The former British MI6 operative and novelist who wrote this piece of trash was previously unknown to me. In the first part, Iranian spies, arms dealers and killers in Bosnia during the war and genocide of 1992-1995, play a prominent role. There is multilayered secrecy and intrigue, with lying to and threatening or killing friends and foe with equal abandon and numerous aliases. In the the first few pages at least eight people are shot to death in Central Park within a few minutes, at least one by his fellow spy, and no one is called to task for that.
The melodramatic unrealistic search for Will in the forest, is only one of many impossible parts of this story. Will Cochrane seems to be able to time-travel from one country to another, fully armed, see around corners, and never get caught. A man swims 100 meters in icy water underwater without taking a breath, carrying a backpack with a submachine gun that still works.
Megiddo, the mastermind Iranian spy ruthlessly plans to blow up the Metropolitan Opera House with 3000 children and the wives of all the world’s major statesmen. This plan too is foiled by the impossibly intuitive Will Cochrane.
So convoluted and impossible is this story that the only way I can explain the author’s intention is if he meant it as a parody mocking the whole abundant genre of spy novels. I cannot recommend it.
1.5/5
Thanks, Maurice.
The Passionate Reader 