3.28 AVERAGE


Like fine? I guess. But like I honestly couldn’t tell you if any female characters had lines, stories or even names. The only ones present were “so-an-so’s wife”. It might’ve been one of the first books to start the genre but you can find better ones now. There isn’t much pushing the plot forward except pure luck on the protagonist’s part mainly. Definitely feels dated and some parts were v uncomfortable to read for me - I.e., how the author/characters talk about Jewish people.
adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
adventurous tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Chock this up under huge disappointment. I'm not really much for the mystery/suspense genre anyway. But I this is one of my favorite Hitchcock movies, so I saw it there and thought I would give it a read. I should have trusted my instincts. Also it was racist. I am done complaining now.

Picked this up on a whim in the library, knowing the name and that it had been adapted into a play.

Although it’s a short book it took me a week or so to finish as I started reading at a very busy work time!

It was a quick, easy and fun read. It’s a classic spy thriller - are there better out there? Probably, but I really enjoyed this, even if it did seem completely nonsensical at times!

I enjoyed this quick, easy read. Perfect for keeping a tired mom involved without complex intrigue. Basic but fun and worth the afternoon.

This is was a surpisingly engaging book - very much of its time of course, all Empire, Boys Own and derring do. The hero, Hannoy, finds himself in the middle of a spy plot involving Germans on the eve of the First World War. The Germans are masters of disguise, have ruthlessly cruel faces and mutter `schnell schnell' when they're uncovered (not Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte as my husband suggested.) Hannoy is accused of murder and at the same time is being chased round a very scenic Scotland by baddies, fortunately his knowledge of survival in the wilds assists him, as do some authentically picturesque locals. He stumbles on one unlikley adventure after another, eventually saving the day, whilst unfortunately not of course preventing the First World War.
The book is saved by being well-written, with lovely descriptions of Scotland and it runs with a breathless gusto. Its been adapted into many films, none of which seem to much resemble the book - particularly as they introduce women, which I'm sure didn't exist as a species in 1914, at least not in John Buchan's world. Still, I'm bound to say I enjoyed it, I like books that can bring a distant era to life, and I read it in one sitting pretty much whilst being ill.
adventurous slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No