What do you think?
Rate this book
Kenneth Aubrey and Patrick Hyde #4
Jade Tiger
The Dragon: A Chinese defector is hauled out of Hong Kong harbor. Cracking the truth from him could take months-months no one has. The Man: Espionage veteran Kenneth Aubrey is racing through a hall of mirrors with doors leading to seats of power, and leading back forty years to the time when Aubrey was the prisoner of the very traitor he hunts.
560 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
5 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Craig Thomas
87 books92 followersDavid Craig Owen Thomas was a Welsh author of thrillers, most notably the Mitchell Gant series.
The son of the Western Mail rugby union writer, JBG Thomas, Craig was educated at Cardiff High School. He graduated from University College, Cardiff in 1967, obtaining his M.A. after completing a thesis on Thomas Hardy. Thomas became an English Teacher, working in various grammar schools in the West Midlands, and was Head of English at the Shire Oak School, Walsall Wood.
After unsuccessfully trying script writing for radio, Thomas wrote part-time, with his wife as editor, in two fields: philosophical thoughts in books of essays; and techno-thriller genre, which although invention is often attributed to the better-known Tom Clancy, many feel that Thomas was its true originator. Most of Thomas's novels are set within MI.6 and feature the characters of Sir Kenneth Aubrey and Patrick Hyde.
His best-known novel which brought him to global prominence, Firefox became a successful Hollywood film, both directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. After writing his third novel, 1960s Cold War espionage thriller Wolfsbane, he left teaching altogether in 1977. His later books include Snow Falcon and A Different War. Shortly before his death he finished a two-volume commentary on German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
Thomas and his wife Jill had lived near Lichfield, Staffordshire, but moved to Somerset in 2010. He died on April 4, 2011 from pneumonia, following a short battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was 68.
The son of the Western Mail rugby union writer, JBG Thomas, Craig was educated at Cardiff High School. He graduated from University College, Cardiff in 1967, obtaining his M.A. after completing a thesis on Thomas Hardy. Thomas became an English Teacher, working in various grammar schools in the West Midlands, and was Head of English at the Shire Oak School, Walsall Wood.
After unsuccessfully trying script writing for radio, Thomas wrote part-time, with his wife as editor, in two fields: philosophical thoughts in books of essays; and techno-thriller genre, which although invention is often attributed to the better-known Tom Clancy, many feel that Thomas was its true originator. Most of Thomas's novels are set within MI.6 and feature the characters of Sir Kenneth Aubrey and Patrick Hyde.
His best-known novel which brought him to global prominence, Firefox became a successful Hollywood film, both directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. After writing his third novel, 1960s Cold War espionage thriller Wolfsbane, he left teaching altogether in 1977. His later books include Snow Falcon and A Different War. Shortly before his death he finished a two-volume commentary on German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
Thomas and his wife Jill had lived near Lichfield, Staffordshire, but moved to Somerset in 2010. He died on April 4, 2011 from pneumonia, following a short battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was 68.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 4, 2023
Set in the early 80s, a plan for German unification is close to fruition. The West German chancellor and his close ally, Wolfgang Zimmerman, the architect of the Berlin Treaty, are close to sealing a deal to end the cold war when it is revealed Zimmerman may be a deep cover Soviet agent. With the treaty is under threat, the British and the CIA begin searching for confirmation. Is the evidence real? Is there an ulterior motive – who wants to derail the treaty.
From East Germany, to Hong Kong, Australia, China and Spain, Kenneth Aubrey and Patrick Hyde must chase down the truth. Aubrey’s long ago association with Zimmerman dates back to the war, but is the accusation true? Two weeks before the treaty is due to be signed, Aubrey must work with his CIA counterpart to piece together the truth.
This is another classic 80s espionage thriller from Mr. Craig, a master of the genre. Whilst not quite along the lines of his techno-thrillers (Firefox, Winter Hawk), once again Aubrey and Hyde lead the fight against the KGB and enemies closer to home. Anyone who enjoys cold war thrillers will doubtless be hooked by this. A little darker than some of his other works, it is superb. Looking forward to revisiting the third in the series already.
From East Germany, to Hong Kong, Australia, China and Spain, Kenneth Aubrey and Patrick Hyde must chase down the truth. Aubrey’s long ago association with Zimmerman dates back to the war, but is the accusation true? Two weeks before the treaty is due to be signed, Aubrey must work with his CIA counterpart to piece together the truth.
This is another classic 80s espionage thriller from Mr. Craig, a master of the genre. Whilst not quite along the lines of his techno-thrillers (Firefox, Winter Hawk), once again Aubrey and Hyde lead the fight against the KGB and enemies closer to home. Anyone who enjoys cold war thrillers will doubtless be hooked by this. A little darker than some of his other works, it is superb. Looking forward to revisiting the third in the series already.
December 29, 2021
Craig Thomas’s espionage thriller was published in 1982 and subsequently reprinted at least thirteen times; my edition is dated 2000. (I’m gradually catching up on my backlog of ‘to-be-read’ books!) He was a very popular author in the 1980s and 1990s.
His debut novel Rat Trap was successful, but it pales by comparison with this outing. By this book, Thomas has improved in style and in conveying tension and suspense and characterisation.
The story begins with a Chinese officer from the Ministry of Public Tranquillity plotting operation Jade Tiger with an unnamed American.
Then a Chinese officer, Colonel Wei, ‘walks in’ to British Intelligence in Hong Kong. British SIS veteran Kenneth Aubrey is tasked with interrogating the man, for the Colonel apparently possesses potentially destabilising information about a high-placed German politician, Zimmerman. In 1940, when he was a wet-behind-the-ears spy Aubrey knew Zimmerman. He’d captured him but it was during the BEF retreat to Dunkirk. There developed a grudging companionship as they evaded strafing Messerschmitts and bombs. The war-time flashbacks are very effective.
Apparently, during a cultural visit to China Zimmerman was drugged while visiting Wuhan and then interrogated by the Chinese, who learned of his allegiance to the KGB and the USSR. (Wuhan is not sinister in this tale, however!)
Aubrey is ageing now; he has featured in 10 or 11 books; he appeared in three or four before this one. He is accompanied by Australian Patrick Hyde as his bodyguard. In Hong Kong they meet up with the CIA representative Buckholtz who is keen to take Wei off their hands.
Aubrey is the old school. He owes his life to Zimmerman so he needs to confirm that Wei is telling the truth about Zimmerman being a mole for the Soviets. At risk is the Berlin Treaty, the reunification of Germany, the pulling down of the Berlin Wall (in 1982).
The investigation also involves a Chinese-American CIA agent, Liu, who is inserted into Shanghai to verify Wei’s revelations. These are the days before China had embraced the ubiquitous facial recognition cameras. Liu’s attempts to obtain proof and avoid detection are well told and suitably tense and realistic.
Aubrey and Hyde follow a trail to Australia where an old associate of Zimmerman still lives. Again, the details and descriptions are first rate.
Throughout, Aubrey, Hyde and Buckholtz are shadowed and even on occasion attacked by Hyde’s nemesis, the Soviet Petrunin. Hyde and Petrunin have had previous encounters; the fact that I haven’t read these did not spoil my enjoyment of the book.
Like The Day of the Jackal, we’re aware that there’s a failure at the heart of the story; for we know that the Treaty must fail since the fall of the Wall did not occur until 1989. But that doesn’t matter; we want to know what happens to the individuals concerned, which is a measure of a good writer.
Sadly, in 2011 Craig Thomas died of pneumonia, aged 68, having also suffered from leukaemia.
His debut novel Rat Trap was successful, but it pales by comparison with this outing. By this book, Thomas has improved in style and in conveying tension and suspense and characterisation.
The story begins with a Chinese officer from the Ministry of Public Tranquillity plotting operation Jade Tiger with an unnamed American.
Then a Chinese officer, Colonel Wei, ‘walks in’ to British Intelligence in Hong Kong. British SIS veteran Kenneth Aubrey is tasked with interrogating the man, for the Colonel apparently possesses potentially destabilising information about a high-placed German politician, Zimmerman. In 1940, when he was a wet-behind-the-ears spy Aubrey knew Zimmerman. He’d captured him but it was during the BEF retreat to Dunkirk. There developed a grudging companionship as they evaded strafing Messerschmitts and bombs. The war-time flashbacks are very effective.
Apparently, during a cultural visit to China Zimmerman was drugged while visiting Wuhan and then interrogated by the Chinese, who learned of his allegiance to the KGB and the USSR. (Wuhan is not sinister in this tale, however!)
Aubrey is ageing now; he has featured in 10 or 11 books; he appeared in three or four before this one. He is accompanied by Australian Patrick Hyde as his bodyguard. In Hong Kong they meet up with the CIA representative Buckholtz who is keen to take Wei off their hands.
Aubrey is the old school. He owes his life to Zimmerman so he needs to confirm that Wei is telling the truth about Zimmerman being a mole for the Soviets. At risk is the Berlin Treaty, the reunification of Germany, the pulling down of the Berlin Wall (in 1982).
The investigation also involves a Chinese-American CIA agent, Liu, who is inserted into Shanghai to verify Wei’s revelations. These are the days before China had embraced the ubiquitous facial recognition cameras. Liu’s attempts to obtain proof and avoid detection are well told and suitably tense and realistic.
Aubrey and Hyde follow a trail to Australia where an old associate of Zimmerman still lives. Again, the details and descriptions are first rate.
Throughout, Aubrey, Hyde and Buckholtz are shadowed and even on occasion attacked by Hyde’s nemesis, the Soviet Petrunin. Hyde and Petrunin have had previous encounters; the fact that I haven’t read these did not spoil my enjoyment of the book.
Like The Day of the Jackal, we’re aware that there’s a failure at the heart of the story; for we know that the Treaty must fail since the fall of the Wall did not occur until 1989. But that doesn’t matter; we want to know what happens to the individuals concerned, which is a measure of a good writer.
Sadly, in 2011 Craig Thomas died of pneumonia, aged 68, having also suffered from leukaemia.
February 14, 2020
More Cold War thrills from the ever reliable Craig Thomas. It's 1982 and there's a move afoot to reunify Germany and dismantle the Berlin Wall - as if?! The super powers have conflicting views on this prospect and there's a plot to discredit the plan's German architect, Wolfgang Zimmerman. The book centres on veteran English spymaster Aubrey's attempts to get to the truth.
Six books in and the globetrotting action espionage format is well established. Aussie agent Hyde (Aubrey's bagman, or rather swagman) returns - yayy! -and there's a Chinese American CIA operative who ventures behind the Bamboo Curtain in search of answers. It's fairly pacy, and I enjoyed the flashbacks to the start of Aubrey's career during the blitzkrieg of May 1940. The scenery's nice; Hong Kong, mainland China, East Germany and (pretty needless) trips to Australia and Spain.
Unfortunately the prose is still a bit lumpy and the plot frustrating. If Zimmerman isn't a Russian agent how come he's in such close contact with the KGB? Has Frederickson gone rogue or working to official CIA orders? We seem to reach a resolution well before the end which continues to rack up a few air miles before finishing. "Firefox Down" and "The Bear's Tears" are next on my trip down Memory Lane. Let's hope they live up to my fond recollections.
Six books in and the globetrotting action espionage format is well established. Aussie agent Hyde (Aubrey's bagman, or rather swagman) returns - yayy! -and there's a Chinese American CIA operative who ventures behind the Bamboo Curtain in search of answers. It's fairly pacy, and I enjoyed the flashbacks to the start of Aubrey's career during the blitzkrieg of May 1940. The scenery's nice; Hong Kong, mainland China, East Germany and (pretty needless) trips to Australia and Spain.
Unfortunately the prose is still a bit lumpy and the plot frustrating. If Zimmerman isn't a Russian agent how come he's in such close contact with the KGB? Has Frederickson gone rogue or working to official CIA orders? We seem to reach a resolution well before the end which continues to rack up a few air miles before finishing. "Firefox Down" and "The Bear's Tears" are next on my trip down Memory Lane. Let's hope they live up to my fond recollections.
March 17, 2010
From the back of the book:
'For espionage veteran Kenneth Aubrey the world is suddenly full of clues that don't match up. A Chinese defector hauled from Hong Kong harbour trading asylum for the communist mandarins' betrayal. The nerve-cracking interrogation, smokng out the truth from a network of disinformation.'
This book has a lot of twists, and is quite violent in places but is an interesting twist on fairly recent history. It is very believable though, with the interrelationships between the various countries intelligence agencies is interesting. It made me want to visit some of the locations used in this story - especially Hong Kong and the wine belt in Australia.
'For espionage veteran Kenneth Aubrey the world is suddenly full of clues that don't match up. A Chinese defector hauled from Hong Kong harbour trading asylum for the communist mandarins' betrayal. The nerve-cracking interrogation, smokng out the truth from a network of disinformation.'
This book has a lot of twists, and is quite violent in places but is an interesting twist on fairly recent history. It is very believable though, with the interrelationships between the various countries intelligence agencies is interesting. It made me want to visit some of the locations used in this story - especially Hong Kong and the wine belt in Australia.
May 3, 2014
5/5/14 loaned to pop
May 20, 2012
Not as strong as some of his other work IMO, but an entertaining read. A little more dated than Firefox, and somewhat 'old school', but then that was the colonies...
March 25, 2015
Het verdient meer dan drie sterren maar 4 is net dat tikkeltje te veel.
July 17, 2015
A good spy story in the style of John Le Carre but with more personable characters. Well written and easy to read about a Chinese plan to sabotage a US-German plan to tear down the Berlin wall.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews