Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
If your tastes run to cold war paranoia....., March 31, 2004
By A Customer
Have I got an author for you.
William L. DeAndrea wrote a series of three books, entitled Chronos, Snark, and Azrael, that go together in a devilish manner. They center about a Russian plot to control American society by training young attractive Soviet women to become the dream-women of American men destined to become movers and shakers eventually. The plot is for ultra-desirable women to marry these men, bear their children, and use said offspring to control events in American politics behind the scenes. A long-term plot indeed. The title of the first book makes reference to the Greek myth of Chronos, the father of the Gods, who was prophesed to rule until he was overthrown by his children. He eats his children to ensure his continued dominion. His wife manages to hide one, Zeus, who...well, you get the picture. The protagonist is the protean Jeffrey Bellman/Allen Trotter/Chester Driscoll, whose father is a Congressman (previously a general), who had congress with one of said Russian agents....so, again you get the picture. Problem is, Jeffrey keeps running from his responsibilities, and Dad keeps reeling him back in to thwart dastardly Russian feints.
Sadly, DeAndrea is now deceased--a gifted author who wrote occasional westerns, the as-mentioned spy-type thrillers, and other mysteries involving an executive at a fictitious television network, and a few involving a genius Italian student of evil who coincidentally solves murders.
I can heap no higher praise on an author than to say I keep his books right beside those of Ross Thomas, another literary artist who left us too soon. Sadly, many of his books seem to be out of print.
The spy stuff is a little dated, but still tasty. All are engaging and perfect for a rainy afternoon or a long flight. I recommend you read all you can get your hands on.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Thrilling, but somehow I'm not thrilled, October 29, 2007
Having read 2 fine "Bennedetti" series books by DeAndrea (including the award-winning "HOG Murders") and one of his Matt Cobb (TV Executive) series, I was surprised to find this book to be the 1st in a 3rd series about a reluctant spy during the cold war. It was pretty thrilling and would probably make a good movie, but it was also a bit disappointing considering the enjoyability of his other 2 series' books. It reminds me of Lawrence Block's reluctant spy Tanner series (e.g. Tanner's Twelve Swingers (Evan Tanner)), but Tanner is a spoof--and a riot--lots of fun. This book, however, is more angst and suffering than fun. Still, if you're into spy books, thrillers, and the like, you may very well love this book and series. I also have the next book, Snark to read. It may be "Cronos" was a setup for the series--opening the way for dozens of follow-up books which the author never got a chance to publish. By the way, beware the next earlier review has lots of SPOILERS in it.
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1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Drop the Book and Run, April 7, 2002
This book did nothing for me. It seamed like a cookie cutter book some editor put together from the leftovers of better authors.
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