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Stephen Connor #1
Trapped in a Hall of Mirrors: How the Luckiest Man in the World Became a Spy
First book in the Stephen Connor Cold War Spy Novel series. During the height of the Cold War, a naive computer nerd working first for the NSA, and then for the CIA, dreams of becoming a clandestine intelligence officer. After a very successful tour of duty in Iran, his new boss, the Vienna CIA Station Chief, is calling him the "luckiest man in the world". Nevertheless, he's managed to accidentally attract the enmity of the KGB, the malevolent attention of an East German seductress, and the absolute hatred of a psychopathic KGB mole at the heart of Austria's counter-intelligence agency. Will he be lucky enough, or skillful enough, to survive all these forces now converging to destroy him before he ever has a chance to realize his dream?
166 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2016
2 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Michael Connick
4 books12 followersMichael Connick was born and raised in San Francisco, CA. During a career spanning much of the Cold War, he served as a consultant to various branches of the US intelligence community and the Department of Defense. His work took him all over the US, Europe, and the Middle East. He now resides in the little college town of Huntington, WV. For more information, please see his web site: http://michaelconnick.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 17, 2016
Michael Connick uses the name Stephen Conner to tell about his experience from 1968 to 1982, from a computer programmer in the NSA to how he became an intelligence officer for the CIA.
Like most books, it starts with the background of the protagonist; about himself, his family, hometown, and education up to graduating from college. I enjoyed reading about the NSA recruitment process and how he finally got the job. It was after 6 months of training by IBM when Stephen finally got briefed on what his job was, which was basically a computer programmer for the NSA.
Computers in those days were those giant mainframes inside of an equally large room that uses keypunched cards. As someone who loves technology, it's fun to read about the development of computers. And for someone who lived in Indonesia for almost 30 years, I know for sure that those systems were still used by most Indonesian institutions up to the late 80s!
After rising through the ranks, Stephen was then transferred to CIA. It was during his assignment at SAVAK, the Iranian intelligence agency, did Stephen inadvertently started playing "intelligence tag" with the KGB. One of the reviewers of this book mentioned in his review that Stephen is like "Get Smart meets James Bond" and I totally agree with him. It was funny how, through sheer luck, the fumbling, bumbling protagonist managed to disrupt the KGB's best laid plans without him even realizing it. The KGB even considered him as CIA's most dangerous officer! Stephen's encounter with the female STASI agent was particularly interesting although a bit far-fetched and almost instantly obvious to the readers that she was a "swallow".
I enjoyed reading this book, but there were some unanswered questions. For example, how did the author knew what the KGB was thinking at that time? The author hinted strongly that there will be a sequel (or sequels), so I hope they will be answered in future books.
Like most books, it starts with the background of the protagonist; about himself, his family, hometown, and education up to graduating from college. I enjoyed reading about the NSA recruitment process and how he finally got the job. It was after 6 months of training by IBM when Stephen finally got briefed on what his job was, which was basically a computer programmer for the NSA.
Computers in those days were those giant mainframes inside of an equally large room that uses keypunched cards. As someone who loves technology, it's fun to read about the development of computers. And for someone who lived in Indonesia for almost 30 years, I know for sure that those systems were still used by most Indonesian institutions up to the late 80s!
After rising through the ranks, Stephen was then transferred to CIA. It was during his assignment at SAVAK, the Iranian intelligence agency, did Stephen inadvertently started playing "intelligence tag" with the KGB. One of the reviewers of this book mentioned in his review that Stephen is like "Get Smart meets James Bond" and I totally agree with him. It was funny how, through sheer luck, the fumbling, bumbling protagonist managed to disrupt the KGB's best laid plans without him even realizing it. The KGB even considered him as CIA's most dangerous officer! Stephen's encounter with the female STASI agent was particularly interesting although a bit far-fetched and almost instantly obvious to the readers that she was a "swallow".
I enjoyed reading this book, but there were some unanswered questions. For example, how did the author knew what the KGB was thinking at that time? The author hinted strongly that there will be a sequel (or sequels), so I hope they will be answered in future books.
August 7, 2016
Trapped In A Hall Of Mirrors by Michael Connick was sent to me in print format for review.
This book is, according to the title page, "based on true events". Author Michael Connick has a background of working with the intelligence community and has provided us with a exciting and often hilarious fictional account of that background.
He does not tell us what parts are real and what are his own invention. I guess if he did he would have to kill us, and I believe it is usually considered bad form for an author to kill his audience.
Trapped In A Hall Of Mirrors brings to mind Get Smart meets James Bond. Only the reminder that the story is based on actual events keeps me from taking the story as a complete spoof. I think it was the tv show M*A*S*H that coined the term "screwing up in reverse", and that seems to have happened quite a bit in the case of Stephen Connor (our hero). He at times irritates, aggravates, puzzles, perturbs and downright pisses-off several major intelligence agencies around the world.
In the end, we have to say "Thank God he was on our side". Connick has a great time pointing out the twisted logic that often holds sway in the intelligence community as a whole ("our side" didn't often appear to be that much more logical in their actions).
I didn't really take Trapped In A Hall Of Mirrors as and indictment of, or comment on, the state of intelligence agencies in general. I take it as a fun peek behind the curtains, so to speak (the bad guys really shouldn't have paid any attention to that man behind the curtain).
Michael Connick hinted at another story for another book (okay, he didn't hint, he came right out and said it), I hope he chooses to tell us that story as well.
There is some violence (fairly graphic), some sex (fairly un-graphic) and almost-sex (he does get the girl, or does she get him?), but most of all good bureaucratic silliness.
For a good, quick (158 page), fun read, I recommend Trapped In A Hall Of Mirrors by Michael Connick, I think you'll like it. Enjoy!
Mike
This book is, according to the title page, "based on true events". Author Michael Connick has a background of working with the intelligence community and has provided us with a exciting and often hilarious fictional account of that background.
He does not tell us what parts are real and what are his own invention. I guess if he did he would have to kill us, and I believe it is usually considered bad form for an author to kill his audience.
Trapped In A Hall Of Mirrors brings to mind Get Smart meets James Bond. Only the reminder that the story is based on actual events keeps me from taking the story as a complete spoof. I think it was the tv show M*A*S*H that coined the term "screwing up in reverse", and that seems to have happened quite a bit in the case of Stephen Connor (our hero). He at times irritates, aggravates, puzzles, perturbs and downright pisses-off several major intelligence agencies around the world.
In the end, we have to say "Thank God he was on our side". Connick has a great time pointing out the twisted logic that often holds sway in the intelligence community as a whole ("our side" didn't often appear to be that much more logical in their actions).
I didn't really take Trapped In A Hall Of Mirrors as and indictment of, or comment on, the state of intelligence agencies in general. I take it as a fun peek behind the curtains, so to speak (the bad guys really shouldn't have paid any attention to that man behind the curtain).
Michael Connick hinted at another story for another book (okay, he didn't hint, he came right out and said it), I hope he chooses to tell us that story as well.
There is some violence (fairly graphic), some sex (fairly un-graphic) and almost-sex (he does get the girl, or does she get him?), but most of all good bureaucratic silliness.
For a good, quick (158 page), fun read, I recommend Trapped In A Hall Of Mirrors by Michael Connick, I think you'll like it. Enjoy!
Mike
April 10, 2016
I received this book as a free giveaway by the author.
I have not read "About the Author" before reading the novel "Trapped in a hall of mirrors" The story is narrated in first person which will tire us soon, but the author Michael Connick cleverly placed some dialogs in between and rushes in some places so the reader will continue to enjoy.
Stephen Connor is a computer programmer who joins the NSA to protect the nation's secure communications. His first job is to translate the Russian documents into English.
After couple of years he was assigned to Iran during the reign of Shah, to help in their program by chance through him KGB mole was found out, and also after Shah's abdication Stephen was issued a fatwa by the Khomeini administration.
He returns to US and he was assigned to Vienna, Austria a work more of less of paid vacation. There he gets a friend Captain Lehner who believes that Stephen is working for CIA on counter espionage after he takes Stephen to Heurige and buys him a Sturm. Lehner asks Stephens help in finding out the mole in STAPO.
Their friendship lands trouble to Stephen and Franz Lehner, the head of the STAPO transfers Lehner. While in Vienna KGB extends their arm to grab Stephen. A computer nerd now becomes a spy by sheer luck.
Ursula and Heinriette were sent by the KGB, but again by luck Stephen survives the ordeal and by the help of CIA, the mole in STAPO was found.
I very much liked the chapters in Vienna, especially the friendship of Lehner and visiting his family, meeting with Ursula and the one night stand.
The story has a lot of potential to be made as a movie.
I have not read "About the Author" before reading the novel "Trapped in a hall of mirrors" The story is narrated in first person which will tire us soon, but the author Michael Connick cleverly placed some dialogs in between and rushes in some places so the reader will continue to enjoy.
Stephen Connor is a computer programmer who joins the NSA to protect the nation's secure communications. His first job is to translate the Russian documents into English.
After couple of years he was assigned to Iran during the reign of Shah, to help in their program by chance through him KGB mole was found out, and also after Shah's abdication Stephen was issued a fatwa by the Khomeini administration.
He returns to US and he was assigned to Vienna, Austria a work more of less of paid vacation. There he gets a friend Captain Lehner who believes that Stephen is working for CIA on counter espionage after he takes Stephen to Heurige and buys him a Sturm. Lehner asks Stephens help in finding out the mole in STAPO.
Their friendship lands trouble to Stephen and Franz Lehner, the head of the STAPO transfers Lehner. While in Vienna KGB extends their arm to grab Stephen. A computer nerd now becomes a spy by sheer luck.
Ursula and Heinriette were sent by the KGB, but again by luck Stephen survives the ordeal and by the help of CIA, the mole in STAPO was found.
I very much liked the chapters in Vienna, especially the friendship of Lehner and visiting his family, meeting with Ursula and the one night stand.
The story has a lot of potential to be made as a movie.
February 1, 2019
Excellent book
This book is very well written. The author writes in the first person while occasionally just forward in time share his insight he learned some times we after the fact. His character is a fictitious representation of himself and his own real life experience working for several alphabet government agency as he was assigned around the world. I highly recommend this novel
This book is very well written. The author writes in the first person while occasionally just forward in time share his insight he learned some times we after the fact. His character is a fictitious representation of himself and his own real life experience working for several alphabet government agency as he was assigned around the world. I highly recommend this novel
May 21, 2016
Computers, spies and excitement
This novel, based on true events, tells of how Stephen Connor, a US University graduate, accepts employment by the NSA (National Security Agency) to avoid conscription into the Vietnam War. Following working as a programmer in the early days of computers, Stephen is then is transferred to the CIA and a role in Iran where the Shah is still in control. Whilst there, working for Iran's secret intelligence service, he becomes a source of great concern to the KGB. Then follows an assignment to Vienna, Austria - working with Austrian counter intelligence and anti-terrorism. The KGB, completely unknown to Stephen, can't believe that he has yet again turned up at the place of a major operation they are carrying out, and so Stephen's life is in grave danger - whilst he is happily visiting the tourist sites of Vienna.
A great book that starts off with interesting glimpses into the computer world in its early days, then moves into the fascinating final part of the Shah's reign, and gallops into excitement and action when Stephen arrives in Vienna. The book contains humour - mostly involving Stephen's unwitting and naive tumbles into the world of espionage and danger, and the chaos he causes within the secret service agencies. It contains many interesting stories and historical facts of the years between 1968 and 1982 and it has excitement and heart racing moments as Stephen's gets the action and excitement that he imagined the espionage world was full of.
A short, interesting and gripping self-published book. Well worth reading.
(to see all my reviews go to www.emmabbooks.blogspot.co.at )
This novel, based on true events, tells of how Stephen Connor, a US University graduate, accepts employment by the NSA (National Security Agency) to avoid conscription into the Vietnam War. Following working as a programmer in the early days of computers, Stephen is then is transferred to the CIA and a role in Iran where the Shah is still in control. Whilst there, working for Iran's secret intelligence service, he becomes a source of great concern to the KGB. Then follows an assignment to Vienna, Austria - working with Austrian counter intelligence and anti-terrorism. The KGB, completely unknown to Stephen, can't believe that he has yet again turned up at the place of a major operation they are carrying out, and so Stephen's life is in grave danger - whilst he is happily visiting the tourist sites of Vienna.
A great book that starts off with interesting glimpses into the computer world in its early days, then moves into the fascinating final part of the Shah's reign, and gallops into excitement and action when Stephen arrives in Vienna. The book contains humour - mostly involving Stephen's unwitting and naive tumbles into the world of espionage and danger, and the chaos he causes within the secret service agencies. It contains many interesting stories and historical facts of the years between 1968 and 1982 and it has excitement and heart racing moments as Stephen's gets the action and excitement that he imagined the espionage world was full of.
A short, interesting and gripping self-published book. Well worth reading.
(to see all my reviews go to www.emmabbooks.blogspot.co.at )
April 13, 2016
This story is a great spy romp through Iran and Austria during the Cold War period. Full of humor and suspenseful twists and turns.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews