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REVIEW: American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson

  Lauren Wilkinson sets the bar high in her debut novel. It is written as a letter from the protagonist, Marie, to her twin sons. She tells the story of how she became a spy and what it was like for a black woman to be working for the FBI in the 1980s. Marie is contracted by the CIA to go undercover and spy on Thomas Sankara. The political aspect of the book is inspired by the true events surrounding Sankara, the president of Burkina Faso during the Cold War. Ultimately, this is a story about family. The novel spans decades as Marie also tells her boys their entire family history – from her relationship with her parents and sister, to meeting their father and what became of him. “I’m writing this to give you honest answers to the questions I hazard to guess you’ll ask while you’re growing up. I’m writing it all down here just in case I’m not around to tell you.” The pace is a bit slower than the average spy thriller, but for me it pays off because of the depth of the characters
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REVIEW (part one): The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

I have just read the first 120 pages of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Only another 1100 or so pages to go.

The setting of Marseilles is richly described and the story is anchored in the politics of historical France. The main character is Edmond Dantès: young, successful and in love. Three men jealous of Dantès conspire to frame him for treason. He has just been sent off to prison without a trial.

This was originally published as a serial novel, possibly in collaboration with a ghost writer. The writing is wordy and not very subtle; it is full of passion and suspense. I can tell that the next thousand pages are going to fly by as I immerse myself in the adventure and drama about to unfold.

‘Ah! Yes, indeed,’ said Edmond. And, without leaving Mercédès whose hand he held clasped in one of his own, he extended the other with a cordial gesture towards the Catalan. But Fernand, instead of responding to this sign of friendship, remained as silent and motionless as a statue. It was enough to make Edmond look enquiringly from Mercédès, who was trembling with emotion, to Fernand, sombre and threatening.

That one glance told him everything. His brow clouded with rage.

‘I did not realize that I had hurried round to see you, Mercédès, only to find an enemy here.’

I love a good plot-based novel, as long as the plot is dynamic enough to capture my imagination. This one has.

The Count of Monte Cristo
Alexandre Dumas
Translated from French by Robin Buss
First published 1844
Published May 27th 2003 by Penguin Classics
1276 pages


Comments

  1. Graham CrosbyJuly 16, 2020 at 1:10 PM

    One of those big novels that I've never got round to reading. Thanks for the reminder - I'll add it to the read soon list!

    ReplyDelete

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