The Brotherhood of the Rose (Mortalis, #1) in SSG: Spy/Spec-Ops Group

Oct 03, 2009 Mike (the Paladin) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: spy-fi

One of my favorite writers from a few years ago. David Morrell is (was?) the king of conspiracies (from "a few years ago"). This is the poster child...two orphans raised from a very early age to be part of a group of ultra loyal assassins.

This one stayed with me and it's the one that sent me off finding other books by the author. The characters in this book are very well drawn (one more so than the other I believe) and will create in you a strange sympathy (for the boys...all the boys).

There was ...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Feliks rated it liked it

Shelves: genre-thrillers

So many commentators on the GR page for this book, seem to have absorbed the experience entirely wrong. Be in no doubt: 'Brotherhood of the Rose' is is one of the greatest modern spy thrillers. I'll tell you precisely why, in a moment.

Just be aware first of all, that there was an interval in espionage publishing which had dragged on--just before this title appeared--in which nothing really excellent was being done. Nothing formidable had appeared for a while. Forsyth was quiet, Follett was quiet ...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Roger Weston rated it it was amazing

This book drags me along like a little girl drags a rag doll down the street. The doll ain't getting away. Sometimes the girl shakes the doll or pulls it through the mud. Maybe a dog tries to wrench it away from her, but she wins the tug of war. Likewise, this book pulls me through a rocky adventure. I'm happy to be dragged along.

If you crave adventure stories, you might also try The Golden Catch, a thriller/adventure novel where the action unfolds in the stormy Aleutian Islands.

Roger Weston, ...more

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May 02, 2011 Danielle The Book Huntress rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016-dangerous-hero-challenge, thriller-suspense, covert-ops-soldier, tortured-hero, orphan, covert-agency, assassin, brotherhood, scary-sexy-cool-dangerous-hero, blond-hero

I read this as part of a group read for the Action/Adventure Aficionados group on Goodreads. I'm glad this won the poll because it was a reason to read it sooner rather than later.

This book really shows the world of espionage and assassins in a way that feels realistic. I could be wrong, because I'm neither an assassin nor a spy, big surprise. The author takes the concept of how spies and assassins are made and starts with children who are more or less brainwashed or controlled by the need to p I read this as part of a group read for the Action/Adventure Aficionados group on Goodreads. I'm glad this won the poll because it was a reason to read it sooner rather than later.

This book really shows the world of espionage and assassins in a way that feels realistic. I could be wrong, because I'm neither an assassin nor a spy, big surprise. The author takes the concept of how spies and assassins are made and starts with children who are more or less brainwashed or controlled by the need to please their father figure so that they make highly loyal 'soldiers'.

Saul and Chris are both orphans who meet in a boys school and look to Eliot as their father figure. While Saul seems to thrive in the life of an assassin, it cause Chris serious emotional damage. He is even at the point of a form a suicide which is compatible with his Catholic belief system when Eliot activates him to find Saul. Saul finished a mission for Eliot, but Eliot makes him a patsy in a huge conspiracy that involves the president's friend. When Saul and Chris unite, their loyalty as brothers supersedes the programming of Eliot as their father. From there, it becomes a game of cat and mouse where the master spy learns just how good his students are at the craft he has taught them.

This is a very good action thriller/suspense novel. It's set in the 80s, but it doesn't feel too dated, although the issues are related to that time and it goes back to the early days of what we consider the spy trade. The idea of the Abelard Sanction was brilliant. I don't know if that's real, but it seems like it would be something that actually exists. The training that Chris and Saul get to be assassins is pretty interesting and it goes beyond the typical special forces and martial arts training. One of my favorite aspects of this book was reading about the tradecraft as Saul and Chris try to stay one step ahead of their pursuers. Also liked Erika, a Mossad agent and old lover of Saul, who is Jewish. Morrell looks at religion in natural way. He doesn't treat is as a social ill, but a part of the makeup of people, although it can be manipulated by others, in the case of Chris.

I was sad about the fate of one of the characters. I wished better for that person. That's probably the one thing I would change. Otherwise, I was pretty satisfied with this book. There's even so good humor when Saul mentally torments his 'father' at the Rest Home. I checked and this was a TV movie back in the 80s. I would love a remake.

I recommend this book. ...more

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May 03, 2017 Zare rated it it was amazing

Shelves: action, criminal, crime, adventure, thriller, mercenaries, spies, mafia, military, martical-arts

Re-read, June 2024:

This is one of the books I like to come back often. It is interesting how book is about intelligence community but characters remain independent. This is something that today is possible only in a one-off book or first book in the series, after which main character becomes member of freedom-defending-intelligence-service (khm, khm).....

Excellent story and excellent characters, for a spy story very realistic (and deadly) turn of events. And I always forget the ending, which in ...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Rob Richardson rated it really liked it

Shelves: modern-thrillers

Took me a bit to get into it. Seemed a little slow at first. Ended up being a very riveting book. Being a fan of Spec. Ops/Spy novels this was right up my alley. Loved the time period. I am used to reading more modern (post 9/11) books and this was refreshing.

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