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Honor Bound #4
Death and Honor
In 1943, Argentina Marine pilotturned- agent Cletus Frade is setting up an OSS-operated airline. But before Frade can get airborne, two interwoven German operations must be grounded. And for Frade-whose father was killed by the Nazis-the mission is about to get personal.
470 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2008
328 people are currently reading
682 people want to read
About the author
W.E.B. Griffin
349 books1,312 followersW.E.B. Griffin was one of several pseudonyms for William E. Butterworth III.
From the Authors Website:
W.E.B. Griffin was the #1 best-selling author of more than fifty epic novels in seven series, all of which have made The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and other best-seller lists. More than fifty million of the books are in print in more than ten languages, including Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, and Hungarian.
Mr. Griffin grew up in the suburbs of New York City and Philadelphia. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1946. After basic training, he received counterintelligence training at Fort Holabird, Maryland. He was assigned to the Army of Occupation in Germany, and ultimately to the staff of then-Major General I.D. White, commander of the U.S. Constabulary.
In 1951, Mr. Griffin was recalled to active duty for the Korean War, interrupting his education at Phillips University, Marburg an der Lahn, Germany. In Korea he earned the Combat Infantry Badge as a combat correspondent and later served as acting X Corps (Group) information officer under Lieutenant General White.
On his release from active duty in 1953, Mr. Griffin was appointed Chief of the Publications Division of the U.S. Army Signal Aviation Test & Support Activity at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Mr. Griffin was a member of the Special Operations Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Army Aviation Association, the Armor Association, and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Society.
He was the 1991 recipient of the Brigadier General Robert L. Dening Memorial Distinguished Service Award of the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, and the August 1999 recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, presented at the 100th National Convention in Kansas City.
He has been vested into the Order of St. George of the U.S. Armor Association, and the Order of St. Andrew of the U.S. Army Aviation Association, and been awarded Honorary Doctoral degrees by Norwich University, the nation’s first and oldest private military college, and by Troy State University (Ala.). He was the graduation dinner speaker for the class of 1988 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He has been awarded honorary membership in the Special Forces Association, the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, the Marine Raiders Association, and the U.S. Army Otter & Caribou Association. In January 2003, he was made a life member of the Police Chiefs Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and the State of Delaware.
He was the co-founder, with historian Colonel Carlo D’Este, of the William E. Colby Seminar on Intelligence, Military, and Diplomatic Affairs. (Details here and here)
He was a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. And he belongs to the Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Pensacola, Florida, chapters of the Flat Earth Society.
Mr. Griffin’s novels, known for their historical accuracy, have been praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer for their “fierce, stop-for-nothing scenes.”
“Nothing honors me more than a serviceman, veteran, or cop telling me he enjoys reading my books,” Mr. Griffin says.
Mr. Griffin divides his time between the Gulf Coast and Buenos Aires.
Notes:
Other Pseudonyms
* Alex Baldwin
* Webb Beech
* Walker E. Blake
* W.E. Butterworth
* James McM. Douglas
* Eden Hughes
* Edmund O. Scholefield
* Patrick J. Williams
* W. E. Butterworth
* John Kevin Dugan
* Jac
From the Authors Website:
W.E.B. Griffin was the #1 best-selling author of more than fifty epic novels in seven series, all of which have made The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and other best-seller lists. More than fifty million of the books are in print in more than ten languages, including Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, and Hungarian.
Mr. Griffin grew up in the suburbs of New York City and Philadelphia. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1946. After basic training, he received counterintelligence training at Fort Holabird, Maryland. He was assigned to the Army of Occupation in Germany, and ultimately to the staff of then-Major General I.D. White, commander of the U.S. Constabulary.
In 1951, Mr. Griffin was recalled to active duty for the Korean War, interrupting his education at Phillips University, Marburg an der Lahn, Germany. In Korea he earned the Combat Infantry Badge as a combat correspondent and later served as acting X Corps (Group) information officer under Lieutenant General White.
On his release from active duty in 1953, Mr. Griffin was appointed Chief of the Publications Division of the U.S. Army Signal Aviation Test & Support Activity at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Mr. Griffin was a member of the Special Operations Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Army Aviation Association, the Armor Association, and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Society.
He was the 1991 recipient of the Brigadier General Robert L. Dening Memorial Distinguished Service Award of the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, and the August 1999 recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, presented at the 100th National Convention in Kansas City.
He has been vested into the Order of St. George of the U.S. Armor Association, and the Order of St. Andrew of the U.S. Army Aviation Association, and been awarded Honorary Doctoral degrees by Norwich University, the nation’s first and oldest private military college, and by Troy State University (Ala.). He was the graduation dinner speaker for the class of 1988 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He has been awarded honorary membership in the Special Forces Association, the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, the Marine Raiders Association, and the U.S. Army Otter & Caribou Association. In January 2003, he was made a life member of the Police Chiefs Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and the State of Delaware.
He was the co-founder, with historian Colonel Carlo D’Este, of the William E. Colby Seminar on Intelligence, Military, and Diplomatic Affairs. (Details here and here)
He was a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. And he belongs to the Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Pensacola, Florida, chapters of the Flat Earth Society.
Mr. Griffin’s novels, known for their historical accuracy, have been praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer for their “fierce, stop-for-nothing scenes.”
“Nothing honors me more than a serviceman, veteran, or cop telling me he enjoys reading my books,” Mr. Griffin says.
Mr. Griffin divides his time between the Gulf Coast and Buenos Aires.
Notes:
Other Pseudonyms
* Alex Baldwin
* Webb Beech
* Walker E. Blake
* W.E. Butterworth
* James McM. Douglas
* Eden Hughes
* Edmund O. Scholefield
* Patrick J. Williams
* W. E. Butterworth
* John Kevin Dugan
* Jac
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
November 4, 2017
In a word -- painful! There are so many characters, and when they are called by their name, their rank (in the German army), and a code name all in a matter of seconds, it's hard to keep track of who's who and how this whole story fits together. Add to that 15 audio CD disks, and it is simply painful. Now 15 audio CD disks for the Godfather was awesome--not so much here. Too long, too many characters, can't believe I listened to the whole thing. 1 out of 10.
February 5, 2013
Another excellent novel in this series. Scott Brick is masterful in his narration. 10 of 10 stars for this WWII novel that is more than just a story.
June 10, 2009
There are many, many fascinating war fiction books. This isn't one of them. My purchase was an act of desperation. I went to pick up my grandmother at the airport and I was early and her flight was late. My choices were Maxim, US Magazine and this book. I chose poorly. I should have read all about the drama that is Jon and Kate Plus 8. The sad thing is, this is totally my kind of book and I just couldn't get into it. It's my favorite time period and an interesting twist on the typical war story, but I thought the writing was flat, the ending was disappointing and if the characters exclaimed "Mein Gott!" one more time I was going to scream. I got it. They're supposed to be German. Anyway, judging by the average stars, I'm in the minority of people who didn't like this book. It was just... not all that good. No other way to say it. It's the first book I've read by this author (and, in all fairness, it is the 4th book in the OSS series) and likely the last. Maybe as a audio book?
March 25, 2012
I’m giving this one four stars, but I suspect it is just because this is Volume 4 of the series and I have read Volumes 1, 2, and 3 in the past couple weeks, so I am really hooked. Griffin published the preceding volume 11 years ago, leaving us wondering where he was going, with Cletus having endeared himself to the suspicious Argentineans by helping General Rawson succeed in the coup that that threw Presidente Castillo out of office and put Rawson into it, as a replacement for Cletus’s assassinated father, but this book starts out the next day or two. I guess that ending was sufficiently open-ended that we had to suspect there was more coming, and now Griffin’s son has joined forces with him to continue the series. I am not going to say the writing has improved with Butterworth’s involvement, but it is pretty catchy--the kind of book you simply cannot put down without reading another of the chapter sections, and one keeps being followed by another.
Cletus and Dorotea are looking forward to the birth of their first child, when Col. Graham reappears with a new project for Cletus: President Roosevelt wants Cletus to start an airline in Argentina. Graham doesn’t think this can be done, but he thinks such an airline would be useful to the OSS; Cletus outsmarts him again by getting permission from his new friends in the Argentina government to permit the airline provided he staffs it with Argentinean personnel. Meanwhile, the Luftwaffe’s search for the spy in the German embassy is still going on, which turns more interesting when one of the spy-searchers turns out to be on the spies’ side. Meanwhile, again, a really mean spy-searcher is sent over to ramp up the search, which has the unexpected result of scaring someone who wasn’t a spy but suspects he’ll get blamed for it, so he bolts--and he just happens to know an whole bunch of stuff about the two German operations that Cletus is sup posed to be looking into.
The book is filled with all the stuff I usually complain about in Griffin’s writing, but it doesn’t seem to bother me so much anymore. What did bother me was the rather large number of proofreading errors that should have been caught: missing words, redundant or clearly irrelevant words, and even one place of mistaken identity in which the person identified as the speaker is not (and cannot be) a member of the group doing the talking. But you know what? The story is so good I simply ignored all that except for a couple of times I felt compelled to write in the missing words. The plot has lots of twists, and the presentation of the story line in short passages scattered between different people and places keeps the reader’s interest very high.
Cletus and Dorotea are looking forward to the birth of their first child, when Col. Graham reappears with a new project for Cletus: President Roosevelt wants Cletus to start an airline in Argentina. Graham doesn’t think this can be done, but he thinks such an airline would be useful to the OSS; Cletus outsmarts him again by getting permission from his new friends in the Argentina government to permit the airline provided he staffs it with Argentinean personnel. Meanwhile, the Luftwaffe’s search for the spy in the German embassy is still going on, which turns more interesting when one of the spy-searchers turns out to be on the spies’ side. Meanwhile, again, a really mean spy-searcher is sent over to ramp up the search, which has the unexpected result of scaring someone who wasn’t a spy but suspects he’ll get blamed for it, so he bolts--and he just happens to know an whole bunch of stuff about the two German operations that Cletus is sup posed to be looking into.
The book is filled with all the stuff I usually complain about in Griffin’s writing, but it doesn’t seem to bother me so much anymore. What did bother me was the rather large number of proofreading errors that should have been caught: missing words, redundant or clearly irrelevant words, and even one place of mistaken identity in which the person identified as the speaker is not (and cannot be) a member of the group doing the talking. But you know what? The story is so good I simply ignored all that except for a couple of times I felt compelled to write in the missing words. The plot has lots of twists, and the presentation of the story line in short passages scattered between different people and places keeps the reader’s interest very high.
July 2, 2009
I remember when I first learned of the Honor Bound series by W.E.B. Griffin. My family was on a road trip to Ohio and we stopped at a Cracker Barrel restaurant for dinner. I found the rental kiosk and discovered what seemed to be an interesting WWII book on tape that deal with the OSS in South America. We rented the tape and put it in the deck when we started back on the road. The reader of the book about put us all to sleep, my dad ejected the tape and turned the radio back on to some dreadful country music and I could not wait to return the tapes at the next stop.
A year or so later, I found a used hardback copy of the book on sale. I was still interested, and decided that it was worth the 25 cents. I read the book from cover to cover in a day, never being so excited by a book in the genre as I was with the adventures of Clete Frade and the OSS in Argentina. I was very excited to find that a sequel was due out and put my name on a reserved list at the local bookstore. That book was just as exciting as the first, but then the problems appeared. Griffin writes so many series of action books, he neglects this series for years at a time. There was a three year gap between each of the first three books. The last book, Death and Honor did not appear for nine years, a lifetime in the book world.
I had almost given up on the Honor Bound series, as I believed the author had done the same. I was at the local library last week and saw the book on the shelf, with a name like Death and Honor, I suspected that it was a new entry in the coveted series. I was not to be disappointed. It was the magical fourth entry that we have waited all these many years to read.
I found myself falling right back into the vivid world of Griffin’s Argentina, so called neutral but axis leaning. The main characters were easily remembered, but I must admit that many of the minor ones were long forgotten. Yet, it mattered little as the action and adventure filled in the memory gap brought about by a near decade neglect of the series. I do hope that there will not be such a long gap from now on.
As far as the plot, it remains the same as the previous entries in the series. Clete, as the son and heir to an Argentine Colonel, is on assignment for the OSS. Yet, as heir he starts to blend his need of family ties and responsibilities with those of the United States. The action of this book is mainly in the setting up of an airline requested by Roosevelt as well as the Nazis search for the traitor in their embassy. Another fine and well written adventure, let us hope the next installment is on the way.
A year or so later, I found a used hardback copy of the book on sale. I was still interested, and decided that it was worth the 25 cents. I read the book from cover to cover in a day, never being so excited by a book in the genre as I was with the adventures of Clete Frade and the OSS in Argentina. I was very excited to find that a sequel was due out and put my name on a reserved list at the local bookstore. That book was just as exciting as the first, but then the problems appeared. Griffin writes so many series of action books, he neglects this series for years at a time. There was a three year gap between each of the first three books. The last book, Death and Honor did not appear for nine years, a lifetime in the book world.
I had almost given up on the Honor Bound series, as I believed the author had done the same. I was at the local library last week and saw the book on the shelf, with a name like Death and Honor, I suspected that it was a new entry in the coveted series. I was not to be disappointed. It was the magical fourth entry that we have waited all these many years to read.
I found myself falling right back into the vivid world of Griffin’s Argentina, so called neutral but axis leaning. The main characters were easily remembered, but I must admit that many of the minor ones were long forgotten. Yet, it mattered little as the action and adventure filled in the memory gap brought about by a near decade neglect of the series. I do hope that there will not be such a long gap from now on.
As far as the plot, it remains the same as the previous entries in the series. Clete, as the son and heir to an Argentine Colonel, is on assignment for the OSS. Yet, as heir he starts to blend his need of family ties and responsibilities with those of the United States. The action of this book is mainly in the setting up of an airline requested by Roosevelt as well as the Nazis search for the traitor in their embassy. Another fine and well written adventure, let us hope the next installment is on the way.
October 20, 2011
I listened to this in audiobook form read by Scott Brick. Since I'd listened to others by another reader and formed a better impression of the main character than I did in the first book I listened to that was read by Mr. Brick, I wasn't irritated by him. Unfortunately I listened to the 5th book in the series first, not knowing that it was part of a series. Listening to this book I kept trying to remember what happened in the 5th book since now I know what went before. This is a good example of why it's not wonderful to read such books out of order.
The story, as always in this series, was very interesting and involved.
The story, as always in this series, was very interesting and involved.
July 30, 2011
A 3 star rating for the WWII novel Death and Honor by WEB Griffin. To its credit, it focuses on part of WWII that is not addressed in other media. Namely, Argentina. Griffin provides deep and rich texture to the people and locations and events. Unfortunately, there is so much texture the story moves very slowly and the ultimate payload leaves the reader feeling ...yeah, and then what happens? In fact, I was surprised when it ended as little had been resolved. I give this book a mild recommendation.
March 7, 2016
Death and Honor is an entertaining fictional account of Argentina neutrality during WWII in 1943. Cletus Frade, an OSS officer, marine fighter pilot and heir to his Argentines fathers 19 estate is caught up in monitoring the German 1COperation Phoenix 1D. Operation Phoenix is a plot by some Nazi 19s to sell freedom to Jews in concentration camps and then conceal the money for their benefit at the end of the war. The intrigue involves the role of Nazis, American OSS, Germans disloyal to Hitler and the Nazi regime, and the Argentine secret service. An easy read.
November 5, 2019
Another great Griffin novel. This contains some WWII gossip that didn't make it into the history books, but I'm sure WEB Griffin heard it from people who were there. Great characters, great action, and an inside look at an aspect of WWII that has been much speculated on, but about which little is known. As widely known and popular as this author is I still think his contribution has been underestimated.
July 14, 2009
I am thrilled to see the Honor Bound series continue; unfortunately the books co-written with Mr. Griffin's son are not quite as well-written.
March 28, 2022
Great read
Web griffin is so great at telling of the men and women who fought for our freedoms! Awesome read.
Didn't want it to enf.
Web griffin is so great at telling of the men and women who fought for our freedoms! Awesome read.
Didn't want it to enf.
July 7, 2022
After Book #3, I was ready to give up on this series, but this one was much better. I do think the authors spend too much time/pages going back and reviewing what happened in the previous books.
January 25, 2011
This book was longer than it should have been IMHO. I consequently read through it rather quickly, and therefore did not understand all the plot elements or all the characters. I was impressed with all the actual historical characters brought in (Allen Dulles, Donovan, FDR, Howard Hughes, Peron, Churchill, etc.). I did not agree with Griffin’s opinion of FDR as knowing as much about what was going on as he portrays him. I also don’t agree with his assessment of the point of Unconditional Surrender brought out at the Casablanca conference. He says that Churchill got his way on that one, but Churchill himself in his 6-volume WW2 history says that he was appalled when FDR blurted it out in public. The plot element of Operation PHOENIX and the ransoming of concentration camp Jews was understandable, but I didn’t quite understand how the airline that the OSS was trying to introduce into South America fit into the whole scheme of things. A bit more of a WW2 buff would enjoy this more than I did. I give it my personal rating of 5 (out of 10).
May 17, 2011
I read this again only because I picked up a new-ish copy inadvertently. No need to waste it so… Cletus Frade and his bunch of OSS officers continue to work in Latin America - Argentina mostly. They are dealing with Nazi's looking to have a secure place to retreat to when they lose the war (Operation Phoenix) and Nazi sympathizers in the Argentine government - notably, Juan Peron. This installment has Clete starting South American Air at the behest of FDR for some Machiavellian reason while also trying to figure out what is going on with Phoenix, a plot to ransom Jews out of concentration camps that goes to line the pockets of Nazi higher ups, and a somewhat defector from the German Embassy in Buenos Aires. He defects fearing he'll be tagged as the spy in the embassy and brings his much more ardent Nazi wife along. He can help track the Operation Phoenix money so his safety is important. A decent read, maybe better the second time through.
September 21, 2011
IIII enjoyed this book very much but I would'nt recommend it if you aren't into the whole WWII thing or if you're not familiar with ballistics and war machines. It is a bit travestic on how the authors portray the events... It involves a dude named Cletus Frade, a Marine fighter pilot who is also a spy in the Office of Strategic Services in 1943. Frade’s father was murdered by the Nazis, and Frade is asked to set up an airline in Argentina using Lockheed Lodestars. The story concerns two secret German operations—a Nazi scheme for German Jews to purchase freedom for their relatives in concentration camps and where that “dirty money” is really going, a plan labeled Operation Phoenix. The aim of this plan is to set up safe havens in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay for top Nazis who realize they have lost World War II. As in his other books, Griffin’s new novel deals wiiiith courage and honor and all that mushy noble-like stuff. :D read it.
June 13, 2013
Operation Phoenix and the Origins of South American Airlines. Following the aborted insertion of Nazi booty from a churl freighter, Clete is instructed to form an airline in Argentina, unwittingly because FDR hates Pan Am's owner Tribbe badly. Enduring much chicanery as the Nazis replace Goltz with Karl Cranz, Frade is thwarted in his SAA plans by an insurance SNAFU and ends up hauling all of the prospective pilots to Burbank for ATR certs after an embassy Nazi and his wife defect and he hides them on the Estancia. In the states, Frade learns that he has been tricked to come interrogate a high value Nazi POW who is he son of the defectors he is hiding. When it's discovered that the POW is a Hitler assassination conspirator, he is hustled to Argentina to sway his parents to roger up. Frade returns home to uncover chicanery of Juan Peron, who is enabling the Nazis in their Phoenix plans. Frade scumps Peron and pisses him away after securing SAA blue skies.
September 19, 2020
I found this story to be full of espionage and suspense. The fact that it is loosely based on facts only adds to the reality of this story. Of course I don't know where the reality line is compared to the fictional story. The interactions between the Argentinians, German Nazis, and Americans is interesting and fascinating. Those elements are why I enjoyed this book so much. If you like an espionage story, then I recommend this one.
There are interesting main characters and their backgrounds are slowly revealed along with other supporting people. The interactions of these numerous individuals makes the story line more believable. There is plenty of deception and corruption to go along. The benefits of being able to speak multiple languages also shows up. As in real life the ending is somewhat of a cliff hanger and leaves you begging for more.
There are interesting main characters and their backgrounds are slowly revealed along with other supporting people. The interactions of these numerous individuals makes the story line more believable. There is plenty of deception and corruption to go along. The benefits of being able to speak multiple languages also shows up. As in real life the ending is somewhat of a cliff hanger and leaves you begging for more.
March 7, 2020
This is a very long book, with multiple repeats of the plot for those who don't follow it all very well. The explanations are detailed and precise. Some may complain that there are multiple characters--yes, dozens of them. But, this is the fourth in a series and I don't recommend starting anywhere but #1. You can find the plot on any review site. This episode brings in Howard Hughes with a cameo by FDR to chat with our hero Cleat Frade. The pronunciation of his name is different this episode than before or of his father. Contributing to the length, the reader will always note and be prepared for a complete reading of every written document described. And, if I ever hear the repeated name of the Estancia again, it will be too soon:
July 27, 2011
A rather gripping World War II tale connecting the American war effort and Latin American politics through the Argentino-American status of the story's hero. I learned a great deal about the Nazi and American influences in South America but, as with any historical novel, was left wondering where the fact ended and the fiction began. This novel came to my reading list from its brief, two-week appearance on the New York Times best seller list in May 2008. I've since learned that it was the fourth of the Honor Bound Series, but reading the earlier books in the series was apparently not necessary to understand and enjoy this one.
September 1, 2016
This was an audio book for me. And there were a number of times when I felt I got lost in the story. For me, German names and places are very hard to follow. I always have a hard time keeping characters separated. It was a very intricate espionage, counterespionage novel with multiple twists and turns. I was left at the end fairly unsatisfied with the abruptness of the ending, but I did enjoy the book. The audio book was read by five or six separate people which added to the confusion and following the storyline. I'm not sure I would recommend The audiobook, but the book was worth while.
June 21, 2008
I've read most of the W.E.B. Griffin novels. I think this one is much better then the last combined effort between Griffin and his son. Less of the OSS daring do then the first couple of novels in the series, but an interesting look at the politics (both American and Argentine) of the time. Don't know if it is the effect of the son in the books, but the main female character is now more then just a baby making machine.
November 7, 2012
I like the way Griffin works the story for the most part. Understanding that this is fiction first and historical fiction second. I would like to read this entire Honor Bound series, but the language is just too foul for me. The "F" bomb is dropped 3-4 times as well as taking the Lord's name in vain. This book ended rather abruptly. I really would have liked more closure. It should probably only have one star, but I liked the story too much for that.
August 27, 2018
This was another page turner. Pleas be advised, it REALLY helps to read this series in the proper order.
June 27, 2019
Great read
I'll make it short and sweet. W.e.b. is the best military writer out there. Go buy and read all his series.
I'll make it short and sweet. W.e.b. is the best military writer out there. Go buy and read all his series.
November 20, 2019
Lots of twists. Good book.
November 30, 2019
Hmmm I don't know. It was a fast read if you're into espionage that could be better developed? Hmmm
October 3, 2020
Prologue was way too long.
November 11, 2021
Great story. I will grab the next book “Blood and Honor”.
July 30, 2024
The author, having lived in Argentina, really dislikes Juan Peron. He is one of the real characters from history who are part of the story as are: William Donovan, Allan Dulles and Howard Hughes of the OSS and a roll on appearance by FDR. Peron, who I know little about, is portrayed as a pedophile Nazi lover. Our hero, Clete Frade, is Peron’s godson and Peron was Frade’s father’s best friend. Lots of Nazi’s in the story and they, of course, make the greatest villains in the world. For balance we also have several good Germans, Germans who are involved peripherally in the plot to kill Hitler. And although Frade’s OSS unit isn’t specifically involved in that operation they are very involved in foiling the Nazi plan to buy refuge in South America. I’m still fascinated with the author’s skill in keeping me interested in the series as for pages, in Seinfeldian fashion, not much happens. I’ve pointed out before that these books work somewhat like a police procedural. There will be lots of detail on flying from Argentina to the US, for example when the flight itself isn’t that important. The main plot of this story involves a German embassy official who defects with his Nazi wife to the American embassy and Frade ends up with them. Since the German diplomat wants to help it’s hard to imagine why there is an elaborate ruse to get Frade to the US in order to enlist the help of a German POW who is the son of the diplomat. The son’s role is to get his father to help the Americans which he seems to be doing already. I suppose it is to introduce a new an interesting character for the next book. Frade smuggles this anti-Hitler officer into Argentina to get ready for the next episode. Scott Brick does a great job of reading. The only problem is the Frade is 24 years old and sounds like he’s 44.
January 1, 2025
finished 1st january 2025 good read three stars i liked it kindle library loaner honor bound #4 have read a handful of stories from griffin enjoyed each read. this one is a bit frustrating setting off trying to track the various argentine and german names some of the u.s.a. names, too....so i made it a game...instead of becoming frustrated i made up my own names instead of reading what was written for instance baron von ballszem zeegroppen colonel hackemoff and the argentine names were a bit more of a chore dom perrier perignom coronel high falutin raggumuffin del monte vegetables. best bet is not to dwell on the names or try to keep them all in mind...knowing there's some "good' germans and some "bad" german nazis as there are some "good" argentines as there are some "bad" argentines.
thought it interesting the interplay between those who "know" those who would like to "know" on the u.s.a. side of things, motivations...assumptions of what the various players would likely do with that information so forth so on. all very believable and providing a better appreciation for a world at war. since this is #4 in the series i'm tempted to dive right into #5 if one exists. assuming tis series is centered on south america...the other recent griffin reads were focused on the western pacific...i'm not sure where i'll go but i'm confident the stories will be both enlightening and baffling.
thought it interesting the interplay between those who "know" those who would like to "know" on the u.s.a. side of things, motivations...assumptions of what the various players would likely do with that information so forth so on. all very believable and providing a better appreciation for a world at war. since this is #4 in the series i'm tempted to dive right into #5 if one exists. assuming tis series is centered on south america...the other recent griffin reads were focused on the western pacific...i'm not sure where i'll go but i'm confident the stories will be both enlightening and baffling.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews