The Geneva Option: A Yael Azoulay Novel

Yael Azoulay #1

by Adam LeBor

The Geneva Option by Adam LeBor has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Suspense, Espionage, International

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

Adam LeBor was born in London and read Arabic, international history and politics at Leeds University, graduating in 1983, and also studied Arabic at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He worked for several British newspapers before becoming a foreign correspondent in 1991. He has reported from thirty countries, including Israel and Palestine, and covered the Yugoslav wars for The Times of London and The Independent. Currently Central Europe correspondent for The Times of London, he also writes for the Sunday Times, The Econdomist, Literary Review, Condé Nast Traveller, the Jewish Chronicle, New Statesman and Harry's Place in Britain, and contributes to The Nation and the New York Times in the States. He is the author of seven books, including the best-selling Hitler's Secret Bankers, which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize. His books have been published in nine languages.

Reviews

[Mark]

This is a book that turned out to be real disappointment, the leading character was kinds wasted upon me and the politics in the UN read like from a right-wing point of view. Hence no stars, I simply lost the will to read this book.

I would not advise this book to anyone.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yael Azoulay works for the United Nations. Her job involves negotiating with the bad guys. Her current mission is with Jean-Pierre Hakizimani. Yael is making a deal with the devil. After her mission, Yael returns to visit a friend only to learn that she is dead. Yael learns that Jean-Pierre is involved. Yael decides to take matters into her own hands.

I like these types of books of espionage/international thriller. However I have strayed away from these books for a while. Only because the last few I read were just ok. Mr. Lebor has renewed my faith in this genre.

Yael is one of the coolest people that I have met. She really can kick butt. I like her take charge attitude. While I did like the other storyline involving the news reporter that was tying into the whole overall story, I did not connect with the other characters as much. None the less, I still enjoyed reading this book. There was lots of fast moving action to keep me interested until the end. This book is a fast read.

[Dilip · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot of this book was interesting:an international thriller set within the dark underbelly of the UN bureaucracy. The action shifts from New York to Geneva to Rwanda. In spite of all these promising aspects, this book falls flat. Primarily this is due to Mr. Lebor's writing style. He is so focused on packing in information that the characters are left underdeveloped. I found myself not caring for what happened to the main character by page 200. In summary, a tantalizing premise poorly executed.

[Paul Frost · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reasonably good start spoilt by rushed & unrealistic ending.

[Rose A · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written thriller seeped in international conspiracy. I’ll be checking out the next books in the series.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read - could not put it down !!

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series, super fun for a corona virus read.

[Stephen Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Readl

Terrific plot with sympathetic characters, particularly the heroine. Fast moving storyline without a lot of fluff or extraneous digressions. A real page turner.

[Pip Snort · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an unusual, bur very good setting for a thriller. Much was left unexplained so it wasn't really clear how it works and the tension wasn't really there for me, but good enough.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homeland fix

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

See more reviews at The Best Books Ever!

The Geneva Option starts out in New York, but by the end of the book, we've been all over the world as Yael Azoulay, a brilliant rising star at the UN, tries to find out the truth behind a friend's suspicious death and a shady deal with the devil, so to speak. Yael is a pretty awesome lead character -- she's brilliant, beautiful, and can kick your butt. No matter the situation, she almost always keeps her cool, and she will stop at nothing to uncover the conspiracy that sent her on her journey in the first place.

The story that follows weaves together American and international politics, murder, espionage, conspiracy, historically wartorn regions of Africa, genocide, and the very real issue of mining for minerals used in today's high-tech gadgets. If that sounds heavy, that's because it is. The book isn't a light read at all. Aside from the sometimes horrific subject matter, especially once the action shifts to a refugee area in Africa, there's still a lot of information to keep straight -- characters, history, rivalries, conspiracies -- so this isn't an easy reading book for when you want to relax. You definitely have to concentrate to remember who all the major players are, especially if you're going to try to figure out how all of the pieces fit together.

I thought this book and all of its international intrigue was fascinating, but I also love politics and negotiations and world history. Chapters will often derail from the main action to give a thorough history of a new character's background, or an explanation of what this new business does, or what caused a war in that country. It can be a lot of plot details to wade through, only some of which wind up being important in the end. The author has a very dense writing style, and as you read, you start to be able to pick up on what you can skim and what you need to know. It would be more effective and less overwhelming in a novella, or in non-fiction, but as a full length novel, it got to be a bit much sometimes and could drag the pace down.

Also, those of you who know me will know that I'm not a prude at all, but there were a handful of sexual scenes that just seemed gratuitous to me -- they generally didn't further the plot, the information we learned could have been imparted in a different way, one that didn't take Yael and reduce her to a sexy object for the scene. In fact, all of the women in the story fall into two categories: they're either beautiful and sexy and women who are desired by just about every man, or they are older and kind of frumpy and serve mostly as plot devices. I'd love to see more awesome, kick-butt heroines who also don't happen to look like exotic supermodels.

Due to sometimes dark subject matter (genocide, murder, sexual assault, war crimes) and sexual content, I would recommend this book to adult readers. If you're interested, a novella by the author, also focusing on Yael, is available for free, in just about any digital format available. I haven't read the novella yet, but it should be a pretty good taste of the author's style.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journalist Adam Lebor's remarkable debut novel, The Geneva Option, is a fast-paced, intelligent thriller that takes readers deep into a conspiracy by a business conglomerate to take control of profitable African resources, a conspiracy that involves some of those in the top echelons of power within the United Nations.

Yael Azoulay is one of the UN Secretary General's most trusted aides. Charged with arranging deals with some of the world's most notorious political and military figures, Yael undertakes dangerous missions that are known to only a select few. But when the results of Yael's most recent mission, negotiating a plea bargain with one of the chief architects of the Rwandan genocide, are leaked to the press, Yael is forced from her job and her life is placed in grave danger. She immediately sets out to uncover the source of the leak, and in the process learns of a top secret conspiracy involving Africa that has the support of some of the UN's most powerful people. Yael is in a race against time to both unravel the full extent of the conspiracy and to put a stop to it before it claims countless lives.

The Geneva Option has all the of elements I think a good political thriller should have. It has: a fast-moving and highly entertaining narrative that makes the novel difficult to put down; it centres around a plausible conspiracy involving shady businessmen and powerful political figures; it has a highly intelligent, capable and determined heroine who is easy to root for; the secondary characters are unique and memorable; and it is extremely well-written. Yael's strong and well-developed character is one of the this novel's greatest strengths, and this strength is complemented by a diverse group of equaling intriguing supporting characters, who include a NY Times reporter, a Rwandan warlord, the Secretary General of the UN, Yael's personal bodyguard, a Serbian small business owner, and a young Rwandan boy. One of the components of this novel that I most enjoyed was the insights it gave into the backroom dealings of the UN, the power struggles within the organization, and the constant jockeying for prestige and influence amongst its various personnel and departments. Although this novel is fictional, it is not difficult to imagine that such backrooms dealings and power struggles are a reality within the world's most well-known organization.

I highly recommend The Geneva Option to all readers who enjoys thrillers, as well as to those who like to read novels with strong female leads. I cannot wait to read more from Adam Lebor and to see where he takes Yael next.

Note: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yael Azoulay has made a name for herself with the UN by handling some of their toughest negotiations. Her latest job sends her to eastern Congo to negotiate with a warlord named Jean-Pierre Hakizimani, who has led a campaign of mass genocide against the Tutsi. The seriousness of his crimes is not in question, but his connection to the region and the availability of certain resources means that Hakizimani has a bargaining chip that will save his life. Upon her return, Yael discovers that a private correspondence outlining terms of the agreement, sent directly from her to her boss at the UN, has been leaked and is now front page news. The news means the end of Yael's career at the UN but also leaves her reputation in question and could possibly threaten her safety. As she wonders who could have leaked the info, she also becomes privy to some frightening and highly classified intel sent by an anonymous source, the ramifications of which are too serious to let go. But what can a now former UN staffer do, especially when some of the highest ranking people in the UN are implicated?

I often find that espionage thrillers can be broken down into three categories:

1. The type seem to require an advanced education in political science to understand. These are generally over my head and therefore almost impossible for me to enjoy.

2. The oversimplified sort of cookie cutter Mad Lib thrillers that can be in just about any setting and concern just about any subject - sometimes fun but never overly cerebral.

3. And those that fall in between. Smart and complex but not so much so that the average reader can't still grasp and enjoy the story.

Adam LeBor's THE GENEVA OPTION falls in that third category. It could, in all honesty, very easily fall in the first category but for the simple fact that LeBor spends what feels like an adequate (and appropriate since it doesn't really take away from the overall flow of the narrative) amount time explaining the UN and its functions, its various departments, and history that pertains to the story.

I loved the various cast of characters here - even beyond Yael who has a history that's intriguing and hopefully will come to the forefront more in future installments. Sami and Joe-Don, Najwa and the other peripheral reporters, and even poor Olivia flesh out the story in a great way. And that list doesn't even include most of the big bads mentioned throughout.

THE GENEVA OPTION is a smart espionage thriller and - I believe - the first in a new series!

[ManOfLaBook.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Geneva Option by Adam LeBor is a novel which intro­duces the reader to Yael Azoulay, a high-level UN staffer. The book is mar­keted as being the first in a tril­ogy by Mr. LeBor who is, by trade, an author and journalist.

Yael Azoulay is a high-level staffer in the UN who does the dirty work for the Sec­re­tary Gen­eral. Yael gets involved try­ing to bring sta­bil­ity to the Congo and offers a Hutu war­lord a deal.

What Yael doesn’t real­ize is that she is a small part of a large plan for West­ern pow­ers and com­pa­nies to exploit the region. Soon Yael finds her­self on the run from mer­ce­nar­ies, law enforce­ment and intel­li­gence agencies.

The Geneva Option by Adam LeBor is a grip­ping thriller which intro­duces the world to a strong hero­ine. The world cre­ated by the author is raw and bru­tal, a world most of us would like to think does not exist. Yael Azoulay, the pro­tag­o­nist, is truly an inter­na­tional woman with no roots and no place she can call home.

This is a fast paced book is enter­tain­ing on the sur­face but has a lot going for it in between the lines. The lose-lose deals Yael has to strike leave the reader feel­ing almost dirty but with the clear under­stand­ing that they must be made in order to restore some sem­blance of bal­ance to a spe­cific region.

The action is some­what overblown, I loved the polit­i­cal, behind the scenes (or rather under-the-rug) aspects of the book and I wish Mr. LeBor would have stuck with that con­cept, but I under­stand the need, espe­cially to move the story along.

The Geneva Option is a novel which has a lot to like, great char­ac­ters, easy to read, and fluid nar­ra­tive. The novel does not under­es­ti­mate the read­ers, let’s them fig­ure things out for them­selves and allows them to make their own judgments.

For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

[Lynn Farris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam Lebor masterfully weaves an international espionage thriller around the war in the Congo, home to the precious mineral coltan used in computer and cell phone production. The main character, Yael Azoulay, works for the United Nations as a deal maker, negotiating deals never made public. Deals that would turn our stomachs.

As the story opens, Yael is negotiating with the Hutu warlord, Jean-Pierre Hakiziman, wanted for genocide. She is offering an incredibly generous plea bargain, which will stop the war and allow companies to get back to mining.

The warlord tells Yael, “You know they use children to mine coltan? They are small--they can fit into confined spaces. They eat less. They are paid almost nothing. Some food perhaps. They often have no parents. What does it matter what happens to such children? Nobody knows if they are alive or dead. Sometimes the tunnels collapse, and the children cannot get out. But as long as you can call your friends, Yael, who cares?”

To read the rest of the review please see: http://www.examiner.com/article/don-t...

[Jaspreet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a change of reading pace, so I was very excited to pick up The Geneva Option by Adam LeBor. As promised from the description, the plot was fast paced and intriguing. The power struggle, politics, and corruption in the UN was especially interesting. I liked that the challenges of international development were illustrated. In the midst of noble undertakings, such as bringing peace to a region, monetary interests can complicate things. Reading about the work of the reporters, Yael, and other characters was like getting a back stage pass into how things really work at the UN.

While I enjoyed the book overall, I was challenged with the pace and plot twists. The abrupt changes in location and viewpoint were confusing. While I liked all the attention to detail, some of the small things got lost in the bigger picture. In spite of these issues, I am excited to read the next installments.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yael Azoulay has an interesting job at the United Nations. She brokers deals with the worlds' worst criminals. Presently she is negotiating with Jean-Pierre Hakizimani, a Hutu warlord wanted for genocide. The plan is to bring some stability to the region so the mining companies can extract an important metal, coltan, needed for cell phones.

Yael is so perturbed with the deal she actually sends a protest letter to her boss. This letter finds its way the press and she is fired and further on the run. The United Nations is furthering a potential mass genocide in order to keep the mines working!! This story is a mystery, thriller and conspiracy, all rolled into one.

Yael is the kick ass heroine which keeps the story moving at breakneck speed. This story is upsetting in that the UN probably does have situations like this. Namely the Rwandan genocide and how quickly they reacted there. I enjoyed the story and would love to read a sequel about Yael

[Jordy Alava · Rating 5 out of 5]

As it always happens with me, I star reading books thinking they are stand alones but actually they are part of a series and of course this one was not the exception. This read was so interesting and educative, I felt so stressful every time I had to follow Yael's track throughout her risky 'adventures,' and yet I'm looking forward to reading the other four books! :D

[Humphrey Hawksley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam Lebor penetrates deep into the workings of the United Nations in a way I've never seen before in a commercial thriller. He spotlights on the horrific mineral war around the African Great Lakes which has killed millions in recent years, while supplying metals such as gold, tin and coltan to our cell phones and lap tops. Lebor achieves this with real characters in real situations and scenes that at times had my blood boiling with fury -- because of the reality of what he describes. A great achievement.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book at the library among the summer reading selections for our local high school students. I don't like this genre,so it is not surprising that I was not thrilled by what is the first in an on-going series about UN operative, Yael Azoulay. I do think that this would be a very good book for a younger person who is not familiar with world politics and terrorism in places that typically do not make the pages of the traditional newspaper. The author provides solid background into the event that take place over the course of the novel.

[A.M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This was a fairly intriguing political thriller covering the UN and corporate interests in mineral-rich Congo, however the genre isn't my cup of tea so I found myself skim reading at times.

The pacing is well-maintained and it's easy reading, although the build up of suspense is let down by the very tidy resolution.

I like the protagonist as well as the journalist, Sami, although there isn't much character development and the supporting characters are fairly flat.

I'd recommend this to those who enjoy suspense and have a strong interest in modern day politics.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A taut, and intensely captivating account that seems ripped from the headlines of the 1990s and how some shameful activities of the global community still cast their shadow decades hence. The plot is quite feasible and as - sadly - true the motivations are in the real world too. Only a couple of small continuity gaps towards the end but they'll pass... Look forward to seeing the lady's next adventure.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

On occasion there were big "info dumps" (blocks of text with information about something in the story), but few and far between to be minor complaints. The last forty or fifty pages or so, things became very humanitarian and political. While they are features throughout the novel, they were almost "supporting plotlines", whereas towards the end they were the main story.

Ultimately, though, the novel was a fast-paced, cracking read.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in a new series about a UN special envoy. In this book Yael is discredited following negotiations with an African warlord who was responsible for acts of genocide. She must try to find out who is behind the corruption and try to prevent a massacre at the same time. This book offers a realistic look at the UN beyond the idealistic public image that most people see.

[katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was exciting, well written and interesting. Sometimes it was hard to remember all the facts, but that would be my only complaint. Yael is an awesome protagonist and I hope to learn more about her in future books...we got some hints but not everything! Also, who was the bald man at the end? If anyone sees this and knows will you tell me? I am missing something I think.

[Margaret]

It took me a little while to get into this book but once I did, it was a page turner. I liked the character of Yael a lot however I wanted to know a little more about her background, which came at us in bits and pieces. I thought the ending of the book was fairly unlikely to happen in real life and was also surprised at Yael's reaction.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. The author did a good job of building the characters and various travel locales into a fast paced action thriller. The plausibility of the plot also help keep me engaged throughout the entire book. I really liked that the main character was a female and the story was told through her eyes.
Great book to read especially for travel.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yael Azoulay is a high ranking staffer at the UN and trouble shooter. She is having troubling thoughts about her current assignment and ends up working to expose a plot by some UN chiefs and an outside conglomerate that are working to capture the market of a valuable mineral found in the Congo. Murder, lies and secret agreements abound in this tale of greed at high levels.

[Paquita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my usual thing but very interesting and compelling. 3.5. Something about it not perfect but then I read sporadically while on holidays so probably didn't maintain the flow enough. Some of the character development a little weak for my liking and some confusing aspects to the storyline but a good read and worth the time.

[Ellis Shuman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author writes well, but the plot leaves a lot to be desired. How is it that a high ranking UN official transforms overnight into a cold-blooded killer, and then at the end of the book, transforms again into a UN official once again? I missed something here that would explain that.