A Lion in Spring: An International Spy Thriller of Conspiracy and Espionage Set in Modern Greece

by Kenneth R. Overman

AN AMERICAN WRITER TRAPPED IN A GREEK NATIONAL CRISIS ... A DECAYED BODY IN AN ATTIC ... NAZI LEGACY ... LOVE, IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL LOCALES ...Recently-widowed historical novelist Nathan Radcliff is in Athens to research his book about Anatole Katsaros, a national hero responsible for saving Jewish lives during the Nazi occupation of Greece. When he stumbles across his long-forgotten remains in a dusty attic of the National Archives, Nathan also finds a dossier implicating the hero’s son as a Nazi collaborator and the boss of an international crime syndicate known as the Alliance.But the Alliance hears about the discovery and vows to destroy the evidence. When Nathan is nearly killed, an alluring Greek Secret Service Agent spirits him away to an Aegean island where their powerful chemistry promises healing of the past.But their tranquility is soon shattered. Leaving murder in their wake, the Alliance stops at nothing to destroy Nathan and the dossier. In spite of involvement by the highest echelons of government, Nathan is betrayed by his protectors and his daughter is taken hostage. Now the timid writer must garner strength he never knew he had

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 10, 2014

Reviews

[N.L. Fix · Rating 4 out of 5]

International Intrigue

Riveting and unpredictable. A great read and provides suspense on foreign terrain. Enjoyed the read and the descriptions of Greece.

[Karen Moriarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced, suspenseful mystery with something for everyone

As the author of a book about Michael Jackson, I have been researching and reading almost exclusively non-fiction material during the past five to six years. What a serendipitous and enjoyable departure it has been for me to read Kenneth Overman's most recent novel, “A Lion in Spring”!

Kenneth weaves his story with his rich imagination; vigorous descriptions; a well-developed, multi-layered, and interesting plot; and fascinating characters. He has a penchant for incorporating unique details in his descriptions of the characters, historical/political events, and the scenes upon which the plot plays out. Everything seems so real and authentic that the reader may forget that he/she is reading a fictional account....

An ordinary person, the protagonist Nathan Radcliff becomes involved in extraordinary circumstances and challenges. A recently-widowed American author, Nathan becomes embroiled in a national crisis while he is visiting Greece to do research on a historical hero for his book. Nathan experiences shocking violence; he nearly loses his life; he is rescued by an attractive Greek secret service agent; his daughter is kidnapped as a hostage; and he is compelled to act in new and courageous ways.

Intrigue, mystery, romance, corruption, betrayal, healing, and courage are intertwined themes throughout “A Lion in Spring.” The scenery, culture, and politics of Greece are skillfully described. Nathan makes a stunning discovery – information that could topple the current government. The situation evolves into an international intelligence operation, involving Greece, the U.S., and England. The destructive power of government officials, crime, abuse, and corruption are revealed within the context of the ubiquitous struggle between good and evil.

This novel is a fast-paced, suspenseful mystery with something for everyone: romantic love, a complex father-daughter relationship, and the extraordinary, epic-level challenges encountered by an “ordinary” man doing a job in a foreign place.

I highly recommend this book … for lovers of novels and for non-fiction devotees who seek a stimulating and exciting departure from their usual reading pursuits.

Dr. Karen Moriarty, Author, “Defending A King ~ His Life & Legacy”

[Judith K. White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I limit my exposure to thrillers, but I am certainly glad I read this one. It takes place in a country I have never visited – Greece. However, given the author’s vivid descriptions of places, people, and action, I now feel as if I have experienced it - the views, the smells, the tastes, the people. The challenge of a thriller is to make the reader care deeply about the protagonist. Caring was easy because Nathan is somewhat of an everyman, a college professor just doing some research…until bang! He finds himself and eventually those he loves caught in a mafia web. Kenneth Overman describes the meanest of the mean and the sweetest of the sweet with equal aplomb. Although the novel is generally very cinematic, my only gripe was that the final, shootout in a large villa went on a little too long and the changing settings were somewhat confusing. But that is small potatoes compared to the novel’s fast-paced, imaginative flow. I hope there is a sequel. I miss Nathan.
Judith K. White, author of The Seventh Etching and The New Worlds of Isabela Calderon