Aquila

by Thomas Gifford

Ein über zweihundert Jahre altes Dokument aus der Zeit des amerikanischen Unabhängigkeitskrieges kommt überraschend ans Tageslicht. Der Student, der es entdeckt hat, wird ermordet aufgefunden. Eine junge, forsche Fernsehreporterin lässt nicht locker. Und ein harmloser Geschichtsprofessor aus Harvard, Massachusetts, findet sich plötzlich im Kreuzfeuer der Geheimdienste.
Gemeinsam versuchen die beiden ungleichen Verbündeten das Geheimnis zu lüften. Sie stoßen auf eine Verschwörung, welche die Grundfesten der Nation erschüttern könnte.
Denn das verschwundene Dokument beweist, dass einer der größten Helden der amerikanischen Revolution im Sold der Engländer stand. Sein Codename lautete Aquila.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller

367 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1978

About the author

Thomas Eugene Gifford was a best-selling American author of thriller novels. He gained international fame with the suspense novel The Wind Chill Factor and later with the Vatican-based thriller The Assassini .

After graduating from Harvard he moved to the Twin Cities, MN where he and his wife, Kari Sandven, had two children (Thomas Eaton, Rachel Claire). Divorced in 1969, he went on to marry Camille D'Ambrose, a local actress. They moved to Los Angeles for a few years, then returned to Orono, MN. Novels continued to flow from his fountain pen through the years. Gifford eventually moved to New York--a city he loved whose people were of infinite importance to him.

In 1996, he turned his attention to renovating his childhood home in Dubuque, spending more time in Iowa than New York during his last years. He embraced the community of Dubuque, as they embraced their prodigal son. Featured in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Gifford recounted his every day occurrences, from learning the pleasure of getting a dog (Katie Maxwell, the Scottie) to peeves and pleasures of the town.

Diagnosed with terminal cancer in February, 2000, Gifford spent his remaining months reading, watching old movies, and chatting with friends and family. He passed away on an unseasonably warm Halloween, just as the ghosts and goblins started their tricks.

Gifford lived life large, had friends throughout the world, and lived life by his favorite credo--we're not here for a long time; we're here for a good time.

Gifford also published under the names Dana Clarins and Thomas Maxwell.

Reviews

[Armin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Allzu durchsichtige, wenn auch brutale Story eines Hitchcockfans mit einer unüberwindlichen Schwäche für nervige Blondinen. Leider bleibt der Aufhänger, die aufregende Geschichte von Washingtons Verrat total unterbelichtet, gemäß dem Motto, dass nicht sein kann, was nicht sein darf...

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1979. Another thriller from Gifford, I'd forgotten I read all his books.

[Catherine Hurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great plot and very attention-grabbing from beginning to end--especially if you're interested in Boston/Cambridge, American history, and thrillers! However, I downgraded my rating due to the style--which seems very dated to me. The book was published in 1978, and the dialogue (which includes a small but annoying selection of racist, agist, and sexist asides) badly needs updating. It also smacks a bit too much of the James Bond/Cold War popular culture of the time....with a little Get Smart thrown in.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This well written spy thriller is an easy read, with interesting characters, amusing situations and good action sequences. Unfortunately, the plot is pretty lame, with an implausible premise, questionable motivations and numerous plot holes and improbable situations. I am not sorry I read it, but I won't read any more of this author's books. Which is a shame, because he published quite a few and I did like his writing style.

[Anne Thorpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, interesting premise.