Customer Reviews: Read 79 more reviews...
 stodgy and disappointing August 18, 2008
wordparty
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Having an interest in the Spanish civil war and liking crime novels, i thought this would be just right, but found it all wrong.Yet another book that relies, in the plot, on improbable coincidences that feel like a deception, an easy way out. Life in postwar Madrid does not seem real, although it may be well-researched. The writing is overblown - too many adjectives, too many unnecessary awkward details: (his eyes went flickering over the desk...)and the characters talk in a kind of brief-encounter-speak, which soon palls. Worst of all, there is no real pace in the book, or drive to find out what is going to happen next to the uninteresting characters. The reviews quoted on the cover are baffling, and just show that you shouldn't believe everything you read in the newspapers...
 Magnificent and moving July 31, 2008
P. Riggall (UK)
After two days of compulsive reading I have just finished this book, one of the best I have read in a long time. Sansom's clever portrail of his main characters during a difficult and bloody time in Madrid is gritty, thoughy-provoking and utterly believable. He manages to weave together an exceptional plotline with brilliant narrative and credible characters, set in the run up to and also during the second world war, with great flair and ease. His account of conditions in Madrid is historically accurate and really draws the reader in, whilst the strong characters guide you thorugh the intriguing story. At times I simply could not put this book down, and having finished it, my mind it still reeling at the outcome and thinking about the characters. All in all this was a great read, thrilling, romantic, historical and tear-jerking. I cannot recommend it enough.
Gripping from start to finish! June 19, 2008
L. H. Healy (Hertfordshire, UK)
A superb thriller, I have been absolutely riveted by it, totally gripped and intrigued throughout this story.
Would highly recommend it if you're after an interesting, moving and suspenseful tale.
Set against the backdrop of the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, Sansom tells a brilliant tale of three former school acquaintances, Sandy and Bernie and Harry, and what has happened to them during and after the SC War.
The action takes place mainly in Madrid, which has been devastated by the conflict and the aftermath, many of the people destitute and cities ravaged. Harry is recruited by the British government to find out more about the current activities in Spain of Sandy, who is now with Barbara, Bernie's former love. Bernie is now missing presumed killed in fighting during the War as part of the International Brigades.
There are many fascinating and believable characters whose fates I grew to really care about, not only the lead ones but also those depicted working at the British Embassy in Madrid at the time, and I felt that the story was really fitted neatly into the historical context by Sansom. It evokes a tangible feeling of place and time that the reader can enter. The novel stirs many emotions, pain and anger, love, hate, horror and hope. It is thrilling right until the final page of the epilogue as we discover the fate of each character. Look forward to reading more by Sansom.
A timely warning on the perils of totalitarianism of any sort June 16, 2008
Woodpecker (Somerset, England)
Like many other readers I found this a gripping and fascinating book. I have learnt a great deal about the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath, which has scarred that country and the whole of Europe. Britain does not come out of it well. I agree that it would make a good film, though as ever I would prefer the book, the pictures are so much better! And there is time to develop the characters in depth in a book. Atonement is a case in point.
My only quibble is with the language. I can assure C J Sansom that no-one in the 1940s, particularly not anyone in the diplomatic service, would DREAM of saying "I'm fed up OF..." !!! Some of us would not dream of saying it today either! It should be "fed up WITH". Also no-one then would have said "it looks LIKE he did ..." - this is a dreadful Americanism which seems to be insidiously creeping into the English language over here. The correct form is "it looks AS IF (or as though).." I deplore the cheapening of our language and this was the only thing which spoilt the book for me. Otherwise, it is a fine novel, with suspense held until the end, and it makes one question any ideology which tries to compel people into a way of thinking or living. You cannot force equality on people - some people will always abuse power. The only way is to understand where people are coming from, and to talk to them, and respect them as people with a right to their own views, unless those views imply a loss of liberty for others. Tolerance should only be intolerant of extremism. But the way to combat it is not be force, which only causes more entrenched views and further extremism, but rather by understanding and dialogue and education.
 Poor, poor, poor June 11, 2008
Fishbonealice (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
1 1/2 stars for research
Like many others I bought this book on the strength of the Ruis Zafon and Faulks comparisons. And like many others I am deeply disappointed; and, moreover, feeling profoundly misled. This is truly poor stuff. The author has clearly concentrated his efforts on historical research and failed to create a story or characters that are remotely plausible or believable. That in itself wouldn't be a problem if there was some spark of wit or charm in the dialogue or writing, but there is none. Wooden, bland and dull. How did he get away with 500 pages of this? Was his editor on holiday?
I won't go into the deep flaws in this novel; plenty of others on Amazon have described them adequately. Just don't believe the hype.
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