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juggernaut's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Forsyth's conservative views are scattered all over the story.
itsme703's review against another edition
4.0
You really have to trust in the process for this book. Part One is mainly focused on explaining how things work, as well as introducing characters. My one real gripe of the book has to do with the characters- there's so many and it's a bit hard to keep up. It didn't stop me from enjoying the story though! At times, chapters also feel a bit long and drawn out.
If you're looking for a read related to the Cold War and taking place in Britain, this isn't a bad choice
If you're looking for a read related to the Cold War and taking place in Britain, this isn't a bad choice
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
Very well crafted and told spy story from the 80s. You can feel the era, though it doesn't necessarily feel dated. I really liked the tone and the story, with good twists and fun details.
katemoxie's review
3.0
Interesting read from the late 1980's and it's timeliness in light of the election headlines of 2016.
bibliomaniac2021's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
markreadsbooks_sg's review
4.0
typicaly well researced book by Frederick forsyth,
Story well written, with Frederick Forsyth attention to detail, makes a story that could be far fetched by another writer, is kept belivablle by his style and research.
Story well written, with Frederick Forsyth attention to detail, makes a story that could be far fetched by another writer, is kept belivablle by his style and research.
shreyas1599's review
5.0
Another top notch spy thriller. It had all the usual elements of a Forsyth novel that I have come to admire:
1. Lots of back and forth between settings (in this case, between Russia and London)
2. Detail oriented in every aspect. Almost reads like an investigative report. I have never seen any real police investigative reports but I imagine the level of detail that the book goes into is on a similar scale.
3. Starting off the story on a completely unrelated character and then proceeding with the crux.
4. Every character who has some significance, no matter how minor it turns out to be is accorded a brief character sketch prior to playing his role in the story.
5. The tiniest of slip-ups (which in the end turned out to not be a slip-up) causing the whole story to blow wide open
I also enjoyed the unofficial arrangement between the two spymasters across the divide.
It starts out a bit slow, as usual, to introduce the several moving parts of the story and then starts picking up pace exponentially. All the hallmarks of a good spy thriller.
1. Lots of back and forth between settings (in this case, between Russia and London)
2. Detail oriented in every aspect. Almost reads like an investigative report. I have never seen any real police investigative reports but I imagine the level of detail that the book goes into is on a similar scale.
3. Starting off the story on a completely unrelated character and then proceeding with the crux.
4. Every character who has some significance, no matter how minor it turns out to be is accorded a brief character sketch prior to playing his role in the story.
5. The tiniest of slip-ups (which in the end turned out to not be a slip-up) causing the whole story to blow wide open
I also enjoyed the unofficial arrangement between the two spymasters across the divide.
It starts out a bit slow, as usual, to introduce the several moving parts of the story and then starts picking up pace exponentially. All the hallmarks of a good spy thriller.
obzy05's review
4.0
The whole explanation is quite confusing, too many deceptions, the spymaster had it all. But a great book nonetheless
jasiuuu's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5