Fools' Game

Rating:
Summary: A remarkable read!
Review: "Fool's Game" fully succeeds as an entertaining thriller. Action scenes are set in a variety of exotic locales around the world, and are fully supported by an intricate and engaging plot. But the novel has more intellectual, literary, and emotional substance than the typical spy-genre action tale. What will most remain in your memory is the book's exploration of the interconnected workings of government and the human heart. The author offers a candidly cynical view of governmental intrigue, while still allowing that men and women of integrity can make a positive difference. "Fool's Game" stands on the shoulders of such authors as Le Carre and Graham Greene, but establishes for itself a unique, darker tone. Recommended for mature readers willing to set aside simplistic ideas of patriotism and heroism for a more realistic view of espionage in the late 20th Century.

Rating:
Summary: A remarkable read!
Review: "Fool's Game" fully succeeds as an entertaining thriller. Action scenes are set in a variety of exotic locales around the world, and are fully supported by an intricate and engaging plot. But the novel has more intellectual, literary, and emotional substance than the typical spy-genre action tale. What will most remain in your memory is the book's exploration of the interconnected workings of government and the human heart. The author offers a candidly cynical view of governmental intrigue, while still allowing that men and women of integrity can make a positive difference. "Fool's Game" stands on the shoulders of such authors as Le Carre and Graham Greene, but establishes for itself a unique, darker tone. Recommended for mature readers willing to set aside simplistic ideas of patriotism and heroism for a more realistic view of espionage in the late 20th Century.

Rating:
Summary: Chilling, mesmerizing and completely unforgettable
Review: Fool's Game, by Frederick Wolf, was one of those books that grabbed me on the first page. This story gave me the uneasy feeling that I was getting a privileged, behind-the-scenes glimpse of what takes place in the shadows during times of war. It left me with a sense of circles within circles...within circles. This remarkable feat was accomplished in a variety of settings so richly drawn that I felt as if I had been there. The two main characters were masterfully crafted, and I found Miles Cavendish, in particular, urbane, intelligent and ultimately, fascinating. I consider this author to be such a great "find" that I ordered both of his other books the moment I'd finished Fools' Game. These books are a "must read" for any serious student of history or human nature. Kudos to Mr. Wolf for creating a vivid story that depicts the horrors of war as they play out in a variety of settings well beyond the battlefield.

Rating:
Summary: Fast Paced
Review: Fools Game is a fast paced thriller/spy novel that probably tells a more truthful tale than we might suspect. Miles Cavendish is the quintessential British undercover agent, cool, low key with a past. I enjoyed all the twists of character and plot and the international setting. This book is well written. The characters are believable and the descriptive passages bring the different countries to life. Just a warning though there are violent scenes that are graphically described. I think this would make a great movie!

Rating:
Summary: Fast Paced
Review: Fools Game is a fast paced thriller/spy novel that probably tells a more truthful tale than we might suspect. Miles Cavendish is the quintessential British undercover agent, cool, low key with a past. I enjoyed all the twists of character and plot and the international setting. This book is well written. The characters are believable and the descriptive passages bring the different countries to life. Just a warning though there are violent scenes that are graphically described. I think this would make a great movie!

Rating:
Summary: The Cold War fall out
Review: Fools Game is a well written post end-of-the-cold-war fictional biography of an agent. It is hard to believe that Fools Game is fiction. It is so written that you might feel you were reading a narration made from government reports found through the Freedom of Information Act. Fred Wolf's writing style is that realistic. His narrative style places him among the great writers of this genre. Especially to be commended is the scene in the Canadian Wilderness. The reader will be led from an event in Manila though North America and then Europe. A must read for those who enjoy Le Carre and the masters of mystery and espionage.

Rating:
Summary: Chilling, mesmerizing and completely unforgettable
Review: Fools' Game by Frederick Wolf is an masterful piece of fiction. The book portrays war and international intrigue as circles within circles...within circles. Ultimately, I was left feeling as though I had been pulled deep into the inner sanctum for a look from the inside out. This remarkable feat was accomplished in a variety of settings so real that I felt as if I were there -- and through the eyes of two particularly remarkable characters, neither of whom I have been able to forget. Miles Cavendish, in particular, is urbane, intelligent and utterly believable. After reading Fools' Game, I purchased both of Mr. Wolf's other books. I consider this author a terrific "find," whose books kept me awake nights long after I had finished reading them. I would count this as a "must read" for anyone with an interest in getting a close look at those who lurk in the shadows during times of war.

Rating:
Summary: A needed book in the disinformation age
Review: Wolf has hit the scene at a time when the novels he was born to write crackle with pertinence, affording the dilligent truth seeker a veritable primer of covert world string-pulling.

What is Disinformation? A carefully crafted, CNN-friendly way of gaining the support of (lulled) Americans for: societally backed Propaganda. Wolf provides the tools, and the mindset, needed to chip away at the edifice fronting the truer truths of these days. Somewhere between your computer's 'news ticker' and conspiracy theory lies the truth. Wolf gets you there.

One final note. On the cover of this book is a reference to a cruzanemountain.com. Out of curiosity I accessed this site and found a number of interesting things, most important of which, at least to me, was an Adobe pdf. readout of the actual first several chapters of Wolf's books, mini E-books in a way. Instead of having to rely just on Russian Roulette reviews, I was able to directly appreciate the feel of the piece and the writing style. Good move, Mr. Wolf! Amazon should give thought to this buyer-friendliness.

Thanks, Mr. Wolf. Book 2 of your trilogy is in the batting circle!