davecapp's review against another edition
5.0
This is a classic espionage novel. Meticulous in the details, it’s obvious that the author has been there, done that. For fans of John Le Carrie’ or Frederick Forsythe this book is a must read. The plotting is intricate and believable, exposing a grittier side of the espionage world most authors gloss over.
There is an oddity in this book that at first encounter makes no sense. At the end of most chapters there are detailed recipes of dinners, soups, desserts, cocktails, whatever. Turns out that these recipes are for something one of the characters was eating (or mentioned) in the prior chapter. I realized that these were being used as a vehicle for adding even more authenticity to the story. If you take them as intended, part of the backdrop for the world of Sparrow, they really add substance to the whole story.
Character development is the real goldmine here though, Mr Matthews creates a character set that are believable, complex and flawed, to the point that you care about them and their fates.
Exceptional writing, exceptional book.
There is an oddity in this book that at first encounter makes no sense. At the end of most chapters there are detailed recipes of dinners, soups, desserts, cocktails, whatever. Turns out that these recipes are for something one of the characters was eating (or mentioned) in the prior chapter. I realized that these were being used as a vehicle for adding even more authenticity to the story. If you take them as intended, part of the backdrop for the world of Sparrow, they really add substance to the whole story.
Character development is the real goldmine here though, Mr Matthews creates a character set that are believable, complex and flawed, to the point that you care about them and their fates.
Exceptional writing, exceptional book.
pinecone_mushroom's review against another edition
3.0
It’s a page turner! I had no idea I was so interested in spycraft. Could have done with less torture, and no recipes.
tarakingwrites's review against another edition
4.0
Mostly this was just fun. I was hooked on the story pretty much the whole time. I didn't even hate the ballet stuff, and I *always* hate the ballet stuff! The synesthete as super spy thing sounds a bit....far fetched, but what do I know? The story was compelling; the characters interesting, the settings dramatic. What more can you ask from a spy novel?!
I've read a fair number of like, mid-60s adventure novels, which I now realize are pretty similar to this book....so I guess I can say this book handled women better than those books, but that's basically the lowest possible bar to clear. There were definitely a few "hey there's a boob here!" moments (e.g. a woman is fighting for her life, but hey her boob is out! Or, a woman is dead, but hey her boob is out! Weird how it's never a man written that way...)
I enjoyed the recipes at the end of each chapter at first, though by the end it felt gimmicky ("As he ran through the streets of Moscow, he also had a cucumber salad.")
I've read a fair number of like, mid-60s adventure novels, which I now realize are pretty similar to this book....so I guess I can say this book handled women better than those books, but that's basically the lowest possible bar to clear. There were definitely a few "hey there's a boob here!" moments (e.g. a woman is fighting for her life, but hey her boob is out! Or, a woman is dead, but hey her boob is out! Weird how it's never a man written that way...)
I enjoyed the recipes at the end of each chapter at first, though by the end it felt gimmicky ("As he ran through the streets of Moscow, he also had a cucumber salad.")
snoonio's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
jackie_beyondthebookends's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. This is a very smart and well written spy novel written by a former CIA agent. It’s a very slow build with a lot of characters. At times I felt it was more complicated than it needed to be. I enjoyed it and will read the next in the series but I definitely need some time between the books
page_karla's review against another edition
3.0
I'm on the fence with this one. Because of the movie, I wanted to start the series. Interesting plot, credible technical aspects, likable characters. A CIA story is always enticing to me. However, the storytelling is a bit confusing to me, especially in that part approaching the climax (the agent exchange). I felt that it could have been written better? Just my opinion. But I will still continue this trilogy.
emily2003's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
2.75
brianna_4pawsandabook's review against another edition
2.0
This is one of those books that the movie was a lot better than the book. The ending was so rushed and I didn't really follow along with the book. There were so many characters and it kept changing POV. Overall, I did not like the book that much. But I definitely recommend going and seeing the movie!