Customer Reviews

Shelley's Heart

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Charles McCarry is one of the top writers of espionage, suspense/thriller fiction and most definitely in the same literary league with John LeCarre, Alan Furst, Eric Ambler and Ken Follett. McCarry's nuanced, at times poetic, writing style, his ability to create real, flesh and blood characters who will move you, and his fast-paced, taunt storylines, put him at the top of the list for craftsmanship and inventiveness. Therefore, I do not understand why McCarry's books are out of print and have been for some time. In order to read them I have had to look for used book sellers who have his novels in stock at a reasonable price - not an easy task. However, for anyone who reads this review and becomes motivated to search out "Shelly's Heart" or any of the author's other suspense thriller, I urge you to follow through. You won't be sorry - I promise.

I should note that McCarry worked for the CIA many years ago, during the height of the Cold War, and the air of authenticity that permeates his books makes them all the more fascinating and absolutely riveting. His position as one of the "Old Boys," and his knowledge of "The Company" and the political goings-on in the DC Beltway add tremendously to his most original plots.

I was amazed while reading "Shelly's Heart" that this book was written and published in 1995 because the novel's themes, which might have seemed extremely farfetched ten years ago, are not unbelievable at all today - especially not after the 2000 presidential election and the events of 9/11.

The story opens in January 2001, the day before the presidential inauguration. Incumbent President Bedford Forrest Lockwood, a political progressive, (read liberal), learns from his worthy former opponent Franklin Mallory, a staunch conservative, that there is documented evidence of election fraud in California, Michigan and New York which brings into serious question Lockwood's right to assume office. The disputed outcome hangs on a few thousand votes in a single state. Sound familiar? A presidential impeachment is also involved in this riveting thriller, as are terrorism, dirty bombs, Muslim extremists, Washington DC politics and presidential staff machinations, of the shadiest kind, at the highest levels. Throw in lots of dark humor, terrific characters, including a newly appointed obsessive compulsive Supreme Court justice with delusions of grandeur and two androgynous lawyers, lethal beautiful blonde super women types who work for him, and you have the makings of an unputdownable story. Forgot to mention a subplot involving a Yale-based secret society a la Skull and Bones, but more subversive...I think....and a constitutional crisis.

I have now read almost all of Charles McCarry's books and cannot recommend them highly enough. I have had to go out of my way, as previously mentioned, to acquire his work but am so glad I did. If you are a fan of John le Carré, Alan Furst, Eric Ambler and Ken Follett, you will certainly become a McCarry fan, as are le Carré, Furst, Ambler and Follett. They have all read him and praise him to the sky. ENJOY!
JANA

I'm on a McCarry roll. This is my 5th book in 7 days I've read of Mr. McCarry's and I can't stop. I didn't love the Mierknik Dossier, but Shelley's Heart is a masterwork that picks up some of the threads of The Better Angels which would be good to read first if you can. I also read some of his later Paul Christopher novels, so it was fascinating to catch up on the Hubbard family and the famous Zarah who plays such an intriguing role in this novel. What can I say? Every detail is amazing -- the political intrigue, the spy games, the Washington insiders, the social scene -- he has such a terrific eye, suspenseful writing style that you simply cannot put these books down. Of the books I've read so far, this was my favorite although I really enjoyed Second Sight and Old Boys too. I read in an interview that Overlook Press will start reissuing all his out of print books (almost all of them are out of print except his new one, Old Boys) this spring, so I can't wait to get my hands on his other books. Run and out find them!

The problem with most novels about Washington is that they are either 1)completely implausible (see FAVORITE SON) or 2)boring to anyone who doesn't actually live here. Charles McCarry's books are the exceptions that prove the rule. SHELLEY'S HEART works equally well as political thriller and incisive satire of late-20th century Washington (the reviewer who found it the work of a rightwing conspiracy clearly didn't get it). His attention to detail is perfect, and his characters are priceless. It would make a great movie, except that Hollywood probably doesn't care for this vision of our nation's capital.

First, Charles McCarry is truly a great American writer. Evidence his novel "The Last Supper" discussed later. Shelly's Heart was hard to put down and certainly an enjoyable political thriller that explored what could happen in a Constitutional crisis and impeachment situation. I gave Shelly's Heart a 9 only because it is hard for me to imagine any book topping the performance and range of quality of "The Last Supper" that establish Charles as a great American author. Certainly timley, considering current political events, regardless of your political pursuasion. And I didn't think McCarry particularly evidences a particular political bias in his writing either, although he does have some strong feelings about a few things. I am already a McCarry fan having read all seven or eight fiction novels he has written, (except "Bride of the Wilderness") up to now. I prefer his espionage novels from which this book draws on events and characters. McCarry considers himself an author not of a particular genera, but a general author. He has explored and written in several: espionage (what he truly knows), western/histroical and contemporary political thriller like Shelly's Heart. He is skilled at his writing craft and can be very intellectually profound and deep in his writing. (He was consistantly so in "The Last Supper.") He also writes with a great range and depth of emotion. His writing flows so well that you become completely and comfortably absorbed in the story and characters. Seldom if ever does anything appear contrived. Just like good fiction and storytelling should be. And it appears to me (having read his other boooks) that McCarry draws on his insiders knowledge as a field case officer in the CIA (his former profession) during the cold war era. McCarry writes from personal knowledge and experience. His fictionalized secret "Society of the Poet", in the seemy political backdrop of the novel is based on other real secret societies such as the Yale Russel Trust or Skull and Bones. (Anyone who knows about the history of the CIA should know about the "Skull and Bones".) Perhaps the reviewer who ranted about vast right wing conspiricy theory (to requote Hillary) was just uninformed and iliterate, as history and men are by their natures conspiratorial, witness David Humes classic "History of England". (Or maybe he is just a paranoid left wing conspiracy nut. So touchy!) But that reviewer does a disservice to readers who might be mislead and persuaded to pass on an opportunity to experience a great American author. The book does bring out the sometimes conspiratorial nature of man in politics and existance and influence of secret societies but makes no real comentary thereon and is just a great story. The book does not tout any right wing conspiracy theories but simply takes an authors liberty to employ a very creative literary fictional device, "The Society of the Poet" i.e, Shelly. It becomes appearent quickly from reading much of McCarry that he is well researched and read, astute, cultured, and articulate. Borrowing on characters from other novels, McCarry illustrates the realities and "sausage making qualities" of the political process and the media. (A reference to the old saying about not wanting to see how it was made, i.e, sausagge, politics or legislation.)

It is said that McCarry is considered "the one to read" by American intelligence professionals, and I agree. All McCarry's espionage books have high merit but for a real treat, read "The Last Supper". (One of, if not THE FINEST espoinage novel I have ever read). Finer American fiction cannot be found. A truly profound and intelectually stimulating book with touches of history of the cold war, philosopy, culture, history, tradecraft, deep development of the main characters, profound observations, keen insight and observations of the human condition through the characterizations, and reflections on the profession of the intelligence professional, as well as being a first class espionage novel. A truly meaningful exploration of political issues and juxtaposed political forces in a backdrop of 1920/1930s Germany then a jump to 1950/1960 cold war, that I think has much relevance to the current political situations and polarizations in America today. There is much insight and history and fictionalized commentary about the intellligence business buried within. Also within, are found clues (only just barely) to the real secret society aluded to in disguise in Shelly's Heart. As far as his espionage novels go, I would recommend you start with his first and read them in order and each will build on the other as you also observe this talented writer evolve. You can make allowance for the first, the Miernik Dossia as a first novel (so we will make some allowances for that, part shoot-'em-up, part very good tradecraft), but from there on out McCarry gets "serious and seriouser." However you can read Shelly's Heart now, or any time. If the realities of the contemporary political process interest you, this is a great book. If you love the espionage genera, you owe it to yourself to discover Charles McCarry, and especially "The Last Supper" his fourth novel (Go to a used book store, it is worth finding). Copyright by Jim Wheeler 1998. All Rights Reserved.

First off, this is a very believable book, except that it does play a bit loose with the interpretation of the Constitution and the Presidential Succession bit. Also, the gullibility of the public is assumed, which stretches things a bit (e.g. the fawning over Hammett! Sorry, don't think so!). And the high tech 'stuff' available to the employees (!!) of the principle characters; again, stretches credulity a bit!
But having said that, it does bring it all together in some fascinating glimpses into what might be if we let ourselves get into. Wonderful character development, the boys and girls romping through the story (and that's how they're referred to!) along with the presumed-adults, and its a fine tale. I couldn't put it down.
Why only four stars? The characters are too superhuman and they do things a bit too easily; sorry, just need some normal human problems to appear. Murphy's Law and all that, traffic jams, flat tires maybe.
Highly recommended nonetheless. I'm already on the prowl for the author's other books!

I am a longtime fan of Charles McCarry's spy novels, and have read them all except Shelley's Heart, which I am now in the middle of. The books are very high-level and gripping; I'm only sorry there aren't more of them. For him to come back with Old Boys, after announcing (at the end of the previous book) that the series was over, was quite a feat, and made me go back and reread some of them. The only drawback in reading McCarry, for many people (including myself), is his right-wing politics; he makes a point of mocking "liberals" and "leftists," and the mystique of New England old families and their moral superiority over everyone else runs through his books. But those of us whose politics are different have to put up with this to enjoy the great pleasures of his novels.

A bombshell of a political thriller, the sequel to McCarry's The Better Angels. A tense and riveting tale of a struggle for presidential power, and the human and political consequences it leaves in its wake. Loading his story with rich, detailed characters, McCarry proves his mastery of the political spellbinder as well as the spy novel. You will be hungry for more!

Shelley's Heart is spectacular. Charles McCarry's many other novels are uniformly excellent, but Shelley's Heart stands out. The suspense builds and I couldn't put the book down, particularly as the "good guys" (if you're of moderate or conservative political views) finally turned the tables on their conspiring opponents. I except that liberals and Ivy Leaguers won't like the premise of the book, which is that ex-Yale and other prep elite graduates have penetrated all three branches of the government and maintain a secret society dedicated to the victory of Shelleyian ideals.

I did have on question based on reading prior Charles McCarry books. Why and how did the Hubbards become bad guys? McCarry definitely has turned on them.

That question, most famously asked by Howard Baker of Richard Nixon, could apply equally to Charles McCarry. Having begun this book the night before Ken Starr sent those rancid documents to the Hill, I found much of McCarry's novel eerily dead-on, especially in the behind-the-scenes news, legal, extra-legal, congressional and executive office commentaries and viciously funny asides. How could McCarry have foreseen so much of our current national and international troubles in 1993 (assuming it took two years to write and publish) - from fatally flawed presidents to Islamic terrorists? Loved the impeachment section! My only cavils are the "cast of thousands," many with similar names/plot functions, despite my familiarity with some of the characters from earlier novels, and the identity of the caftan-clad assassin - telegraphed early and prefunctorily wrapped up - oh, all right, I stayed up late to see how the reader would be left - and even later pondering the questions Charlie raised.

Set aside a weekend to read this book, because you won't want to set it aside once you've begun it.

This is the conclusion to The Better Angels pitting two Presidents against each other. Former President Mallory is a brilliant, emotionally detached, security obsessed Republican - think Richard Nixon without the five o'clock shadow. President Lockwood, for whom the Presidency was stolen by underlings, is a folksy, born politician, but dumb in the way some smart people are - think Bill Clinton but with principles and a sense of honor.

But these two characters play only a supporting role among the most colorful cast of characters ever invented for a Washington novel. Although most of the characters are over the top satiric gems, they are believable enough to pull the reader in. Along the way, the author makes a number of observations about how Washington works, making this required reading for anyone heading to DC.

Both this and The Better Angels were written in the early 90's and it's a tribute to the author's foresight as a former CIA officer that among the matters he predicts are: a Presidential impeachment, a sex scandal involving a priapic Democratic President, Muslim terrorists blowing themselves up in crowds, an intervention in the Middle East involving weapons of mass destruction which can't be found, a challenged Presidential election and even a Senate split 50-50 as it was in 2000-2002. Of course, he jumbles all of these elements up to make these events his own.

Some of the plot elements are pure satire - a conspiracy of left wing Yalie WASPs - but the author creates real tension and indicates how much is at stake. That the hero of the book is the one that the reader has already voting as the most unlikely to succeed makes this a peculiarly American book, where we don't always respect the best and the brightest (largely because the best and the brightest are often neither) but the people with the stoutest character and the strongest heart.

Shelley's Heart is much better than The Better Angels and The Better Angels was one of the best of its kind.