Windmills of the Gods: A Gripping Cold War Thriller of Espionage and Deadly Assassins

by Sidney Sheldon

Our newest ambassador to an Iron Curtain country, Mary Ashley has been marked for death by the world's most proficient assassin. Only two people can offer her help. And one of them wants to kill her.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Romance, Novels

451 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Sidney Sheldon (1917-2007) was an American writer who won awards in three careers—a Broadway playwright, a Hollywood TV and movie screenwriter, and a best-selling novelist.

His TV works spanned a twenty-year period during which he created I Dream of Jeannie (1965-70), Hart to Hart (1979-84), and The Patty Duke Show (1963-66), but it was not until after he turned 50 and began writing best-selling novels such as Master of the Game (1982), The Other Side of Midnight (1973) and Rage of Angels (1980) that he became most famous.

Reviews

[Luffy Sempai · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pages just flew by and I realized the book was over. However, there was an epilogue that deserved thinking about. Sidney Sheldon is not a perfect writer. But this book of his is so much better than many bestsellers today.

The author has used sex, action, and loneliness tropes to great effect here. Windmill of the Gods is slightly dated, but you can treat it like a classic, if you want.

The violence in the book is sometimes there, and sometimes it's hinted at. The fate of the evil mastermind is terrible, despite his shenanigans. I won't spoil the story in my review. Read it and be thrilled.

[Rolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It could have been 5 stars but I found the beginning somewhat slow-paced. But the story, as a whole, was good.

I would like to talk about some of the characters...

Edward. What happened to him was heartbreaking. An innocent party that took the "fall" for the benefit of others.

Groza. Below was what happened to him/his family...
"Scenes of his wife and his daughter being raped seared through his brain. It was a gang rape, and the laughing soldiers went from the woman to the child, their pants pulled down, waiting in line for their turn. Marin Groza strained against the stool as though bound to it. As the whip fell again and again he could hear the screams of his wife and daughter begging for mercy, choking on the men’s
penises in their mouths, being raped and sodomized at the same time, until the blood started pouring out and their cries finally trailed off."



Harry Lantz. If I remembered it correctly, he was the one having threesome. Well, at least he enjoyed his sex life before he forced himself to bed Nuesca. The distance he would go for money would have been funny if not pathetic. Too bad he wasn't as clever as he thought he was.

Mary Ashley. She proved her worth. Excelled in a place dominated by "male chauvinist pigs". Knows how to play dirty and turn a situation to her benefit. Smart woman. Smart woman until she fell in love. Falling in love was her downfall. Wait. Let me amend that. Falling in love WITH THE WRONG MAN was her downfall. If she intended to trust no one, then she shouldn't make an exception. Emotions cloud judgment. She made herself believe all the things Louis said just because she thought he loves her. What a joke. Sabi nga nung lola ko nung nabubuhay pa sya, "Walang ikalawang glorya". And in this case, I agree with her.

Louis, Mike Slade and Stanton. I am happy with myself. I know this is just a book. That they are just fictional characters but I was freaking glad that I pegged all three of them correctly. Even if what I was reading at a certain moment contradicted with what I thought their characters were, I stood by my assumptions. For Louis,
For Mike Slade,
And for you, Stanton,

All in all, I really, really, REALLY liked it.

Oh! I forgot someone. Ben Cohn. The ever adorable Ben Cohn. Who the hell name their penis ARTHUR? Why Arthur out of all names? Or, in the first place, why name his penis? He was weird. Too nosy for his own good. And as they say, curiosity killed the cat.

[Peiman E iran · Rating 4 out of 5]

‎دوستانِ گرانقدر، این داستان هیجان انگیز و سیاسی و جنایی، از 31 بخش تشکیل شده است
‎داستان در موردِ سیاست های کثیف و خیانتهایی است که در کشورهای بزرگ صورت میگیرد و تنها خسارت بر مردمانِ بیچاره و بیگناه وارد میشود... داستان نشان میدهد که چگونه سیاست و قدرت میتواند رفاقت های چندین و چند ساله را خراب نموده و زندگی ها را به ویرانی بکشاند
‎داستان از آنجا شروع میشود که رئیس جمهور <پل الیسن> پس از قرار گرفتن در این مقام، تصمیم میگیرد تا به کمکِ دوست و سیاستمدار قدیمی خویش، یعنی < استنتن راجرز> رابطهٔ غرب و بخوص آمریکا را با کشورِ رومانی و دیگر کشورهایِ بلوکِ شرق درست کرده و به اصطلاح بر برنامهٔ سیاسی خود به نامِ رابطهٔ مردم با مردم، جامهٔ عمل بپوشاند
‎رئیس جمهور برایِ اینکار به سفیری احتیاج دارد که به موقعیتِ سیاسی و اجتماعیِ بلوک شرق و بخصوص رومانی آشنایی داشته باشد، لذا نویسنده ای به نامِ <ماری الیزابت اشلی> را به عنوانِ سفیر انتخاب کرده و به رومانی میفرستد... <ماری> در این راه با افرادِ مختلف و سیاسیون گوناگونی آشنا میشود که یکی از این اشخاص <مایک اسلید> میباشد
‎خیانتی و اغتشاشی در شرف انجام است... چه کسانی پشتِ پرده هستند؟؟ آیا <ماری> میتواند پرده از این خیانت بردارد؟؟ آیا <مایک> خائن است!؟ و یا برایِ کمک به <ماری> آماده است؟؟ در این راه چه خسارت هایی به زندگی <ماری> و دیگران وارد میشود؟؟ .... عزیزانم، بهتر است خودتان این داستانِ جذاب را بخوانید و از سرانجامِ این داستان آگاه شوید
‎لازم است بگویم که داستان به نوعی اشاراتی به اوضاع و احوالِ اجتماعی و سیاسیِ رومانی در دورانِ حکومتِ کثیف و مستبدانهٔ <چاووشسکو> دارد، که مردم روز به روز بر زجر و ستمشان، افزوده میشد، امّا هیچکس فریادِ کمکخواهیِ آنها را نمیشنید
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‎قسمتی از متنِ این کتاب
‎ بزرگترین مشکل جهان این است که، امروزه دیگر دولتمردانِ بزرگ وجود ندارند... امروزه کشورها به دستِ سیاست پیشگان اداره میشود... پیش از این دنیا پُر بود از مردانِ بزرگ.. بعضی از آنها خوب و بعضی بد بودند.. امّا آنها غول هایی با عظمت بودند.. اشخاصی چون: رزولت- چرچیل- هیتلر- موسولینی- شارل دوگل و استالین.. همهٔ اینها مردانی بسیار بزرگ بودند...چرا همه این بزرگان در یک دورهٔ معین زندگی میکردند،؟ چرا امروزه چنین دولتمردانی نداریم
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‎امیدوارم از خواندنِ این کتاب لذت ببرید
‎<پیروز باشید و ایرانی>

[mwana · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are all victims Anselmo,
Our destinies are decided
by a cosmic roll of the dice
by the winds of the stars
the vagrant breezes
of fortune that blow from
the windmills of the gods.

I took a book I had read over a million times, with its dog-eared pages and put it aside. And picked another book I decided to reread, Windmills of the Gods, which I had last read in 2010. Having taken 7 years to revisit the book, I thought it would be nice to traverse the course of finding these windmills of these gods.

However, there were no windmills. And there were no gods.

What happened was lots of suspenseful narration about the American ambassador to Romania. There were some assassins, a freedom fighter, some guns, some explosions and some more guns.

I enjoyed the hell out of the thrill ride.

But upon turning the last page, when I realised that there were no gods I simply put the book away to join the dog-eared library and wondered why they didn't at least add some windmills.

[Henry Ozogula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gripping work by Sheldon of course. For me the character of Angel the international assassin remains intriguing, if not quite convincing in the end. It is some sort of masterstroke that the author ensures throughout this work that the reader would imagine that both Angel and Neusa are the same. One eg assumes that Angel would be a man, not a woman. The author writes - a fine sleight of hand really - "First Angel had some shopping to do. There was a good lingerie shop on Pueyrredon, expensive, but Neusa deserved the best". How would the reader suss out here that Angel was actually referring to himself...er, herself! Yet from a critical point of view, the concept does not ring true. Neusa is presented as a very unattractive, illiterate dithering, quite foolish individual; yet in reality she is sophisticated, canny, quite a genius. So maybe we should assume again that she is the greatest actress the World has ever seen with what she pulls off!
Mary Ashley, the real female protagonist of this work finds herself trapped in a diabolic international plot… which sees those she believes are very much on her side propelling her towards a terrible fate. But at least the ruthless 'Controller' in the end is not only decapitated, but has his eyes torn out…hmmm….

[Sully (sully.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I just forgot how to spell the word OSM (as in the impression saying how you were extremely impressed and inspired with great admiration to something, apprehension/ def: extremely good; excellent) because this book is more than just OSM. *crying, tears of joy* lol. :))

Anyway, setting that emotion and the feeling that my mind-has-been-"Sheldonized" aside (hahaha). Windmills of the Gods is a 1987 thriller novel written by my all-time favorite American writer (shall I say his name uh-gain? yep! Sidney Sheldon). I think Sheldon defied the laws approvingly in writing this book! Hoho. It’s a story about the world where Iron Curtain still exists (overtly, of course ;). Back from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991, Iron Curtain was utilized to separate the ideological conflict and physical boundary dividing Europe, hence, the democratic sphere and the communist sphere was thoroughly divided. Windmills of the Gods, on the other hand, is a story under the "Iron Curtain days" where the utmost concern of the United States to Eastern Europe bloc (particularly in Romania) was fictionally discussed. And damn it was overly intriguing, heart-thrilling and mind-boggling!

The first situation that appealed me is when Sheldon introduced a beautiful and accomplished scholar who has suddenly became the newest United States ambassador to an Iron Curtain country, a woman who is about to dramatically change the course of world events. Imagine how her pretty face could survive on the glinting edge of East-West confrontation.

Every chapter is exceptionally impressive. Exceptionally and excessively impressive.

This novel grabbed me with all its all-sort of cliff-hangers, hooks and everything that come with it and finished read it in just one-sitting. RECOMMENDED!!! *__*

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Just remember, when someone has an accent, it means that he knows one more language than you do."
― Sidney Sheldon, Windmills of the Gods

I am adding to my review below, so this is going to be a combination of my old review and my new review


Another good Sheldon book. This one combines politics with plenty of mystery and intrigue and is an engrossing well written book.

However……

The fact that I read this many years ago, and could barely remember the plot, says A lot.

I have been a huge, Shelton fan since childhood. I have read almost all of his books and many of the plots are still fresh in my mind.

Windmills has plenty of political intrigue, which normally I love. But I found the book kind of average, which is why I’m giving it the perfect three stars.

I did like the heroine in it, Mary. But like I said, it was readable, just not particularly memorable for me.

I see many many people on Goodreads asking about Sheldon, and which of his books are the best

I must agree with my Goodreads friend Luffy. Shout out to you Luffy! Sidney Sheldon’s Bloodline is the best.

Here’s a few of my favorite Sheldon books for your reading pleasure….

Bloodline

The other side of midnight

Rage of Angels

Master of the game

The naked face

A stranger in the mirror

The best laid plans

All of them are unputdownable. In my opinion is worst books are

Are you afraid of the dark?

Nothing lasts forever

The sky is falling

Memories of midnight

Windmills of the gods is sandwiched in the middle. I wouldn’t mind giving it a second read, so that it’s fresh in my mind.


So to sum up – In spite of my love for all things Sheldon, this one, for me, was not quite as good, as some of his others. There are though plenty of Windmill lovers who would say different! I have read some of the reviews on this book and I remember it as a
Best seller.

[Gohnar23 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Books read & reviewed: 3️⃣4️⃣🥖4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣


╔⏤⏤⏤╝❀╚⏤⏤⏤╗


2️⃣🌟, the problem with old novels
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗

This is one of the problems that i noticed in almost, probably mostly all of the "old" novels that i read, it's that none of these are like true to the synopsis that they give in the back of the book. It's the same as this one. This one is said to be about mary ashley and two people who can help her, but one of them actually wants to kill her. Instead of the story being focused on THAT PART, because that's what the book shows it to be, it instead focuses on the boring job that she has as an ambassador.

I think my pre-read opinion about this is actually pretty correct, this did have many detours to different plots which is a bad thing.



✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*Pre-Read✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Not to have too many detours to different plots.

[Tanvirul Islam · Rating 4 out of 5]

আজকাল নস্টালজিয়া নিয়েও কেমন অপরাধবোধে ভুগি। কারণ খুব বেশি নস্টালজিয়ায় ভোগার অর্থ হলো আমার বর্তমান খেই হারিয়েছে। যেন অতীতের মাঝে আশ্রয় খুঁজছি তাই। এসব সাত-পাঁচ ভাবতে ভাবতেই তুলে নিলাম সিডনি শেলডনের এই বইটা। স্থান সিঙ্গাপুরের জুরং-ইস্ট পাবলিক লাইব্রেরী। বইটা অবশ্য ছিলো প্রবেশ পথের সামনে রাখা একটা ফ্রী তাকে। যার যেমন ইচ্ছা বই এখানে রেখে যায়। আবার ইচ্ছে মত নিয়ে যাওয়াও যায়। লাইব্রেরীর ভিতর মুক্ত লাইব্রেরী আরকি। ঘন্টাখানেক আগে যখন আসি তখনও ছিলো না। এর মাঝেই কেউ দান করেছে।

বই খুলেই আমার প্রথম কাজ ঘ্রাণ নেওয়া... এই সিডনি শেলডনের হাত ধরেই আমার ইংরেজী 'আউট-বই' পড়া শুরু। নীলক্ষেত থেকে ২৫ টাকা দিয়ে কিনি। এরপর ৫ টাকা টপ-আপ করে পড়া বই বদলে অন্য একটা বই নেওয়া যায়। প্রথম বইটা ছিলো 'মেমরিস অব মিডনাইট'। এটা অবশ্য ভিন্ন। 'উইন্ডমিলস অফ গডস'। নাম আলাদা হলে কী হবে। ঘ্রাণে কী অদ্ভুত মিল! সেই ১৯৮৭ সালে ছাপা। তিরিশ বছরে প্রচ্ছদ, বাঁধাই কিছুই ক্ষয় হয়নি। বরং বয়সী ওয়াইনের মত এর ঘ্রাণ ঋদ্ধ হয়েছে সময়ের পঠনে। হঠাৎ পুরোনো সুর ভেসে এলে যেমন নির্দিষ্ট অতীতে ফিরে যাওয়া যায়। এই পুরাতন ঘ্রাণও এক টানে নিয়ে গেল দুইহাজার দুই সালের নীলক্ষেতে। সেই অতীত মন্থনের লোভেই, আগে বলা মৃদু অপরাধবোধ সত্ত্বেও তুলে নিলাম বইটা।

কোল্ড ওয়ার, আয়রন কার্টেইন এসবের প্রেক্ষাপটে গল্প। সেই গল্পের টেলিফন তখনও 'ক্রিং ক্রিং' করে বাজে। জরুরী খবর পাঠানো হয় তার বার্তায়। একটু খানি একাকিত্ব চাইলে ফোণের রিসিভারটা তুলে রাখলেই হয়। তখনও প্রতিবেশী কিংবা বন্ধুর বাড়িতে গিয়ে দরজায় নক করলে। উৎফুল্ল কন্ঠে "আরে ভাই আসেন আসেন!" শুনতে হয়। ক্যাফেতে অপেক্ষা রত অবস্থায় মনে হয়, যার আসার কথা তার মনে আছে তো, কিছু হলো না তো। শেষ কবে কোনো বন্ধু-পরচিতের বাড়িতে গিয়ে নক করেছি মনে পড়ে না। এযুগে নিদেনপক্ষে টেক্সট মেসেজ করে অ্যাপয়েন্টমেন্ট না নিয়ে বাড়িতে গেলে লোকে বিরক্ত হয়। কফিহাউসের আড্ডায় ঠিক সাড়ে সাতটায় না পৌছলে বন্ধুদের সন্ধান হারানোর ভয় থাকে না। আচ্ছা মিলেনিয়ালরা কি জানে ফোন ক্রিং ক্রিং করে কীভাবে? রং নাম্বার কীভাবে হয়? এইসব ভাবতে ভাবতে হালকা চালের থ্রিলারটা পড়া। তাতে বলা ঠান্ডা যুদ্ধের ফ্যাক্ট গুলোর ব্যাপারে নিশ্চিত হওয়া না গেলেও। সেই সময়ের মানুষের ভীতি, আশা আশংকা ঠিকই ধরা পড়ে। সেই-বা কম কি?

[JG · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually my favorite SS book. It wasn't as dynamic or surprising as the other books he have written but there is something in it that draws you. This book felt so different from the other books he had written. I mean different. Like isolated LOL. Anyway teh plot is great! kinda ordinary compared to some of his works that went extreme (in a great wayh) but as gripping as the others

I thnk the fact that the pro and the man never kissed or made love increased the excitement. I was waiting for them to kiss or hold hands but they never did; it was almost...innocent and i think that made me like it 10 times more. I love the man (forgot the name, i tend not to remember the chars name after reading a book), the dark and sexy aura he has, and it was described in a magnificent way; like your watching him yourself, like you can touch him and talk to him.

The girl wasnt my fave heroine but i did care about her. The story is intense, i finished it in a just a few hours.The way SS write his books are always as smooth as a silk and seemed so effortless.He writes with such simpleness that makes you think he has written the book in just a few weeks, published it then viola made millions of dollors, thats how smooth and well-woven it is.

[Taveri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 4/5ths of the book rated as 2.5 stars, the last fifth 4 stars.

[Dem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never liked Sidney Sheldon before. But after reading his novels consecutively, i learned to appreciate his works at full blast. He's an easy to understand writer. No highfalutin words, no overdescriptions, just fitted for an average reader. i also liked how he made WOMEN heroes of his novels and how he leaves his readers at awe and question: WHAT HAPPENED AFTER? that we wish there's a part 2 of that novel.

Likewise, i loved how he connected his stories. very relevant, very current, something that we can relate to. we know her stories were really happening in some parts of the globe and that's really nerve-shaking.

At the end of every work he made, i learned to love this author :)

[Quirkyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great story from Sidney Sheldon.

His stories are fun, entertaining reads that I look forward to.

"Windmills" is a Cold War era thriller with plot lines that still resonate in the post 9/11 world.

While reading this, I thought of events that happened in Eastern Europe a few years ago. These events were perfect bookends to what happened in "Windmills".

Sheldon's stories in some respects are eerily becoming true.

[Anika Zaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Sidney Sheldon book I ever read and I simply loved it.
I found the characters very dimensional and they grew through out the story.
I enjoyed every minute that I was reading and was in a moment of awe after finishing it.
It is definitely one of my most favorite books of all time!

[Jane Gakere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book stands the test of time.
While some parts were not the best I could over look that as the story was captivating. Seeing Mary come into her own and become a badass woman was awesome. Sheldon is a master story teller and he does not disappoint in this novel.

[Mayush Shrestha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one hell of a book. Like damn you. I started this book 3 years back and stopped in 4th page. After all these I came back on it and surprise surprise. What twist, marvellous plot. My eyebrows are still raised. Did I just read it? Even with the 4 star rating I gave. This book is just delicious.

[Rishabh Jain · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a decent book. The political drama, secret organization, special agents, assassins, big clash of political powers, and a charming lady stuck amidst all this. It had all the tools for best-selling thriller. Yet, somehow, I was only so pleased with it.
Maybe, it is because I've read so many of such stories, or because back in the day, this was one of the first few books to try this style of storytelling, but I managed to predict almost every big twist and reveal, other than Mike belonging to the CIA. The sheer number of times some of these tropes have been carried out in such thriller type books made most of it obvious, as well as the amount of character spotlight and length of the book left. However, even when I've managed to figure out the secret twists, there are instances where execution of the final events manages to make me smile thoroughly. This book managed to thrill me modestly with the execution of the final events. The Ambassador's Folly caught me by surprise to a certain degree. It was something that would have stood out, but it was very well masked by the dozens of things that were happening in parallel.
The first two 'books' were a bit slow. Even book three was going slow for some time, until the reappearance of Angel.
I really think that the events within this book could have been expanded upon more. Intense moments were resolved quite quickly, and the overarching threat just didn't feel strong enough. However, I don't want to pick on this book for no reason at all. It is a decent book with a good story. The whole political drama which laid the foundation of this book was well developed. Key events were given decent emphasis, and the ending was really great, when the events finally picked up pace. I think that the character writing was somewhat lacking. There wasn't any character I felt I should be rooting for in the entire book, other than Mike Slade at a few moments. I enjoyed the story as something I read offhandedly. I just felt it had potential to be much more dramatic and magnificent.
I had hoped there would be some continuity to it, having given us an epilogue scene that could arch into another story. However, given that it doesn't exist, I feel I'm free enough to imagine it for myself.

In the end, it's a story I can recommend to someone for the merits it does have. The things that I didn't enjoy were for reasons specific to me, and aren't really a big fault of the story on its own. It's definitely a book that fans of political dramas would chew up happily.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

This shortish novel was a pretty speedy easy read. The plot was Ok in parts but other partts just did not ring true - I just cannot imagine that an American Ambassador to Communist Rumania would have been allowed to walk unescorted through the streets of Bucharest, surely sercet service agents would have been close by. Consequently the whole premis of the staged abduction was flawed. I liked the complexity of people involved the secret society manipulating things behind the scene, and its continuation even after its fall. I thought that worked well and was the novel was quite ambitious in this plot aspect as it meant so many different threads and different people contributing a little regularly to advancing the storyline.

[Shom Biswas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The legend that is Cliffy sir (i.e. Clifford Dragwidge of St. Vincent's Asansol and St Mary's Mount Abu) narrated this story to us, his students of class VI at St Vincent's Asansol.
Something never to be forgotten is that the day before the final arc of the story is to be told by Cliffy Sir, one of the chaps in class arrived with the spoiler, and announced it to the class.
F******g a*****e. Hate spoilers, and hate spoiler-givers.
And I continue to dutifully avoid that chap in school get-togethers, however much he tries to ingratiate himself with me. I am not very forgiving, I realize.

This was 1990 or 1991.

[Kimberly Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow the unexpected twist at the end! Sidney Sheldon never fails me.

[Vijay Chengappa · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you want fun Cold war reads, stick to Ludlum, or better still, Forsyth or Le Carre.

[Mohammed Sheikh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marie Ashley a beautiful young lady, teacher of the Cansas state University.who is specialist of "Eastern Europe" countries. New USA president wants to improve relationship with the communist countries. When Marie ashley's column catches the presidents eyes, He immediately knows that she would the perfect candidate for his People to People program to improve the relationship between the USA and communist nations. So he decides to nominate Marie Ashley as the ambassador of the Romania. As Marie starts her job in Romania she finds that she isn't liked by many for colleague and she has also got some powerful enemies who wants erase her for good."Angel" who is considered one of the best assassin is hired by hidden community who wants to destroy the people to people program and for that they have to kill Marie Ashley.Not the best work of Sidney Sheldon but still this book offers much to the thriller lovers. Divided into small chapter which is the speciality  of Sidney sheldon and makes the book more enjoyable. I will give 1/2 marks more because of the last twist. It was amazing.
Rating: 7.5/10

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[Farah Tabira · Rating 4 out of 5]

WINDMILLS OF THE GODS BY SIDNEY SHELDON BOOK REVIEW

PLOT

Mary Ashley is the quintessential all American woman. She is wholesome, successful, talented and beautiful. She is thirty five years old and married to the accomplished Dr. Edward Ashley and they live in a picture perfect house in Kansas with their two kids. They are a happy and the perfect family. When the new US president Paul Ellison contacts her for becoming the ambassador to Romania, she is pleasantly shocked. She has no beforehand experience for the job and entirely has no idea about it despite being a successful Eastern European political science professor at Kansas State University.

The US president wants to appoint her and not an experienced diplomat as the first Romania ambassador in his latest people to people program that is intended to improve US relations with Iron Curtain countries. His plan has resulted in adverse reactions all over the world. The communists believe that the president has helped the Allies take over. The West thinks that the communists will start spying freely from now.

Edward is happy for his wife and a little bit jealous too. Mary turns down the president’s offer. Edward is killed in a violent car accident on a fateful morning. Her husband’s death shatters and devastates her. President Ellison contacts her again about the offer and she is put into touch with Ellison’s right hand, Stanton Rogers. Mary accepts the offer this time and prepares to leave for Romania. She mourns Edward horribly and the job offer helps her to distract her from her memories and thoughts of Edward.

She meets Mike Slade in Romania and dislikes him immediately because he appears so rough. She can’t get rid of him though although she has requested the authorities. Mary is determined to prove to the world that she is not useless and worthless and perfectly fits the job description despite her lack of previous experience in the field.

Secret meetings of an unknown organization named Patriots for Freedom are occurring throughout the globe. They want to abort Ellison’s program. People who have figured out how Mary fits into world politics end up being murdered. A successful, dedicated and ruthless hit man from Buenos Aires named Angel is appointed by the Committee to carry out the killing assignments and so far Angel has not failed his tasks.

Romania becomes unstable and there are signs of an impending coup, making Mary nervous and tense. Mary moves into the residence of the ambassador in Romania with her children and starts a new life. She senses that she is not very popular in her new workplace and that someone is determined to send her back home. She meets a doctor named Louis Desforges and starts a relationship with him because she wants him to fill in the vacant space left by her deceased and beloved husband, whom she misses terribly.

Can Mary deal with all the political problems thrown her way? Can her children make it in a new land and fight cultural shock? Will Louis be able to replace Edward? Is he the companion Mary longs for and needs? Will Mary and Mike continue to be at odds and see each other eye to eye? Will he always be the deceptive snake in her eyes?

PERSONAL THOUGHTS

Sidney Sheldon books are usually quick reads and really interesting. You don’t have to think much while reading and this keeps you burning through the pages. There is nothing worthy of keeping in your grey cells long after you have read it though but that doesn’t make it an unworthy read. The pace is fast and the story is expertly laid out to be devoured in one or two sittings. There is not much character development although that is not irksome for me at all. The characters are multidimensional and carry the story forward nicely.

There are descriptions of the harshness of Romanian life and Foreign Service. The anguish of widowhood experienced by Mary is poignantly and heartbreakingly portrayed.

At the beginning it seems really confusing because there are so many characters and places and riddles, puzzles and codes. However they subsequently make you get used to them and stick with you and don’t get you puzzled too much. This is the case with all other Sheldon novels if you have read any others and hence it is hardly an issue.

Short paragraphs and moderately short chapters mean that the book is unputdownable. There is a constant back and forth between a plethora of events and characters. The action elevates to a tantalizing final showdown. You feel the rollercoaster ride that Mary has been dropped into and see everything jumping around fast and change quickly. It is another solid blockbuster by the master storyteller / the master of suspense.

The book is an absolute cracker and no, you just can’t predict the ending. I’m a huge fan of Sidney Sheldon and this is one of his best works in my opinion.

His books revolve around pretty and talented women. This book is no exception where females steal the show and men are just bystanders. This is the book for those who appreciate a gripping plot with vivid details, brisk pace that always keep you on the edge of your seat.

This book has moments of love, helplessness, conspiracies, determination and shocks. The book involves you so much that these very moments and scenes are felt about rather than read about.

There is no doubt that Sidney Sheldon is a soap opera worthy entertainer. You will be under his spell and this book is a complete whirlwind ride. Go ahead. Enjoy the ride.

[Tom Thornton · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a sterile story that feels in some ways like an autobiography full of half-interesting anecdotes but nothing gripping. The cover of my paperback edition features the phrase "master of the unexpected". The only thing "unexpected" was how such a successful author shifted SO many copies of such mediocrity.

As for the characters, WITHOUT spoilers, there's one character whose identity provides a plot twist which genuinely surprised me though it only arrives in the final few pages. Everyone else I found predictable to stereotypical levels. The main character is interesting on the basis that the author's intentions for her remain unknown to me. Mary Ashley is a character of great power who never feels completely in control of proceedings. If that was the point, then fair play, but if Sheldon tried to sell a strong character who should lead the story and be a hero, then it failed. It's not often that a main character feels like an out-of-their-depth substitute teacher who gets to the end more through luck than judgment. (Excuse the pun because the character is a successful teacher in actual fact!) The author resorts to; "this protagonist is great because I say so." There is no real threat of danger. I LIKE Mary Ashley as a character but I was constantly waiting for her big moment to shine but unfortunately that never really arrives.

Credit where it's due, Sheldon is an excellent researcher. His knowledge of political systems in eastern Europe and the US is first class, spoken as if by someone with vast experience in the diplomatic field. It feels authentically structured but all too often it reaches in to nonsense, whether that's characters suddenly doing/saying something that contradicts the rest of their personality. Or whether it's that odd passage towards the end when someone steps forward like in Scooby-Doo and explains the whole plot like it's all obvious. Or even whether Sheldon, a male author, undercuts a noble sentiment about Mary's ability with a subtle, mildly chauvinistic dig. The latter however was so slight that it probably should just be a sign of the times, after all this novel is more than 30 years old and written by a man born in 1917.

This book probably makes more sense if it's read for a second time, but there isn't enough plot density, character development or twists to make me want to do that. A good way to pass the time, but little more than that.

[Shivam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world's seventh best selling author hits the right chords with WINDMILLS OF THE GODS! Not only does he take you around the world, painting vivid pictures of the cities duly mentioned, but also provides the readers with informative political scenarios, coupled with 'his' fair share of crime and drama.

The Writer cleverly enmeshes the opaque "political underworld" to the glim picture he paints of the apprehensions of the communist countries, towards the United States, and vice versa. The workings of a diplomat have been put in with incredible care (and in great detail)... And the tenacious, amiable, and homely nature of the protagonist is certain to win you over. Each of the characters have been sketched with utmost ambiguity and ONE amongst them, in particular, is certain to knock you off your feet!

The book overall may not possibly touch you emotionally (which i do not think it intended to), but will leave you highly satisfied and with a smile on your face! Keeping in mind the amount of declassified information available today, and the number of clandestine operations the governments of the modern world are involved in, Sidney Sheldon and this book remain all the more relevant.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was spilt into three 'books' with the second and third being a lot better than the first.

The first 'book' was setting up the whole novel and plot, this was fine, but I felt that it was a bit too disjointed. It jumped from one person to the other and then back, there were a series of names that I couldn't keep track of, different political terms and affiliations, relationship and sub-plots.

By the second book I had pinned down who everyone was and actually realised that the first book, though not entirely action packed, had nicely set me up for the impact of the second and third. We began to see a development in Mary's character and she became our primary narrator, and this was where the novel came into its own.

Mary was like most of Sheldon's female narrators, strong, independent and incredibly compelling. Once she had me hooked on her story I just couldn't stop reading. There were times when I was sympathising with her, shouting angrily at her, laughing with her... but she had me with her the whole time.

I read 457 in about four hours, and Lord help me, but when it finished I needed more!

Not just a good read, but a brilliant read.

[Luidz · Rating 5 out of 5]

How a story is presented in the beginning, middle, & end is an essential factor that keeps the readers of into pages. Sidney Sheldon did it well on his Windmills of the Gods, & successfully placed a strong ingredient that surprises readers every now & then. The pacing is perfect. The plot is excellent. The story itself is well-researched. Windmills of the Gods is one of the greatest suspense stories I've had read, and Sidney Sheldon succeeded in hooking me up with such a breath-taking story, a fast-paced journey unto the world of politics & its darkest mysteries, the hidden risks behind intellect & fame, the roller coaster ride to the international secrets, sex & murder at their worst, a family at danger in every choice to take, and the survival amidst greedy interests and deceits in a game of life. There's only a few writers who can bring it on; and Sidney Sheldon is one worth to get such prestige.

[Renee Barrette]

The characters in this book are compelling and keep you on your toes.

One thing I didn't like about this book though, is it seemed to constantly jump all over the place. Not that it was hard to keep track of everything though.

I was quite surprised at the end when Mike turned out to be the good guy! That caught me completely off guard. I was truly hoping Stanton would be the man he had been portrayed as, also, but that wasn't the case, either! Everyone in this book wasn't who they seemed to be!

I enjoyed it though. Anyone who is a Sheldon fan should definitely add this one to their collection.

[Komal Anand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading a Sidney book without Jotting down the characters is totally imprecise! Too many characters to play part in his book

Mrs Mary Ashley is political science teacher in city of Kansas,lost her husband in car accident after denying a post for ambassadorship of Romania.

Later she agreed to work on President Paul Ellison people-to- people organization program.
Too many murders by assassinator named Angel. A very shady character in entire book. In the end it was revealed she was ugly,fat woman names Neusa Munez.

Behind all this was President best friend and minister of foreign affairs "Stanton Rogers",who envied his friend entire time for taking his president post.