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pcastleton's review against another edition
5.0
Once started, no one can put this classic down. Riveting and simple. Storytelling at its best.
jacki_f's review against another edition
4.0
Rogue Male SOUNDS like a book about my husband getting carried away in a hardware store, but it’s actually a classic thriller which became an instant bestseller when it was published in 1939. It was even issued to British Forces in the early days of WW2 as motivational leisure reading. It’s a “man on the run” thriller, a favourite genre of mine. I loved The 39 Steps, I loved The Day of the Jackal, I even loved The Pelican Brief.
It’s narrated by an unnamed Englishman, a keen hunter who has snuck into an unnamed European country to see if it would be possible to assassinate that country’s leader. (While it’s not specified, Household later explained it’s a disguised Hitler). He gets caught, tortured, thrown off a cliff and left for dead. Somehow, despite being badly injured, he finds his way to escape Germany and get back to England, but he realises his enemies are still on his trail and his only chance of evading them is to take refuge in the Dorset countryside.
This is a fast paced and truly gripping read. I really enjoyed it and if you enjoy books like The 39 Steps, I think you would too.
It’s narrated by an unnamed Englishman, a keen hunter who has snuck into an unnamed European country to see if it would be possible to assassinate that country’s leader. (While it’s not specified, Household later explained it’s a disguised Hitler). He gets caught, tortured, thrown off a cliff and left for dead. Somehow, despite being badly injured, he finds his way to escape Germany and get back to England, but he realises his enemies are still on his trail and his only chance of evading them is to take refuge in the Dorset countryside.
This is a fast paced and truly gripping read. I really enjoyed it and if you enjoy books like The 39 Steps, I think you would too.
sgow's review against another edition
3.0
The details of this book are the most interesting. The ideas are flawless yet I wasn't lost in it, I found myself forcibly reading it rather than enjoying it--I think mainly due to the old writing style. I didn't find myself thrilled and the writing bored me however I enjoyed the concept and the nostalgia of old spy thrillers.
sandin954's review against another edition
2.0
Heard about this book at Bouchercon. Thriller author [a:David Morrell|12535|David Morrell|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1218135781p2/12535.jpg] touted it the Thrillers: 100 must reads panel. Did not really do much for me though. Not a lot a character development. Pretty much just straight action.
ianl1963's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent and only improved upon by Michael Jayston narrating. Le Carre read by Michael Jayston is a delight.
rschmidt7's review against another edition
4.0
A great adventure/fugitive story set in the 1930s that follows an English hunter who takes it in his head to attempt an assassination on an unnamed dictator (Hitler? Stalin? You decide). He's caught in the act before page 1, and the book follows his flight from his pursuers. A little slow and convoluted in places, but a quick read at only about 180 pages. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys British espionage/adventure novels.
rocketiza's review against another edition
3.0
The style of writing from this time period isn't my favorite.