The Talbot Odyssey [Mass Market Paperback]

Nelson DeMille (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1991

IT STARTED AS A SIMPLE SPY HUNT.

IT BECAME A DESPERATE BATTLE TO SAVE THE WEST.

For forty years Western intelligence agents have known a terrible secret: the Russians have a mole -- code-named Talbot -- inside the CIA. At first Talbot is suspected of killing European agents. Then a street-smart ex-cop uncovers a storm of espionage and murder on the streets of New York, while in a Long Island suburb a civic demonstration against the Russian mission masks a desperate duel of nerves and wits.

Engineered by Talbot, a shadow world of suspicion and deceit is spilling onto the streets -- leading to a new Soviet weapon and a first-strike war plan threatening the foundations of American government.

For the U.S., time is running out. For Talbot, the time is now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Intricately plotted ... highly entertaining.' New York Times. 'Ripping good spy thriller.' Publishers Weekly. 'Hard to put down ... loaded with spies, sex, suspense.' NewsDay --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

At the end of WWII, an ex-cop/trainee lawyer soon finds himself embroiled in a world of violence and double-crossing enemy agents. 2 cassettes. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (July 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446358584
• ISBN-13: 978-0446358583
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 1.1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (103 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in New York City in 1943. My father was a Canadian, serving at that time with the American Navy, and my mother was a Brooklyn native, trying to figure out how to grow a Victory Garden for the war effort.

My family moved to Elmont, Long Island, New York in 1947 where my father was a house builder, and my mother was a homemaker raising four boys.
I attended Elmont public schools, played football, ran track, and was on the wrestling team. I graduated Elmont Memorial High School in 1962 and spent the summer at the beach.

I attended Hofstra University, but left before graduation to join the Army in 1966. I served three years in the United States Army as an infantry lieutenant and spent one year in Vietnam as a platoon leader with the First Cavalry Division. You'll see that I used this experience in my novels "Word of Honor" and "Up Country."

After the end of my military service, I returned to Hofstra where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History. I married and had two children, Lauren and Alex, and eventually divorced.

I held a series of good and bad jobs between 1970 and 1974, and in that year, for some reason I can't remember, I decided to be a writer. My first books were paperback originals, New York City police detective novels, thankfully all out of print and hard to find.

In 1978, I published my first major novel, "By the Rivers of Babylon," which was a commercial and critical success. Since then, I've written fourteen other novels and had a good time creating my characters John Corey, Ben Tyson (played by Don Johnson in the TNT movie of "Word of Honor"), foxy Emma Whitestone, Paul Brenner (played by John Travolta in the Paramount movie of "The General's Daughter"), sexy Susan Sutter, the never-say-die CIA officer Ted Nash, and my favorite villain, Asad Khalil, a misunderstood Libyan terrorist with unresolved childhood issues.

I am a member of The Authors Guild, the Mystery Writers of America (past President), American Mensa (thank God I don't have to retake that test), and I hold three honorary doctorate degrees (thank God I didn't have to study for them) from Hofstra University, Long Island University, and Dowling College.
I'm married to the love of my life, Sandy Dillingham, whom I met while I was on a publicity tour in Denver. We have a son, James, two years old, and he's keeping me young.

There's more about me on my website. Thanks for reading about me here, and I hope you enjoy my novels.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#44 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers

#56 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers

#56 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

#57 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#73 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery

#44 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers

#56 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers

#56 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

#57 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#73 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

127 of 140 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A "5 Course Meal" - Not a "Drive-Through" February 12, 2000

By Gary Goldberg

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I stumbled upon this gem after being disappointed with several previous DeMille Novels. The Talbot Odyssey is a "thinking person's" novel. It, much like real life, is NOT all excitement and adrenaline. DeMille does an outstanding job of character development and plot organization and development. While the crux of the plot is not an imminent threat which we face; it is entertaining and afterall this is a novel not a strategic arms treatise. This book requires tenacity from the reader and NO Page Skimming, or you'll miss the clues and hints that DeMille sews throughout the pages. If you've been disappointed with the Gold Coast and Plum Island and the Lion's Game - BUT if you liked the Charm School, Spencerville, and Word of Honor, then you will like the Talbot Odyssey.

41 of 45 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book August 12, 2000

By Mike Wilson

Format:Mass Market Paperback

DeMille is my favourite author and I really enjoy all of his books. Word of Honour is still my favourite followed by Plum Island and Gold Coast. One thing about Demille that I like is that each of his books are different. Talbot Odyssey is a 'spy' novel similar to Ludlum. Although it was a little more off-beat than his other novels it was filled with action and heroic efforts. The characters were interesting and the story kept you guessing (and paranoid. I wish there were more DeMille novels to read because he's spoiled me.

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtakingly awesome! August 13, 2002

By Michael

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I read the first 1/3 and was bored, so I put it down at the end of my vacation. 9 months later (ok I forgot about it) I picked it back up and couldn't put it down again. The first 1/3 sets up the story and the characters, and then the rest is non-stop action. It had an incredible ending. In fact I read the last 80 pages nonstop until 2am because I couldn't stop myself! If you imagine the setting (back during the cold war) you'll really enjoy it.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not DeMille's best, but still a good read December 3, 2003

By "jmm114a"

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I had very high hopes for this book after reading The Charm School, and unfortunately this one didn't quite measure up. However, if you enjoy the spy-thriller genre, this book is a good investment of your time and money. You won't walk away saying it's the best you've ever read, but it will hold your attention and provide some good excitement along the way.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Read! The Russian Threat! October 6, 2003

By J. Lockie

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This story about the Russian plot to knock out all electronic
communications in the US and thereby take over with their own President
makes another unique story and realistic reading. DeMille continues to
provide great dialog, emotionally interesting characters and suspense
throughout the book. Can't put the book down. The reappearance of one
of the main characters after a so-called parachuting accident is a
good twist. Also the flashbacks and the reappearance of intelligence
officers after 30 years is a good plot line. Which of them are the bad
guys is not answered until the very end with some great surprises!
is impressive throughout the book.
I wish Nelson Demille could write as fast as I can read.
He is among the FEW authors whose books I keep to read
again later.
My second read will be right before the movie comes out.
Enjoy this book!

37 of 46 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Traitors! Commies! Heros! - a 543 page comic book June 26, 1999

By Randolph Marcus

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I have read every DeMille novel and enjoyed them for their entertainment value. Unfortunately, "The Talbot Odyssey," while certainly not boring, was totally implausible from start to finish. How is it that as the USSR prepares to destroy the US (and no reason is really given for this), only a group of retired fogey OSS types, a former NYPD cop, some shadowy British commandos, and a mid-level NSA analyst save the day? Neither the US intelligence agencies nor the armed forces make an appearance in this ludicrous plot. And the characterization is so hackneyed, it is virtual comic book writing. The Russians are pure evil, the US traitors are so traitorous, except it's not clear what these 70-year old geezers did between their defection to the Soviets at the end of WWII and the 1980s to earn their filthy rubles. Moreover, the identity of the so-called third Talbot is so obvious as to be a ho-hummer. DeMille has written some superb novels, "The Gold Coast" and "Word of Honor." In contrast, his cold warrior stuff such as Talbot and Charm School suffer from a cliched and steretypical mindset about the Soviet Union. Another reason to be thankful the cold war is over.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Spell-Binding October 27, 2002

By Carmen Matthews

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I've read many of DeMille's books. And like all of them, this is is fast-paced, with excellent character development.

Like another of his books, "Charm School," this story has cold war, spy theme. But one thing that is different is that the plot is based in New York, instead of Russia. And in this story there are double agents within CIA and KGB.

With any novel, I always set out placing myself in the drama. DeMille makes it easy to be there.

Your heart will race. You may even say a few, "Gotchas."

And you will really be there amongst the drama, the spy life and the historical context.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Shakespeare, but definetly entertaining June 23, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

"The Talbot Odyssey" is an intensely entertaining novel, that although doesn't challenge one intellectually, does present itself as more than suitable time filler. I have read all but two ("The Gold Coast" & "Spencerville") of DeMille's works and he is amongst my favourite authors. His ability to immerse his novels in pertinent and often necessary historical context (i.e. "Plum Island" & "By The Rivers Of Babylon") is a strong drawcard for me. Once again, DeMille manages to capture historical mystery and mold it into a fast-paced and gripping story with all the elements that make a successful and entertaining novel.