Date first published	23 October 2003
ISBN Number	0 75285 747 9 h/b 0 75285 748 7 p/b
Page Count	521 h/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

The story is set during two turbulent periods in European history. The side story which acts as the setting and the basis for the main story is set around the fall of Communism in 1991, and the dark days as the various powers struggled for control in Russia. The main story however is set in the even darker days of World War II, when Russia and Germany were allies intent on the domination of Europe.

Stephen Metcalfe is the centre for the story, an American, well known in the best of circles and the best of Society. However underneath the superficial black marketeer lies the real man, and one of the most important spies in Europe. However his career in Europe is cut short when his support team are cruelly executed at their stations, and so is sent to Russia to embark on his most dangerous mission, through a former lover turn Russia against Germany. Metcalf reluctantly agrees to go knowing that death follows his every step, and that success for him could leave his lover and her father at the mercy of the NKVD.

Whilst trying to avoid the attention of the NKVD, he finds that he is being hunted by a ruthless killer from the SD, who will stop at nothing to wipe out all traces of the spy ring. Whats worse he's being helped by someone from Metcalfes own intelligence unit.

Returning to the present, can Metcalfes past bring peace to Russia?

Review

Unfortunately it is not all of Ludlums own work, as Ludlam died before it was completed. Surprisingly the author that finished the book is not credited.

Putting aside the fact that part of the book is not Ludlum's, it is a very good story, strong characters, and an excellent plot. Perhaps it's because of the time period in which it is mainly set that a sense of menace seems to ooze from every page. Besides trying to avoid the attention of the NKVD, in a society controlled through fear, comes the constant threat from the German SD officer, who is one very sick individual indeed.

The plot twists and turns, the plans go astray, (something that Tom Clancy could learn about), priorities change, until you, the reader are left wondering where it will all end. The book looks to be heading for a premature ending when Metcalfe ends up in the Lubyanka, below ground level, but uses the fear of the place to extract himself before he meets the pointed end of a bullet!

The book also has a certain grimness about it, which tends to shroud the reader, so that you feel as if you are in war torn Europe. It is this added depth that raises the book to the next level. I became absolutely engrossed in this book from the start, something that my list of authors haven't managed to do (with perhaps the exception of Bernard Cornwell) for quite a while.

Some of Ludlams books have tended on the verge of hysteria, to create the tension. If you don't know what I mean, imagine the author reading the book, but screaming it out at the top of his voice. In this book this doesn't happen, the tension has been created through the mood, and the odd shock just to keep you on your toes. Whilst other books have the author screaming this one is being read in an eerie voice, in a darkened room by torchlight.

I did find the last 6 pages a bit of a mushy ending, however 6 pages out of 521 is not a bad ratio. The modern day events are really just the wrapper for the main wartime story. To my mind the wartime events could have stood without the need for the modern day segments, however it does add another twist to the story.

If you have found Robert Ludlum through his recent outings with the Jason Bourne films, and have read the Bourne books, then look at this one, it really is a cracking read, and it needs to be to get 4½ marks out of 5.

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