The Quiet Dogs

Herbie Kruger #3

by John Gardner

In the danger-filled world of international espionage, Intelligence Chief Herbie Kruger has one last chance at glory as he attempts to rescue a double-agent held under the watchful eye of the Kremlin, In the danger-filled world of international espionage, Intelligence Chief Herbie Kruger has one last chance at glory as he attempts to rescue a double-agent held under the watchful eye of the Kremlin

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 1988

About the author

Before coming an author of fiction in the early 1960s, John Gardner was variously a stage magician, a Royal Marine officer and a journalist. In all, Gardner has fifty-four novels to his credit, including Maestro, which was the New York Times book of the year. He was also invited by Ian Fleming’s literary copyright holders to write a series of continuation James Bond novels, which proved to be so successful that instead of the contracted three books he went on to publish some fourteen titles, including Licence Renewed and Icebreaker.

Having lived in the Republic of Ireland, the United States and the UK, John Gardner sadly died in August of 2007 having just completed his third novel in the Moriarty trilogy, Conan Doyle’s eponymous villain of the Sherlock Holmes series.

Reviews

[Jak60 · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Gardner could be defined the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde of the espionage genre: you read one of the several James Bond novels he’s authored, and you'd think you’re reading Ian Fleming (that’s Mr Hyde for me...). You read The Secret Trilogy or the Herbie Kruger series and you’re reading John Le Carré or Len Deighton or Ted Allbeury (and here comes my good old Dr Jekyll). It’s kind of amazing how a writer can switch so well from and to totally different, almost reciprocal, styles.

The Herbie Kruger character is a spin off from the 3rd book of the trilogy (The Secret Family), where he plays a minor but important role where some of background of his earlier life is provided.Different from the trilogy, which actually reads li,e one book in three parts, the Herbie series is made of stand alone novels, of which the second instalment is, in my personal view, the best.

The Quiet Dogs is meant to be the swan’s song of Big Herbie; the old lion is wounded, in his pride and honour, his reputation as an old Service legend deeply damaged, his loyalty questioned. But the old lion finds the energy to put up what is supposed be his final act. Closing the bill with his enemy beyond the curtain.
The story is about an exfil operation, the exfiltration from Moscow of a long term, deep cover SIS mole into the highest KGB ranks; the operation is Herbie's last chance to heal his wounded reputation and honour within the Service. Then the old master plays his trump card, which can turn a defensive op into an attack, one aiming at trapping his enemy of a life - but not without surprises...
The Quiet Dogs, though not as good as the rather exceptional The Garden Of Weapons, is a solid, classic cold war espionage story, just slightly stained by a couple of loopholes and convenient coincidences.

[Connaire Demain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third Installment of the Herbie Kruger series, which picks up a year after book 2. It's a solid book, with a fair few twists and turns, but like all of John Gardner's books it sometimes gets bogged down in details that don't necessarily need to be provided to the reader.

It is however nice to be taken out of East Germany, and have Herbie explore a little of his back story, whilst getting his own back..

[Paul Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another great read. Its easy going thriller stuff... Plot wise I think this one had a good start but lost its way a little by the end. I could see a few holes of impossibility that I think may have caused the subsequent events in order to get around them... So the last quarter seemed contrived. However that didnt prevent it being an enjoyable romp.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but it got a little rambly in story and dialogue. Common for English espionage, but this was supposed to be more thriller. Also, the whole premise was supposed to be centered around Herbie solving the case by staying in London, but he left, twice!

[EspReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Cold War espionage tale. Echoes Le Carre's "Smiley's People" in some respects, but in some ways is a superior tale. It does help to have read the other two books in the series before this one to fully understand the protagonist.

[Tom Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me up to the wee hours

John Gardner has done it again. Kept me up to the wee hours because I was so engrossed in The Quiet Hours I had to finish it. Great, engaging characters, well thought out plot, and well described scenes so you thought you were there.

[Mrs Susan J Bociek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant writing

A totally immersive story. The players are all in their right place, the deceivers in theirs. Humbling to think of the great risks taken by those who chose to protect the United kingdom during the second world war. Big respect.

[Michael W. Boleware · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5. Very well written with a solid story line.

[Jonathan Pedlar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting finale

Beautifully crafted as the other books in the series. Herbie Kruger again putting a personal stamp on an intricate operation.

[Judie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long and unfortunately becomes too far-fetched.

[Mark Baines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reasonable enough, although is hardly the 'shattering bestseller' as stated on the cover.