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Truman's Spy: A Cold War Spy Thriller
It is early 1950, the midpoint of the Twentieth Century.
Joe McCarthy is cranking up his demagoguery and Joseph Stalin had intensified the cold war. In Washington, J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI is fighting a turf war with the newly founded Central Intelligence Agency. Harry Truman is in the White House, trying to keep a lid on domestic and foreign politics, but the crises never stop. It should be a time of peace and prosperity in America, but it is anything but.
FBI agent Thomas Buchanan is assigned to investigate the father of a former fiancée, Ann Garrett, who dumped Buchanan while he was away to World War Two. And suddenly Buchanan finds himself on a worldwide search for both an active Soviet spy and the only woman he ever loved. In the process, he crosses paths with Hoover, Truman, Soviet moles and assassins, an opium kingpin from China, and a brigade of lowlife from the American film community.
Truman’s Spy is a classic cold war story of espionage and betrayal, love and regret, patriots and traitors. This is the revised and updated 2013 edition of Noel Hynd’s follow-up to Flowers From Berlin. The story is big, a sprawling intricate tale of espionage, from post-war Rome and Moscow to New York, Philadelphia and Hollywood, filled with the characters, mores and attitudes of the day. And at its heart: the most crucial military secret of the decade.
"Noel Hynd knows the ins and outs of Washington's agencies, public and private." -
Publishers Weekly
"A notch above the Ludums and Clancys of the world....." - Booklist
"The novels of Noel Hynd stand out!" - Martin Levin, NY Times
Joe McCarthy is cranking up his demagoguery and Joseph Stalin had intensified the cold war. In Washington, J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI is fighting a turf war with the newly founded Central Intelligence Agency. Harry Truman is in the White House, trying to keep a lid on domestic and foreign politics, but the crises never stop. It should be a time of peace and prosperity in America, but it is anything but.
FBI agent Thomas Buchanan is assigned to investigate the father of a former fiancée, Ann Garrett, who dumped Buchanan while he was away to World War Two. And suddenly Buchanan finds himself on a worldwide search for both an active Soviet spy and the only woman he ever loved. In the process, he crosses paths with Hoover, Truman, Soviet moles and assassins, an opium kingpin from China, and a brigade of lowlife from the American film community.
Truman’s Spy is a classic cold war story of espionage and betrayal, love and regret, patriots and traitors. This is the revised and updated 2013 edition of Noel Hynd’s follow-up to Flowers From Berlin. The story is big, a sprawling intricate tale of espionage, from post-war Rome and Moscow to New York, Philadelphia and Hollywood, filled with the characters, mores and attitudes of the day. And at its heart: the most crucial military secret of the decade.
"Noel Hynd knows the ins and outs of Washington's agencies, public and private." -
Publishers Weekly
"A notch above the Ludums and Clancys of the world....." - Booklist
"The novels of Noel Hynd stand out!" - Martin Levin, NY Times
449 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 1990
470 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Noel Hynd
62 books218 followers I've been a published novelist for longer than I care to admit, since 1976. I'm frequently asked, however, how I first got published. It's an interesting story and involved both Robert Ludlum and James Baldwin, even though neither of them knew it --- or me --- at the time.
My first agent, a wonderful thorughly perofessional gentleman named Robert Lantz was representing Mr. Baldwin at the time. This was around 1975. Balwin, while a brilliant writer, had had some nasty dealings with the head of Dell Publishing. Dell held Jimmy's contract at the time and he could not legally write for anyone else until he gave Dell a book that was due to them. Nonetheless, he refused to deliver a manuscript to Dell and went to Paris to sit things out.
The book was due to The Dial Press, which Dell owned. Baldwin was widely quoted as saying....and I'm cleaning up the quote here, "that he was no longer picking cotton on Dell's planatation."
The book was due to The Dial Press. The editor in chief of The Dial Press was a stellar editor who was making a name for himself and a fair bit of money for the company publishing thriller-author Robert Ludlum. A best seller every year will do that for an editor. Anyway, Baldwin fled New York for Paris. The editor followed, the asignment being to get him to come happily back to Dial. As soon as the editor arrived, Baldwin fled to Algeria. Or maybe Tunisia. It hardly mattered because Baldwin was furious and simply wouldn 't do a book for Dell/Dial. The editor returned to NY without his quarry. Things were at a standstill.
That's where I entered the story, unpublished at age 27 and knowing enough to keep my mouth shut while these things went down. I had given 124 pages of a first novel to Mr. Lantz ten days eariler. Miraculously, his reader liked it and then HE liked it. It was in the same genre that Ludlum wrote in and which the editor at Dial excelled at editing and marketing.
My agent and the editor ran into each other one afternoon in July of 1974 in one of those swank Manhattan places where people used to have three martinis for lunch. The agent asked how things had gone in Europe. The editor told him, knowing full well that the agent already knew. The next steps would be lawyers, Baldwin dragged into US Courts, major authors boycotting Doubleday/Dell, Dial, maybe some civil rights demonstrations and.......but no so fast.
Mr. Lantz offered Dial the first look at a new adventure/espionage novelist (me). IF Dial wanted me after reading my 124 pages, he could sign me, but only IF Baldwin was released from his obligations at Doubleday. I was the literary bribe, so to speak, that would get Jimmy free from Dial. It seemed like a great idea to everyone. It seemed that way because it was. Paperwork was prepapred and paperwork was signed. Voila!...To make a much longer story short, Dial accepted my novel. The editor instructed me on how to raise it to a professional level as I finished writing it over the next ten months. I followed orders perfectly. I even felt prosperous on my $7500 advance. He then had Dial release Mr. Balwin from his obligation. Not surpringly, he went on to create fine books for other publishers. Ludlum did even batter. Of the three, I'm the pauper but I've gotten my fair share and I'm alive with books coming out again now in the very near future, no small accmplishment. So no complaints from me.
That''s how I got published. I met Ludlum many times later on and Baldwin once. Ludlum liked my name "Noel" and used it for an then-upcoming charcter named Noel Holcroft. That amused me. I don't know if either of them even knew that my career had been in their orbits for a month 1975. They would have been amused. They were both smart gifted men and fine writers in dfferent ways. This story was told to me by one of the principals two years later and another one confirmed it.
Me, I came out of it with my first publishing contract, for a book titled 'Reve
My first agent, a wonderful thorughly perofessional gentleman named Robert Lantz was representing Mr. Baldwin at the time. This was around 1975. Balwin, while a brilliant writer, had had some nasty dealings with the head of Dell Publishing. Dell held Jimmy's contract at the time and he could not legally write for anyone else until he gave Dell a book that was due to them. Nonetheless, he refused to deliver a manuscript to Dell and went to Paris to sit things out.
The book was due to The Dial Press, which Dell owned. Baldwin was widely quoted as saying....and I'm cleaning up the quote here, "that he was no longer picking cotton on Dell's planatation."
The book was due to The Dial Press. The editor in chief of The Dial Press was a stellar editor who was making a name for himself and a fair bit of money for the company publishing thriller-author Robert Ludlum. A best seller every year will do that for an editor. Anyway, Baldwin fled New York for Paris. The editor followed, the asignment being to get him to come happily back to Dial. As soon as the editor arrived, Baldwin fled to Algeria. Or maybe Tunisia. It hardly mattered because Baldwin was furious and simply wouldn 't do a book for Dell/Dial. The editor returned to NY without his quarry. Things were at a standstill.
That's where I entered the story, unpublished at age 27 and knowing enough to keep my mouth shut while these things went down. I had given 124 pages of a first novel to Mr. Lantz ten days eariler. Miraculously, his reader liked it and then HE liked it. It was in the same genre that Ludlum wrote in and which the editor at Dial excelled at editing and marketing.
My agent and the editor ran into each other one afternoon in July of 1974 in one of those swank Manhattan places where people used to have three martinis for lunch. The agent asked how things had gone in Europe. The editor told him, knowing full well that the agent already knew. The next steps would be lawyers, Baldwin dragged into US Courts, major authors boycotting Doubleday/Dell, Dial, maybe some civil rights demonstrations and.......but no so fast.
Mr. Lantz offered Dial the first look at a new adventure/espionage novelist (me). IF Dial wanted me after reading my 124 pages, he could sign me, but only IF Baldwin was released from his obligations at Doubleday. I was the literary bribe, so to speak, that would get Jimmy free from Dial. It seemed like a great idea to everyone. It seemed that way because it was. Paperwork was prepapred and paperwork was signed. Voila!...To make a much longer story short, Dial accepted my novel. The editor instructed me on how to raise it to a professional level as I finished writing it over the next ten months. I followed orders perfectly. I even felt prosperous on my $7500 advance. He then had Dial release Mr. Balwin from his obligation. Not surpringly, he went on to create fine books for other publishers. Ludlum did even batter. Of the three, I'm the pauper but I've gotten my fair share and I'm alive with books coming out again now in the very near future, no small accmplishment. So no complaints from me.
That''s how I got published. I met Ludlum many times later on and Baldwin once. Ludlum liked my name "Noel" and used it for an then-upcoming charcter named Noel Holcroft. That amused me. I don't know if either of them even knew that my career had been in their orbits for a month 1975. They would have been amused. They were both smart gifted men and fine writers in dfferent ways. This story was told to me by one of the principals two years later and another one confirmed it.
Me, I came out of it with my first publishing contract, for a book titled 'Reve
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
June 14, 2020
This book was written in 1992, when Harry Truman was inexplicably en vogue. All three presidential candidates, Bush, Clinton, and Perot were competing to say they were the most like Truman. Sure, he lost China, got us into the Korean War, and let the Russians take over half of Europe and infiltrate the government, but he was "plucky."
Anyway, a man is set on fire in Philadelphia, and FBI agent Tom Buchanan is appointed by J. Edgar Hoover to investigate. There's a lot of whining about Hoover throughout the book. Buchanan has connections to rich people, and that's why he is appointed. Of course, a lost love is involved, as well.
The history isn't that great, nor is the story, but if you're a big fan of Truman, this might be for you.
Anyway, a man is set on fire in Philadelphia, and FBI agent Tom Buchanan is appointed by J. Edgar Hoover to investigate. There's a lot of whining about Hoover throughout the book. Buchanan has connections to rich people, and that's why he is appointed. Of course, a lost love is involved, as well.
The history isn't that great, nor is the story, but if you're a big fan of Truman, this might be for you.
July 12, 2019
I gave up on this book 2/3rds of the way through. There's a decent spy story in these pages but:
1. Almost every character had a back story and the introduction of some seemed pointless other than to pad out the story;
2. The descriptions of many of the characters read like Wikipedia entries, as did parts of the plot;
3. The story dragged on for far too long and needs severe editing.
I'm counting this as part of my book challenge even though I didn't finish it because I invested so much time in trying to read it.
1. Almost every character had a back story and the introduction of some seemed pointless other than to pad out the story;
2. The descriptions of many of the characters read like Wikipedia entries, as did parts of the plot;
3. The story dragged on for far too long and needs severe editing.
I'm counting this as part of my book challenge even though I didn't finish it because I invested so much time in trying to read it.
November 9, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot twists, the seemingly unconnected events that meld along the way, and the authentic feel of the Cold war in 1949-1950. This is a very well written story that is intriguing and manages to capture the struggle we face at various times in history; namely between the excesses of an authoritarian agency empowered to safeguard the people versus the need for national security. Tom Buchanan finds out the hard way in this Cold War espionage novel that rings true and takes you from Hollywood to Philadelphia, Washington, London, and Chicago. Very well done and certainly deserving of 5 stars
July 18, 2018
Although I felt that this book would have been better with professional editing, and although I was put off by the spelling and grammar errors, I still found it to be a suspense-filled and exciting.
There were some factual errors that bothered me, such as Pope Paul XI on his balcony in 1939, when he had died a year earlier. Pope Pius XII was the pope all during World War II and was controversial in his time for refusing to help the Jews. Noel should have known that.
Joseph McCarthy and J. Edgar Hoover were co-conspirators and had a lot of axes to grind. Hoover saw the CIA as competition for the FBI and was paranoid that he would lose some of his power. He clearly was a Republican and ran his bureau as such. He had no love for Truman and was willing to use the power of his department to thwart the aims and policies of the Truman administration. There were so many examples of what occurred then repeating in today's headlines. If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
There were some factual errors that bothered me, such as Pope Paul XI on his balcony in 1939, when he had died a year earlier. Pope Pius XII was the pope all during World War II and was controversial in his time for refusing to help the Jews. Noel should have known that.
Joseph McCarthy and J. Edgar Hoover were co-conspirators and had a lot of axes to grind. Hoover saw the CIA as competition for the FBI and was paranoid that he would lose some of his power. He clearly was a Republican and ran his bureau as such. He had no love for Truman and was willing to use the power of his department to thwart the aims and policies of the Truman administration. There were so many examples of what occurred then repeating in today's headlines. If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
December 28, 2015
Before the Cold War Heated Up
The setting was somewhat unique for a cold war spy story in that it was really post WW2 and earlier than most. There were no nuclear subs or satellite surveillance and intelligence was truly a spy game a with living, breathing spies. The book also provides a look at the politics of the day and some interesting perspective on the issues faced by the Truman administration. It was here that you occasionally saw some of the issues viewed through a more contemporary prism. There were a few other references that stood out as being much more current,such as "buzzed" in one case.
The main characters were fairly rich and there's a decent twist towards the end. I had to give it high marks as it kept me up much later than I intended.
The setting was somewhat unique for a cold war spy story in that it was really post WW2 and earlier than most. There were no nuclear subs or satellite surveillance and intelligence was truly a spy game a with living, breathing spies. The book also provides a look at the politics of the day and some interesting perspective on the issues faced by the Truman administration. It was here that you occasionally saw some of the issues viewed through a more contemporary prism. There were a few other references that stood out as being much more current,such as "buzzed" in one case.
The main characters were fairly rich and there's a decent twist towards the end. I had to give it high marks as it kept me up much later than I intended.
October 4, 2015
The President, this time Truman was at odds with Hoover. An FBI agent was asked by Hoover to look into the dealings of the father of an ex-girlfriend due to Communist leanings. Truman has the Secret Service bring in the agent and asked him to keep the President informed about the investigation, without Hoover knowing of course. The books is a good read but I was not drawn like I like to be when reading a really good book. Hynd writes a lot of books on espionage and this one follows that line.
October 30, 2014
At last a historial novel that gets most of the history right. This book is a spy lovers dream. Hoover, Truman, Communists, McCarthy and even the Williamsburg Bridge. The hero Buchanan is looking everywhere for spies. There seems to be many unrelated events in the book, but Hynd pulls them together in the end.
October 21, 2023
A story of an FBI special agent sent to establish if a banker is a Soviet agent, against the backdrop of Senator Joe McCarthy beginning his anti-Red campaign, aided and abetted by FBI Chief J Edgar Hoover.
March 20, 2016
This is the first book I have read by Noel Hynd but won't be the last. I really like the way he takes the story and works it into history. Thomas Buchanan worked in intelligence during the war and now in the Post War time he works for the FBI. That would be J. Edgar Hoover and Harry Truman is president. Joe McCarthy is there and thinks everyone is a communist. Some of them are but not as many as he thinks. Tom is given the assignment to find out all he can about a banker he knew before the war. In fact Tom was engaged to one of the daughters. This story takes us to the East Coast, West Coast, Chicago and to London in search of the truth. Truman asks him to keep him informed of what is happening as well as reporting to Hoover. The CIA is starting up at the same time. A very interesting time in history as well as a very good story. Be sure to read.
April 15, 2016
"It's All About Deception"
This is a very interesting story of betrayal, love, and regret along with patriots and traitors. It takes place during the days of the Cold War during the 1950's. FBI Agent Thomas Buchanan has an assignment to investigate the father of his former fiancée, Ann Garrett. He discovers a Soviet spy and his path includes meetings with Hoover and Truman. Thomas goes into dark places where Soviet moles and assassins, and an opium kingpin, seek to accomplish deadly tasks. This is an interesting and fascinating story. It really does reflect how those in high offices can hide the facts from the country's citizens. It's an intense read which reflects deceptions of government while the citizens are only involved and their own thriving life styles. Highly recommend.
This is a very interesting story of betrayal, love, and regret along with patriots and traitors. It takes place during the days of the Cold War during the 1950's. FBI Agent Thomas Buchanan has an assignment to investigate the father of his former fiancée, Ann Garrett. He discovers a Soviet spy and his path includes meetings with Hoover and Truman. Thomas goes into dark places where Soviet moles and assassins, and an opium kingpin, seek to accomplish deadly tasks. This is an interesting and fascinating story. It really does reflect how those in high offices can hide the facts from the country's citizens. It's an intense read which reflects deceptions of government while the citizens are only involved and their own thriving life styles. Highly recommend.
October 14, 2014
A great read
I'm a sucker for classic spy and espionage novels, have been for 30+ years. So when the reviews read "up there with Ludlum" I had both doubts and high expectations. My doubts were unfounded and my expectations were met. Classic cold war, great characters with a twist or 2, REALLY NICE plot twists. Everything I hoped for. I will be reading more of this author in the future.
I'm a sucker for classic spy and espionage novels, have been for 30+ years. So when the reviews read "up there with Ludlum" I had both doubts and high expectations. My doubts were unfounded and my expectations were met. Classic cold war, great characters with a twist or 2, REALLY NICE plot twists. Everything I hoped for. I will be reading more of this author in the future.
August 30, 2015
Good plot line. Spy, double agents, and the plot to overthrow capitalism.
But I found the author's diversion into unrelated material to be a nuisance. I noticed in reviews by other readers that several commented on this - and many of you found the diversions relevant or enjoyable. So just a difference in readers I imagine.
I didn't try to check the historical accuracy of the story, but I was/am curious about that. If others of you have looked into this, I'd love to hear what you learned.
But I found the author's diversion into unrelated material to be a nuisance. I noticed in reviews by other readers that several commented on this - and many of you found the diversions relevant or enjoyable. So just a difference in readers I imagine.
I didn't try to check the historical accuracy of the story, but I was/am curious about that. If others of you have looked into this, I'd love to hear what you learned.
January 11, 2015
Outstanding! The start of the cold war and early CIA FBI competitions. I may have found a new favorite author, can't wait to read something else by Noel Hynd. Historical detail was fascinating and intrigue compelling. I may read again soon, as I'm sure I missed some of the nuances. Anyone who likes Ludlum and Clancy will enjoy this author.
February 23, 2015
It had a way of making it 1950 again.
l enjoyed the book. Good knocks on Hoover and his undiscovered homosexuality.
I liked how the historical fiction stayed close to the truth as we know it. Not sure making Truman and liberals out to be "better Americans" made sense, but I guess why we call it FICTION.I
l enjoyed the book. Good knocks on Hoover and his undiscovered homosexuality.
I liked how the historical fiction stayed close to the truth as we know it. Not sure making Truman and liberals out to be "better Americans" made sense, but I guess why we call it FICTION.I
May 6, 2015
Excellent story. Filled with historical references, which I particularly enjoyed. A few sections were a bit slow but picked up eventually. The "romance" angle was an interesting sub-plot, not believeable but interesting. I certainly enjoyed certain aspects of this plot immensely. Well worth the time.
September 3, 2014
Very good and enjoyed it a lot-the only thing was there were several typos, garbled characters where Russian dialog was spoken and a few odd sentences here and there that were mixed up or grammatically incorrect. I suspect it was the Kindle version!
January 7, 2016
I probably would have enjoyed the book more had I read it instead of listened to it. The story was good but disjointed at the beginning. I kept listening hoping the author would tie everything together and he did - finally. Just the kind of story I like: mystery and spies.
February 3, 2014
An excellent story, a broad range of well defined characters and enough twists and turns to keep you reading even when your eyes are drooping. Enjoy!
July 19, 2015
Enjoyed this book - lots of twists and turns... Interesting ending, makes you wonder if the story could continue...
October 25, 2014
Best book I have read in a long time!
November 6, 2014
I like the way this guy puts a story together. It flowed very smoothly throughout.
May 7, 2015
A game or honest read about the post war years.
Anyone that likes a good spy novel should read this. Characters are real and information about the times are very true to life.
Anyone that likes a good spy novel should read this. Characters are real and information about the times are very true to life.
June 3, 2015
Great book
I'm a big fan of John Sandford & Michael Connolly and have read all of their books. This was as good as the best of theirs.
I'm a big fan of John Sandford & Michael Connolly and have read all of their books. This was as good as the best of theirs.
October 20, 2015
There were some parts that were a bit predictable, but overall it was a great book. It was entertaining and informative.
December 17, 2015
Page turner
Very good plot and excellent character development. Maybe not Clancy or Ludlum yet but coming up close behinnd. Maybe after few more books on the wire.
Very good plot and excellent character development. Maybe not Clancy or Ludlum yet but coming up close behinnd. Maybe after few more books on the wire.
January 1, 2016
Recommended
A thrilling mystery, good character development, intrigue and intensity. It was a read that you did not want to put down.
A thrilling mystery, good character development, intrigue and intensity. It was a read that you did not want to put down.
February 4, 2016
Interesting characters and a clever plot. Just enough real characters to make the time period come alive. I liked it a lot. Will there be more?
March 14, 2016
A great read! I like Noel Hynd's books. They are very well written and researched, but both e-books that I have read have NOT been well edited. If it weren't for that this book would be a 5!
January 19, 2016
Enjoyable "cold war thriller". Easy to read, a lot of plot twists.
January 26, 2022
.
.
A good book.
.
PS: I’m from South Philadelphia, and also Bucks County. 35 years “on the street.”
Paul Robeson’s house was just a few blocks away when I lived in West Philadelphia.
I knew cops, places, and things like those described. Like Devon, Dublin, and The Melrose Diner, for one. The infamous Melrose, on Passyunk….
.
Author seems careful and original; he did not use an obvious DRAGNET segue here:
“ ‘But that’s just my opinion. No one listens to me.’
‘You’re wrong, Mark.’
‘About what?’ [author here could have said, “How’s that?” And immediately conjured DRAGNET.]
‘I just spent several hours listening,’ Buchanan said. ‘And I learned quite a bit.’
“The door opened again. Nurse Patricia called the meeting over.”
No wasted space. Story, story, STORY! 😃
Great Line: “Ann's attention disappeared for a moment. It went somewhere and then came back.”
Goooood writer. 😊
( “He stripped down, cleaned, and reassembled a Walther .38 that he would now wear beneath his left arm.” …must mean a Walther .380, right? )
Book is 3-4 “Chapters” too long.
“Anne.” should have been left unresolved.
I liked this book and gave it 5 Stars out of 5.
.
.
.
A good book.
.
PS: I’m from South Philadelphia, and also Bucks County. 35 years “on the street.”
Paul Robeson’s house was just a few blocks away when I lived in West Philadelphia.
I knew cops, places, and things like those described. Like Devon, Dublin, and The Melrose Diner, for one. The infamous Melrose, on Passyunk….
.
Author seems careful and original; he did not use an obvious DRAGNET segue here:
“ ‘But that’s just my opinion. No one listens to me.’
‘You’re wrong, Mark.’
‘About what?’ [author here could have said, “How’s that?” And immediately conjured DRAGNET.]
‘I just spent several hours listening,’ Buchanan said. ‘And I learned quite a bit.’
“The door opened again. Nurse Patricia called the meeting over.”
No wasted space. Story, story, STORY! 😃
Great Line: “Ann's attention disappeared for a moment. It went somewhere and then came back.”
Goooood writer. 😊
( “He stripped down, cleaned, and reassembled a Walther .38 that he would now wear beneath his left arm.” …must mean a Walther .380, right? )
Book is 3-4 “Chapters” too long.
“Anne.” should have been left unresolved.
I liked this book and gave it 5 Stars out of 5.
.
.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews