Gambit

Rating:
Summary: Gambit-a fast moving action tale.
Review: A fast-moving novel on a very timely subject, by two Washington insiders. Written with deft, subtle humor and irony, Gambit involves a cast of well developed, highly original and colorful characters. These are skilfully interwoven in a globe-spanning and suspense-filled plot that moves along briskly with startling events at every turn. Gambit would make a great screen play, not only because of its fascinating characters but because of its magnificent settings. I can foresee it as a Hollywood production starring some of our well-known action movie stars. The reader will be tempted, as was I, to fantasize as to the actors best suited for each character. One hopes that Falquier and Harned will continue with their very impressive literary efforts.

Rating:
Summary: Gambit-a fast moving action tale.
Review: Gambit, co-written by Falquier and Harned, delivers savvy intrigue and insight into the Nuclear Gulag. In 247 tightly written pages, the authors display easy familiarity with sabotage and the Russian military and political structure, Soviet KGB and GRU, and a Cook's tour of exotic locations in detail. It reminded me of Robert Ludlum's work, and I love Ludlum. Someone better option this for a film, quick.

Rating:
Summary: Irresistable Novel Delivers Intrigue with Authority!
Review: Gambit, co-written by Falquier and Harned, delivers savvy intrigue and insight into the Nuclear Gulag. In 247 tightly written pages, the authors display easy familiarity with sabotage and the Russian military and political structure, Soviet KGB and GRU, and a Cook's tour of exotic locations in detail. It reminded me of Robert Ludlum's work, and I love Ludlum. Someone better option this for a film, quick.

Rating:
Summary: Post-Cold War Espionage Mystery Thriller
Review: In addition to being a fascinating read, "Gambit" has all the ingredients for a blockbuster movie epic. The authors combine a riveting story line of international intrique and nulclear weapon theft, with a fascinating assortment of colorful characters. These include a unique "Frenchman", a Chinese majordomo, an outspoken British priest, a beautiful Puerto Rican doctor, a Russian Admiral, and the prerequiste KGB among those emeshed in this tale's web of subterfuge. The plot centers on the theft of strategic nuclear weapons from a GRU arsenal in the Ukraine. This gets the full attention of the Russian and United States governments, but the motives and the identities of the perpetrators baffles their intelligence agencies. Rogue nations, terrorist and fanatical groups are among the suspects- perhaps the GRU itself. Who has the the nuclear weapons, and why? Who will be targeted, and when? These are the major questions which generate an international chess game of intrigue, espionage and deception against the most unlikely opposition. The complexity of the action, and the ongoing suspense, made it difficult for this reader to find a place to pause before finishing the book. Although the authors make the required disclaimer that none of the characters depicted "bears any resemblence whatsoever...etc.", this is not entirely true as most knowledgeable readers will note. Those of us who are fans of the Tom Clancy style story telling genre, will easily sense that that much of the story is fictionalized truth, and that the autors know their facts in far greater detail than they reveal. In fact, their credentials make it most likely. However, as much as I enjoy relaxing with a good mystery of this type, the thought that this scenario might be possible is sobering. The disorder and the corruption among the former statea of the U.S.S.R., and Russia itself, is more evident each day. The Chernobyl disaster was one example of poor nuclear engineering and controls that the Russian government could not hide from the world. Perhaps it's not too far fetched to speculate that the Russian submarine Kursk, recently sunk in Norwegian waters, was destroyed by it's own government while it's crew was trying to hi-jack and sell it's nuclear weapons!?! "Gambit" will make you stop and think about it, as I did, while thoroughly enjoying the story. In my estimation, this book deserves 5-stars.

Rating:
Summary: Post-Cold War Espionage Mystery Thriller
Review: In addition to being a fascinating read, "Gambit" has all the ingredients for a blockbuster movie epic. The authors combine a riveting story line of international intrique and nulclear weapon theft, with a fascinating assortment of colorful characters. These include a unique "Frenchman", a Chinese majordomo, an outspoken British priest, a beautiful Puerto Rican doctor, a Russian Admiral, and the prerequiste KGB among those emeshed in this tale's web of subterfuge. The plot centers on the theft of strategic nuclear weapons from a GRU arsenal in the Ukraine. This gets the full attention of the Russian and United States governments, but the motives and the identities of the perpetrators baffles their intelligence agencies. Rogue nations, terrorist and fanatical groups are among the suspects- perhaps the GRU itself. Who has the the nuclear weapons, and why? Who will be targeted, and when? These are the major questions which generate an international chess game of intrigue, espionage and deception against the most unlikely opposition. The complexity of the action, and the ongoing suspense, made it difficult for this reader to find a place to pause before finishing the book. Although the authors make the required disclaimer that none of the characters depicted "bears any resemblence whatsoever...etc.", this is not entirely true as most knowledgeable readers will note. Those of us who are fans of the Tom Clancy style story telling genre, will easily sense that that much of the story is fictionalized truth, and that the autors know their facts in far greater detail than they reveal. In fact, their credentials make it most likely. However, as much as I enjoy relaxing with a good mystery of this type, the thought that this scenario might be possible is sobering. The disorder and the corruption among the former statea of the U.S.S.R., and Russia itself, is more evident each day. The Chernobyl disaster was one example of poor nuclear engineering and controls that the Russian government could not hide from the world. Perhaps it's not too far fetched to speculate that the Russian submarine Kursk, recently sunk in Norwegian waters, was destroyed by it's own government while it's crew was trying to hi-jack and sell it's nuclear weapons!?! "Gambit" will make you stop and think about it, as I did, while thoroughly enjoying the story. In my estimation, this book deserves 5-stars.