The Republic of Night

Pascual Rose #2

by Dominic Martell

Pascual Rose, elite counterterrorist turned deep-cover informant, is back in this turbulent new international thriller. The pace is compelling and suspense breathtaking in this masterly neo-noir sequel to Lying Crying Dying. From the outset, when an over-friendly Frenchman—and total stranger—accosts the down-and-out Pascual in an empty church, deep menace lurks behind apparent danger. Nonetheless, $100,000 and the threat of deadly exposure lure Pascual from portside Barcelona, where he has been hiding from his counterterrorist past, to the banking precincts of Paris, where he again confronts it. Hired by French intelligence to finger a onetime comrade and now entrepreneur in global terrorism, Pascual finds himself hurled into Algerian factional warfare, and worse—the machinations of a faceless cadre that acknowledges no borders, or bounds.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

A pseudonym used by Sam Reaves.

Reviews

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pascual Rose, former terrorist turned CIA informant during the eighties, just wants to live a quiet life in Barcelona but when a team of French operatives turn up and want him to identify a former comrade he is drawn back into the dangerous world of international espionage. The author, who also writes superb books under the name of Sam Reaves, keeps the tension high throughout the many twists and turns of the plot. Lots of suspense, lies, treachery, and even some romance.

[June anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

...the murkiness of international politics

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read many action/espionage books any more, but I found this one entertaining and exciting. It is not as clever as John LeCarre books but is still intelligent and fast moving. I would place this type of book as a compromise between the intricate and realistic plots of John LeCarre but toned down from the over the top and unrealistic, but action-packed Robert Ludlam.

[Tm Mu'ir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very vivid characterization, I love the alternative protagonists, by that I mean the hero is a dismally cynical anti-hero I learned as the story moved forward, he resists being a part of anything bigger than himself throughout the twisting and turning plots he is pressed into and despite himself he manages to find a single mote of loveliness that he is able to use to justify doing the "honorable thing" against his own interests. I found the role of the protagonist riveting and the ever widening mystery menacing. What would sound like a simple task for Pascual that he should be able to accomplish and walk away from in one chapter proves at every turn to be stubbornly cobbled with hurdles from the insidiously cautious international criminals he is forced to hunt, who are seasoned with the evasive and deadly mindsets that he is all to familiar with,and just outright malevolent bad luck punctuated by incredible miraculous fortune. Toward the end it drags on a bit and appears to become anti-climatic as it seems our hero has proven his uselessness despite his tenaciously bold acts of cowardice and decisive coups, but then the plot twists one turn to far and he must desperately go to ground, and he would, but for the single uncooperative element of a nagging love that is all too idealistic and far more than possibly treacherous. I must say I found the author's clever use of an old romance novel cliche at the end theatrically entertaining. There are many good lines and words to the wise mostly coming from the dismally cynical protagonist in this book, but my favorite that I also find most poignant is: <<< Pascual straightens,flips his cigarette over the rail,stuffs his hands in his pockets. The first light droplets of rain are touching his face.'If you ask me,' he says, 'the idea of belonging to a country is highly overrated. None of us is allowed to pick we're we're born and the best we can do is build a decent life for ourselves. When they make that impossible, you have a right to go. Take it from one who has toyed with and spurned a variety of nationalities.' >>>

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why is this guy not famous? Why are his novels not filmed? Everything I read by him is well crafted, well written, well plotted, and almost always outstanding. This one is excellent: film noir of detective/spy mystery/thriller for the modern age. The plot is intricate but not labyrinthine, believable but not obvious in the least. The twists are fascinating even when they turn out to be mere coincidence (because of it, in fact). I cannot praise Dominic Martell (aka Sam Reaves) highly enough. He has become one of my favourite and most-read authors along with Shelby Foote and Harry Turtledove. Dominic Martell doesn't write potboilers. He is erudite, detailed, and a rewarding read. If you enjoy this genre, you should discover Sam Reaves in all his guises.