The Puppeteers

Rating:
Summary: When Spies were Spies...
Review: For those who long for the now seemingly simpler days of the Cold War, this is a novel in the early John Le Carre or Len Deighton tradition. Unlike many techno-thrillers of recent years that read more like the pages of Jane's Defense Weekly, the Puppeteers is powered by a strong, charachter driven plot that fully engages the reader. The author manages five point-of-view charachters without effort and draws the reader convincingly into their lives. And for those not drawn to this genre, I would say there is something in this book for everyone. The only minus was that the book started out a bit too busy. But by chapter three things had settled down and I was in for a good long ride. The author's handling of plot, charachter and wide-ranging settings more than made up for the intial buzz of activities he found necessary to introduce all of the players and issues. A great read.

Rating:
Summary: The Good Old Days...
Review: Reading this Cold War thriller made me wonder if we were not much better off back in 1984 when all we had to worry about was the Russian nuclear arsenal. The book has a tightly woven plot and and the myraid settings are described in vivid detail such as-- "The smell of roasting almonds" in a scene on Alenby St. in Tel Aviv, or an abandonded U.S. Navy base in Newfoundland where "Salt hung in the air like a wet towel." The author has a descriptive voice unique to this type of novel and obviously knows his subject matter. A great novel not only for fans of the genre, but anyone wanting a great tutorial on the craft.

Rating:
Summary: What if...
Review: The Puppeteers provides a fantastic "what if" scenario regarding the death of former KGB Director and Premier, Yuri Andropov. Having direct experience in the some of the matters and mileau, I found the book read more like a true dossier of events rather than a fictional account. The charachters and settings are varied and complete in every detail without giving the reader too much to digest. Worth a read for the scene with the mother and daughter on the train ride to Siberia alone!