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gmamartha's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted more plot and a lot less world politics and philosophy. Of course it all played into the historical events, but not what I was wanting. The Irish couple of chapters were the most detailed, as well as India.
m_hates_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Love how faithful it is to real history while also being so engaging. This period of Irish history is a bit of a historical obsession of mine and I love how engaging this is. No plot holes (maybe a plot dent here or there but it’s drama) and exceedingly real-world for a spy novel. Perfect length as well: not too long or too short, has plenty of detail without dragging dient the tension. Amazing book.
lgiegerich's review
3.0
I didn't enjoy the first half of this book, but it picked up halfway through. I suppose it's all intriguing?
aloyokon's review
5.0
Great sequel to McColl series! Very interesting to see Jack McColl fight terrorism in India and Ireland during WW1, and come face to face with the woman that he loved... and betrayed... in the first book, Jack of Spies. It just so happens that this book, by the way, is set almost exactly 100 years ago. H
ettagooge's review
3.0
I think I may be tired of war novels, this just seemed a bit disjointed to me.
rosseroo's review against another edition
3.0
The first book in this series introduced auto salesman Jack McColl as an amateur spy for the British government, and paired him up with an Irish-American suffragette journalist as his love interest. This next in the series opens with them separated by both thousands of miles (he's in India, she's in New York) and the small matter that his investigation of Irish nationalists led to her brother getting captured and sentenced to death.
Indeed, the first two-thirds of the book has them apart from each other. McColl is working to uncover a German shipment of guns to Indian nationalists, while she's covering World War I, as well the intersection of women's rights with socialist movements. Naturally, their paths cross eventually, as McColl's boss thinks he can somehow pry some information about Irish nationalist plans out of her.
In theory, this should all be fascinating and thrilling stuff, but it's actually a little tedious. The pacing is off in some way, and while there are glimpses of interesting development (in particular, McColl's apparent growing disillusion for hunting down people who are legitimately fighting for freedom), the romance comes across as pro forma, and there aren't a lot of twists in the tale. There are cameos from Ghandi and members of the Easter Rising that add little to the tale, and an entire side adventure in Belgium that feels like padding.
There's definitely no reason to pick this up if you haven't read the first, and while I suppose I will go ahead and pick up the third in the series, I can't say that I'm in any rush to.
Indeed, the first two-thirds of the book has them apart from each other. McColl is working to uncover a German shipment of guns to Indian nationalists, while she's covering World War I, as well the intersection of women's rights with socialist movements. Naturally, their paths cross eventually, as McColl's boss thinks he can somehow pry some information about Irish nationalist plans out of her.
In theory, this should all be fascinating and thrilling stuff, but it's actually a little tedious. The pacing is off in some way, and while there are glimpses of interesting development (in particular, McColl's apparent growing disillusion for hunting down people who are legitimately fighting for freedom), the romance comes across as pro forma, and there aren't a lot of twists in the tale. There are cameos from Ghandi and members of the Easter Rising that add little to the tale, and an entire side adventure in Belgium that feels like padding.
There's definitely no reason to pick this up if you haven't read the first, and while I suppose I will go ahead and pick up the third in the series, I can't say that I'm in any rush to.
hlandes1's review against another edition
3.0
Nice second book - slow flow at times, but a good read.
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