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Series: ----------
Author: Kenneth Royce
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 285
Words: 92.5K
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Synopsis: |
In the aftermath of Chernobyl, a patient escapes from a Soviet mental hospital. As he wanders through a blighted landscape struggling to recapture blocked memories, British Intelligence and the KGB hunt him for the secret he holds--a secret that threatens glasnost itself.
Zotov, with the help of a former lover and 2 English controlled spies, escapes and makes it to England. Where the doctors do the exact same thing to him that the Soviet doctors did. He goes crazy and kills himself.
The End.
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My Thoughts: |
Despite the ending, I enjoyed this book. I think part of it was that Royce was showing a literati's disdain for The Government (whichever one you might choose to think about) and also a disillusionment about the Cold War. When Titans collide, the little man is the one getting squished, no matter which Titan is right or wrong.
The only other Spy novels of this era that I have read are the Jason Bourne books by Ludlum. In fact, as soon as it was revealed that Zotov, the main russian character, had amnesia, I immediately thought “Bourne Identity”. Thankfully, this was quite a different story, but the atmospheric tension of not knowing what was going on was exactly the same. Cold War Thrillers have the same flavor I think. Just like Cozy Mysteries I think.
The tension is always high. The action is very sparse and while not non-existent, isn't the point of the book like a James Bond book. Political maneuverings are as important, externally and internally. In fact, Zotov wouldn't have been able to escape if it weren't for the political infighting going on in the Soviet Union during this book. As much time is given to this political side of things as to anything else. Probably more of interest to those interested in history at this point.
While I did enjoy this, I don't know if I enjoyed it as much as Jenn did. Please check out her review for a slightly more enthusiastic take on this book.
★★★✬☆
