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A review by benfast
Back Channel: A novel by Stephen L. Carter
4.0
Another Chapters bargain pick-up that turned out really well! $7 well spent :)
I actually quite liked Back Channel by Stephen L. Carter. The idea of an international Cold War spy thriller centring on an almost-teenage student who also happens to be a woman of colour was a great idea.
Carter's writing was clear, easy to follow, but yet suspenseful and engaging. There were times when I had no clue who the real enemy was, or what was going to happen next. The portrayal of Kennedy was a bit weak, but presented an interesting view of a distracted president in a time of great potential peril. The notion that academics could be so involved in international politics was also quite interesting, and something I assume would be more impactful for an American audience afraid of who controls government and fear of the upper classes, etc.
I'm glad I read this book, it was a good change from Tom Clancy-esque Cold War thrillers and had some memorable characters making the genre seem fun again. I would read another book by Carter.
I actually quite liked Back Channel by Stephen L. Carter. The idea of an international Cold War spy thriller centring on an almost-teenage student who also happens to be a woman of colour was a great idea.
Carter's writing was clear, easy to follow, but yet suspenseful and engaging. There were times when I had no clue who the real enemy was, or what was going to happen next. The portrayal of Kennedy was a bit weak, but presented an interesting view of a distracted president in a time of great potential peril. The notion that academics could be so involved in international politics was also quite interesting, and something I assume would be more impactful for an American audience afraid of who controls government and fear of the upper classes, etc.
I'm glad I read this book, it was a good change from Tom Clancy-esque Cold War thrillers and had some memorable characters making the genre seem fun again. I would read another book by Carter.