main   ub-button-flex\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Resources for Writers<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/2025\/10\/09\/book-review-we-are-made-by-john-ludlam\/\">Book Review: We Are Made by John Ludlam<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/\">Independent Book Review<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We Are Made by John Ludlam Genre: Mystery, Thriller &amp; Suspense \/ Historical Fiction ISBN: 9781068757426 Print Length: 372 pages Amazon Reviewed by Tomi Alo A compelling story of espionage across Europe We Are Made covers the political tension, uncertainties and courage of pre-war London in the late 1930s, all while drawing readers into a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":4388,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4387"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4387"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4387\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4388"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}