First, if you haven't read Red Sparrow, read it first. This book will stand on its own, but it is a sequel to Red Sparrow, and you'll enjoy knowing more about the characters.
Second, I hope that Jason Matthews is busy on a third book now. The long work that went into these two is obvious, and I don't expect him to be publishing a book a year. When I finished this one, I went looking for anything else he'd written and was disappointed to realize I'd have to wait for another. Oh well, I just hope he knows that I and undoubtedly many thousands of other readers are hoping there will be more.
Red Sparrow and Palace of Treason are literally spy novels. All the characters are involved in intelligence work of one kind or another,and the level of detail and knowledge about that business is one of the best reasons to read these books. They are an education in spy craft, the internal politics of these agencies, and the way these people live. As a former journalist whose current profession involves even more investigation and figuring out what's really going on behind the clues I can see, I am impressed by the intensity of the investigatory work, the high level of analysis (so much of which depends on talent, as well as experience and skill), and the risks they have to take knowing what they don't know.
The characters live with those risks, and when human emotions -- like falling in love -- get into the mix with the ruthless use of people -- including your own people -- in pursuit of information and advantage, it makes a breathtaking story that is action-packed, chilling, astonishing and awe-inspiring for the bravery and emotional (if not always physical) survival of these people.
Jason Matthews makes sure that the reader knows what motivates all the main characters. He's not an explainer, thank heavens. He shows the pivotal moments in history that that created the emotions and values that drive them. The kid that grew up in a family of well-to-do bullies. The teenager who was pimped out by her uncle when her father died. He also isn't afraid to talk about the special gifts that make some people better at their work than others. The business of spying requires an edge, if they're going to survive. Or a level of sociopathic corruption of the soul, which is also a survival skill.
If you like edge-of-your-seat page turners that also are an education in world you'll never see, if you're lucky, these are the books for you. I intend to read both of them at least one more time to savor the details that may have gotten by me in my eagerness to read what happens next.
I'm a writer. I generally go for award-winning literary books in any genre. The writing here is excellent. The topic is thought provoking, especially with the off-the-cuff commentary in the conversations about politics that are very current right now -- including Putin showing up as a main character.
I loved it and highly recommend it.
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Palace of Treason you will never put down!
To begin with, you have to read Jason Matthews Red Sparrow first, as Palace of Treason is the continuation of it. Others can give you a synopsis of the book but I just want to say that I have been a huge reader of them all: Baldacci, Daniel Silva, Patterson, Nelson Demille, Patrick Robinson, Harlan Coben, Frederick Forsythe, Vince Flynn, et. al. These two books are way at the top of my list and you should not walk-not-run to get both of them at the same time. If you have read I Am Pilgrim and know that you could not put that down, then these are exactly the same. Better pick a vacation to read these because otherwise you're going to miss work!
Top reviews from other countries
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LisaReviewed in Spain on May 4, 2019
Red Sparrow. The palace of treason. The Cremlin's candidate
