Michael Best
Somewhere between a 3 and a 4, so I have favoured the higher mark because I liked the novel's unflashy, general credibility.
The plot, though nothing special, nor full of the deep cynicism of Le Carre or Edward Wilson, romped along. Definitely better than earlier Cumming's books which I have read.
I found this a thoroughly engrossing read about the very strange world of a group of double agents who helped win WWII.
Really a 2.5. It started off well as a police procedural, with the central character a Catholic RUC officer living in a Protestant part of Belfast at the height of the troubles. However, the last third of the book turns in to a gun blazing thriller genre, which I found far less satisfying.
Accepting that I read this after a great Graham Greene, even so I found it baggy, over-long and a bit of a chore to finish.
Torn between a 3 and a 4. I am feeling generous so I will give it a 4. A short, crisp story. A curious, though not entirely satisfying tale.
Somewhere between a 3 and 4 but I will be harsh and stick with a 3.
I enjoyed the writing - some of the “twists' were predictable, but I am not sure if they weren't meant to be. It was the central character's bumpy journey to work it all out which made it a very enjoyable read.
I will add the next in the series to my booklist.
This is not the book I was expecting (hoping for).
Save for the penultimate chapter, I found most of it to be quite boring and unenlightening. On the other hand, it really helped me fall asleep.
I wanted to love this book, as I love two of Eco's earlier books, but I really struggled with it to such an extent that it was a real chore to finish it.
An intelligent, well paced novel of espionage and double-dealing set against the backdrop of the final episodes of the English civil war.
Having really liked Robert Wilton's first novel (The Emperor's Gold), I feel this second book is even better.
It started off so wonderfully, but I ended up not having a clue what he was trying to say.
A nicely written historical tale. A pleasant discovery and I will be seeking out the second in the series. My ignorance is such that I had no idea when I bought the book that the author is Patricia Finney.
I really like Roth's style of writing but I don't feel I know enough of post WWI German political history to full appreciate this work. That said, boy is it cynical!
Possibly a 2.5. I loved her first book, but I have so far found the subsequent ones I have read to be something of a mixed bag. In this book, one of the key elements - the Alda and Adolf story - was incredibly predictable (to the reader, if not to Thora), though maybe that was what the author intended.
The third in Mr Wilton's series and the third I have read with great enjoyment. Perhaps a modern day Buchan?
This book took much longer to complete than I expected but this was because I found the early stories upsetting - it was too tough to finish one story and immediately begin the next.
The final two stories took the book from a 4 to a 3 - perhaps they were more personal and lacked the impact of the matter of fact telling of the others?
In all frankness, I have to admit to not really liking this.
Perhaps I am misreading this but, even allowing for the time in which it was written, I found it elitist, racist and misogynistic.
A classic, but the characters and adventures seem more ‘comic book' than book 1 and the book is too long.
A very short novella. Very pacey, but the conclusion comes far too quickly, as though the author became bored.
This was a tough read. Not because it was a poor book but because it is pretty relentless in its portrayal of events.
I can only give it a three because, as a complete landlubber, I did struggle to understand the many ship and nautical terms and to paint anything like a clear picture of the layout of the HMS Ulysses.