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The Blind Spy by Alex Dryden (view source)
Revision as of 10:30, 20 September 2010
, 10:30, 20 September 2010no edit summary
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The author writes under a pseudonym and he has worked in intelligence, so he should know what he's talking - and writing about. He concentrates on the battle for supremacy (and we've been here before) as Russia and the USA clash. The story itself is an intricate one. Full of agents/counter-agents, spies/double spies and the like and appearances by members of the CIA and MI6 amongst others. If you like spy thrillers, then this debut novel will suit you down to the ground. Lots of furtive and secretive missions all over the place to keep the reader guessing and interested.
Dryden opens with the early years of ''The Blind Spy''. His story is interesting and sad in equal measure. And it had me hooked right from the beginning. Russia is described in joyless terms ''drained of colour and bereft of joy.'' We then fast forward to 2010 and Dryden gives us a bit of potted history as far as Russia is concerned. I think most of us are aware of the key issues. One word - Afghanistan. But this is three decades ago when Russia took that country on. And now that Ukraine has broken away from mother Russia as well, it all adds to the general woes.