Helpful Score: 1
A story of spying and intrigue during the second world war.
An exciting, well written book. This will hold your attention.
An exciting, well written book. This will hold your attention.
Helpful Score: 1
Every once in a while, a new thriller writer emerges with such an instant command of his craft that readers everywhere take notice. Such a one is John Altman, with A Gathering of Spies.
In l943, America thought it had rounded up all the German spies on its soil. It was wrong. Now, Germany's greatest weapon-a woman with special talents, both for tradecraft and for death-is headed home with critical information about the still-developing atomic bomb, and the Allies' chief hope for stopping her is a British agent with agendas of his own. Originally recruited into MI5 to pose as a double agent, he's been telling the Germans that he'd do anything to free his wife, a prisoner of a Polish concentration camp. This happens to be true. The question is: How much would he really do to set her free? Where are his loyalties exactly?
As the two spies play cat-and-mouse games across three countries, the ambiguities deepen, each figure showing new sides, each action providing new twists, until at last both agents are swept into a series of climaxes as unpredictable as they are inevitable. This is suspense writing at its best-and the beginning of a brilliant new career.
"If there are thriller writers better than this, I'd like to know who they are. John Altman is a major new talent on the scene."-Jack Higgins
John Altman is a musician and a freelance writer in New York City. A member of an extended family of writers, he is currently at work on his second novel.
In l943, America thought it had rounded up all the German spies on its soil. It was wrong. Now, Germany's greatest weapon-a woman with special talents, both for tradecraft and for death-is headed home with critical information about the still-developing atomic bomb, and the Allies' chief hope for stopping her is a British agent with agendas of his own. Originally recruited into MI5 to pose as a double agent, he's been telling the Germans that he'd do anything to free his wife, a prisoner of a Polish concentration camp. This happens to be true. The question is: How much would he really do to set her free? Where are his loyalties exactly?
As the two spies play cat-and-mouse games across three countries, the ambiguities deepen, each figure showing new sides, each action providing new twists, until at last both agents are swept into a series of climaxes as unpredictable as they are inevitable. This is suspense writing at its best-and the beginning of a brilliant new career.
"If there are thriller writers better than this, I'd like to know who they are. John Altman is a major new talent on the scene."-Jack Higgins
John Altman is a musician and a freelance writer in New York City. A member of an extended family of writers, he is currently at work on his second novel.
A good read. Hard to put down.
She is Germany's grestest weapon--a cunning spy and a merciless killer wrapped in one dangerously seductive package. Now she is racing home with vital information about the still-developing atomic bomb. The best hope for stopping her is a British double agent whose secret agenda may very well cost the Allies the war.
Two masters of espionage play cat and mouse across 3 countries.
a female Nazi agent under deep cover in the United States discovers the secrets of Los ALamos and tries to get back to Germany during World War II. Primarily takes place in England. Nice to see a female character with such incredible physical and mental abilities, albeit put to evil use. Moves right along. A good beach or plane read.
Great WWII spy story.
Every once in a while, a new thriller writer emerges with such an instant command of his craft that readers everywhere take notice. Such a one is John Altman, with A Gathering of Spies.
In l943, America thought it had rounded up all the German spies on its soil. It was wrong. Now, Germany's greatest weapon-a woman with special talents, both for tradecraft and for death-is headed home with critical information about the still-developing atomic bomb, and the Allies' chief hope for stopping her is a British agent with agendas of his own. Originally recruited into MI5 to pose as a double agent, he's been telling the Germans that he'd do anything to free his wife, a prisoner of a Polish concentration camp. This happens to be true. The question is: How much would he really do to set her free? Where are his loyalties exactly?
As the two spies play cat-and-mouse games across three countries, the ambiguities deepen, each figure showing new sides, each action providing new twists, until at last both agents are swept into a series of climaxes as unpredictable as they are inevitable. This is suspense writing at its best-and the beginning of a brilliant new career.
In l943, America thought it had rounded up all the German spies on its soil. It was wrong. Now, Germany's greatest weapon-a woman with special talents, both for tradecraft and for death-is headed home with critical information about the still-developing atomic bomb, and the Allies' chief hope for stopping her is a British agent with agendas of his own. Originally recruited into MI5 to pose as a double agent, he's been telling the Germans that he'd do anything to free his wife, a prisoner of a Polish concentration camp. This happens to be true. The question is: How much would he really do to set her free? Where are his loyalties exactly?
As the two spies play cat-and-mouse games across three countries, the ambiguities deepen, each figure showing new sides, each action providing new twists, until at last both agents are swept into a series of climaxes as unpredictable as they are inevitable. This is suspense writing at its best-and the beginning of a brilliant new career.
