Review: Simply Great Writing!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 8, 2014
This is a great value with these two books bundled together at a great savings. I enjoyed reading both books, Damian Stevenson is an excellent writer and knows how to deliver suspense and drama in keeping the reader hooked, Highly recommended! Here are my reviews of the two books,Book 1- A wonderfully written book. I felt like I had been transported back to 1940. The use of descriptive language reminded me of days gone by when you read tales by Dashiell Hammett and Maxwell Anderson with nothing more than a glass of brandy and Count Basie playing on the radio. The plot and character development is first class all the way. It is as if the words came to life.It is obvious that Damian Stevenson has done some serious homework in creating this incredible world of mystery and intrigue mixed with history. One of my favorites was the mention of one of the characters reading a copy of Graham Greene's, "Power and Glory," which was very appropriate for the scene.This is definitely a must read for any history buff of the era has there are several tidbits throughout the book that will leave you smiling. Simply great writing balanced with historical aspects that will keep you hooked from the start.Book 2- What I love about this book is the style. Everything about it is spot on. Damian Stevenson has an uncanny ability of creating such incredible mental imagery with his writing. Here is just a brief example of the superb illustration I am taking about, "Emerging from a small curling staircase, he entered a vast sunlit avant garde workshop in the spacious octagonal loft which stood in stark contrast to the musty old-world décor of downstairs." Another example that creates the feeling of the period, "THE INSISTENT tones of Beethoven's Piano Sonata Number 32 greeted Fleming as he came to in a deep leather armchair beside a roaring fire, a red welt from the dart visible on his throat, his cobalt eyes rolling groggily, eventually settling on Wolfgang Krupp who was playing a Steinway grand." (this is great stuff)So richly woven with layers upon layers, you can almost feel the fabric of the unbleached linens or the worsted wool, and the smell of the blended tobacco seems to permeate the air. Yes sir, if this was made into a film, it would be the re-birth of Film Noir.Not only is this a "Historical Fiction Novel" set during World War Two, it is written in the style of the period. The attention to the smallest details didn't escape me, history buffs are going to have fun with this one. For me, I like to think of it more of an "Alternate History" with the possibilities of what could have been. Either way, this is one great thriller of a mystery that is better than any James Bond book.From the very beginning with the car chase scene where Ian jumps the bridge to lose the Nazi's on his tail, this story grabs you and doesn't let go. Yes, the premise of the tale is extraordinary with the Brits out to save Hitler's life. I know, it sounds like a contradiction, but it is done so masterfully that it works. Along with the fast pace action that gets intense at times, you can't help but keep reading well into the night to discover how Ian is going to deal with the obstacles he must overcome. No matter what may come, Ian keeps that cool swagger about him, and yes, it wouldn't be an Ian Fleming story without a dame hanging off him. The action on the train is classic, all the elements are there to give the reader an experience of suspense and relief when our guy comes through again using nothing at times but his cleverness and astute observation of the situation.Reading the "William Tell" scene where Ian is forced to take a shot at Maria, is " nail-biting sitting on the edge of seat" writing. And there are so many more scenes like this throughout the story. This is a great book for a book club; you could spend countless hours pouring over this book with all the complexities and characters. Simply great writing.Not to give anything away, but the further you get into the book, the better it gets, one of my favorites is the chapter, "Mano A Mano" It opens with these lines, "Fleming's eyes opened to behold a nightmarish scene. He was in the middle of a vast red soiled field of devastation with smashed and smoking palm trees, deep ragged craters, gutted and burning huts, shattered sampans and the bodies of his comrades slumped around like macabre decorations."This story ends in classic fashion, the last line will leave you with a smile, Ian Fleming is the only one who could say that and pulled it off. I loved it.