A review by caterinaanna
The Trinity Six by Charles Cumming

4.0

Innocent academic gets dragged into spy games beyond his experience or understanding; some trotting around Europe, delving into history, involvement with beautiful people, trusting deceivers, secrets, things hidden or twisted at the highest level ... all the usual ingredients. This one has a mixture of real people for context and imagined people for the crucial mystery - except it isn't all hugely mysterious. A couple - no, quite a few - of the twists were ones I saw coming and felt that the hero had enough information to work out too, especially since he was meant to be intelligent. Nonetheless, it rattled along nicely and it was good to have female characters that had more about them than in some others from the genre that I have read recently. I did continue reading until my eyes protested, so that's a recommendation. I was disappointed in the behaviour of people towards the end - integrity diminished, principles compromised - but it was an all too credible, Realpolitik conclusion so, although it left a sour taste, it strengthened the book.

Not one I'd have chosen myself (I won it in a Bookcrossing raffle), but glad I read it.