After eight years of marriage, Claire Brooks starts an ordinary day, brushing her teeth, getting ready to go to the dentist -- when her husband walks in and announces that he is leaving her. She had no awareness that there were problems with their marriage, that he had been seeing another woman. Claire reacts strongly. Her first thought is to escape, to take leave from her job and take an extended vacation. She chooses Amsterdam, for no definable reason.
This story was first published in 1984, and takes place in late April 1980 as the Iran hostage situation is playing out, and the reigning queen of the Netherlands has abdicated. The coronation of Queen Beatrix is about to take place in Amsterdam, and the city is filled with tourists and journalists covering that event. Shortly after Claire arrives in Amsterdam, she meets a reporter from the US, they have a fling, and both get pulled into a plot related to the situation in Iran.
The story is similar to the plots of Eric Ambler's spy fiction; Claire is the amateur unwittingly caught in a dangerous situation that she is not prepared for. I am a fan of espionage fiction, so of course this was a perfect story for me. The characterizations were very well done and realistic. Claire is a strong female lead, who is going through personal turmoil but doesn't crack under pressure. As the reader is introduced to the various people engaged in espionage or counter-espionage, the plot gets more circuitous and difficult to follow, but it all makes sense in the end. I enjoyed reading this fast-paced story.
I am including this book in my submissions for the European Reading Challenge for the Netherlands,
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17 comments:
This appeals to me because I lived in Amsterdam for a year. I will try and track a copy down. Did this become a series?
Patti, that sounds good, I would love to know how well she depicted Amsterdam. No, it did not become a series, although I wish it had.
I like the sound of this one, Tracey, and it's a good one for The Netherlands. I haven't covered that country yet (I suppose there's still time as the challenge doesn't finish until the 31st. Jan.) and already have two books I could use. But I'll keep a note of this one anyway as it's a bit different and I want to do 'different' next year.
Sorry, I accidently put an 'e' in your name when there isn't one.
Doesn't sound in the least bit interesting to me, though I can't explain why, just doesn't. I'm glad you enjoyed it, though. Sorry.
Cath, I just finished my last book for the 2020 European Reading Challenge a couple of days ago. It was for Denmark and I wanted to use another series for Denmark in 2021. This one is different and entertaining and I wish the author had written more books.
No problem about the spelling of my name, Cath.
That's OK, Rick, just not your kind of book. This one was the right blend of espionage and adventure for me, without being too dark.
You had me at the setting, Tracy. I've only been to Amsterdam twice, but I really enjoyed it both times. And that 'amateur caught in an espionage situation' plot can work very well. It'd be interesting, too, to see how the spy world has changed since the time the book was written.
I envy you and Patti having been to Amsterdam, Margot. I am not much of a traveler, but Amsterdam sounds very nice.
I think I would enjoy this one too. I fancy the setting of Amsterdam. Although I've done quite a lot of travelling in the Netherlands as my brother has lived there for 50 years or so, I've never been to Amsterdam, and my Dutch sister-in-law has only been once, when she was about 50. I've been told to avoid the place!
I remember now that you have talked about visiting the Netherlands on your blog, Katrina. I think you would like this book.
This sounds fun. I too would like to go to Amsterdam although not alone.
I inherited a series of children's books from my mother and grandmother (reading level about 7-8) in which a little girl named Mary Jane first travels around the US, then in Europe. The final book was called Mary Jane's Friends in Holland, and she does such delightful things there (and ate well too) I longed to visit.
The series made a profound impression on my mother. The only book she was missing was Mary Jane in England. The first thing I did when I realized one could contact a rare book seller online (this must have been before one could really search for a book) and ask them to hunt something down was to request this book! It did not take long for this seller to find me a copy for $20 and my mother was very pleased. Oddly enough, I don't remember reading it but it must be here somewhere. The books were very tame - I don't think we even tried to interest my nieces in them. Alas!
Constance, that sounds like a great series for children. And it is always exciting to be able to get a book you have been looking for a long time.
I checked (after you mentioned her in your roundup posts) and I read this one back in 2007. I don't remember much other than that I really loved it, and got hold of all the books by her I could find - another two I think. Now I really want to re-read it, though when will I find the time...?
Moira, I know just what you mean about where to find the time. I keep adding new books to my piles and I want to read all of them, the old and the new. And rereads.
Sounds interesting, it's not a book or author I have heard of before.
She was new to me also, Col. There is at least one other by her that I am interested in I can get sometime.
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