Without Honor [Paperback]

David Hagberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1997

Former CIA agent Kirk McGarvey is living in Lausanne with his girlfriend when a couple of top operatives from "the company" show up. They desperately need his help as the Russians are up to something and it seems there may be a mole in the upper levels of the United States government--and McGarvey is the only man who can find him.

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

The first Kirk McGarvey novel hit the shelves in 1989, as the Cold War was ending. At the time, the former Soviet Union was still America's main security concern. This novel follows former spy McGarvey as he returns to the fold to probe a car-jacking that left two CIA operatives dead and to seek out a mole. Bruce Watson reads with a tough no-nonsense style, sounding at times like Walter Winchell narrating "The Untouchables." His style lends itself well to action scenes, but much of the dialogue is overdone. McGarvey's lines often sound like shouting, rather than the cool menace intended. This reading could have been a lot more fun with a lighter touch. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 441 pages
• Publisher: Tom Doherty Assoc Llc (June 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812504135
• ISBN-13: 978-0812504132
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #423,367 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

DAVID HAGBERG is a former Air Force cryptographer who has traveled extensively in Europe, the Arctic, and the Caribbean and has spoken at CIA functions. He has published more than twenty novels of suspense, including the bestselling Joshua's Hammer, Soldier of God, and Allah's Scorpion. He makes his home in Sarasota, Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hagberg's BEST - and sue me if you think different, April 21, 2003

By 

T Galazka (no longer NYC, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Without Honor (Paperback)

This book, in my opinion, is the best Hagberg EVER wrote. I've read a few of the later Kirk McGarvey volumes, and they seem almost like an exercise in "writing by numbers", when compared to this one. Examples? You need examples? Introducing "significant others" so that they would be blown up or away in the next volume of the saga might be a nice one. I know, the plot has to get moving somehow, but we've all seen that in Bond movies. Then, of course, McGarvey turns into an aging killing machine, dispatching the enemies like pop-up targets (they don't have much more depth, anyway). Boring and predictable. I'd rather have unpretentious fun with Remo Williams!
In "Without Honor", on the other hand, the tone is sombre, almost like an AmE adaptation of a James Le Carre novel, with a high level of complexity and betrayals galore (instead of the token moronic and still scheming DDO of the CIA in the later volumes - did I use the word "boring" already?). Almost no gun-totin' action to speak of, as McGarvey is carried away by events beyond his ken and control, and ever more confused with every new betrayal and switch in apparent loyalties.
Really, a good one. As opposed to the mediocre showing in later instalments.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars BORING!, January 26, 2000

By 

Brian J. Siegel - See all my reviews

This review is from: Without Honor (Paperback)

I am a huge fan of David Hagberg. I have read all of his books and thought they were all great. This one was the exception, it was slow paced with little if any action. I know this was an early work. I had read the others before getting back to this one, so I was used to the fast pace action packed novels. Outside of Kirk the characters were bland. I guess i expected a bit more from Baronov and company. I'm just going to forget about this one. I don't think one rotten apple will spoil the bunch.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Typical Hagberg!, June 8, 2001

By 

Melvin Hunt (Cleveland,, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Without Honor (Paperback)

This book was certainly a letdown from other Hagberg books that I have read in the past.Not even aaltime McGarvey villain Baranov could save this book. There was little or no action in this book. This book consisted of a great deal of dialogue between McGarvey and the other characters. There are little or no action sequences that have been a trademark in other Hagberg books. This definitely must have been one of his first books.He got much better in his later writings. I know why this book is unavaliable for purchaese. It is to boring to read. Buy his other books. You will like them much better.