Good Reads / Community Library Notes
DEFECTORS
Joseph Kanon
Review by Priscilla Comen
DEFECTORS
Joseph Kanon
Review by Priscilla Comen
Defectors by Joseph Kanon is a gripping story about two brothers: Frank, a spy for Russia during the second World War, and Simon, who is publishing Frank’s memoir about that time. When Simon goes to Moscow twelve years later, it is only to see his brother and to edit the book with him. They are followed everywhere by Boris, Frank’s Russian shadow. Jo, Frank’s wife, lives in Moscow too. She drinks too much and tells Simon to leave the sink faucet running so the microphones won’t pick up their conversation.
Author Kanon fills each scene with drama of people who came before. He builds the suspense. Why is Simon really there? What does Jo want to tell him? When Frank asks Simon to help him defect back to the U.S., Simon understands. He is to be tethered to his brother again, as he was when they were young. Author Kanon introduces other American agents, most of them “has beens”, some still working. They’re all being watched.
An American reporter wants to meet Frank. The next day, Frank and Simon meet the American liaison, Di Angelis at a church. He represents Washington. Frank says he’ll give them agent’s names in exchange for protection, immunity, new identities for his wife and himself, and a pension. Frank and Simon are discovered in the church by Gareth, a working agent. He sees them with the American. Will he report the meeting? Not if he’s dead. They can’t let it happen. Simon is in the dirty plot now, no way out. The man from Look magazine is curious. Gareth’s lover is looking for him.
Jo puts on a luncheon at their country dacha and invites many of the agents who live in Russia. Hannah, who had hidden plans for the A bomb under her hat band, her husband, Saul, Ian, Frank and Jo, Simon, and of course, Boris who hides behind his newspaper. Elizaveta has been called by the “service” to investigate the murder of Gareth. She makes them all nervous. Will the true story of the American agents working for the Russians ever emerge? Will Frank defect to the U.S.? Author Kanon keeps us on the edge of our seats until the very end.
A good read on the new fiction shelf of your community library.
Author Kanon fills each scene with drama of people who came before. He builds the suspense. Why is Simon really there? What does Jo want to tell him? When Frank asks Simon to help him defect back to the U.S., Simon understands. He is to be tethered to his brother again, as he was when they were young. Author Kanon introduces other American agents, most of them “has beens”, some still working. They’re all being watched.
An American reporter wants to meet Frank. The next day, Frank and Simon meet the American liaison, Di Angelis at a church. He represents Washington. Frank says he’ll give them agent’s names in exchange for protection, immunity, new identities for his wife and himself, and a pension. Frank and Simon are discovered in the church by Gareth, a working agent. He sees them with the American. Will he report the meeting? Not if he’s dead. They can’t let it happen. Simon is in the dirty plot now, no way out. The man from Look magazine is curious. Gareth’s lover is looking for him.
Jo puts on a luncheon at their country dacha and invites many of the agents who live in Russia. Hannah, who had hidden plans for the A bomb under her hat band, her husband, Saul, Ian, Frank and Jo, Simon, and of course, Boris who hides behind his newspaper. Elizaveta has been called by the “service” to investigate the murder of Gareth. She makes them all nervous. Will the true story of the American agents working for the Russians ever emerge? Will Frank defect to the U.S.? Author Kanon keeps us on the edge of our seats until the very end.
A good read on the new fiction shelf of your community library.