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146th out of 427 books
—
362 voters
The Miernik Dossier (Paul Christopher #1)
Paul Christopher was a cool, urbane American mixed up with a comical Polish exile, a beautiful Hungarian seductress, and an African prince with a lust for women and power. It was up to Christopher to discover who was who in this sticky international mess.
Hardcover, 276 pages
Published
November 3rd 2005
by Overlook Hardcover
(first published 1974)
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On his experience being a deep-cover agent for the CIA: "It's one of the most boring occupations in the world, punctuated by moments of ecstasy. You sit around for days, sometimes for weeks, waiting for something you think you have made happen, to happen. And sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't. Or waiting for an agent to show up. They're famous for not doing that, or showing up in the wrong place or on the wrong day, wrong hour." Charles McCarry
In the 1980s I read just about every espio...more
In the 1980s I read just about every espio...more
Oct 29, 2011
Sandi
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
crime-mystery-thriller-suspense,
read-2011
A very good espionage novel written in the early 1970's. The story is told through various agent reports, transcripts, journal entries, etc. and when I saw the structure of the book I was a bit hesitant but the plot unfolded smoothly and each character was fully realized.
Charles McCarry manages a steep feat in this novel -- he matches the sophistication of Graham Greene's espionage 'entertainments' with the literary integrity of a Paul Bowles-esque Northern African expedition. For real! If I were to ask for a spy book to be written for me, it might end up a lot like the Miernik Dossier -- Cold War suspicion, late-night border crossings, fancy European cocktail parties, double agents, religious & sexual tension, standard tradecraft and introspective anti-hero...more
Espionage is never clear cut - all the best spy thrillers make that point, some labour it. Alan Furst has a habit of creating romance out of the dilemma; John Le Carre finds victims in it.
In the Miernik Dossier, Charles McCarry carries the idea beyond the end of the book. Not only does he leave the central question unresolved (was Miernik a spy or not?), he actually goes further: the reader is left wondering if the question mark that hangs over him or her at the end of the book is actually refl...more
In the Miernik Dossier, Charles McCarry carries the idea beyond the end of the book. Not only does he leave the central question unresolved (was Miernik a spy or not?), he actually goes further: the reader is left wondering if the question mark that hangs over him or her at the end of the book is actually refl...more
Dec 01, 2008
Nancy Oakes
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-series-first-novel
I must confess that after the Berlin Wall came down, I had this feeling that that was it for the Cold War spy novel. So I was truly happy to find this book, which was written in 1971, so I could once again relive the Cold War spy experience.
The Miernik Dossier (the first of the Paul Christopher series), is written in a style that one would find if they could infiltrate the files of an espionage agency and open up an actual dossier. The story is told through reports of various agents, intercepte...more
The Miernik Dossier (the first of the Paul Christopher series), is written in a style that one would find if they could infiltrate the files of an espionage agency and open up an actual dossier. The story is told through reports of various agents, intercepte...more
First published in the 70's now republished along with all McCarry's other novels.
This is the debut from McCarry a former CIA spy in the cold war. It tells the story of CIA man Paul Christopher and his involvement with a group of other spies on a journey to the Sudan. So far so ordinary but this book stands out for 2 reasons.
Firstly its told not in first or third person but using the conceit of a dossier about the journey comprising agents reports, telegrams, intercepted letters and broken coded...more
This is the debut from McCarry a former CIA spy in the cold war. It tells the story of CIA man Paul Christopher and his involvement with a group of other spies on a journey to the Sudan. So far so ordinary but this book stands out for 2 reasons.
Firstly its told not in first or third person but using the conceit of a dossier about the journey comprising agents reports, telegrams, intercepted letters and broken coded...more
The quick review is that this is one of the finest books -- period -- I've ever read and that, in my view, it's superior to the more well-known (and, don't get me wrong, also brilliant) SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD.
I loved how McCarry structured the book. As the title suggests, it's ordered like an intelligence file on a case, with telephone intercept transcripts, diary entries, cables, memos, etc. I thought it was a pretty brilliant idea to work the story that way. It's not just a gimmick, ei...more
I loved how McCarry structured the book. As the title suggests, it's ordered like an intelligence file on a case, with telephone intercept transcripts, diary entries, cables, memos, etc. I thought it was a pretty brilliant idea to work the story that way. It's not just a gimmick, ei...more
A spy story. This is written as a series of diary entries, interviews, telephone taps etc. so that there are many viewpoints. Miernik appears to some to be a Pole who is a spy and to other a bumbling clumsy person. In the end he is killed but it is never clear which he was. I want to read something else by this author. The story is set in about 1959 and involves a trip to the Sudan in an air conditioned Cadillac.
Read on the Kindle. A trip into Egypt with Kindle who people think is a spy, his sis...more
Read on the Kindle. A trip into Egypt with Kindle who people think is a spy, his sis...more
Definitely one of the more interesting spy novels I've ever read. It's got suspense and intrigue that keep you guessing until the final pages (and aren't really revealed in the conclusion). It's got a memorable cast of characters that are well-sketched. If I have one beef with the book, it's the "dossier" style of compiled transcripts which kind of slowed Things down too often and worked against the suspense. Still a very good book though and I look forward to delving into the author's Paul Chri...more
#2 On Alan Furst's Top 5 Spy Books of All Time. Can't beat that rec.
Furst says, "With “The Miernik Dossier,” Charles McCarry introduced us to Paul Christopher, the brilliant and sensitive CIA officer who would appear in a series of perhaps more widely known novels, such as “The Secret Lovers” and “Second Sight.” The book itself is the “dossier” in question: the reports and memoranda filed by a quintet of mutually mistrustful espionage agents, including a seductive Hungarian princess and a seemi...more
Furst says, "With “The Miernik Dossier,” Charles McCarry introduced us to Paul Christopher, the brilliant and sensitive CIA officer who would appear in a series of perhaps more widely known novels, such as “The Secret Lovers” and “Second Sight.” The book itself is the “dossier” in question: the reports and memoranda filed by a quintet of mutually mistrustful espionage agents, including a seductive Hungarian princess and a seemi...more
Feb 03, 2008
Tripp
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Spy fiction lovers
Charles McCarry is one of our most under appreciated living authors. Its shocking that he is not as well known as Le Carre or even Furst. McCarry served in the CIA and his background shows in the details of his spy novels. His first novel the Miernik Dossier is a terrifically engaging work recommended to anyone who likes literary thrillers.
While the story, involving the trip of Polish official who may or may not be a spy to Sudan is excellent, the book shines in its verisimilitude, even in its o...more
While the story, involving the trip of Polish official who may or may not be a spy to Sudan is excellent, the book shines in its verisimilitude, even in its o...more
A classic espionage tale told through transcripts of surreptitiously recorded conversations, diplomatic dispatches, reports from field agents, debriefings, and dead-dropped letters. But it is not only a classic Cold War spy novel, but also a classic road trip story, as we follow the handful of known or suspected government agents over land and sea from Switzerland to the Sudan. Funny, erudite, and ringing with truth and authenticity. Recommended.
I think this is McCarry's most famous novel, about a guy who manages to look guilty on every conceivable level but turns out not to be. It's plausible up to a point, but by the end it got difficult to swallow: of course a guy who was not a spy would sneak out into the desert in the dead of night to transmit coded messages! How could people not realize there was a perfectly innocent explanation?
To be honest, this book was far outside the box of what I usually read. It was recommended by some literary critic on a list of 101 books to read. It was quite the page turner, but I admit to skimming quite a few parts just so I could see what happens at the end. The point of view switched multiple times throughout: first person narrative, diaries, debriefings, transcribed interviews, etc, which was interesting but I think kept me from really knowing or liking any of the characters. Like the sta...more
This book, the first in the Paul Christopher series by McCarry, initially takes some adjustment, since it uses the materials in a case file to tell the story and provide the narrative.
Once you're past that, it's a well-constructed story that allows multiple viewpoints. McCarry provides a lot of operational details without losing sight of the story.
Once you're past that, it's a well-constructed story that allows multiple viewpoints. McCarry provides a lot of operational details without losing sight of the story.
A first rate spy novel with a fascinating protagonist as well as the rest of the characters. Very interesting off-beat way of telling the story thru different people and different formats....journals, radio messages, debriefings etc all adding up to the dossier.
This is a unique way of telling a story - through letters and entries in Government dossiers. However, the novelty quickly wears off as the story meanders along, never completely picking up. Enjoyable in parts, but the ending leaves a lot of unanswered questions in the reader's mind. While some may like this sort of an ending where the reader is left to assume what exactly happens, I personally prefer my book to have a proper closure.
Told through internal documents, agent reports, interviews, and diary entries, The Miernik Dossier involves a number of agents from different countries, all traveling to Sudan. The twists are subtle, much like Le Carre and Greene...depending on your version, the back cover may "spice up" the plot a bit. Regardless, this is completely engrossing, and once you begin, you hardly notice the unique style in which the story is told.
The book itself was written in the early 70s, with the story taking pl...more
The book itself was written in the early 70s, with the story taking pl...more
The Charles McCarry books are the Hidden Jewels of Espionage Fiction. The long story arc which runs through the series is violent and melancholy and the shorter arcs are beautiful.
Just bloody READ THEM, ok?
Just bloody READ THEM, ok?
I love McCarry's writing and this one does not disappoint. The road trip depicted in this book starts in Europe and end up in North Africa. Quite a strange cast of characters each spying on each other.
McCarry is an under-appreciated but masterful spy novelist. The style and structure of this book is unusual, but that makes it even more interesting. Incredibly fun to read!
I never got into the format of the novel written as reports from multiple perspectives. The plot was interesting but I am still vague on the outcome.
Excellent spy story. I'm putting it into the top 10% of that genre.
Fairly good read. Not the most elaborate spy novel ever, but decent.
Recommended by Mike Stax. Told in epistolary form. Works well enough.
A great spy writer. One of the best spy books I've ever read.
Oct 25, 2010
Christian
is currently reading it
Interesting cold-war thriller; short and well-written.
The Miernik dossier by Charles McCarry (2005)
Excellent retro read. Clever and sharp.
Continuing adventures of Paul Christopher, my new favorite spy!
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McCarry served in the United States Army, where he was a correspondent for Stars and Stripes, has been a small-town newspaperman, and was a speechwriter in the Eisenhower administration. From 1958 to 1967 he worked for the CIA, under deep cover in Europe, Asia, and Africa. However, his cover was not as a writer or journalist. He is married with four grown sons. His family is from The Berkshires ar...more
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Apr 03, 2013 11:36am
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