"Agent Sniper", by Tim Tate

The Cold War Superagent and the Ruthless Head of the CIA

This is the story of one of the Cold War’s most effective counter-agents Michal Goleniewski, cover name Sniper. Citing from declassified sources and British and American materials the author details the amazing career of a lieutenant colonel in Poland’s intelligence service and KGB spy who defected to the US in 1961.

This is well-researched but tedious Cold War espionage saga that exposed more than 1600 Soviet bloc spies operating undercover in the West after WW11. From April 1958 to December 1960 Gloleniewski risked his life to smuggle thousands of top-secret Soviet bloc intelligence and military documents and in 1961 with the Polish agents hard on his heels he made a dramatic defection across divide Berlin. To the CIA, he was one of the West’s most valuable counterintelligence sources and the best defector the CIA ever had. But CIA chief James Angleton believed that the Soviet spy was passing bogus leads and distrusted him. By the end of 1963 Goleniewski was abandoned by the US Government and the CIA reneged on its agreement to pay and protect him and secretly briefed journalists that he had lost his mind. But what is the truth...In the final 100 pages; Mr. Tate chronicles 30 years of bizarre behavior until the sniper’s death in 1993 and alternates his narrative with the dysfunctional CIA behavior thus revealing fascinating dirt from the early years of the Agency.

Although filled with riveting facts the account is told with a dry tone and without cinematic punch or thrilling scenes. It is overflowing with minutia details and extensive use of quotes. The pace slows down in the later years after the Sniper’s defection and I found what came next less interesting but in all, this is an account that will arouse our curiosity...

In exchange for an honest and unbiased review I received a copy of this book from St-Martin Press and Netgalley

"The Grapes of Wrath", by John Steinbeck

Set during the great Depression the novel focuses on the Joads, a poor family of farmers driven from their Oklahoma home by drought, hardship, agricultural changes and bank closure forcing them out of work. The Joads set out for California seeking jobs and a future. They represent 1000s of people suffering the same fate. The book orbits around two points: land and family.
The writing style takes us on a front seat ride through the Dust Bowl, Great Depression and the struggles of people during the time. The prose has a tone of passion, anger, sadness and desperation. Its themes: ecological catastrophe, financial collapse, poverty and discrimination.

I found “The grapes of Wrath” to be an immensely frustrating read even with all the high praise this novel has received through the years I just couldn’t get into it and labored through its 464 pages. I fast lost interest has it became more and more difficult to read with each passing chapter. The pacing is so slow it seemed that I was stuck in a Dust Bowl suffocating....The mid-Western State 1930s raw dialectical jargon I am not familiar with was a strong factor. The lyrical chapters, the journalistic language and the lengthy narrative going nowhere and saying little simply were a turn off. The cacophony of imagery and voices the same. But again all these attributes are what most loved about this story.

Having said this:

Mr. Steinbeck does illustrate skillfully the widening gulf between the haves and have-nots, his sympathies towards the desperate are obvious. He gave us an important lesson on perspective and a starting point for discussion on social issues still relevant today. Whether you like it or not this story will resonate and stay in your mind long after the closing page.

Although this novel wasn’t for me, I have no doubt “The Grapes of Wrath” deserves all the honors it received.

Originally published in 1939, this classic novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and in 1962 Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for his achievements.

"The Churchill Sisters", by Rachel Trethewey

The Extraordinary Lives of Winston and Clementine’s Daughters

Diana, Sarah, Marigold and Mary could never forget they were Churchills. They were surrounded by a clan of larger than life characters: their father Winston “the greatest Englishman”, their mother Clementine,” the socialite, their brother Randolph “, the Golden Boy and their eccentric cousins, the Mitford Girls where ever present one way or the other in their lives. This is their story from the time they were born till the day the lights went out.

Drawing on family letters and the copious archived deposits in the Churchill Archives Centre, the author brings to live the remarkable although tragic story of three women: Diana, Sarah and Mary (Marigold died at age 2) each had different characters but all three were imbued with a sense of responsibility toward their father, each other and their country. In alternate chapters we breeze through their intimate saga and their complex family dynamics. It is inevitable that facets of Churchill’s achievements are explored along with his devotion to his daughters and theirs toward him.

Although thousands of books have been written about Winston Churchill but this is the first account focussing on his daughters. The book brings colour into the Churchill saga and gives cinematic glimpses into the privileged. It is well-said, well-researched and interesting.

A lot is said in this book I could go on and on but I will stop here not wanting to remove the enjoyment by giving too much.

I received an advance copy of this book from St-Martin Press and Netgalley for an honest and unbiased review: this is the way I see it.

"Sunrise", by Susan May Warren

Sky King Ranch book#1

With incredibly vivid scenes of the beautiful vistas the story brings us to Alaska in an adventure filled with romance, suspense, mystery and family drama. Alaska is not without its grizzly, wolf and snow storms to leave us shivering while we are immersed into an exciting saga that brought Dodge Kingston, a pilot, back to his family home after a decade away. His former flame Echo Yazzie, a dogsledder and guide, lives a dangerous life that can get her killed. Dodge, still has strong feelings for her. His worst fear is that she could get lost and he won’t be there to find her.....of course she goes missing in a blizzard....grizzly nearby...biting cold ....plus someone is stalking her.....

The descriptions of the landscape, the animals and the nature are breathtaking. Mr. Warren knows her Alaska and its dangerous wilderness and has penned a delightful adventure that deals with forgiveness and how our past affects us, it also dabbles somewhat into religious beliefs.

The plot moves along at a tempered pace and keeps that way throughout. I particularly love when Echo, her girlfriend and her dog sled team got lost and separated triggering an exciting search rescue. Yes, the mystery of the Jane Doe found near a crevasse what is her story and the Russian men what were they doing in Alaska?.. intrigued.... Maybe book #2 will give the answer....

This novel is a good mix of mystery and romance played by a cast of well-rounded main players supported by amazing team.

I enjoyed this book: solid story, well written and well played out. Nicely done.

I received a copy of this book through the First Reviewer Program for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"The Pimlico Murder", by Mike Hollow

The Blitz Detective mystery book # 6

In a few words:

Detective John Jago is dispatched to Pimlico to investigate the suspicious death of Terry Watson, a young man, found in an Anderson shelter. With his assistant Constable Peter Craddock they soon find themselves knee-deep in Pimlico’s shady underworld.

My thoughts:

I love this series although set during wartime the stories are centered on a murder investigation rather than the war itself. All books are standalone, but they are best enjoyed in chronological order.

What caused Watson demise, who is behind his murder and most intriguing why were bricks in his rucksack? History tells us lots of looting happened during the Blitz and where did these shady characters fence their loot? Well, leave the answer in the capable hands of a master storyteller and you will be pulled into an investigation that is hard to put down. This story is dialogue driven; never ending exchange between characters, the style is very lively. Jago and Craddock investigation brings them multiple times facing and questioning bookies, thugs, racketeers and suspects. Definitely this is a gripping and twisty police procedural at its best and one that has kept me intrigued and captivated until the end.

Through the book is Jago’s friend Dorothy Appleton, the American reporter pops in and out. Their relationship is still a cat and mouse game...time to clear the air on this one...:)

In all, “The Pimlico Murder” is a good addition to the series and is a solid mystery full of twits. The Blitz in 1940 has giving the author numerous possibilities and I bet he has more stories to create....

I received a copy of this book from Allison & Busby via Netgalley for an honest and unbiased review: all opinions and comments are my own.

"The London House", by Katherine Reay

In a few words

A scandalous secret kept buried since WW11 is uncovered when Caroline Payne receives a call from Matt Hammond, an old college friend and historian. He discovered that Caroline’s great-aunt betrayed not only her family but also her country by running away with her German lover. Was she a traitor and a Nazi collaborator or is the truth more complex. Together they fly to Caroline’s ancestral home in London where they will spend hours reading diaries, letters and correspondence that will eventually reveal the true secret.....

My thoughts

The timeline jumps from Britain’s World War11, the glamorous 1930’s Paris and the present day. Several narrative threads compete for pace and each is a complicated story in its own. We have Caroline, her great-aunt, her grandmother, her father with all their struggles. The plot is a search for answers and has it moves along it becomes increasingly complex with many unknowns. Each letter brings more questions, is there some truth buries in the past? Eventually, this fast-paced foray into the past cleverly reveals a story of spies, love and heartbreak and what happened one fateful evening in 1941 that shaped future generations. Katherine Reay paints a vivid picture that slowly pulls you in, desperate to know what would happen next. This book is both engrossing and frustrating. The style is deferent, the connections to the past is through old letters and diary entries which in some ways is an interesting concept although with a documentation not in chronicle order of dates and moving back and forth in time and with different views I found reading this book to be quite challenging. Having said this, no doubt this family saga is eloquently said and is written with finesse.

On a side note

I enjoyed seeing that “The London House” dabbled somewhat into the iconic fashion produced by avant-garde Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli. Houses of Haute Couture around the world continue to this day to look at Paris for stylistic inspiration.

I closed this book with mixed feelings not totally enjoying it then again not hating it either. Up to you to read and see for yourself.

I received this book from Harper Muse and Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review: this is the way I see it.

"Watching Darkness Fall", by David McKean

FDR, His Ambassadors and the Rise of Adolph Hitler

“Watching Darkness Fall” is of considerable interest for those fascinated in history especially in the Roosevelt era. The account provides us with a broad-ranging study of the role of ambassadors in delivering information about the rise of Europe’s regimes from 1933 to 1941.

Mr. McKean delivers a biography of four American diplomats as they struggle to handle the rise of fascism. The information taken from diaries, letters and records reveals that the President counted on his ambassadors in France, Germany, Great Britain and Italy to collect information needed to make proper decisions. All but one of FDR’s ambassadors misjudged Hitler and his intentions.

From the perspective of Joseph Kennedy, William Dodd, Breckinridge Long and William Bullitt who witnessed the rise of the Third Reich firsthand often communicated with the president to inform him. McKean argues that although Roosevelt was more interested in domestic concerns at the time he was also very skeptical of his emissaries’ correspondence. Eventually Roosevelt intelligence channels led him away from being cautious over international involvement to the certainty that his country would be facing a European war. Then Pearl Harbor happened and all changed.

This account covers a lot and is so loaded with facts and people it can be overwhelming at times, I know I was and needed to put it aside multiple times and concentrate on something lighter. Although, this book is a long read and a tedious one the vivid depiction of the individuals will make the reader (me) want to pursuit and not abandoned it in order to broaden knowledge, we learn a lot: not only of FDR but also the diplomatic dance before America plunged into the war and what transpired during the event all the way to FDR collapse and death and beyond his tenure. I could say more but this is one of those books that should be read and appreciated individually.

No doubt, “Watching Darkness Fall” is an interesting book for all. Historical buffs will love it and rookies will have their interest piqued.....and some will pass on it, definitely not for everyone.

I would like to thank St-Martin Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

"A Web of Secrets", by Roberta Kagan

Jews, The Third Reich and A Web of Secrets book #3

“A Web of Secrets” brings to a close a heart wrenching and moving historical WW2 fiction trilogy. The stories in each installment revolve around two sisters: Kara and Anka and in each episode we discover more details how the war affected their lives. It is always preferable to read books in sequence and I strongly suggest you do this.

In the 3rd story we go back in time when Oskar was a young boy growing up in Germany being indoctrinated into a system he was forced to be part of. Then we move to the war and Oskar takes center stage while Kara, his loving wife, is still ignorant that her beloved Oskar is the sadistic commandant in Auschwitz and to everyone who he takes a dislike to. More killing and more surprises awaits us in this terrible family saga.

Will she see the true him? What about Abram the father of her son will he survive the horror of the camp? How about Anka where will her life lead? All this is answered through the vivid lines Ms. Kagan expertly penned for our enjoyment in the final book. It is a page-tuner, no doubts.

Once I opened this book I didn’t want to put it down although at midway I asked myself seems I read this before why rehashing the past stories, then it came clear that the repetitions were warranted in order for those who haven’t read the previous books get up to speed, although I find this to be a bit of an irritant. That aside, the story is action packed, emotional and filled with naïve love. I like the characters even the evil Oskar , all were well- drawn so much so that I wanted many times to slap Kara for her to acknowledge how manipulative her killer of a husband was. But eventually Oskar secrets caught up to him and his careful crafted life crumbled around him.....and awe what an ending....

I hate to see this series end but it was a good journey reading it. Thank you, Ms. Kagan for providing hours of enjoyment to your reader.

I received this book from The Book Whisperer via Netgalley for my thoughts.