This is an historical spy novel by JH Gelernter occurring in 1804, just after the American Revolutionary War. Included in this swashbuckling series of adventures are interesting little tid bits of British culture, and European tradition of the time that I thought were …more especially interesting. Examples are descriptions of a Beethoven concert, and sword dueling to the death between gentlemen. These 1800s cultural practices were embedded into the main story in a very effective way. The main plot was fast paced and fun and seemed a bit like a treasure hunt at sea.

This book is a whale of a tale. It is almost like Harry Potter for grown ups. Our hero "Mr. Grey" dashes from one super calamity to the next, whether it be a venomous snake that he takes on or the siege of a pirate's fortress, or even a full on battle at sea with cannons blazing. Of course he always comes out the other end unscathed.

I appreciated the authors historical note at the beginning and end of the book. I would recommend this book especially to sailors and military personnel as there was extensive marine terms and language used - but that did not prevent me from enjoying the story. The plot was easy to follow even for the land lover. The ending clearly implies that there is another book coming in this series. (less)

I just loved this book - from page one to the very last page. I am rarely so taken by a book. It is a really great story, well written and I learned something about WWII as well. A triple hit!

When I first received the ARC I saw that it was nearly 500 pages and immediately …more worried that I would not have the time. Also it feels like a big commitment if I happen to not like the book. For that reason I read the first 10 pages, just to see if it seemed reasonable. At page 10 I thought that I might read just a little bit more as the book is clearly "a good one". At page 50 I decided that maybe I would just put the book at the head of my reading list and by page 75 I admitted to myself that I could not put this book down.

This book is the story of Fenna, and her character development is outstanding. The book follows her growth and maturity in the various backdrops of her environment. I felt so much compassion for her as the book begins with her tragic, but very realistic lonely childhood in a Midwestern mining town in the 1920's. Socially in the 20s children were not valued, not recognized. Surrounded by neglect during her childhood Fenna learns to become invisible. She learns independence, stamina, perseverance at a very young age. She also learns to successfully hide - often in plain sight through an introduction to Houdini and his ability to escape various predicaments.

Her story moves with her interest in Houdini and her skillful mastering techniques of hiding. She is so accomplished that she is picked up by the English war office M-19 and recruited for an operation infiltrating the Netherlands. She is the perfect operator as she is an independent, strong, skillful woman.
I found this section of the book particularly interesting. I did not know how involved the Dutch were in WWII, and how much they participated in the resistance. I found it particularly interesting how paranoid they were of their own neighbors and fellow Dutch. The mistrust and angst that the Dutch experienced was palpable - something I was never aware of.

Of course the book includes a great romance inserted into this history of social America in the 1920s and a fresh look at WWII in Europe. Also as a conclusion, to finish Fenna's fine character is a wonderful ending where she doggedly works, against all odds of success to save a young girl from the very circumstances that she faced as a child. Arie saves Fenna abandoned by circumstances and Fenna saves Evelien.

What a great read! (less)

I liked this book, I think it would be an excellent book club read because it brings up a lot of controversial issues –as I read it I found myself really examining my own values.

The main theme is that the author Jessica C Hindman is basically a whistle blower - her purpose …more is to expose the dishonesty of a famous composer with whom she worked. The book is a diary of all the events and performances that she attends with The Composer. She explains clearly from the beginning that these performances are all fake. She is a fake player of the violin in this orchestra that travels the United States giving fraudulent performances.

Parallel with her judging of The Composer's dishonesty is a display of his ongoing success and popularity in America. The hypocrisy is profound- there is one example after another of his knowingly purposefully cheating his followers (the American public).

The public in turn love the Composer .

The author then segues right into our social system and the hypocrisy that exists regarding race, gender, wealth, privilege, education, etc. She draws a parallel that the audience that loves the fake concerts also loves –or at least tolerates all our social pretenses and empty social talk.

The book is quite a statement of the many social inequitites that are blended into American social structures, and the great public acceptance of these hypocritical values. In exposing the composer she is exposing our own mistruths, and as the audiences (the American public) love his music and we love our social structure – it works very well for those of us who are of the right gender, race, etc.

This book frustrated me at the end because she never exposes the composer. She protects him and thus I think loses credibility, especially when she does expose some other big name performers. (less)