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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Starts off promising then gets messy, December 6, 2007
Ian Rankin is a top author, no question about it. His Inspector Rebus books are brilliant so I was hoping this early book of his (written in 1988) would be readable.
I found that the book starts off very well with a fast-paced narrative and an interesting lead character.
The problem lies in the middle of the book when the real adventure commences and the story becomes less of a character story and more of an adventure story. I felt that the author got out of his normal routine and entered a field that he was not comfortable with.
The action was a bit muddied and far-fetched at times and I didn't really enjoy it.
All in all, a book for the fans of Ian Rankin only.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you like spy novels..., December 14, 2007
Reviewed by Diane Snyder
He's a watcher. He's a listener and he is good at what he does -"trained to near perfection in his art."
Miles Flint is a spy for MI5 in London. He doesn't use a gun. He uses things such as pens - one that can covertly pick up conversations several feet away. It is 1988, computers are not yet the norm and no one has a cell phone. Miles belongs to the group known as the Watchmen for that is what they do. They do surveillance and make reports. Miles has been doing it for many years, but there has been a shift in his life, both at work and at home with his marriage. Known among his peers as the Invisible Man because he can make himself seem to disappear by appearing innocuous as possible-an attribute Miles has always seen as an asset in his work-but he has suddenly become noticed, and not in a good way.
His latest assignment has gone all wrong and someone was murdered - someone he was supposed to be watching. Miles is suspicious of a mole in MI5 but when he begins to look at the others including his wife, he finds he is also under suspicion. Now the Watcher is being watched.
First published in Great Britain in 1988, this is not your typical spy story of great gadgets and suave agents. It is much more realistic as the characters are aging, petty, paranoid and destructible. The author's ability to portray deep and complex characters tsets this book apart from other spy novels. Watchmen has an edginess that depends less on the problem presented and more on the action and interaction of the characters. It's a rush to follow Miles as he pulls himself out of his comfort zone to become a high-wired manipulator and a hero where it counts the most - to himself and his wife.
As intricate and devious as the plot is, Rankin has a good grasp on his story and smoothly guides you through to the end - which is, of course, unpredictable.
Armchair Interviews says: If you like Ian Rankin and you like spy novels, this is a must-read. They just don't get much better.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
A few good points, but has some problems, March 13, 2008
I had never heard of Ian Rankin before, but found this book prominently displayed in the bookstore under "New Releases" in mystery. The book is not really a new release, nor is it a mystery. It was initially released in 1988 but the first American release was in 2007. This review is like a euology for a person dead twenty years.
The novel is a spy thriller that takes place in the UK in the era of IRA bombings and prior to cell phones and ubiquitous video surveillance. The central character is Miles Flint, a refreshingly unassuming and anti-glamorous domestic spy. Flint stumbles into a scandal within his agency that takes him from London to Ireland and Scotland. It is easy reading but plods along for the first two thirds. The prose is simplistic with few memorable quotes. The plot becomes a little bit convoluted as is common in this genre, but the denouement is implausible and has holes.
This book is OK for a quick read if you don't have anything else at hand.
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