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Covert-One #7
Robert Ludlum's™ The Arctic Event (Covert-One series)
Book #7 from the series: Covert-One
A covert ops team investigates a Soviet strategic bomber—and walks straight into a political firestorm—in this thriller of shifting loyalties, mysterious enemies, and deadly secrets in the Arctic.
On a remote island in the Canadian Arctic, researchers discover the wreckage of a mysterious World War II-era aircraft, a discovery that forces the Russian Federation into a shocking admission. The unmarked plane is a Soviet strategic bomber that disappeared with its crew more than fifty years ago while carrying two metric tons of weaponized anthrax.
Desperate to prevent a political and diplomatic firestorm, the U.S. president dispatches a Covert-One team led by Lieutenant Colonel Jon Smith to the crash site. But others have reached the frigid, windswept island first, including an international arms dealer and his crew of vicious mercenaries. As for the Russians, they are lying: a second, even deadlier secret rests within the hulk of the lost bomber, a secret the Russians are willing to kill to protect. Trapped in a polar wilderness, Smith and his team find themselves fighting a savage war on two front—against an enemy they can see and another hiding within their own ranks.
A New York Times bestseller with “fast pacing, tight plotting, international intrigue” (Cleveland Plain Dealer): When a World War II–era aircraft is discovered in the Arctic, it reveals a secret Soviet anthrax plot… “Don’t ever begin a Ludlum novel if you have to go to work the next day” (Chicago Sun-Times).
A covert ops team investigates a Soviet strategic bomber—and walks straight into a political firestorm—in this thriller of shifting loyalties, mysterious enemies, and deadly secrets in the Arctic.
On a remote island in the Canadian Arctic, researchers discover the wreckage of a mysterious World War II-era aircraft, a discovery that forces the Russian Federation into a shocking admission. The unmarked plane is a Soviet strategic bomber that disappeared with its crew more than fifty years ago while carrying two metric tons of weaponized anthrax.
Desperate to prevent a political and diplomatic firestorm, the U.S. president dispatches a Covert-One team led by Lieutenant Colonel Jon Smith to the crash site. But others have reached the frigid, windswept island first, including an international arms dealer and his crew of vicious mercenaries. As for the Russians, they are lying: a second, even deadlier secret rests within the hulk of the lost bomber, a secret the Russians are willing to kill to protect. Trapped in a polar wilderness, Smith and his team find themselves fighting a savage war on two front—against an enemy they can see and another hiding within their own ranks.
Mass Market Paperback
First published September 26, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
March 13, 2011
This book is part of a series created by Robert Ludlum but written by James Cobb. Confusing isn't it? James Patterson does a similar thing by co-authoring many of his books now, but forgive me for being old fashioned, but if it's Robert Ludlum's series, shouldn't it have been written by him alone? I don't believe writers should continue to write a book series after an author's death.
Okay, now that's off my chest, let me tell you I enjoyed this book. Recommended by a family member, I struggled with the introduction as this is the first real 'spy' book I can remember reading, (Ludlum having of course written the 'Jason Bourne' series). Once the characters were established, I was off and running/reading.
I was easily swept away by the plot but had to groan at the old enemy of the US, Russia, playing the bad guys. It did fit well with the plot though and the setting in the arctic had me pulling my doona right up to my chin and feeling the cold. The Arctic Event was exciting enough and I could easily see it being made into a film.
Okay, now that's off my chest, let me tell you I enjoyed this book. Recommended by a family member, I struggled with the introduction as this is the first real 'spy' book I can remember reading, (Ludlum having of course written the 'Jason Bourne' series). Once the characters were established, I was off and running/reading.
I was easily swept away by the plot but had to groan at the old enemy of the US, Russia, playing the bad guys. It did fit well with the plot though and the setting in the arctic had me pulling my doona right up to my chin and feeling the cold. The Arctic Event was exciting enough and I could easily see it being made into a film.
March 30, 2011
A very good action packed book for pure escapism. The story is set in the northern canadian waters on a isolated island and is set around a 50 year old mysteriously crashed USSR bomber at the start of the cold war. What had been the 'mission' and why was it carrying a cargo of anthrax? The bomber was found by a survey team, resulting in a joint investigation team of 3 americans and a russian Air Force Major setting out to reach the island. Why is a 'crack' platoon of russian soldiers dropped by submarine and is hiding near the crash site? Plus, why does an independent arms smuggler try to stop the joint team reach the island. When the team arrive on the island, where are the members of the survey team and why is the radio unable to transmit? To find the answer to these questions read the book it will not insult your intelligence.
May 14, 2018
Great read! Lots of action in the arctic!
February 6, 2013
While a bit unnecessarily wordy, this is a good read and fairly exciting. 9 or 10 stars.
November 23, 2021
The book was okay. Its served it's purpose as something to read and pass time with. As a retired Army NCO, it is frustrating to read stuff that is so wrong as far as conversation between characters. While I am sure the author meant well in his attempt to use jargon, just do a little research as to how we speak to each other. A colonel is not going to call a random NCO "Top." Other than that, the story is good and moves along rapidly as an action book should.
June 20, 2010
A Cold saga called "Arctic Event"
Aah, people have often recommended Robert Ludlum to me as the best thriller author. But as the fate would have it, I've never before now had a chance to get my hands on him, thats before Arctic Event that is. Well one could very well argue that Arctic Event is not a real Ludlum novel, as it is a series that the Master author created and his apprentice continued it as a series. So here we go with my review:
The book start of with an epilogue, about 50 years from the current day, when an Russian ABC (Atomic, Biological and Chemical) warfare aircraft crashes into Queen Archipelago in Canadian Arctic carrying 2 metric tons of Anthrax, the facts remain buried till the present day.
Scientists have now found out the crash site. Russians and Americans are now scared that the news of ABC World war 2 fighter plane crash might be blown out of proportions, far worse that some criminal might get his hands on the deadly Anthrax onboard. Jon Smith, a colonel, a Covert one cipher, of which only a handful of people know exists, is called upon urgently. His mission is to go to Canadian Arctic and take stock of the Misha 124 Crash site and to check if the Anthrax is still onboard and intact, if so destroy it.
On this mission, he is aided by a professor of history, Valentina Metrace, whose designs are far more sinister than they appear to be; Randi Russel, once his sister in law, who believes Jon is the only reason for the death of her late sister. Thrown into the mix is Major Gregory Symslov, the Russian liaison with Americans on this mission, whose true mission seems to be much more than hey now of.
Jon believes this is an simple straight forward mission, his notion is soon corrected when he and his team are attacked on their way to Canada. Once on the ice, things start going wrong at a rapid pace. Jon and team are forced to wage war on two fronts, one is the mafia trying to steel the Anthrax and the other is some one within his ranks, a traitor.
Will Jon succeed in this mission, is what makes this book a real must read... The author explains the Arctic warfare with inch perfection. Sour note being that the climax could have been much better after setting it up so well.
Hint: Russians are hiding something far more dangerous than Anthrax, which they have to clear off, else it might well trigger the third world war, well now am sure you are interested in reading it, isnt it? enjoy reading, as I watch Brazil vs North Korea.
My rating? 3/5. Ending could have been far better.
Aah, people have often recommended Robert Ludlum to me as the best thriller author. But as the fate would have it, I've never before now had a chance to get my hands on him, thats before Arctic Event that is. Well one could very well argue that Arctic Event is not a real Ludlum novel, as it is a series that the Master author created and his apprentice continued it as a series. So here we go with my review:
The book start of with an epilogue, about 50 years from the current day, when an Russian ABC (Atomic, Biological and Chemical) warfare aircraft crashes into Queen Archipelago in Canadian Arctic carrying 2 metric tons of Anthrax, the facts remain buried till the present day.
Scientists have now found out the crash site. Russians and Americans are now scared that the news of ABC World war 2 fighter plane crash might be blown out of proportions, far worse that some criminal might get his hands on the deadly Anthrax onboard. Jon Smith, a colonel, a Covert one cipher, of which only a handful of people know exists, is called upon urgently. His mission is to go to Canadian Arctic and take stock of the Misha 124 Crash site and to check if the Anthrax is still onboard and intact, if so destroy it.
On this mission, he is aided by a professor of history, Valentina Metrace, whose designs are far more sinister than they appear to be; Randi Russel, once his sister in law, who believes Jon is the only reason for the death of her late sister. Thrown into the mix is Major Gregory Symslov, the Russian liaison with Americans on this mission, whose true mission seems to be much more than hey now of.
Jon believes this is an simple straight forward mission, his notion is soon corrected when he and his team are attacked on their way to Canada. Once on the ice, things start going wrong at a rapid pace. Jon and team are forced to wage war on two fronts, one is the mafia trying to steel the Anthrax and the other is some one within his ranks, a traitor.
Will Jon succeed in this mission, is what makes this book a real must read... The author explains the Arctic warfare with inch perfection. Sour note being that the climax could have been much better after setting it up so well.
Hint: Russians are hiding something far more dangerous than Anthrax, which they have to clear off, else it might well trigger the third world war, well now am sure you are interested in reading it, isnt it? enjoy reading, as I watch Brazil vs North Korea.
My rating? 3/5. Ending could have been far better.
Want to read
January 20, 2016When I first started reading this particular series, it was because of the original author, Robert Ludlum. I became a fan from his character Jason Bourne. Then I had decided to expand my curiosity of his other character,Jon Smith. The Arctic Event, is his 7th thriller in the series now, and co-written by James H. Cobb. Of all the books that I have read in this series, this has become one of my favourites.
The character, Lieutenant Colonel Jon Smith normally works alone by his own personal habits -- actually, it's because of unfortunate circumstances from the very beginning of the Covert-One series -- with recurring supporting characters that happen to parallel his mission(s). But this time around, Jon Smith learns how to take responsible of an assigned team. Something that he hasn't ever done before in the previous novels. So, overall his leadership is in question.
What I also loved about this thriller is that this time around, it takes place on Canadian land in the far north that doesn't get featured: Wednesday Island. Though no Canadian government characters are involved with the plot, that particular area isn't as vast as say, the Middle East, or anywhere else in the Eastern part of the world. It's a battle that happened over fifty years ago that the Russians had kept secret from the Americans and now that it has been discovered by a Canadian Arctic specialized team, it's a battle to who gets to the purpose first between Lt. Col. Jon Smith's teams and the old-thinking Russian terrorists.
In my opinion, it's worth reading the previous thrillers before arriving to "The Arctic Event". Reason because I have developed in my mind the way Lt. Col. Jon Smith is like and his habits until the co-authors all of a sudden threw in something that changes the persona of the main character. It's like -- as the reader -- you're starting with the same main character all over again from the very basics. A new layer of the character development has been introduced and I, as the reader, will see how much more there is for Jon Smith to grow. This novel in the series of Covert-One is definitely a turning point in the series and I look forward to continuing reading the next book in the series,
The character, Lieutenant Colonel Jon Smith normally works alone by his own personal habits -- actually, it's because of unfortunate circumstances from the very beginning of the Covert-One series -- with recurring supporting characters that happen to parallel his mission(s). But this time around, Jon Smith learns how to take responsible of an assigned team. Something that he hasn't ever done before in the previous novels. So, overall his leadership is in question.
What I also loved about this thriller is that this time around, it takes place on Canadian land in the far north that doesn't get featured: Wednesday Island. Though no Canadian government characters are involved with the plot, that particular area isn't as vast as say, the Middle East, or anywhere else in the Eastern part of the world. It's a battle that happened over fifty years ago that the Russians had kept secret from the Americans and now that it has been discovered by a Canadian Arctic specialized team, it's a battle to who gets to the purpose first between Lt. Col. Jon Smith's teams and the old-thinking Russian terrorists.
In my opinion, it's worth reading the previous thrillers before arriving to "The Arctic Event". Reason because I have developed in my mind the way Lt. Col. Jon Smith is like and his habits until the co-authors all of a sudden threw in something that changes the persona of the main character. It's like -- as the reader -- you're starting with the same main character all over again from the very basics. A new layer of the character development has been introduced and I, as the reader, will see how much more there is for Jon Smith to grow. This novel in the series of Covert-One is definitely a turning point in the series and I look forward to continuing reading the next book in the series,
April 21, 2020
Part of a series created by Robert Ludlum but written by James Cobb. Which rather wrong foots the reader from the start. I'm not sure that books in a series should be written by other authors after the original authors' death, But that's just me no doubt.
As far as the book itself is concerned It was an enjoyable enough tale. The first third or so I thought were a bit slow but once it got into it's stride it was soon firing on all cylinders.
I Enjoyed the fact that two strong women featured & found the rest of the characters strong & well-rounded.
As with all books I've read about the Arctic or Antarctic Is hard to get a grasp on the layout. A lack to of landmarks often leaves me floundering and this book is no exception. That said The cold harsh landscape seeps into every bone of your body.
Another downside is a large hole in the plot "Literally the only people stateside who know the whole story are the President, myself, Maggie, and the members of your team" Explains a jobsworth to the books central character Jon Smith. Yet the story had already been in the newspapers.. Which as plot holes go is quite major.
All in All It's A story that reminded me of the great Alastair McLean.
There is even "a month-long charter by a film company" Just as in the McLean classic Bear Island!
As far as the book itself is concerned It was an enjoyable enough tale. The first third or so I thought were a bit slow but once it got into it's stride it was soon firing on all cylinders.
I Enjoyed the fact that two strong women featured & found the rest of the characters strong & well-rounded.
As with all books I've read about the Arctic or Antarctic Is hard to get a grasp on the layout. A lack to of landmarks often leaves me floundering and this book is no exception. That said The cold harsh landscape seeps into every bone of your body.
Another downside is a large hole in the plot "Literally the only people stateside who know the whole story are the President, myself, Maggie, and the members of your team" Explains a jobsworth to the books central character Jon Smith. Yet the story had already been in the newspapers.. Which as plot holes go is quite major.
All in All It's A story that reminded me of the great Alastair McLean.
There is even "a month-long charter by a film company" Just as in the McLean classic Bear Island!
November 30, 2015
This is intrigue at its best and kept me on the edge of my reading chair. It is a fast and exciting read.
On a remote island in the Canadian Arctic, researchers discover the wreckage of a mysterious World War II-era aircraft, a discovery that forces the Russian Federation into a shocking admission. The unmarked plane is a Soviet strategic bomber that disappeared with its crew more than fifty years ago while carrying two metric tons of anthrax, ready to be activated and dropped on a target.
Desperate to prevent a political and diplomatic firestorm, the U.S. president dispatches a Covert-One team, led by Lieutenant Colonel Jon Smith, to the crash site. But others have reached the frigid, windswept island first, including an international arms dealer and his crew of vicious mercenaries. As for the Russians, they are lying-- they are protecting a second, even deadlier secret that rests within the lost bomber. It is a secret the Russians are willing to kill to protect. Trapped in a polar wilderness, Smith and his team find themselves fighting a savage war against an enemy they can see and an unknown other within their own ranks.
On a remote island in the Canadian Arctic, researchers discover the wreckage of a mysterious World War II-era aircraft, a discovery that forces the Russian Federation into a shocking admission. The unmarked plane is a Soviet strategic bomber that disappeared with its crew more than fifty years ago while carrying two metric tons of anthrax, ready to be activated and dropped on a target.
Desperate to prevent a political and diplomatic firestorm, the U.S. president dispatches a Covert-One team, led by Lieutenant Colonel Jon Smith, to the crash site. But others have reached the frigid, windswept island first, including an international arms dealer and his crew of vicious mercenaries. As for the Russians, they are lying-- they are protecting a second, even deadlier secret that rests within the lost bomber. It is a secret the Russians are willing to kill to protect. Trapped in a polar wilderness, Smith and his team find themselves fighting a savage war against an enemy they can see and an unknown other within their own ranks.
April 21, 2019
This was a book. It was very much a book. I never got bored, there is constant action and suspense, I'm an easy mark for just about any thriller set in the Arctic, and five minutes after I was done with it I couldn't remember a darned thing about it. Overall, it's the book equivalent of a Stallone or Arnold off-movie... Not the A+ flicks they're remembered for, like Terminator or Rocky, but something more like Cobra or Raw Deal. It will keep you entertained for the duration as long as you don't go in with high expectations.
November 30, 2013
A simple adventure story with a black-ops covert team, like Remo Williams, taking on serious
threats to the U.S. and the World. The main reason for the two stars are the Arctic location which offered some interesting scenarios and conflict situation scenes. The characters were unbelievable, wooden, and cliché.
If you have time to waste, pick it up as a quick read but don't expect anything above ok.
threats to the U.S. and the World. The main reason for the two stars are the Arctic location which offered some interesting scenarios and conflict situation scenes. The characters were unbelievable, wooden, and cliché.
If you have time to waste, pick it up as a quick read but don't expect anything above ok.
January 16, 2018
The Good News: A fun, action romp with an interesting plot. Typical of its genre. Even though I had issues with later parts of the storyline, it moved well, was even and did not bore me.
SPOILER ALERT !!!
The Bad News: Lack of communication is one way to further the suspense and story - acceptable but you lose a star if it is too obvious. For experienced professionals to make poor emotional decisions - ugh. You lose one star(if not more).
SPOILER ALERT !!!
The Bad News: Lack of communication is one way to further the suspense and story - acceptable but you lose a star if it is too obvious. For experienced professionals to make poor emotional decisions - ugh. You lose one star(if not more).
December 29, 2009
This is my 1st "Covert One" novel...I really like this genre and I am anxious to see how it stacks up against Rollins' "Sigma Force" tales...it measures up to Rollins...I really liked Cobb's series involving USN officer Amenda Garrett...very enjoyable melodramatic fair...however I wish we would see a new Amanda Garrett book in the future!!!
December 27, 2010
A Ludlum Series novel involving wwII intrigue in the modern arctic...a race to discover and uncover a serious plot that has impact on modern day evolution of the North West passage...actually written by James H. Cobb, this book has all the Ludlum elements...action, paper thin good and bad guys and a sense of western right and might vs forces intent on destroying the world we live in.
December 18, 2021
Author entirely fails to understand the characters as they have been developed over six books, and is just making up nonsense about them. Then there is the troublesome bit regarding a secondary protagonist who insists on being from Rhodesia, "not Zimbabwe" (racist dogwhistle). Should be booted from the canon.
April 25, 2009
The action in this book was very well described, very immaculate in detail, and extremely gritty to boot. The plot is well conceived and the isolation makes it all a little more believable. James H. Cobb seems to be a very good addition to the pantheon of covert-one novelists.
February 23, 2015
This book seemed like the author decided to take a completely different direction when compared to the others in the series. All of a sudden the tension is back to where we started between the main characters. I'm glad I had it on audio. Otherwise I would have never made it through its entirety.
November 25, 2008
I love covert one! This one had a lot of possibilities that could have happened. Cobb has done a good job at picking up the thread and style of Ludlum. I hope there will be more covert one novels.
January 10, 2009
A good page-turner to keep you distracted on a long airplane or automobile journey. Features a knife-wielding agent who could be Jason Bourne's twin sister.
February 13, 2009
good story and interesting main character. there are a couple suggestions around violent sexual scenes so not a book for kids
February 25, 2016
Not the best Clancy book I have read - usually can not put them down.
This book seemed to be a re-hashed Alistair Maclean novel - "Ice Station Zebra" which I read over 40 years ago.
This book seemed to be a re-hashed Alistair Maclean novel - "Ice Station Zebra" which I read over 40 years ago.
February 7, 2022
Strong characters, both male and female, not usual in a Ludlum novel. Set in the frozen Arctic, this presents many new challenges for the team and those trying to thwart them.
August 15, 2023
I give this book four stars for holding my attention steadily throughout.
June 29, 2021
This book was published on 2007 but is based on a plot line, and has the feel of, being much closer to the cold war. Although some technology has crept in, it feels more like the 1980s than it does of the 2000s. This, I guess, should not be a surprise as the plot was written by Robert Ludlum before he died and the book was written by James Cobb more recently. Given its heritage, I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It took a few pages but once the plot got laide down, there was lots of action to keep the reader up at night. Almost the entire story takes place on a remote Canadian island where a Russian bomber had crashed on an unmapped mountain glacier in 1953 carrying weapons of mass destruction; nobody knew it was there until its recent uncovering.
This bomber caused excess concern for all concerned. The Canadians were ill equipped to do anything with it, the Americans wanted to ensure that it was really inert and sent a team to explore it for historical purposes; the Russians knew it was not inert and managed to place a member with the US team to ensure that “sensitive” historical issues were never uncovered; and the evil arms merchants wanted to seize and remove the active material, repackage it and sell it to the highest bidder(s). This mix of extraordinary men and very potent women, along with massive, blinding and isolating arctic storms to stir the pot ensured a thrilling ride and lots of plot twists for readers to enjoy.
There is no lack of killing and maiming on this island. Good guys and bad guys all suffer during this fray although most of the serious protagonists come out alive, several suffered physical and mental wounds. The presence and ‘by-the-way’ commonality of the mental wounds is one clear difference from Ludlum’s work of 30 or 40 years ago. So is the inclusion of women in the firing line and their taking of wounds and capture by brutal handlers.
The worst thing about this book is that I am not sure if I can call it military. The Russians are all military and the arms merchants are mostly mercenaries. The US team is only four (plus one Russian soldier). Three are former military and are now in various military or clandestine positions that some might consider to be not exactly military.
With full apology to James H. Cobb this was a surprisingly good, well told story. If you like action thrillers you will enjoy this. Five stars.
This bomber caused excess concern for all concerned. The Canadians were ill equipped to do anything with it, the Americans wanted to ensure that it was really inert and sent a team to explore it for historical purposes; the Russians knew it was not inert and managed to place a member with the US team to ensure that “sensitive” historical issues were never uncovered; and the evil arms merchants wanted to seize and remove the active material, repackage it and sell it to the highest bidder(s). This mix of extraordinary men and very potent women, along with massive, blinding and isolating arctic storms to stir the pot ensured a thrilling ride and lots of plot twists for readers to enjoy.
There is no lack of killing and maiming on this island. Good guys and bad guys all suffer during this fray although most of the serious protagonists come out alive, several suffered physical and mental wounds. The presence and ‘by-the-way’ commonality of the mental wounds is one clear difference from Ludlum’s work of 30 or 40 years ago. So is the inclusion of women in the firing line and their taking of wounds and capture by brutal handlers.
The worst thing about this book is that I am not sure if I can call it military. The Russians are all military and the arms merchants are mostly mercenaries. The US team is only four (plus one Russian soldier). Three are former military and are now in various military or clandestine positions that some might consider to be not exactly military.
With full apology to James H. Cobb this was a surprisingly good, well told story. If you like action thrillers you will enjoy this. Five stars.
May 10, 2024
An intelligent and visceral thriller that gallops along at a rate of knots. The author was well at home making the reader feel the icy arctic wind that continually hit his face. The US ~ Russian alliance at the start of the story drew this reader further into it and it had plenty of twists and turns to keep him entertained. 4 STARS.
Here is: A Top 20 best spy fiction and nonfiction. (In order of date):
1. 'The Quiet American', Graham Greene. (1955).
2. 'The Spy Who Came in From the Cold', Le Carre. (1963).
3. ‘Funeral in Berlin’, Len Deighton. (1964).
4. 'Other Paths of Glory', Anthony Price. (1974).
5. ‘Harry's Game’, Gerald Seymour. (1975).
6. ‘Berlin Game’, Len Deighton. (1982).
7. ‘Home Run’, Gerald Seymour. (1989).
8. 'Other Kinds of Treason', Ted Allbeury. (1990). (SS)*.
9. 'The Line Crosser', Ted Allbeury. (1991).
10. 'A Polish Officer', Allan Furst. (1995).
11. 'Absolute Friends', John Le Carre. (2003).
12. The Slough House series by Mick Herron. (2010 ~ ).
13. 'A Treachery of Spies', Manda Scott. (2018).
14. 'A Long Night In Paris', Dov Alfon. (2019).
15. ‘The Insider’, Matthew Richardson. (2021).
16. 'The Scarlet Papers’, Matthew Richardson. (2023).
17. The Secret Hours’, Mick Herron. (2023).
*(SS): short stories.
Three best non-fiction spy reads:
1. ‘An Officer and a Spy’, Robert Harris. (2013).
2. ‘A Spy amongst Friends’, John McIntyre. (2014).
3. 'Agent Sonya', John McIntyre. (2020).
Here is: A Top 20 best spy fiction and nonfiction. (In order of date):
1. 'The Quiet American', Graham Greene. (1955).
2. 'The Spy Who Came in From the Cold', Le Carre. (1963).
3. ‘Funeral in Berlin’, Len Deighton. (1964).
4. 'Other Paths of Glory', Anthony Price. (1974).
5. ‘Harry's Game’, Gerald Seymour. (1975).
6. ‘Berlin Game’, Len Deighton. (1982).
7. ‘Home Run’, Gerald Seymour. (1989).
8. 'Other Kinds of Treason', Ted Allbeury. (1990). (SS)*.
9. 'The Line Crosser', Ted Allbeury. (1991).
10. 'A Polish Officer', Allan Furst. (1995).
11. 'Absolute Friends', John Le Carre. (2003).
12. The Slough House series by Mick Herron. (2010 ~ ).
13. 'A Treachery of Spies', Manda Scott. (2018).
14. 'A Long Night In Paris', Dov Alfon. (2019).
15. ‘The Insider’, Matthew Richardson. (2021).
16. 'The Scarlet Papers’, Matthew Richardson. (2023).
17. The Secret Hours’, Mick Herron. (2023).
*(SS): short stories.
Three best non-fiction spy reads:
1. ‘An Officer and a Spy’, Robert Harris. (2013).
2. ‘A Spy amongst Friends’, John McIntyre. (2014).
3. 'Agent Sonya', John McIntyre. (2020).
June 23, 2022
It is difficult to give this book a fair review.
Reading this book is like eating crab for years in fine restaurants in Paris and then having a meal of imitation crab in North America.
I would look forward to a pleasurable experience reading a book by Ludlum.
It was challenging, interesting, exciting, vivid, well written.
A book using a plot outline by Ludlum but written by someone else is artificial, imitation, disappointing.
You just don't get the flavor of a Ludlum novel out of your mouth sufficiently to enjoy an imitation.
Maybe I would have enjoyed imitation crab if I hadn't tasted real crab properly prepared and served elegantly. But I tasted real crab first.
This probably isn't a fair review because I am comparing apples to oranges.
I was generous giving it a 3-star rating. I really wanted to close the book after the first few pages but I kept reading it hoping it would get better. It never got up to Ludlum standards. Please don't put his name on the cover ...
Reading this book is like eating crab for years in fine restaurants in Paris and then having a meal of imitation crab in North America.
I would look forward to a pleasurable experience reading a book by Ludlum.
It was challenging, interesting, exciting, vivid, well written.
A book using a plot outline by Ludlum but written by someone else is artificial, imitation, disappointing.
You just don't get the flavor of a Ludlum novel out of your mouth sufficiently to enjoy an imitation.
Maybe I would have enjoyed imitation crab if I hadn't tasted real crab properly prepared and served elegantly. But I tasted real crab first.
This probably isn't a fair review because I am comparing apples to oranges.
I was generous giving it a 3-star rating. I really wanted to close the book after the first few pages but I kept reading it hoping it would get better. It never got up to Ludlum standards. Please don't put his name on the cover ...
March 8, 2022
There is nothing about The Arctic Event by James H. Cobb that I liked. Arctic Event is the story of a wrecked World War II Russian bomber, which crashed in the arctic. We learn that the aircraft has two tons of weaponized anthrax onboard. The Americans must get to the aircraft first before the Russians or some random terrorist group can get there. The book is so poorly written that one never really cares how it ends. As long as it ends. A thriller at a minimum must be believable. And this one was not. As stupid as the premise is, the characters are even worse. We have a group of unbelievable people doing rather unbelievable acts of courage. A good story does not make up for poor writing. And this is not a good story. The Arctic Event should stay in the Arctic, frozen and unread!
September 29, 2019
I enjoyed this adventure/thriller/spy mystery, even though the reader can guess that the good guys (Americans, of course) will prevail over the bad guys (Russians, of course). It is not over the top like James Bond, and it doesn't have the depth of The Hunt for Red October, but has good well-paced action and protagonists that you can't help but admire for their strengths and abilities and like for their gosh-darn nice personalities. The book is set in the Canadian arctic, which adds a sense of the exotic, though I wouldn't want to read this book in the winter. It is a fun read.
October 2, 2020
Discovery of a Russian plane that went down in the Arctic 50 years ago. Russians then asking United States to help them because there's a ton of Anthrax onboard that needs to be recovered before it falls into the wrong hands. A US team is sent to investigate accompanied by a Russian soldier, ostensibly to help. Meanwhile a Russian Spetsnaz team is sent to destroy some incriminating evidence plus a Russian mercenary intent on grabbing the Anthrax to sell to the highest bidder.
Good escapism reading even if a little implausible.
Good escapism reading even if a little implausible.
February 2, 2025
Great instalment of covert one. The book is filled with action, tension, villains and heroes.
The environment was well described and added a lot to the story. There was relatively little political and fluff prose.
Yes, the story is filled with luck - but its believable luck.
The technical military stuff in the book is less technically described than normal which I liked as it usually breaks down the flow of the book for me.
There was one technical mistake in the book - but it is of no consequence.
Thus far only 2 or 3 good books in the series.
The environment was well described and added a lot to the story. There was relatively little political and fluff prose.
Yes, the story is filled with luck - but its believable luck.
The technical military stuff in the book is less technically described than normal which I liked as it usually breaks down the flow of the book for me.
There was one technical mistake in the book - but it is of no consequence.
Thus far only 2 or 3 good books in the series.
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