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The Bucharest Dossier
Bill Hefflin is a man apart—apart from life, apart from his homeland, apart from love
At the start of the 1989 uprising in Romania, CIA analyst Bill Hefflin—a disillusioned Romanian expat—arrives in Bucharest at the insistence of his KGB asset, code-named Boris. As Hefflin becomes embroiled in an uprising that turns into a brutal revolution, nothing is as it seems, including the search for his childhood love, which has taken on mythical proportions.
With the bloody events unfolding at blinding speed, Hefflin realizes the revolution is manipulated by outside forces, including his own CIA and Boris—the puppeteer who seems to be pulling all the strings of Hefflin’s life.
The Bourne Identity meets John le Carre’s The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
At the start of the 1989 uprising in Romania, CIA analyst Bill Hefflin—a disillusioned Romanian expat—arrives in Bucharest at the insistence of his KGB asset, code-named Boris. As Hefflin becomes embroiled in an uprising that turns into a brutal revolution, nothing is as it seems, including the search for his childhood love, which has taken on mythical proportions.
With the bloody events unfolding at blinding speed, Hefflin realizes the revolution is manipulated by outside forces, including his own CIA and Boris—the puppeteer who seems to be pulling all the strings of Hefflin’s life.
The Bourne Identity meets John le Carre’s The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2022
219 people are currently reading
1563 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
May 7, 2022
Thanks to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this free ARC in return for my honest review.
You can see my full review at www.viewsonbooks.com
I probably look at this book a lot differently than many others as my wife was born in Romania, escaped in 1984 and have heard and read many stories about the Romanian Revolution back in 1989. If you do not have intimate details of these crazy days in December of 1989 I can tell you that the author has nailed it with the facts of those last days of the Ceausescu regime. And as a historical account this is a well-done and fast-paced read. The book as a love story is a bit weak and contrived, as is the man behind all of CIA analyst Bill Hefflin, who is the narrator of the book and who is plucked to be present and witness history. All in all a very good read with the best parts being those chapters that directly deal with the last days of Ceausescu.
You can see my full review at www.viewsonbooks.com
I probably look at this book a lot differently than many others as my wife was born in Romania, escaped in 1984 and have heard and read many stories about the Romanian Revolution back in 1989. If you do not have intimate details of these crazy days in December of 1989 I can tell you that the author has nailed it with the facts of those last days of the Ceausescu regime. And as a historical account this is a well-done and fast-paced read. The book as a love story is a bit weak and contrived, as is the man behind all of CIA analyst Bill Hefflin, who is the narrator of the book and who is plucked to be present and witness history. All in all a very good read with the best parts being those chapters that directly deal with the last days of Ceausescu.
January 31, 2024
O carte foarte bună și inspirată chiar din povestea de viață a autorului. Mai puțin partea cu spionii. 😄 O carte thriller politico-social, cam așa aș încadra-o. Mi-a plăcut echilibrul dintre părțile pline de acțiune și cele de dialog sau dezvăluiri incendiare, a fost interesant de parcurs. Mi-a plăcut mult și stilul de scriere al autorului, mi s-a părut că a avut profunzime exact în momentele cheie, când ar fi trebuit. Și cu toate astea, n-am putut să-i dau 5 stele fiindcă sfârșitul a stricat multe pentru mine. 😶 Nu vreau să ofer spoilere, fiindcă o recomand și sper să fie citită de cât mai mulți oameni, dar nu a fost pe gustul meu acel sfârșit. Nu mi s-a părut in ton cu restul cărții, a făcut notă discordantă rău de tot. Dar na, cui ii place așa ceva, foarte posibil să-i dea 5 stele. 😊 Eu am parcurs versiunea audio, pe Voxa, și chiar o recomand.
April 19, 2022
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER by William Maz is an international espionage thriller with romantic elements that is an amazing debut read. Intriguing and captivating from start to finish.
CIA analyst Bill Hefflin receives a summons from his undercover asset “Boris”, who will only deal with him, that he must come to Bucharest. Romania is on the brink of revolution in 1989 and while Bill has mixed feelings, since he spent his first eight years in Romania as a child, he has never been given bad information from this asset in the past.
If the political turmoil is not enough, Bill is also trying to find a lost childhood love. Bill finds himself in a political tinderbox and not knowing who to trust as he navigates the Romanian secret police, the KGB and his own CIA bosses.
I could not put this book down and I was very surprised to learn it was this author’s debut. Mr. Maz made me feel as if I was right there in the middle of the action. The historical facts were well integrated into the plot even as the plot has many twists and surprises. This espionage thriller also has a love story weaving through the story which was well written and left the reader with a satisfying ending. This book gave me everything I want in a fast-paced, exciting, one-sitting thriller read.
I highly recommend this thriller! I am looking forward to reading what is next from this author.
THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER by William Maz is an international espionage thriller with romantic elements that is an amazing debut read. Intriguing and captivating from start to finish.
CIA analyst Bill Hefflin receives a summons from his undercover asset “Boris”, who will only deal with him, that he must come to Bucharest. Romania is on the brink of revolution in 1989 and while Bill has mixed feelings, since he spent his first eight years in Romania as a child, he has never been given bad information from this asset in the past.
If the political turmoil is not enough, Bill is also trying to find a lost childhood love. Bill finds himself in a political tinderbox and not knowing who to trust as he navigates the Romanian secret police, the KGB and his own CIA bosses.
I could not put this book down and I was very surprised to learn it was this author’s debut. Mr. Maz made me feel as if I was right there in the middle of the action. The historical facts were well integrated into the plot even as the plot has many twists and surprises. This espionage thriller also has a love story weaving through the story which was well written and left the reader with a satisfying ending. This book gave me everything I want in a fast-paced, exciting, one-sitting thriller read.
I highly recommend this thriller! I am looking forward to reading what is next from this author.
June 10, 2023
My thanks to Oceanview Publishing for a review copy of this book via Edelweiss.
The Bucharest Dossier (2023) is an espionage thriller set (mostly) in Romania (some bits unfold in the States) in the last days of the Ceausescu regime. I came across this book through Rekha at the Book Decoder and it immediately piqued my interest due essentially to its historical setting.
Bill Hefflin is a CIA Analyst based in New York, and we learn that he has a contact in Romania code-named Boris who has been supplying him reliable information but will deal only with him. Now Boris has summoned him to Bucharest and his boss Avery insists he goes, also giving him carte blanche when there. Meanwhile, alongside Bill’s mentor and the person who recruited him into the CIA, Harvard Professor Pincus is murdered, rather ‘executed’ in his home, the assassin pronouncing him guilty of treason before he carries out the crime. Pincus was Romanian, as is we learn Bill, whose real name was Vasili ‘Fili’ Argyris, son of Greek refugees/immigrants (from Romania) to the States. As a student Bill was invited to the Fly Club, a gentleman’s club at Harvard and from there to a select subgroup clearly testing his skills to be a spy. We also learn of his childhood in Romania, where as a boy he was in love with his friend Pusha, a girl he still carries in his heart and deep down wants to find again.
Arriving in Romania in the guise of a cultural attaché (of etiquette no less—pretty much telling everyone who he really is, but still keeping a formal cover), and more so a ‘typical American’ with no knowledge of the language or ways of the country (much more to his advantage), he is immediately thrown in amidst a poor and corrupt society, where on the one side ordinary people are deprived of all the basics they need to survive while those in power are living comfortably, almost luxuriously while accumulating more wealth and doing all they can to perpetuate their control. But with communism crumbling in one country after another, it is only a matter of time before the same will happen in Romania and the tensions are apparent with increasing unrest and indeed brutality, and the Securitate practically breathing down everyone’s necks. Boris’ information and mission throw Bill right amidst these developments as he begins to realise to what extent events are being influenced and sought to be so by external forces.
Alongside, having returned to Romania for the first time since childhood, he also traces the places and people still there, the old gypsy woman Tanti Bobo who looked after him, his cousin Irina, now a famous actress and of course, any hint of his beloved Pusha.
As these threads unfold, Bill must face it all—from attempted manipulation to blackmail, to violence and danger as the notorious Ceausescu regime comes to an end.
The Bucharest Dossier was a fast paced and exciting read, in which the element I most enjoyed was what I had picked the book up for, the historical setting and context. With my knowledge of the Ceausescu regime being fairly superficial, this gave me a keen look into a society all but destroyed under the hands of a tyrant who not only enriched himself at the expense of his country but put in place an entire structure that did the same, leaving the people to bear the brunt. But even as that regime comes to an end, it is more than apparent that the people having reached the limits of bearing is far from being the only factor that is firing things. External influence is as relevant or more, with both the American and Soviet sides trying to ensure things happen as they wish them to (this even though communism itself is clearly in its last days). The people as always continue to be at the receiving end, their so-called rescuers valuing their lives as little as the tyrant they are supposedly being freed from. We also witness the Ceausescus’ farcical trial and execution, a disturbing set of events which also raise the question of how the replacements are any better than what they claim to be remedying (But all the same unsurprising given that this is how humans are). Along these lines are also some perceptive observations on the meaning of freedom which an actor and colleague of Bill’s cousin Irina brings up when Bill is at a party with her and her friends.
But these heavier themes apart, this is still very much a spy thriller and we have plenty of action and constant developments as Bill tries to get a sense of what exactly is happening while also carrying out the mission that Boris wanted him there for. Along the way are also some surprises and revelations, adding to the fun. This made it both readable and engrossing, with the action and background being blended well.
There is also the romance thread of course, with Bill keen to look for his Pusha whom he lost contact with a little over a year after he’d left Romania. One can pretty much tell about half way into the book what the answer is, but Bill himself doesn’t seem to realise. On the other hand, this aspect of the story also ends up involving an almost fairy-talish thread, which was fun reading even if a slight bit over the top.
A very readable, engrossing, and fast paced book with an excellent sense of time and place!
4.25 stars
The Bucharest Dossier (2023) is an espionage thriller set (mostly) in Romania (some bits unfold in the States) in the last days of the Ceausescu regime. I came across this book through Rekha at the Book Decoder and it immediately piqued my interest due essentially to its historical setting.
Bill Hefflin is a CIA Analyst based in New York, and we learn that he has a contact in Romania code-named Boris who has been supplying him reliable information but will deal only with him. Now Boris has summoned him to Bucharest and his boss Avery insists he goes, also giving him carte blanche when there. Meanwhile, alongside Bill’s mentor and the person who recruited him into the CIA, Harvard Professor Pincus is murdered, rather ‘executed’ in his home, the assassin pronouncing him guilty of treason before he carries out the crime. Pincus was Romanian, as is we learn Bill, whose real name was Vasili ‘Fili’ Argyris, son of Greek refugees/immigrants (from Romania) to the States. As a student Bill was invited to the Fly Club, a gentleman’s club at Harvard and from there to a select subgroup clearly testing his skills to be a spy. We also learn of his childhood in Romania, where as a boy he was in love with his friend Pusha, a girl he still carries in his heart and deep down wants to find again.
Arriving in Romania in the guise of a cultural attaché (of etiquette no less—pretty much telling everyone who he really is, but still keeping a formal cover), and more so a ‘typical American’ with no knowledge of the language or ways of the country (much more to his advantage), he is immediately thrown in amidst a poor and corrupt society, where on the one side ordinary people are deprived of all the basics they need to survive while those in power are living comfortably, almost luxuriously while accumulating more wealth and doing all they can to perpetuate their control. But with communism crumbling in one country after another, it is only a matter of time before the same will happen in Romania and the tensions are apparent with increasing unrest and indeed brutality, and the Securitate practically breathing down everyone’s necks. Boris’ information and mission throw Bill right amidst these developments as he begins to realise to what extent events are being influenced and sought to be so by external forces.
Alongside, having returned to Romania for the first time since childhood, he also traces the places and people still there, the old gypsy woman Tanti Bobo who looked after him, his cousin Irina, now a famous actress and of course, any hint of his beloved Pusha.
As these threads unfold, Bill must face it all—from attempted manipulation to blackmail, to violence and danger as the notorious Ceausescu regime comes to an end.
The Bucharest Dossier was a fast paced and exciting read, in which the element I most enjoyed was what I had picked the book up for, the historical setting and context. With my knowledge of the Ceausescu regime being fairly superficial, this gave me a keen look into a society all but destroyed under the hands of a tyrant who not only enriched himself at the expense of his country but put in place an entire structure that did the same, leaving the people to bear the brunt. But even as that regime comes to an end, it is more than apparent that the people having reached the limits of bearing is far from being the only factor that is firing things. External influence is as relevant or more, with both the American and Soviet sides trying to ensure things happen as they wish them to (this even though communism itself is clearly in its last days). The people as always continue to be at the receiving end, their so-called rescuers valuing their lives as little as the tyrant they are supposedly being freed from. We also witness the Ceausescus’ farcical trial and execution, a disturbing set of events which also raise the question of how the replacements are any better than what they claim to be remedying (But all the same unsurprising given that this is how humans are). Along these lines are also some perceptive observations on the meaning of freedom which an actor and colleague of Bill’s cousin Irina brings up when Bill is at a party with her and her friends.
But these heavier themes apart, this is still very much a spy thriller and we have plenty of action and constant developments as Bill tries to get a sense of what exactly is happening while also carrying out the mission that Boris wanted him there for. Along the way are also some surprises and revelations, adding to the fun. This made it both readable and engrossing, with the action and background being blended well.
There is also the romance thread of course, with Bill keen to look for his Pusha whom he lost contact with a little over a year after he’d left Romania. One can pretty much tell about half way into the book what the answer is, but Bill himself doesn’t seem to realise. On the other hand, this aspect of the story also ends up involving an almost fairy-talish thread, which was fun reading even if a slight bit over the top.
A very readable, engrossing, and fast paced book with an excellent sense of time and place!
4.25 stars
May 12, 2023
Always a fan of historical fiction, I was drawn to this book by William Maz. Not only does it depict the fall of the Ceaușescu Regime in Romania, but shows how the Americans were somewhat involved in the movement. Full of wonderful Cold War era espionage and duplicity, Maz depicts the Eastern European region as rife with corruption that even the Americans enjoyed. Well-plotted and paced, Maz develops a sensational thriller that is sure to impress the patient reader.
Bill Hefflin is holding onto a deep secret. Having been recruited by the CIA while in college, Hefflin is also a Romanian expat, having changed his name and identity many years ago, Now, with all that is going on in dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu’s Romania, Hefflin finds himself back in his homeland. He’s acting on intel from his KGB source. The kernel of an uprising soon expands and Hefflin finds himself in the middle of a country tearing itself apart as communism disintegrates all across Eastern Europe.
Hefflin seeks not only to track the uprising, but to find the woman he loved all those years ago on campus. She, too, has a secret, and their reuniting might come with some significant consequences. As Hefflin searches, he also tries to amass a dossier that could hold all the answers to what the Ceaușescus did with huge sums of money belonging to the state.
Hefflin soon learns that he is but a puppet in the larger game surrounding Romania’s fall. Both the CIA and KGB have been pulling strings to get rid of a leader no longer in line with the times, but Hefflin has no means of getting out, embroiled in a chaotic situation that should have dire consequences. As 1989 speeds along, the troubles increase, culminating in a Christmas surprise that will have the world watching and Hefflin wondering how he fits into it all. William Maz weaves quite the story here, perfect for those who love historical fiction and Cold War era politics.
While I had never heard of William Maz before, I am pleased to have stumbled onto this book. The first in what appears to be a series, Maz weaves some wonderful storytelling into an era that may be on the horizon once more, though with different actors. The narrative flow was strong and kept me intrigued throughout. Maz uses great characters, including Nicolae Ceaușescu himself, to depict the tones he wishes to convey. Strong plots emerge and develop with ease, as Maz takes the reader down many a rabbit hole before arriving at the end result. There is so much to be said about this book, but a sequel awaits me, so I hope to draw parallels and return with more in that review.
Kudos, Mr. Maz, for a stunning story that appears to have more to say!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Bill Hefflin is holding onto a deep secret. Having been recruited by the CIA while in college, Hefflin is also a Romanian expat, having changed his name and identity many years ago, Now, with all that is going on in dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu’s Romania, Hefflin finds himself back in his homeland. He’s acting on intel from his KGB source. The kernel of an uprising soon expands and Hefflin finds himself in the middle of a country tearing itself apart as communism disintegrates all across Eastern Europe.
Hefflin seeks not only to track the uprising, but to find the woman he loved all those years ago on campus. She, too, has a secret, and their reuniting might come with some significant consequences. As Hefflin searches, he also tries to amass a dossier that could hold all the answers to what the Ceaușescus did with huge sums of money belonging to the state.
Hefflin soon learns that he is but a puppet in the larger game surrounding Romania’s fall. Both the CIA and KGB have been pulling strings to get rid of a leader no longer in line with the times, but Hefflin has no means of getting out, embroiled in a chaotic situation that should have dire consequences. As 1989 speeds along, the troubles increase, culminating in a Christmas surprise that will have the world watching and Hefflin wondering how he fits into it all. William Maz weaves quite the story here, perfect for those who love historical fiction and Cold War era politics.
While I had never heard of William Maz before, I am pleased to have stumbled onto this book. The first in what appears to be a series, Maz weaves some wonderful storytelling into an era that may be on the horizon once more, though with different actors. The narrative flow was strong and kept me intrigued throughout. Maz uses great characters, including Nicolae Ceaușescu himself, to depict the tones he wishes to convey. Strong plots emerge and develop with ease, as Maz takes the reader down many a rabbit hole before arriving at the end result. There is so much to be said about this book, but a sequel awaits me, so I hope to draw parallels and return with more in that review.
Kudos, Mr. Maz, for a stunning story that appears to have more to say!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 13, 2022
A dramatic epic of historical proportions!
Bill Hefflin is a Romanian expat brought as a child to America during the Cold War and graduated from Harvard. Now working for the CIA as an analyst, he is requested to Bucharest on specific instructions from an undercover operative codenamed Boris. Although Hefflin is trained to protect himself in tight situations, he is no field agent and questions arise about him being picked by an asset to travel to a communist nation on the brink of collapse.
But Hefflin has an alternative reason to return to his native Romania. He has longed to learn what happened to his childhood sweetheart, who disappeared in an orphanage after his family left to a Greek refugee camp. With his CIA station chief breathing down his neck about Boris's intentions and vicious Securitate agents on his heels, Hefflin barely has time to learn how dictator Ceausescu's 40 year reign will pan out with the threat of revolution looming over Romania.
Will his desire to find his long-lost childhood love get in the way of his sense of duty to America and the Romanian revolution?
A first-rate read! The author combines historical fact with fiction in a taut, suspenseful novel full of surprises. Highly enjoyable and highly recommended.
Bill Hefflin is a Romanian expat brought as a child to America during the Cold War and graduated from Harvard. Now working for the CIA as an analyst, he is requested to Bucharest on specific instructions from an undercover operative codenamed Boris. Although Hefflin is trained to protect himself in tight situations, he is no field agent and questions arise about him being picked by an asset to travel to a communist nation on the brink of collapse.
But Hefflin has an alternative reason to return to his native Romania. He has longed to learn what happened to his childhood sweetheart, who disappeared in an orphanage after his family left to a Greek refugee camp. With his CIA station chief breathing down his neck about Boris's intentions and vicious Securitate agents on his heels, Hefflin barely has time to learn how dictator Ceausescu's 40 year reign will pan out with the threat of revolution looming over Romania.
Will his desire to find his long-lost childhood love get in the way of his sense of duty to America and the Romanian revolution?
A first-rate read! The author combines historical fact with fiction in a taut, suspenseful novel full of surprises. Highly enjoyable and highly recommended.
January 6, 2022
I really enjoyed this classic espionage thriller, that has some romance thrown in for good measure and fits in well to round out the story. This debut novel by William Maz has very good character development and is well paced with just the right amount of suspense.
Set against the back drop of the Romanian Revolution and the fall of communism in December of 1989, an American CIA analyst, Bill Hefflin, who was born in Romania, finds himself drawn into the underside of Cold War intelligence between the Romanian secret police, the Russian KGB, and the CIA. While carrying out his clandestine activities, Bill also seeks out a long lost love. The story line is filled with conspiracy and betrayal and enough twists and turns to keep even the most ardent spy thriller reader intrigued.
I would definitely recommend this to fans of John le Carre and Tom Rob Smith and look forward to reading the next book by this author.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC of this book. Publication date: March 15, 2022.
Set against the back drop of the Romanian Revolution and the fall of communism in December of 1989, an American CIA analyst, Bill Hefflin, who was born in Romania, finds himself drawn into the underside of Cold War intelligence between the Romanian secret police, the Russian KGB, and the CIA. While carrying out his clandestine activities, Bill also seeks out a long lost love. The story line is filled with conspiracy and betrayal and enough twists and turns to keep even the most ardent spy thriller reader intrigued.
I would definitely recommend this to fans of John le Carre and Tom Rob Smith and look forward to reading the next book by this author.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC of this book. Publication date: March 15, 2022.
December 31, 2023
2.5
Surprinzător (la prima vedere), partea cea mai reușită e cea istorică. Povestea de dragoste e total neplauzibilă (ca să nu folosesc cuvinte mai grele). Se vede ca autorul (care își declină rădăcinile româno-grecești, la fel ca ale eroului său) l-a citit pe Eliade, mitul eternei reîntoarceri, Adam și Eva etc.
Celelalte surse, cele istorice și politice sunt mai puțin fanteziste și tarate.
Povestea de spionaj are întorsăturile tipice, livrează ce te aștepți și lectura (ascultarea) e ritmată.
Surprinzător (la prima vedere), partea cea mai reușită e cea istorică. Povestea de dragoste e total neplauzibilă (ca să nu folosesc cuvinte mai grele). Se vede ca autorul (care își declină rădăcinile româno-grecești, la fel ca ale eroului său) l-a citit pe Eliade, mitul eternei reîntoarceri, Adam și Eva etc.
Celelalte surse, cele istorice și politice sunt mai puțin fanteziste și tarate.
Povestea de spionaj are întorsăturile tipice, livrează ce te aștepți și lectura (ascultarea) e ritmată.
February 7, 2022
There are many different labels one could paste on Bill Hefflin - Johnnie Walker Black enthusiast, disillusioned Romanian expat, Harvard grad, or spy - but the one he relies on to get the job done is ‘lead analyst for the CIA.’
Bill is summoned to Bucharest as the 1989 Romanian rebellion is taking hold. His KGB asset, code-named Boris, insists “you must come to Bucharest to create history. Time is critical.” When Bill arrives, he confronts the dangers of a bloody revolution, his feelings for his childhood sweetheart, and the killer of his favourite Harvard professor. He soon discovers that in the world of cold war espionage, nothing is as it seems. His dangerous mission takes him into an uprising that turns into a brutal revolution and puts him in contact with people who aren’t telling the whole truth. Hefflin starts to question the motives of the outside forces at work in the catastrophe and wonders who he can trust. Can he find a killer and locate his childhood friend before it’s too late? Will he be on the right side of history?
Whiskey enthusiasts will tell you that Johnnie Walker Black Label, Hefflin’s drink of choice, is balanced remarkably well, which speaks to its competent blending. Let me tell you about Maz’s competent blending in a literary sense! Author Maz has masterfully created, as his debut novel, a perfect blend of spy, thriller, historical fiction, action, adventure and a love story. In whiskey, balance is achieved by what is removed by oxygen and what is added by the barrels. Maz’s multiple editors and beta readers, in addition to his publishing team, have expertly worked together to remove and add just the right information at the right time to create a complex, harmonious read. This novel reads like an aged whiskey and, like a fantastic spirit, will have you asking for more. Let's hope Maz allows us to follow Hefflin in subsequent missions. Hint, hint.
At the heart of the 1989 Romanian rebellion is the communist dictator, Nicolae Ceaușescu. You’ll learn about him through the eyes of Hefflin and read about his demise. He lived in luxury while his people suffered greatly. While in Romania, I had the opportunity to tour his ‘newly opened to the public’ residence. I was shocked at the opulent lifestyle, both in the palace and at home, that he enjoyed while most Romanians were surviving on food and fuel rations and daily living in fear of the Securitate, the Romanian secret police. Maz’s novel helped me understand this horrific time in history and my being at several locations mentioned, helped to cement these memories. Ceaușescu had billions squirreled away in offshore accounts that the lettered agencies were desperately trying to locate; hence, The Bucharest Dossier.
They say that a good book, like a fine whiskey, is
1. hard to put down. I had to force myself to put The Bucharest Dossier down so that I could sleep. I can’t read under the covers with a flashlight like I used to be able to do when I was younger! This is an addictive and compelling read.
2. like an adventure. As the tension rises and bullets are fired, your heartbeat will increase and you’ll be taken on a wild ride from consulate to safe house to dark alley to speeding trains…you’ll be on an adventure for sure.
3. an investment in your evening. Exactly. What a great way to add value; increasing your knowledge about the Romanian uprising and how a spy is groomed.
4. not guzzled. Take your time. You won’t fly through this, although it is fast-paced. You’ll need to stop and appreciate what you’ve just read. The writing style is smooth and finished, more like an accomplished writer than a debut author. Then again, age doesn’t necessarily determine a good whiskey!
Pour yourself a five-star experience! Aged to perfection on March 15, 2022.
I was gifted this book by William Maz, Oceanview Publishing, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Bill is summoned to Bucharest as the 1989 Romanian rebellion is taking hold. His KGB asset, code-named Boris, insists “you must come to Bucharest to create history. Time is critical.” When Bill arrives, he confronts the dangers of a bloody revolution, his feelings for his childhood sweetheart, and the killer of his favourite Harvard professor. He soon discovers that in the world of cold war espionage, nothing is as it seems. His dangerous mission takes him into an uprising that turns into a brutal revolution and puts him in contact with people who aren’t telling the whole truth. Hefflin starts to question the motives of the outside forces at work in the catastrophe and wonders who he can trust. Can he find a killer and locate his childhood friend before it’s too late? Will he be on the right side of history?
Whiskey enthusiasts will tell you that Johnnie Walker Black Label, Hefflin’s drink of choice, is balanced remarkably well, which speaks to its competent blending. Let me tell you about Maz’s competent blending in a literary sense! Author Maz has masterfully created, as his debut novel, a perfect blend of spy, thriller, historical fiction, action, adventure and a love story. In whiskey, balance is achieved by what is removed by oxygen and what is added by the barrels. Maz’s multiple editors and beta readers, in addition to his publishing team, have expertly worked together to remove and add just the right information at the right time to create a complex, harmonious read. This novel reads like an aged whiskey and, like a fantastic spirit, will have you asking for more. Let's hope Maz allows us to follow Hefflin in subsequent missions. Hint, hint.
At the heart of the 1989 Romanian rebellion is the communist dictator, Nicolae Ceaușescu. You’ll learn about him through the eyes of Hefflin and read about his demise. He lived in luxury while his people suffered greatly. While in Romania, I had the opportunity to tour his ‘newly opened to the public’ residence. I was shocked at the opulent lifestyle, both in the palace and at home, that he enjoyed while most Romanians were surviving on food and fuel rations and daily living in fear of the Securitate, the Romanian secret police. Maz’s novel helped me understand this horrific time in history and my being at several locations mentioned, helped to cement these memories. Ceaușescu had billions squirreled away in offshore accounts that the lettered agencies were desperately trying to locate; hence, The Bucharest Dossier.
They say that a good book, like a fine whiskey, is
1. hard to put down. I had to force myself to put The Bucharest Dossier down so that I could sleep. I can’t read under the covers with a flashlight like I used to be able to do when I was younger! This is an addictive and compelling read.
2. like an adventure. As the tension rises and bullets are fired, your heartbeat will increase and you’ll be taken on a wild ride from consulate to safe house to dark alley to speeding trains…you’ll be on an adventure for sure.
3. an investment in your evening. Exactly. What a great way to add value; increasing your knowledge about the Romanian uprising and how a spy is groomed.
4. not guzzled. Take your time. You won’t fly through this, although it is fast-paced. You’ll need to stop and appreciate what you’ve just read. The writing style is smooth and finished, more like an accomplished writer than a debut author. Then again, age doesn’t necessarily determine a good whiskey!
Pour yourself a five-star experience! Aged to perfection on March 15, 2022.
I was gifted this book by William Maz, Oceanview Publishing, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
December 19, 2021
A spy thriller set in the very last days of the Cold War, specifically during the Romanian Revolution (December 1989). In The Bucharest Dossier we watch history unfold as Ceausescu's reign over Romania collapses.
Upon finishing the book, I have two sets of impressions. The first is on the main story and spy plot. The second is on Bill's immigrant status and love. As part of the main storyline, we travel with Bill Hefflin, a CIA Analyst, to Romania, so that he can meet with an informant. It is here where we get our first glimpses of what life is like for Romanians living through this period. The Securitate (secret police) and their effect and control. The general day-to-day-survival of the citizens when there isn't enough to survive on. It even touches on other topics, such as what the 'real' currency is when traveling there. But the main story also covers other questions too, such as: 'What does one do when the system and government that you have supported is collapsing?' 'What do you do to survive?' 'Who do you betray?' 'Who betrays you?' All together I found the main plot and story a very interesting and informative read. I think the ending for a couple of the fictional characters were tied up too neatly or expectedly, but it didn't keep me from enjoying the story. I was already invested and appreciated being given the chance to learn about this historical moment in time and to see what life was like from another's point of view.
While there is no doubt that the main story gives us much to think on and learn from, what I found were two additional themes/plots. The first is that we get the opportunity to see the world through an immigrant's eyes. Bill is a refugee twice-over. First from Romania to Greece, then to America. (I hope I've got that correct). In the quiet moments of the story, we see Bill's lifelong struggle with identity. Is he Romanian? Greek? American? In America, he changes his name to fit in better, but you are still left with the impression that there is an uncertainty there. A 'citizen of the world' as Catherine describes it. The second is one that relates to love. To be honest, this is the area of the book that worked the least for me. I won't go too much into it, but the ending felt a little awkward, plus I never clicked with Catherine. She is definitely not 1-dimensional - which is awesome, but there lies the rub too. In making her a more fully-formed character I saw things that I didn't care for. The first time we meet her she says of herself that "I became the center of my own universe." Truthfully, that's probably a very human thing to do/say. But still, my first impression was that she was a little full of herself and I didn't quite know how to take her.
In the end, I rather enjoyed the story and can recommend it. Its plot moves at a nice pace and the main character is likeable and easy to root for.
Thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
Upon finishing the book, I have two sets of impressions. The first is on the main story and spy plot. The second is on Bill's immigrant status and love. As part of the main storyline, we travel with Bill Hefflin, a CIA Analyst, to Romania, so that he can meet with an informant. It is here where we get our first glimpses of what life is like for Romanians living through this period. The Securitate (secret police) and their effect and control. The general day-to-day-survival of the citizens when there isn't enough to survive on. It even touches on other topics, such as what the 'real' currency is when traveling there. But the main story also covers other questions too, such as: 'What does one do when the system and government that you have supported is collapsing?' 'What do you do to survive?' 'Who do you betray?' 'Who betrays you?' All together I found the main plot and story a very interesting and informative read. I think the ending for a couple of the fictional characters were tied up too neatly or expectedly, but it didn't keep me from enjoying the story. I was already invested and appreciated being given the chance to learn about this historical moment in time and to see what life was like from another's point of view.
While there is no doubt that the main story gives us much to think on and learn from, what I found were two additional themes/plots. The first is that we get the opportunity to see the world through an immigrant's eyes. Bill is a refugee twice-over. First from Romania to Greece, then to America. (I hope I've got that correct). In the quiet moments of the story, we see Bill's lifelong struggle with identity. Is he Romanian? Greek? American? In America, he changes his name to fit in better, but you are still left with the impression that there is an uncertainty there. A 'citizen of the world' as Catherine describes it. The second is one that relates to love. To be honest, this is the area of the book that worked the least for me. I won't go too much into it, but the ending felt a little awkward, plus I never clicked with Catherine. She is definitely not 1-dimensional - which is awesome, but there lies the rub too. In making her a more fully-formed character I saw things that I didn't care for. The first time we meet her she says of herself that "I became the center of my own universe." Truthfully, that's probably a very human thing to do/say. But still, my first impression was that she was a little full of herself and I didn't quite know how to take her.
In the end, I rather enjoyed the story and can recommend it. Its plot moves at a nice pace and the main character is likeable and easy to root for.
Thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
June 13, 2022
Bill Hefflin is a CIA Analyst who began his espionage career during his Harvard college undergrad days and no one knows that he was born in Romania and lived for years in Greece before entering the US as a child. His fluidity in Romanian serves him well as he travels to Bucharest to meet Boris, an asset that will only deal with him as events in 1989 Romania deteriorates. Using real historical events and people, the Bucharest setting is done well as Tone and Pace grow exponentially as Bill’s training both surprise him and leaves him less than truly prepared for the predicaments he finds himself in; often he is over his head. Hefflin’s CH is underdeveloped and many of the other CHs never reach beyond stereotypes making this book’s strengths of setting and historical detail pale. In some ways, the romantic arc is better developed than the plot of the espionage, and even though there are moments of well-detailed spycraft most of the bones of this novel were disappointing, not too surprising with the plotting failing to make sense or convince me that Bill would have survived in the real world. Not as much action as Bourne or Matthews but those who wish to dive into the Cold War and Romania in particular may find somewhat disturbing in its period realism.
December 21, 2021
A stunning debut for William Maz’s espionage thriller The Bucharest Dossier.
The storyline and its setting were incredibly engaging, tense and spellbinding. Maz wrote an action-packed moving story with complex characters, fascinating subplots and revolutionary historical events that shaped Romania at the end of the 20th century.
This novel gives a realistic portrait of the CIA and spycraft during the fall of communism during the Romanian 1989 revolution. My only critique is that the ending and the way some characters are related to each other (not naming them to avoid spoilers) were too ideal and thus less believable. Yet, The Bucharest Dossier is a beautiful, utterly captivating and informative read that mystery and especially historical fiction thriller lovers will adore.
*I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
The storyline and its setting were incredibly engaging, tense and spellbinding. Maz wrote an action-packed moving story with complex characters, fascinating subplots and revolutionary historical events that shaped Romania at the end of the 20th century.
This novel gives a realistic portrait of the CIA and spycraft during the fall of communism during the Romanian 1989 revolution. My only critique is that the ending and the way some characters are related to each other (not naming them to avoid spoilers) were too ideal and thus less believable. Yet, The Bucharest Dossier is a beautiful, utterly captivating and informative read that mystery and especially historical fiction thriller lovers will adore.
*I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 18, 2021
The Bucharest Dossier takes the reader into the epicenter of the 1989 Romanian Revolution. Into the world of Cold War espionage. And into a love story of epic proportions. Bill Hefflin is a CIA analyst thrown into a country on the brink of a bloody revolution where he finds violent traitors on all sides as well as emerging personal ghosts from his past. The story is phenomenal and Maz's style will make you think you're reading one of the espionage masters: le Carre, Ludlum, and Follett. Hard to believe that this is a debut novel.
March 5, 2022
Read his full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
First love as a child is often tragic. Torn from his birth country of Romania, Hefflin moves to Greece and finally winds up in the United States. Pusha, his childhood love, was left in Romania but certainly not forgotten. His first eight years in Romania imprinted the Romanian language in his brain for a lifetime. Love has left Pusha imprinted in his heart as a lost love.
Hefflin is recruited as an operative for the Central Intelligence Agency as a foreign operative. He is assigned to many posts in the communist block states. He has been recruited by Professor Andrei Pincus at Harvard University. Only the best and brightest for U.S. overseas C.I.A. operations!
William Maz has developed a very integral spy novel intertwined with love for a first homeland. Bucharest is showing signs of revolting against communism and release from Russian domination. Russia does not want to see a free and independent Romania. Hefflin is there to assist in bringing the country into a relationship with western powers. Meanwhile, his lost childhood love and memories broil just under the surface.
This is a very well-developed novel with believable characters. A spymaster pulls strings to push Hefflin into becoming a complete foreign operative. The story and description of Bucharest and Romanian culture are enchanting. Enjoy! 4.5 stars – CE Williams
We received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are his honest opinions.
First love as a child is often tragic. Torn from his birth country of Romania, Hefflin moves to Greece and finally winds up in the United States. Pusha, his childhood love, was left in Romania but certainly not forgotten. His first eight years in Romania imprinted the Romanian language in his brain for a lifetime. Love has left Pusha imprinted in his heart as a lost love.
Hefflin is recruited as an operative for the Central Intelligence Agency as a foreign operative. He is assigned to many posts in the communist block states. He has been recruited by Professor Andrei Pincus at Harvard University. Only the best and brightest for U.S. overseas C.I.A. operations!
William Maz has developed a very integral spy novel intertwined with love for a first homeland. Bucharest is showing signs of revolting against communism and release from Russian domination. Russia does not want to see a free and independent Romania. Hefflin is there to assist in bringing the country into a relationship with western powers. Meanwhile, his lost childhood love and memories broil just under the surface.
This is a very well-developed novel with believable characters. A spymaster pulls strings to push Hefflin into becoming a complete foreign operative. The story and description of Bucharest and Romanian culture are enchanting. Enjoy! 4.5 stars – CE Williams
We received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are his honest opinions.
February 10, 2022
The Bucharest Dossier
This was a fascinating, fast paced read. The imagery of Romania and Bucharest were meticulously on point and puts the reader in each and every scene. Well done, Mr. Maz.
The plot does have the old flavor of the Cold War. All other countries that were part of the Soviet-bloc are falling to the wayside and moving towards a democratic form of government with the exception of one: Romania. The leader, Nicolae Ceausescu has no intention of letting loose his grip on the country of the wealth he’s stashed away for personal consumption. Historically, this is spot on.
Enter the reluctant Bill Hefflin who has spent his days as a CIA analyst while teaching at Harvard. He is most disturbed when he receives a message that he must meet his contact, Boris, in Bucharest. This is highly unusual and most unorthodox for he is not a field man. What he doesn’t realize is that his past of longing and not feeling accepted is all going to fall in place. See, his parent moved to Bucharest where he was happy and made great friends and even a budding romance. But it wasn’t to be as his parents moved to Greece and he was in a camp for over a year. His feeling of belonging to any country was dashed and losing his first love was crushing. His trip to Bucharest will have the present and past clash in a most exciting way.
**Spoiler**
My problems with the story stem from the three chapters dedicated to the trial and execution of Nicolae and his wife. Three chapters was too much. It could have been one chapter, allowing the story to move forward and not get bogged down.
Issue two is when Bill meets Avery at his apartment back in Brooklyn and winds up poisoning Avery. When did he have time to coat the glass with the poison Boris gave him? Too convenient for me since he really didn’t expect him to come calling.
Third issue was the last two chapters. While we wind-up with a HEA, one chapter would have sufficed.
Overall, this is fast, fun read full of twist and turns.
Who will like this? Anyone with a craving for an old time Cold War spy thriller.
Three-and-half stars.
This was a fascinating, fast paced read. The imagery of Romania and Bucharest were meticulously on point and puts the reader in each and every scene. Well done, Mr. Maz.
The plot does have the old flavor of the Cold War. All other countries that were part of the Soviet-bloc are falling to the wayside and moving towards a democratic form of government with the exception of one: Romania. The leader, Nicolae Ceausescu has no intention of letting loose his grip on the country of the wealth he’s stashed away for personal consumption. Historically, this is spot on.
Enter the reluctant Bill Hefflin who has spent his days as a CIA analyst while teaching at Harvard. He is most disturbed when he receives a message that he must meet his contact, Boris, in Bucharest. This is highly unusual and most unorthodox for he is not a field man. What he doesn’t realize is that his past of longing and not feeling accepted is all going to fall in place. See, his parent moved to Bucharest where he was happy and made great friends and even a budding romance. But it wasn’t to be as his parents moved to Greece and he was in a camp for over a year. His feeling of belonging to any country was dashed and losing his first love was crushing. His trip to Bucharest will have the present and past clash in a most exciting way.
**Spoiler**
My problems with the story stem from the three chapters dedicated to the trial and execution of Nicolae and his wife. Three chapters was too much. It could have been one chapter, allowing the story to move forward and not get bogged down.
Issue two is when Bill meets Avery at his apartment back in Brooklyn and winds up poisoning Avery. When did he have time to coat the glass with the poison Boris gave him? Too convenient for me since he really didn’t expect him to come calling.
Third issue was the last two chapters. While we wind-up with a HEA, one chapter would have sufficed.
Overall, this is fast, fun read full of twist and turns.
Who will like this? Anyone with a craving for an old time Cold War spy thriller.
Three-and-half stars.
March 4, 2022
As I was reading THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER, an historical novel of the Cold War, a hot war broke out in Ukraine. Surreal doesn't begin to describe what I felt.
The events described in THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER evoked memories of what the world was like in the 1980s and 90s. The George H. W. Bush administration, the faltering U.S.S.R., and dictators oppressing the people of Eastern Europe. The realism is palpable when reading the names Bush, Gorbachev, and Ceaușescu. It was a time of changing politics and revolution. Enter CIA analyst Bill Hefflin who has his own personal KGB asset sending him intel to help the Western cause. Although they've never met, Hefflin and Boris communicate through dead drops, and Boris's intel is always good. At the height of unrest in Romania, Boris asks for a face to face, and Hefflin is given authorization to go out into the field. Let the spy games begin.
Hefflin, a native speaker of Romanian, born in Bucharest, tells his own story in flashbacks to 1980. His life and the events unfolding in Romania in 1989 make up a beguiling story of one man's search for his identity and a long-lost love.
Revolution and war are horrible. The devastation of human bodies is sickening. Bill Hefflin experiences the horror and devastation firsthand during his foray into the field, and through him I experienced them as well. To read of little value placed on human life is demoralizing, yet it is an ongoing fact of life. William Maz has drawn upon true events and his own life (be sure to read the Author's Note) to write the reality of the human condition.
The events described in THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER evoked memories of what the world was like in the 1980s and 90s. The George H. W. Bush administration, the faltering U.S.S.R., and dictators oppressing the people of Eastern Europe. The realism is palpable when reading the names Bush, Gorbachev, and Ceaușescu. It was a time of changing politics and revolution. Enter CIA analyst Bill Hefflin who has his own personal KGB asset sending him intel to help the Western cause. Although they've never met, Hefflin and Boris communicate through dead drops, and Boris's intel is always good. At the height of unrest in Romania, Boris asks for a face to face, and Hefflin is given authorization to go out into the field. Let the spy games begin.
Hefflin, a native speaker of Romanian, born in Bucharest, tells his own story in flashbacks to 1980. His life and the events unfolding in Romania in 1989 make up a beguiling story of one man's search for his identity and a long-lost love.
Revolution and war are horrible. The devastation of human bodies is sickening. Bill Hefflin experiences the horror and devastation firsthand during his foray into the field, and through him I experienced them as well. To read of little value placed on human life is demoralizing, yet it is an ongoing fact of life. William Maz has drawn upon true events and his own life (be sure to read the Author's Note) to write the reality of the human condition.
December 23, 2021
What a fascinating journey!
No matter how short I try to resume this story, it is so complex and has so many facets it is impossible to gasp its true nature in a couple of sentences. It's a spycraft thriller, the days before and the days after the Romanian Revolution of 1989 seen through the eyes of a CIA analyst, and how this affects and connects to his life as an Romanian expat.
It is very well written, at times quite fast paced, not shying away for the violence and the intricate games that its genre is known for.
However, what I loved the most and where the books shines brightly is the atmosphere it paints that seems so specifically Romanian. As a Romanian myself I was in awe at how well the author painted the mood in the train, in the old neighborhood, dealing with Romanian institutions, all those gray shades, cold and desperation before the revolution and the bright days of childhood memories. Tanti Bobo was such a magical character, one that I will keep close to my heart after reading this book. The whole story gives justice to the gypsies that are an important part in Romania and its history, in a very knowledgeable way. I think this was a very hard thing to achieve without a great deal of writing skills and the deep knowing of how complex their role is in the Romanian society.
While the ending might not seem very possible, it does have the feeling of outer time I can only compare to Liviu Rebreanu's book Adam and Eve, this small spark of realism magic vibe elates the pages and brings such an extraordinary glow to them. And when each little detail starts to create a map of the story, from the cigarettes his lover smoked to the family photographs, it is such a rewarding end of journey for the reader.
I received this book in order to offer my honest opinion.
No matter how short I try to resume this story, it is so complex and has so many facets it is impossible to gasp its true nature in a couple of sentences. It's a spycraft thriller, the days before and the days after the Romanian Revolution of 1989 seen through the eyes of a CIA analyst, and how this affects and connects to his life as an Romanian expat.
It is very well written, at times quite fast paced, not shying away for the violence and the intricate games that its genre is known for.
However, what I loved the most and where the books shines brightly is the atmosphere it paints that seems so specifically Romanian. As a Romanian myself I was in awe at how well the author painted the mood in the train, in the old neighborhood, dealing with Romanian institutions, all those gray shades, cold and desperation before the revolution and the bright days of childhood memories. Tanti Bobo was such a magical character, one that I will keep close to my heart after reading this book. The whole story gives justice to the gypsies that are an important part in Romania and its history, in a very knowledgeable way. I think this was a very hard thing to achieve without a great deal of writing skills and the deep knowing of how complex their role is in the Romanian society.
While the ending might not seem very possible, it does have the feeling of outer time I can only compare to Liviu Rebreanu's book Adam and Eve, this small spark of realism magic vibe elates the pages and brings such an extraordinary glow to them. And when each little detail starts to create a map of the story, from the cigarettes his lover smoked to the family photographs, it is such a rewarding end of journey for the reader.
I received this book in order to offer my honest opinion.
April 4, 2022
The Bucharest Dossier was a fast paced Cold War spy thriller that I read in a day. I was a bit surprised, pleasantly, since I don’t read many espionage books. I loved that this fictional portrayal was based around factual events, the start of the 1989 uprising in Romania and Ceaușescu’s eventual downfall and death.
CIA analyst Bill Hefflin is sent on assignment back home to Bucharest, which is on the brink of a bloody revolution.
Faced with the harsh realities and horrors of communism, he has his own past ghosts to contend while also searching for his lost childhood love. As the deadly events begin to unfold, Bill begins to realize that there are traitors everywhere, nothing is as it seems and everyone has their own agenda.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and the execution. Anyone who loves a fast paced spy thriller with some history thrown in will definitely enjoy this one.
CIA analyst Bill Hefflin is sent on assignment back home to Bucharest, which is on the brink of a bloody revolution.
Faced with the harsh realities and horrors of communism, he has his own past ghosts to contend while also searching for his lost childhood love. As the deadly events begin to unfold, Bill begins to realize that there are traitors everywhere, nothing is as it seems and everyone has their own agenda.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and the execution. Anyone who loves a fast paced spy thriller with some history thrown in will definitely enjoy this one.
November 10, 2023
I enjoy reading about the Romanian revolution, which I remember very well. So whenever I find a book set on the background of those historical events, I jump on it enthusiastically. This why I was happy to find this thriller, and I'm happy to report that it was an even more enjoyable read than I expected. Maz has managed to create a wonderful suspense story, a sophisticated espionage plot with a twist of romance (albeit a bit too farfetched), and a historical fiction that explains the ins and outs of what happened over those dramatic few weeks. Even though I remember the events and read a lot about them, I learned more on the subject. All-in-all, I was very pleasantly surprised and got more than I expected out of this read. Moving on to the next book, set just after the revolution.
April 2, 2022
It’s always good advice in the case of a debut writer to write what you know when it comes to your first novel. Well, author William Maz follows this advice to the letter. His first novel, THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER, is a dynamite thriller that will make writers fondly recall the work of espionage writers like Len Deighton, John LeCarre, and Robert Ludlum.
Maz’s own personal history includes being born in Bucharest, Romania, prior to emigrating with his family to the U.S. and attending Harvard University. Much in the same way as his primary character does in the novel --- CIA analyst, Bill Hefflin. Maz deftly infuses THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER with all he knows about his birthplace, time at Harvard, as well as years studying fiction writing to produce a terrific espionage thriller that leans on all of these things to create a can’t miss story set during the violent Romanian uprising that took place in the late 1980’s.
The action opens in 1989 at Harvard University where Professor Andrei Pincus is preparing to head off to his campus home that he has lived in for thirty-four years. He is a widower, yet is not surprised when he enters his home, and it is not empty. There is a stranger waiting for him there. This stranger accuses Pincus of having betrayed his home country of Romania and that he is there to tie up loose ends. His accusations include calling Pincus out for his new allegiance to the United States and he takes his life with a hypodermic needle to the nose.
It turns out that Pincus was the mentor to our story’s protagonist, Bill Hefflin, and we spend some time looking back at Hefflin’s time as a student at Harvard where Pincus, working his secondary job as a recruiter for the CIA, reels in the impressionable Hefflin and points him in the direction of the Agency. Prior to this we see Hefflin in NYC circa 1989 learning about his mentor’s brutal demise while going to his secret location to pick up a message from his long-time KGB contact named Boris who indicates that he needs to get himself to Bucharest at once.
While attending the funeral for Pincus, Director of Operations for the CIA Dan Avery, calls Hefflin into his vehicle to go over his role in the trip to Romania. Hefflin is going over as a U.S. Embassy employee but is to continue his Analyst work and must meet up with Boris and take it from there. Meanwhile, we continue to step back in time and see Hefflin’s initiation into the clandestine Fly Club at Harvard which entered him into the spy game and is also where he first met the intriguing Catherine, the second love of his life.
Upon arrival in Bucharest, Hefflin meets up with his superiour there --- a man named Stanton who is confounded that someone would be sent over blindly into such a volatile situation to meet with someone they have never met before in the mysterious Boris. While waiting for Boris to contact him, Hefflin decides to seek out his first love from his childhood in Romania --- a girl he only knew by the name Pusha Pantelimon who he has lost touch with decades earlier. Of course, his initial search turns up nothing as that is not a real first name, just a term of endearment.
One evening at the cheap hotel he is living at; Hefflin is visited by a strange American man calling himself Harold Mayfield from Chicago. He eventually starts asking about the dossier Hefflin claims he had. Hefflin said that there was no dossier, it was just something he had mentioned to a few nosy reporters to get rid of them. This answer does not satisfy the odd Mr. Mayfield who leaves directly afterwards. Hefflin finally gets the call to meet with his KGB contact, Boris, and they have the chance to get together face to face for the first time. Boris seems to know everything about Hefflin’s life to a point where it becomes uncomfortable. He also indicates that he is there to facilitate the removal of Ceausescu from office to make his American friends happy.
Hefflin travels to a town called Timisoara where it turns out that not only Stanton happens to be visiting a CIA safe house but also there are some particularly violent demonstrations taking place. Added to this is the fact that Hefflin comes in contact again with his brief College flame, Catherine, now claiming to be a journalist with Le Monde. Readers will be simply riveted to the page as Hefflin finds himself getting deeper and deeper into the dangerous events within Romania that seem to be almost orchestrated by both the U.S. and Boris. Beyond that, Boris turns out to have an eerie hold over Hefflin and his entire life which may still include some sort of reunion with Pusha, even if it’s not quite the one Hefflin had expected. William Maz has himself a real winner with what I predict will be one of the top debut novels of 2022, THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER --- an espionage thriller not to be missed by fans of this dynamic genre!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
Maz’s own personal history includes being born in Bucharest, Romania, prior to emigrating with his family to the U.S. and attending Harvard University. Much in the same way as his primary character does in the novel --- CIA analyst, Bill Hefflin. Maz deftly infuses THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER with all he knows about his birthplace, time at Harvard, as well as years studying fiction writing to produce a terrific espionage thriller that leans on all of these things to create a can’t miss story set during the violent Romanian uprising that took place in the late 1980’s.
The action opens in 1989 at Harvard University where Professor Andrei Pincus is preparing to head off to his campus home that he has lived in for thirty-four years. He is a widower, yet is not surprised when he enters his home, and it is not empty. There is a stranger waiting for him there. This stranger accuses Pincus of having betrayed his home country of Romania and that he is there to tie up loose ends. His accusations include calling Pincus out for his new allegiance to the United States and he takes his life with a hypodermic needle to the nose.
It turns out that Pincus was the mentor to our story’s protagonist, Bill Hefflin, and we spend some time looking back at Hefflin’s time as a student at Harvard where Pincus, working his secondary job as a recruiter for the CIA, reels in the impressionable Hefflin and points him in the direction of the Agency. Prior to this we see Hefflin in NYC circa 1989 learning about his mentor’s brutal demise while going to his secret location to pick up a message from his long-time KGB contact named Boris who indicates that he needs to get himself to Bucharest at once.
While attending the funeral for Pincus, Director of Operations for the CIA Dan Avery, calls Hefflin into his vehicle to go over his role in the trip to Romania. Hefflin is going over as a U.S. Embassy employee but is to continue his Analyst work and must meet up with Boris and take it from there. Meanwhile, we continue to step back in time and see Hefflin’s initiation into the clandestine Fly Club at Harvard which entered him into the spy game and is also where he first met the intriguing Catherine, the second love of his life.
Upon arrival in Bucharest, Hefflin meets up with his superiour there --- a man named Stanton who is confounded that someone would be sent over blindly into such a volatile situation to meet with someone they have never met before in the mysterious Boris. While waiting for Boris to contact him, Hefflin decides to seek out his first love from his childhood in Romania --- a girl he only knew by the name Pusha Pantelimon who he has lost touch with decades earlier. Of course, his initial search turns up nothing as that is not a real first name, just a term of endearment.
One evening at the cheap hotel he is living at; Hefflin is visited by a strange American man calling himself Harold Mayfield from Chicago. He eventually starts asking about the dossier Hefflin claims he had. Hefflin said that there was no dossier, it was just something he had mentioned to a few nosy reporters to get rid of them. This answer does not satisfy the odd Mr. Mayfield who leaves directly afterwards. Hefflin finally gets the call to meet with his KGB contact, Boris, and they have the chance to get together face to face for the first time. Boris seems to know everything about Hefflin’s life to a point where it becomes uncomfortable. He also indicates that he is there to facilitate the removal of Ceausescu from office to make his American friends happy.
Hefflin travels to a town called Timisoara where it turns out that not only Stanton happens to be visiting a CIA safe house but also there are some particularly violent demonstrations taking place. Added to this is the fact that Hefflin comes in contact again with his brief College flame, Catherine, now claiming to be a journalist with Le Monde. Readers will be simply riveted to the page as Hefflin finds himself getting deeper and deeper into the dangerous events within Romania that seem to be almost orchestrated by both the U.S. and Boris. Beyond that, Boris turns out to have an eerie hold over Hefflin and his entire life which may still include some sort of reunion with Pusha, even if it’s not quite the one Hefflin had expected. William Maz has himself a real winner with what I predict will be one of the top debut novels of 2022, THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER --- an espionage thriller not to be missed by fans of this dynamic genre!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
May 29, 2023
I have always enjoyed reading historical fiction. I think it's fun to learn history, but without the pressure I had in school so it's normal that I was also attracted to this book written by William Maz, especially since it describes a very controversial period in the history of the Roman people, namely the fall Ceaușescu's regime.
The novel also shows how the Americans were - somewhat - involved in this movement. It was interesting to read all the conspiracy theories about the revolution put into one book, put together nicely to give a novel full of Cold War espionage and duplicity. William Maz describes the Eastern European region as full of corruption that even Americans enjoy. Well constructed, well paced, Maz has created a sensational thriller that keeps you hooked and makes you want to discover more.
Bill Hefflin was recruited by the CIA while at Harvard. Hefflin is a Romanian whose family left Romania to seek a better life in the West. He changed his name and identity many years ago and now, with all that is happening in dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu's Romania, Hefflin finds himself back in his homeland. He acts on information provided by Boris, his KGB source. The revolt spreads and Hefflin finds himself in the middle of a country torn apart as communism disintegrates across Eastern Europe.
Hefflin returns to Bucharest not only to observe the revolution, but also to find the woman he loved in his youth. She's keeping a big secret too, and their reunion could have significant consequences. As Hefflin investigates, he also seeks to discover what the Causescu s have been up to... while the people were dying of hunger.
Hefflin now learns that he is just a puppet in this game. Both the CIA and the KGB pulled strings to get rid of a leader who is out of step with the times, a tyrant who believes himself above the great powers of the Western World. As the final months of 1989 speed by, trouble mounts, culminating in a Christmas surprise that will make the world look differently to Romania and Hefflin wonder how he fits into all of this.
Although I hadn't heard of William Maz, I'm glad I came across this book...in fact I got this book from a good friend who knows I'm a big fan of historical fiction. The first in what appears to be a series, Maz weaves together a wonderful story in an era that may be on the horizon again, albeit with different actors. Maz uses complex characters, including even Nicolae Ceaușescu in the story, to describe the tones he wants to convey. Strong plots emerge and develop with ease as Maz tells stories that were meant to remain hidden.
The novel also shows how the Americans were - somewhat - involved in this movement. It was interesting to read all the conspiracy theories about the revolution put into one book, put together nicely to give a novel full of Cold War espionage and duplicity. William Maz describes the Eastern European region as full of corruption that even Americans enjoy. Well constructed, well paced, Maz has created a sensational thriller that keeps you hooked and makes you want to discover more.
Bill Hefflin was recruited by the CIA while at Harvard. Hefflin is a Romanian whose family left Romania to seek a better life in the West. He changed his name and identity many years ago and now, with all that is happening in dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu's Romania, Hefflin finds himself back in his homeland. He acts on information provided by Boris, his KGB source. The revolt spreads and Hefflin finds himself in the middle of a country torn apart as communism disintegrates across Eastern Europe.
Hefflin returns to Bucharest not only to observe the revolution, but also to find the woman he loved in his youth. She's keeping a big secret too, and their reunion could have significant consequences. As Hefflin investigates, he also seeks to discover what the Causescu s have been up to... while the people were dying of hunger.
Hefflin now learns that he is just a puppet in this game. Both the CIA and the KGB pulled strings to get rid of a leader who is out of step with the times, a tyrant who believes himself above the great powers of the Western World. As the final months of 1989 speed by, trouble mounts, culminating in a Christmas surprise that will make the world look differently to Romania and Hefflin wonder how he fits into all of this.
Although I hadn't heard of William Maz, I'm glad I came across this book...in fact I got this book from a good friend who knows I'm a big fan of historical fiction. The first in what appears to be a series, Maz weaves together a wonderful story in an era that may be on the horizon again, albeit with different actors. Maz uses complex characters, including even Nicolae Ceaușescu in the story, to describe the tones he wants to convey. Strong plots emerge and develop with ease as Maz tells stories that were meant to remain hidden.
January 23, 2024
As a book reviewer, one of the best parts of my job is discovering new authors. William Maz was an unknown name to me until The Bucharest Dossier landed in my hands, and I can now say I am a fan.
This international espionage thriller follows Bill Hefflin, a Romanian expat who’s parents brought him to America as a child during the Cold War. After graduating from Harvard, he’s recruited by the CIA as an analyst. His skills are put to the test when he’s asked to return to Bucharest. It’s the start of the bloody 1989 uprising against Nicolae Ceaușescu, the Communist leader of the country.
What unfolds is a complex web of intrigue, in which Hefflin is not just an observer but a key player in a game manipulated by the CIA and the KGB. Amid this political turmoil, Hefflin also harbors a personal quest—to uncover the fate of his childhood sweetheart, Pusha, who disappeared years ago.
Bunny trail alert. I was so fascinated by the historical elements in this novel that I spent longer than necessary researching the facts. Nicolae Ceaușescu was the leader of Romania from 1965 until his overthrow in 1989. He and his wife, who he appointed the first deputy prime minister, lived in opulence as the Romanian population suffered food shortages because Ceausescu exported most of the harvest.
The Ceausescus were arrested during the revolution. Their trial, which began and ended on Christmas Day, lasted less than an hour. The military judge declared both guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced them to death. A firing squad immediately executed them.
I remember seeing horrifying images of children in Romanian orphanages. Beginning in the late 1960s, Ceausescu battled a demographic crisis by banning contraception. He required women to bear at least five children, which resulted in 150,000 children being placed in state-run orphanages.
The Bucharest Dossier is a terrific debut. Its fast-paced plot, coupled with well-integrated historical facts, kept me hooked from beginning to end. Hefflin is a relatable protagonist, making it easy to invest in his journey. Maz’s writing is authentic, drawing from his own experiences growing up in Bucharest under communism.
This espionage thriller is worth your time. I’m looking forward to reading the follow-up, The Bucharest Legacy. 4 stars.
** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a comp of this novel. The opinions are my own.
This international espionage thriller follows Bill Hefflin, a Romanian expat who’s parents brought him to America as a child during the Cold War. After graduating from Harvard, he’s recruited by the CIA as an analyst. His skills are put to the test when he’s asked to return to Bucharest. It’s the start of the bloody 1989 uprising against Nicolae Ceaușescu, the Communist leader of the country.
What unfolds is a complex web of intrigue, in which Hefflin is not just an observer but a key player in a game manipulated by the CIA and the KGB. Amid this political turmoil, Hefflin also harbors a personal quest—to uncover the fate of his childhood sweetheart, Pusha, who disappeared years ago.
Bunny trail alert. I was so fascinated by the historical elements in this novel that I spent longer than necessary researching the facts. Nicolae Ceaușescu was the leader of Romania from 1965 until his overthrow in 1989. He and his wife, who he appointed the first deputy prime minister, lived in opulence as the Romanian population suffered food shortages because Ceausescu exported most of the harvest.
The Ceausescus were arrested during the revolution. Their trial, which began and ended on Christmas Day, lasted less than an hour. The military judge declared both guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced them to death. A firing squad immediately executed them.
I remember seeing horrifying images of children in Romanian orphanages. Beginning in the late 1960s, Ceausescu battled a demographic crisis by banning contraception. He required women to bear at least five children, which resulted in 150,000 children being placed in state-run orphanages.
The Bucharest Dossier is a terrific debut. Its fast-paced plot, coupled with well-integrated historical facts, kept me hooked from beginning to end. Hefflin is a relatable protagonist, making it easy to invest in his journey. Maz’s writing is authentic, drawing from his own experiences growing up in Bucharest under communism.
This espionage thriller is worth your time. I’m looking forward to reading the follow-up, The Bucharest Legacy. 4 stars.
** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a comp of this novel. The opinions are my own.
March 8, 2022
The Bucharest Dossier is a classic espionage thriller set in 1989 against the back drop of the Romanian Revolution and the fall of communism. The protagonist, Bill Heflin, is a double refugee. As a child, he moved from Romania to Greece then on to America, resulting in a classic fish-out-of-water hero who never fits in. He attempts to establish a new identity in college by changing his name to Heflin and creating a new background for himself. While at Harvard, he is approached and recruited by the CIA. He ends up joining as an economic analyst. He is sent to Romania and, while carrying out his clandestine activities, searches for Pusha, his long-lost childhood love.
This book has tons of twists and turns. The characters are well-developed. The setting in Romania has a special verisimilitude I found particularly appealing. On reading the author’s notes, I learned that he had been born in Romania, and like his main character, spent two years in a Greek refugee camp before moving to the U.S.
The Bucharest Dossier provides a realistic portrayal of the CIA and spycraft during the fall of communism. My main criticism is that the romance aspect is the least successful on the interwoven lines of this book, and I had a hard time figuring out why Bill would fall for such an unlikeable character as Catherine. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book immensely.
This book has tons of twists and turns. The characters are well-developed. The setting in Romania has a special verisimilitude I found particularly appealing. On reading the author’s notes, I learned that he had been born in Romania, and like his main character, spent two years in a Greek refugee camp before moving to the U.S.
The Bucharest Dossier provides a realistic portrayal of the CIA and spycraft during the fall of communism. My main criticism is that the romance aspect is the least successful on the interwoven lines of this book, and I had a hard time figuring out why Bill would fall for such an unlikeable character as Catherine. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book immensely.
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February 6, 2023“Dosarul Bucuresti” mi-a atras atentia de când au anuntat cei de la @editura_corint aparitia sa si chiar mi-am dorit cu înflacarare sa-i descopar povestea, în special ca era vorba de spionaj, dar si despre vremurile crunte ale lui 1989, comunismul din Romania, Securitatea si nu numai…
Bill Hefflin este un român cu iluziile facute praf, care locuieste in SUA. A fost recrutat pe când era la facultate de cei de la CIA, iar la începutul revolutiei din 1989, este trimis in Romania, la Bucuresti, sa adune informatii. Astfel se vede prins într-un joc periculos, unde nimic nu este ceea ce pare…
Mi s-a parut o lectura extrem de interesanta, cele doua planuri temporale prin care am fost purtata mi-au captat atentia de la bun inceput, chiar daca nu aveam încredere în niciun personaj implicat in poveste. Toti mi se pareau ca-si joaca propriul jocul, isi urmaresc interesele, iar Hefflin este prins la mijloc, asemeni unei marionete. Capitolele în care am “poposit” mai mult în 1989 mi-au confirmat presentimentele si ajunsesem sa-mi para rau de Hefflin, ca era manipulat dupa bunul plac al altora.
Desi este o opera de fictiune, are la baza evenimente reale, si aici nu vorbesc doar despre revolutia din 1989, ci si despre altele, asa cum mentioneaza si autorul in nota de final, ramane sa le descoperiti voi, daca sunteti curiosi.
“Dosarul Bucuresti” este si fictiune istorica, dar si un thriller de spionaj, însa cuprinde si o poveste de dragoste ☺️. Eu va indrum sa-i acordati o sansa, în special daca va doriti sa cititi un roman real, emotionant, nostalgic, dar care sa va tina cu sufletul la gura…
Bill Hefflin este un român cu iluziile facute praf, care locuieste in SUA. A fost recrutat pe când era la facultate de cei de la CIA, iar la începutul revolutiei din 1989, este trimis in Romania, la Bucuresti, sa adune informatii. Astfel se vede prins într-un joc periculos, unde nimic nu este ceea ce pare…
Mi s-a parut o lectura extrem de interesanta, cele doua planuri temporale prin care am fost purtata mi-au captat atentia de la bun inceput, chiar daca nu aveam încredere în niciun personaj implicat in poveste. Toti mi se pareau ca-si joaca propriul jocul, isi urmaresc interesele, iar Hefflin este prins la mijloc, asemeni unei marionete. Capitolele în care am “poposit” mai mult în 1989 mi-au confirmat presentimentele si ajunsesem sa-mi para rau de Hefflin, ca era manipulat dupa bunul plac al altora.
Desi este o opera de fictiune, are la baza evenimente reale, si aici nu vorbesc doar despre revolutia din 1989, ci si despre altele, asa cum mentioneaza si autorul in nota de final, ramane sa le descoperiti voi, daca sunteti curiosi.
“Dosarul Bucuresti” este si fictiune istorica, dar si un thriller de spionaj, însa cuprinde si o poveste de dragoste ☺️. Eu va indrum sa-i acordati o sansa, în special daca va doriti sa cititi un roman real, emotionant, nostalgic, dar care sa va tina cu sufletul la gura…
February 21, 2022
To be honest, in the beginning, I wasn't sure whether this book was for me. As the story unfolded, I began to become more intrigued by the prose and especially the character development.
The protagonist, Bill Hefflin, is a Romanian/Greek refugee that immigrates to the United States with his family as a young child, leaving behind his childhood girlfriend the love of his life. Bill is fortunate enough to receive a mysterious scholarship to Harvard where he is recruited by the CIA to become an analyst. Bill soon finds that he is assigned a mission to Romania at the beginning of the country's turmoil and revolution in 1989.
I found the story complex on many fronts. Bill has a fixation on his past in Romania, particularly the childhood girlfriend he left so many years ago. As a CIA agent, Bill is thrown into a climate of espionage, danger, and mistrust. WHO can he trust, believe? Even the good guys are not what they seem and the bad guys are everywhere. Then there is the love interest, or should I say two, that Bill struggles to understand.
I found the book very interesting, highly entertaining, and satisfying. I highly recommend this book. I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest reviews.
The protagonist, Bill Hefflin, is a Romanian/Greek refugee that immigrates to the United States with his family as a young child, leaving behind his childhood girlfriend the love of his life. Bill is fortunate enough to receive a mysterious scholarship to Harvard where he is recruited by the CIA to become an analyst. Bill soon finds that he is assigned a mission to Romania at the beginning of the country's turmoil and revolution in 1989.
I found the story complex on many fronts. Bill has a fixation on his past in Romania, particularly the childhood girlfriend he left so many years ago. As a CIA agent, Bill is thrown into a climate of espionage, danger, and mistrust. WHO can he trust, believe? Even the good guys are not what they seem and the bad guys are everywhere. Then there is the love interest, or should I say two, that Bill struggles to understand.
I found the book very interesting, highly entertaining, and satisfying. I highly recommend this book. I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest reviews.
April 4, 2022
For debut authors, it’s always a good idea to write what you know. William Maz follows this advice to the letter. His first novel, THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER, is a dynamite thriller that will make readers fondly recall the work of such espionage writers as Len Deighton, John le Carré and Robert Ludlum.
Maz was born in Bucharest, Romania, prior to immigrating with his family to the US and attending Harvard University --- much like his protagonist, CIA analyst Bill Hefflin, does. He deftly infuses his book with all he knows about his birthplace and his time at Harvard, as well as his years studying fiction writing, to produce a can’t-miss story set during the violent Romanian uprising that took place in the late 1980s.
The action opens in 1989 at Harvard, where Professor Andrei Pincus is preparing to head off to his campus home where he has lived for 34 years. Waiting for him there is a stranger who accuses him of betraying his home country and says he is determined to tie up loose ends. Calling out Pincus for his new allegiance to the US, he takes his life with a hypodermic needle to the nose.
It turns out that Pincus was Hefflin’s mentor, so we look back at Hefflin’s time as a student at Harvard. Pincus, working his secondary job as a recruiter for the CIA, reels in the impressionable Hefflin and points him in the direction of the Agency. Prior to this, we see Hefflin in New York City learning about his mentor’s brutal demise while going to his secret location to pick up a message from his longtime KGB contact, Boris, who indicates that he needs to get to Bucharest at once.
While attending Pincus’ funeral, Dan Avery, the Director of Operations for the CIA, calls Hefflin into his vehicle to talk about the trip. Hefflin is heading to Romania as a U.S. Embassy employee, but he is to continue his work as an analyst and must meet up with Boris and take it from there. Meanwhile, we continue to step back in time and see Hefflin’s initiation into the clandestine Fly Club at Harvard, which entered him into the spy game and is where he met the intriguing Catherine, the second love of his life.
Upon his arrival in Bucharest, Hefflin sees his superior, Jack Stanton, who is confounded that someone would be sent over blindly into such a volatile situation to meet with a person they have never seen before. While waiting for Boris to contact him, Hefflin decides to seek out his first love from his childhood in Romania, a girl he only knew by the name Pusha Pantelimon. Of course, his initial search turns up nothing. That is not a real first name, just a term of endearment.
One evening, at the cheap hotel where he is staying, Hefflin is visited by a strange American man calling himself Harold Mayfield. He eventually starts asking about the dossier that Hefflin claims he has. Hefflin says that there is no dossier --- he had just mentioned it to a few nosy reporters to get rid of them --- but this answer does not satisfy Mayfield. Hefflin finally gets the call to meet with Boris, and they have a chance to get together face to face for the first time. Boris seems to know everything about Hefflin’s life to the point that it becomes uncomfortable.
Readers will be simply riveted to the page as Hefflin finds himself getting deeper and deeper into the dangerous events within Romania that seem to be almost orchestrated by both the US and Boris. Beyond that, Boris turns out to have an eerie hold over Hefflin and his entire life, which may still include some sort of reunion with Pusha, even if it’s not quite the one Hefflin had expected.
William Maz has written what could be one of the top debuts of 2022. THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER is an espionage thriller not to be missed by fans of this dynamic genre.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
Maz was born in Bucharest, Romania, prior to immigrating with his family to the US and attending Harvard University --- much like his protagonist, CIA analyst Bill Hefflin, does. He deftly infuses his book with all he knows about his birthplace and his time at Harvard, as well as his years studying fiction writing, to produce a can’t-miss story set during the violent Romanian uprising that took place in the late 1980s.
The action opens in 1989 at Harvard, where Professor Andrei Pincus is preparing to head off to his campus home where he has lived for 34 years. Waiting for him there is a stranger who accuses him of betraying his home country and says he is determined to tie up loose ends. Calling out Pincus for his new allegiance to the US, he takes his life with a hypodermic needle to the nose.
It turns out that Pincus was Hefflin’s mentor, so we look back at Hefflin’s time as a student at Harvard. Pincus, working his secondary job as a recruiter for the CIA, reels in the impressionable Hefflin and points him in the direction of the Agency. Prior to this, we see Hefflin in New York City learning about his mentor’s brutal demise while going to his secret location to pick up a message from his longtime KGB contact, Boris, who indicates that he needs to get to Bucharest at once.
While attending Pincus’ funeral, Dan Avery, the Director of Operations for the CIA, calls Hefflin into his vehicle to talk about the trip. Hefflin is heading to Romania as a U.S. Embassy employee, but he is to continue his work as an analyst and must meet up with Boris and take it from there. Meanwhile, we continue to step back in time and see Hefflin’s initiation into the clandestine Fly Club at Harvard, which entered him into the spy game and is where he met the intriguing Catherine, the second love of his life.
Upon his arrival in Bucharest, Hefflin sees his superior, Jack Stanton, who is confounded that someone would be sent over blindly into such a volatile situation to meet with a person they have never seen before. While waiting for Boris to contact him, Hefflin decides to seek out his first love from his childhood in Romania, a girl he only knew by the name Pusha Pantelimon. Of course, his initial search turns up nothing. That is not a real first name, just a term of endearment.
One evening, at the cheap hotel where he is staying, Hefflin is visited by a strange American man calling himself Harold Mayfield. He eventually starts asking about the dossier that Hefflin claims he has. Hefflin says that there is no dossier --- he had just mentioned it to a few nosy reporters to get rid of them --- but this answer does not satisfy Mayfield. Hefflin finally gets the call to meet with Boris, and they have a chance to get together face to face for the first time. Boris seems to know everything about Hefflin’s life to the point that it becomes uncomfortable.
Readers will be simply riveted to the page as Hefflin finds himself getting deeper and deeper into the dangerous events within Romania that seem to be almost orchestrated by both the US and Boris. Beyond that, Boris turns out to have an eerie hold over Hefflin and his entire life, which may still include some sort of reunion with Pusha, even if it’s not quite the one Hefflin had expected.
William Maz has written what could be one of the top debuts of 2022. THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER is an espionage thriller not to be missed by fans of this dynamic genre.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
January 23, 2024
As a book reviewer, one of the best parts of my job is discovering new authors. William Maz was an unknown name to me until The Bucharest Dossier landed in my hands, and I can now say I am a fan.
This international espionage thriller follows Bill Hefflin, a Romanian expat who’s parents brought him to America as a child during the Cold War. After graduating from Harvard, he’s recruited by the CIA as an analyst. His skills are put to the test when he’s asked to return to Bucharest. It’s the start of the bloody 1989 uprising against Nicolae Ceaușescu, the Communist leader of the country.
What unfolds is a complex web of intrigue, in which Hefflin is not just an observer but a key player in a game manipulated by the CIA and the KGB. Amid this political turmoil, Hefflin also harbors a personal quest—to uncover the fate of his childhood sweetheart, Pusha, who disappeared years ago.
Bunny trail alert. I was so fascinated by the historical elements in this novel that I spent longer than necessary researching the facts. Nicolae Ceaușescu was the leader of Romania from 1965 until his overthrow in 1989. He and his wife, who he appointed the first deputy prime minister, lived in opulence as the Romanian population suffered food shortages because Ceausescu exported most of the harvest.
The Ceausescus were arrested during the revolution. Their trial, which began and ended on Christmas Day, lasted less than an hour. The military judge declared both guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced them to death. A firing squad immediately executed them.
I remember seeing horrifying images of children in Romanian orphanages. Beginning in the late 1960s, Ceausescu battled a demographic crisis by banning contraception. He required women to bear at least five children, which resulted in 150,000 children being placed in state-run orphanages.
The Bucharest Dossier is a terrific debut. Its fast-paced plot, coupled with well-integrated historical facts, kept me hooked from beginning to end. Hefflin is a relatable protagonist, making it easy to invest in his journey. Maz’s writing is authentic, drawing from his own experiences growing up in Bucharest under communism.
This espionage thriller is worth your time. I’m looking forward to reading the follow-up, The Bucharest Legacy. 4 stars.
** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a comp of this novel. The opinions are my own.
This international espionage thriller follows Bill Hefflin, a Romanian expat who’s parents brought him to America as a child during the Cold War. After graduating from Harvard, he’s recruited by the CIA as an analyst. His skills are put to the test when he’s asked to return to Bucharest. It’s the start of the bloody 1989 uprising against Nicolae Ceaușescu, the Communist leader of the country.
What unfolds is a complex web of intrigue, in which Hefflin is not just an observer but a key player in a game manipulated by the CIA and the KGB. Amid this political turmoil, Hefflin also harbors a personal quest—to uncover the fate of his childhood sweetheart, Pusha, who disappeared years ago.
Bunny trail alert. I was so fascinated by the historical elements in this novel that I spent longer than necessary researching the facts. Nicolae Ceaușescu was the leader of Romania from 1965 until his overthrow in 1989. He and his wife, who he appointed the first deputy prime minister, lived in opulence as the Romanian population suffered food shortages because Ceausescu exported most of the harvest.
The Ceausescus were arrested during the revolution. Their trial, which began and ended on Christmas Day, lasted less than an hour. The military judge declared both guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced them to death. A firing squad immediately executed them.
I remember seeing horrifying images of children in Romanian orphanages. Beginning in the late 1960s, Ceausescu battled a demographic crisis by banning contraception. He required women to bear at least five children, which resulted in 150,000 children being placed in state-run orphanages.
The Bucharest Dossier is a terrific debut. Its fast-paced plot, coupled with well-integrated historical facts, kept me hooked from beginning to end. Hefflin is a relatable protagonist, making it easy to invest in his journey. Maz’s writing is authentic, drawing from his own experiences growing up in Bucharest under communism.
This espionage thriller is worth your time. I’m looking forward to reading the follow-up, The Bucharest Legacy. 4 stars.
** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a comp of this novel. The opinions are my own.
March 20, 2022
The Bucharest Dossier, William Maz, author
The really special thing about this novel is that it encompasses spycraft, with all of its intrigue and controversy, exposing its warts and foibles along the way, as the author marries this tale of espionage with a fairytale romance, replete with all of the necessary dreams and hopefulness that accompany young unrequited love. Neither theme detracts from the other, rather, they enhance the mystery, and make the book ever so much more enlightening.
Skillfully, the author has woven together a tale that is based on actual historic events in Romania, a country that seems often to have been riddled with turmoil and corrupt leaders, with the most normal of human needs, the search for love. The reader cannot help but notice the similarity of circumstances inside Ukraine today, another country with a history buried in corruption, that was recently invaded by Russia. The meddling of a country into the affairs of other countries, seems to be a common practice.
Andrei Pincus, the Harvard Professor and mentor to Harvard student, William Hefflin, our main character, who is assumed to be Romanian, is suddenly murdered. It was supposedly carried out by an agent of the Romanian Securitate. Behind the scenes, Pincus had influenced Hefflin’s life, beginning with his invitation and acceptance to the exclusive “Fly Club” at Harvard, where Hefflin was being observed and groomed to work for the CIA, unbeknownst to him. Bereft at the loss, of Pincus, he hopes to discover who is responsible. This is just the first of many secrets that will be unraveled. William Hefflin, is an assumed name for this young man, who identifies with America now, but has also had a childhood history in Greece and Romania. What is his real name? Unknown to all but a few chosen people, William’s real name is Vasili Argyris. He is not Romanian, but Greek.
When he decided to work for the CIA and not to go to medical school as his doctor father wished, his life, as a loner, seemed settled. For a year short of a decade, he has had a relationship with an asset in Europe, whom he calls Boris. Although he has never met him, and he does not know his real identity, the asset has always passed legitimate information to Hefflin, that is truly actionable. Both Boris and William have become valuable to the agency. When after the death of Pincus, Boris uncharacteristically asks William to meet him in Bucharest, he is surprised, but at this same time, as Romanians seem ready to demand their freedom, as all the citizens of other countries in the Eastern Bloc recently have, the CIA sends him to Romania to gather information, and gauge the temperature of the country. Even though he is officially an analyst in charge of etiquette, and not a trained field agent, his Romanian background makes him a perfect choice. The CIA wants to know when, and if, this uprising will occur that will supposedly bring freedom to the masses suffering under the thumb of the Ceausescu’s, Nicolae and Elena. Is the country becoming a powder keg?
Once in Romania, Hefflin’s old memories begin to haunt him. He remembers Pusha, his childhood friend and first love. They declared their undying devotion to each other when they were seven or eight, but circumstances separated the two youngsters, two decades ago. William discovers that he has to hone his skills, as he idly walks the streets and searches for memories, because he is followed, attacked and compromised in this country that seems almost lawless. Ordinary people must scrounge for their survival. All but the elite seem to be starving. The Securitate are everywhere, are brutal, and seemingly answer to no one
All of the characters have secret pasts that are unknown until the end when the loose ends are seamlessly knitted together. There are so many colorful characters in the novel. Tanti Bobo, a gypsy that was Hefflin’s wet nurse in Romania, Pusha (doll), the beautiful little playmate, and Catherine, a beautiful woman Hefflin met and loved while he was at Harvard, to name a few. The novel very deftly and creatively exposes the corruption in government, both at home and abroad. It seems everyone has a price or a will to survive and how far one will go is tested on every page.
Book groups will love this book because it raises many universal, timeworn questions. Did anyone instigate the riots, protests, and violence in Romania or were they spontaneous? Does everyone have a price? Is there any hope for a resurgence of moral and ethical boundaries? In spite of the horrors of war and brutality, can love flourish? How far will one go to save themselves and sacrifice others? Is it appropriate for one country to interfere in the affairs of another?
Take this book with you on your next vacation or to your next dinner alone. It will be good company.
The really special thing about this novel is that it encompasses spycraft, with all of its intrigue and controversy, exposing its warts and foibles along the way, as the author marries this tale of espionage with a fairytale romance, replete with all of the necessary dreams and hopefulness that accompany young unrequited love. Neither theme detracts from the other, rather, they enhance the mystery, and make the book ever so much more enlightening.
Skillfully, the author has woven together a tale that is based on actual historic events in Romania, a country that seems often to have been riddled with turmoil and corrupt leaders, with the most normal of human needs, the search for love. The reader cannot help but notice the similarity of circumstances inside Ukraine today, another country with a history buried in corruption, that was recently invaded by Russia. The meddling of a country into the affairs of other countries, seems to be a common practice.
Andrei Pincus, the Harvard Professor and mentor to Harvard student, William Hefflin, our main character, who is assumed to be Romanian, is suddenly murdered. It was supposedly carried out by an agent of the Romanian Securitate. Behind the scenes, Pincus had influenced Hefflin’s life, beginning with his invitation and acceptance to the exclusive “Fly Club” at Harvard, where Hefflin was being observed and groomed to work for the CIA, unbeknownst to him. Bereft at the loss, of Pincus, he hopes to discover who is responsible. This is just the first of many secrets that will be unraveled. William Hefflin, is an assumed name for this young man, who identifies with America now, but has also had a childhood history in Greece and Romania. What is his real name? Unknown to all but a few chosen people, William’s real name is Vasili Argyris. He is not Romanian, but Greek.
When he decided to work for the CIA and not to go to medical school as his doctor father wished, his life, as a loner, seemed settled. For a year short of a decade, he has had a relationship with an asset in Europe, whom he calls Boris. Although he has never met him, and he does not know his real identity, the asset has always passed legitimate information to Hefflin, that is truly actionable. Both Boris and William have become valuable to the agency. When after the death of Pincus, Boris uncharacteristically asks William to meet him in Bucharest, he is surprised, but at this same time, as Romanians seem ready to demand their freedom, as all the citizens of other countries in the Eastern Bloc recently have, the CIA sends him to Romania to gather information, and gauge the temperature of the country. Even though he is officially an analyst in charge of etiquette, and not a trained field agent, his Romanian background makes him a perfect choice. The CIA wants to know when, and if, this uprising will occur that will supposedly bring freedom to the masses suffering under the thumb of the Ceausescu’s, Nicolae and Elena. Is the country becoming a powder keg?
Once in Romania, Hefflin’s old memories begin to haunt him. He remembers Pusha, his childhood friend and first love. They declared their undying devotion to each other when they were seven or eight, but circumstances separated the two youngsters, two decades ago. William discovers that he has to hone his skills, as he idly walks the streets and searches for memories, because he is followed, attacked and compromised in this country that seems almost lawless. Ordinary people must scrounge for their survival. All but the elite seem to be starving. The Securitate are everywhere, are brutal, and seemingly answer to no one
All of the characters have secret pasts that are unknown until the end when the loose ends are seamlessly knitted together. There are so many colorful characters in the novel. Tanti Bobo, a gypsy that was Hefflin’s wet nurse in Romania, Pusha (doll), the beautiful little playmate, and Catherine, a beautiful woman Hefflin met and loved while he was at Harvard, to name a few. The novel very deftly and creatively exposes the corruption in government, both at home and abroad. It seems everyone has a price or a will to survive and how far one will go is tested on every page.
Book groups will love this book because it raises many universal, timeworn questions. Did anyone instigate the riots, protests, and violence in Romania or were they spontaneous? Does everyone have a price? Is there any hope for a resurgence of moral and ethical boundaries? In spite of the horrors of war and brutality, can love flourish? How far will one go to save themselves and sacrifice others? Is it appropriate for one country to interfere in the affairs of another?
Take this book with you on your next vacation or to your next dinner alone. It will be good company.
March 12, 2023
Can't believe that this was a debut book from an author. I loved the story and the subjects it tackled.
I really love spy and cold war movies but I have stayed away from books of the genre till now. And I'm very glad that I have tried this one. Besides being an espionage book with a few twists, the story happens in my home country, Romania and it tackles the end of communism. I was just an infant at that time, but from what I know the book keeps a mostly realistic view of the events and fills a few key points with information that might have been real. I even enjoyed very much the love story and it gave it a little Bond touch.
4,5 stars for such a pleasurable read.
I really love spy and cold war movies but I have stayed away from books of the genre till now. And I'm very glad that I have tried this one. Besides being an espionage book with a few twists, the story happens in my home country, Romania and it tackles the end of communism. I was just an infant at that time, but from what I know the book keeps a mostly realistic view of the events and fills a few key points with information that might have been real. I even enjoyed very much the love story and it gave it a little Bond touch.
4,5 stars for such a pleasurable read.
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March 15, 2022This is the author’s debut novel. The story is set during the Romanian rebellion. So you can imagine the scenes already. Action packed and bloody. 😅
Of course some romance is thrown here and there. I found that cute in between the political drama.
So if you are into spy thrillers, rebellious landscape and some historical perspective, this book is for you. In addition to that, this book also releases today. So… go grab your copy soon. 😊
However, this genre is relatively new for me. I normally don’t indulge on this type. It was a good experience for me reading it. Just that the politics involved is really not my cup of tea.
Thank you for the gifted copy Meryl Moss in exchange for an honest review.
Of course some romance is thrown here and there. I found that cute in between the political drama.
So if you are into spy thrillers, rebellious landscape and some historical perspective, this book is for you. In addition to that, this book also releases today. So… go grab your copy soon. 😊
However, this genre is relatively new for me. I normally don’t indulge on this type. It was a good experience for me reading it. Just that the politics involved is really not my cup of tea.
Thank you for the gifted copy Meryl Moss in exchange for an honest review.
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