Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Spy Who Was Left Out in the Cold, April 7, 2007
Reading "A Train To Potevka" reminded me of listening to war stories told by a favorite uncle; you find yourself captivated even though you suspect he may have spiced things up a bit after numerous retellings. In fairness, Mike Ramsdell makes no attempt to pass this off as a straight memoir, acknowledging in his Prologue that "several of the events, places, and names in the book have been altered or fictionalized."
Putting aside the fact or fiction question, Ramsdell has crafted an addictive story, equal parts spy novel and faith-based inspirational piece. The plot line is simple yet effective, tracing Ramsdell's struggle to flee from a botched intelligence mission in Russia. Abandoned by his handlers, hunted by the Russian Mafia, seriously injured, without food, and in the midst of an intense blizzard, Ramsdell makes his way across Russia on the dingy Trans-Siberian railway.
For a spy novel, there is little action, no fancy gadgets and a conspicuous absence of glamorous female agents. Ramsdell takes pride in portraying the realistic side of a profession that has long been distorted by fictional super-agents like James Bond: "In reality, intelligence work is extremely serious, tedious, and unglamorous; done by balding, pudgy, middle-aged men - and there are seldom any buxom women."
Ramsdell makes good use of the tedious interludes in his survivalist adventure, weaving in a substantial amount of factual information about the Soviet Union on the brink of its collapse, recounting memories from his family life and his earlier days as an intelligence agent, and framing the tension between his strong Mormon faith and the devious nature of his chosen profession. For the most part, these flashbacks and introspective sections are effective and inspirational. Although a ruthless editor could probably have skinnied down a few passages and improved the overall punch of the story, I recommend this interesting, heartfelt novel as it stands.
-Kevin Joseph, author of "The Champion Maker"
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
READ THIS BOOK!, November 29, 2007
Mike couldn't tell his own family what he was doing for his country. You see he was an intelligence officer in deep cover inside the Soviet Union. Now he's written a can't-put-it-down page-turner that he calls a spy novel.
I was a CID agent in Saigon, worked for many years as an intelligence agent and supervisor for the Secret Service. For several years I supervised a task force at the CIA's Counter Terrorist Center. My jobs took me to war, to the White House, behind the Iron Curtain, and to former Warsaw Pact countries. Because I know intelligence work I think there's more truth than fiction in Mike's book. Being a bit of a romantic, I also find it an incredible love story.
Could civil servants really be as religiously bigoted as Mike describes? I've seen it myself, and it's not just Mormons that feel it. A little clique of "hard-drinking, hard-loving, two-fisted, real men," which is to say lushes and cheaters put it to a young Baptist Agent because he refused to live down to their low standards.
Could an intelligence agency be so inept and calloused as to leave a colleague behind in the middle of nowhere? Could,would,and have! A physician's assistant I worked with rescued a retired agent from just such a situation. He had gone to work as a covert contract employee for another agency. On assignment in one of the most backward countries in the world,he became deathly ill. Old friends found him and evacuated him back to the states, saving his life, no thanks to his new employer.
Thank you Mike & Bon, for your service to our GREAT country!
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Train to Potevka, March 8, 2007
A Train To Potevka; what an absolutely wonderful book!
You might not see this book currently on the N.Y. Times Best Seller List, or Oprah's Book Club List, (yet) but give it time....
This is a book that once you open and start reading it is difficult to put down. Mr. Ramsdell's compassion for his country, and family is so uniquely put into words, that you feel it within your soul, as you read about this adventure, that tears at your heart, as he struggles to stay alive and hidden from the enemy. Most of all, it is a wonderful love story about country, faith, family, and his new bride Bonnie.
This is one book that you don't want to miss reading, and you will be recommending to your friends.
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