 The theme of fire, and a reputed German fear of fire, is central to the plot of Most Secret.There are several common elements with Shute's novel "Pied Piper", also written in 1942, in which an elderly Englishman escapes from France to England with several children following the outbreak of the war.In particular, the brutality of the German occupying forces in France and elements of the suppression of the population of Douarnenez are strongly reminiscent of elements of the previous novel, as are escape from France by fishing boat, the taking of hostages and execution of prisoners.