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Kenneth Aubrey and Patrick Hyde #2
Snow Falcon
The Infra-red photographs and strange clues concerning Finland station, Group 1917, and someone named Kutuzov all point toward a shocking conspiracy of worldwide proportions. The KGB, CIA, and Kenneth Aubrey's British Secret Service incredibly unite in a desperate mission.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
5 people are currently reading
149 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.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 29, 2025
An espionage tale set in the 1970's when all of the spies are soul weary.
It all surrounds something going on in Finland. Spies there disappear. Who is disappearing them and why? What is going on? Nobody knows anything, not even the people doing the deeds, it seems.
Very 70's.
It all surrounds something going on in Finland. Spies there disappear. Who is disappearing them and why? What is going on? Nobody knows anything, not even the people doing the deeds, it seems.
Very 70's.
July 21, 2019
Seventies Cold War thriller featuring (recurring) English spy master Aubrey and a plot by Russian hardliners to topple their softy, detente-loving leader. It really picks up when the action gets underway. I like this author a lot but he's no Le Carre/Deighton in terms of plot or characters. He's much better when combining espionage with chases and gun play. The sudden violence in Helsinki, where Aubrey tries to get his injured agent to safety, is both shocking and exciting.
It's a nice change to see a Soviet good guy - Major Vorontsyev, a flawed SID agent who stumbles across the plot. His escape across Russia, hunted by helicopters, soldiers and the KGB is jolly good stuff, with shades of John Buchan or Geoffrey Household. Also interesting that the author mixes in actual Soviet big wigs like Andropov (pre his short-lived presidency) and Gromyko. The complexity is pitched satisfyingly middle brow: always good when a thicko like me can spot the identity of "Kutuzov", secret baddy supremo, a mile off.
The finale was a slight let down. Aubrey's sidekicks don't fare well and his regular 'man in the field', Patrick Hyde, doesn't appear until the next book, "Sea Leopard". Surprised the editor didn't iron out the rather verbose style. At this early stage in his career, the author felt the need to describe the main characters' every thought, even when they're pretty dull.
I couldn't find my classy eighties Sphere paperback edition on the Goodreads site. Pity, as it's a striking design; simple white background and the title in bold green embossed letters with a great picture of a Hind gunship by Chris Moore. A perfect marriage of presentation and content.
It's a nice change to see a Soviet good guy - Major Vorontsyev, a flawed SID agent who stumbles across the plot. His escape across Russia, hunted by helicopters, soldiers and the KGB is jolly good stuff, with shades of John Buchan or Geoffrey Household. Also interesting that the author mixes in actual Soviet big wigs like Andropov (pre his short-lived presidency) and Gromyko. The complexity is pitched satisfyingly middle brow: always good when a thicko like me can spot the identity of "Kutuzov", secret baddy supremo, a mile off.
The finale was a slight let down. Aubrey's sidekicks don't fare well and his regular 'man in the field', Patrick Hyde, doesn't appear until the next book, "Sea Leopard". Surprised the editor didn't iron out the rather verbose style. At this early stage in his career, the author felt the need to describe the main characters' every thought, even when they're pretty dull.
I couldn't find my classy eighties Sphere paperback edition on the Goodreads site. Pity, as it's a striking design; simple white background and the title in bold green embossed letters with a great picture of a Hind gunship by Chris Moore. A perfect marriage of presentation and content.
July 28, 2016
A classic 80s espionage thriller. A small sect of the Red Army is planning a coup d'état and a simultaneous invasion of Scandinavia. The KGB and SIS/CIA are both working to stop it, plot ensues.
Unfortunately, it takes 150 or so pages of the 440 for the story to get moving. The middle is a nail biting page turner then it just, well, fizzles out. Rumbles along for a bit then ends. The character of Alexei Vorontsyev seemed unresolved at the end.
It was alright but the cover boasted of an "Electrifying International Megathriller" and I wasn't all that electrified to be honest.
Unfortunately, it takes 150 or so pages of the 440 for the story to get moving. The middle is a nail biting page turner then it just, well, fizzles out. Rumbles along for a bit then ends. The character of Alexei Vorontsyev seemed unresolved at the end.
It was alright but the cover boasted of an "Electrifying International Megathriller" and I wasn't all that electrified to be honest.
January 16, 2024
Absolutely nail-biting, to the last 2 pages! After reading both Firefox, Firefox Down, and Snow Leopard, I want to savor each Craig Thomas book. He ratchets up the scenes & chapters as they progress, he does it very well. He's definitely a master of cold war intrigue. I'll take a few months off fm Mr Thomas, because I want to get a few things done! Highly recommended.
March 20, 2020
Boys Cold War shenanigans. Dry to the point.
September 14, 2025
Started slow until 1/3 was read. Picked up significantly during the final 1/3.
June 24, 2022
Craig Thomas’s thriller Snow Falcon was published in 1979; my copy is dated 1993 by which time it had already been reprinted eleven times.
It is yet another page-turning fast-paced story, again featuring Kenneth Aubrey, deputy head of British SIS. In Germany he makes a discovery that calls for sending a spy into Finland and from there to the USSR. The operation is code-named Snow Falcon. At about the same time KGB Major Vorontsyev is investigating rumours about a ‘Finland Station’ and the ‘Group 1917’. Both men learn about the mysterious Kutuzov who seems to be at the centre of a conspiracy that could rock the world.
The conspiracy is nothing less than the Soviet armed forces deposing the Politburo, invading both Finland and Sweden. Ironically the West and certain members of the KGB must stop this. Although written over fifty years ago, there are echoes of the present geopolitical situation. Instead of the Soviet army displacing Putin, however, it is slaughtering innocents, including women and children, though eyes are steadfastly on the Baltic states and even Finland and Sweden, who are belatedly considering seeking membership of NATO. ‘You’ve heard of “Blitzkreig”, haven’t you? What the filthy Fascists were doing in the war? Well, you can’t say the Red Army doesn’t learn! One of our intensive practices…’ (p258) This is what Putin intended in Ukraine – and has signally failed to accomplish.
The Soviet head is relatively benign in the book and at least he has the backing of Andropov who at the time was head of the KGB. The bad guys are in the Red Army
Intriguingly, as one character observes about the Soviet Union, ‘It was all for nothing! Stalin was something from the Middle Ages, with a savage dog he let off a chain, Beria… Everything came to nothing. One prison, from one end of the Soviet Union to the other. A bloody, dark, infested prison!’ (p430) Which Putin has recreated for the Russian people in the twenty-first century.
There are chases in the snow, through the forests, and heroism from both sides. Even at this distant point from its writing it’s worth reading.
It is yet another page-turning fast-paced story, again featuring Kenneth Aubrey, deputy head of British SIS. In Germany he makes a discovery that calls for sending a spy into Finland and from there to the USSR. The operation is code-named Snow Falcon. At about the same time KGB Major Vorontsyev is investigating rumours about a ‘Finland Station’ and the ‘Group 1917’. Both men learn about the mysterious Kutuzov who seems to be at the centre of a conspiracy that could rock the world.
The conspiracy is nothing less than the Soviet armed forces deposing the Politburo, invading both Finland and Sweden. Ironically the West and certain members of the KGB must stop this. Although written over fifty years ago, there are echoes of the present geopolitical situation. Instead of the Soviet army displacing Putin, however, it is slaughtering innocents, including women and children, though eyes are steadfastly on the Baltic states and even Finland and Sweden, who are belatedly considering seeking membership of NATO. ‘You’ve heard of “Blitzkreig”, haven’t you? What the filthy Fascists were doing in the war? Well, you can’t say the Red Army doesn’t learn! One of our intensive practices…’ (p258) This is what Putin intended in Ukraine – and has signally failed to accomplish.
The Soviet head is relatively benign in the book and at least he has the backing of Andropov who at the time was head of the KGB. The bad guys are in the Red Army
Intriguingly, as one character observes about the Soviet Union, ‘It was all for nothing! Stalin was something from the Middle Ages, with a savage dog he let off a chain, Beria… Everything came to nothing. One prison, from one end of the Soviet Union to the other. A bloody, dark, infested prison!’ (p430) Which Putin has recreated for the Russian people in the twenty-first century.
There are chases in the snow, through the forests, and heroism from both sides. Even at this distant point from its writing it’s worth reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2021
Great Cold War thriller from the author of Firefox and Firefox Down.
As Russia and America get ready for peace talks, meanwhile the Red Army prepare a coup in resistance to the upcoming meeting between the two superpowers.
As it becomes clear that a conspiracy is in place to ensure the peace talks never happen, British, American, and Russian secret agents race against time to thwart the army officials determined to restore an ageing and dying regime.
Some great moments, a bit heavy going at times and remembering who’s who amongst the Russians is a bit tricky at times, but an awesome Cold War thriller nonetheless that is easily an equal to the Quiller series of novels.
As Russia and America get ready for peace talks, meanwhile the Red Army prepare a coup in resistance to the upcoming meeting between the two superpowers.
As it becomes clear that a conspiracy is in place to ensure the peace talks never happen, British, American, and Russian secret agents race against time to thwart the army officials determined to restore an ageing and dying regime.
Some great moments, a bit heavy going at times and remembering who’s who amongst the Russians is a bit tricky at times, but an awesome Cold War thriller nonetheless that is easily an equal to the Quiller series of novels.
December 3, 2025
If ever there was a case of life imitating art, SNOW FALCON fits the bill perfectly. I first came across this novel when comrades urged me to read it to follow the dramatic developments in the Soviet Union in the 1980s under Gorbachev, even though this novel dates from 1980. See if the following scenario sounds familiar: a reform-minded Soviet leader is dedicated to making deep changes to the Communist system in order to preserve it, but hardliners in the KGB and military think these changes will sink the U.S.S.R. and secretly conspire to remove him, even if it means sparking a civil war. Thomas, a British author who specialized in Cold War thrillers (FIREFOX is his best-known novel, thanks to the Clint Eastwood movie) perfectly augured the rise and fall of Mikhail Gorbachev and Perestroika. Interestingly, his role model for a reformer was then-KGB Chief Andropov. How did Thomas know Andropov would one day lead the Soviet Union and hand down mild reforms, before passing away?
June 17, 2016
Took this book on vacation to the Canadian Rockies. Not the best choice on my part. this book took a lot of concentration and perseverance to stick with it. Took me a while to get into it. Different style of writing for me also. Half the time I didn't know the various people in the story. A lot of people!
Thomas certainly deeply developed his characters by getting into the psyches. Let the reader know what they were thinking.
Very interesting premise for a plot.
Thomas certainly deeply developed his characters by getting into the psyches. Let the reader know what they were thinking.
Very interesting premise for a plot.
June 21, 2016
Interesting conspiracy theory about USSR invading Scandinavia but took way too long to get to the action. Pages and pages of of moody brooding in the snow interrupted by the occasional death-defying shootout. Could have easily cut a third of the pages with no loss.
December 11, 2010
fun but stodgy thriller
December 14, 2011
Generally well-written thriller; the ending manages to be both abrupt and overly drawn out.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews