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Sunflower
Sunflower is the code name for the incredible undercover operation assigned to top CIA agent Richard Owen who assumes it is directed by the President. Someone high up in government has become a deadly security leak and there is only one way to track him down - kidnap the President's four-year-old daughter and force his hand. The Owen uncovers the terrifying truth and the mission takes on an even deadlier shape.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
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About the author
Marilyn Sharp
6 books3 followersMarilyn “KK” Augburn Sharp
A native of Muncie, Indiana, Ms. Sharp graduated from Burris School (Muncie) in 1959. She earned an A.B. in English from DePauw University (Greencastle,IN) in 1963 and an M.A. in journalism from Ball State University (Muncie) in 1974. In addition, she received an honorary doctorate from DePauw University in 1986.
After graduating from DePauw, she moved to New York City, where her first job out of college was on the editorial staff of The New Yorker magazine. Later she was senior editor of Sponsor magazine and worked for public relations legend Lee Solters as a theatrical publicist for clients such as Barbara Streisand and Ringling Bros. She was also Director of Publicity and Advertising for WMCA Radio and the Straus Communications Network. She did volunteer work with a little league team in Harlen.
During her last year in New York, she began work on her first novel, a bestseller, Sunflower. Her three novels, Sunflower (1979), Masterstroke (1981), and Falseface (1984) were translated into ten languages for separate publication in 13 foreign countries.
She returned to Indiana and married Phil Sharp in 1972. In 1974, when her husband was elected to Congress, with her considerable help, she moved to Washington D.C. She returned to New York City in 1995. Despite her professional success, she always felt her greatest accomplishments and creations were her two sons, Jeremy and Justin, born in 1975 and 1981.
A person of many interests, Ms. Sharp was an amateur painter, a lover of opera, an unrivaled genealogical researcher, an avid reader, and a poet. In her final weeks she spent many hours writing poetry about her life, her impending death, and her family and friends.
She was an ardent advocate for individuality and social justice, particularly railing against those in society who sought to force others to conform to narrow definitions of self and identity. As a part of this, she was a strong supporter of women's rights and was ever-grateful for her education at Burris School, where thinking for one's self was greatly encouraged, no matter one's gender. During her commencement address upon receiving her honorary doctorate she said the following, "To you women I want to say, don't ever let anyone make you less than what you want to be, whatever that is."
In Washington she was never cowed by authority, willing to challenge the views of those in power. She championed citizen involvement. In a Capitol Hill elevator she overheard a woman express to her husband her anxiety that she was not properly dressed to meet her Congressman. KK quickly told the stranger that she looked fine: "Remember they work for you; and never let them forget it."
When a feminist leader, whom KK admired, urged a group of congressional wives to use their marital relationships to advance legislation, she let her friends know that she felt no guilt about not following that path. "I didn't get out from under the thumb of men just to fall under the thumb of women."
She was appalled by the current state of affairs in Congress, but retained her faith that correction would come as the people demanded better.
Ms. Sharp passed away at home, surrounded by family, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her two sons, husband Phil Sharp, and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Pika Sharp.
A native of Muncie, Indiana, Ms. Sharp graduated from Burris School (Muncie) in 1959. She earned an A.B. in English from DePauw University (Greencastle,IN) in 1963 and an M.A. in journalism from Ball State University (Muncie) in 1974. In addition, she received an honorary doctorate from DePauw University in 1986.
After graduating from DePauw, she moved to New York City, where her first job out of college was on the editorial staff of The New Yorker magazine. Later she was senior editor of Sponsor magazine and worked for public relations legend Lee Solters as a theatrical publicist for clients such as Barbara Streisand and Ringling Bros. She was also Director of Publicity and Advertising for WMCA Radio and the Straus Communications Network. She did volunteer work with a little league team in Harlen.
During her last year in New York, she began work on her first novel, a bestseller, Sunflower. Her three novels, Sunflower (1979), Masterstroke (1981), and Falseface (1984) were translated into ten languages for separate publication in 13 foreign countries.
She returned to Indiana and married Phil Sharp in 1972. In 1974, when her husband was elected to Congress, with her considerable help, she moved to Washington D.C. She returned to New York City in 1995. Despite her professional success, she always felt her greatest accomplishments and creations were her two sons, Jeremy and Justin, born in 1975 and 1981.
A person of many interests, Ms. Sharp was an amateur painter, a lover of opera, an unrivaled genealogical researcher, an avid reader, and a poet. In her final weeks she spent many hours writing poetry about her life, her impending death, and her family and friends.
She was an ardent advocate for individuality and social justice, particularly railing against those in society who sought to force others to conform to narrow definitions of self and identity. As a part of this, she was a strong supporter of women's rights and was ever-grateful for her education at Burris School, where thinking for one's self was greatly encouraged, no matter one's gender. During her commencement address upon receiving her honorary doctorate she said the following, "To you women I want to say, don't ever let anyone make you less than what you want to be, whatever that is."
In Washington she was never cowed by authority, willing to challenge the views of those in power. She championed citizen involvement. In a Capitol Hill elevator she overheard a woman express to her husband her anxiety that she was not properly dressed to meet her Congressman. KK quickly told the stranger that she looked fine: "Remember they work for you; and never let them forget it."
When a feminist leader, whom KK admired, urged a group of congressional wives to use their marital relationships to advance legislation, she let her friends know that she felt no guilt about not following that path. "I didn't get out from under the thumb of men just to fall under the thumb of women."
She was appalled by the current state of affairs in Congress, but retained her faith that correction would come as the people demanded better.
Ms. Sharp passed away at home, surrounded by family, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her two sons, husband Phil Sharp, and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Pika Sharp.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 12, 2013
This is an older spy thriller, but a really excellent read. The CIA suspect that there is a traitor in the upper ranks of the organisation. Expert spy, Richard Owen, is asked to do something almost impossible to bring the traitor into the open. He has to kidnap the President's daughter - on the say so of the President. But is everyone on the same side? And even if he pulls it off, will the traitor come out of the woodwork?
This story is so full of twists and turns that you have to just keep on reading to find out what happens. A brilliant plot, only slightly out in the realms of fantasy, but easy to get caught up in the excitement.
This story is so full of twists and turns that you have to just keep on reading to find out what happens. A brilliant plot, only slightly out in the realms of fantasy, but easy to get caught up in the excitement.
November 14, 2008
Read this in high school, and remember that it was so interesting I read it instead of watching my brother play middle-school basketball. In retrospect, seems like a precursor to "Bourne Identity"-type disguises and espionage. Surprised there isn't a film...
November 4, 2013
By the (British?) wife of the [former] Congressman representing South Bend, Indiana. Ridiculous characters & events, but yes, I wanted to know what would happen next. Clever little narrative trick toward the end. It seems designed to be read at distant intervals, as it reminds you of the plot on practically every third page: "Kidnap the President's daughter!" Lots of convenient drugging & wacky disguises (which we now know wouldn't work, thanks to that one episode of Mythbusters).
March 15, 2018
Read this first in 93-94. Then many times over the years. I somehow lost the paperback. This book is so interesting. I am really surprised that no one made a film out of this book.
July 27, 2020
Read in 1980. Title and author don't ring a bell.
August 13, 2022
15 I never have been a fan of undercover plots nor those where the hero or his/her family are in danger.
July 12, 2012
I read this in high school and loved it. I re-read it again a few years ago and was surprised to find more language than I remember. Perhaps I just overlooked it since it was an assigned reading, but I still found the story line intriguing.
July 10, 2008
Enjoyable book. Good suspense and a likeable main character. Interesting plot, although a bit unbelievable.
February 3, 2009
this is one of my favorite books. i read it many years ago and go back to it from time to time. a good action story.
May 9, 2010
Who is Sunflower? This is the code name for an undercover operation assigned to CIA agent Richard Owen. Sharp keeps the suspense moving as the tale climaxes to a surprising end. A GOOD book!
August 29, 2012
I really love this book!! It's one of my faves. It's a good kidnap/spy novel.
February 15, 2013
LOVED this book, have read it about four times, and am scared to loan it out for fear of not getting it back, have read the other books by Ms. Sharp, but this is the best!
December 3, 2020
I’ve read this book several times. It was one of the first spy thrillers I ever read—really getting me interested in Ludlum’s Bourne character later.
Fast read, engaging, and one of my favorites.
Fast read, engaging, and one of my favorites.
September 23, 2014
Awesome Concept and masterful execution
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews