The Last Spymaster

by Gayle Lynds

Charles Jay Tice was a spy's spy--a legendary figure in the CIA, and the intelligence world in general, towards the end of the Cold War. But he was also a traitor, having sold secrets that seriously compromised the U.S. for years to come. Since his conviction, he's been kept in the tightest maximum security prison under the tightest security. Until one morning, his cell is discovered empty--Tice has disappeared without even the hint of trace.

Agent Elaine Cunningham is a 'hunter', assigned to find Tice quickly, before the rest of the world knows he's gone. But she soon finds out that something is very wrong. This is more than just an impossible escape by a master spy--lurking in the shadows is a much bigger, deeper, and more dangerous conspiracy than an old spy's last run for freedom.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Espionage, Action, Audiobook

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

New York Times bestseller Gayle Lynds is the award-winning author of ten international espionage novels. Library Journal calls her “the reigning queen of espionage fiction.” The London Observer says she’s a “kick-ass thriller writer.” Lee Child calls her “today’s best espionage writer.”

Born in Omaha, NE, and raised in Council Bluffs, IA, Gayle graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism. While there, she often sneaked into classes and readings at the renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She was blessed by remarkable teachers — among them were John Irving in rhetoric and Kurt Vonnegut in a literature class. For her, the university was a lively petri dish of books, writing, and adventure.

Gayle officially began her writing career as a reporter for The Arizona Republic, where a series of her investigative pieces made such an impact that they led to changes in state legislation. Later she took a job as an editor with rare Top Secret security clearance at a private think tank that did government work. Assorted shadowy figures passed through, and not only ideas but engineers and artists seemed to bounce off the walls. She was inspired. She wanted to write about what she was seeing and experiencing.

Expressing her love of mainstream literature, she wrote short stories that were published in literary journals. Simultaneously, she wrote male pulp novels in the Nick Carter series. Soon the two forms began to jell in her mind. The first novel under her own name, Gayle Lynds, was Masquerade, a New York Times bestseller that Publishers Weekly later listed as one of the top ten spy novels of all time.

Others of her novels have been prize winners. The Last Spymaster won Best Novel from both the American Authors Association and the Military Writers Society of America. The Book of Spies was a finalist for both the Nero and Audie awards. The Coil won Best Contemporary Novel from Affaire de Coeur. Mosaic was RT Thriller of the Year. Mesmerized was a Daphne du Maurier Award finalist. With Robert Ludlum, she created the Covert-One series, one of which, The Hades Factor, was a CBS miniseries.

Gayle’s previous husband was Dennis Lynds, an award-winning detective novelist who died in 2005. They had lived several decades in Santa Barbara, CA, where they raised their children. In 2011, a new stage of her life began when she married John C. Sheldon, a long-time resident of Maine. A retired judge, John is a former prosecutor and defense attorney and Visiting Scholar to Harvard Law School. Today they live on fourteen acres of oaks, maples, hemlocks, and white pine outside Portland. A voracious reader, John had never written fiction when they met. Now they have collaborated on three short stories.

Gayle is a member of the Association for Intelligence Operatives and cofounder (with David Morrell) and former copresident of International Thriller Writers, Inc. ITW’s annual celebration is ThrillerFest, held every July in New York City.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome! Page turner!![return][return]This spy mystery twisted & turned the whole book through. Leaving just enough clues to start to put things together, so that I knew the bad guy before he was revealed. (always a satisfying bonus.)[return][return]Even though there was tons of constant action through the whole book, it was thankfully light on any gruesome details. [return][return]Also, the gut wrenching plot was very topical for today's world. Concerning terrorists arranging a huge high-tech weapons purchase so they can take their terror to the next level. Hopefully fiction is larger than truth for these topics! Neat gadgets and weapons are mentioned here and there, making the gadget geek in me drool at the thought of such cool toys.[return][return]The heroine was a strong character, brainy, and fearless. The hero/anti-hero was a shifting picture, making you constantly analyze his actions & take his pep talks with a grain of salt.[return][return]The bad guy personalities are all over the map. Egos, Arrogance, Relentless. All kinds. Great diversity.[return][return]The different interactions between countries & cultures are also given some time here and there. This book also has some storyline from the coldwar, as well as the current struggles with the middle east, so very interesting topics are discussed.[return][return]The entire plot was wrapped up very nicely. With no sense of lingering, or where did this turn come from? A page turner to the end.[return][return]Sooooo Goood!!

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started listening to this talking book on a day when I had a blinding headache and thus could not read anything in print (or do anything else, for that matter). I listened to almost half of the book on that day, but it took me considerably longer to get through the rest of it. Not too bad as suspenseful spy stories go. Sort of Ludlumesque, but not as tightly nor intricately plotted as his stuff.

I found it quite confusing trying to figure out each character's back story and how they fit into the present plot, and in the end, there was still one detail that didn't make sense to me. (I can't say what it is because it would be a major spoiler.)

Anyway, a decent story that held my interest. Never underestimate the power of a red Jaguar and a couple of Vicodin! :D ;)

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have wanted to read another book by this author, but it has not been available, so I picked this one up in the meantime. I was quickly drawn in to the development of the characters. I felt I knew who was bad and who was good. And then by about midway, I figured out who really was bad and good. But it was interesting to learn about real spies and their lives. They really do have to live in constant alert mode. You never know who is really your friend or not. I liked the book and plan to read others by this author. By the way, read the authors bio if you get a chance. She is quite informed about what she writes.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting account of some inner workings of the CIA. I did wonder how close to actual procedures it was since that organization is very secretive. Toward the end, it got very confusing (at the port and on the ship)I found the epilogue to be a bit fairy tale-ish.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't usually read spy-drama or spy-suspense so I'm not an expert about what makes this genre "good." As someone who isn't "up" on spy lingo, it took me a little while to figure out some of the references - janitor, whippet, scrup, etc. However, once I got some of the terms down, the plot of the book was easier to follow.

In brief, the book follows several different characters until all of the stories merge together at the end and all secrets are revealed. As a CIA spy book it involves a cold war under-cover operative imprisoned as a traitor who escapes from prison, the "hunter" sent by the CIA to find him, his former lover/triple agent to the CIA, East Germany and West Germany, and all the terrorist bad guys working to make illegal arms deals. Oh...and of course there are multiple traitors in the mix.

In general I find that it's hard to do this sort of character and plot flip-flopping well without loosing the thread of the story or going overboard with too much. But then again, this is a spy book and isn't it supposed to be all twists and turns and secrets?

I think I could like this genre but am not sure that I'll follow up with a same read by this author.

[Manugw · Rating 3 out of 5]

A LONG UNSUBSTANTIAL FICTION RIDE

Lured by many five star reviews, yet, I could not find what I was looking for, I expected a fiction book peeking on the insides and deep secrets of the Spy agencies (like the CIA, the KGB and the Mossad) and the extremely awful feelings, spies experience facing hostile environments.

Instead I found a gripping romantic story with the typical invincible hero and heroine having hidden aces up their sleeves to use every time they confront the cardboard thugs that were chasing them throughout all the chapters and that exceed them in power and number,..that is fiction indeed..

The story also exhibits superficial background research in terms of the spy games countries play and a never ending overwhelming finale

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't stop listening to this book on cd. Once I was at disc 10 (of 12) I had to listen and finish it. It was really intense in some places. The ending was not what I expected at al1. I was completely taken by surprise in many parts of this book. I was cheering people on and kept hoping for someone to do something about the problem. This book deals with the selling of high tech military weapons and how people that care about our country try to stop the deal. There are interesting plot turns and some very strange quirks that some of the characters have that made me want to scream! Read and see who you will be rooting for in this book!

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure that a lot of people died in this book without the word "kill" being used. I've never seen so many euphemisms for murder: scrubbed, terminated, wiped...

A spy convicted of treason breaks out of prison and begins to pull the threads of a terrorist plot together (and then pull them apart). Gayle Lynds writes for the Robert Ludlum franchise. This one isn't as good as those, but it's a decent escapist read with enough twists and turns to keep you intrigued.

[Luis Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found Gayle Lynds while watching the Jeopardy tv show. What a great find. I really enjoyed reading this book. It has spies, treachery, action, surprises and love. What's not to like. I'll be reading more of her books.

[Alan Routhieaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Gayle Lynds book and it definitely won’t be my last. A really gripping tale with characters that really jump off of the page. The plot grabbed from very early on and never let go.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story opens with a young skier in Switzerland being shot, then two days later the spymaster, Jay Tice, breaks out of a U.S. prison where he was held for treason. How are the two incidents related is quite the story.

From the book:
"Charles Jay Tice was a spy's spy--a legendary figure in the CIA, and the intelligence world in general, towards the end of the Cold War. But he was also a traitor, having sold secrets that seriously compromised the U.S. for years to come. Since his conviction, he's been kept in the tightest maximum security prison under the tightest security. Until one morning, his cell is discovered empty--Tice has disappeared without even the hint of trace.

Agent Elaine Cunningham is a 'hunter', assigned to find Tice quickly, before the rest of the world knows he's gone. But she soon finds out that something is very wrong. This is more than just an impossible escape by a master spy--lurking in the shadows is a much bigger, deeper, and more dangerous conspiracy than an old spy's last run for freedom."

The viewpoint shifts between Jay on the run or Elaine chasing him. Sometimes that can be annoying or confusing, but in this case I think it works well for creating more suspense.

Jay remains a bit of a mystery, although the reader knows there is more to him and his story than what is initially revealed. Elaine was an unlikely choice for hunting Jay, she is considered emotionally damaged and had been left on desk duty, seemingly forgotten, until Jay escapes. Elaine is a solid character, not perfect in the spy world, but she has great instincts and is able to quickly assess a situation and understand the implications. I really liked Elaine. As the story develops a few key supporting characters are introduced who all bring something to the story. It is hard to discuss without giving too much away. There are a few villains, some that are visible, and one that remains a mystery until the end, which is particularly well done.

The setting is mostly in D.C. or the surrounding Virginia countryside, with a few European scenes. The setting is used effectively, one minute serene and the next ominous.

The overall plot is believable and builds as the story unfolds. It utilizes many of our fears regarding terrorism and cutting edge technology to push the stakes higher and higher. It felt realistic, not a lot of flash. I kept thinking, it could really be like this.

The climax is a nail bitter and gets the adrenaline pumping. The wrap up was perfect and sold me on this author. If you like a good spy novel or a plot that takes you by surprise a time or two, give this book a try. I am getting another of hers from the library!

Series: Stand alone novel

Main Character: CIA Agent Elaine Cunningham

Setting: Modern Day,Washington DC

Obtained Through: Library

Mysteries and My Musings Blog: http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com

[Eadie Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good spy story. It was a fast read packed with suspense and multiple plots and in-depth character development. The historical aspects are interesting and Lynds knowledge of intel and tech gave the book a unique feel. I look forward to reading more from her.

[Christine Zibas · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's no better time for a fast-paced read than a cold and rainy day, with the approach of winter on its way. Thrillers seem to suit reading when the weather is raw, and we are forced inside. Thrillers provide quick plots that move rapidly, lots of action, and no deep emotional investment, all tied up neatly by the end of the story. In short, they are a satisfying, easy read. With those criteria in mind, a reader can't go wrong with a thriller like The Last Spymaster, a novel by Gayle Lynds.

This spy story begins where many do: with a scene from the Cold War (a spy exchange on a bridge between East and West Germany), but its plot is definitely 21st century, with the main "bad guy" being an Islamic terrorist in the mode of al Qaeda who is seeking to steal the latest military gadgets to wage his war on the West. The main character of the book is "the last spymaster" of course, a CIA operative, a traitor in the mode of Robert Hanssen, who is found missing from his cell in a maximum security prison as the story opens. Enter into this mix, a "hunter" from the CIA who is assigned to track the old spymaster down, a chilling black market arms dealer, a team of CIA spies operating beyond the Company, and a female double agent who once was involved romantically with the last spymaster.

While the usual attention is given to descriptions of guns and cars, exotic locations, and Company lore, what makes this book interesting are the spy tricks-of-the-trade sprinkled throughout the story, the inclusion of many modern events in CIA history, and the quotes that open each section of the book from real "spooks" themselves. To give just one interesting example, Part Two opens with a quote from none other than former CIA Director (now Department of Defense Secretary) Robert Gates, "When an intelligence officer smells flowers, he looks around for a coffin."

In short, this is a good read, as one would expect from Gayle Lynds-a member of the Association for Intelligence Officers, a cofounder of the International Thriller Writers, and most indicative of her writing ability, a sometimes co-author with Robert Ludlum. The biggest difference readers will notice in her novel (compared with her male colleagues writing similar thrillers) is that she has written intelligent women characters into her novel, both good and bad. She also uses high technology judiciously, sparing her readers the Tom Clancy technology-overload style. The only criticism to be made of the book is that the ending stretches the believability factor a little too far. It's a well-rounded, competent, even interesting story. Overall, readers are likely to find this to be a fun read, and at times, perhaps, even a "thrilling" one.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always seeking a good yarn about spies and the roles they play in the world. This book sounded interesting, as it is about a hunter of those who don't want to be found. Such as former or current spies.

The trade craft part of the book is pretty good. A lot of the plot is similar to many other books, about who do you trust and why. Is the traitor spy a better person than the DCI or DDO? The major plot points and twists were predictable. The minor plot points, subtle in their release and one not until the last couple of pages could have made the whole book even better if explored further. It is the uncomfortable situations those in the spy business find themselves and the crappy decisions they have to make that I like. As long as the story stayed away from technology, it felt solid.

I wanted more of the chase, more about how the hunter really does her job. But as soon as she gets into a groove, the whole book shifts to her figuring out who is loyal and being hunted herself. In this regard, the back of the book is misleading. Watching Elaine do her work would have been enthralling (kind of like Victor in Tom Wood's books).

Note, the book was published in 2006, a year before the iPhone was launched. The technology talked about and supposedly used would be advanced even today. Or not even exist. In such things, I get hyper sensitive. The portions of the book where technology magic was used to advanced the plot felt like 1970's James Bond (fun movies with great stunts not cemented in reality). A lot of use of GPS in phones, but how do the characters use the tracking information to find their prey? Or ability to access a recording from many miles away without the use of a cell system?

In the end, I thought there was more potential. This is a stand alone book, for which I applaud the author. Too many authors build 10 book deep series instead of developing something new. The trade craft felt right, but got bogged down (for me) with sci-fi kind of technology that detracted from how the spies operate in the world.

[Mark Soone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never heard of Gayle Lynds untill 2 weeks ago, when a review of this book prompted me to seek it out. She has in one great book climbed onto my must read all books by this author list! One of the best books of this genre that I have come accross. I had heard that she had written with Ludlum (not one of my fovorites), and was slightly hesitant as to how engaging I would find this book.

The book gripped me right from the start. An intriguing introduction to the main characters of the story. The characters are difficult to label as good or bad people as their are so many dynamics to their backgrounds. I found the characters very likeable, and enjoyed the dispersed details of their backgrounds. There was enough information given to give you basics on each of the characters, but enough unanswered questions that kept me turning pages to see what happened next (or in some cases before). The plot was multi faceted, but not so much as to be confusing. Once again details were spaced nicely throughout the book to give you information and still keep you in suspense to see how it all tied together. The twists and betrayals were a nice touch throughout the book, as I moved through this many layared story. The characters were riviting enough that I found myself hoping they would be OK, or disappointment that a charater I liked was not who they were pretending to be.

The only real negative I could find from my perspective was perhaps the final 30 pages or so. There were so many twists relegated to these final pages, so many abrubt shifts in being captured, spectacular escape X's 3 or5. The book was better than the ending, not that the ending was bad just not quite as excellant as the book as a whole.

Gayle Lynds has in one book reached my must read list....if her other books live up to my now very high excpectations she could move onto my favorite authors list..time will tell!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story opens with a spy/prisoner exchange in 1985 in Berlin. During the exchange, one of the exchangees is killed. Fast forward to 2005, Jay Tice, one of the architects of the prisoner exchange, is in prison accused of being a traitor. Jay is a legendary figure in the intelligence world and in the CIA specifically, but he also sold secrets that seriously compromised the U.S. for years to come. Now, he is kept in the tightest maximum security prison under the tightest security. Then one morning, he is gone without a trace. Why escape now and how did he do it?

Agent Elaine Cunningham is a 'hunter', assigned to find Tice quickly. Soon after she begins her assignment, she is attacked. Then, her CIA unit is totally destroyed. Then, she is framed for murder. The more that she digs into the legend of Jay Tice, the more she finds elements that do not add up.

Add in some other retired CIA operatives, assorted arms merchants, terrorists, and other killers, and you never know who will turn up next and who is on whose side. Multiple plot lines make this an interesting read.

For those who like Robert Ludlum's novels, try this one. The author co-authored several Covert One novels with Ludlum.

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Eh."

I picked this up at the local library as a freebie audio book. Although the twists in the plot and a few of the characters were interesting, I felt that this book was three times longer than it needed to be.

Furthermore, since the entire story takes place over a matter of about two days, it is difficult to become invested in the characters, or believe any sincerity they exhibit when it arises.

There were way too many plot lines. Each one could have been almost its own story, and the conclusion left me wanting more.

Still, the CIA world was well depicted, in an intriguing manner. I found myself wondering how the author researched her topic, and how close her descriptions of CIA life and technology came to the actual thing.

This book would be much better as a screen play for a movie - at one fourth of the length.

[Carl Alves · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this novel, Jay Tice is a legendary CIA spy. He had a distinguished career in the CIA, until it ended in disgrace and he wound up in jail. During his prison stint he was a model prisoner until one day he escaped. CIA agent Elaine Cunningham has now been given the task of tracking down Tice and find out what caused him to escape after all of these years. This leads to many plot turns as she goes deep into the spy world.

The premise of this novel is good. The writing is professional, and there are a good number of twists and turns along the way. All in all this is a solid novel, but there was nothing about it that wowed me. There was nothing earth shattering about the plot or style that makes it stand above other similar spy and espionage novels. Although this novel is worth reading, it’s hardly what I would call great.

Carl Alves – author of Blood Street

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually have trouble with books that have a lot of characters, and this book is one of them. The beginning of the book and the end were good, but in the middle I lost interest and had to force myself to continue. Finished it on 2/18/2011. I give it a 3 out of 5 rating.

I found this book in my box of audiobooks and reread it again and just finished it. Funny thing is that I could not remember any of the last half of the book, so it was like a new book from that point on. I got into it more this time, read it pretty fast for me, only took about 3 days just driving around in the car. Kept track of all the characters and liked it better. I am raising my rating from 3 to 4 stars. Just finished it again last night on June 30, 2012.

[Tom Tischler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Jay Tice is a legendary CIA spy and he is also
supposedly a traitor having sold secrets compromising the
U.S. He is convicted and sent to the tightest maximum
security prison. One morning his cell is empty and he is
nowhere to be found. CIA agent Elaine Cunningham is a hunter
and is assigned to find him before anyone knows that he is
missing. She soon discovers that something is very wrong and
this is deeper and more dangerous than one old spooks run for
freedom. This book is by Gayle Lynds from 2006 who was one of
my favorite writers whose books I hadn't seen for a good while.
I found it at a yard sale and it is one of her typical
thrillers. Fast paced and full of action.

[Jacob Peled · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even a Single star is too much. Pure Junk. I force myself to read 10% before throwing it away.
After 8% I gave up.
Come on. You start the book with a prologue of some one which
seems to be in a very high position, and then he is in prison . escaping. and guess what.
He is being located immediately. Yes they have a watch with "GPS" embedded in it.
Who has the watch. The inmate who run away with him, and was killed by him.
I already know the rest of it. He will be watch all the way.
There is that spy satellite up there in the sky, that can read
the headline of a newspaper, and is following him, every where.

[Candy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friend or Foe? Many twists and turns in this wonderful spy novel. Jay Tice chief of the CIA's elite Clandestine Services and in prison for being a traitor escapes. Elaine Cunningham is the CIA hunter tracking him. The way that Gayle Lynds brings together all the different story threads and scenarios to have Jay and Elaine band together to save the world from terrorists acquiring futuristic weapons provided a fun read. Great background referencing back to the cold war and the earlier contacts that are now chasing them and/or helping them ... who can you really trust?

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I should have known what I was in for when the cover of this book said Gayle Lynds wrote books with Robert Ludlum. The premise of this book was good, but the story was way too complicated and offered too much backstory. I just wanted to know what was going on with the main characters and it seemed like we were always veering off into some other side plot. Overall, it was okay, but it was too long and involved for my taste.

[Holly Morey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as a book read challenge and I could not wait to finish it. It had a convoluted storyline and either this is a sequel or I missed something. To me the characters were unrealistic. This great spy is supposed to have committed treason and escapes from prison. The person hunting him is an amateur and the mother of his son, who he hasn't seen in years is sending him coded messages. The book had poison darts, uzis, secret tunnels and all the gadgets. Unrealistic

[Eric_W · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm actually surprised I finished this. I suppose it's like watching a movie in a theater, you keep hoping it will get better and besides the popcorn is good (assuming lots of extra butter.) The prose is a very deep shade of purple and the euphemisms(the word "wipe" is consistently used in place of "kill") and the relationships really superficial.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice spy novel - nothing really new but what's there is well done. The master spy of the CIA, in jail for selling secrets to the Soviets, escapes. He's tracked by an excellent CIA operative. But she's being tailed by others. David Colacci does an excellent job with the narration. I may not read more of Lynds' work but I'll be looking for Colacci.

[Janette · Rating 2 out of 5]

If the CIA has as many traitors in it as in this book, we are in trouble. I don't know why I read this after the last one she wrote that I read....much the same. Dead bodies everywhere. This had a pretty good plot and quite a few twists to it that were surprising. But I don't want to think about any more anti terrorists or spies, I've had enough.

[Jlnpeacock Peacock · Rating 2 out of 5]

How much is the truth and how much is imagination? It is generally a little scary to read something like this if one believes our government is doing all that the author preposes. There were so many twists to the plot, but it was written well enough that I had to keep reading it to learn who the real enemy was. I think this has fulfilled my desire for spy books, though.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spymaster Jay Tice was a legend and then he was sent to prison for selling secrets to the Russians. Then he breaks out of jail and troubled hunter Elaine Cunningham is sent after him. As she closes in the body count starts to rise and she is targeted. Is Tice really a traitor or is someone at the CIA trying to silence him. Ok read.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many threads and a less-than-exciting ending made this an ok read, but I'm not interested in other books this author's written. I did like many of the early sections, but when we got USSR stuff, East Germany AND Middle-Eastern terrorists, it became more about 'lets cover all the bases' then it did about crafting a compelling, sensical storyline.