.com Best Books of the Month, August 2012: The Double Game begins as a playful spy caper within a spy caper, in which clues to a mystery are found in the pages and plots of old spy novels. Okay, clever enough. But the story quickly becomes more refreshingly and unexpectedly mysterious with each turn of the page, and I realized that Fesperman has achieved something remarkable here. Hes turned the spy novel on its head, while paying homage to the genre, and at the same time giving us an unlikely protagonist who discovers that hes lived his entire life in a world where fact and fiction were virtually indistinguishable. Innovative and evocative. --Neal ThompsonFrom Booklist*Starred * In the mid-1980s, journalist Bill Cage inadvertently reveals a startling secret about best-selling spy turned novelist Edwin Lemaster. Many years later, Cagenow a former journalist, his own career, like Lemasters, never having recovered from that incidentis lured into a web of intrigue by a nameless individual who hints that, with his Lemaster revelation, Cage had only scratched the surface. Whats especially clever here is the way Cages anonymous handler (for Cage soon thinks of himself as a spy being run by an unknown operator) uses works of spy fiction to communicateencoded messages rely on Cages virtually encyclopedic knowledge of spy fiction, and shadowy characters who wander in and out of the story bear physical resemblance to characters in spy novels (and, of course, Lemaster himself, the focal point of the intrigue, is a hugely popular spy novelist, a sort of American le Carr). At once a celebration of some of the genres best authors and a smartly constructed and thoroughly modern spy story, this is a surefire hit and a must for anyone who reveres the espionage masters. --David Pitt As fiendishly clever a spy story as you could hope for. . . . A guaranteed delight for any espionage fan. The Seattle Times, "Best Mysteries of the Year"[The Double Games] immersion in old-school espionage will thrill. . . . Fesperman is the most dependably entertaining, politically engaged writer you may never have heard of. Richmond Times-DispatchThe Double Game is not just a spy novelits a love letter to the genre, renditioning the unwary reader and dropping him into a dizzying pastiche of classic espionage, cleverly woven into a thrilling story. Brilliantly executed and a joy from start to finish. Olen Steinhauer, author of An American SpyTerrific. . . . A finely crafted espionage story and a dazzling homage to grand masters of spy fiction. The Globe and MailFans of spy novels will find much to love inThe Double Game. . . .[Its] clearly born of the author's desire not only to give you a satisfying read, but also (equally important) to share some of his favorite books with you.Nancy Pearl, Morning Edition (NPR)Fesperman [is] . . . one of the most talented of the new generation of American spy writers [He] provides genuine drama, laced with wit. The Daily MailAn affectionate homage to the spy novel as well as a complex virtuoso performance in its own right. The Times (London)Thrilling. . . . A spy novel about spy novels, calculated to deliver a maximum dose of fun for the genre fan. . . . Fespermans book is a triple, quadruple, quintuple game. The Daily BeastA creative interplay with some of the best lines of classic spy fiction genre mixed with an original voice. This novel will immerse you in a clever and intriguing twist of plots and keep you a willing accomplice to the end. Allison Bishop, International Spy Museum A beautifully written book [from] the highly accomplished Fesperman, a veteran of the sophisticated, literary novel of intrigue. Publishers WeeklyFans of spy novels will enjoy Fespermans affectionate homage. Kirkus s what is the best site to sell stuff The Double Game (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Very entertaining book but with anodyne charactersBy CustomerThis book is great fun if you are a fan of books of the golden ageof spy novels, extending roughly from Eric ambler through the endthe cold war.This pastiche through quotes, characters and style uses the"tradecraft" and techniques of these books to guide our hero throughtoday's Europe on an entertaining chase.When the plot brings back old techniques from masters of spyliterature you are engulfed in nostalgia for the classic books youread years ago when they were a best sellers. The style alsocaptures the era, and subtle reuses of literary devices make youremember and chuckle.As he describes the events, characters, and procedures of the booksthe "handler" uses to manipulate our hero it also becomes booklength review of the classics of the genre, as well as a list of 222such books in the most useful appendix. It has provided mewith a list of books I want to read or re-read from that era, Ihope they are still around at and have been "Kindlized".Readers, be sure and check the wonderful Edwin Lemaster bookson .So, why not 5 stars? Only 4 because the lead characters, father,son, girl-friend and villain are all pretty anodyne and hard tocare much about. Unlike, say Le Carre's Smiley, who I continue toempathize with 30 some years after he "retired".1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Meta-espionage in Eastern EuropeBy John SandercockThis book was written for people who miss the competition between Max and the Sandman. It is a good read, but every page alludes to Burgess, McLean, Philby, Blunt, Greene, LeCarre, McCarry, Deighton, and others. If those names resonate for you, this novel will be fun. If you have never heard those names, this novel will leave you very confused about what was real and what was fiction during the Cold War. There is enough real danger, however, from a surprisingly plausible contemporary threat to keep the suspense level high.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Worth a TryBy David ChackoThe Double Game is nicely written spy novel. Much of the book takes place in Central Europe, which the author seems to know something about and renders well. The insights are paired off against the plot in judicious quantity, and the settings and characters are not cliched.There are a couple of flaws. You just knew that daddy was gay but would be forgiven with a nice big hug. And you knew, because you've read a lot of hyped plotting lately, that the payoff could not equal the body count and the level of mayhem. But it was a nice try.