Rating: 4/5
Review:
An enjoyable spy novel
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a modern spy novel which deals with the consequences of cold-war events, in which a present-day academic stumbles upon secrets from years ago and is drawn into the world of espionage. Charles Cumming provides a well-researched background of true (or at least on-record) events against which to set his story and this gives it a very convincing feel. The plot is plausible, the story is well paced and gripping, and he describes and uses locations in different European cities to very good effect. There is very sparing use of violence which makes it all the more shocking and effective when it does occur. Cumming doesn't rely on grisly scenes or "adrenaline-packed" action sequences to generate tension but racks it up very satisfactorily through implied threat and uncertainty. I found myself gradually drawn in and in the end thoroughly gripped.
The prose is literate, unaffected and very readable. Characters are generally well-drawn and believable, although I raised a slightly cynical eyebrow at the rather implausible keenness of a beautiful young woman to go to bed instantly with a somewhat older protagonist who, coincidentally I am sure, is roughly the same age as the author. Also, Cumming clearly has a burning moral indignation about a number of things and wanted to get this off his chest, which leads to some rather unconvincing speechifying toward the end of the book - but these are minor flaws which didn't spoil my enjoyment of an enjoyable, literate and engrossing read. Recommended.
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