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Clandestine Operations #1
Top Secret
From #1 New York Times bestselling authors W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV comes the first Clandestine Operations novel—featuring a new kind of threat and a different breed of warrior.
In the first weeks after World War II, James D. Cronley, Jr., is recruited for a new enterprise that will eventually be transformed into something called the CIA. For a new war has already begun against an enemy that is bigger, smarter, and more the Soviet Union.
The Soviets have hit the ground running, and Cronley’s job is to help frustrate them, harass them, and spy on them any way he can. But his first assignment might be his last. He’s got only seven days to extract a vital piece of information from a Soviet agent, and he’s already managed to rile up his superior officers. If he fails now, his intelligence career could be the shortest in history.
Because there are enemies everywhere—and, as Cronley is about to find out, some of them wear the same uniform he does...
In the first weeks after World War II, James D. Cronley, Jr., is recruited for a new enterprise that will eventually be transformed into something called the CIA. For a new war has already begun against an enemy that is bigger, smarter, and more the Soviet Union.
The Soviets have hit the ground running, and Cronley’s job is to help frustrate them, harass them, and spy on them any way he can. But his first assignment might be his last. He’s got only seven days to extract a vital piece of information from a Soviet agent, and he’s already managed to rile up his superior officers. If he fails now, his intelligence career could be the shortest in history.
Because there are enemies everywhere—and, as Cronley is about to find out, some of them wear the same uniform he does...
560 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2014
694 people are currently reading
1534 people want to read
About the author
W.E.B. Griffin
351 books1,301 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 168 reviews
April 26, 2015
Why do I fall for this trick? I've read about three dozen other Griffin war novels and really enjoyed most of them. But lately, say the last ten, they've taken on a pattern that is repeated here. Interesting characters and interesting historical situations, but the story is inflated almost on the scale of Tom Clancy. Five hundred plus pages and here's everything that happens: some guys plan how to deal with a prisoner, and decide to send him by airplane someplace else. Yup, that's it. Total plot spoiler.
All five hundred pages show us: this guy goes here to meet with that guy. That guy gets together with these three. This guy calls that guy and plans to meet later. And on and on. With no effort at all, I could condense this story down to one chapter, where we meet the characters, they discuss the prisoner, and then they put him on an airplane to elsewhere. How do you stretch that out to 500 pages? Skim away, you should be able to read this book in an hour.
I think the Author's point is: it's a series, we're going to do five or ten more books, so lets not use up the whole plot in just one.
Thanks a lot.
If he wrote Star Wars: Luke works on his uncle's farm. He thinks about going off-planet for adventure. They talk about it. They talk some more. Maybe he should go. Maybe not. Okay, he's going to go. End of episode IV.
All five hundred pages show us: this guy goes here to meet with that guy. That guy gets together with these three. This guy calls that guy and plans to meet later. And on and on. With no effort at all, I could condense this story down to one chapter, where we meet the characters, they discuss the prisoner, and then they put him on an airplane to elsewhere. How do you stretch that out to 500 pages? Skim away, you should be able to read this book in an hour.
I think the Author's point is: it's a series, we're going to do five or ten more books, so lets not use up the whole plot in just one.
Thanks a lot.
If he wrote Star Wars: Luke works on his uncle's farm. He thinks about going off-planet for adventure. They talk about it. They talk some more. Maybe he should go. Maybe not. Okay, he's going to go. End of episode IV.
September 27, 2014
After a good beginning, the plot completely fizzles at the end. Easily costing a star in the rating. 6 of 10 stars
September 12, 2014
I have read half of the book so far. It is a dull and boring book. Not like the Presidential Agent. This guy is lacking a little of the style that the Agent had. I am unimpressed and if it continues, I will not read any follow-up books on this subject. Well, like I said, half way through...more later.
Well, i have finished. This book was a disappointment and had events and sequences that you could see from the beginning. There was no buildup because you knew (though the main character didnot know) what would happen. Realistic? I think not.
I will not be reading any sequal...not worth my time...unless .....well, never say never...
Well, i have finished. This book was a disappointment and had events and sequences that you could see from the beginning. There was no buildup because you knew (though the main character didnot know) what would happen. Realistic? I think not.
I will not be reading any sequal...not worth my time...unless .....well, never say never...
September 10, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I've missed this group of people. However, I gave it low stars because he seems to think he has to tell us the entire plot of the entire series of the OSS books in this book. The characters in this book all come from that series. It is a book with a story that wasn't told anywhere else and concludes in this book. He ties up all the loose ends neatly. I'm looking forward to book 2 in the series.
July 28, 2016
My kinda book. Germany just after ww2. Spies etc. awesome!
August 18, 2014
WOW! I’m just getting started with this NEW SERIES (CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS) and I know it’s going to be dynamite. I have read all of his novels in the previous six (6) series: HONOR BOUND (7), BROTHERHOOD OF WAR (9), THE CORPS (10), BADGE OF HONOR (12), MEN AT WAR (7) and PRESIDENTIAL AGENT (7). They are all rated by me as 5+++++++. As always pay close attention to the pages prior to PROLOGUE. In this book they are: (FOR THE LATE) William E. Colby, Aaron Bank, William R. Carson & Rene J. Defourneaux. (FOR THE LIVING) BILLY WAUGH, JOHNNY REITZEL & RALPH PETERS. (AND) in Loving Memory of Colonel Jose Manuel Menendez, Cavalry, Argentine Army, Retired. They all have their own story…worth the investigation.
As always I find in increasingly hard to put down a W.E.B. Griffin book. This one especially. This being the 1st book in a new series he did a masterful job of laying out the cast of characters that will be involved in dealing with the “Cold War Era”. Looking forward to the adventures of James D. Cronley Jr. in future episodes. “Good Lord willing and the Creeks don’t rise “I’ll still be around for the conclusion of this series.
You ”DONE GOOD” W.E.B.
As always I find in increasingly hard to put down a W.E.B. Griffin book. This one especially. This being the 1st book in a new series he did a masterful job of laying out the cast of characters that will be involved in dealing with the “Cold War Era”. Looking forward to the adventures of James D. Cronley Jr. in future episodes. “Good Lord willing and the Creeks don’t rise “I’ll still be around for the conclusion of this series.
You ”DONE GOOD” W.E.B.
February 14, 2021
WWII plot taken from historical records, conversations are, of course, taken from personal records and surmises. Unfolds excitingly and is helpful for linking war-facts for a cogent interpretation. I know it’s fiction but all the facts are easily found. Love his novels. Narrator is a fine performer. Profanity and sexual situations (use fast forward or skip 2 pages - the average for sexual situations explicitly described).
May 13, 2023
IS A plus
A great peek behind the curtain at how the post world war two intel!thence service evolved. With some steamy scenes and backroom politics mixed in.
A great peek behind the curtain at how the post world war two intel!thence service evolved. With some steamy scenes and backroom politics mixed in.
November 13, 2021
WWll has ended and the CIA has been established primarily to deal with the Russians. Lots of characters to keep straight. Nice start to the series.
August 18, 2014
This is book one of the Clandestine Operation Series. It appears Griffin is launching this series off the Argentine or Honor Bound Series. Griffin’s sketch of the immediate post-WWII bureaucratic territorial clashes has purpose; it’s an outline of how the demobilized OSS hot-war heroes become CIA cold warriors. The main Character is James D. Cronley Jr. In the book the lead characters have to fight the FBI, the Russians and other to get their job done. Cronley and his men are OSS waiting to be transferred to the newly created CIA. Captain Cronley is in charge of obtaining the German Spies that were in Russia away from being captured by the Russian KBG and turn them into working for the CIA.
General Reinhardt Gehian, Chief of Eastern Front intelligence was a Wehrmacht General, Gehian and his men started to work for the OSS near the end of the war. He later became Chief of West German Intelligence in the 1950s. This is what I like about W.E.B. Griffin books; he places his fictional people into the real history he is writing about.
Cronley has General Gehian and his men in an isolated Bavarian monastery while a new facility is being built for the CIA. The narrative’s ripe with meetings, confrontations, lies, subterfuge rather than fighting and gunplay, a change from the usual Griffin story. The dialogue is classic Griffin. The story is fast-paced, lots of interesting plot twists. I did not particularly care for the narrator Alexander Cendese. He pronounced some of the Spanish words incorrectly. I am not as familiar with German to know how he did with those words. The majority of Griffins books have been narrated by three great narrators of action books, Scott Brick, Dick Hill and David Colacci. I hope the publisher will return to one of these narrators for future books in this series. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible.
General Reinhardt Gehian, Chief of Eastern Front intelligence was a Wehrmacht General, Gehian and his men started to work for the OSS near the end of the war. He later became Chief of West German Intelligence in the 1950s. This is what I like about W.E.B. Griffin books; he places his fictional people into the real history he is writing about.
Cronley has General Gehian and his men in an isolated Bavarian monastery while a new facility is being built for the CIA. The narrative’s ripe with meetings, confrontations, lies, subterfuge rather than fighting and gunplay, a change from the usual Griffin story. The dialogue is classic Griffin. The story is fast-paced, lots of interesting plot twists. I did not particularly care for the narrator Alexander Cendese. He pronounced some of the Spanish words incorrectly. I am not as familiar with German to know how he did with those words. The majority of Griffins books have been narrated by three great narrators of action books, Scott Brick, Dick Hill and David Colacci. I hope the publisher will return to one of these narrators for future books in this series. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible.
January 30, 2015
I really enjoyed this book in spite of an element that appears in pretty much all of Mr. Griffin's books that really makes me roll my eyes: namely, the woman who aggressively goes after a man sexually. I guess that's a male fantasy since in the case of Mr. Griffin's books these women are all very attractive. My daughter and I agree that this scenario is not very realistic, especially for the time period of this novel (right after WWII). Actually, I have to forgive Mr. Griffin a bit for that particular plot element in this book since it turns out to have an ulterior motive that I won't go into. Another thing I wasn't too crazy about was a bit more steamy parts than usual that made me skip to the next track.
Okay, that's what I didn't like about the book. Obviously, there was a lot to like since I gave it four stars. I was happy to have the characters in the "Honor" series about Nazis in Argentina involved. The plot was involving and the reader did a good job in spite of what I at first felt was overdoing the accents. I got used to that and decided it was okay, especially since he did well with the female voices as well as the men.
Okay, that's what I didn't like about the book. Obviously, there was a lot to like since I gave it four stars. I was happy to have the characters in the "Honor" series about Nazis in Argentina involved. The plot was involving and the reader did a good job in spite of what I at first felt was overdoing the accents. I got used to that and decided it was okay, especially since he did well with the female voices as well as the men.
January 21, 2015
Another enjoyable work form W.E.B.'S. As always, the book was detailed and informative. My only problem was in believing that a young second lieutenant would be honored and made a captain by President Truman then sent to Germany to oversee a top secret operation. The unbelievable part was his indiscretion with a fellow officer's wife and how lightly it handled.
July 7, 2024
I took a year off from Griffin books after finishing Honor Bound. I hadn’t planned to, it just worked out that way, but just a few minutes into this novel and Griffin had me hooked again. Top Secret picks up where Honor Bound left off, following minor characters from that series back to Germany where they are smack in the middle of the development of the spy-war that developed after World War II. The plot pulled me right in with Griffin providing just enough information about the last series to quickly refresh my memory. Beloved characters from that series make appearances as well.
The main plot revolves around a KGB spy who almost escapes after discovering that the Allies are secretly moving Nazis to Argentina. These are Nazis that have given critical information to the allies especially about Soviet spy networks. But they’re Nazis and the ethics are questionable and the optics are worse, so moving them has to be done out of the public eye.
There’s a Russian spy that the reader will probably immediately suspect of being a spy that appears fairly early on and is posed to cause major problems. It was interesting watching the relatively inexperienced hero catch on to this person. Griffin’s hints were excellent.
There’s also a lot of Griffin’s patented bureaucratic maneuvers that somehow become more tense and exciting than combat. These are the internal struggles between branches of the U.S. government as they jockey for turf and influence, often forgetting that they are on the same side.
This is a great start to this series and I’m looking forward to continuing it.
The main plot revolves around a KGB spy who almost escapes after discovering that the Allies are secretly moving Nazis to Argentina. These are Nazis that have given critical information to the allies especially about Soviet spy networks. But they’re Nazis and the ethics are questionable and the optics are worse, so moving them has to be done out of the public eye.
There’s a Russian spy that the reader will probably immediately suspect of being a spy that appears fairly early on and is posed to cause major problems. It was interesting watching the relatively inexperienced hero catch on to this person. Griffin’s hints were excellent.
There’s also a lot of Griffin’s patented bureaucratic maneuvers that somehow become more tense and exciting than combat. These are the internal struggles between branches of the U.S. government as they jockey for turf and influence, often forgetting that they are on the same side.
This is a great start to this series and I’m looking forward to continuing it.
April 29, 2025
Top Secret showcases W.E.B. Griffin at his best: blending history, military authenticity, and sharp character work into a story that feels both thrilling and believable. Set right after World War II, the novel changes focus from Cletus Frade of former novels to his childhood friend Lieutenant James Cronley, whose promotion into the shadowy world of intelligence sets the stage for political intrigue, moral gray areas, and nail-biting missions.
Griffin’s trademark style is on full display, crisp dialogue, fascinating insider knowledge, and characters you want to root for (even when they make very questionable decisions). Cronley’s journey feels realistic, sometimes painfully so, making the victories all the sweeter and the mistakes all the more costly.
If you love historical espionage packed with smart plotting, complex loyalties, and the kind of tension that builds steadily rather than exploding all at once, Top Secret is an excellent start to a compelling series.
My only con for this novel (as it is with many W.E.B. Griffin novels there can be exorbitant amounts of exposition that covers many of the novels prior to the current one, including previous related series."
Highly recommended for fans of:
Classic spy novels with historical depth
Military and intelligence thrillers
Stories where the line between hero and villain is deliciously blurry
Griffin’s trademark style is on full display, crisp dialogue, fascinating insider knowledge, and characters you want to root for (even when they make very questionable decisions). Cronley’s journey feels realistic, sometimes painfully so, making the victories all the sweeter and the mistakes all the more costly.
If you love historical espionage packed with smart plotting, complex loyalties, and the kind of tension that builds steadily rather than exploding all at once, Top Secret is an excellent start to a compelling series.
My only con for this novel (as it is with many W.E.B. Griffin novels there can be exorbitant amounts of exposition that covers many of the novels prior to the current one, including previous related series."
Highly recommended for fans of:
Classic spy novels with historical depth
Military and intelligence thrillers
Stories where the line between hero and villain is deliciously blurry
February 6, 2019
In the weeks following WWII a new 2nd Lieutenant named J.D. Cronley Jr is
recruited for a new enterprise that will eventually become the CIA. The Soviets
have hit the ground running and Cronley's job is to help frustrate them. He is to
harass and spy on them also any way he can. His recruiter thinks that he will be an
asset but of course he can also screw up spectacularly and as his first assignment
this looks like exactly what might happen. He has seven days to get a vital piece of
information from a Soviet agent. Meanwhile he has managed to rile up his superior
officers and if he fails this could be one of the shortest careers in history. Enemies
are everywhere and Cronley is about to discover that some of them are wearing the
same uniform as he is. I myself spent some time in the Marines which is why I
enjoy his novels. They are mainly spy novels in this series not shoot em up war stories.
This is book one in the Clandestine Operations series. I gave it a 4.
recruited for a new enterprise that will eventually become the CIA. The Soviets
have hit the ground running and Cronley's job is to help frustrate them. He is to
harass and spy on them also any way he can. His recruiter thinks that he will be an
asset but of course he can also screw up spectacularly and as his first assignment
this looks like exactly what might happen. He has seven days to get a vital piece of
information from a Soviet agent. Meanwhile he has managed to rile up his superior
officers and if he fails this could be one of the shortest careers in history. Enemies
are everywhere and Cronley is about to discover that some of them are wearing the
same uniform as he is. I myself spent some time in the Marines which is why I
enjoy his novels. They are mainly spy novels in this series not shoot em up war stories.
This is book one in the Clandestine Operations series. I gave it a 4.
October 18, 2022
A squeaky-clean new second lieutenant named James D. Cronley Jr. is spotted and recruited for a new enterprise that will eventually be transformed into something called the CIA. One war may have ended, but another one has already begun, against an enemy that is bigger, smarter, and more vicious: the Soviet Union.
The Soviets have hit the ground running, and Cronley’s job is to help frustrate them, harass them, and spy on them any way he can. His recruiter thinks he has the potential to become an asset—though, of course, he could also screw up spectacularly. And in his first assignment, it looks like that’s exactly what might happen. He’s got seven days to extract a vital piece of information from a Soviet agent, but Cronley’s managed to rile up his superior officers (he seems to have a talent for it), and if he fails, it could be one of the shortest intelligence careers
The Soviets have hit the ground running, and Cronley’s job is to help frustrate them, harass them, and spy on them any way he can. His recruiter thinks he has the potential to become an asset—though, of course, he could also screw up spectacularly. And in his first assignment, it looks like that’s exactly what might happen. He’s got seven days to extract a vital piece of information from a Soviet agent, but Cronley’s managed to rile up his superior officers (he seems to have a talent for it), and if he fails, it could be one of the shortest intelligence careers
June 28, 2024
Both an ending & beginning
This new series has many familiar characters such as Cletus Frade and Father Welner. However most of the focus is on the new characters who were introduced in Empire and Honor, especially 2Lt Jim Cronley. As we saw in that book, just like his “big brother” Cletus Jimmy is thrown into the deep end by circumstance only to discover that he can swim better than anyone (including himself) could ever imagine. After playing an critical role in finding the U-234 and preventing the Russians from taking control over the uranium oxide Cronley is moved into a new position of protecting the secrets of the Gehlen agreement and the movement of people into Argentina.
After suffering a personal loss Cronley is immediately sent scrambling to either put out multiple fires or to make others think they’re just campfires to make s’mores…
This new series has many familiar characters such as Cletus Frade and Father Welner. However most of the focus is on the new characters who were introduced in Empire and Honor, especially 2Lt Jim Cronley. As we saw in that book, just like his “big brother” Cletus Jimmy is thrown into the deep end by circumstance only to discover that he can swim better than anyone (including himself) could ever imagine. After playing an critical role in finding the U-234 and preventing the Russians from taking control over the uranium oxide Cronley is moved into a new position of protecting the secrets of the Gehlen agreement and the movement of people into Argentina.
After suffering a personal loss Cronley is immediately sent scrambling to either put out multiple fires or to make others think they’re just campfires to make s’mores…
November 29, 2018
Read a number of this series before I got to this, the 1st in Griffin & Butterworth's "Clandestine Operations" series, which takes us through struggles of the "external" intrigues of ex-Nazis & the beginnings of the Cold War as well as, the "internal" intrigues of the changeover of the OSS to the CIA...many of these plot points were touched on in later entries, but it was nice to have them fully fleshed out in novel form...It is the next chapter in the "Honor Bound" series as we examine Lt. Cronley struggles in the midst of the efforts to protect the assets of Gen. Reinhard Gehlen's intelligence operation within the Soviet Union from both the US Government interests & the Russians as the world heads into the Cold War...good stuff!!
June 16, 2021
Picked up book #3 in this series on a discount shelf and didn’t realize it was part of a series. Kinda glad I read them out of order. Not sure if I would have stayed with series if the only book I had read was Book 1.
Top Secret via historical fiction/docudrama lens tells the story of the formation of the beginnings of the CIA from OSS routes in World War 2. Griffin’s experience and insight into WW2 culture is deep but at times the book wrestled with does it want to be an espionage thriller or a buddy cup/humorous action film?
This is isn’t Robert Ludlum’s Bourne Identity.
But it isn’t horrible. For a fun, quick summer read it was fine and having read another book in the series first, I know that it gets better.
Top Secret via historical fiction/docudrama lens tells the story of the formation of the beginnings of the CIA from OSS routes in World War 2. Griffin’s experience and insight into WW2 culture is deep but at times the book wrestled with does it want to be an espionage thriller or a buddy cup/humorous action film?
This is isn’t Robert Ludlum’s Bourne Identity.
But it isn’t horrible. For a fun, quick summer read it was fine and having read another book in the series first, I know that it gets better.
May 21, 2022
Not much to say about this one. It was fairly repetitive, and most of the content could have been cut out. The ending was predictable and it didn't really end, just set up the narrative for another book.
This last part is on me, but I didn't understand who a lot of who these characters were. Reading other reviews of this book led to me understanding that there are series in this grand franchise and those previous books wrote about the events and characters that are portrayed here. Maybe I would have better appreciated the story if I knew that and had read those others (again, that's my fault). But, due to the writing being lackluster and overall just boring...I'm going to decide on moving away from reading more of these stories.
This last part is on me, but I didn't understand who a lot of who these characters were. Reading other reviews of this book led to me understanding that there are series in this grand franchise and those previous books wrote about the events and characters that are portrayed here. Maybe I would have better appreciated the story if I knew that and had read those others (again, that's my fault). But, due to the writing being lackluster and overall just boring...I'm going to decide on moving away from reading more of these stories.
January 7, 2018
I am a fan of all of W.E.B. Griffin's work. I enjoy the kinda easygoing style of his narrative. It's like sitting around the table listening to old warriors telling war stories. As a military brat, someone who served in the Marines, and a retired VSP trooper, it makes me feel right at home. I know he takes a long time to tell a story, but it's the telling of the every day life of his characters that I enjoy. Every story he tells that turns into a series makes me happy. I know this is not for everyone, but I feel right at home. This might not be his best but I look forward to the continuation of the tale.
December 30, 2018
Permit me to start with a warning. I bought this book while passing time for a flight and the purchase was based on the "hype" on the covers. Big mistake!!
Now the book. Interesting plot but the book is a long slow read. I found it too long, filled with unnecessary detail, continuous repartition of detail previously given and in other parts over detailed with "stuff" I did not need to know.
Overall this could have been a much shorter book which would have made it a far better read.
In conclusion, I do not think I will read this author again for fear of having a similar reading experience.
I must also learn not to base book choice on what the covers say.
Now the book. Interesting plot but the book is a long slow read. I found it too long, filled with unnecessary detail, continuous repartition of detail previously given and in other parts over detailed with "stuff" I did not need to know.
Overall this could have been a much shorter book which would have made it a far better read.
In conclusion, I do not think I will read this author again for fear of having a similar reading experience.
I must also learn not to base book choice on what the covers say.
August 1, 2018
After reading the excellent prologue, I was expecting plenty of intrigue and action, but sadly there was almost none of that in this novel. The premise of the story quickly gets lost in the murk as turf wars between officers become the main focus. To make matters worse, the author provides a series of sexual encounters that are ludicrous and meaningless to the plot. If your looking for something related to the Nazi escape plan at the end of the war, you would be far better off reading The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth.
February 20, 2020
As I always have, I enjoy this author’s work and am glad to see this as a somewhat continuation of the Honor Bound series. I did find it somewhat disappointing that I was able to figure out the supposed “startling conclusion” before the main character did and I hope the following books will be less of a disappointment in this regard. Overall the characters are well written and I do enjoy the notion of learning the “behind the scenes” history of these real life events. Something the author does very well.
June 8, 2021
Well, I bit the bullet and read my very first W.E.B. Griffin book. I started with the "Clandestine Operations" series, because that is the only series that I was able to complete easily. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, although I did think it took a little long to tell the story. Since, I have not read any of his other books; I cannot compare this one to the others. I liked most of the characters, appreciated the interaction, enjoyed the nuances of each character, and the way the story developed. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
May 12, 2018
A good read, overall, in the best tradition of W. E. B. Griffin
I only have three minor criticisms of this novel: 1. There are several references to the U.S. Air Force, which did not exist in 1945, the time frame of this book. 2. The phrase "You may wish to write that down" is over used. 3. A junior presents his respects to a senior, a senior presents his compliments to a junior.
I only have three minor criticisms of this novel: 1. There are several references to the U.S. Air Force, which did not exist in 1945, the time frame of this book. 2. The phrase "You may wish to write that down" is over used. 3. A junior presents his respects to a senior, a senior presents his compliments to a junior.
January 4, 2019
I have read many WEB Griffin novels and this one follows the same pattern of those other series books. He has a young, smart go-getter who accomplishes the toughest assignment in his early career. WEB is very detail oriented, especially with military jargon and equipment, and this may lose some readers. I will read the next in this series.
May 28, 2019
Keeps your interest for sure!
Have not read a WEB Griffin book for a while. After reading the Bill O'Reilly book on Killing the SS I heard about the new series by Griffin. Took me a while to get back to the military jargon but once past it this was a fun read. I will try to find the others in the series
Have not read a WEB Griffin book for a while. After reading the Bill O'Reilly book on Killing the SS I heard about the new series by Griffin. Took me a while to get back to the military jargon but once past it this was a fun read. I will try to find the others in the series
June 26, 2019
...always like Griffin's books but this one took a bit to get into as the characters and plot were a little complicated at first. Not used to CIA-type novels as the last ones I read were WWII and WWII in the pacific. But...still good. Of course, he leads you on to the next book in the series so get prepared to read them all!
October 24, 2021
I enjoy the writing style that is used in W.E.B books. I like learning the history, and as fast as I'm concerned there is no other author the develops characters as well.
However, this book feels very familiar. The young officer with amazing resources. The German/Argentinian/TexMex connections. Very familiar!
However, this book feels very familiar. The young officer with amazing resources. The German/Argentinian/TexMex connections. Very familiar!
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