Rating: 
Summary: Compelling
Review: I could not put this book down. There were so many twists to this story, I had to see where it would lead next.
Rating: 
Summary: Too long
Review: I have to disagree with with the other reviewers in that despite generally being a Forsyth fan, I found this book quite tedious. I must say I generally find that most of Freddie's books - yes, including the Jackal - could be cut by at least a third, but this even more so. The whole thing seemed to go round in circles and I longed for John Preston to just GET ON WITH IT. I also found some of the characters cliched, especially the civil servants, who all seemed to talk in exactly the same way and also the way nearly all those in authority were so decent and selfless. I felt there was far too much factual detail too, much of which wasn't that relevant. I lost interest halfway through, just about soldiering on until the end.
Rating:
Summary: Forsyth Excels
Review: I read this book on night shift. Forsyth takes us from Scotland to Russia and to England in this thriller/spy novel. This is extremely gripping and masterly written. Thoroughly enjoyable! The film version is not a patch on the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not great
Review: I'm going to be the exception to the other reviews written before mine. I think this is a good thriller, but certainly not up to Forsyth's previous books, especially Day of the Jackal and The Odessa File. In addition, I have a problem with books like this one, AND Day of the Jackal, in which I have the constant thought, "Well, this DIDN'T happen, so how involved can I get with this?" In other words, DeGaulle DIDN'T get assassinated, and the catastrophe in this book didn't happen either. That, as I see it, is the problem in including historical characters and timeframes as an integral part of a book. In The Hunt for Red OCtober, on the other hand, there isn't as much historical linkage, and the plot is therefore much more believable. Furthermore, Forsyth lost me with his grossly excessive "letters" from Kim Philby to the Secretary General of the USSR, explaining the political left, and the poltical climate in general, in Great Britain. If I wanted a poli sci lecture, I'd go back to college! There must be better ways to give background info to the reader than the lecture format. I just skimmed through it, and therefore Forsyth didn't 'teach' me as much as he probably wanted to. Also, Forsyth has the obligatory (Hammond Innes does the same thing) hero with the broken marriage. Let's go back to James Bond, who's fascinatingly single, or George Gideon, who's happily married with an interesting family. And Forsyth doesn't even mitigate Preston's marital woes with a sultry female character. Why not just leave out Preston's family and declare him a "I live to work" guy? So here's the deal: read enough of the book to find out what the threat is (I won't tell you), then skip to the back, where the SAS comes in and saves the day. That's the best part. Then find something better to read.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible ending
Review: I'm not a devout reader of novels, and have started quite a few without finishing them. But this book kept me riveted. Make sure you don't have anything important going on in your life when you start this book! (Unless, unlike me, you are a fast reader.) As the ending drew near, I was literally shaking because of the tension (and that's certainly never happened to me before). Great book.
Rating:
Summary: This guy can write! This guy knows the USSR!
Review: If you like Tom Clancy's ability to PERFECTLY blend multiple plot threads into an intense and suspenseful thriller...buy this book. His knowledge of English culture and Russian (circa USSR) culture is a key. You will be interested from beginning to end. Nothing more needs to be said.
Rating:
Summary: This guy can write! This guy knows the USSR!
Review: If you like Tom Clancy's ability to PERFECTLY blend multiple plot threads into an intense and suspenseful thriller...buy this book. His knowledge of English culture and Russian (circa USSR) culture is a key. You will be interested from beginning to end. Nothing more needs to be said.
Rating:
Summary: As good as "Day of the Jackal".....
Review: It's only my personal opinion.....but I think this is quite possibly Forsyth's best novel. From the seemingly innocent burglary at the start to the suspense filled denouement, it is flawless. If you only ever read one Forsyth novel...make it this one.
Rating:
Summary: Read it till my eyes were red
Review: It's the best spy novel I've ever come accross. The best till date. The unexpected twists and turns make even the next line unpredictable and you must read it to believe it. The facts that he supplies always make one think as if the plot was real. In short a must read for all Forsyth lovers. And if you are goung to read it for the first time I can't help envying the great time that you will have.
Rating:
Summary: Forsyth at his best
Review: No one can tell a story like Frederick Forsyth can. The plot is masterly conceived and keeps the reader glued to each page. In typical Forsyth style, the plot comes together masterly at the end. It is a pitty that the movie that starred Pierce Brosnan & Michael Caine did not do the novel any justice, as this was an immense work to compress into a two hour film without losing great parts of the plot.
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