The Miernik Dossier, Charles McCarry, The Overlook Press, 1973, 256 pp
One of my duties as a wife is to find books for my husband to read. He enjoys this service! When I came across Charles McCarry, I thought we both might like him but The Miernik Dossier, his first book, got some worrisome reviews while his second, The Tears of Autumn, got raves. So I got the second one and we both found it excellent. Husband requested The Miernik Dossier, no matter what, and we liked it just fine.
Paul Christopher is the series' character. The Miernik Dossier is a spy road trip novel told via reports from different agents all working undercover at the World Research Organization in Geneva, a specialized agency of the UN. The time is 1959. The villain of the times of course is communist Russia.
The negative comments I had seen about this book center around the format and I get it. Reading reports, internal memos, transcriptions of recorded conversations, was at first off-putting. Also each agent was referred to sometimes by last name, sometimes by first. I felt confused.
Reading on despite all I became hooked on the story, figured out the whats and the whys and was thoroughly entertained. I finished the book impressed by an intricacy which kept me guessing, worried and on the edge of my metaphorical seat.
Crossing the African desert in a Cadillac with Paul Christopher, the American operative, a British agent plus his wild girlfriend, a Muslim prince and a Polish scientist suspected of leading a Russian terrorist plot, was the most mysterious yet fun road trip I never actually took.
I think that I would enjoy a book that was structured like this. I enjoy epistolary novels and this seems like an extension of the idea. On the other hand, I find that such formats do not allow for the best character development.
ReplyDeleteThe character development was the most surprising thing in the book. Somehow he did it, especially with Paul Christopher, the main character. When I think back though, they all stand out still in my mind.
DeleteSounds good to me. I have not heard of these spy books. I sometimes find books for my hub too. I think we're batting 100% for what books we get them.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have had a few duds for him. I thought he would like Richard Powers but NOOO! But we do both like McCarry and I think your house would too. Question is, what would your book consultant say-:)
DeleteThe format actually seems kind of cool to me. Something different and unique. But the name thing would get confusing to me too.
ReplyDeleteThe format did work well but OMG those names. By the time I realized I should have written a list I had it figured out though.
Deletei devoured the Bond novels when they came out. this sounds like an enjoyable trip... i'll look for it... tx
ReplyDeleteI am currently devouring the Bond novels. McCarry is head and shoulders above Ian Fleming, though I am enjoying him as well.
DeleteSounds like a good read despite the formatting complaints from other readers.
ReplyDeleteIt sure was for me.
DeleteSounds like a lot of fun. I'll need to look out for that/him.
ReplyDeleteIt is a good series!
DeleteI'm not familiar with the writer and this series, but it does sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteJust me continuing my current obsession with spy books from the Cold War. It is a good series!
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