THE BOOK FAIR
READ AND FULFILL YOUR LIFE
Joseph Kanon
LOS ALAMOS
Author: Joseph Kanon
Published: 1997
Genre: Historical Novel
Cover: Paperback
Pages: 517
Review:
It is the spring of 1945. The Allies war against Germany is drawing to a close. However, the bloody war in the Pacific against Japan rages on, and the Cold War between the USA and Russia sits on the horizon.
The dead body of a brutalized man is found in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Michael Connolly, who works high level security for the Pentagon, is suddenly recruited to Los Alamos to solve the mystery of the murdered man. Los Alamos is home to the top secret, Manhattan Project.
As Michael begins his investigation into the murder, he determines to follow the evidence and find the killer, no matter where it leads. However at every turn, Michael finds that politics, intrigue and secrecy block the way. It is only after Michael meets the wife of a scientist on the Hill that his questions begin to bear fruition and doors begin to open.
Kanon’s fast paced plot along with smooth descriptions of characters and events evoke both sensitivity and realism. The bantered dialogue between Emma and Michael portrays a style reminiscent of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.
THE
PRODIGAL
SPY
Author: Joseph Kanon
Published: 1998
Genre: Fiction
Cover: Paperback
Pages: 526
Review:
Nick Kotlar grows up in the shadow of his father, Walter Kotlar, a high level official in the State Department who later defected to Russia. Nick remembers the hearings, the questioning by Kenneth Welles, a congressman determined to weed out communists; he recalls seeing his father’s face on television and the press in front of his house. In 1950, at ten years old, Nick understands little of his parent’s world, but knows his father needs his help. Nick rummages his father’s drawers to find the evidence that would bring damage to him, and then discards it. Nick remembers the night his father escaped, and the hope he held that his father would soon send for him.
Years later, while studying in London, Nick extensively researches McCarthyism. At an embassy party, Nick meets Molly Chishlom, a beautiful young woman. Out of the blue, Molly offers Nick a secret. Molly tells Nick that she met his father while working in Prague, that his father wants to see him, and that he requests that Nick come to Prague to meet him. At first Nick refuses, then realizes he has long awaited questions ready to ask him.
Kanon’s quick paced thriller involves intrigue, murder and subterfuge. The author’s unique writing style imparts realistic imagery and the use of repetitive returns to emotional thoughts and scenes throughout the story make the novel sensitive and human..
THE
GOOD
GERMAN
Author: Joseph Kanon
Published: 2001
Genre: Historical Novel
Cover: Paperback
Pages: 482
Review:
It is the summer of 1945 in Berlin, Germany, during the Potsdam Conference. WWII has ended and what remains for the master race, is the rubble of their once fine city. A German scientist, however, is offered sanctuary by the American government, and will receive pretty wages in the USA, to work for the American military.
Looking for a story in war torn Berlin Jake Geismar, a German American and a war correspondent, returns to Germany during the summer of 1945. But Jake’s real focus is to locate Lena, the wife of Emil Brandt, a German rocket scientist, and former friend of Jake’s who the MG, (Military Government), intends to bring to the U.S. along with other Nazi scientists.
After an American soldier is mysteriously killed and his body ends up in the Russian sector of the divided city, Jake decides to pick up the story and begins to investigate the crime.
Captain Bernie Teitel, a Jewish American, works in the de-Nazification program, a section of the American military. Captain Teitel is a Nazi hunter and is in Berlin to prosecute war criminals.
As the US and Russia vie over German scientists, Congressman Breimer arrives in Berlin on a mission from the MG: The plan to bring Nazis to the U.S., no matter their crimes.
The novel, descriptive of Germany’s downfall, and Berlin’s destruction, offers the story of the battle in which the US and Russia played over German scientists.
Alibi
Author: Joseph Kanon
Published: 2005
Genre: Historical Novel
Cover: Paperback
Pages: 405
Review:
Joseph Kanon sets “Alibi”, the fast paced, intriguing, post WW II novel, and his fourth book, in Venice, Italy.
In 1946, Adam Miller, released from the U.S. Military, leaves his work in the de-Nazification program in Germany, and decides to his mother who resides in Venice. Adam learns his mother, Grace Miller, plans to marry a well known well respected, Venetian, Dr. Gianni Maglione. Adam questions the urgency of the proposed marriage, suspecting the elder aristocrat of designs on his mother’s fortune.
Adam reluctantly attends a party, at his mother’s prodding, where he meets Claudia Grassini, a young Jewish woman, to whom he is immediately attracted.
As Adam and Claudia’s relationship develops, Adam learns Claudia is complicated, and holds many secrets, more than he can imagine. Although weary from his past work in the de-Nazification problem, Adam finds political intrigue unfolding before him in Venice, this time involving the woman with whom he is falling in love.
Claudia opens her past to Adam confiding her wartime experiences. Claudia reveals that she was sent to Fossoli Concentration Camp, where she was forced to do unthinkable things to survive. Claudia also discloses her belief that Maglione was responsible, years before, for her father’s death.
As Adam begins to investigate; he discovers that wartime rivalries still fester in Venice with the fascists against the partisans, who are still labeled communists; old hatreds flare, revenge takes hold in a place where intrigue quickly turns to murder.
Suspenseful, intriguing, well written and well plotted.
ISTANBUL PASSAGE
Author: Joseph Kanon
Published: 2012
Genre: Historical Novel
Cover: Paperback
Pages: 401
Review:
Joseph Kanon’s well written, intriguing, post WW II mystery centers on Leon Bauer, a low level spy who works undercover in Istanbul. As American espionage in Turkey winds down, and spies are relocated to hot areas, the embassy orders Leon on one last routine assignment.
Murder and intrigue at the Embassy sets the Americans in Istanbul on edge. Leon's assignment, an abhorrent task for Leon, creates conflict and causes him to re-think his values and his assignment.