Customer Reviews: Read 69 more reviews...
 A real snoozer August 19, 2008
This is the first Griffin novel I've read, and I apparently got very unlucky. Perhaps 30 or 40 pages of this novel serve to advance the fairly thin plot. The rest is painfully boring filler, to the point that I found myself skimming several times. There is very little here in terms or action or field operations. Most of the book revolves around things like Canidy's philosophies about espionage and love, or the mundane details and logistics behind running a covert spy operation.
I'll put it this way: if you think you might enjoy reading a long and detailed dramatization of how real spies might have decided what to write in the fake love letters they were planting on a corpse, or think you would enjoy reading the thorough character development of the woman chosen to write the letters, even though she's otherwise inconsequential to the plot, you will very much like this book. Otherwise, you may want to pass.
 reflective of latest works August 4, 2008
i did truly struggle with a title for this review, while i enjoyed this book i tend to feel that the influences of W.E.B jnr is starting to take away from the original flavor of previous works.
while i realise that these books tend to be more focused on the behind the scenes wars commonly on the home front and small scale intelligence incursions; the latest novels have even more of a he-said-she-said flavor, too much looking back in other words and not enough real time.
it leaves me with little suspence and also the inserts of entire pages copied from previous novels without editing is tiresome and incredibly obvious.
to summarise, if your a fan of the W.E.B works you will get enjoyment out of this novel as Canidy comes into the spotligt once again, however this is a clear step away from the classic Griffin novels and the unique way in which they portray a story.
Jarrod
 horrible May 30, 2008
I have read Griffin's every one of Griffin's books at least 3 times. He WAS an awesome writer, but this book was horrible. It is hard to believe he contributed anymore than his name to the front cover. It is sad to think there will never be anymore of his wonderful writing to look forward too.I will never read anymore of his future books but go back and start reading his old books all over again. Don't waste your money on this book, write me and I will send you mine. It will never occupy a spot next to all the classics he wrote on my bookshelf.
 Dealing the Cards from the Bottom of the Deck May 23, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
"Wild Bill" Donovan is holding a wild card. And it is about to be played in the shadows of the war-torn battlefields of World War II, with the planned Allied invasion of the European continent being the river card.
W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV continue the Men at War series with a meticulously paced novel through a chessboard of pieces; star power, political brokers, shady spies, anonymous heroes and a race against time to uncover the truth about a deadly weapon that can bring millions to their knees and decimate armies.
With deception possible after every move or hand dealt, Griffin and Butterworth IV deliver a welcome addition to the genre of military spy thrillers.
Twice-told tales...stale meat, indeed May 3, 2008
The re-telling of an existing story is not unusual in literature. From Shakespeare to Dan Brown, authors have retold the same story but usually they add something. In the case of "Romeo and Juliet", Shakespeare added the theme of tragic love whereas in the original version, the theme was rebellious youth...a 180 degree shift in emphasis. "The Double Agents" revisits "The Man Who Never Was" and "Mafia Allies.". Not only was there nothing added but a great deal was deleted. Completely missing is the suspense of "The Man Who Never Was" and the GEE WHIZ! factor of "Mafia Allies."
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