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The Trinity Six by Charles Cumming

The Trinity Six

by Charles Cumming
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  • First Published:
  • Mar 15, 2011, 368 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Mar 2012, 368 pages
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There are currently 23 reader reviews for The Trinity Six
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William Y. (Lynchburg, VA)

The Trinity Six, Charles Cumming, A Review
Over many years, the novel of espionage and spycraft has enjoyed a large, steady readership. With the 2011 publication of Charles Cumming's "The Trinity Six," fans of the genre will discover they need have no worries about its decline.
The author introduces Sam Gaddis, a naive English academic who finds himself unexpectedly thrust into old Cold War intrigues. An atmospheric page-turner, Cumming avoids the gadgets and devices so often present in techno-thrillers and opts for characterization instead.
A good, brisk read and recommended for anyone with an interest in the political twists and turns between East and West in the recent past.
Joan C. (Warwick, RI)

The Trinity Six
I enjoyed reading this book. It begins with the main character, Professor Sam Gaddis, becoming involved in a innocent review of letters, documents covering a famous team of Soviet spies who lived and worked in England/US post WW II.The plot behind this story within a story becomes increasingly sophisticated and intriguing as it unfolds. Sam Gaddis , is a very believable English professor who , as an expert in Soviet history, gets caught up his own spy game . Sam is believable as a very intelligent man, but one who is naive to the real spy game. The reader doesn't really get to put the puzzle together until almost the very end. Reminded me of Frederick Forsyth's intricate spy novels which I also enjoyed.
Nancy O. (Hobe Sound, FL)

An interesting new take on an old spy scandal
Trinity Six has much to offer, and it will definitely keep spy-novel aficionados interested up to the very last page. The Cambridge Spy ring is a topic of great personal interest, and although the author makes a couple of minor errors, he does a good job in explaining the history of this group to make it easily approachable for readers who may not be aware of the history of the Cambridge spies. The author has clearly done a lot of research and knows what he's talking about. My only problem with this book is that a lot of characterization is sacrificed to plot, so there's not a whole lot of time for the reader to become intimately involved with the players. It starts out somewhat slowly, but the pace quickens and the action doesn't stop. I'd recommend it to people who enjoy a good fictional romp through the world of espionage, both past and present. It's a very easy read, highly approachable and once it gets going, fast paced enough to satisfy any reader of spy thrillers.
William E. (Honolulu, HI)

A Good Read Trinity Six
I have always been interested in the in the espionage of the "five" and so I found the book informative as to the individuals involved originally. Although it began slowly, the book became more compelling as it developed. I recommend the book to anyone interested in the period and or a good mystery.
Brenda D. (Lincoln, CA)

The Trinity Six
The introductory quote pretty much sums up this great spy thriller -- "...never catch a spy. Discover him and then control him ... A spy causes far more trouble when he's caught." I found the narrative a little confusing sometimes because of some of the background of the British spies, but it's a "page-turner" as you experience professor/historian Sam Gaddis' search for the sixth spy and his battle of wits with both the British and Russian espionage agencies. A good example of the genre. I thought it was well written with good pacing and a believable main character.
Patricia H. (Norman, OK)

Trinity Six
This is a typical English novel with lots of detail and a slower paced story than most American mystery novels. However, the story held my interest throughout the novel. The protagonist experienced a variety of emotions with uncertainty and fear the key elements as well as lots of action before he was finally able to safely resume his old life. But the reader will have to decide for his/her self if, in fact, the story has really come to an end. Well done.
Joan N. (Evanston, IL)

Interesting Use of History
Fast moving thriller with likeable, albeit shallow characters. An academic in need of money stumbles into a story about World War II and Cold War espionage. Based on actual circle of five Cambridge graduates who became spies for Russia, including Kim Philby and Anthony Blunt. Was there a sixth? The people from the historical context of the treasonous spying are in their 90s so few are left. I think author got it right about the need for the spies of that era to tell their stories before they die. Mixture of 21st century technology: computers, cell phones, DVDs, with the records of mid-20th century espionage. Compelling because of the action, but most of the characters seemed unconvincing, especially the women but also the protagonist.
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Beyond the Book:
  The Cambridge Five

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