Book Review: Top Hook

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Top Hook     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Gordon Kent
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Military   Government Agency   Thriller   Espionage
Series: Alan Craik # 3
Delacorte, Jun 2002, $24.95, 480 pp.

Everything looks great to Alan Craik and his spouse Rose Siciliano. The CIA appears ready to tap him for a highly regarded espionage position and the astronaut school has accepted Rose. Much faster than their rise to the top is their collapse caused by the machinations of someone else.

A woman in Venice blackmails CIA treasonous mole George Shreed. Panicking and already over the edge with his wife near death from cancer, George needs a fall guy who would have been on the project but not quite visible and with little protection to dub as the double agent selling secrets to the Chinese. He selects Rose. His covert actions lead the CIA to stop the promotions of Craik and Siciliano pending the results of an investigation into the activities of the duo. Their careers come to a halt but refusing to idly sit by as the taint of treason is painted on them, Alan and Rose begin their own inquiries into what short circuited their lives.

The third Craik-Siciliano thriller is loaded with action, action, and more action somewhat at the cost of character development. The story line emphasizes the shoot em up thrill a paragraph that never slows down, but for new readers Alan and Rose never seem quite real. Strangely the double agent is probably the most complete player in the tale as the audience understands his fears, doubts, and motives. Fans who enjoy an energizing espionage thriller will want to read Gordon Kent’s latest global stimulating novel.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner