They are the most valuable coins on earth . . . Only a handful still exist, each one worth millions . . . Now they have vanished from an impenetrable fortress . . . and the killings have begun.
Somehow, impossibly, someone has invaded Fort Knox and stolen five of the world's last remaining Double Eagles -- the $20 gold coin ordered destroyed by President Roosevelt during the Great Depression. Now, one has resurfaced during an autopsy in France -- in the stomach of a murdered priest.
Disgraced FBI agent Jennifer Browne needs to recover the priceless coins to resuscitate her stalled career -- and her investigation is pointing her toward Tom Kirk, a brilliant international art thief who wants to get out of the game. But Kirk's only chance for freedom -- and survival -- is to find the missing coins, joining Browne, an unlikely ally, on a breakneck race across the globe and into the lethal heart of a shocking conspiracy of greed and power . . . and death.
James Twining was born in London but spent much of his childhood in Paris. After graduating from Christ Church, Oxford with a first-class degree in French Literature, he joined the investment bank UBS, working in their corporate finance division. In 1999 he left to set up his own company and in 2001 was named as one of the eight 'Best of Young British' entrepreneurs in The New Statesman. James lives in London with his wife, Victoria, and is now a full-time writer.
A priest is found death in Paris, and when the autopsy is done a coin is found in the stomach. The coin that is found is the most valuable coins on the earth “the double eagle”, which is kept on Fort Knox. And somehow someone has managed to invade the invincible Fort Knox. The case has given to FBI agent Jessica Browne who is trying to gain her footstep again on the agency . Tom kirk the world reknowned art theft who is at his last mission somehow gets caught by the FBI now has to co-operate with special agent Jennifer Browne.
Tom kirk who is blackmailed to do the last job for ‘Casillas’ the mysterious don. Tom kirk and Jennifer Browne both are now working together,there target is the same but motive Different.
Fast paced conspiracy thriller novel, you just can’t put it down! Last twist will blow your mind. And i think this book is quite underrated.
eponymous sentence: p181: "About him having bought the Double Eagle that came up at auction...."
redaction: p297: The Behind the garden's thick walls the clattering of the trams, the incessant sounding of car horns and the fierce cries of the street traders gave way to a cool, stony stillness and the gentle rattle of dice on large and elaborately inlaid backgammon boards.
I have tried to learn backgammon back in the day but it didn't take.
At the end of the day James Twining, coins are just not very exciting really are they? Even extremely rare ones from 1933 that sell for millions of dollars. No matter how much you tart up The Double Eagle, it can't really be classed as much of a thriller, nor is it a particularly engrossing mystery. It's more an upper-class crime drama, not quite a caper as it's lacking any real sense of humour that could have made it much more entertaining. As the launchpad for a new character and series, it's wanting.
See, our protagonist Tom Kirk (billed as 'perfect for Tom Cruise', which should immediately ring alarm bells), isn't really as intriguing as Twining seems to think he is. For a thief, he's not all that cool. For a renegade in essence, he's not all that dangerous. And, crucially, for a man part of such a cool underground world as art theft, he's just not all that fun to be around. Twining writes him very staid, a little damaged behind the veneer, much as he does FBI agent Jennifer Browne - his beautiful counterpart cum partner, looking to prove herself after a Case Gone Wrong tainted her reputation. She really has a rod up her arse all the way through, barely cracking a smile, and as a duo despite Twining want us to believe they're a sassy pair sparking off each other from opposite sides... frankly they're just quite dull for most of it. Like a lot of the book, in fact. Po-faced I would describe Twining's writing - not bad, at times quite breezily paced (though he can't write incident for shit), but sorely lacking a tongue in cheek. His only outlet is the character of Archie, a jokey con artist who just isn't enough to prop up the book or make Tom & Jennifer more interesting. And much as the plot may twist & turn, taking in a glamorous location or two, without two engaging leads the whole thing falls down.
Twining definitely has promise, and The Double Eagle is certainly not a bad piece of writing, it's just desperately trying to trick you into being thrilled when it's just... not. The fact in one scene he has Tom & a Turkish crook play backgammon and writes it like they're fighting to the death, should tell you everything about the level he pitches. That was the only moment I truly laughed at.
Took me a while to get into this book but I stuck with it and I'm glad I did. It's the story of a former CIA operative turned jewel thief who is wrongly accused of the theft of valuable coins from Fort Knox. An FBI agent is sent to bring him in and recover the coins. There are quite a few twists and turns and I didn't figure out the ending. Well written and a good story. I would recommend it.
Desi, in mod clar, nu este unul din romanele de aventuri/istorice/in genul lui Dan Brown care sa fie cu adevarat nemaipomenite. Avem un erou cu un trecut dubios, o comoara care trebuie gasita, actiune care se petrece in SUA, Franta, Olanda si Turcia (ca vorba aia, daca nu apare Parisul in vreo conspiratie, nu e conspiratia ceea ce trebuie). O reteta tipica, practic, dar ii dau 3 stele pentru ca nu se vrea a fi mai mult decat ceea ce este: un roman usurel, de bun simt, de citit repede si la fel de repede uitabil.
When a coin shows up on the body of a dead priest, the FBI take interest. Why? It's a 1933 Double Eagle - it is worth millions of dollars, there are only a few known to exist, and all of those are accounted for...so where did this one come from? Upon further investigation not all the coins are accounted for, the 5 housed in Fort Knox are missing, and now agent Jennifer Browne is tasked with tracking down whoever managed a heist on one of the most well-protected buildings in the United States.
This was a little slow for me at first. I had a hard time getting into it for the first 150 pages or so, but like many thrillers it does pick up once the plot develops. I'm not a huge fan of thrillers, but once things get underway it does what it's meant to do - provide the reader with an addicting story as a series of exciting and over-the-top events unfold.
Ironically, the month this book was published it just so happened in real life 10 more 1933 Double Eagle's were discovered in Philadelphia. It was written a couple years before they were found so that may have pushed the publication, but it's still pretty interesting that the author wrote the story a couple years before such an incredible discovery.
I need a better star system. One system for non fiction, one for genuinely thought provoking good writing and one for books like this. This was a perfectly fine book for a winter’s evening, especially if your senses have been dulled by a glass of mulled wine. The chapters are short. They all end on a cliff hanger. The writing style is British. The goodies are troubled, clever and attractive. The baddies are rich, cool and devious- they even have names like Darius so you know they’re going to be a baddie. (Contrast with Tom - you can’t be a baddie with a name like Tom!) Cockneys are chirpy though lacking in chimney sweep attire. The major downfall for me in this book was who on earth cares about some American non-coins? Faberge eggs, now that I can understand. Would I read another one? Yes- next winter, in front of a log fire, slightly sozzled, or possibly on a summer beach in Majorca with a jug of sangria but an arm’s length away.
I quite enjoyed this one, nothing too fancy or thought-provoking about it, but a fun read nonetheless, and with a little bit of unexpected heart.
Basically the premise is an F.B.I. Agent (Jennifer Browne) is looking to redeem herself after an operation gone wrong, enter a case where some near priceless coins (The titular "Double Eagle") have been stolen from Ft. Knox. The case leads her to our solid, if a little antagonistic at times, main character, Tom Kirk, an art thief trying to get out of the game.
What follows is an enjoyable adventure, full of twists and turns, some of which I saw coming, and some I didn't. The relationship between the two main protagonists was well done I thought, obviously some chemistry there, but not letting it bog down the story at all.
An enjoyable read overall! I will definitely check out the rest of the series.
Story revolves around the Fort Knox robbery in which precious and very rare $20 golden coins have been stolen. Main character is Tom Kirk, professional thief and once-time secret agent specialized in getting-in-getting-out-silently operations. He is working with FBI agent whose career is in great jeopardy and is given last chance to redeem herself.[return]Interesting story and characters but storytelling is somewhat & . I do not know. It may be due to the fact that I read the translated edition and something was & well, lost in translation. Author obviously knows a lot about art and did his research on art-world underground but descriptions are & e.g. one of the characters, Corbet, is described as a person whose face has same lines as art-d
H αλήθεια είναι πως,προσωπικά,σε κάποια σημεία του ψιλοβαρέθηκα,αλλά σε γενικές γραμμές το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο διαθέτει όλα εκείνα τα χαρακτηριστικά που κάνουν ένα αστυνομικό στόρυ πετυχημένο: δράση,κυβερνητικά μυστικά,ίντριγκες,κυνήγι με το χρόνο από χώρα σε χώρα και πολλές εκπλήξεις..Αν σκεφτεί κανείς πως αυτό το μυθιστόρημα είναι και το πρώτο του συγγραφέα,μπορούμε να μιλάμε για ένα εξαιρετικά καλοδουλεμένο ντεμπούτο..Θα ήθελα να βρω και τα υπόλοιπα κάποια στιγμή,ελπίζω να τα καταφέρω..Θα ήθελα πολύ να μάθω την εξέλιξη του Τομ Κερκ.. :)
Double Eagle... Double Cross. Tom Kirk was former CIA but after Operation Centaur ~ his mission was to break into a Swiss biotech lab, steal some files and torch the place but he refused to kill the head scientist, he would resign instead... he got an unofficial burn notice with a bullet with his name on it, his handler was the messenger. He killed his would~be~executioner then disappeared and later on was even presumed dead (he was reported killed trying to break~in to the French Ministry of Finance) though his DNA was still on record. Five years ago, to cover~up his failure in eliminating Kirk and the reason for it, Piper then CIA (now NSA head), put out that Kirk had gone rogue and killed his handler. As for Kirk, given that he was after all a trained spy as well as an exemplary thief... to survive, he pragmatically applied his skills where they were most needed. It so happened that while he was stealing a Fabergé egg and inadvertently leaving a single eyelash on the scene of his crime... five golden eagles in Fort Knox was discovered to have also been stolen. FBI Special Agent Jennifer Browne was designated to get Kirk... either arrest him if he is guilty of the double eagle heist or ensure his cooperation in catching the perpetrators. Somewhere along the line... somehow... the whole vicious scenario of deals and double~cross would again happen. It was inevitable... Poor Kirk... Poor naive Jennifer...
James Twining debuts as a suspense fiction novelist by hitting the ground running (4 stars)
James Twining's debut as a novelist came with "The Double Eagle", a fast-paced page-turner featuring protagonist Tom Kirk. A former CIA operative turned art thief, Kirk has just turned over a new leaf in his career, determined to give up his life of crime, only to find himself in the middle of a thrilling adventure revolving around a handful of valuable coins known as the Double Eagles. Someone has done the impossible by stealing five of the Double Eagles from the well-guarded Fort Knox, and all the evidence seems to point to Tom being the perpetrator of this ingenious crime. Enter FBI agent Jennifer Browne, whose own past hides dark secrets for which she is seeking redemption. Can Tom and Jennifer solve the growing mystery, and survive in the process?
Overall Twining has crafted a gripping story. There are a few incidences of language that some will find offensive, but for the most part the novel is free from the sexual immorality some thriller writers feel the need to incorporate in their storyline. The "Double Eagle" doesn't have deep characters, but it offers a good suspenseful read, and that's exactly what we're looking for in a book of this sort. Well done Mr Twining.
If you're into high-stakes thrillers, *Double Eagle* by James Twining is a must-read! This fast-paced novel weaves a gripping tale around art theft, treasure hunts, and hidden secrets. When a priceless coin is stolen.
Ex-soldier-turned-detective, Tom Kirk, is thrust into a world of international intrigue and dangerous criminals. The plot twists, heart-pounding chases, and historical riddles keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page!
What I loved:
🔹 The blend of history and action 🔹 Twining’s well-developed characters, especially Tom Kirk, who feels both relatable and heroic 🔹 The rich details about ancient artifacts and their significance in the modern world
"Asta e lumea in care traim si uneori, nu e prea placuta." Crime, minciuni, inscenari, coruptie, comori antice si conspiratii, toate amestecate frumos intr-o cursa contra cronometru prin Europa. Este o carte wow, plina de suspans si rasturnari de situatie ce sigur va fi apreciata de fanii genului. Abia dupa ce am terminat cartea am aflat ca acest volum este primul dintr-o serie ce il are ca personaj principal pe Thomas Kirk alias Tom Kirk sau Tom Duval. Cu siguranta am sa caut si restul volumelor 🙂
Well, I quite enjoyed this to start with but for some reason during perhaps the last third of the book I began to lose interest...not sure why. Despite that, the characters, Tom & Jennifer were engaging enough & Tom is obviously destined to reappear in a sequel - I'll buy & read it if I come across it but won't be making a special effort to hunt it down.
A very readable novel about the exploits of the worlds greatest art thief and the ensuing investigation by a FBI investigator not particularly liked by her colleagues. A couple of somewhat disturbing paragraphs related to America's gun laws and its consequences does give one something to think about. Unfortunately the usual smattering of foul language earns the novel 4 stars instead of 5!
When I opened the book, I directly jumped to chapter 1, and didn't realize that there was an epilogue in this book when I read the epilogue it got me like the "DAN BROWN" kind of excited.
After the epilogue, I really thought that there would be more to the background of the Double-Eagle gold coins (which is the epicentre of the book) I had expected a rich history which was absent I believe but still whatever was mentioned regarding the coin history was good.
Apart from the history of the double-eagle coins, I really enjoyed the "Tom Kirk" character who was an art thief in the story.
This was an easy read, full of action, conspiracy, and a bit of romance which was expected when the second main character; Jennifer Brown - an FBI special agent was introduced in the book.
The last few chapters really did take a turn when the main villain (Named: Cassius) kept popping up throughout the story but was revealed at the end along with some other revelation that was not at all expected. well, there was another villain as well who was the actual mastermind in the great mess of the Fort Knox robbery which was the whole crux.
I enjoyed this one, not as much as Dan Brown but YES, it was an interesting, fun, fast and page-turning read.
I checked out other books by this author in the Tom Kirk series and I was hoping for the Cassius character to turn up in the next book but I guess the series is just based on Tom Kirk and not the sequel.
This story spans the world in action, boggles the mind in double, double crosses, and pits two “agents” against their own government ‘s agencies in an effort to survive. Of course, the good guys prevail, but everyone else is suspect. Enjoy!
This book read like it was written a lot longer ago than 2006. I wanted to like this first in a series. I enjoyed the parts where Tom used his burgling skills. The ending wasn’t great. This book read like Jason Bourne x James Rollins sigma series light.
Pretty average detective story. Starts up nice..dwindles down to...(I heard the author said there are more parts to it) so I can't be a judge if there is #2 book.