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3.24 AVERAGE
3.24 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
medium-paced
Great Read
It's almost like the author had lived in the time before WW1. The plight of the poor makes you want to cry. What a well written novel.I can't wait to read the in one.
It's almost like the author had lived in the time before WW1. The plight of the poor makes you want to cry. What a well written novel.I can't wait to read the in one.
David Downing's spy novel at the beginning stages of World War I has some real potential but doesn't hit on all cylinders. I enjoyed the trip around the world but I don't think the author used the protagonist's skills as much as he could have. Jack McColl is a man of many talents but here it seems like luck is best quality. Also, the love story was so odd. It never felt right to me. Its not a bad book but it could have been so much more. Overall, there are a million spy novels and unfortunately this was just another one.
For me, this an up and down read; I got bogged down in the many global connections of the plot, which seemed an unrealistic tale for a new spy - one who’s not yet a full time agent for the first half of the book. All those Empire nations coming apart at around the same time makes Jack a busy agent. I agree with readers who called out the name-checking of famous 20th century figures. One of these links worked for me, the one from Jack’s time in South Africa, but as they piled up, it seemed a stretch. However, at the very end, the last two chapters, the storyline grabbed me again. Not sure if I’ll read the next in this series, and so many have recommended the author’s previous “Station”series, maybe that’s my next port of call.
Strong characters and wonderful scene descriptions. Solid plot. I’ll read the rest of the series. Enjoyable diversion.
I liked it, it may deserve a 4. He is not Furst, but it is Furst like, What I like, beside the intrigue, is a window into living in 1913. I think you get this. Plus a little historical fiction to put the story in context. Maybe its a 4 and I will re-rate later. I will certainly give the next Jack McColl book a go and maybe even read the prior series.
I found the opening novel in the Jack McColl series from David Downing an enjoyable read. The pace was slow at times, however I found the variety of locales set pre WWI to be really compelling. Will be reading One Man’s Flag next.