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The Bucharest Legacy: The Rise of the Oligarchs
Literary Titan Award Winner
Summer 2023 Pencraft Best Book Award Winner
CIA agent Bill Hefflin is back in Bucharest—immersed in a cauldron of spies and crooked politicians
The CIA is rocked to its core when a KGB defector divulges that there is a KGB mole inside the Agency. They learn that the mole’s handler is a KGB agent known as Boris. CIA analyst Bill Hefflin recognizes that name—Boris is the code name of Hefflin’s longtime KGB asset. If the defector is correct, Hefflin realizes Boris must be a triple agent, and his supposed mole has been passing false intel to Hefflin and the CIA. What’s more, this makes Hefflin the prime suspect as the KGB mole inside the Agency.
Hefflin is given a chance to prove his innocence by returning to his city of birth, Bucharest, Romania, to find Boris and track down the identity of the mole. It’s been three years since the bloody revolution, and what he finds is a cauldron of spies, crooked politicians, and a country controlled by the underground and the new oligarchs, all of whom want to find Boris. But Hefflin has a secret that no one else knows—Boris has been dead for over a year.
Perfect for fans of John le Carré and Brad Thor
While the novels in the Bill Hefflin Spy Thriller Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence
The Bucharest Dossier
The Bucharest Legacy ,
,
Summer 2023 Pencraft Best Book Award Winner
CIA agent Bill Hefflin is back in Bucharest—immersed in a cauldron of spies and crooked politicians
The CIA is rocked to its core when a KGB defector divulges that there is a KGB mole inside the Agency. They learn that the mole’s handler is a KGB agent known as Boris. CIA analyst Bill Hefflin recognizes that name—Boris is the code name of Hefflin’s longtime KGB asset. If the defector is correct, Hefflin realizes Boris must be a triple agent, and his supposed mole has been passing false intel to Hefflin and the CIA. What’s more, this makes Hefflin the prime suspect as the KGB mole inside the Agency.
Hefflin is given a chance to prove his innocence by returning to his city of birth, Bucharest, Romania, to find Boris and track down the identity of the mole. It’s been three years since the bloody revolution, and what he finds is a cauldron of spies, crooked politicians, and a country controlled by the underground and the new oligarchs, all of whom want to find Boris. But Hefflin has a secret that no one else knows—Boris has been dead for over a year.
Perfect for fans of John le Carré and Brad Thor
While the novels in the Bill Hefflin Spy Thriller Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence
The Bucharest Dossier
The Bucharest Legacy ,
,
368 pages, Hardcover
Published June 20, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
July 1, 2023
Book 2 of this espionage series begins 3-years after the Romanian overthrow of Nicolai Ceaucescu, and my have things changed, and yet not really over in Romania despite everyone's thoughts of instant democracy and booming capitalism. Our protagonist, Bill Hefflin, has left his job at the CIA after having inherited a substantial sum of money from his former KGB friend/asset, Boris. But one day during a walk he sees a sign that there is a drop for him, and the message indicates that it is from Boris, but Boris is dead and nobody knows that but Bill, so who is behind this. Thus begins a top flight espionage thriller that certainly has elevated William Maz to a premier espionage writers. There is a mole in the CIA and many consider Bill to be that person, but despite that he is sent back to Romania to both find Boris and prove he is not the mole. What he finds is a new Romania that has been taken over by the Oligarchs, be they former members of the dread Securitate, former Communist politicians, gangs of gypsies, or others propped up by either the USA or Russia. An intricately detailed and plotted book that is refreshing in that it is not the usual US/UK/Russia thriller but instead Maz deals with Romania and the forces that are trying to control the country. Businesses and land has been privatized, and all the wealth has been transferred from the Communist government to this small handful of individuals. It is place of continues corruption ahd lost hopes and dreams, a place where weapon sales and smuggling rampant and Hefflin is confronted by innumerable obstacles. Filled with real individuals, along with true descriptions of the people and conditions in Romania, it is a bleak world that existed there in 1993 and it appears that there will happily be at least one more book in this series.
On a personal note, my wife is Romanian (escaping in 1984), and I have personally been back there numerous on numerous occasions and can vouch for the realistic conditions set forth by the author. It will take generations for Romania to overcome its past, and so William Maz has a fertile location for many more great espionage books! Kudos on a great book!!!
On a personal note, my wife is Romanian (escaping in 1984), and I have personally been back there numerous on numerous occasions and can vouch for the realistic conditions set forth by the author. It will take generations for Romania to overcome its past, and so William Maz has a fertile location for many more great espionage books! Kudos on a great book!!!
May 18, 2023
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, William Maz, and Oceanview Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
A great fan of historical fiction and coming to enjoy the world of Cold War espionage, I was drawn to this second book by William Maz. Following up on the powerful debut piece, this one continues the action, with fallout in Romania after communism disintegrates across the region. Full of wonderful Cold War era espionage and double agent informing, Maz portrays a world where nothing is quite as it seems and duplicity is rife within the CIA. Could the KGB have planted a mole deep within the Agency, leaving Bill Hefflin to discover us who might be try to drive America into the ground? William Maz does a wonderful job here, not only with the story, but depicting a time when no one knew who they could trust or for how long.
As the fallout of communism’s failure continues to rock the world, news emerges that the CIA may have a high-ranking mole in its midst. The mole’s handler is none other than KGB informant Boris, known to one member of the Agency quite well. While Bill Hefflin left the CIA after witnessing the fall of Romania’s communist dictatorship, his connection to Boris leaves him in a vulnerable situation. When former colleagues come calling, seeking to bring him back into the fold, if only to get to the bottom of it all, he is forced to make a tough decision.
With Boris’ known connection to all of this, Hefflin becomes the prime suspect in the mole investigation, something he adamantly denies. Hefflin must put his family in jeopardy to prove himself and find the actual mole, worried that turning over any rock could lead him to dangerous truths.
Returning to Bucharest, Hefflin begins scouring the area to locate intel, as well as dredge up old memories from his past. It will be a painful hunt, but one that is necessary, if Hefflin does not want to be painted as a traitor, which comes its punishments like no other. Romania is still rife with corruption and duplicity, but Hefflin will have to soldier on if he hopes to reveal the truth and be able to put this all to bed once and for all. However, Hefflin has a significant piece of intel that could rock things to the core and open up new avenues of suspicion! William Maz delivers another knockout punch with this stellar piece of writing, sure to impress those who love a strong novel about Cold War era spy craft.
While I had never heard of William Maz before reading the debut novel, I am pleased this ARC forced me to discover his writing. Maz develops some stellar storytelling and great characters to capture the tensions of the time period. A strong narrative flow kept me wanting to learn more, as did some of the well-placed plots. While there were some amazing characters, as with the first book, many shone in their darkness, if that makes any sense. Strong plots emerge throughout, building on threads from the debut novel and development allows Maz to bandy things about. The reader finds themselves down many a rabbit hole before arriving at the end result, which is never quite as it seems. This is a wonderful novel that kept me wanting more, which I hope William Maz will present in the years to come.
Kudos, Mr. Maz, for showing me how much fun Cold War era espionage can be.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A great fan of historical fiction and coming to enjoy the world of Cold War espionage, I was drawn to this second book by William Maz. Following up on the powerful debut piece, this one continues the action, with fallout in Romania after communism disintegrates across the region. Full of wonderful Cold War era espionage and double agent informing, Maz portrays a world where nothing is quite as it seems and duplicity is rife within the CIA. Could the KGB have planted a mole deep within the Agency, leaving Bill Hefflin to discover us who might be try to drive America into the ground? William Maz does a wonderful job here, not only with the story, but depicting a time when no one knew who they could trust or for how long.
As the fallout of communism’s failure continues to rock the world, news emerges that the CIA may have a high-ranking mole in its midst. The mole’s handler is none other than KGB informant Boris, known to one member of the Agency quite well. While Bill Hefflin left the CIA after witnessing the fall of Romania’s communist dictatorship, his connection to Boris leaves him in a vulnerable situation. When former colleagues come calling, seeking to bring him back into the fold, if only to get to the bottom of it all, he is forced to make a tough decision.
With Boris’ known connection to all of this, Hefflin becomes the prime suspect in the mole investigation, something he adamantly denies. Hefflin must put his family in jeopardy to prove himself and find the actual mole, worried that turning over any rock could lead him to dangerous truths.
Returning to Bucharest, Hefflin begins scouring the area to locate intel, as well as dredge up old memories from his past. It will be a painful hunt, but one that is necessary, if Hefflin does not want to be painted as a traitor, which comes its punishments like no other. Romania is still rife with corruption and duplicity, but Hefflin will have to soldier on if he hopes to reveal the truth and be able to put this all to bed once and for all. However, Hefflin has a significant piece of intel that could rock things to the core and open up new avenues of suspicion! William Maz delivers another knockout punch with this stellar piece of writing, sure to impress those who love a strong novel about Cold War era spy craft.
While I had never heard of William Maz before reading the debut novel, I am pleased this ARC forced me to discover his writing. Maz develops some stellar storytelling and great characters to capture the tensions of the time period. A strong narrative flow kept me wanting to learn more, as did some of the well-placed plots. While there were some amazing characters, as with the first book, many shone in their darkness, if that makes any sense. Strong plots emerge throughout, building on threads from the debut novel and development allows Maz to bandy things about. The reader finds themselves down many a rabbit hole before arriving at the end result, which is never quite as it seems. This is a wonderful novel that kept me wanting more, which I hope William Maz will present in the years to come.
Kudos, Mr. Maz, for showing me how much fun Cold War era espionage can be.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
March 1, 2023
3.5 stars
This is an intricately woven espionage novel that takes place in Bucharest during the time of Romania's transition to democracy; three years after the revolution. Using his expertise as a creator of maze puzzles, and activity books for children, the author, William Maz, now takes us into a literary labyrinth of intrigue once again for this his sophomore novel. His knowledge base and research are superb.
I truly enjoyed the first book in this series, "The Bucharest Dossier". Bill Hefflin, the main character in both books, is interesting and very likable. In this story, Hefflin returns to the CIA to help find a Soviet mole within the Agency, while also being a suspect himself. A convoluted tale of spy intelligence and counterintelligence ensues. However, this book didn't hold my interest as much as the last one. For me, the plot lost its focus and the narrative spent too much time on a secondary plot line. I like the main character, but I'm hoping at this point that he is finished with Bucharest and may move on to a new locale for his next adventure in the spy world.
This is an intricately woven espionage novel that takes place in Bucharest during the time of Romania's transition to democracy; three years after the revolution. Using his expertise as a creator of maze puzzles, and activity books for children, the author, William Maz, now takes us into a literary labyrinth of intrigue once again for this his sophomore novel. His knowledge base and research are superb.
I truly enjoyed the first book in this series, "The Bucharest Dossier". Bill Hefflin, the main character in both books, is interesting and very likable. In this story, Hefflin returns to the CIA to help find a Soviet mole within the Agency, while also being a suspect himself. A convoluted tale of spy intelligence and counterintelligence ensues. However, this book didn't hold my interest as much as the last one. For me, the plot lost its focus and the narrative spent too much time on a secondary plot line. I like the main character, but I'm hoping at this point that he is finished with Bucharest and may move on to a new locale for his next adventure in the spy world.
June 12, 2023
The Rise of the Oligarchs
This suspenseful sequel to “The Bucharest Dossier” is an engaging and exciting cold-war thriller on its own, no need to read the previous book in order to enjoy this one. The story sheds light on the unbelievable corruption of both the West and the East. The narrative over 400 pages covers basically the Bucharest of the 1993 and takes place three years after the revolution against the Communist regime.
The protagonist is Romanian born Bill Hefflin who finds himself entangled with the CIA handling a mysterious Russian asset, Boris, a double agent maybe even a triple agent...how convoluted can this become. Wait to see what Mr. Maz has in mind in his book. When a rumor flies that he is the top Russian mole in the CIA, he definitely knows he is being set up and sets out to get to the bottom of things. After ensuring that his son and wife’s are safe, he sets off to Romania where immediately things go haywire. And the bodies start to mount...while the crooks get richer and half the population are starving.
You need to stay alert reading this book so much goes on back and forth and many characters are added to the action and the suspense gets even more intense. Hefflin and his wife Catherine, who plays a huge role, are well-drawn and complex characters. As for Boris, he is a shadow hanging over the spy hunts. I may have found the story to be way longer than it should have been with the repetition of information we have already been told but delving deeper into the gripping action scenes I discovered how crafty Mr. Maz’s writing style is. His research, techniques and action sequences only can keep us on the edge of our seats till the very end. The language is easy and engaging what is not to like. Well said, well-done
My thanks to Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC
This suspenseful sequel to “The Bucharest Dossier” is an engaging and exciting cold-war thriller on its own, no need to read the previous book in order to enjoy this one. The story sheds light on the unbelievable corruption of both the West and the East. The narrative over 400 pages covers basically the Bucharest of the 1993 and takes place three years after the revolution against the Communist regime.
The protagonist is Romanian born Bill Hefflin who finds himself entangled with the CIA handling a mysterious Russian asset, Boris, a double agent maybe even a triple agent...how convoluted can this become. Wait to see what Mr. Maz has in mind in his book. When a rumor flies that he is the top Russian mole in the CIA, he definitely knows he is being set up and sets out to get to the bottom of things. After ensuring that his son and wife’s are safe, he sets off to Romania where immediately things go haywire. And the bodies start to mount...while the crooks get richer and half the population are starving.
You need to stay alert reading this book so much goes on back and forth and many characters are added to the action and the suspense gets even more intense. Hefflin and his wife Catherine, who plays a huge role, are well-drawn and complex characters. As for Boris, he is a shadow hanging over the spy hunts. I may have found the story to be way longer than it should have been with the repetition of information we have already been told but delving deeper into the gripping action scenes I discovered how crafty Mr. Maz’s writing style is. His research, techniques and action sequences only can keep us on the edge of our seats till the very end. The language is easy and engaging what is not to like. Well said, well-done
My thanks to Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC
June 22, 2023
Wow! This gripping spy thriller finds ex-CIA agent Bill Hefflin returning to hunt out a KGB mole. Impactful as a standalone, The Bucharest Legacy will grab you from page one as you hang on for a wild ride in Romania after the collapse of communism. Atmospheric, compulsively readable, and highly recommended for lovers of historical spy thrillers. Will make you circle back to Book 1, The Bucharest Dossier, for extra reading delight.
June 22, 2023
Wow! This gripping spy thriller finds ex-CIA agent Bill Hefflin returning to hunt out a KGB mole. Impactful as a standalone, The Bucharest Legacy will grab you from page one as you hang on for a wild ride in Romania after the collapse of communism. Atmospheric, compulsively readable, and highly recommended for lovers of historical spy thrillers. Will make you circle back to Book 1, The Bucharest Dossier, for extra reading delight.
September 17, 2024
I would like to thank Oceanview Publishing and William Maz for granting me a digital copy of this book.
2⭐- based in the early 90's we follow Bill, a CIA agent - who's sent back to his birthplace in Romania for a mission.
This book didn't vibe with me, maybe because it was the second book in the series and I feel like I missed a whole lot of context from the first book..
2⭐- based in the early 90's we follow Bill, a CIA agent - who's sent back to his birthplace in Romania for a mission.
This book didn't vibe with me, maybe because it was the second book in the series and I feel like I missed a whole lot of context from the first book..
February 6, 2023
The Bucharest legacy, the rise of Oligarchs by William Maz, is an astonishing book. It opens the doors to the post-communism era in Romania. It can be called the dark side of the moon. Its theme is like that of a spy movie. It has the spying thrilling element, a strong bond of love, being a parent and a remarkable history. These themes flow smoothly in parallel dimensions and create an excellent narration.
Each chapter is full of curiosity and makes the reader turn pages to read what will happen next. Which character will do what? The reader feels like going through a chess game. Heflin, Boris, Tanti Bobo, Tyler, Catherine, Ingram, Mayfield and every character unfolds a dark past and even a dark present.
Heflin is the center character of the whole story. He unties the knots that will lead him to the suspected mole in the CIA operating in Romania. Not only this, but it will also reveal the past chapters of his own life and all about his family. His deep relationship with Boris stays like a puzzle throughout the story, though he knows his friend died years ago.
The language used is easy and approachable to the reader. The historical element is elaborated excellently, and the vast knowledge of how oligarchs established themselves in the political system with corruption overflowing is mind-blowing. The political games played, and the staunching bureaucratic mysteries leave you stunned at different points in the book. It makes the reader admire the writer’s interest in the history of a country’s political scenario and all the bureaucratic cobwebs.
It’s an excellent book. I really appreciate William’s skills in narration and knowledge and how he keeps the reader engaged throughout the book. Recommended for a mature audience, interested in a spying action thriller and have a great interest in political and bureaucratic upheavals and the post-communist era in Romania. A great read.
Each chapter is full of curiosity and makes the reader turn pages to read what will happen next. Which character will do what? The reader feels like going through a chess game. Heflin, Boris, Tanti Bobo, Tyler, Catherine, Ingram, Mayfield and every character unfolds a dark past and even a dark present.
Heflin is the center character of the whole story. He unties the knots that will lead him to the suspected mole in the CIA operating in Romania. Not only this, but it will also reveal the past chapters of his own life and all about his family. His deep relationship with Boris stays like a puzzle throughout the story, though he knows his friend died years ago.
The language used is easy and approachable to the reader. The historical element is elaborated excellently, and the vast knowledge of how oligarchs established themselves in the political system with corruption overflowing is mind-blowing. The political games played, and the staunching bureaucratic mysteries leave you stunned at different points in the book. It makes the reader admire the writer’s interest in the history of a country’s political scenario and all the bureaucratic cobwebs.
It’s an excellent book. I really appreciate William’s skills in narration and knowledge and how he keeps the reader engaged throughout the book. Recommended for a mature audience, interested in a spying action thriller and have a great interest in political and bureaucratic upheavals and the post-communist era in Romania. A great read.
October 9, 2023
1993, three years after the Romanian revolution, and Bill Heflin finds himself back in Romania to meet up with an alleged KGB defector and deliver him safely to the American Embassy in Bucharest. Upon interrogation, the defector drops a bombshell that could rock the Agency to its core… the CIA has a KGB mole and that the mole’s handler is a KGB spy known only by the code name ‘Boris’—who also happens to be Hefflin’s old friend and KGB asset. Seeing as nobody but Hefflin knows who ‘Boris’ is, this makes Hefflin the prime suspect as the mole.
Hefflin is offered the chance to return to Bucharest to hunt down the mole’s identity and clear his name. But word gets out that he was the handler for ‘Boris’ and might be the KGB mole within the CIA so things get rather dangerous for Bill Hefflin. Numerous spy agencies want to hunt down and eliminate ‘Boris’ before more information gets out. Little do they all know, ‘Boris’ has been dead for more than a year.
This is the second book in the Bill Hefflin series by William Maz, and although the first book was absolutely great, I found this one to be even better.
Although it is stated that the novels stand on their own, I would really urge you to read the first book in the series, The Bucharest Dossier, first so you have the entire backstory before reading this novel.
I truly hope that there are more Bill Hefflin novels coming in the future.
Hefflin is offered the chance to return to Bucharest to hunt down the mole’s identity and clear his name. But word gets out that he was the handler for ‘Boris’ and might be the KGB mole within the CIA so things get rather dangerous for Bill Hefflin. Numerous spy agencies want to hunt down and eliminate ‘Boris’ before more information gets out. Little do they all know, ‘Boris’ has been dead for more than a year.
This is the second book in the Bill Hefflin series by William Maz, and although the first book was absolutely great, I found this one to be even better.
Although it is stated that the novels stand on their own, I would really urge you to read the first book in the series, The Bucharest Dossier, first so you have the entire backstory before reading this novel.
I truly hope that there are more Bill Hefflin novels coming in the future.
February 19, 2023
If you like spy novels, you must know the latest work by William Maz "The Bucharest Legacy". Together with the main character, we are looking for a double and maybe even a triple agent. We travel through many cities and countries. We move in different years. This thriller is very engaging. I couldn't stop reading. Interesting plot. A super hero whose life will be exposed to death more than once. Will his family survive? It was my first reading encounter with the works of William Maz. Now I know it won't be the last. This work is brilliant. I love spy thrillers. I found a lot of unexpected twists here. The plot is excellent. All you have to do is read "The Bucharest legacy". Time spent reading was not time wasted.
June 29, 2023
The Bucharest is a thrilling story about espionage, lies, and deceit, while also learning about the truth from the past and letting it go. This story is action packed and full of twists and turns. If you want an engaging thriller, then this one is perfect for you. Also, this is the second book, so make sure you check out the first book A Bucharest Dossier first. I feel like it definitely makes a difference.
June 29, 2023
Review via NetGally
April 5, 2023
When a KBG defector claims that there is a mole within the CIA, Bill Heflin is forced to rejoin the CIA in order to uncover the truth. This spy thriller had so many twists and turns that it kept me coming back. While the story was engaging I did find it hard to follow the plot at times. There were so many side stories and so many "associates" that Hefflin involved himself with that I found myself saying "Who the hell is this guy now?" I found some of the facts about post communist Romania to be very interesting though definitely a bit far stretched. I did find some parts of the book a bit cringy but we can hash that to personal preference.
Overall I found it to be well written, pretty engaging though unwieldy at times. 3 1/2 stars for me.
Thank you Netgalley and Oceanview for the free advanced copy.
#TheBucharestLegacy #NetGalley
Overall I found it to be well written, pretty engaging though unwieldy at times. 3 1/2 stars for me.
Thank you Netgalley and Oceanview for the free advanced copy.
#TheBucharestLegacy #NetGalley
April 7, 2023
Real Rating: 3.5* of five
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: I did not see this set-up coming. I like that in a spy story, especially a series. What I *did* see coming was that the author would keep using the ethnic slur "gypsy" which as a Romanian he should know is the semantic equivalent of the "n" word...but wait! there's more, as the infomercials used to say....
Considering how the previous book ended, I was expecting to feel pretty indifferent to the life Bill's received from his immigrant parets and their sacrifices, from Boris and his scale-balancing, being placed under threat. I was, in fact, uninterested in his fatherhood, his marriage to the still-icky-to-me Catherine, all that pop-music-scored montage material. Once Bill's in the vice-grip of his old job's new bosses and he's back in Bucharest, I stopped speed-flipping and resumed reading.
What we have is a spy story that really bites into the apple of all (especially the best) spy stories: who're the "good" guys when absolutely everyone is lying through their (false) teeth and giving you Bambi-eyes through colored contacts as they try to distract you with a hand job while picking your pocket and measuring you up for a swift stab?
The good news is that the story is up to its convolutions now. The sub-optimal news is that the ending goes places I found repugnant and disturbing. The sheer velocity of the spy bits would get an honest four-plus stars. The ending's shenanigans lopped that half-star right back off. The chasing around and the inclusion of Catherine in the spying got my happy grins. The way the author treats his ethnic slur use won me back to his side. The resolution of Bill's quest for roots was also quite deftly sewn into the material of the plot. There's a degree of...I suppose wistfulness is the word I'll choose...in that resolution, and it was laced with a very true-to-life salting of disillusionment. Like most all of us, Bill does not leave his twenties with his idealism intact; like almost any of us who become parents, he discovers the oceanic depths of the connection between parent and child. He becomes a different, more dangerously grounded man.
As the body count that results from this mounts, I felt that most agreeable glow of the thriller reader, "they deserved it", suffusing me regularly. I don't think a single murder was committed before my bifocals that I'd've flinched away from in real life. That is a good trait in a spy story. As the action in this story moves around the globe more than the first one, I was satisfied that the author chose to focus most of his descriptive and evocative prose on Bucharest as it transitions from failed Communist state to failing oligarchy. I am very unfamiliar with Bucharest so I was most interested in the parts of the story in that setting.
But the psychosexual peek into the author afforded by the ending was greatly not to my taste. I'm sure I'll read another one of these, should one eventuate; I'm forewarned that there will be disagreeable ladlings of heterosexual activity; I can only hope the author will feed me more Romanian atmosphere to help mask the bitter taste of it. I'd really like to smack the copyeditor, too, for failing to catch things like "peak" for "pique" and other such homophones. The w-verb bombing is present, too, and honestly should be a fine-able offense.
On the whole, a guarded and qualified endorsement of the story.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: I did not see this set-up coming. I like that in a spy story, especially a series. What I *did* see coming was that the author would keep using the ethnic slur "gypsy" which as a Romanian he should know is the semantic equivalent of the "n" word...but wait! there's more, as the infomercials used to say....
Considering how the previous book ended, I was expecting to feel pretty indifferent to the life Bill's received from his immigrant parets and their sacrifices, from Boris and his scale-balancing, being placed under threat. I was, in fact, uninterested in his fatherhood, his marriage to the still-icky-to-me Catherine, all that pop-music-scored montage material. Once Bill's in the vice-grip of his old job's new bosses and he's back in Bucharest, I stopped speed-flipping and resumed reading.
What we have is a spy story that really bites into the apple of all (especially the best) spy stories: who're the "good" guys when absolutely everyone is lying through their (false) teeth and giving you Bambi-eyes through colored contacts as they try to distract you with a hand job while picking your pocket and measuring you up for a swift stab?
The good news is that the story is up to its convolutions now. The sub-optimal news is that the ending goes places I found repugnant and disturbing. The sheer velocity of the spy bits would get an honest four-plus stars. The ending's shenanigans lopped that half-star right back off. The chasing around and the inclusion of Catherine in the spying got my happy grins. The way the author treats his ethnic slur use won me back to his side. The resolution of Bill's quest for roots was also quite deftly sewn into the material of the plot. There's a degree of...I suppose wistfulness is the word I'll choose...in that resolution, and it was laced with a very true-to-life salting of disillusionment. Like most all of us, Bill does not leave his twenties with his idealism intact; like almost any of us who become parents, he discovers the oceanic depths of the connection between parent and child. He becomes a different, more dangerously grounded man.
As the body count that results from this mounts, I felt that most agreeable glow of the thriller reader, "they deserved it", suffusing me regularly. I don't think a single murder was committed before my bifocals that I'd've flinched away from in real life. That is a good trait in a spy story. As the action in this story moves around the globe more than the first one, I was satisfied that the author chose to focus most of his descriptive and evocative prose on Bucharest as it transitions from failed Communist state to failing oligarchy. I am very unfamiliar with Bucharest so I was most interested in the parts of the story in that setting.
But the psychosexual peek into the author afforded by the ending was greatly not to my taste. I'm sure I'll read another one of these, should one eventuate; I'm forewarned that there will be disagreeable ladlings of heterosexual activity; I can only hope the author will feed me more Romanian atmosphere to help mask the bitter taste of it. I'd really like to smack the copyeditor, too, for failing to catch things like "peak" for "pique" and other such homophones. The w-verb bombing is present, too, and honestly should be a fine-able offense.
On the whole, a guarded and qualified endorsement of the story.
March 15, 2024
Ready for the big screen
In the first 30 pages of THE BUCHAREST LEGACY, William Maz establishes two conundrums that power the narrative of his entertaining thriller. In the first, Bill Hefflin, a retired analyst and occasional field agent in the CIA, does a former colleague a favor and agrees to escort a KGB agent as he defects in Bucharest. Both Hefflin and his colleague believe that this will be a routine, and even boring, mission. But instead, the KGB clearly knows about the planned defection and Hefflin’s contingency plans if something goes wrong and he is almost killed. Later, Hefflin and his colleague agree that this debacle suggests there is a KGB mole at the highest levels of the CIA. And after many plot twists in BUCHAREST, Hefflin finally identifies this treacherous mole and his strangely resentful motivation.
In Maz’s second narrative line, Hefflin pursues the history of two characters, each a generation older, who were critical in his life. The first character is Boris, a double agent that Hefflin ran when he worked at the CIA. Meanwhile, the second character is Tanti Bobo, a Romanian gypsy that Hefflin, who was born in Romania, remembers as a beautiful young woman. But time passes, Hefflin returns to Romania as a CIA field agent, and he discovers that Tanti Bobo has become an impoverished crone. It turns out, however, that Boris and Tanti Bobo were lovers and that they had a son and Hefflin can’t shake the notion that they are his biological parents. Fast-forward 300 entertaining pages and Hefflin discovers that the CIA mole and this love child… well, just read the book and you’ll see how these two story lines—merge.
The subtitle of BUCHAREST is “The Rise of the Oligarchs” and it is Maz’s treatment of this subject—the emergence of a corrupt and ultra-wealthy elite that controls Romania—that makes this novel special. To do this, Maz has Hefflin visit his actress cousin in Bucharest, who is doing very well, thank you, and gets to know her wheeler-dealer boyfriend. This boyfriend, a former KGB agent, knows where all the bodies are buried, and it is through his shenanigans that Maz shows how the oligarchs took over the country. It’s a grim tale of unscrupulous corruption.
IMHO, BUCHAREST has the makings of an exciting movie, since it has lots of action, eccentric characters, and duplicitous scheming. And if it becomes a movie, some scenes should play exactly as they are written. Case in point is the Battle Royale between Hefflin and the beautiful Amanda Thayer, which occurs while they are naked in Hefflin’s hotel room.
BUCHAREST is a solidly entertaining thriller and is recommended.
In the first 30 pages of THE BUCHAREST LEGACY, William Maz establishes two conundrums that power the narrative of his entertaining thriller. In the first, Bill Hefflin, a retired analyst and occasional field agent in the CIA, does a former colleague a favor and agrees to escort a KGB agent as he defects in Bucharest. Both Hefflin and his colleague believe that this will be a routine, and even boring, mission. But instead, the KGB clearly knows about the planned defection and Hefflin’s contingency plans if something goes wrong and he is almost killed. Later, Hefflin and his colleague agree that this debacle suggests there is a KGB mole at the highest levels of the CIA. And after many plot twists in BUCHAREST, Hefflin finally identifies this treacherous mole and his strangely resentful motivation.
In Maz’s second narrative line, Hefflin pursues the history of two characters, each a generation older, who were critical in his life. The first character is Boris, a double agent that Hefflin ran when he worked at the CIA. Meanwhile, the second character is Tanti Bobo, a Romanian gypsy that Hefflin, who was born in Romania, remembers as a beautiful young woman. But time passes, Hefflin returns to Romania as a CIA field agent, and he discovers that Tanti Bobo has become an impoverished crone. It turns out, however, that Boris and Tanti Bobo were lovers and that they had a son and Hefflin can’t shake the notion that they are his biological parents. Fast-forward 300 entertaining pages and Hefflin discovers that the CIA mole and this love child… well, just read the book and you’ll see how these two story lines—merge.
The subtitle of BUCHAREST is “The Rise of the Oligarchs” and it is Maz’s treatment of this subject—the emergence of a corrupt and ultra-wealthy elite that controls Romania—that makes this novel special. To do this, Maz has Hefflin visit his actress cousin in Bucharest, who is doing very well, thank you, and gets to know her wheeler-dealer boyfriend. This boyfriend, a former KGB agent, knows where all the bodies are buried, and it is through his shenanigans that Maz shows how the oligarchs took over the country. It’s a grim tale of unscrupulous corruption.
IMHO, BUCHAREST has the makings of an exciting movie, since it has lots of action, eccentric characters, and duplicitous scheming. And if it becomes a movie, some scenes should play exactly as they are written. Case in point is the Battle Royale between Hefflin and the beautiful Amanda Thayer, which occurs while they are naked in Hefflin’s hotel room.
BUCHAREST is a solidly entertaining thriller and is recommended.
June 21, 2023
The second book in this series, but works perfectly as a stand alone.
I found the set up very complicated at first, there were so many characters, dates and locations, never mind the past and present political history. Once this was all explained, the story started to flow, and we were introduced to the crux of the matter.
Both the CIA and the KGB know they have a mole in their respective departments. Bill Hefflin is brought out of retirement to find the mole, in order to clear suspicion against both himself and his previous work in the CIA. Hefflin ran several sources, and one could have been the mole, but now the mole is suspected of being a double or triple agent.
What makes a person betray his family and country? Is it to make the world a safer place for those very people, or to get revenge upon and destroy a political system that has caused so much harm to a country? Hefflin wants answers to both those questions, for personal reasons. He and his family came from the region, and had to make a hurried and secretive exit, when his father was arrested. He wants to know what happened to his childhood sweetheart, the answers are surprising and shocking.
So much research went into triggering emotions of exile and abandonment, the great love a parent can have for that child, and the lengths they will willingly go to to keep them safe and free. Not all history is in the past, and not all countries benefit when political leaders are overthrown, sometimes, it is better the devil you know.
Fast action and pace throughout this novel, you get caught up with the thrills and tension of not knowing who to trust and who is on the winning side. Hefflin seems a really decent person, full of guilt over events he had no control over in the past, and a sense of urgency to find out who betrayed him, who is the mole. At times he really wears his heart on his sleeve, a spy made human.
I enjoyed this novel, it grabbed my attention and made better sense of past political decisions that the TV news ever did. A five star read.
My thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview publishers for my advanced digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review.
I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK.
I found the set up very complicated at first, there were so many characters, dates and locations, never mind the past and present political history. Once this was all explained, the story started to flow, and we were introduced to the crux of the matter.
Both the CIA and the KGB know they have a mole in their respective departments. Bill Hefflin is brought out of retirement to find the mole, in order to clear suspicion against both himself and his previous work in the CIA. Hefflin ran several sources, and one could have been the mole, but now the mole is suspected of being a double or triple agent.
What makes a person betray his family and country? Is it to make the world a safer place for those very people, or to get revenge upon and destroy a political system that has caused so much harm to a country? Hefflin wants answers to both those questions, for personal reasons. He and his family came from the region, and had to make a hurried and secretive exit, when his father was arrested. He wants to know what happened to his childhood sweetheart, the answers are surprising and shocking.
So much research went into triggering emotions of exile and abandonment, the great love a parent can have for that child, and the lengths they will willingly go to to keep them safe and free. Not all history is in the past, and not all countries benefit when political leaders are overthrown, sometimes, it is better the devil you know.
Fast action and pace throughout this novel, you get caught up with the thrills and tension of not knowing who to trust and who is on the winning side. Hefflin seems a really decent person, full of guilt over events he had no control over in the past, and a sense of urgency to find out who betrayed him, who is the mole. At times he really wears his heart on his sleeve, a spy made human.
I enjoyed this novel, it grabbed my attention and made better sense of past political decisions that the TV news ever did. A five star read.
My thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview publishers for my advanced digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review.
I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK.
June 25, 2023
This can be read as a standalone, but it truly shines if you know the story that started it all.
Now the ex CIA operative Bill Hefflin is called back to help the Agency resolve a big problem - the KGB mole inside. He goes back to Bucharest and revisits the old house where he was born, and the old memories that are still with him.
This time the challenge is even greater, as his mission is to find the mole in order to prove he is not it. While also being lured by all kinds of temptations, from KGB pressure to help them find their own mole or become part of them, to the Romanian oligarchs trying to make him part of their games, and the temptation of redefining his identity.
With the first book I felt the author needed to write a certain story, to give Bill a certain happy end. But with this book it all goes spy craft, with special forces, hired muscle, balaclavas clad men set to kidnap, fires, break-ins, and private plane rides.
I appreciate the great deal of research the author did into the history of my country. He covers so much and understands it deeply, from its known history to the conspiracies laying around, and to its unbreakable bond to its neighboring countries.
What I liked the most about this book was the incredible change of scenes, the many, many twists and turns and ultimately the surprise of finding who the mole was. It was unexpected, it was refreshing, and it, also, solved the true problem of the book.
As with the previous book, this one is special to me for the fantastic way in which it pictured the Roma people's position and how Romanians acted toward them. This requires a lot of knowledge and understanding and the author did justice to it, writing it so well, embedding it into the fabric of the story.
More than the new order of the Eastern Europe, and the rising oligarch that created its history for the past 30 years, this book is Bill's becoming his own person, letting go of the memories, of its search for identity, living his own life, with his greatest love. Through the beginning of Romania's transition and its many layers, the author writes this elegantly, full of suspense and meaning.
I received a copy of this in order to offer my personal view on it.
Now the ex CIA operative Bill Hefflin is called back to help the Agency resolve a big problem - the KGB mole inside. He goes back to Bucharest and revisits the old house where he was born, and the old memories that are still with him.
This time the challenge is even greater, as his mission is to find the mole in order to prove he is not it. While also being lured by all kinds of temptations, from KGB pressure to help them find their own mole or become part of them, to the Romanian oligarchs trying to make him part of their games, and the temptation of redefining his identity.
With the first book I felt the author needed to write a certain story, to give Bill a certain happy end. But with this book it all goes spy craft, with special forces, hired muscle, balaclavas clad men set to kidnap, fires, break-ins, and private plane rides.
I appreciate the great deal of research the author did into the history of my country. He covers so much and understands it deeply, from its known history to the conspiracies laying around, and to its unbreakable bond to its neighboring countries.
What I liked the most about this book was the incredible change of scenes, the many, many twists and turns and ultimately the surprise of finding who the mole was. It was unexpected, it was refreshing, and it, also, solved the true problem of the book.
As with the previous book, this one is special to me for the fantastic way in which it pictured the Roma people's position and how Romanians acted toward them. This requires a lot of knowledge and understanding and the author did justice to it, writing it so well, embedding it into the fabric of the story.
More than the new order of the Eastern Europe, and the rising oligarch that created its history for the past 30 years, this book is Bill's becoming his own person, letting go of the memories, of its search for identity, living his own life, with his greatest love. Through the beginning of Romania's transition and its many layers, the author writes this elegantly, full of suspense and meaning.
I received a copy of this in order to offer my personal view on it.
April 21, 2023
Move over spy guys, there's a new analyst turned agent in the game. THE BUCHAREST LEGACY: The Rise of the Oligarchs, is not only the story of capitalism versus communism in newly independent Romania, but also the story of all the countries no longer part of the Soviet bloc. It would seem that capitalism breeds corruption in the same way that communism did… just on a more massively lucrative scale.
The story of the oligarchs is told through the convoluted life of Bill Hefflin. He was born in Bucharest, taken as a child to Greece, and was finally brought to the United States. His life is also a love story for the ages. In THE BUCHAREST LEGACY, the questions of his life are knit together from many disparate strings. The many political lessons in the book can be applied today to those same former Soviet bloc nations. Some made serious strides to become democracies while others took the road to oligarchy.
The most fascinating part of the book revolves around the enigmatic Boris, the CIA asset who will only deal with Bill Hefflin. He is the reason Hefflin went from analyst to field agent. Boris, known to many under various names, is at the heart of everything. The Bucharest stories are as much about him as they are about Hefflin.
Although the sell copy says the Bucharest books featuring Bill Hefflin can stand on their own and be read in any order, having read THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER, I would recommend reading them in the order in which they were published. However, Bill's italicized 'thoughts' do provide some insight into what happened in the first book. Reading THE BUCHAREST LEGACY, a bit more than a year after THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER, I find his 'thoughts' to be helpful reminders. The other reason for reading books, any books for that matter, in the order in which they are published provides insight into the growth of any author as he or she or they work on perfecting their craft.
THE BUCHAREST LEGACY: The Rise of the Oligarchs does not end with a cliffhanger, but there is reason to believe we haven't heard the last of Hefflin. I for one will welcome reading more about him from William Maz.
#TheBucharestLegacy #NetGalley
The story of the oligarchs is told through the convoluted life of Bill Hefflin. He was born in Bucharest, taken as a child to Greece, and was finally brought to the United States. His life is also a love story for the ages. In THE BUCHAREST LEGACY, the questions of his life are knit together from many disparate strings. The many political lessons in the book can be applied today to those same former Soviet bloc nations. Some made serious strides to become democracies while others took the road to oligarchy.
The most fascinating part of the book revolves around the enigmatic Boris, the CIA asset who will only deal with Bill Hefflin. He is the reason Hefflin went from analyst to field agent. Boris, known to many under various names, is at the heart of everything. The Bucharest stories are as much about him as they are about Hefflin.
Although the sell copy says the Bucharest books featuring Bill Hefflin can stand on their own and be read in any order, having read THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER, I would recommend reading them in the order in which they were published. However, Bill's italicized 'thoughts' do provide some insight into what happened in the first book. Reading THE BUCHAREST LEGACY, a bit more than a year after THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER, I find his 'thoughts' to be helpful reminders. The other reason for reading books, any books for that matter, in the order in which they are published provides insight into the growth of any author as he or she or they work on perfecting their craft.
THE BUCHAREST LEGACY: The Rise of the Oligarchs does not end with a cliffhanger, but there is reason to believe we haven't heard the last of Hefflin. I for one will welcome reading more about him from William Maz.
#TheBucharestLegacy #NetGalley
June 28, 2023
The Bucharest Legacy by William Maz is a riveting and captivating novel that delves into the aftermath of the Romanian revolution, a momentous event in the nation’s history as it fought to liberate itself from the grip of Communism. Set three years later, Romania is experiencing a transformation, yet it remains plagued by deep-seated corruption and treacherous power plays within its leadership.
Protagonist Bill Hefflin, whose life has settled into a tranquil existence following his instrumental role in the Romanian revolution, finds himself thrust into a whirlwind of unforeseen circumstances when he embarks on a new mission, his second in just three years. As he embarks on this perilous journey, he stumbles upon dangerous intelligence that casts suspicion on his mentor and close friend, Boris. This revelation not only jeopardizes Hefflin’s credibility within the agency but also places his life at risk as he becomes entangled in the web of accusations, branded a potential mole. Nonetheless, Hefflin possesses privileged knowledge about Boris that eludes others.
In its entirety, The Bucharest Legacy unravels an exhilarating narrative that centers around the relentless pursuit of a double agent in a world defined by falsehoods and duplicity. Its pages are imbued with an irresistible sense of excitement, effortlessly guiding readers through the unfolding events. A notable example is the gripping opening scene that introduces Hefflin’s character, showcasing his resourcefulness and adaptability in carrying out his duties. Throughout the book, an ever-present atmosphere of suspense keeps readers on the edge of their seats, while the author, William Maz, deftly handles the substantial amount of information, skillfully weaving it into the narrative. The plot is enriched by a plethora of surprising twists and turns that continually captivate and engross the reader, making it exceedingly difficult to put the book down.
The Bucharest Legacy stands out as an exceptional literary work that demands recognition. It is a must-read for enthusiasts of historical and suspenseful literature, offering a mesmerizing glimpse into a captivating era.
Protagonist Bill Hefflin, whose life has settled into a tranquil existence following his instrumental role in the Romanian revolution, finds himself thrust into a whirlwind of unforeseen circumstances when he embarks on a new mission, his second in just three years. As he embarks on this perilous journey, he stumbles upon dangerous intelligence that casts suspicion on his mentor and close friend, Boris. This revelation not only jeopardizes Hefflin’s credibility within the agency but also places his life at risk as he becomes entangled in the web of accusations, branded a potential mole. Nonetheless, Hefflin possesses privileged knowledge about Boris that eludes others.
In its entirety, The Bucharest Legacy unravels an exhilarating narrative that centers around the relentless pursuit of a double agent in a world defined by falsehoods and duplicity. Its pages are imbued with an irresistible sense of excitement, effortlessly guiding readers through the unfolding events. A notable example is the gripping opening scene that introduces Hefflin’s character, showcasing his resourcefulness and adaptability in carrying out his duties. Throughout the book, an ever-present atmosphere of suspense keeps readers on the edge of their seats, while the author, William Maz, deftly handles the substantial amount of information, skillfully weaving it into the narrative. The plot is enriched by a plethora of surprising twists and turns that continually captivate and engross the reader, making it exceedingly difficult to put the book down.
The Bucharest Legacy stands out as an exceptional literary work that demands recognition. It is a must-read for enthusiasts of historical and suspenseful literature, offering a mesmerizing glimpse into a captivating era.
December 28, 2023
This suspenseful sequel to “The Bucharest Dossier” is an engaging and exciting cold-war thriller on its own, no need to read the previous book in order to enjoy this one. The story sheds light on the unbelievable corruption of both the West and the East. The narrative over 400 pages covers basically the Bucharest of the 1993 and takes place three years after the revolution against the Communist regime.
The protagonist is Romanian born Bill Hefflin who finds himself entangled with the CIA handling a mysterious Russian asset, Boris, a double agent maybe even a triple agent...how convoluted can this become. Wait to see what Mr. Maz has in mind in his book. When a rumor flies that he is the top Russian mole in the CIA, he definitely knows he is being set up and sets out to get to the bottom of things. After ensuring that his son and wife’s are safe, he sets off to Romania where immediately things go haywire. And the bodies start to mount...while the crooks get richer and half the population are starving.
You need to stay alert reading this book so much goes on back and forth and many characters are added to the action and the suspense gets even more intense. Hefflin and his wife Catherine, who plays a huge role, are well-drawn and complex characters. As for Boris, he is a shadow hanging over the spy hunts. I may have found the story to be way longer than it should have been with the repetition of information we have already been told but delving deeper into the gripping action scenes I discovered how crafty Mr. Maz’s writing style is. His research, techniques and action sequences only can keep us on the edge of our seats till the very end. The language is easy and engaging what is not to like. Well said, well-done
The protagonist is Romanian born Bill Hefflin who finds himself entangled with the CIA handling a mysterious Russian asset, Boris, a double agent maybe even a triple agent...how convoluted can this become. Wait to see what Mr. Maz has in mind in his book. When a rumor flies that he is the top Russian mole in the CIA, he definitely knows he is being set up and sets out to get to the bottom of things. After ensuring that his son and wife’s are safe, he sets off to Romania where immediately things go haywire. And the bodies start to mount...while the crooks get richer and half the population are starving.
You need to stay alert reading this book so much goes on back and forth and many characters are added to the action and the suspense gets even more intense. Hefflin and his wife Catherine, who plays a huge role, are well-drawn and complex characters. As for Boris, he is a shadow hanging over the spy hunts. I may have found the story to be way longer than it should have been with the repetition of information we have already been told but delving deeper into the gripping action scenes I discovered how crafty Mr. Maz’s writing style is. His research, techniques and action sequences only can keep us on the edge of our seats till the very end. The language is easy and engaging what is not to like. Well said, well-done
June 17, 2023
I love a good spy novel, and in true espionage fashion the twists and turns did not disappoint. This is the second novel in Maz's series set in Bucharest but it held up as a standalone. There were a few places where events from the previous book were mentioned, but there was enough detail I did not feel like I had to go back and read it.
The setting was great. Bucharest is an interesting place with a lot of political turmoil and transitioning happening at the time of the story. This leave a lot of opportunity for spy games and Maz did a great job at weaving those activities throughout the story.
Bill Hefflin is our main character and I liked him and his outlook on life, but I did not think he was a great spy. He didn't start out as a spy so maybe this was intentional but he seemed to forget things or miss cues that a seasoned spy should have picked up which took me out of the story a bit. Catherine actually seemed to save the day in unravelling some of the bigger twists within the story. There was no lack of twists within this story. It all came together in the end but there were several places I thought it was wrapping up only to realize I had 15 or even 25% of the book left! (kindle tracking) It was one thing after another and while they all tied together well, it was confusing at times and made the book seem longer than necessary.
Overall though, this was a fun ride through a setting that I haven't read much of. I enjoyed Bill walking through his own personal life history, the world view of Boris, and the cast of characters that came in and out of this story.
The setting was great. Bucharest is an interesting place with a lot of political turmoil and transitioning happening at the time of the story. This leave a lot of opportunity for spy games and Maz did a great job at weaving those activities throughout the story.
Bill Hefflin is our main character and I liked him and his outlook on life, but I did not think he was a great spy. He didn't start out as a spy so maybe this was intentional but he seemed to forget things or miss cues that a seasoned spy should have picked up which took me out of the story a bit. Catherine actually seemed to save the day in unravelling some of the bigger twists within the story. There was no lack of twists within this story. It all came together in the end but there were several places I thought it was wrapping up only to realize I had 15 or even 25% of the book left! (kindle tracking) It was one thing after another and while they all tied together well, it was confusing at times and made the book seem longer than necessary.
Overall though, this was a fun ride through a setting that I haven't read much of. I enjoyed Bill walking through his own personal life history, the world view of Boris, and the cast of characters that came in and out of this story.
June 19, 2023
This book comes on the coat-tails of the first in a series, The Bucharest Dossier. And just when you think you've come full circle to a happily-ever-after ending, this story throws a curve ball at you as happened in the former book. You'll just have to read this intriguing tale to come to the conclusion's beginning. There's plenty of cloak and dagger and spy work happening with Bill Hefflin once again at the helm. The intrepid Catherine also makes an appearance, so beware.
One doesn't often read historical fiction works about such countries as Romania as this one does, so it is 'novel'. The time-frame is post-revolution and all the aftermath turmoil with embroiled oligarchs, henchmen and spies.
What's not to love about this second in a series chronicle? I think readers will be just as interested in it as the first. Although it's a 'stand alone' work, there would be better connection if a reader could read the first in the series, I felt, and was glad I had had that privilege. There are discussion questions at book's end as well as a brief history 'lesson' regarding the book's time frame setting and the political situation of that time. Note that some of the more intimate scenes I could definitely have lived without reading, so other readers may take exception to these limited episodes. Overall, I'd say William Maz has got himself another winner.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
April 2023
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.
One doesn't often read historical fiction works about such countries as Romania as this one does, so it is 'novel'. The time-frame is post-revolution and all the aftermath turmoil with embroiled oligarchs, henchmen and spies.
What's not to love about this second in a series chronicle? I think readers will be just as interested in it as the first. Although it's a 'stand alone' work, there would be better connection if a reader could read the first in the series, I felt, and was glad I had had that privilege. There are discussion questions at book's end as well as a brief history 'lesson' regarding the book's time frame setting and the political situation of that time. Note that some of the more intimate scenes I could definitely have lived without reading, so other readers may take exception to these limited episodes. Overall, I'd say William Maz has got himself another winner.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
April 2023
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.
December 11, 2022
The Bucharest Legacy by William Maz
I have read Dr. Maz’s 1st book The Bucharest Dossier which was very appealing to one who likes espionage novels with many plausible twists and solved using one’s brain and not a gun. In this his second book, the same concepts which I enjoy apply and this is an equally if not better than his first book. Dr. Maz like his protagonist is from Romania of Greek parents. But unlike his main character I do not think he is or was in the CIA but instead was a medical doctor. Though now for those of us well he is now writing as opposed to “doctoring.”
This book like the 1st has a very complex plot with many “coincidences” and enough macguffins, to open a fast-food joint. Almost no one seems to be what they appear to be but it never seems contrived. In this book, the main story is very much like le Carre’s Tinker, Taylor. A mole has infiltrated the CIA HQ and the question is who can find this spy? Maz is not le Carre nor does he copy the plot line and I do not wish to spoil the plot. I do not think it is necessary to read the books in order, though I think if you read one you will most likely wish to read the second. Both books mostly take place in Bucharest and in-spite of many disreputable characters, I do with to visit. And is there a 3rd book? I thought about this as the book was wrapping up wondering;how? And then the final lines reopen a story line from the beginning. Yes, indeed I suspect there is at least a third book. I look forward to its emergence.
I have read Dr. Maz’s 1st book The Bucharest Dossier which was very appealing to one who likes espionage novels with many plausible twists and solved using one’s brain and not a gun. In this his second book, the same concepts which I enjoy apply and this is an equally if not better than his first book. Dr. Maz like his protagonist is from Romania of Greek parents. But unlike his main character I do not think he is or was in the CIA but instead was a medical doctor. Though now for those of us well he is now writing as opposed to “doctoring.”
This book like the 1st has a very complex plot with many “coincidences” and enough macguffins, to open a fast-food joint. Almost no one seems to be what they appear to be but it never seems contrived. In this book, the main story is very much like le Carre’s Tinker, Taylor. A mole has infiltrated the CIA HQ and the question is who can find this spy? Maz is not le Carre nor does he copy the plot line and I do not wish to spoil the plot. I do not think it is necessary to read the books in order, though I think if you read one you will most likely wish to read the second. Both books mostly take place in Bucharest and in-spite of many disreputable characters, I do with to visit. And is there a 3rd book? I thought about this as the book was wrapping up wondering;how? And then the final lines reopen a story line from the beginning. Yes, indeed I suspect there is at least a third book. I look forward to its emergence.
March 1, 2023
This is the second book following CIA agent Bill Heflin. The first which was also reviewed on Curating Edits is titled The Bucharest Dossier. The Bucharest Legacy is another formidable book by William Maz. If you enjoy a good spy-thriller book, do not hesitate to read these two books.
Bill Hefflin gets pulled back in to do Ingram one favor. That one favor sends him back into Bucharest and right in the middle of a firefight. Someone has disclosed the exact location he was going to pick up a defector. That defector came into the U.S. and turned the CIA and Hefflin’s life upside down when he mentioned Boris and now Bill Hefflin is suspect number one as the mole.
The Bucharest Legacy makes Hefflin return under different circumstances back to his native Bucharest. He not only is there to find the mole that can clear his name, but he still has some loose ends to tie with his childhood as well. Like Hefflin says in timely moments nothing is even a coincidence.
William Maz has created the most entertaining spy/thriller books. In fact, I can compare it to an onion and its many layers, which Hefflin is piecing together from every encounter he has in Bucharest. Boris, his asset, was a man, a myth, a legend, and he lived such an extensive life. Many times you end up seeing Hefflin take a new version of what Boris stood for.
If you enjoyed The Bucharest Dossier, William Maz does not disappoint with this new book. The Bucharest Legacy is well-written, suspenseful, and intriguing. More importantly, I hope we get a follow-up book after this.
Bill Hefflin gets pulled back in to do Ingram one favor. That one favor sends him back into Bucharest and right in the middle of a firefight. Someone has disclosed the exact location he was going to pick up a defector. That defector came into the U.S. and turned the CIA and Hefflin’s life upside down when he mentioned Boris and now Bill Hefflin is suspect number one as the mole.
The Bucharest Legacy makes Hefflin return under different circumstances back to his native Bucharest. He not only is there to find the mole that can clear his name, but he still has some loose ends to tie with his childhood as well. Like Hefflin says in timely moments nothing is even a coincidence.
William Maz has created the most entertaining spy/thriller books. In fact, I can compare it to an onion and its many layers, which Hefflin is piecing together from every encounter he has in Bucharest. Boris, his asset, was a man, a myth, a legend, and he lived such an extensive life. Many times you end up seeing Hefflin take a new version of what Boris stood for.
If you enjoyed The Bucharest Dossier, William Maz does not disappoint with this new book. The Bucharest Legacy is well-written, suspenseful, and intriguing. More importantly, I hope we get a follow-up book after this.
April 22, 2023
This is a page-turning thriller set in Bucharest, Romania, in the early nineties. The back page claims this is the follow-up to the Bucharest Dossier but both novels can be read as stand-alone books. I have not read the first book and because of this, there were a few premises that I couldn't really accept. This prevented me from fully engaging with the book as much as I would have liked, and I think that if I had read tBD first, I would have enjoyed this book more.
I also feel that one has to have a fairly solid grasp of Romanian culture and cuisine to properly appreciate this book. Throughout, William Maz will randomly mention some Romanian food or drink, or less frequently some famous building or other cultural tidbits. I would love this if he was more descriptive at these moments. The best we can get is that it is "delicious" or it is something you cannot properly get in New York. More often, there is no description at all. The first couple of times I actually looked things up on Google, but after a while, I gave up on that and just let my eyes glaze over at their mention. I don't know if Maz only did minimally enough research to know a few Romanian names for food and drinks, but not enough to truly know what they are, or if Maz simply assumes everyone should already know. Either way, a little more work or a little better writing was called for here.
That said, the book was good enough that I read more than half of it in one setting, sacrificing most of a good night's sleep to do so. The plot is paced well and channeled the nineties vibe of such authors as Scott Turow or Dean Koontz. I didn't feel like I was reading a modern historical fiction/thriller set thirty years ago but rather a contemporary thriller that was written thirty years ago. For that, kudos to the author.
I also feel that one has to have a fairly solid grasp of Romanian culture and cuisine to properly appreciate this book. Throughout, William Maz will randomly mention some Romanian food or drink, or less frequently some famous building or other cultural tidbits. I would love this if he was more descriptive at these moments. The best we can get is that it is "delicious" or it is something you cannot properly get in New York. More often, there is no description at all. The first couple of times I actually looked things up on Google, but after a while, I gave up on that and just let my eyes glaze over at their mention. I don't know if Maz only did minimally enough research to know a few Romanian names for food and drinks, but not enough to truly know what they are, or if Maz simply assumes everyone should already know. Either way, a little more work or a little better writing was called for here.
That said, the book was good enough that I read more than half of it in one setting, sacrificing most of a good night's sleep to do so. The plot is paced well and channeled the nineties vibe of such authors as Scott Turow or Dean Koontz. I didn't feel like I was reading a modern historical fiction/thriller set thirty years ago but rather a contemporary thriller that was written thirty years ago. For that, kudos to the author.
June 23, 2023
The protagonist, CIA agent Bill Hefflin, finds himself caught in a web of deception when a KGB defector reveals the existence of a mole within the Agency. With the code name Boris resonating with Hefflin, he realizes that his longtime KGB asset must be involved, making him the prime suspect as the KGB mole.
To prove his innocence, Hefflin returns to his birth city, Bucharest, Romania, setting the stage for a gripping narrative that explores the aftermath of the revolution and the shadowy underworld controlling the nation. The author's vivid descriptions paint a vivid picture of a city teeming with spies and crooked politicians, adding to the palpable sense of danger and suspense.
What sets "The Bucharest Legacy" apart is the unexpected twist revealed early on: Boris has been dead for over a year. This revelation adds a layer of complexity to the narrative as Hefflin navigates the treacherous landscape, unsure of who to trust and what secrets lie beneath the surface. The exploration of political corruption and the struggle for power further deepens the story's richness, providing a thought-provoking backdrop for the protagonist's quest.
"The Bucharest Legacy" is a gripping espionage thriller that will captivate fans of the genre. With its intricate plot, compelling characters, and a backdrop of political intrigue, the book delivers a satisfying reading experience
To prove his innocence, Hefflin returns to his birth city, Bucharest, Romania, setting the stage for a gripping narrative that explores the aftermath of the revolution and the shadowy underworld controlling the nation. The author's vivid descriptions paint a vivid picture of a city teeming with spies and crooked politicians, adding to the palpable sense of danger and suspense.
What sets "The Bucharest Legacy" apart is the unexpected twist revealed early on: Boris has been dead for over a year. This revelation adds a layer of complexity to the narrative as Hefflin navigates the treacherous landscape, unsure of who to trust and what secrets lie beneath the surface. The exploration of political corruption and the struggle for power further deepens the story's richness, providing a thought-provoking backdrop for the protagonist's quest.
"The Bucharest Legacy" is a gripping espionage thriller that will captivate fans of the genre. With its intricate plot, compelling characters, and a backdrop of political intrigue, the book delivers a satisfying reading experience
June 18, 2023
Note: Before you read my review, please be aware that I did not realize this was book 3 of a series. I did not read books 1 and 2 before reading this.
4 out of 5 stars. I would have given this a lower marking, but then I realized this wasn't the initial book of the series, and the pacing, and references I didn't understand made more sense.
Overall, this is an excellent book, a wonderful combination of historical fiction and spy craft. Noelle Salazar meets Daniel Silva. A delectable dive into Cold War-era espionage and live in a city struggling for stability after the fall of communism.
I won't be giving a plot run down as my lack of previous knowledge of the series led to some struggles to keep up at certain points. One note I would like to make to Oceanview Publishing. I know there is an audiobook of this available, the same with the previous two books in the series. However, I cannot find copies of the audiobook or physical copies of this book anywhere but on Amazon. Not in bookstores, not in libraries, not on the Libby App. I would have loved to binge through the audiobooks, however, access to them seems to not be an option. 2 star review for that.
Thank you Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
4 out of 5 stars. I would have given this a lower marking, but then I realized this wasn't the initial book of the series, and the pacing, and references I didn't understand made more sense.
Overall, this is an excellent book, a wonderful combination of historical fiction and spy craft. Noelle Salazar meets Daniel Silva. A delectable dive into Cold War-era espionage and live in a city struggling for stability after the fall of communism.
I won't be giving a plot run down as my lack of previous knowledge of the series led to some struggles to keep up at certain points. One note I would like to make to Oceanview Publishing. I know there is an audiobook of this available, the same with the previous two books in the series. However, I cannot find copies of the audiobook or physical copies of this book anywhere but on Amazon. Not in bookstores, not in libraries, not on the Libby App. I would have loved to binge through the audiobooks, however, access to them seems to not be an option. 2 star review for that.
Thank you Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2023
There is a KGB mole within the CIA and all they know is his handler’s name is Boris. CIA analyst Bill recognizes the name as his longtime KGB asset. With the passing of fake information back and forth the CIA has Bill as his prime suspect.
Bill is given a chance to prove his innocence by returning to Bucharest, Romania to sus out the mole. He is not prepared for what he finds. Will he be able to determine who the mole is before it’s too late?
This was an interesting spy novel, and it was very engaging, and it sucked me in. However, there were so many characters, I’m still not really sure who everyone was and how they were connected. There were also some terms used that were a little off putting and out of date. I did really enjoy how fast moving it was and how entertaining it was. I also really enjoyed Bill’s personal growth over the course of the story. There were also some very interesting facts about post-communist Romania.
Thank you so much Meryl Moss Media Group, Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley, @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Additional links will be added once posted.
Bill is given a chance to prove his innocence by returning to Bucharest, Romania to sus out the mole. He is not prepared for what he finds. Will he be able to determine who the mole is before it’s too late?
This was an interesting spy novel, and it was very engaging, and it sucked me in. However, there were so many characters, I’m still not really sure who everyone was and how they were connected. There were also some terms used that were a little off putting and out of date. I did really enjoy how fast moving it was and how entertaining it was. I also really enjoyed Bill’s personal growth over the course of the story. There were also some very interesting facts about post-communist Romania.
Thank you so much Meryl Moss Media Group, Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley, @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Additional links will be added once posted.
June 29, 2025
Picked up The Bucharest Legacy: The Rise of the Oligarchs at the Thriller writers conference in New York that my husband attended. immediately started reading and after a few pages went back to the Mysterious Bookshop pop-up at the conference and bought the authors first book The Bucharest Dossier. The Bucharest Legacy scratched the itch of needing a spy story with interesting characters and plot points and twists that the Slow Horses books have left me jonesing for. CIA Agent Bill Hefflin is coerced back into the agency to find a mole of which he is suspected of being, at least that is his initial understanding. We learn much about Romania after the fall of communism and the attempt to install a democracy. it is always a bonus to learn history while reading a good fictional story. During the course of the story we learn a little of his background which is fleshed more fully in the first book The Bucharest Dossier of which I am anxious to read. i highly recommend The Bucharest Legacy, according to the author and his publishers these books can be read independently which is great as I read the second book first. look forward to the next installment of the Bill Hefflin saga.
April 22, 2023
Set in a Romania that has already seen the fall of Chaušescu but has barely begun its process of democratisation and detachment from the embrace of the Russian bear, the novel stars Heffin, a Romanian expatriate of Greek descent turned CIA agent - but now ex-agent - tasked with retrieving a defector from the former KGB. Many things go wrong and Heffin finds himself suspected of being a double agent. He is not, but virtually everyone around him is, or at least, has secrets they are keeping from him, including his beloved wife. If you forget the fact that it is not clear why the CIA should entrust the extraction of a defector to one of its former members, as well as a few other inconsistencies probably explainable by the fact that this is the second volume of a series of which I have not read the first volume, this is a truly intriguing narrative, which balances fairly well-researched historical facts and fictional fiction in an enjoyable way.
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