Angel Eyes

by Eric Van Lustbader

"Gripping...Spellbinding...A suspense novel that kill keep you glued to its pages."
THE MIAMI HERALD
Unknown to one another, three brilliant determined women in Tokyo, Washington, and Moscow will ignite events that not only decide the fates of drug runners and Japanese Yakuza members, intelligence agents and arms brokers, but that could also change the face of the world map. They are all actors in a devious and deadly drama, where treachery awaits them at every turn, and enemies look like friends to the uninitiated....


From the Paperback edition.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Action, Espionage, Suspense

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Eric Van Lustbader was born and raised in Greenwich Village. He is the author of more than twenty-five best-selling novels, including The Ninja, in which he introduced Nicholas Linnear, one of modern fiction's most beloved and enduring heroes. The Ninja was sold to 20th CenturyFox, to be made into a major motion picture. His novels have been translated into over twenty languages.

Mr. Lustbader is a graduate of Columbia College, with a degree in Sociology. Before turning to writing full time, he enjoyed highly successful careers in the New York City public school system, where he holds licenses in both elementary and early childhood education, and in the music business, where he worked for Elektra Records and CBS Records, among other companies.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/ericva...

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very complex espionage novel that starts in Argentina, then goes all over the world.

A bit esoteric for me.

[Darcee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long. Complex. A masterful blending of 3 story lines across 3 continents to a crossroads finish. An exploration into different cultures and character psyche. I will read more of this author.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the book I nail my 2016 Reading Challenge and the one before I go into my "no time to read books" couple of months, this was a pretty good one. I've enjoy Lustbader's work usually but it's pretty formulaic most of the time. Here, felt like he spread his wings a bit and came up with something interesting, if not exactly perfect. I will say the first 400 pages I thought "man, this would make a hell of a movie"....and the end (my paperback was 512) made me rethink that a bit, but was still pretty entertaining.

Core of the story surrounds three women who don't know each other but in some way all find themselves embroiled in a deep international conspiracy that touches the jungles of Argentina, the back alleys of Tokyo, the inner sanctums of Moscow and other space....oh, and a nice condo in San Fran....blood is spilled every few pages as the tables just continue to get turned. Drug smuggling used to cover nuclear smuggling isn't even in the top 10 of crazy events, and a dolphin who can carry on conversations with one of the characters has a pretty big part late. Lustbader's attempts at a more mystical view on things sometimes fell flat to me, but in total a real good read and one that I still think would make for a decent movie along the lines of a Janet Bourne type thing.

[Christian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't particularly thrilled with this book. The tale of three strong women whose stories crossed in a supposedly unexpected fashion. While each of the stories had their own charm, and i personally liked Tori Nunn, the supposed main heroine best, the connection between the plots appeared forced, I don't want to say Lustbader wrote predictable, but I was very certain early on what the main twist was supposed to be the identity of the Hero . Also the age old topic of trust and betrayal was used here again, and not necessarily in the most original way.

As a note on the writing Lsutbader uses repeatedly the same phrases, especially with Honno/Koy in her self reflection, but the same is true in smaller degree for all characters. I usually find this annoying.

[Bradley Valentine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm open to the idea that I've given an unfair grade here. I can't tell. I've never been so certain in my ire right off the bat. I like genre. I love it. This story just feels like a traitorous bore. Something about authors who write about a woman's body like "her wet sex.". You just get the feeling like the author could have felt like this was some classy genre stuff. I suspect the author began the whole project when he was a pre teenager with the title Angel Eyes. This whole thing just wasn't for me. People who like this book see that sax guy in Lost Boys (1987) and are really into him without the giggle. Make of that what you will.

[Mitch Fountain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know whether I need to read it again to pull all the pieces together a little sooner, or whether it just jumps around a little too much for me to follow. Some great characters, some stereotypical bad guys (and girls). This was my first by this author, I think a little research is required, then buy what folks say is his best. If he writes better stuff than this, then it is worth a read. This wasn't bad.

[LateShowDave · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best 80’s action movie never made. from the cocaine-militia rife jungles of south america, to thrumming cyberpunk japan, to the grey world of soviet bureaucracy, three (at least) incredible women discover their opinions of and places in this violent Man’s World.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this back in the 90s. Read again. Just read Tori Nunn’s section. Love her super spy ninja talents. Wish there was a follow up book.

[Donald Trump · Rating 2 out of 5]

Low Energy!
** 2 Stars.

[Valerie Cornide · Rating 5 out of 5]

El primer libro que leí de Eric Van Lustvader, y el que me cautivó por completo. Luego he leído otros títulos pero ninguno supera a este.

[Ренета Кирова · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Операция "Бялата звезда"" на Ерик Лустбадер е шпионски екшън, трилър и мистерия от 90-те години. Лусбадер е много добър в описанието на героите си. Действието не препуска, а тече плавно с много неочаквани обрати.
Книгата ни пренася в различни страни - Колумбия, Япония и Русия по време на перестройката. Описва подробно престъпните групировки от тези страни, но най-много се спира на организацията на якудза и японската душевност. Поглежда философски на света и престъпността, вмъква елементи на мистика. Всъщност сюжетът се върти около три жени от различни краища на света, всяка със своите проблеми. И трите се оказват замесени с "Бялата звезда" - международен грандиозен заговор.

[Ed · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up 50 pages into this overdone, incomprehensible, slow moving disappointment. To call the writing style turgid would attribute to it a liveliness it doesn't deserve.

I was a fan of Lustbader's when he was writing the Nicholas Linnear series but something has changed, perhaps my appreciation for Lustbader's writing.

From the sound of other reviews, I'm not totally alone in my opinion. Just the thought of hanging in there for another 470 pages moved me to move on, something I don't usually do.

[J. Ewbank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lustbader is one of a kind. His novels are always suspenceful, and can be worldwide with its implications. This books is a good read, involving technology which affects the world, our knowledge and exploration of deep space and shiftingl politics in our world.

Mystery, and suspense readers will enjoy this book!

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

[Theophilus (Theo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned that there can be women super-spy martial arts heroes and the story is just as good as one with a male protagonist. Lustbader takes three different women in three different parts of the world and draws them together in a logical and seamless story.

[Andrew Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very complicated story which at times let the details of the characters' actions overshadow the principal story. In actuality, the real story did not surface until near the end of the book. Lengthy book.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this!!!!!!!!!

[Fangdangled · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story! I am a big martial arts fan and loved this book. The female protagonist is likable yet dark. The story unfolds methodically but is action packed. It's a fund read.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the story but jumped around a lot.