Double Cross Blind

by Joel N. Ross

/ 9780340836620 / English literature / Engels / English / Anglais / Englisch / hard cover / dust jacket / 16 x 24 cm / 355 .pp /

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thriller, World War II, Military Fiction, War, Mystery

368 pages, Hardcover

First published March 14, 2005

About the author

Joel Ross is the author of two World War II thrillers for adults (Double Cross Blind and White Flag Down). The Fog Diver is his tween debut. He lives in Santa Barbara, California, with his wife, Lee Naftali, who is also a full-time writer, and his son, Ben, who is a full-time kid.

Reviews

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Thomas Wall, a man in an asylum for having shell shock syndrome, is assigned the job of pretending to be his brother (who he wants to kill) in order to find information about double agents in The Twenty Committee. Double Cross Blind is a book full of conspiracies, mystery, suspense, and chaos thanks to Joel Ross’ brilliance when writing the multiple perspectives. This historical thriller goes into the minds of (almost) every character which is amazing because it allows the reader to know even more about the situations and have better insight of the story; however, if you are not truly into the story, the multiple points of view can get confusing especially since they aren’t all obviously different at first. Thankfully, the different perspectives didn’t throw me off because I think they are a great addition to the book because it adds to its complexity, but I did start to get confused the more I looked at the dates and times shown at the beginning of each chapter. While part of the plot depended on The Twenty Committee having to rush to get the information they need, I think Mr. Ross wrote too much for the time limit he created. Many of the events in this book should take at least 4 to 5 hours and at most one day, but the author has these events squished and rushed in order to suit the seven day timer. Despite these minor faults, I really liked Double Cross Blind. I found the majority of the characters entertaining to read about, and the story was very well developed which I appreciated because it had my brain working to think of what was going to happen while I read.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another spy book set in World War II. In this one, a man finds himself in a British military asylum. A man from intelligence comes to visit him. He wants to know if Tom Wall will pretend to be his brother and get some information from a captured Nazi spy. And then things go terribly wrong. The author is able to mix political saavy with good character development. At the end, you wonder what would have happened if this one event was different. How would the dominoes have fallen?

[Diana M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book which requires a lot of concentration. It is not a book to be read over a long period of time as it is complex and detailed. I liked the premise of the book but felt that didn't get developed until too late in the book. It seemed to me that there was too much unnecessary conversation between less important characters and this didn't add to the depth of the book but made it more difficult to follow.

[Chuck Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little hard to keep the characters straight which makes this a very slow read

[Tyler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Synopsis: The early days of December 1941 were eventful in the United Kingdom. The Allies have captured a Nazi spy who was trying to infiltrate and take down their own spy network. At the same time, an American who had enlisted with the Canadians in order to fight in the war is locked in a British Military Asylum, but may be just the person the British need in order to get information out of their captured Nazi spy.

My Review: Ok, I gave this book the old college try. In fact, I made it through more than 2/3 of the book when I realized that I really dreaded reading it, that I didn't care how it ended and that I really didn't understand what was going on. The plot was extremely complicated and just never really caught my attention. It's been on my 'to-read' list for years. I've had a few books on that list lately that have really let me down...

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of WW II books and this one had all the elements I enjoy plus an extra gritty flair that made it especially compelling. Not easy to do but the writer has real talent in crafting characters, setting scenes and building suspense.

[JoAnne Cattanach · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a great concept. On the ground spies that know about Pearl Harbor beforehand but this book had too many characters, that were not needed that it was easy to become confused as to who was doing what. It was interesting and a solid good.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read the first 4 chapters and just can't get in to it.

[Ted Smethers]

good plot....but hard to follow characters.....

[A Whippersnapper · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first ever novel that I've finished reading.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moves along at a fast pace. Interesting characters. Ending was a little less than desired.

[Catto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for the people who have some knowledge of the events of ww2 nd don’t mind the confusion in the beginning. It was a good book but a bit confusing at times

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, let me just say I'm a sucker for a book with a swastika on the cover. So when I saw this one at my local bargain bookstore, I had to buy it.

Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed by it.

It started of promising: An American, Tom Wall, is in what, for all intents and purposes, is a sanitarium. He's an insomniac who has a fixation on his older brother, Earl. See, he's convinced Earl, who works for the COI (precursor to the CIA), is a traitor who is the reason why Tom's squad was demolished on Crete.

Earl is missing, however, and so Tom (who happens to bear a striking resemblance to his brother) is recruited by British intelligence to pose as his brother in order to extract information from a Nazi defector who has been in contact with Earl regarding a possible attack on Pearl Harbor.

Okay, so far, so good.

This is where it all unravels a little. The biggest problem I have with the book is the complexity of the plot. I love a good, interesting plot, but there are just too many twists and too many characters. Along with the protagonist, Tom, there's Davies-Frank and Harriet and Sondegger and Duckblind (for whom "darling" seems to be the only adjective she knows) and Audrey and Inch and Chilton and Rugg and Renard and Melville and Highcastle and MacGovern and Mrs. Harper and...well, you get the idea. Ross uses them all adequately, but it's a lot to keep track of and some of the minor characters are simply annoying. Oh, and there's a "scorned lover" subplot to boot.

I liked the overall plot though, which is why I kept reading until the end. Not a terrible book, but I've read much better WWII/Nazi spy fiction. Frederick Forsyth, Greg Iles, and Ken Follett come to mind.

[Feliks Łukasiewicz · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Review may contain spoilers*

The first chapter didn't introduce Tom, the main character, properly. In this story, it has way too many side stories that makes the reader tend to loose interest. I give this two stars because I did enjoy a bit of Tom's story, escaping the asylum to interviewing the Nazi spy, especially when he was discovered as being Thomas and not his brother. I've never cared for Harriet's side stories. I've convinced myself that I would read all 37 chapters but I gave up at chapter 19. What I also found improper was when a character asked a question, it would fallow up with 'he said' instead of 'he asked'.
Aside from that, Tom's story and his story alone is quite interesting, if it was only about him than I might have given the book a higher rate. I really did enjoy his character and his personality, it was just perfect, especially for a sergeant. Tom is quite smart and very strong, and I'd recommend this book to those who wouldn't be bored easily.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great thriller set in WWII. The secret service are trying to find a mole who may be putting their spies in jeopardy. At the same time a nazi captive is manipulating things in order to find the very same people. He is also trying very hard to alert the USA to the fact that Japan is trying to enter the war against them, a circumstance that could very well work against the Nazis since it would bring the USA to Europe as well as the Pacific. He uses a young american serviceman who volunteered to join the allies and is an injured sodier recuperating in London. A thrilling read indeed and knowing the real outcome of December 7th 1941 doesn't detract from the suspense.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A British thriller about the days leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Many historical references that I'm not smart enough to know if they are accurate or the author is not talented enough to help me know. Maybe it doesn't matter in the end, but that, with the long, meandering storyline and the array of characters that are difficult to care much about mean I can't recommend this.

I don't want to sound too harsh; especially if this is a genre you like, you'll probably be OK with the book, although I doubt you'll rave. For me, there are many better choices out there.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well written spy novel. Set during the waining days of 1941 when Britain is in danger of losing its greatest weapon combating the Nazis. If this weapon is lost Germany will have nothing to stop it from ruling Europe. The fate of Britain's wonder weapon lies in the hands of a cripled American soldier who is fighting for the British.

[Nigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst this had the storyline and imagination to be a four star book it was let down by the mid Atlantic narrative (this is what you get for "Yanks' doing Limeys') and the slight dissonant feel to it. Unlike many other readers, I was happy with the characters, I just felt there was a lack of natural flow and while I enjoyed the story, ultimately I felt a slight disappointment.

[Lemar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced page turner brings the reader into the tangled world of WWII just before Pearl Harbor. The very real scenario of the U.S. staying on the sidelines had that attack not occurred is cleverly explored through the actions of authentic characters.

[Jason Panella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I loved this book. It's sort of a le Carre (by way of David Mamet) take on WWII espionage. It clips along, doesn't tie things up in a neat bow, and relies on very little hand-holding with the context. (I'm guessing that's why so many don't like it.)

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an interesting book and a good read. Slightly difficult to follow in a couple places. It was interesting to learn something from the period of time before the US got into the war, and set in London.
I liked that he ended up with the right girl. (I won't say which one) 😉

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated it. disjointed, confusing and not much there. I would give it negitive stars.

[Chuck · Rating 1 out of 5]

A recuperating American soldier in England in 1941 is coerced into
negotiating with a Nazi spy. Too tedious for me. Didn't finish.

[Clyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining read. Made me think about what it must have been like to live during wartime when the war is not fought on the other side of the world.

[Joel Ungar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by an American (I believe) that is trying to sound like a British writer. Decent.

[Jerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. Worth the time.

[Barbara]

Not my style.