The Miernik Dossier is the dazzling first novel, recently reissued, by master spy novelist Charles McCarry. In this riveting, imaginative tale, five international agents embark on a road trip in a Cadillac from Switzerland to the Sudan. Among them are Paul Christopher, an American operative; Kalash el Khatar, the seven-foot-tall Muslim prince; Ilona Bentley, the beautiful half-English, half-Hungarian girlfriend of the British national, Nigel Collins; and Tadeusz Miernik, the shy and bumbling Polish scientist who might be ...
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The Miernik Dossier is the dazzling first novel, recently reissued, by master spy novelist Charles McCarry. In this riveting, imaginative tale, five international agents embark on a road trip in a Cadillac from Switzerland to the Sudan. Among them are Paul Christopher, an American operative; Kalash el Khatar, the seven-foot-tall Muslim prince; Ilona Bentley, the beautiful half-English, half-Hungarian girlfriend of the British national, Nigel Collins; and Tadeusz Miernik, the shy and bumbling Polish scientist who might be the leader of a terror force that could set the Cold War aflame. Related as a collection of dossier notes written by the five characters, the novel reveals a complicated web in which each spins his or her own deception: each is a spider, and each a spy. The Miernik Dossier is an absolute masterpiece.
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An amazing story written in the style of the 60's. If you enjoy Le Carre,Drury, Furst, you will consider this book a treasure. Intricate plot and very well-written.
Ruysbroek
Aug 1, 2010
complex thriller
A most complex, riveting thriller. Expertly woven tale that will keep you wondering what is next. You will be unable to stop reading.
McCarry is incredible.
MrKMD
Jun 26, 2007
What spycraft is all about
Charles McCarry was an agent himself, as many may know, but that doesn't make a person a good writer. Luckily for us, Mr. McCarry wrote a fine novel. He put his knowledge to good use, creating a believable situation full of living, breathing characters. The story is the tragedy of Tadeus Miernik as told by others. The form Mr. McCarry chose is that of a dossier of reports from various Western Intelligence organizations and is presented in chronological order. It starts with Miernik's efforts to get himself positioned as the Soviet laison officer attached to a Marxist revolutionary force in Sudan sometime around 1960 and concludes a few months later with his brutal death by these same forces. The reports were writen by outsiders with little or no knowledge of Miernik, by some who were his enemies and by a few who were both his friends and enemies. It makes for fascinating reading. The interaction of the agents is marvelous. In what should be dead, dry reports the people all come alive. We see Miernik's operation gestate, unfold and then come apart as he rushes to his doom. The wonderful thing is that Mr. McCarry doesn't telegraph anything. Right up to the end Miernik could have succeeded. This is quality writing indeed. I believe that the form chosen, a dossier of reports, was unique to espionage fiction when this book was written. The form of the novel ceates the suspence as we are given just one piece of the puzzle at a time. The suspence builds as we find out more information and become more and more familiar with te characters. I highly reccommend this book.
