A lot of excellent detail that sadly didn't add up to a good story.I picked up this novel at my local bookstore without having read anything about it before. With all that was happening in the Ukraine at the time, I thought this might be an enjoyable book.There is no doubt that the author did his homework when drafting this novel. There is a depth of knowledge regarding European politics, places and people that shines through the writing. The romantic sub-plot between the two main characters was good and the next round of major characters were all unique and enjoyable. These things were the positives that this book brings.His decision to have the story swing back and forth through time was disconcerting. I prefer my thrillers to have more of a linear approach so that I, as a reader, can be guessing at what comes next, not what happened before.Unfortunately, despite the plusses, he was unable to tie it together into a plausible spy story. Things like people always showing up conveniently wherever Finn was at, even though he may have just arrived, stretched the believability. Also, a very slow start. You could probably not read the first two hundred pages and still have the entire story. Red To Black starts smoothly with the narrative of Anna, a once rising star in the SVR, the new name of the dreaded KGB. She is narrating the story while she is in exile, off the radar. She starts with her meeting Finn, the British Second Secretary of the Trade and Investment based out of Moscow. She moves gradually to the development of a relationship between them, her own life as born into an elite political family of Russia, her special relationship with her grandmother - Nana. During the course of the narrative we are exposed to the changing political climate of Russia under the leadership of Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin. We experience the shift of power from political leaders to the stronghold of the KGB and how the KGB and the Russian mafia make the pact of devil. During the first few chapters Anna describes Finn, the true love of his life as seen through her eyes as a rising star in the SVR. The start of a strenuous yet intense love story between two people thrust in a highly volatile political environment. The first phase ends with a twist where you realize the real objective of the book � a mole hunt deep within the echelons of the Soviet power.Phase two of the book begins when the KGB confirms to Anna that there IS a mole in KGB. And simultaneously, Finn�s supervisor�s completely denies the existence of any mole. This is when the story shifts to Finn as Finn goes rogue and starts the dangerous chase of finding out the truth on his own. He does so while being completely aware of the fatal risk that he falls under. And thus begins an intensely intelligent mole-hunt. Thus, we experience step one � Building A Network.We experience, Finn going in alone, leaving breadcrumbs for Anna to find him. In due course of time, Anna joins Finn, maintaining both their individual covers and continues the mole hunt. The most gripping part of this entire book is that both Anna and Finn ended up working against their supervisors in the name of love to find the truth.What follows is a very authentic espionage tradecraft in an authentic political canvass of the early 2000 - The canvass of Russia under the leadership of Vladimir Putin and the role of the European Community and that of America.Red To Black is an intense Espionage love story. For those who love tales of espionage, this book can simply be described as ONE THAT YOU SIMPLY CANNOT MISS.
What do You think about Rode Oorlog (2009)?
Not the best spy novel I have read. Not a page-turner as others have suggested.
—aaron121
Slow, slow, slow. You need to grab me faster than this.
—oodlesoflove
