I loved this book. Amy Gallup is an unforgettable character, so sympathetic and full of life despite her anti-social tendencies. Her dry wit had me laughing out loud, yet this novel also had moments of truly poignant grief and love and loss. Dare I use the word compelling? Amy would not approve.

Ranjit Singh is a complex, fascinating protagonist and his presence makes this book a consistently compelling read. Anyone who loves classic, John LeCarre-style thrillers will really enjoy the mixture of international intrigue and thoughtfully portrayed characters. The glimpses of Sikh life and beliefs, in addition to the contrasting views of American and Indian culture, made this a one-of-a-kind read. I hope this will be the start of a series. I'd be very interested in reading more novels with Ranjit Singh as the main character. I was less enamored with Anna, who was possibly too enigmatic, but all in all I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the genre.

I really enjoyed this novel exploring the choices made by two young Harvard students and the way the lives they make for themselves affect their children's perception of the world. It is easy to become engrossed in the characters as they try to make sense of their changing times and circumstances. This would make an excellent book club choice, because there's so much to discuss: would Ed's life have taken a different path if he'd stayed with Connie? Could Hugh have been happy if he'd been born without the money and privilege that he felt as a burden? The title is intriguing as it applies to the main characters and their daughters, and the effect of inherited traits versus inherited culture. I also loved the ending of the epilogue, when ultimately lives become so intertwined that the details no longer matter. All in all, a thoroughly entertaining read.

The title "The Spy Lover" implies a certain combination of intrigue and romance, but this book about the tragedies of the Civil War instead focuses on loss, desperation, courage in battle, and the toll of war on its survivors. Unlike most Civil War sagas, however, The Spy Lover explores the experiences of a diverse range of characters: a Chinese immigrant conscripted into the war, his part-Native American daughter. This book was not at all what I expected, but anyone interested in a different perspective on the Civil War will find it fascinating.

I rarely say this, but I think this book was just about perfect. The story was expertly plotted and so tense I sometimes had to put the book down for a moment and take a deep breath, my fear for the characters was so real. Percival Chen is such a believable and fatally flawed character. My heart ached for him as he watched the consequences of his choices unfold. An absolutely unforgettable read.

This was an engrossing and suspenseful read, despite the fact that the main character wasn't particularly likeable. Watching a respected physician lose her mental integrity, her memories, and her ability to care for herself was tragic; that she alone may know the details of her best friend's murder really ratchets up the tension. I will definitely be on the lookout for future books by this author.