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Charles Bridge
Prague, 1983. Claire Markham, a New York antiques dealer, is recruited for a mission behind the Iron Curtain by a mysterious stranger whose organization, the New Exodus Project, arranges for Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel. Intrigued, Claire agrees to help a Russian woman visiting Czechoslovakia to defect to the West. But when the exfiltration plan goes awry, she finds herself in a desperate race to the border, hunted by the KGB and the Czechoslovak secret police, the StB, with the odds of her escape waning by the hour.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 24, 2020
12 people are currently reading
2256 people want to read
About the author
Jefferson Flanders
15 books165 followersJefferson Flanders, a novelist, has been a sportswriter, columnist, editor, and publishing executive.
He is the author of CAFÉ CAROLINA AND OTHER STORIES, and the critically acclaimed First Trumpet trilogy of HERALD SQUARE, THE NORTH BUILDING, and THE HILL OF THREE BORDERS.
He is the author of CAFÉ CAROLINA AND OTHER STORIES, and the critically acclaimed First Trumpet trilogy of HERALD SQUARE, THE NORTH BUILDING, and THE HILL OF THREE BORDERS.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 18, 2020
You Won’t Want To Put It Down
Be prepared, fellow readers, for a sleepless night. Page to page, the drama unfolds. For me, it was a visit to my past as an Army soldier along that “Iron Curtain”.
The unfolding of events, so perfectly written, is like a great symphony. The crescendo ... to the book’s end; and....
Be prepared, fellow readers, for a sleepless night. Page to page, the drama unfolds. For me, it was a visit to my past as an Army soldier along that “Iron Curtain”.
The unfolding of events, so perfectly written, is like a great symphony. The crescendo ... to the book’s end; and....
July 14, 2021
Received ARC from Goodreads, thank you.
I really liked the book and found it a page turner. I have been to Prague and know the area the novel is set, to include my visit to fhe Museum of Communism in Prague.
Not really a love story per se but love of country and love of freedom are the main themes. A women is given a task to help a young girl escape Russia through a vist to Prague. Simple enough, but of course things go wrong. Love sparks and dies for the over all good and no loose ends were found. It's a spy thriller without the spies.
I thought it was a good and saw no problems with text or grammer, but then I may have been too interested in the story. Life can be messy and not end how we wish or hope; the ending is more true to life. I recommend the book.
I really liked the book and found it a page turner. I have been to Prague and know the area the novel is set, to include my visit to fhe Museum of Communism in Prague.
Not really a love story per se but love of country and love of freedom are the main themes. A women is given a task to help a young girl escape Russia through a vist to Prague. Simple enough, but of course things go wrong. Love sparks and dies for the over all good and no loose ends were found. It's a spy thriller without the spies.
I thought it was a good and saw no problems with text or grammer, but then I may have been too interested in the story. Life can be messy and not end how we wish or hope; the ending is more true to life. I recommend the book.
January 30, 2021
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
During the latter part of the Cold War, a woman is recruited to help someone defect from Czechoslovakia. It turns out she is the doppleganger of the target.
Not all that exciting, but readable.
During the latter part of the Cold War, a woman is recruited to help someone defect from Czechoslovakia. It turns out she is the doppleganger of the target.
Not all that exciting, but readable.
August 21, 2021
The author had made a great effort in researching the era and the perspectives from the people who had been living during that time. The effort was well reflected upon this intriguing story.
October 28, 2024
I enjoyed reading this book
August 4, 2021
Highly recommended - good read!!
February 21, 2022
Great book - definitely worth reading. Fast paced, full of twists and suspense. The ending was not expected. I'm glad I had the chance to read this book through Goodreads.
January 17, 2021
Charles Bridge is a nice little thing, not one of those epic, classic cold war espionage thrillers with lots of tradecraft and twists, yet not without its merits and overall quite enjoyable
The novel has-just one issue, i.e. the plausibility of the plot foundations; most probably everyone of the civilian members recruited for the mission in real life would have turned the proposal down - so the story would not even have started. If one is willing to apply a certain suspension disbelief on this, then what follows is a nice story, well written, with an interesting backdrop of the last phase if the cold war of the mid 80's, good character development and a rather original plot (not without a couple of "holes").
The novel has-just one issue, i.e. the plausibility of the plot foundations; most probably everyone of the civilian members recruited for the mission in real life would have turned the proposal down - so the story would not even have started. If one is willing to apply a certain suspension disbelief on this, then what follows is a nice story, well written, with an interesting backdrop of the last phase if the cold war of the mid 80's, good character development and a rather original plot (not without a couple of "holes").
August 31, 2020
Kept me guessing until the end!
February 26, 2021
This is not a book that I would have picked out but myself but it is good to read different books I think that people will like it
December 31, 2022
A Review
This was a book won on Goodreads Giveaways.
The book explores how a group of individuals worked together to defect a Jewish gal living in communist Chekoslovia. They were able to get an American gal, who looked like her to "switch" identities. However, what seemed like a rather easy assignment, turned out bad when a journalist chose to reveal the defection early which caused the plans for the American to be disrupted. Instead of being able to leave the next day, it took at least four days and additional planning to get her out.
This was a book won on Goodreads Giveaways.
The book explores how a group of individuals worked together to defect a Jewish gal living in communist Chekoslovia. They were able to get an American gal, who looked like her to "switch" identities. However, what seemed like a rather easy assignment, turned out bad when a journalist chose to reveal the defection early which caused the plans for the American to be disrupted. Instead of being able to leave the next day, it took at least four days and additional planning to get her out.
February 2, 2025
Won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. 3.5 stars.
I did like this book, but the beginning was slow. The characters were not well-developed and the dialogue seemed contrived. As I read further, the characters actually came to life and you felt like you knew who they were and what their motivation was in the story. The pace of the story did pick up and it was quite thrilling. I liked the historical telling of living in Czechoslovakia under communist rule and especially Prague.
I did like this book, but the beginning was slow. The characters were not well-developed and the dialogue seemed contrived. As I read further, the characters actually came to life and you felt like you knew who they were and what their motivation was in the story. The pace of the story did pick up and it was quite thrilling. I liked the historical telling of living in Czechoslovakia under communist rule and especially Prague.
June 28, 2022
This historical fiction thriller takes place in Czechoslovakia in the 1980's during the Cold War. People of varied backgrounds work together in an attempt to extricate a Jewish woman to be relocated to Israel. The story takes several twists and turns and is very suspenseful. The characters are wonderfully developed and described. I thought it was a great read.
December 29, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. From the beginning until the last page, I had difficulty putting it down. The characters were well-drawn and engaging. Set in Eastern Europe during the dark and oppressive Communist era, a lifetime away from the vibrant cities of today, it is hard to imagine that this repressive existence was not so long ago.
August 9, 2022
Facinating book that tells a compelling story of several people that help a young woman escape communism. The characters are well written and show bravery and/or intelligence.
While, not everyone makes it at the end, it has a realistic feel.
Thanks goodreads for this book.
While, not everyone makes it at the end, it has a realistic feel.
Thanks goodreads for this book.
August 22, 2024
Thank you to author Jefferson Flanders for this FREE Kindle copy of Charles Bridge.
I thought it well written, a dash of intrigue and suspense to hold my attention, and moved along at a comfortable pace. A good job by the editor(s), and nicely done cover. Simply a good read.
I thought it well written, a dash of intrigue and suspense to hold my attention, and moved along at a comfortable pace. A good job by the editor(s), and nicely done cover. Simply a good read.
August 10, 2021
Disclosure: I won this Kindle book via a Goodreads Giveaway.
I enjoyed this novel; mostly because I was drawn in. Y the characters and the author’s fictional portrayal of a case of espionage during the Cold War. It piqued and kept my interest. The reader is kept guessing as to how things will end for those involved in the subterfuge against the Czech and Russian governments, despite the unlikelihood that such a scenario would unfold on the real world stage of politics.
I enjoyed this novel; mostly because I was drawn in. Y the characters and the author’s fictional portrayal of a case of espionage during the Cold War. It piqued and kept my interest. The reader is kept guessing as to how things will end for those involved in the subterfuge against the Czech and Russian governments, despite the unlikelihood that such a scenario would unfold on the real world stage of politics.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews