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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
2 1/2 stars.
Dammit, I have big time mixed feelings about this one.
On one hand, it's way, way, way too long. A spy novel should not be 550 pages and take a week to read. But it's weird because it's a page turner, too. The writing, particularly the dialogue, is pretty ridiculous at times, but I can't say it's poorly written, per se.
It's also entertaining but has too much plot and almost too many characters. There's also so much talk about catching a certain character that I kept thinking, "Could we TALK much LESS about doing this and actually just get it done?"
Matthews also has this little tic where he telegraphs the fact that something momentous or bad is going to happen just before it occurs. It's not a bad quality, but it takes a little bit of the surprise away.
Also, as others have pointed out, this is definitely misogynistic in certain ways and falls victim to the "sexy woman written by a man" cliche. We hear about how gorgeous she is on almost every page. The biggest howler of all is the thing with the hairbrush.
So, as you can see, this is a mixed bag but I did enjoy things about it. Hell, I might even continue with the trilogy...but I'll probably wait a while if I do. I don't feel the need to rush right out and buy the next one immediately or anything.
Dammit, I have big time mixed feelings about this one.
On one hand, it's way, way, way too long. A spy novel should not be 550 pages and take a week to read. But it's weird because it's a page turner, too. The writing, particularly the dialogue, is pretty ridiculous at times, but I can't say it's poorly written, per se.
It's also entertaining but has too much plot and almost too many characters. There's also so much talk about catching a certain character that I kept thinking, "Could we TALK much LESS about doing this and actually just get it done?"
Matthews also has this little tic where he telegraphs the fact that something momentous or bad is going to happen just before it occurs. It's not a bad quality, but it takes a little bit of the surprise away.
Also, as others have pointed out, this is definitely misogynistic in certain ways and falls victim to the "sexy woman written by a man" cliche. We hear about how gorgeous she is on almost every page. The biggest howler of all is the thing with the hairbrush.
So, as you can see, this is a mixed bag but I did enjoy things about it. Hell, I might even continue with the trilogy...but I'll probably wait a while if I do. I don't feel the need to rush right out and buy the next one immediately or anything.
I haven’t read many spy novels, and the tradecraft in this book WAS interesting. The characters seemed a little underdeveloped, and a couple of features (the recipes at the end of each chapter, and her special gift to read people’s auras) didn’t add much. Plus, the story took too long to get going. #Meh
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I never felt like I cared for the characters, yet the characters were really the only through line. There really wasn't a plot thread that I could follow start to finish, unless you include the romance element. I suppose it is a romance with a spy thriller skin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual harassment
Yay! I haven't read a spy novel this good in years. We all bemoan the loss of the cold war as spy literature just hasn't been the same. Well Jason Matthews delivers a great ride with this classic spy story of a mole hunt in the Russian Spy Agency (SVR). The story pits two young spies, Nathaniel Nash and Dominika Egorova against each other with great back drops of Moscow, Helsinki, Rome, Washington, and Athens. Great read and it helps that Matthews, like Ian Fleming was a spy himself! There is a real authentic feel to the book.
I liked this book quite a bit. Mainly because of all the unexpected but extremely well thought out-twists. And for the character development.
Only thing was that the recipes were in my opinion slightly useless and I did not really get the point.
Other than that, good read :)
Only thing was that the recipes were in my opinion slightly useless and I did not really get the point.
Other than that, good read :)
The only flaw was I felt it ended abruptly it tied up strings but I wanted to know a bit more.
Fun summer read though really far fetched and enough with the heaving breasts commentary.
There's a lot going on here - it's clear that this book was written by someone with a lifetime of experience in the CIA. Dominika Egorova is the niece of a high-ranking Russian intelligence officer, recruited into the service after a terrible betrayal in the wake of her father's death. Instead of recognizing her incredible talents as a spy, the Russians abuse and mistreat her. Nate Nash is a CIA operative, and the handler for the best Russian mole in a generation. Their paths cross when Dominika is assigned to track down that very mole. She meets Nate, and their immediate chemistry brings the Russians' mistreatment of her back to the forefront, and she commits to being a double agent for the United States. Her journey takes her through the halls of the Russian bureaucracy and the dungeons of Lefortovo prison.
Author Jason Matthews really winds the story through every nook and cranny of the intelligence world, and does so with great expertise. In the end, the story ends as kind of a cliffhanger, but don't worry - there's a second book! Well written and definitely held my interest.
Author Jason Matthews really winds the story through every nook and cranny of the intelligence world, and does so with great expertise. In the end, the story ends as kind of a cliffhanger, but don't worry - there's a second book! Well written and definitely held my interest.
Rollicking read. Some obvious problems - good Americans bad Russians, abysmal sex scenes, ridiculous romance and coloured head bubbles but overall a good read. Looking forward to the next one.