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The Salamandra Glass
vg 1st Corgi 1984 edition paperback book In stock shipped from our UK warehouse
- GenresThriller
624 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
3 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
A.W. Mykel
7 books7 followersPseudonym of Michael Andaloro
Michael William Andaloro of San Antonio, Texas, passed away January 10, 2022. Born May 23, 1946, in Rochester, New York, he was the youngest son of Nicholas and Maria Andaloro and brother to Andrew. Michael was a creator by nature. He was a trained scientist in biology, chemistry, and physics who ventured into a successful career in business as an implementation specialist and executive.
The mysterious A.W. Mykel (Michael’s pseudonym) hit the literary world in 1980 with his acclaimed first novel "The Windchime Legacy". He later published "The Salamandra Glass" and "The Luxus", which landed on the best seller’s list across the country. His first-rate international spy thrillers have compelling, realistic covert operational action with authentic details outlining the art of assassination.
Michael loved the serenity that surrounded his later years in the Texas Hill Country. He was grateful for the life he lived, thankful for the time he had, and blessed with the family he raised. His sense of humor, generosity, and humanity will live on through us, his family.
Michael was predeceased by his parents, Nicholas and Maria Andaloro; and his daughter, Amber. He is survived by his wife, Beverly; children, Mykel (wife Jackie) and Theron (wife Seungyun); grandchildren, Tristen, Taylor, and Adeline; brother, Andrew; and extended family.
Michael William Andaloro of San Antonio, Texas, passed away January 10, 2022. Born May 23, 1946, in Rochester, New York, he was the youngest son of Nicholas and Maria Andaloro and brother to Andrew. Michael was a creator by nature. He was a trained scientist in biology, chemistry, and physics who ventured into a successful career in business as an implementation specialist and executive.
The mysterious A.W. Mykel (Michael’s pseudonym) hit the literary world in 1980 with his acclaimed first novel "The Windchime Legacy". He later published "The Salamandra Glass" and "The Luxus", which landed on the best seller’s list across the country. His first-rate international spy thrillers have compelling, realistic covert operational action with authentic details outlining the art of assassination.
Michael loved the serenity that surrounded his later years in the Texas Hill Country. He was grateful for the life he lived, thankful for the time he had, and blessed with the family he raised. His sense of humor, generosity, and humanity will live on through us, his family.
Michael was predeceased by his parents, Nicholas and Maria Andaloro; and his daughter, Amber. He is survived by his wife, Beverly; children, Mykel (wife Jackie) and Theron (wife Seungyun); grandchildren, Tristen, Taylor, and Adeline; brother, Andrew; and extended family.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 25, 2019
Recomendo a não leitura.
January 7, 2013
I loved reading this book. It kept my attention till the last page. Can say this only about a few...
January 19, 2018
ik heb genoten van dit boek....aanrader voor degenen die van boeken over WO II en complotten houden!
January 14, 2018
The Salamandra Glass is a long book, full of plot twists, flashbacks in time, a complicated web of connections and missed leads. It tells the story of Michael Gladieux and his quest to solve the puzzle of his father’s murder. He is joined at the outset by his grief-stricken sister Gabrielle and her husband Danny Preston, a rising star on the local police force.
But it quickly becomes evident that there’s more to the story than meets the eye, and the people and powers interested in the death of Christian Gladieux are anything but ordinary.
At the center of the mystery is a beautiful and sinister glass pendant found on the body of Christian Gladieux. The pendant, its maker, and the people who commissioned it—and several matching pendants—are elusive prey even for the most dogged detectives. There are dark forces that will stop at nothing to protect the identities of the other pendant holders and the designs those people have on world domination.
In the course of his investigations, Michael must discover where his true loyalties lie and draw on his past, a past he had hoped he was finished with.
There was a lot of information conveyed in the course of this book, and the machinery of the story wasn’t always behind the scenes. Still, a reader’s patience is rewarded for staying until the end.
But it quickly becomes evident that there’s more to the story than meets the eye, and the people and powers interested in the death of Christian Gladieux are anything but ordinary.
At the center of the mystery is a beautiful and sinister glass pendant found on the body of Christian Gladieux. The pendant, its maker, and the people who commissioned it—and several matching pendants—are elusive prey even for the most dogged detectives. There are dark forces that will stop at nothing to protect the identities of the other pendant holders and the designs those people have on world domination.
In the course of his investigations, Michael must discover where his true loyalties lie and draw on his past, a past he had hoped he was finished with.
There was a lot of information conveyed in the course of this book, and the machinery of the story wasn’t always behind the scenes. Still, a reader’s patience is rewarded for staying until the end.
October 21, 2017
I discovered this book by pure chance. A friend of mine was supposed to read it for class but then the assignment changed and she had to return it to the library. I looked over the title and asked her if she would let me read it before she returned it.
To this day, I regret giving the book back.
It is one of the best war stories ever written, packed with secrets, spies and mysteries on every page. There's humor, there's romance, there's tragedy and then there's the excitement of discovering a well-kept secret which played an important (if not crucial) part in the French Resistance, all from the perspective of Michael Gladieux, battle-scarred survivor in search of truth.
If you ever have the good fortune of discovering a copy of this book anywhere, make it yours immediately. You will not regret it.
To this day, I regret giving the book back.
It is one of the best war stories ever written, packed with secrets, spies and mysteries on every page. There's humor, there's romance, there's tragedy and then there's the excitement of discovering a well-kept secret which played an important (if not crucial) part in the French Resistance, all from the perspective of Michael Gladieux, battle-scarred survivor in search of truth.
If you ever have the good fortune of discovering a copy of this book anywhere, make it yours immediately. You will not regret it.
August 30, 2019
I read the Wind Chime Legacy, many years ago and remembered there was another book - not a sequel. Having read half of this book, really - I just didn't care about the characters , the tory, the plot nor where it was going to end up.
I think partly, one reason is - modern books are written 'differenrtly' whether that is pace, more open language or more presence. more recent writing seems to bring you into the story - the Salamander Glass left you observing .
If I werer younger and had the freedom of reading whatever I liked, I may have persisted to the end- no more; a book has to earn my time and sadly, this didn't.
I think partly, one reason is - modern books are written 'differenrtly' whether that is pace, more open language or more presence. more recent writing seems to bring you into the story - the Salamander Glass left you observing .
If I werer younger and had the freedom of reading whatever I liked, I may have persisted to the end- no more; a book has to earn my time and sadly, this didn't.
September 9, 2020
Read in 1984. Espionage thriller.
January 11, 2021
My second time reading this book. Terrific
July 19, 2023
This is one of the best books I have ever read. The bouncing between time to tell the full story is phenomenal. I wish it had a sequel!
October 27, 2025
A.W. Mykel wrote three well received novels between 1980 - 1991. Three novels and no more. The author seemed to vanish from the planet after 1991 and the three novels, despite enjoying strong sales, went out of print. Turns out A.W. Mykel was a businessman and implementation specialist who approached writing novels as a hobby. His real name was Michael Andaloro and he passed away on January 10, 2022.
At the time Mr. Andaloro's novels were compared to Robert Ludlum. The similarities are obvious. The books are large, the heroes are very capable, the villains are equally capable, and the stories move across continents. The stories are larger than life, somewhat melodramatic and all involve the fate of the world hanging by a thread.
Not being a fan of Robert Ludlum I'm not sure the comparison is a compliment. I have found Ludlum's writing to be cheesy with verbose dialogue. In my opinion Ludlum's writing was old-fashioned melodrama right down to mustache twirling and evil laughter. There are those aspects in Mr. Andaloro's writing, but he is more restrained.
"The Salamandra Glass" is a pretty dense novel clocking in at almost 500 pages and it has a large cast of characters. I would classify it as both a historical murder mystery and a suspense novel. It does take the reader on a few unexpected paths.
It begins with the murder of a famous writer who served with the French Resistance during WWII. Accused of being a collaborator by other former Maquis he is executed as punishment. His family refuses to believe that and they dig into their father's war years to learn the truth. From there things take off.
This is not a full speed, damn the torpedoes type of thriller. It is punctuated with violent episodes, but there are many layers to the plot, and one has to be patient to get to the core. Another reviewer on Goodreads writes that "the Salamander Glass left you observing". That's a fair statement. In many ways it's an older style of writing. In 1983, when the book was published, it was also an older style of writing.
The book is at its strongest when it is taking place in occupied France during World War II. There is some interesting commentary on the French and how many were willing to work with the Germans. It's not as strong when the Big Bad is finally revealed. Regardless it isn't a bad book to dig into. Bedside, vacation, waiting in waiting rooms - that type of reading material. I won't be keeping it, but I don't feel like I wasted my time either.
At the time Mr. Andaloro's novels were compared to Robert Ludlum. The similarities are obvious. The books are large, the heroes are very capable, the villains are equally capable, and the stories move across continents. The stories are larger than life, somewhat melodramatic and all involve the fate of the world hanging by a thread.
Not being a fan of Robert Ludlum I'm not sure the comparison is a compliment. I have found Ludlum's writing to be cheesy with verbose dialogue. In my opinion Ludlum's writing was old-fashioned melodrama right down to mustache twirling and evil laughter. There are those aspects in Mr. Andaloro's writing, but he is more restrained.
"The Salamandra Glass" is a pretty dense novel clocking in at almost 500 pages and it has a large cast of characters. I would classify it as both a historical murder mystery and a suspense novel. It does take the reader on a few unexpected paths.
It begins with the murder of a famous writer who served with the French Resistance during WWII. Accused of being a collaborator by other former Maquis he is executed as punishment. His family refuses to believe that and they dig into their father's war years to learn the truth. From there things take off.
This is not a full speed, damn the torpedoes type of thriller. It is punctuated with violent episodes, but there are many layers to the plot, and one has to be patient to get to the core. Another reviewer on Goodreads writes that "the Salamander Glass left you observing". That's a fair statement. In many ways it's an older style of writing. In 1983, when the book was published, it was also an older style of writing.
The book is at its strongest when it is taking place in occupied France during World War II. There is some interesting commentary on the French and how many were willing to work with the Germans. It's not as strong when the Big Bad is finally revealed. Regardless it isn't a bad book to dig into. Bedside, vacation, waiting in waiting rooms - that type of reading material. I won't be keeping it, but I don't feel like I wasted my time either.
April 15, 2013
I love books in intelligence agencies and secret wars.. Ludlum is my favourite in this genre.. Mykel's book had a lot of that flavour.. It kept me intrigued and hooked.. The only aspect I didn't like is everybody died!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews