Rating: Summary: A classy, haunting tale of a search for buried reality Review: Anthony Hyde's first opus is the best suspense novel I have
ever read. It is the story of a Washington, DC Soviet
Studies expert whose placid life is suddenly shattered by a cryptic
message from an old love. Her father has disappeared, and
she asks for his help. The search uncovers not only her
father, but terrible secrets about his own family and about
Soviet history.
What makes The Red Fox stand out from the legion of similar
novels (including, sadly, Hyde's later efforts)? Simply put,
in this work Anthony Hyde creates an atmosphere, a reality,
so vivid the reader can actually feel the events and the
emotions. He perfectly captures the timeless, nostalgic
warmth of an old family photograph, and makes this feeling
the foundation of the novel.
Another outstanding feature of The Red Fox is the complete
sense of RIGHTNESS it elicits in the reader. We don't have
to suspend our disbelief, as we would in a Robert Ludlum or
Frederick Forsyth potboiler, because we're sure that things
would happen exactly that way to us. Hyde has given us a
wholly believable and fleshed-out environment, from the
self-doubts and growing suspicions of the protagonist, to
the merciless, desperate self-preservation of the villains.
If there is a flaw in The Red Fox, it would be in the
repetitious way the protagonist wonders how the secrets he
uncovers apply to him personally. Hyde uses the "what does
this mean about ME?" inner dialog a few too many times.
This is especially true in his next two novels, which are
thinly disguised retellings of the same story: the
protagonist is compelled by external forces to dig up
unsavory little nuggets of his history.
You did it so well the first time, Anthony, why not try
something else, instead of endlessly singing the same song?
Rating: Summary: Greek tragedy view of Russian Spy?s ? Suspense + Review: Great entertainment - It is fun to run into a book that doesn't insult your intelligence. Anthony Hyde reveals a wonderful mystery, along with giving you a unique evolving view of Russian history. A lucky find, and a great way to spend a rainy weekend reading this book.
Rating: Summary: Greek tragedy view of Russian Spy?s ? Suspense + Review: Great entertainment - It is fun to run into a book that doesn't insult your intelligence. Anthony Hyde reveals a wonderful mystery, along with giving you a unique evolving view of Russian history. A lucky find, and a great way to spend a rainy weekend reading this book.
Rating: Summary: The best spy novel I have ever read Review: Hyde makes his characters come to life, and weaves an intricate story based on past connections. He leaves excellent clues, but one has to watch for them. I read this book in Hawaii. I started it and didn't put it down until I was done.
Rating: Summary: Truly one of the best "spy" novels I have ever read Review: Hyde makes his characters come to life, and weaves an intricate story based on past connections. He leaves excellent clues, but one has to watch for them. I read this book in Hawaii. I started it and didn't put it down until I was done.
Rating: Summary: Best Suspense Thriller Ever Review: I've read several spy and espionage stories, some very good ones. None hold a candle to this one. The story's main character is trying to locate the missing father of his friend/lover. His journey takes him all over the globe. Action, suspense, intrigue and mystery hit you on every page. It just never lets up and the plot constantly twists and turns. Just when you think you're figuring something out, Hyde throws something new into the mix. And if you can see the end to this one coming you are one clever cookie!This may have been Hyde's first novel but he is certainly no stranger to writing, he's done his homework. The characters are authentic and well-fleshed out. The storyline, which takes place back in the late days of the Cold War, is superbly thought out. His prose moves along very well. The whole point here is that's it's real tough to criticize much of anything with this book. One of the 10 best books I've ever picked up. Hard to find any more, its out of print and disappears from used bookstores right now. If you see it, grab it!
Rating: Summary: One of the best novels I've ever read Review: I've read well over 1000 novels in my life, but after this one, I felt compelled to write a review. I'm not saying it's THE best story I've ever read, but it's the most engrossing book I've tackled this year hands down. The well-conceived plot is absolutely impossible to guess and the settings are unique when compared to the cliched L.A. or N.Y. settings of most of today's bestsellers. Get this one before it's out of print.
Rating: Summary: One of the best novels I've ever read Review: I've read well over 1000 novels in my life, but after this one, I felt compelled to write a review. I'm not saying it's THE best story I've ever read, but it's the most engrossing book I've tackled this year hands down. The well-conceived plot is absolutely impossible to guess and the settings are unique when compared to the cliched L.A. or N.Y. settings of most of today's bestsellers. Get this one before it's out of print.
Rating: Summary: what a twist Review: the author understands it to bring the various characters, which in the beginning seem to have no connections to one another whatsoever, together in the end through an extremely unexspected ending. he creates question after question for the first 400 pages to answer them all in the last 20. forsyth could not do it better
Rating: Summary: Great Read Review: The Red Fox is a great spy novel, which we all love. It takes place about ten years ago, so the KGB is still out there and that's a lot of fun. The main character in the book goes to many places including Toronto, Georgetown, and Leningrad (St. Petersburg). He even goes to my hometown of Detroit, and I must say that having dead bodies in garbage bags is pretty accurate for Detroit. A word of advice: READ THIS BOOK!
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