From Library JournalIn 1966, Adam Scott, an unemployed British ex-army officer with an uncertain future, attends the reading of his disgraced father's will. Part of his inheritance is a letter detailing the events of Hermann Goering's suicide and two unopened letters from the Nazi general giving him access to a Swiss bank vault and the valuable Russian icon it contains. However, a veritable state secret is concealed in the painting and the KGB and the CIA both want it before the expiry of a crucial deadline. Scott's perilous journey across Europe to the questionable safety of England is by plane, car, foot, bus, ambulance, van, and ferry as he stays one step ahead of death with the assistance of farmers, salesmen, racing cyclists, hoodlums, and an entire orchestra. An epic chase thriller tidily concluded with a series of neat twists. Highly recommended. Literary Guild main selection. John North, L.R.C., Ryerson Polytechnical Inst., TorontoCopyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. Sizzles along at a pace that would peel the paint off a spaceship. The New York Times Book Jeffrey Archer has written the equivalent of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Baltimore SunA wild, no-hold-barred slam-bang, pell-mell international thriller. Buffalo NewsFrom the Publisher8 1.5-hour cassettes what is the second best selling book of all time A Matter of Honor
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Archer makes an implausible plot plausibleBy John JenkinsJeffrey Archer weaves a wonderfully fast-paced story into the historical context of the Cold War. The story takes place in 1966 and has several references to events that happened in the previous 99 years. Some of the events seem far-fetched, but Mr. Archer develops the plot in such a way to make them work. Perhaps the most implausible element of the plot is that Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering would have gone out of his way to show any consideration to a representative of the enemy who had defeated Germany and was about to execute him. But it is not hard to get past the implausible and enjoy the story.In addition to the fast-paced plot with multiple creative plot twists, Mr. Archer has a very satisfying writing style. Unlike many other novelists, Mr. Archer is capable of creating dialogue and conveying emotions without relying on four-letter words. He works in appropriate similes such as waiting like an orphan who has been told there will be second helpings. And he helps explain context to his readers by seamlessly inserting social commentary such as Swiss taxi drivers know the way to the banks in the same way as London cabbies can always find a theater and New Yorks cabs a West Side bar and a lapsed Catholic, he found he no longer believed in Godexcept when he was ill, frightened, or in an airplane.One could argue that the protagonist, Adam Scott, is a bit too virtuous, and the adversary, Alex Romanov, is a bit too villainous. This is probably true, but these characterizations enable the author to develop suspense as Romanov uses his skills to attempt to capture Scott and the unique work of art that he possesses and Scott uses his skills to try to evade capture.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Stayed up all night to finish!! Riveting!By BethenyVery hard to put down, with some twists at the end. However, there seems to be a continuing thread in this author's book, of one person giving up their life for another. I've only read three so far, and started a fourth, but I'm wondering who's swapping with whom already.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Another page turner from Archer...By Bob HoskinsArcher is a classic novelist. I'm sure some will balk at that but, for me, it's true. I've read about 6 of his works now and, each time, I'm sucked in before the end of chapter one. I thoroughly enjoy his sagas spanning the life of a particular subject or subjects and, after reading "Not a penny more, not a penny less" I was introduced to Archer's style when it came to a plot spanning a shorter period in time.I picked up A matter of Honor and found myself drawn in early in the book. Archer's writing style is very easy to follow and he never leaves you wondering where you are in the story. You always know who "he" or "she" is and where they are in space and time. I particularly enjoy the snippets of information Archer uses to color in the text. This novel involves a painting termed an "icon" that the Russians have had hanging in the Winter Palace. Unfortunately, that one is a fake and the real one was left to Capt. Adam Scott by his father who was a security guard to Air Marshal Guerring. The real one also holds a secret that the Russians and Americans are VERY keen to become owners of.Capt. Scott is drawn into a cat and mouse game across Europe as he tries to get back to England with his possession.Along the way, Archer tells us a wonderful story full of intrigue, betrayal and twists and turns. It's great stuff and firmly cements Archer as one of my favorite authors.