Copyright 2003 by Myn Pyn LLC. Published by St Martin’s Press, New York.
Robert Ludlum, best known for the series of books and movies featuring Jason Bourne, wrote a lot of other books before his death in 2001 And he wrote this one AFTER his death. Obviously, there was an unfinished manuscript and someone, under the direction of his estate, completed the novel. That co-author is not named. But the book must have been nearly finished as it certainly reads like an authentic Ludlum novel.
Ludlum writes adventure stories. Lots of action, lots of suspense. The kind of story that would be perfect for a series of short stories, each ending in a cliffhanger. This is not my favorite kind of book – I much prefer mysteries. But I was captivated by the story and reading the book was not a chore.
The setting is early World War II. Germany had conquered most of western Europe, including France. The book opens in occupied Paris where Daniel Eigen, a rich playboy, hobnobs with married women and German officers. He says he is from Argentina and everyone seems to buy it. But in fact he is an American spy, real name Stephen Metcalfe, with a lost love in Moscow – a prima ballerina who has become the concubine of a German officer stationed there (Germany and the Soviet Union were allies).
When Eigen’s (i.e., Metcalfe’s) cover is compromised in Paris – his colleagues are killed and he narrowly escapes the same fate – he is given a new, ultra-secret and ultra-important job: feed counterfeit Soviet military documents to the Germans via his ballerina lover who just happens to be the daughter of a Russian general.
This plot has many twists, including betrayals (hence the title) and death-defying escapes. It kept my interest. But it wasn’t a mystery.
7 out of 10