The Run Around Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a good book. It had it all, a great story, good characters, wonderful action and a quick pace. This is an exciting book. It really made me happy reading the book; it was like a great game of treasure hunt where you find everything. Each time I was ready for a plot twist, action of drama it was there. The characters just explode in your memory - you do not get them out of your head. Overall a great effort.

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Dead Men Living Review

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(More customer reviews)Mr. Freemantle has brought readers a great deal of joy over the years with his series of novels centered around the rascal spy, Charlie Muffin, and he does not disappoint in "Dead Men Living". He is one of the few authors to carry forward the merciless surprise ending so wonderfully developed in the short stories of Saki (H.H. Munro). And here the author almost outdoes earlier Muffin novels in stacking the conspiracies and surprises literally on top of each other to the point that the the last surprise will leave the reader pondering over the pieces of the puzzle.
If I had but one criticism it is that the conspiracies occasionally are so complex that the Author seemingly felt obligated to foreshadow certain events, diluting some of the intended effect; but this is more than outweighed by the sheer enjoyment in watching Charlie think and work his magic.Brian Freemantle's earlier Muffin novels are highly recommended as well, but are occasionally hard to find: read this one; and if you enjoy it, then dig into the Series with the first Muffin novel, "Charlie M" (as published in the US). You will not be disappointed.

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Charlie's Apprentice Review

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(More customer reviews)There's a new boss at England's spy shop and he's got Charlie Muffin working for his number two, a woman. This is a new experience for Charlie, but one he tells himself he can live with. When he finally gets the call to meet with her, he hopes she's going to give him a field assignment, but alas, she tells him that it's time for him to pass on his vast experience to another and she assigns him an apprentice. Charlie's job, to teach him what he couldn't learn in spy school, those little secrets that are so vital in the field, in short, how to survive.
Charlie doesn't fancy himself as a teacher, but he's determined to do the job to the best of his ability. Maybe if he does exceptionally well, they'll put him back on the active duty roster. However when his apprentice graduates, they send him to China to try and get out a priest-spy whose cover has been blown and they leave Charlie in place in London. The apprentice is captured and now Charlie's bosses send for him to go in and get out the priest while the apprentice languishes in a Chinese prison.
Meanwhile in Russia Natalia, Charlie's old flame, is living with his child, a son Charlie knows nothing about. While he has often wondered what had become of her, he'd never believe that she is now the head of Russian intelligence and she's using her power to try and find out what happened to him.
Back in China, Charlie fails to get the priest out and barely escapes with his life. His plan had been sound, so he knows somebody has betrayed him. Who? And will he find out about his son? And if he does, what will he do about it? As I used to say all those years ago when I gave book reports in grade school, "You'll have to read the book to find out."
As usual Brian Freemantle has delivered up the kind of book that will leave you with a laugh and a thorough respect for his knowledge of how the secret world of spies integrates with politics and every day life. Muffin is a delightful character who has been around for almost ever and hopefully will be around for a long time to come. There is absolutely no spy, living or dead, who understands the trade craft as well as Charlie Muffin.

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Red Star Rising: A Thriller Review

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(More customer reviews)Charlie Muffin is a funny name for a spy and Charlie Muffin is a funny kind of spy. You won't find him wearing an Armani tux or behind the wheel of a sports car, he's more of the ruffled hair, Hush Puppy shoe wearing type of spy. His newest adventure, RED STAR RISING, is Brian Freemantle's fourteenth book featuring Charlie going back to 1977, when the cold war was very deep, very dark and very real.
Over the years Charlie has fought, and won, as many battles against his own agency as he has against the Russians and in RED STORM RISING he's back on the familiar battlefield with his only weapons his instinctive paranoia and his almost Holmesan clear view of events. Charlie is dispatched to investigate when a dead body is found on the grounds of the British Embassy in Moscow. Soon listening devices are discovered at the embassy and it becomes apparent that there is a security leak among the staff. Charlie must somehow get past the roadblocks put up by the Russians, the CIA, the incompetent embassy staff and from within his own agency to uncover the truth. A truth that goes much deeper and is far more frightening than even Charlie can imagine.
Brian Freemantle is an often neglected giant among espionage writers easily ranking with John LeCarre and Graham Greene as among the best England has ever produced and RED STAR RISING is a fabulous book. The mystery elements are very well handled with enough red herrings to fool even the most avid reader and the spy-craft elements are, as always, first rate. While some of the supporting cast may be a little weak it all "feels" right and they all serve their purpose moving the story along to its frankly sensational and, for long time readers of the series, heartrending conclusion.
I loved this book and hope you will, too. It's not often hidden treasures such as the Charlie Muffin books come to a reader's attention, I hope that those new to this series will gain as much enjoyment from it as I have over the last thirty years. With Mr. Freemantle now in his seventies this may one of the last times we meet Charlie Muffin, I have to say that I wish that just once Charlie could catch a break as he deserves more than a run down Vauxhall flat, a bottle of whisky and bad feet...


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Kings of Many Castles: A Charlie Muffin Thriller Review

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(More customer reviews)One has to wonder if this is a publisher's revenge on Freemantle given the poor editing but this makes the book more interesting. When is the last time you read a book by a First Class established author which was poorly proofed if ever? And I think that this is sadly Fremantle's last Muffin. Muffin has matured and earned his spurs among his peers and lacks the early black and white simplicity appeal of the younger character. Fremantle has progressed also and rides in the company of Cruz-Smith and Le Carre in terms of story line complexity, effort, excellence,and dedication. Consider this worth reading out of respect for the appeal and progression of the Muffin series this being our fairwell to Charlie and Mr. Freemantle. So long...and thanks. It is hard to say goodbye.

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