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"Explosive, extraordinary...The reader is left limp!"
THE SAN DIEGO UNION
The deadliest secret assassin to ever roam the globe. Now, crack reporters Frank O'Hara and Eliza Gunn are hot on his trail. To unmask him, they untangle a many-colored web of espionage and computer intrigue--amid the tantalizing Oriental arts of love and death....
THE SAN DIEGO UNION
The deadliest secret assassin to ever roam the globe. Now, crack reporters Frank O'Hara and Eliza Gunn are hot on his trail. To unmask him, they untangle a many-colored web of espionage and computer intrigue--amid the tantalizing Oriental arts of love and death....
479 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
47 people are currently reading
364 people want to read
About the author
William Diehl
47 books171 followersWilliam Diehl was an American novelist and photojournalist.
Diehl was fifty years old and already a successful photographer and journalist when he decided to begin a writing career. His first novel, Sharky's Machine, which became a movie by the same name was directed by and starred Burt Reynolds. Diehl saw the movie shot on location in and around his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.
Following the success of Sharky's Machine, Diehl relocated to St. Simons Island, GA in the early 80's where he lived for the next 15 years before going back to the Atlanta area. While living on St. Simons, he completed eight more novels, including Primal Fear, which also became a movie by the same name starring Richard Gere and Edward Norton. Diehl died at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on November 24, 2006, of an aortic aneurism. He was a resident of Woodstock, Georgia at the time of his death and was working on his tenth novel.
Diehl was fifty years old and already a successful photographer and journalist when he decided to begin a writing career. His first novel, Sharky's Machine, which became a movie by the same name was directed by and starred Burt Reynolds. Diehl saw the movie shot on location in and around his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.
Following the success of Sharky's Machine, Diehl relocated to St. Simons Island, GA in the early 80's where he lived for the next 15 years before going back to the Atlanta area. While living on St. Simons, he completed eight more novels, including Primal Fear, which also became a movie by the same name starring Richard Gere and Edward Norton. Diehl died at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on November 24, 2006, of an aortic aneurism. He was a resident of Woodstock, Georgia at the time of his death and was working on his tenth novel.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 11, 2021
Din capul locului coperta a 4-a ne promite ca "sunt dezvaluite in aceasta carte cele mai dure adevaruri despre spionaj si spioni." Romanul se tine de cuvant si intr-adevar avem parte de mai multe povesti cu spioni, insa, pe langa asta, avem ocazia sa cunoastem si foarte multe obiceiuri japoneze, lucru care m-a incantat.
Atunci cand mai multe asasinate au loc in diferite parti ale lumii si oameni importanti cad victime, un detinator de trust media angajeaza o descurcareata jurnalista pentru a-l gasi pe O'Hara, un spion retras din activitate. Acesta se ascunde in Japonia si atunci cand afla ca tinta este temutul spion Cameleonul, doreste sa nu se implice dar nu are de ales. Actiunea devine exploziva, intesata cu multe jocuri si intrigi ale spionajului cu esecuri si victorii dar si cu multe cadavre. Intr-un final misterioasa identitate a Cameleonului va fi dezvaluita.
Cartea este destinata adultilor fiind presarata cu scene de sex explicite si oarecum demodate in care se zice tot si se face tot. Nu ma pot abtine sa nu remarc faptul ca se vede ca este scrisa de un barbat, deoarece, la finalul actului, femeile, dupa multiple episoade euforice zic "te iubesc" iar barbatii tac malc. De asemenea pasionatii de tot ce tine de masinile de curse - motoare puternice, Ferrari, Le Mans, vor fi si ei multumiti pentru ca se gasesc multe referiri la acest sport.
M-a amuzat maniera in care autorul descrie vestimentatia feminina, pe care o numeste eleganta, moderna sau sic si care este compusa din lucruri foarte banale sau care nu se asorteaza absolut deloc intre ele, cum ar fi cizmele de cowboy cu pantaloni negri, bluza de matase si jacheta brodata cu blana de iepure. Insa, citind mai departe mi-am dat seama ca nici la vestimentatia barbatilor nu stam mai bine, acestia purtand jacheta de tweed, pantaloni din lana maro-ardezie, camasa cu dungi late si cravata Cardin.
Alt lucru care m-a facut sa zambesc este ca unul dintre spioni are un minicomputer Apple II care e "frumos si masiv" si are o "tasta de care erau atasate un telefon, un monitor propriu si o imprimanta Kube de mare viteza. Cutia principala [...] cu trei orificii in fata si un beculet patrat, care se aprindea cand era in functiune." Probabil acesta reprezenta gadgetul anului respectiv.
Ca incheiere atasez cateva citate pe care le-am ales pentru ca exprima mostre din intelepciunea japoneza:
"Este pur si simplu un barbat de onoare, care a invatat ca omul intelept cauta totul in sine insusi. Omul ignorant cauta totul inafara lui."
"O boala poate fi vindecata, striga el. Destinul este incurabil."
"Cel care-i cunoaste pe altii este intelept; cel care se cunoaste pe sine este iluminat."
"Shikata ga nai (te frigi si daca o faci si daca n-o faci)."
"Fericirea este o crima recunoscuta."
Atunci cand mai multe asasinate au loc in diferite parti ale lumii si oameni importanti cad victime, un detinator de trust media angajeaza o descurcareata jurnalista pentru a-l gasi pe O'Hara, un spion retras din activitate. Acesta se ascunde in Japonia si atunci cand afla ca tinta este temutul spion Cameleonul, doreste sa nu se implice dar nu are de ales. Actiunea devine exploziva, intesata cu multe jocuri si intrigi ale spionajului cu esecuri si victorii dar si cu multe cadavre. Intr-un final misterioasa identitate a Cameleonului va fi dezvaluita.
Cartea este destinata adultilor fiind presarata cu scene de sex explicite si oarecum demodate in care se zice tot si se face tot. Nu ma pot abtine sa nu remarc faptul ca se vede ca este scrisa de un barbat, deoarece, la finalul actului, femeile, dupa multiple episoade euforice zic "te iubesc" iar barbatii tac malc. De asemenea pasionatii de tot ce tine de masinile de curse - motoare puternice, Ferrari, Le Mans, vor fi si ei multumiti pentru ca se gasesc multe referiri la acest sport.
M-a amuzat maniera in care autorul descrie vestimentatia feminina, pe care o numeste eleganta, moderna sau sic si care este compusa din lucruri foarte banale sau care nu se asorteaza absolut deloc intre ele, cum ar fi cizmele de cowboy cu pantaloni negri, bluza de matase si jacheta brodata cu blana de iepure. Insa, citind mai departe mi-am dat seama ca nici la vestimentatia barbatilor nu stam mai bine, acestia purtand jacheta de tweed, pantaloni din lana maro-ardezie, camasa cu dungi late si cravata Cardin.
Alt lucru care m-a facut sa zambesc este ca unul dintre spioni are un minicomputer Apple II care e "frumos si masiv" si are o "tasta de care erau atasate un telefon, un monitor propriu si o imprimanta Kube de mare viteza. Cutia principala [...] cu trei orificii in fata si un beculet patrat, care se aprindea cand era in functiune." Probabil acesta reprezenta gadgetul anului respectiv.
Ca incheiere atasez cateva citate pe care le-am ales pentru ca exprima mostre din intelepciunea japoneza:
"Este pur si simplu un barbat de onoare, care a invatat ca omul intelept cauta totul in sine insusi. Omul ignorant cauta totul inafara lui."
"O boala poate fi vindecata, striga el. Destinul este incurabil."
"Cel care-i cunoaste pe altii este intelept; cel care se cunoaste pe sine este iluminat."
"Shikata ga nai (te frigi si daca o faci si daca n-o faci)."
"Fericirea este o crima recunoscuta."
March 17, 2021
For my money, the late 1970s to early 80s were the heyday of popular assassin-fiction. That era gave us classics like Shibumi by Trevanian, The Matarese Circle and The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, The Ninja by Eric Van Lustbader and The Brotherhood of the Rose by David Morrell. I recently discovered another author who wrote popular thrillers in that era who is less well-known today, but still worth reading: William Diehl. His novel from 1981, Chameleon, is right in the sweet spot of fast-paced, sprawling thrillers of the period, featuring stylish assassins, international terrorism, political intrigue, vast conspiracies and intense shadow warfare.
The novel's plot revolves around an intriguing concept: an anonymous, shadowy black ops bureau that employs freelance operatives from around the world, communicates via coded phone calls, and pays agents via cash deposits in bank accounts of their choosing. The agency, known as "the Service", takes contracts from corporate interests who have problems they need solved quickly, professionally and without a paper trail. The leader of the Service is a mysterious figure called "Chameleon" that no intelligence agency can identify; figuring out who Chameleon is and what his organization is up to is what this story is about in a nutshell.
The book's protagonist is ex-CIA agent turned journalist Frank O'Hara, who lives in hiding in Japan after exposing his CIA boss's corruption. Now O'Hara, along with a very spunky and sexy reporter named Eliza, are on the scent of a huge scoop implicating his ex-boss, involving a mysterious mastermind called Chameleon, an oil consortium, wartime Japanese intrigue, international assassins and a secret order of martial arts mystics call higaru-dashi. All of this turns into a somewhat convoluted story that takes detours into Venezuela, Jamaica, Haiti and elsewhere before climaxing in Japan. Along the way we encounter several rather improbable characters, including a wise-cracking hacker-slacker called the Magician who, using an ultra cutting-edge device called a "personal computer", has managed to gain access to most of the Western world's intelligence databases; a paranoid, obsessive oil expert who keeps priceless industry secrets in a coded personal journal; a mad Bulgarian assassin now living in a Haitian asylum run by Catholic monks; a bear who drinks beer at a bar; and a tattooed cross-dresser with almost superhuman skill at martial arts.
Overall, I found this an entertaining but not stellar read. The opening chapters were very promising, with their detailed accounts of several Service black operations; the coded phone calls and other machinations of the agents were well done. But as the story developed, Diehl started to lose the plot and spend too much time on threads and characters I didn't find very believable or compelling. The story did finish on a high note, with an assault on the Big Bad's mountain lair and a final plot twist that would have been right at home in an Ian Fleming or Jack Higgins novel.
It really seems like Diehl was trying to capitalize on the success of Van Lustbader's best-selling The Ninja from the previous year. This novel has many similar plot elements: the Japanese post-War intrigue and corruption, the American-Japanese cultural hybrid protagonist who belongs to an order of mystic super-martial artists, the old family feud, the wise Sensei, the terrifying Eastern assassin, the violence and the explicit sex. If you liked Van Lustbader's novel, or the novels of Ludlum and Trevanian from that era, you will probably enjoy Chameleon. It's not a classic or a particularly believable example of assassin-fiction, but it's a fun read for fans of the genre.
The novel's plot revolves around an intriguing concept: an anonymous, shadowy black ops bureau that employs freelance operatives from around the world, communicates via coded phone calls, and pays agents via cash deposits in bank accounts of their choosing. The agency, known as "the Service", takes contracts from corporate interests who have problems they need solved quickly, professionally and without a paper trail. The leader of the Service is a mysterious figure called "Chameleon" that no intelligence agency can identify; figuring out who Chameleon is and what his organization is up to is what this story is about in a nutshell.
The book's protagonist is ex-CIA agent turned journalist Frank O'Hara, who lives in hiding in Japan after exposing his CIA boss's corruption. Now O'Hara, along with a very spunky and sexy reporter named Eliza, are on the scent of a huge scoop implicating his ex-boss, involving a mysterious mastermind called Chameleon, an oil consortium, wartime Japanese intrigue, international assassins and a secret order of martial arts mystics call higaru-dashi. All of this turns into a somewhat convoluted story that takes detours into Venezuela, Jamaica, Haiti and elsewhere before climaxing in Japan. Along the way we encounter several rather improbable characters, including a wise-cracking hacker-slacker called the Magician who, using an ultra cutting-edge device called a "personal computer", has managed to gain access to most of the Western world's intelligence databases; a paranoid, obsessive oil expert who keeps priceless industry secrets in a coded personal journal; a mad Bulgarian assassin now living in a Haitian asylum run by Catholic monks; a bear who drinks beer at a bar; and a tattooed cross-dresser with almost superhuman skill at martial arts.
Overall, I found this an entertaining but not stellar read. The opening chapters were very promising, with their detailed accounts of several Service black operations; the coded phone calls and other machinations of the agents were well done. But as the story developed, Diehl started to lose the plot and spend too much time on threads and characters I didn't find very believable or compelling. The story did finish on a high note, with an assault on the Big Bad's mountain lair and a final plot twist that would have been right at home in an Ian Fleming or Jack Higgins novel.
It really seems like Diehl was trying to capitalize on the success of Van Lustbader's best-selling The Ninja from the previous year. This novel has many similar plot elements: the Japanese post-War intrigue and corruption, the American-Japanese cultural hybrid protagonist who belongs to an order of mystic super-martial artists, the old family feud, the wise Sensei, the terrifying Eastern assassin, the violence and the explicit sex. If you liked Van Lustbader's novel, or the novels of Ludlum and Trevanian from that era, you will probably enjoy Chameleon. It's not a classic or a particularly believable example of assassin-fiction, but it's a fun read for fans of the genre.
August 30, 2023
Yes, 5 stars. This book had assassins, smart journalists, international spies, trained fighters, exotic locations, Ex military generals, evil oil conglomerates, murders, assassinations, hit men, a bit of romance, you name it!
It was a bit of James Bond mixed with Mission Impossible. Don’t believe any less than 5 star reviews as William Diehl really did his research making everything seem real and keeping the action coming at you.
This is my 4th William Diehl book (read all three books in the Primal Fear Vail/Stempler series) and I can’t wait to read 27 (a.k.a. The Hunt), and Sharkey’s Machine.
It was a bit of James Bond mixed with Mission Impossible. Don’t believe any less than 5 star reviews as William Diehl really did his research making everything seem real and keeping the action coming at you.
This is my 4th William Diehl book (read all three books in the Primal Fear Vail/Stempler series) and I can’t wait to read 27 (a.k.a. The Hunt), and Sharkey’s Machine.
May 31, 2022
"Omul care are o prapastie in fata si una in spate trebuie sa stea jos si sa astepte"
"O boala poate fi vindecata , destinul este incurabil "
"O boala poate fi vindecata , destinul este incurabil "
March 21, 2010
I guess I prefer a straight forward murder to espionage thrillers since I am a simple soul who likes to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Nobody wears black and white hats in the espionage game full of double (triple? quadruple?) agents. This is a book that needs to be read twice to fully understand what's gone on here. For most of the book many characters float around doing their thing, and they do not connect to complete the puzzle until the end. I admire the authors skill but trying to keep track of what everybody's up to can give you a headache.
July 25, 2010
This is an older suspense novel...before cell phones, but it was still really good. It was a little complicated and I had to flip back to the beginning occasionally so I could figure out what was going on.
October 17, 2015
Thriller - Investigative reporter Frank O'Hara, who grew up in Japan, is recruited by news baron Charles Howe to uncover the Japanese based kill for hire group headed by the mysterious Chameleon.
January 17, 2025
So this book is almost as old as I am and it was a bit misogynistic. Keep in mind it was about assassins, but even the lead character was on a James Bond level with Bruce Lee capabilities and a bit of a womanizer. I picked up the book in a neighborhood library box, and was looking for a change from other things I’d been reading and it filled that need. I kind of chuckled to myself at the sex descriptions and thought I can’t believe I was reading it. Over the top, so movie scripted. But the writing was good, and I was always drawn to what on earth was going on and how is it going to come together in the end, no regrets.
January 17, 2023
Frank O'Hara, fost agent CIA, in prezent jurnalist in Japonia, este recrutat de Charles Howe pentru a descoperi grupul de ucigasi cu baza in Japonia, condus de misteriosul Cameleon.
Impreuna cu Eliza, o jurnalista sexy, porneste intr-o aventura extraordinara plina de asasinate si distrugeri.
Un thriller ce te va purta prin fascinanta lume a spionilor internationali si presarat cu interesante detalii culturale Japoneze.
Impreuna cu Eliza, o jurnalista sexy, porneste intr-o aventura extraordinara plina de asasinate si distrugeri.
Un thriller ce te va purta prin fascinanta lume a spionilor internationali si presarat cu interesante detalii culturale Japoneze.
July 13, 2018
Good Book.
December 19, 2019
Let yourself get into this world of a spy/assassin who really would like to change her career.
Entertaining and kinda believable to me.
I recommend it.
Entertaining and kinda believable to me.
I recommend it.
August 19, 2020
Read in 1982. Two reporters try to track down a deadly assassin. Suspense and action. One of my favorites that year.
October 15, 2021
Very good book to read it had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was gonna happen next full of suspense and drama
September 29, 2016
Actually a re-read...I'm sure I read this when it came out in the 80s, and happened to get the ebook for free when Amazon was giving it away at some point a few years ago, along with a couple of other books by Diehl. It's an unremarkable thriller of its time, all plot, fairly thin characters. Annoying for calling character from Asia "Oriental," as if all those countries are just one big homogeneous mash-up. Also, a character growing up in Japan would not learn tai chi as his first (or probably tenth) martial art, since it's Chinese. If you want a trashy airport novel dealing with martial arts, go with The Ninja.
April 10, 2010
A well written book of international intreague, martial arts mahem, and political vandettas. The fighting scenes are recounted with extreme precision. The plot is a riddle, inside a puzzle wrapped in an enigma.
February 2, 2016
Diehl's books are really good, but sometimes so steeped in Japanese culture/history that I find them difficult to read. This one however, was great. Primal Fear of his is one of my all time favorites
May 6, 2010
An international conspiracy of corporate terrorism and murder for profit.
July 9, 2012
This was one complicated storyline, I struggled to finish the book.Half the time, I had no idea what was going on. Somehow espionage books are just not doing it for me.
June 10, 2014
too long
February 6, 2017
Thriller with a very complicated storyline that was a stretch. I enjoyed certain aspects, like the cultural adds and the martial arts. But overall not too good of a captivating plot or characters.
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May 1, 2009Fiction
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January 23, 2016william diehl
March 12, 2014
I did not like this at all. It was very 80's. It reminded me a bit of Sidney Sheldon.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews