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Edward Hahn has commented on (66) products.

Spies of the Balkans by Alan Furst

Edward Hahn, January 4, 2012

Another winner from Allan Furst - in my opinion, the most accomplished writer doing spy and espionage novels today.

The story takes place in Salonika, Greece in early 1940. Hitler is grabbing up real estate as fast as he can and Mussolini is trying to emulate his ally by invading Albania. Greece comes to Albania's aid and inflicts a number of defeats on Il Duce's armies. Everyone believes that Hitler will either dominate or invade the countries of the Balkans. The protagonist, Costa Zannis, a senior police official, who has a special status must deal with spies from all the warring countries. Additionally he despises the Germans, partially because of their treatment of the Jews, so he helps set up an escape route for Jewish refugees, through Slovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia to Salonika, where they can be put on a boat for Turkey.

He has an active love life that becomes torrid and dangerous when he begins an affair with the wife of one of the most powerful businessmen in Salonika. He also feels responsible for the safety of his extended family and his subordinates, all of whom are in danger of being targeted by the Nazis, when they inevitably invade Greece.

The book is populated by an incredible mix of characters including city political officials, detectives from various countries, a wealthy Jewish woman from Berlin, protected because her husband is a high ranking officer in the Wehrmacht, members of the Gestapo, refugees from the German insanity, officers and soldiers, prostitutes, diplomatic personnel and many others. It is a mark of Furst's incredible talent that he can bring such people alive and obviously understands their motivations and fears.

The plot never stretches credibility. People, including Zannis, are afraid of what will happen if they get caught, yet, like so many others, he persists in doing the right thing even at risk of his life. Interestingly, even the Gestapo agents are not unremittingly evil They are just trying to get along in the Germany they live in. The evil is diluted as it moves down the food chain and sometimes bad things are done just so the perpetrator can maintain his life and protect his own family.

The appeal of the book also lies in its description of the Balkans during the early stages of WW II. Furst must be an incredible researcher to uncover the situation in such an under-appreciated part of the world. The struggles of the Greeks, the Slavs, and others are no less inspiring than that of the French resistance or the British defiance. We just don't know that much about them.

I'm hoping it won't be too long before Furst publishes another offering. His style and mastery of both plot and characterization, make his books literature as much or more than almost all the thrillers, I've read.

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Nemesis by Jo Nesbo

Edward Hahn, December 15, 2011

This is my first Jo Nesbo/Harry Hole book. It won't be my last. I am a big fan of Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander series and this comes pretty close in quality. Both are written by Scandinavian authors, Mankell from Sweden and Nesbo from Norway. They approach things differently though each knows how to ratchet up the suspense.

Harry Hole is a bit of a rebel and is constantly in trouble with his superiors and peers, even though his direct boss likes him a lot. In this story, a bank robber unexpectedly kills a teller while Harry is watching. A task force is formed because it appears to be one of a series of similar robberies - very professional. Simultaneously a death made to look like a suicide involves Harry, as the dead woman is an old flame. The situation is complicated because Harry had dinner with her on the night she died but cannot remember a thing about the evening except that he most likely was very drunk and was just able to make his way home.

At this point the plot proceeds in multiple directions involving Gypsies, liars, drug dealers, crooked police, cheating husbands, a new partner with a particularly rare talent, contract killers, and other equally interesting characters. How Nesbo keeps everything on track is a literary wonder. In addition, his current lover is fighting a custody battle in Russia and comes under threat because of Harry's actions. This is all piled on top of Harry's conviction that the wrong man was blamed for the killing of his previous partner.

The beauty of Nesbo's story is that just when Harry and the reader think they have things figured out something happens to throw everything up in the air, again.

All of this is populated by a memorable cast of characters who do not always act in predictable ways. I was particularly fascinated with his description of the pan-European Gypsy criminal community and how they operate.

The book ends somewhat prematurely as all the villains are not brought to justice. This, of course, provides an excellent motivation to read the next book in the series.

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The First Rule by Robert Crais

Edward Hahn, December 7, 2011

Crais has done an excellent job of bringing Joe Pike to the forefront in this novel. It's not that Elvis Cole, Pike's partner and the protagonist in the early novels is missing, it's just that he assumes a minor role here.

The plot is deceivingly simple, when an ex-mercenary buddy of Pike's, who had given up the life and was living a settled existence with a family, is brutally murdered along with his wife and kids. What the police put down as a housebreaking gone wrong, Pike believes is much more than that. The story unfolds from there with lots of action, double-crosses, conspiracies, close calls, etc.

I appreciate Crais' care with his characters, Pike and Cole. Pike is the quiet enforcer and Cole is the brash, verbal thinker. Not that they can't switch roles from time to time. This story exposes much of Pike's background and how he became what he is as well as letting us see a bit of his fascinating thinking processes. As you might guess, he is more emotional than he ever lets on and is also true to his code of conduct as it is possible for anyone in his line of work to be.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and look forward to the next Joe Pike featured novel.

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The Afghan Campaign by Steven Pressfield

Edward Hahn, December 3, 2011

Looking at the front cover, one would think this might be about the U.S. Afghan adventure. It isn't. It is a story of Alexander the Great's Afghan campaign which ran from the Summer of 330 BC to the Spring of 327 BC. Even in those days, a war in Afghanistan was difficult to win.

This story is told by a young soldier, Matthias, enlisted in Alexander's grand adventure to create an empire. He begins as a new recruit and three years later is a hardened, cynical veteran.

Much of the stuff written about the current Afghan situation was true in 330 BC, horrible terrain and weather, a brutal and unforgiving foe, gratuitous bloodshed and slaughter, collateral damage, etc. The author pulls no punches when it comes to describing what both sides did to try and terrify the other side. It also is graphically accurate describing the transition from new recruit to killer.

Many of the lessons Alexander learned might make sense to the current commanders fighting in Afghanistan today. One, being it is near impossible to win the hearts and minds of the native population when you are seen as an invader. Two, you cannot defeat a foe who cares little about his own life. Three, as long as the indigenous population is willing to feed and hide your foe, you will never be able to finish the enemy off.

Another truth of combat that comes through clearly in the book is that soldiers do not fight for country, medals or riches but rather for their buddies. Often in the story, Matthias, the narrator, takes great risks for no other reason than to protect the members of his unit. Another warfare given is that the officers will do something stupid that the foot soldier pays for. Such an event leads to a massacre of one wing of Alexander's army. The story even contains a "Dear John" event.

The big questions are never answered in this story such as why did Alexander spend so much time and resources to conquer Afghanistan when the actual goal was India? Why were were so many of Alexander's soldiers neither Macedonians or Greeks? These are left for the reader to puzzle out on his own just as Matthias and his buddies had to do.

I did feel , though, that the author was reaching when he created a litany of slang such as he imagined the soldiers of the day used. Felt a little bit affected to me and an attempt to tie this story to the present day; not that I doubt that slang existed. Sometimes. Pressfield's descriptions went on far too long and gave me the impression he was trying to show how much research he had done. Other than these small criticisms, I enjoyed the book immensely and unreservedly recommend it.

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A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #5) by George R. R. Martin

Edward Hahn, November 27, 2011

Thankfully, I was not one of the people who had to wait 5 years for this, the fifth volume, in the "Song of Fire and Ice Series". I got my hands on a Used Hard Cover only a month after finishing Book 4, and managed to race through the close to 1,000 pages in 10 days or so.

I won't even try to summarize the interwoven plot threads here. After focusing on minor characters in Book Four, "A Feast For Crows", Martin returns to the major players in this book. My favorite is Tyrion, the Imp, a little person, born into the wealthy House Lannister, and now a slave in the Eastern Lands. He constantly cheats death by his wits. He cares little for so-called Honor and does what he needs to do to survive but in the process usually does the right thing.

Another favorite is Arya, of House Stark, who though a mere 11 years old, manages to survive and in some ways prosper. She uses her wits and surrenders all preconceptions to make a life for herself in a strange land. Jon Snow, her bastard brother, has risen to be the commander of the Night's Watch, which protects the realm from the forces that exist beyond the Wall, a huge barrier of ice, thousands of feet high. He too must learn to do what works rather than follow the strictures of the medieval code he was raised in.

Jaime Lannister, a one-time golden Boy, who is now a one-handed knight, is beginning to realize that he can't be the bully he was before his hand was cut off. He is a successful military leader but can no longer intimidate people with his fighting skills.

Daenerys Targaryen, the Dragon Queen, continues to rule her city. Unfortunately her dragons have become unruly and are feeding on children as well as sheep. She struggles mightily to rule consistent with her principles of "no slavery", etc. but is foiled at every turn by people who know better, supposedly. She's so darn dutiful, she comes across as boring.

There are others of course, many others. One of the most despicable is Reek, who was once Theron Greyjoy, a Prince of the Iron Isles and has been humiliated and brainwashed to the point where he sleeps with his master's dogs. There is Melisandre, the Red Priestess who has the last of the Baratheons, the legitimate ruling family, totally cowed. One of my favorites is Dolorous Edd, who always sees and comments on the dark side of things.

I still appreciate, Martin's organizing the book around the Point of View of the characters. The ruthlessness of the villains, here, is somewhat overplayed and the bloodshed that pours out throughout the book is a bit much. Nevertheless, I can hardly wait for Book Six of the promised seven books. Martin is going to have to begin to tie all these threads together and bring some closure to many of the sub-plots and, quite frankly, make something definitive happen.

Let's hope the next book doesn't take 5 years to gestate.

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