Spy Line

Rating:
Summary: Consistent With The Other Books
Review: I could be wrong, but if this author did not invent the dark, disgruntled, close to disrespectful spy novel then would did? This is another in the series and is not bad. What I like with these books is you always know what you are going to get, nothing new to slow you down. I can handle that lack of creativity because the author does such a good job at telling a story. The story, spy vs. spy in Europe, is not a new one and you will not find anything really new or memorable here. Overall the book is average and if you like the category or the author you will like the book.

Rating:
Summary: Consistent With The Other Books
Review: I could be wrong, but if this author did not invent the dark, disgruntled, close to disrespectful spy novel then would did? This is another in the series and is not bad. What I like with these books is you always know what you are going to get, nothing new to slow you down. I can handle that lack of creativity because the author does such a good job at telling a story. The story, spy vs. spy in Europe, is not a new one and you will not find anything really new or memorable here. Overall the book is average and if you like the category or the author you will like the book.

Rating:
Summary: Great entry in the series...if you want a series....
Review: It's just another day in the espionage war in a divided Europe. The wall hasn't come down, and it's an unending game of 'Spy v. Spy' on both sides. At the outset of 'Spyline' British agent Bernard Samson is in hiding in a dingy section of the divided and espionage-ridden city of Berlin. Why he's in exile isn't exactly clear to him, even as he does have some friends, or at least some human resources on which he can rely. He feels it may have something to do with his wife, Fiona, who disappeared after going over to the Russians. Allowed to return home to his new wife, Gloria, Samson thinks his problems are behind him. Instead, he soon realizes that something is brewing, something that will send him back across the wall, to tangle with a psychotic American who kills for any side that will hire him, and to finally confront his wife.

It's clear that 'Spy Line' is an entry in a larger series, one that began with 'Spy Hook' (which it immediately followed) and culminated in 'Spy Sinker' ' the complex relationships and their continuity are obviously much larger than any single book. (The 'Spy' books themselves are also part of a much larger continuity ' one including the trilogies of Game-Set-Match, as well as 'Charity', 'Hope' and 'Faith', as well as the WWII epic 'Winter'). 'Line' is also dwarfed by its shortness (for the quality of its writing, it's not a long read; also the plot covers a brief span of time) and by the loose ends it creates (Fiona's sister insists on accompanying Bernard into The East ' with disastrous results; and how will Bernard explain everything to Gloria?) without resolving them. Deighton is less concerned with resolving problems than in artfully describing the pain they cause. Unfortunately, that makes the book seem painfully unstructured ' like an episode of a TV show. 'Line' like most of Deighton's books, is worth reading for the quality of prose alone. However, the plot details ' which take Bernard from Berlin to London, and to Vienna, meeting stamp collectors, historians, ex-spies and freelance murderers ' seems above the book, implying that you'll have to read all the Samson books. It's almost like a prison sentence, and clearly one that has taken its toll on poor Samson. In short ' a good book, but only great book if you're willing to read a dozen more.

Rating:
Summary: Great entry in the series...if you want a series....
Review: It�s just another day in the espionage war in a divided Europe. The wall hasn�t come down, and it�s an unending game of �Spy v. Spy� on both sides. At the outset of �Spyline� British agent Bernard Samson is in hiding in a dingy section of the divided and espionage-ridden city of Berlin. Why he�s in exile isn�t exactly clear to him, even as he does have some friends, or at least some human resources on which he can rely. He feels it may have something to do with his wife, Fiona, who disappeared after going over to the Russians. Allowed to return home to his new wife, Gloria, Samson thinks his problems are behind him. Instead, he soon realizes that something is brewing, something that will send him back across the wall, to tangle with a psychotic American who kills for any side that will hire him, and to finally confront his wife.

It�s clear that �Spy Line� is an entry in a larger series, one that began with �Spy Hook� (which it immediately followed) and culminated in �Spy Sinker� � the complex relationships and their continuity are obviously much larger than any single book. (The �Spy� books themselves are also part of a much larger continuity � one including the trilogies of Game-Set-Match, as well as �Charity�, �Hope� and �Faith�, as well as the WWII epic �Winter�). �Line� is also dwarfed by its shortness (for the quality of its writing, it�s not a long read; also the plot covers a brief span of time) and by the loose ends it creates (Fiona�s sister insists on accompanying Bernard into The East � with disastrous results; and how will Bernard explain everything to Gloria?) without resolving them. Deighton is less concerned with resolving problems than in artfully describing the pain they cause. Unfortunately, that makes the book seem painfully unstructured � like an episode of a TV show. �Line� like most of Deighton�s books, is worth reading for the quality of prose alone. However, the plot details � which take Bernard from Berlin to London, and to Vienna, meeting stamp collectors, historians, ex-spies and freelance murderers � seems above the book, implying that you�ll have to read all the Samson books. It�s almost like a prison sentence, and clearly one that has taken its toll on poor Samson. In short � a good book, but only great book if you�re willing to read a dozen more.

Rating:
Summary: Twist, turns and excitement fill "Spy Line" by Len Dreighton
Review: This tale of espionage takes readers on a exciting roller-coaster ride through Europe...Bernard Samson, British Intelligence, is being accused of treason goes into hiding. However, his agency keeps a very keen eye on him. He is roped back into the spy game, and danger and mystery fill his new world.