Welcome to Litsy!

Alex is a spy. He's not really good at it, but does his best. He's been run out of Austria as Hitler took it over, now he's wondering if Hitler is coming for Switzerland. He tries to do what he can to help the Czech spy network, and the French network, but the more he tries the less they take the info passed on and use it.

I really enjoyed this view of spies. No fancy weaponry, just yeoman doing what they can for their countries.

My #12Booksof2024 for July is a gorgeous cynical thriller set in postwar Germany, with a villain who would be right at home in our current crop of "populist" hatemongers. Thrilling, thoughtful, worrying.

@Andrew65

#bookreport

Row #1: Reading about trees in The Cabaret; Began B & D, 1 chapter in Gratefulness #naturalitsy #NFNovember
Row #2: Listening to Don‘t Forget to Write; a poem a day in T.Choir; finished Murder at the Christmas Carols #audiobook #poetry #seasonalcozies
Row #3: Finished all books #historicalfiction #readyourkindle #NFNovember #audiomystery #serieslove2024

Did you know that in the movie “Argo“, Ben Affleck played Tony Mendez?

In real life, Mendez was a master of disguise during his career in the CIA. I just wonder what stories he can't tell because those stories have got to be another blockbuster movie or two!

#Wickedwhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Graham does an impressive job of making the roles of Research and Analysis agents into a tale of adventure and danger. Her writing is lively and interesting. The only time it slowed to a stroll was during the explanation of the science being utilized to attempt the creation of the atomic bomb. Occasional bits of fiction seemed a bit out of place in this type of narrative. Amazing! Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance digital copy.

There‘s no question that I. S. Berry has mad writing skills. There‘s a great story embedded in this thriller. I just wish that there was also at least one likeable character. I get it, spy novels are all about treachery and betrayal. Berry describes her protagonist, Shane Collin‘s, as world-weary. He is that, and his colleagues and foes are very ready to betray him, and themselves. I kept reading to find some redemption; there is none.

Love Mick Herron books, this one made me want to toss it across the room.......I really need to get over my need for the good guys to always win

(1968) When files go missing from the British embassy in Bonn, Alan Turner arrives to sort out what happened while the diplomatic personnel wish he would just keep it quiet. The thief is quickly identified, but his motives and location remain a mystery. This is *so* LeCarré: espionage novel as psychological thriller, pensive, deeply cynical, gorgeously written. Also: the resolution has chilling parallels to our current historical moment.

Did I mention that I love irony? It‘s ironic to me that recording and listening to private conversations created the downfall of Richard Nixon. Here was a president who listened in on his political rivals, denied it for years, then several recorded private conversations admitting what he did was used against him forcing him to resign. #politics #impeachment #jeffreyengel #richardnixon #spying #recording #history #uspolitics #ushistory