A Spy With Scruples

by Gary Dickson

The unintended consequences of acing a test . . . or when all else fails, try blackmail.

In July of 1964, after marrying in Paris, Desirée and Scott Stoddard are honeymooning in the South of France when their idyll is interrupted by a notice from Scott’s draft board advising him that his status is being reviewed. Desirée, the former French countess who is already three months pregnant, doesn’t understand why her new husband, an American, must traipse off to some military base in Germany to be tested. Scott’s remarkable scores on the tests attract the attention of the CIA, and Scott, much to his dismay, becomes part of their world of intrigue and deceit. How can he get back to the life that he and Desirée had envisioned? When all else fails, blackmail is the answer.

A Spy with Scruples plunges readers into the complicated political world of Cold War Europe. From neutral Switzerland to the aristocratic salons of Paris to bombed-out Berlin, Scott ingratiates some and offends more. But he has a plan.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery

282 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2020

About the author

Gary Dickson is an inveterate traveler and a Francophile sans merci. Educated in the United States and the University of Lausanne in Switzerland in history, literature, and the classics, Gary lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Susie.

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hard one to review. The cover is gorgeous. The story is very good. But - there are quite a few buts. It started very slow, in fact the pace was never that fast. It’s a spy story so I expected some twists, a convoluted story perhaps and I really love that stuff but it got so knotty at times I struggled to follow it once we got into the nitty gritty.

The other thing that struck was the tone of the writing was very dispassionate, where was the emotion? Also the main characters were in the glitterati, the jet set, filthy rich and happy to flaunt it. This is so far removed from my life and, I would suggest, many others that this, along with the dispassionate writing made it difficult (well impossible for me) to relate to or identify with any of the characters. The style was also odd. Set in the mid 1960s during the height of the Cold War and the ramping up of the Vietnam War, all the lavish parties, rich dinners and lengthy descriptions of designer clothing and jewellery gave it a feel more like the 50s, almost Gatsby although that is earlier again. I can see that many would really enjoy this and the writer certainly has something. Unfortunately I didn’t find much of it this time around. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the book to review. It is currently available.

[Joann 'bartunek' prashek · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started reading the book like I do all the others, with an open mind. I painstakingly made it to 52% completed could NOT endure the torture any longer. I'm sure. For me, is twas just a lot of words that never went anywhere. Definitely did not live up to my expectations.

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

An American guy who married a French (and Swiss) Countess is forcibly recruited by the CIA to do...nothing much. He starts out as a journalist, writing fake stories about the Gulf of Tonkin incident...which was faked. He tries to hide all this from his wife and family.

Not very exciting, but full of snob appeal.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are expecting a spy novel the likes of Robert Ludlum or even Ian Fleming then this isn't it. It was very slow moving and probably what being a spy is really like. Scott Stoddard is newly married to the beautiful and very rich Desiree. He is a college student in Switzerland and she is a 29-year-old divorcee. The book takes place in 1964 and Scott's status for the draft is changed to 1-A. He is tested for the service and does so well he is forced to work for the CIA undercover or be sent to Vietnam.

I felt the writing was flat and one-dimensional. It was the 60's but I had no feel for the time frame other than the Vietnam war being mentioned. Desiree is hounded by paparazzi but it was never explained what made her so fascinating other than her money. As Scott's wife and mother of his child the character was never developed other than a pretty thing with good clothes and a great deal of money and a social life that means a lot to her. Scott seems resentful that he is forced to work for them and wants to be fired but he also seems to be doing what he can to accomplish their goal even while being a bit rebellious. I never did understand what exactly Scott was doing. With a half hour left in the book when I should be getting excited for the conclusion I found I no longer cared what he was doing or why.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my opinion.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

While on his honeymoon Scott Stoddard receives notice to report for testing. He is a United States citizen living in Geneva going to school when he meets his wife, Desiree. In order not to be called up as a 1-A draftee he changes his citizenship from U.S. to Swiss and French. Then he starts doing journalism as a cover working for the the U.S. government. Scott makes himself known as a controversial figure to draw the attention of people the government is wanting to know more about. I thought the story was good but got a little drawn out in places.

[oohlalabooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the cover & blurb, a spy mystery set during the Cold War. It's a bit slow paced with more dialogue than action. The characters of Scott & Desiree are relatable as new parents. Thanks to Greenleaf for this Goodreads giveaway. This is my honest review.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, entertaining and engrossing. I liked the vivid historical background, the cast of characters and the plot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Amy Gennaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

A big thank you to the author Gary Dickson, the publisher Greenleaf Book Press and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my candid review.

This is the second book about the same characters. It is about an American Man who marries a very rich Swiss Countess and proceeds to live the good life. Until the US CIA decides to recruit him as a spy. The story is still interesting and is set in the background of the 1960's European glam tram. Realizing that he will never be able to life a free life while embroiled with the CIA, our protaganist proceeds to look for a way to blackmail someone into letting him go.

The story takes us to Paris, Geneva, Zurich, Berlin, St. Moritz and all around Europe. I love the story mainly for the intimate look into the experiences of the rich and beautiful in 1960's Europe.

[Donna172 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the coninuation of Scott Stoddard and Desiree's story which began with the book "An Improble Pairing." Although their story began with "An Improbably Pairing," "A Spy with Scruples" could very well be read as a stand alone. The historical fiction spy story begins with the newlywed couple's live's begin quickly disrupted by Scott's being sent to a military base in Germany to be tested. They fear that he will be drafted into the US Army. Scott's remarkable scores on the tests make him a perfect candidate for the CIA and he is quickly invited into a world of political corruption and deceipt. He has no choice but to accept this invitation or he would be drafted. Scott accepts a position as a journalist (whose writing causes many eyes to be opened), but all along he has a plan to get out. This is the story of how incredibly crafty he is. The last book focused almost entirely on Scott and Desiree's relationship but in this one, their relationship is far less at the forefront. Told through a third person point of view, the characterization seems to take a back seat in this novel. This book is all about plot! Gary Dickson's style of writing made it easy for me to follow a storyline which I typically would have had a hard time following since my background knowledge of this time period is not all that it should be. All in all, I found this an enjoyable read! Thank you to Greenleaf Publishing for the ARC!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scott Stoddard is enjoying his honeymoon in the South of Fance in 1964.  Scott, an American student studying in Geneva has just married the former Countess de Rovere, Desiree in an unexpected and whirlwind romance when a letter from the draft board appears saying his status is under review.  Scott must now report to a base in Germany to be tested and then tested again only to learn that the CIA is forcing him to train as a spy and use his new social status to gain information and pass it along.  Scott is not pleased about how he has to go about his duty, keep secrets from his new wife and spend time away from his baby daughter.  However, he finds a way to use this position for good as well as finding a way back to his life. 
A Spy With Scruples is the sequel to An Improbable Pairing, while this could be read as a stand-alone it is helpful to know Scott and Desiree backgrounds and romance.  This picks up right after the first book with the couple enjoying married life and waiting for the arrival of their new baby.  Much like the first book, A Spy with Scruples is a tour of the opulence and luxury of the upper class European community.  The descriptions dazzle with the dress of the time period, the hotels, restaurants and cuisine, vacation resorts and parties.  Desiree shines with her charm and intellect, I'm not at all surprised that she caught on to Scott's situation.  Scott remains one of the luckiest and fast-thinking men ever; even though he was in a less than desirable situation, it was better than having to fight in Vietnam.  Scott's time as a spy was filled with suspense, but not a lot of action.  Through his articles and meetings, I was able to see the many intricacies of the influences of different European countries during the Cold War.  I particularly liked his interviews with Vietnamese families and tracking of former Nazi's.  Overall, A Spy with Scruples offers a different kind of spy thriller focused on the gathering of information.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.  

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gary Dickson’s An Improbable Pairing introduced the love story of American student Scott Stoddard and Desiree, a countess. The obstacles that they faced seemed insurmountable, but nothing could keep them apart. He continues their story in A Spy With Scruples. Scott has returned to his studies as they await the arrival of their first child. War is raging in Vietnam Nam but Scott feels secure with his student deferment until a letter arrives instructing him to report to Germany for testing as they re-evaluate his draft status. Achieving exceptional scores brings him to the attention of Intelligence.

Scott’s recruitment is not a matter of choice. If he turns them down he will have to report for duty and leave his wife and child behind. He can not tell anyone, including his parents and Desiree, about his position and activities. School is put on hold as he begins to work as a contributor to a small but prestigious publication. His articles are of a radical nature and written for him by the CIA. He is instructed to accept contacts from certain responders to his articles in an attempt to discover their major supporters and gather intelligence.

As Scott’s articles generate more interest he begins to submit several of his own. His increased activity takes time away from his family and he must walk a fine line to keep his family and his handler satisfied. It disturbs him that he can not be honest with Desiree and he begins to look for ways to force his handler to end his hold over him. As a spy, he is not James Bond or Jason Bourne, but a family man who deals in information. His relationship with Desiree is warm and loving and he has a strong sense of duty. There are no hi-tech gadgets or incredible car chases, but it is an excellent look at Cold War activities and the life of a spy. I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing a copy of this book for my review.

[Kathleen]

Review of A Spy with Scruples

I received this book as an ARC from Smith Publicity, Inc., and am providing an honest review.
Scott Stoddard is twenty-one years old and a graduate student studying in Switzerland. He is newly married to wealthy socialite Desiree, a former countess. The year is 1964, and the war in Vietnam is ramping up. Scott receives what every young American male at that time dreaded, a notice that his draft status was being reviewed.
After receiving extremely high scores on a test at a military base in Germany, Scott is contacted by the CIA, and they give him no choice but to use his position and intellect to work with them. He plays the game, but his goal is to quit the game. However, he cannot quit without endangering his wife and the child they are expecting.
Scott is instructed to begin submitting articles to a small political publication. The intention is to draw out the political operatives who are bound to be upset by his opinions. The original articles are written for him, but he soon begins to write his own for his own purposes. Scott learns to manipulate the manipulators, and find himself traveling between Paris, Geneva, and Berlin, and even into East Berlin, to meet with leaders and operatives on both sides and with varied opinions on the war building in Southeast Asia.
I admired the character of Scott Stoddard, because he is what the title states – a spy with scruples. This novel is a refreshing change from typical spy stories where the heroes rely on violence and duplicity to accomplish their goals.

[Regula · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a child I was intrigued by anything spy. As a grown up, I realize, of course, that the spy life cannot possibly be as thrilling as the books/movies make. Well, Dickson managed to write a boring book about a boring spy! This almost turned into a DNF, but having committed to writing a review I kept plodding on in the hopes that it would improve. And it did - at 85% into the book.

I'm an avid historical fiction and mystery reader. Maybe I expected too much. Here was a spy novel, playing in Switzerland, my home for the first 25 years of my life, playing during the time my parents met. Yet, this story left me absolutely unengaged, bored, and at times confused.

I think the blame lies with the writing style. It is 90% tell and 10% show. It reminded me so much of when my children read a great book and then tell me in extreme detail the whole story. All the information feels secondhand, as if the author is telling you what he will write about, but never quite gets to it.
It took me weeks (instead of hours) to read, partially because after each couple of paragraphs I would catch myself rewriting the page in my head in a way I would find intriguing. So the best I can recommend this book for is as a writing project in a creative writing class teaching show instead of tell.

I received a free ARC from Netgalley for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

[Jill Rey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been pondering how to properly dissect this read. An Improbably Pairing was such a flirty, coming to Switzerland story as Scott Stoddard is knocked off his feet by the Countess de Rovere, a woman so far out of his league an improbably but perfect pairing they make. So, when I learned of this second novel I expected more of the same.

First, I was pleasantly surprised to encounter that this second read was strong enough to hold as a standalone. Providing enough history to both refresh one's memory of the first while not feeling like those diving into book two were really missing out. Where book one spun a pleasurable love story, book two created an atmosphere of deception, guilt and intrigue. One of my favorite aspects of the Stoddard's, and subsequently Dickson's storytelling, is that while Mrs. Stoddard, or the former Countess de Rovere, is a strong and powerful character yet the story remains primarily dedicated to Scott and his more American views as he aims to maintain his own success outside of the intrigue and celebrity of his new wife. Furthermore, Dickson chooses to address the Vietnam war from an entirely unique angle. Providing the readers with an international, espionage angle while maintain the aristocratic, deliberate and formal writing we've come to enjoy in the first book.

*Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Madelon · Rating 4 out of 5]

As spy novels go, this one seems a bit on the bland side. Perhaps the world of spies is more like that which is described here than it is in the books and stories to which we are accustomed. It is not a fast paced story; it is, in human terms, very easy to accept. It is politically very interesting.

The Vietnam War Era was a fraught period in both American and world history. Keeping this time period in mind, the events leading to Scott Stoddard's recruitment seem more believable than I would believe could happen today. I found myself looking at the incidents told here from the point of view of a student (in 1964) and a member of the military (1966). By 1969, I found myself in a march against the war.

I believe that for at least the first two thirds of the book, I was leaning toward a 3-star review; however, upon completion and further reflection, and the very good writing, it does indeed deserve a 4-star rating.

Those of us who grew up reading Ian Fleming and Frederick Forsyth will inevitably look for action and nail biting situation in a spy thriller. Gary Dickson gives us a different look by providing a more mundane experience. A spy need not be capable of jumping tall buildings in a single bound, he can be a rather intelligent, albeit normal, guy who can get the job done and walk away unscathed.

[Linda Beilstein · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was given this book to read in exchange for an honest review. I have to say I didn't really like this book. I had read the first book about these characters and although there were a couple things that irritated me in the book, it was still an enjoyable read (An Improbable Pairing). This next book that continued the story was very difficult to get through. It covers the first couple years of the characters marriage and a time period when Scott became a spy. No he became a double spy. No it was really a triple spy. Well maybe it was???? What it was was very confusing to keep up with. He had numerous "contacts" with the various organizations he was spying for and some of them used more than one name or had changed names throughout their careers. I wish when all those people had started showing up that I had started a cheat sheet to keep track of everyone. But by the time I realized I needed a cheat sheet I was too far along to go back and create one. I slogged through until the end because I wanted to see if they ever returned to a normal life but it was a battle to stick with it from about 60% on. I'm not much into the spy type books so maybe that the issue but it was just too confusing. I'm not sure how Scott even kept track of all the people he was dealing with and all the "signs" he had to keep track of to communicate with them all.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book but, I struggled to get through it. Scott, the main character, is placed on a fact-finding mission for his unknown employer. Throughout the book the reader is subject to the internal struggles that Scott faces in regards to his duty, morality, and the safety of himself and his family. To some extent, all readers can relate to these struggles as they are something we all experience when placed in difficult, uncomfortable, and unwanted situations where one must choose the lesser of two evils. On the other hand, I found that this book was, for the most part unrelatable. Scott is part of an elite and wealthy class that doesn't go through the daily trials and tribulations of the much more common middle-working class.

I also found that this book was slow, drawn out, and lacked the action that a reader would expect from a spy novel. Although, the detailed descriptions of Scott's life and surroundings were great they were often repetitive and unnecessary. At times I felt like I was reading a screenplay with the amount of dialogue and extra descriptions that were present. This book didn't enrapture my attention as much as I had hoped it would.

[Scilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 1964 and Scott Stoddard, an American graduate student in Geneva, has just married a wealthy countess, Desiree in Paris and they are honeymooning in Provence when Scott receives a draft notice. Desiree is three months pregnant, and they just want to be together and have fun. However, Scott reports to a base in Germany to get his physical and take some tests. Then, he needs to be tested again. It turns out that he has done so well on these tests that he is being recruited by the CIA.

Scott gives up his US citizenship and becomes a Swiss and French citizen. He begins writing articles for a left-wing newspaper complaining about the Vietnam War and other thinks and gets an in with German student activists and a left wing Paris group. Meanwhile, Desiree has the baby, Celene, and Scott would like to spend more time with them instead of bouncing back and forth to Berlin and Paris. He keeps asking his director in the CIA to be let off. He finally makes a plan which works.

The story is not really realistic, but it's a good yarn with humor, well told, and I enjoyed it.

[Sallie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher Greenleaf Book Group for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a spy novel which really drew me to it as I usually enjoy this type of read. An American Student studying in Geneva marries a beautiful, wealthy, Countess. He thinks his life is perfect. While on his honeymoon he receives a draft notice to serve in the Vietnam War. He does not want to go and considers giving up his citizenship so he can avoid it. He goes to Germany to be tested and does so well that he finds himself being approached by the CIA to become an agent. The story just does not seem believable on so many levels. I finished the book but just did not love it. Although it is set in the Vietnam era it is not a Vietnam book. It deals mostly with activities in Switzerland, France and Germany.

I found the title of the book to be great but the book was a slow read and one I just could not get excited about it.

[Kim Bakos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this novel had focused more on Scott and Desiree, and well as their new addition, Celine. Getting married and becoming parents always changes people and their relationships - it would have been nice to see this explored.
This story focused on Scott's involvement w/ the CIA, after he is recruited and his only other choice is to go to fight in Vietnam. The 60s is a period about which I have not read much, so it was interesting to see more of the international politics of this era.
As another review said, one usually thinks of spy work as being exciting, but not so much, at least in this story. Lots of waiting around, hoping to get one little bit of information or insight. It is disheartening to realize that the US is just as shady as the rest of the countries, but we somehow manage to justify our actions by the ideals we are trying to achieve. I'm not convinced that the end does always justify the means.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Spy with Scruples was a very emotional read for me. I don't know if it was just because we had been watching We were Soldiers and Young and this was another view of what the Vietnam War took from others, or it created some anger in me for a war that seemed needless.

I enjoyed the mystery of this book. I felt that it moved quickly, revolved around Scott Stoddard and Desiree in a way that it wasn't overindulgent of Desiree's desires over the war effort.

It was entertaining, emotional as I said, and as the book description says, complicated.

I am not sure that this was my type of book, but those who love historical fiction and mysteries will want to read this book.

I give this book 3.5 stars

Thank you, Netgally and River Grove Books for letting me read this book in lieu of my honest review.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, if you think this is going to be your regular spy novel with twists, you are sadly mistaken. There are no twists or turns. Second, it starts out slow and stays slow for most of the book, though it did pickup about chapter 42, but slowed back down by chapter 44. The chapters aren't real long, so the speed up was quick.

Also, the whole concept was just off. I mean the guy is married to a rich woman and they flaunt their wealth. How many people can relate to that? Not many. The way he was recruited didn't seem right to me either. But, then I am not a spy and no nothing about it, except from other books I read. There was no passion in the writing, either. That may be why it was just meh to me.

Overall, if you like spy novels, I would just skip it.
Thanks Netgalley for the Kindle Version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Firetruckmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a Kindle copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

The cover of this book attracted me, along with the title. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but a few pages in I thought "Oh, maybe this will be a take of Nick and Nora Charles- she has money, he's a spy instead of a detective." Nope. Not close. While the last few pages gives a bit of a hint toward the wife's background story, her role in the book was basically window dressing. Ditto that of the daughter - sadly.

But, I think my main issue with the book (that others have mentioned) is that it was a lot of telling, not showing. Additionally, the story dragged in a number of places. The idea was interesting, but it wasn't executed in a completely satisfying way for me.

[Abigail Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was interested in reading this book because I enjoy spy tales. The author has a good story line, set in Europe during the Vietnam War. An American who has married a wealthy European woman, is anxious to enjoy family life. But in order to avoid the draft, Scott is given the opportunity to spy instead of returning to America to join the military. While many of the details are interesting, there was a lot of confusion about what the objective was. The story was slow and I had a difficult time keeping engaged and following who was who.
I did find the history of the Vietnam era from the viewpoint of those living in Europe, eye opening. I'm sure a lot of research went into this book.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to #aspywithscruples by Gary Dickson after reading #animprobablepair but I’m afraid it was a little disappointing to me. This book follows Scott more closely than Desiree as he is the title character and she has just had their baby. It is pretty much void of the glittering lifestyle we saw in the first book and totally about the machinations of Scott, his handlers and the opposition. While it was interesting it didn’t have the zing of the first book and at times felt contrived and a bit unbelievable. I thank #netgalley and the publishers for this ebook to read and review

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued to read this book after reading the synopsis. I really like political dramas and thrillers. But sadly, this book failed to keep me intrigued. It was a lot difficult to get into the story. I expected the characters to have the 60s depth, but they are heavily fictionalised. The world during cold war is portrayed beautifully by the author. I would recommend this book solely for understanding the complicated times during the cold war.
Thank you NetGalley, the author and River Grove Books for a reader’s copy of this book. The review is based only on my opinion of the book.

[Katie Galucki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat better than the first book, "An Improbable Pairing," but still lacking in depth. The chemistry between Scott and Desiree is referred to frequently, but I just did not feel it - and the repeated reference to their sex life being a barometer to how their relationship was doing got old very quickly, especially since the same phrasing was used often in the first book as well. Was hoping for better connection with the characters after a second book, but it just did not deliver. Good premise to the story, needed a lot more detail and depth to be more believable.

[Trick Wiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this from Net Gallery! "The Spy With Scruples" is a very unusual spy mystery book. Very well written and mysterious on who these people are that want Scott to give up so much for information and he doesn't even know who "they" are! Very rich indeed on the adventures he comes across and he is a American who "they" want him to give up living in Europe during the 1960's Viet Nam era. Have to say this book had me reading more and more to find out who"they" are and does he get out of the clutches of "these" people safely and still alive!

[Trick Wiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this from Net Gallery! "The Spy With Scruples" is a very unusual spy mystery book. Very well written and mysterious on who these people are that want Scott to give up so much for information and he doesn't even know who "they" are! Very rich indeed on the adventures he comes across and he is a American who "they" want him to give up living in Europe during the 1960's Viet Nam era. Have to say this book had me reading more and more to find out who"they" are and does he get out of the clutches of "these" people safely and still alive!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really mixed feelings about this spy novel. The plot itself was interesting and a bit different from most secret agent stories; however, the tone seemed a bit flat and it moved too slowly in places. Also, without having read the previous story in this series, the new marriage of Scott and Desiree didn't have any heat for me. So, bottom line, I enjoyed the CIA aspects of the story but would have liked to have had the intensity and pacing revved up. Perhaps, when we see Scott again?
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.