Chameleon: A Novel [Hardcover]

Mark Burnell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 26, 2002

Stephanie Patrick is back, in a brilliantly edgy story about two people caught in the turbulence of terrorism -- from the author of The Rhythm Section.

After the tragic loss of her family, Stephanie Patrick was lured into the intelligence world, where she was transformed into the feared assassin Petra Reuter. Eighteen months later, she disappeared.

Now, she's living a quiet, peaceful life, under an assumed identity, in an idyllic village in southern France. But escaping her erstwhile employer proves to be easier said than done. His reappearance threatens to ruin everything she has created for herself, but he comes with a deal that offers a slender strand of hope: if she agrees to one last assignment, she can then walk away for good.

The target is Koba, the alias used by a Russian criminal with interests stretching from the Urals to America's East Coast. He's a man with influential connections to former members of the KGB and the Soviet Red Army but his true identity remains a secret.

Stephanie is plunged back into the shadowy underworld where international crime and terrorism meet. Her ability to switch personae is what keeps her alive from day to day but it's a fragile talent that constantly threatens to undermine her. Her search for Koba leads her from New York through Europe to Moscow. Yet despite the violence and corruption she encounters, Stephanie discovers the one thing she hadn't expected: true love.

His name is Konstantin Komarov. He may be either a businessman or a criminal,depending on one's point of view. The FBI calls him the Don from the Don. He exists at the heart of a financial empire created by the Russian crime pandemic. Like Stephanie, Konstantin is a chameleon, constantly adapting to changing environments. He's a man as comfortable in Manhattan as he would be in Moscow or Magadan.

But between Stephanie and Komarov lies Koba, an old alias masking a new global threat. In a world where trust is weakness, honesty is naïveté, and where brutality is routine, could falling in love be the greatest risk of all?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Stylishly written yet desperately in need of a good kick in the pants, this plodding sequel to 1999's The Rhythm Section marks the return of Euro-assassin Stephanie Patrick. As the story opens, Patrick has retired to southern France, trying hard to forget her past and live a normal life. Her old employer, a shadowy organization called Magenta House, persuades her to take one more assignment: find and eliminate the mastermind behind a plot to stockpile vast amounts of Marburg virus, one of the world's most feared bio-weapons. To carry out the task, Patrick reverts to her old identity, the ruthlessly efficient Petra Reuter, to whom each new contract is "just a shift at the factory." Patrick proceeds to go deep underground, moving freely between American, European and Russian capitals in her search for the terrorist. Along the way, she meets and falls hard for shady Russian business tycoon Konstantin Komarov. They join forces in the pursuit, yet along the way both discover that in the treacherous world of espionage and terrorism, loyalties often get lost in the shifting sands. Throughout, Burnell shows exceptional skill portraying mood and moments of swift action. His narrative moves smoothly between third- and first-person viewpoints, a technique adding depth and dimension to Patrick's character. His plot, however, sags badly in the middle and loses sight of its target. After enduring many scenes of anguished romance between Patrick and Komarov, many readers may find themselves forgetting what the story is about.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

“A ‘Casablanca for the 21st Century.” (Boris Starling, author of MESSIAH and STORM )

“Stylishly written...Burnell shows exceptional skill...” (Publishers Weekly )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Harper; 1st edition (March 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060194669
• ISBN-13: 978-0060194666
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,213,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not As Good As The First, But Timely, November 12, 2002

By 

"opusv5" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chameleon: A Novel (Hardcover)

This book, like "The Rhythm Section", is at least timely. Whereas that book partially predicted 9/11, "Chameleon" partially deals with current, and volatile issues:Russia,Chechens, violence, and chemical weapons."Chameleon" again features Stephanie/Petra, here compelled to search for Koba, the unknowable magnate of Russian organized crime.She thus penetrates one of Russia's most powerful Mafiyas, displays her skills as an international assassin, and encounters deadly, even evil players leading to a climax involving the purchase of biological weapons.She also finds love with Kostya, a money launderer and man of respect within Russia's Mafiyas. This, though believably done, is one of the book's weaknesses. Their brief, passionate meetings don't sustain interest. More compelling but confusing is the plotting. Some events (the torture and murder of Salibi and his bodyguard) seem not fully explained. The author, however, has done his homework. His description of Russian crime, its structure in various countries, and those minor or major figures within or around it are authentic. So is his knowledge of the former Soviet Union's ethnic composition and description of chemical weapons. Though not as engrossing as "The Rhythm Section,""Chameleon" is an intelligent, above average installment in Stephanie/Petra's career. Where, if anywhere, will the author take her next?

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Confusing and boring, January 27, 2003

By 

J>B "J>B" (Malta) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chameleon: A Novel (Hardcover)

Comparing this book with other thrillers, I think it's not the Casablanca of this century but rather the most confusing book I have ever read. A very good introduction but too many characters lost the plot and thus as a result the reader may find the book boring just like I felt. I've just finished reading Home Run by Gerald Seymour and I really enjoyed the latter. It's about international terro. as well but it's simpler and much more entertaining. Hope that not too many authors copy the style of this book.