Lie Down with Lions in Espionage Aficionados

Nov 04, 2012 Greg rated it it was ok

Shelves: historic-fiction, espionage

The book was long for no reason, seriously needed to be condensed.

The author spends pages and pages on details that are unnecessary and can often start you wondering, "Why am I still reading this?".

In contrast, the ending was wrapped up very quickly as if the author had many more chapters to go and the editor/publisher said "FINISH IT!". The sequence of events leaves the reader shaking his head as it is so out of line with the other events and uncharacteristic of the behaviors of the character ...more

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Jul 31, 2014 Philip rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars, afghanistan-iraq-iran, fiction-standalone, 1980s, war-fiction

Perhaps not the greatest book, but it was the first I ever learned of Ahmad Shah Masood, the legendary mujaheddin commander known as the "Lion of Panjshir," and generally considered the all-around "best hope for the future of Afghanistan" - right up until he Osama bin Laden blew him up on Sept 9, 2001 as part of the whole 9/11 attack.*

Interestingly, this was published just two years before "Rambo III" came out; back when supplying stingers to the proto-Taliban still seemed like a good idea, whe ...more

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Jun 11, 2025 Will Perkins rated it liked it

Somewhat formulaic spy thriller with a love triangle. What’s impressive is that it was written in 1985 during the Soviet invasion of Afganistan and includes lots of interesting details and observations about the war, the mujahideen, and American assistance.

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Mar 22, 2009 Sandi rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-mystery-thriller-suspense, audio, read-2007

A CIA operative is sent to Afghanistan to help with the war against the Russians. Lots of action, thrills, and overdone sex scenes. A nicely performed audio.

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