Dark Star

Alan Furst is better than John Le Carre. There I've said it. Since I started the series, I've been living in 1939, wearing my rain coat and I'm thinking of sewing my passport into the lining of my briefcase. Is that too obvious? It's true what everyone says about Furst. You're suddenly and shockingl......more

I learned more about Stalin and World War II from this book than I ever learned from any history class. Andre Szara is a respected Russian journalist working for Pravda, occasionally doing a little favor for the State, when suddenly, he finds himself involved in a political killing. He is handed a l......more

Sometime in the early 90s I was driving at night from Santa Fe to Albuquerque in a barrowed car (thanks again, Erika) listening to NPR. Their book reviewer of the moment -- Elvis Whatshisname, as I recall -- was laying extravagant praise on a spy novel, saying it broke the constraints of its genre,......more

read long ago ... re-reading now in preparation to writing spy scenes in my sequel to A Flood of Evil UPDATE 12/10/16 ... an excellent spy story that you "feel" as much as read. Changing currents, new alliances, set chapter by chapter against the evolving Nazi horror. Andre Szara, Jewish Polish Russi......more

This book is a sure fire winner for anyone who enjoys truly compelling story set against a lushly detailed historical back drop. Alan Furst really has an incredible talent for bringing history alive and this book is a fine example. Generalities aside for the moment, I particularly enjoyed the Russian/......more