Would you help a desperate young woman knocking on your door? As a security guard, do you really have a choice? A desperate young woman is knocking on the door of the Israeli consulate in Boston, seeking asylum, claiming that she is the only survivor of an Israeli spy network. The gate remains locked, but a security guard, who falls in love with her, is trying unsuccessfully to rescue her. He embarks on a discovery trail, meeting tough American and Israeli government agents, cynical merchants and passionate dreamers. By the end of the trail he discovers the woman and the truth that lies underneath her story and his own life.
"Dancing Bear" is a political thriller, in which the author managed to bring in his life experiences into the story, and create a fast paced read with twists and turns.
The story ripples with things just under the surface, waiting to be revealed by the reader.
Oren was born in Tel Aviv in 1950 to a mother who was a school teacher and a father who was a mechanical engineer. His parents met when his father was wounded as a heavy equipment semi- trailer driver in Her Majesty Royal Engineers forces in the Western Desert of North Africa and was hospitalized in military hospital in Beirut, where his mother served as a nurse.
Oren served in the Israel Defense Forces for eight years, first in the Artillery Corps where he fought as a Battery Commander in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and later as an intelligence analyst in the General headquarters, in the rank of Major.
After the historic visit of President Sadat of Egypt in Jerusalem in 1977, he decided to move to Government Service. He joined the Foreign Ministry and was assigned to the Department of Normalization of Relations with Egypt, where he had the privilege not only to meet Sadat, but also to be on a team that gave back to a parallel Egyptian team 16 Bedouin tribes, 16 schools, 16 infirmaries, copper mines, two shrines and one pyramid. Years later he went back to take part in the fragile peace process as a Political Advisor and representative of the Prime Minister (Shamir and Rabin) in peace conferences and meetings in Cairo, Hague, Tokyo and Moscow.
Amongst other posts, Oren served as a consul in New York City. He was later a consul in Boston- where the plot of his book "Dancing Bear" is taking place, a minister in the embassy in Washington and Ambassador in Nigeria. He has a Ph.D. in Political Science and teaching now on Diplomacy, Intelligence and Spins. The three very popular political thrillers he wrote so far (the forth is coming soon) are based on the events, people, intrigues dreams and hopes he encountered during his years in public service around the world.
Oren Sanderson is the pen name of this retired senior government official, who wrote his first books while on service, and had to hide his true name- Itzhak Oren at that time.
A very strange tale that unspoiled slowly, with many twists and turns in the story line. Few of the characters were as they seemed, and misinformation and misdirection were essential to the story.
Dancing Bear, was a pleasant surprise. I read a lot of spy stories, and a lot of thrillers and just have now begun to read some romances. This book touches down on all three genres. Mingles them together effortlessly. At first Dancing bear was just like every other spy book I have read. Although I will admit that it is faster paced, and I honestly believe better written. But just when you feel like this is something you have read, a path you have already been down. It bolts you onto a completely different and expectant path.
The writing itself is impeccable. Like the writer actually knew these things. After Reading the Author page, I understand now why I felt that way. Like I was reading someone's life. This writer is definitely doing what he was meant to do ... write. I look forward to more stories from him. This book is deff put into my Read again pile
The characters are impressive. Well constructed, believable ... they are exactly how I would imagine real people in real situations to be like. I may have never met any in my waking life, "That I know of." But If I were to describe them. Kate and David, would be who I would come up with. I felt these characters ... I fell in love with them both. They kept me on edge the entire story from front to back, I like that. Not many books have characters with such a real presence.
Everything about this book is top notch. My husband, who is not really into romance, is even enjoying this book.
I absolutely love this book ... I will be reading it again and I would recommend it to anyone. Weather it is a genre they would read or not ... it has this uncanny ability to suck you in whole .. and spit you out completely moved.
As a huge fan of le Carre reads, I love espionage thrillers. This story opens with the insistent humming of something just below the surface. A mysterious woman shows up at the Israeli consulate in Boston and nothing is the same in the security guard’s life after he throws caution to the wind and decides to believe her story and help her.
This story ripples with things just under the surface waiting to be revealed as well as some good twists and turns.
Does David(the security guard) make the right decision in helping Kate (the mysterious woman ) or is it a trap? I don’t give out spoilers so you’ll have to read it and see for yourself.
This is a fast paced read with a good amount of twists and turns. Definitely recommend it .
I love espionage and spy novels and Dancing Bear is a definite must-read. Filled with thrills and suspense, the story grips you the moment you begin reading. There's certainly some twists that you don't see coming, but that's for you to see for yourself. David falls in love with the mysterious woman that arrives at the Israeli consulate office in Boston. She goes by the name of Kate Beaver and is claiming many things. David is unable to stop himself from helping her, and when he makes that decision he finds himself being sucked into a world where no one can be trusted. Oren Sanderson writes a well written spy novel. If you love this genre this book comes highly recommended.
Dancing Bear by Oren Sanderson is filled with action and keeps its word and true spirit to thriller fictions. The two main characters are believable. I must say I personally thought Kate was certifiable. But while they are on the run for their lives, Sanderson takes the reader on an adventure through multiple cities. Neither with any real experience, but they fight for their lives and try to determine which people are their friend or foe. Overall the book is great but the editorial revisions at the beginning half of the book were a slight distraction. Once you get past that I promise you will enjoy the storyline and the thrilling adventures presented.
For better or worse, Spy novels tend to be similar in many ways. At first this book seems to follow that rule, but after reading it I realized that this book was actually pretty clever in many ways. It's original for sure with a story that gets deeper and more complex as you read. The writing is good and flows well compared to some spy novels I've read. The dynamic between David and Kate makes for a good story. I'd say that this is worth the read if your in the mood for an original spy novel.
There wasn't much I liked about this book. The Kindle edition had many typos and very annoying typo corrections. The only thing that I found interesting was the incident that triggered the series of events in the book. The protagonist came across as unintelligent despite (or perhaps not) of having a law degree. The story line with his mother came across very deus ex machina-y.
This is a drama of lies that twists and turns endlessly. One moment we are embedded in details. then we break free! Several plots are running around at the same time. I only read the book to the end because I wanted to know if our hero caught his woman. I thought the book rambled on and on.
I think the plot was very good. But the way it evolved was really not very believable. I know it is fiction, but for one man to get through all the beuracricies is quite unbelievable. But all in all it was well written.