A disappointing book. The banker seemed to be an
amalgam of standard
PYO characteristics, the lawyer you just felt like shaking, with
Issa the
protagonist a shallow, complex and ultimately unlikeable character. There were touches of interest, the latent
disavowal of Nazism with in Annabel's family, the complexity of private banking and the shading dealing behind it. The
comparison between
hiding Nazi money and Russian mafia money was interesting but not drawn out enough. Many of us had read other books by this author - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - The Constant Gardner and other and this book did not match these novels in either plot, character progression, or depth of intrigue. If this hadn't been a holiday novel not many of us would have finished it. Words used to describe it: weak, disappointing, boggling, below standard, predictable, hard summer read. Marks out of 10 - between 2 - 5.
Next Meeting
Thursday 14 October
at
Boo's - address to be confirmed
Next Book
Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd
Girl's Night Out
Saturday 13th November
