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A Basque Story
A prominent Basque-American politician has been brutally murdered in San Francisco. The politician had publicly criticized the Basque terrorist group Euskadi ta Askatasuna’s continued use of violence in its campaign for an independent Basque country in Northwest Spain and Southwest France. With suspicion of ETA involvement in the murder, which would be the first of its kind in the US, the FBI seeks assistance from the CIA’s counter terrorism department. An unlikely duo results; a seasoned FBI agent and a young analyst in the CIA are partnered together on the case. As the group involved with the murder disperses to different corners of the Basque world to hide before returning to the Basque Country, the mismatched duo eventually is led to the Basque Country. While there, they encounter the mystery and uniqueness of the Basque culture, the complexity of the new generation of Basque nationalists, and an interesting friendship.
409 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 2009
26 people are currently reading
991 people want to read
About the author
M. Bryce Ternet
6 books27 followersI was born in the American Midwest. While I appreciate the stable middle-America upbringing, I couldn’t wait to get out into the world. I finished high school a year early and spent my senior year as an exchange student in the French Basque Country, finding myself, learning French, and becoming entranced with Basque culture. I followed this act with college in Montana, a little more time in France (Paris mostly), then moved to Washington, DC and spent five years getting burnt-out in a high-profile federal government position which had me traveling throughout West Africa while I tacked on more trips to Europe.
Graduate school on California’s Monterey Peninsula was escape from the East Coast. Grad school turned into ten years in California, with a two-year Seattle area experiment, and meeting a future wife while hiking in Big Sur. More trips to Europe and expansion into Southeast Asia. Experiencing Idaho’s Sun Valley was next, filled with outdoor activities and searching for historical Basque sheepherder carvings in aspen trees. Now in Northern New Mexico, I spent most of my free time exploring the wild canyons and mountains of this place and searching for petroglyphs and historical ruins.
I started writing in my twenties after wanting to my entire life and find a way to continue in between family, career, and getting into the outdoors. I’ve have ten published books: A Basque Story, Diplomatic Weekends in Africa, Strohm Alley, The Yellow House on Maloney Grove, The American Middle Class Revolution, Rock Creek, The Stevenson Plan, A Novel of the Monterey Peninsula, The Basque Dilemma, The Cibola Treasure Hunt, and Sun Valley Serenade.
While at home in the historical-themed fiction and mystery/thriller genre (A Basque Story, The Stevenson Plan, The Basque Dilemma, Sun Valley Serenade), other interests include paranormal (The Yellow House on Maloney Grove, Rock Creek), coming-of-age psychological (Strohm Alley), examining contemporary society (The American Middle Class Revolution), a travelogue for former diplomatic experiences (Diplomatic Weekends in Africa), food & wine (numerous articles), and a treasure hunt novel set in the American Southwest, (The Cibola Treasure Hunt).
Whether the Basque Country, the Monterey Peninsula, Washington state, Montana, Sun Valley, the Southwest, the Midwest, West Africa, or some other European destination, I treat locations as character themselves.
I’m inspired by authors such as Ernest Hemingway, Robert Laxalt, Daniel Quinn, Stephen King, Peter Mayle, Paul Theroux, and Arturo Perez-Reverte.
The Basque Dilemma, was recently included on a list produced by Smithsonian Journeys on a reading list for France and Spain’s Basque Region, directly underneath The Basque History of the World by Mark Kurlansky.: https://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/t...
My newest release is a horror novel with Basque American elements set in Nevada's mysterious Jarbidge Mountains.
See https://www.facebook.com/mbryceternet/ for more.
Graduate school on California’s Monterey Peninsula was escape from the East Coast. Grad school turned into ten years in California, with a two-year Seattle area experiment, and meeting a future wife while hiking in Big Sur. More trips to Europe and expansion into Southeast Asia. Experiencing Idaho’s Sun Valley was next, filled with outdoor activities and searching for historical Basque sheepherder carvings in aspen trees. Now in Northern New Mexico, I spent most of my free time exploring the wild canyons and mountains of this place and searching for petroglyphs and historical ruins.
I started writing in my twenties after wanting to my entire life and find a way to continue in between family, career, and getting into the outdoors. I’ve have ten published books: A Basque Story, Diplomatic Weekends in Africa, Strohm Alley, The Yellow House on Maloney Grove, The American Middle Class Revolution, Rock Creek, The Stevenson Plan, A Novel of the Monterey Peninsula, The Basque Dilemma, The Cibola Treasure Hunt, and Sun Valley Serenade.
While at home in the historical-themed fiction and mystery/thriller genre (A Basque Story, The Stevenson Plan, The Basque Dilemma, Sun Valley Serenade), other interests include paranormal (The Yellow House on Maloney Grove, Rock Creek), coming-of-age psychological (Strohm Alley), examining contemporary society (The American Middle Class Revolution), a travelogue for former diplomatic experiences (Diplomatic Weekends in Africa), food & wine (numerous articles), and a treasure hunt novel set in the American Southwest, (The Cibola Treasure Hunt).
Whether the Basque Country, the Monterey Peninsula, Washington state, Montana, Sun Valley, the Southwest, the Midwest, West Africa, or some other European destination, I treat locations as character themselves.
I’m inspired by authors such as Ernest Hemingway, Robert Laxalt, Daniel Quinn, Stephen King, Peter Mayle, Paul Theroux, and Arturo Perez-Reverte.
The Basque Dilemma, was recently included on a list produced by Smithsonian Journeys on a reading list for France and Spain’s Basque Region, directly underneath The Basque History of the World by Mark Kurlansky.: https://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/t...
My newest release is a horror novel with Basque American elements set in Nevada's mysterious Jarbidge Mountains.
See https://www.facebook.com/mbryceternet/ for more.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 9, 2018
‘The plan was for all of them to be separately moved out of the country.’
Indiana-born Idaho author M. Bryce Ternet has experienced many climes, having lived in Montana, Paris, the French Basque Country, Burgundy, Chicago, Washington state, Washington DC, and on California's Monterey Peninsula: food for many stories. His degrees are in Political Science and French and a Master's degree in International Environmental Policy. Bryce’s genres reflect his global exposure – he writes historical fiction, thrillers, paranormal stories, psychological themes, and reflections on contemporary society, travelogues as well as articles on food and wine!
A BASQUE STORY is Bryce’s initial Basque tale – his first was THE BASQUE DILEMMA – and his focus is both history and fiction-as-novel. Bryce’s background serves him well for this ‘assignment’, both because of his political science training and the fact that he lived in the Basque Country. For those unfamiliar with his subject matter, the synopsis clarifies: ‘A prominent Basque-American politician is murdered in San Francisco. The politician criticized Basque separatist group Euskadi ta Askatasuna’s violent campaign for an independent Basque Country in Northwestern Spain and Southwestern France. With suspicion of ETA involvement, the first of its kind in the U.S., a seasoned FBI agent and a young CIA analyst are partnered together. The mismatched duo is led to the Basque Country, encountering the mystery and uniqueness of Basque culture, and a new generation of Basque nationalists.
With such fine credentials and sensitivity it is a pleasure to discover that Bryce couples his experiences with a keen talent for writing. He opens this compelling book in San Francisco with the following – ‘Raindrops streamed off the darkened rooftops overhead onto the people below as they stared down at the still, lifeless body. Their black ski masks were now rolled up above their eyes, resting high on their foreheads. Water dripped from their faces. It ran down their bodies onto the pavement where it diluted the puddle of blood forming in the center of the dark alley into a crimson colored mix. The blood blackened water channeled through cracks in the concrete. It formed a thin stream, gently flowing in the center of the alley between the buildings. Captured in a silent flow, the water slowly moved to an unseen end somewhere off in the distance. Waves of fog moved in, surrounding the scene. They gazed in terrible fascination upon the death they had administered. No one spoke, each feeling something different. The realization hit them that this man would never speak again. This father would never see his children again. This husband would never see his wife again. Yet, of foremost importance to those surrounding the body was the fact that this traitor would never turn his back on his people again. One shivered as a thick cloud of fog moved through the alley and appeared to swallow the five bodies. The one with longer hair than the others fiddled with the hair coming out of a ponytail that jutted from the back of a ski mask. This one interrupted the solemnity of the moment by reaching up to pull loose strands back into place. The shortest of the group kept shifting weight from leg to leg like a pendulum. Nervously, the one who shivered darted his eyes into the wall of fog engulfing them. The only thing that could be made out was a large dumpster a little ways from them that, for some unknown reason, seemed out of place. Probably because it was large and permanent, while everything else about the situation was not. The eerie, unreal atmosphere made the group feel they were almost invisible until suddenly the silence was broken as words, spoken in an ancient language, pierced through the thick damp air. A voice boomed from one who stood taller than the rest. This deep voice came from the member of the group who had a face with a strong chin, thick eyebrows, and a small wispy moustache. He told them they should feel proud of what they had done. No longer would this country ignore them. His words assured them they had done a great deed for their people and their homeland...’
In bringing the ongoing controversy into the present Bryce creates credible figures and an ‘at scene’ journalistic approach while never forgetting that this is a novel. Violent, raw and at all times riveting, it is evident we are in the presence of an important American writer who manages to lock us into his fine story and while being placed in the suspense mode, allows us to appreciate quality prose. Highly Recommended.
Indiana-born Idaho author M. Bryce Ternet has experienced many climes, having lived in Montana, Paris, the French Basque Country, Burgundy, Chicago, Washington state, Washington DC, and on California's Monterey Peninsula: food for many stories. His degrees are in Political Science and French and a Master's degree in International Environmental Policy. Bryce’s genres reflect his global exposure – he writes historical fiction, thrillers, paranormal stories, psychological themes, and reflections on contemporary society, travelogues as well as articles on food and wine!
A BASQUE STORY is Bryce’s initial Basque tale – his first was THE BASQUE DILEMMA – and his focus is both history and fiction-as-novel. Bryce’s background serves him well for this ‘assignment’, both because of his political science training and the fact that he lived in the Basque Country. For those unfamiliar with his subject matter, the synopsis clarifies: ‘A prominent Basque-American politician is murdered in San Francisco. The politician criticized Basque separatist group Euskadi ta Askatasuna’s violent campaign for an independent Basque Country in Northwestern Spain and Southwestern France. With suspicion of ETA involvement, the first of its kind in the U.S., a seasoned FBI agent and a young CIA analyst are partnered together. The mismatched duo is led to the Basque Country, encountering the mystery and uniqueness of Basque culture, and a new generation of Basque nationalists.
With such fine credentials and sensitivity it is a pleasure to discover that Bryce couples his experiences with a keen talent for writing. He opens this compelling book in San Francisco with the following – ‘Raindrops streamed off the darkened rooftops overhead onto the people below as they stared down at the still, lifeless body. Their black ski masks were now rolled up above their eyes, resting high on their foreheads. Water dripped from their faces. It ran down their bodies onto the pavement where it diluted the puddle of blood forming in the center of the dark alley into a crimson colored mix. The blood blackened water channeled through cracks in the concrete. It formed a thin stream, gently flowing in the center of the alley between the buildings. Captured in a silent flow, the water slowly moved to an unseen end somewhere off in the distance. Waves of fog moved in, surrounding the scene. They gazed in terrible fascination upon the death they had administered. No one spoke, each feeling something different. The realization hit them that this man would never speak again. This father would never see his children again. This husband would never see his wife again. Yet, of foremost importance to those surrounding the body was the fact that this traitor would never turn his back on his people again. One shivered as a thick cloud of fog moved through the alley and appeared to swallow the five bodies. The one with longer hair than the others fiddled with the hair coming out of a ponytail that jutted from the back of a ski mask. This one interrupted the solemnity of the moment by reaching up to pull loose strands back into place. The shortest of the group kept shifting weight from leg to leg like a pendulum. Nervously, the one who shivered darted his eyes into the wall of fog engulfing them. The only thing that could be made out was a large dumpster a little ways from them that, for some unknown reason, seemed out of place. Probably because it was large and permanent, while everything else about the situation was not. The eerie, unreal atmosphere made the group feel they were almost invisible until suddenly the silence was broken as words, spoken in an ancient language, pierced through the thick damp air. A voice boomed from one who stood taller than the rest. This deep voice came from the member of the group who had a face with a strong chin, thick eyebrows, and a small wispy moustache. He told them they should feel proud of what they had done. No longer would this country ignore them. His words assured them they had done a great deed for their people and their homeland...’
In bringing the ongoing controversy into the present Bryce creates credible figures and an ‘at scene’ journalistic approach while never forgetting that this is a novel. Violent, raw and at all times riveting, it is evident we are in the presence of an important American writer who manages to lock us into his fine story and while being placed in the suspense mode, allows us to appreciate quality prose. Highly Recommended.
January 2, 2026
Oh. My. God.
I'm a Basque-American, so when I won this in the Goodreads giveaway, I was excited.
Annnd then I read it. Apparently us Basques are a bunch of "big-eared, pointy-nosed" terrorists who spend all our time either plotting with the ETA or getting murdered by the ETA. Thanks.
Also, lots of objectification of women - and apparently Basque women are only hot if we "look French" (must be the ears??), there's a discussion of a random blonde girl's boobs for no apparent reason (that the Basque Studies professor is staring at. oh by the way, this is our hero, comrades), OH and there is a graphic rape scene that has 0 to do with the plot and is never alluded to again after it happens. It's a shame, because there is no little Basque representation in literature, especially these days - but this ain't it, chief.
I'm a Basque-American, so when I won this in the Goodreads giveaway, I was excited.
Annnd then I read it. Apparently us Basques are a bunch of "big-eared, pointy-nosed" terrorists who spend all our time either plotting with the ETA or getting murdered by the ETA. Thanks.
Also, lots of objectification of women - and apparently Basque women are only hot if we "look French" (must be the ears??), there's a discussion of a random blonde girl's boobs for no apparent reason (that the Basque Studies professor is staring at. oh by the way, this is our hero, comrades), OH and there is a graphic rape scene that has 0 to do with the plot and is never alluded to again after it happens. It's a shame, because there is no little Basque representation in literature, especially these days - but this ain't it, chief.
April 12, 2019
Mr. Ternet’s depiction of an FBI agent is ridiculous at best. The point seems more to point out the superior sophistication of Europe over America. Any idiot as quick to grab his gun as Agent Gibson would quickly be booted off of the smallest police agency in the country. The guy is a complete moron in the handling of his weapon. Ternet’s grasp of firearms is as close to nonexistent as I’ve ever read, which makes his writing on the subject so bad. He repeatedly refers to Gibson’s weapon as a .45mm. That would make the projectile about half the diameter of a pencil lead. Later he mentions a .22 gauge rifle. That would give you a projectile weighing a little more than 4 pounds and almost 3 inches in diameter.
There is enough actual detective story to make things interesting, and the presentation of Basque culture does flavor the tale. I can only hope it is portrayed more accurately than Agent Gibson was.
A murder in California leads back to the Basque region of southern France. The bumbling, and typical “Ugly American”, Gibson accompanies a young CIA annalist to the region. With Gibson supposedly in charge, it quickly becomes obvious the young, but sophisticated, Parker takes the lead. With the admonition to “Quit being so damn American” to Gibson, Parker solves the case as he takes us on a tour of Basque country.
The book winds its way to a partially satisfying ending that leaves open the possibility of sequels. I’ll let somebody else review the next one.
There is enough actual detective story to make things interesting, and the presentation of Basque culture does flavor the tale. I can only hope it is portrayed more accurately than Agent Gibson was.
A murder in California leads back to the Basque region of southern France. The bumbling, and typical “Ugly American”, Gibson accompanies a young CIA annalist to the region. With Gibson supposedly in charge, it quickly becomes obvious the young, but sophisticated, Parker takes the lead. With the admonition to “Quit being so damn American” to Gibson, Parker solves the case as he takes us on a tour of Basque country.
The book winds its way to a partially satisfying ending that leaves open the possibility of sequels. I’ll let somebody else review the next one.
April 23, 2018
Great story, felt like I was right there watching everything
A Basque Story by M. Bryce Ternet is a political thriller filled with action and suspense. Going into this, I had no idea really what Basque was so this also proved to be very interesting on that front, since I learned something new! The story pretty much follows the main character, John Gibson who is a FBI agent who is on a mission to find whoever murdered a Basque American politician in San Francisco. The story travels from several states in the US to Venezuela, Spain, and different places in France. Terent really did a good job of painting a picture with his story. It was easy to picture what was going on in my mind and follow along. I enjoyed the educational side of his story, learning about the Basque and different countries it’s in. I would definitely read more novels like this one from Terent. It is long but once you get into it’s really hard to put down!
A Basque Story by M. Bryce Ternet is a political thriller filled with action and suspense. Going into this, I had no idea really what Basque was so this also proved to be very interesting on that front, since I learned something new! The story pretty much follows the main character, John Gibson who is a FBI agent who is on a mission to find whoever murdered a Basque American politician in San Francisco. The story travels from several states in the US to Venezuela, Spain, and different places in France. Terent really did a good job of painting a picture with his story. It was easy to picture what was going on in my mind and follow along. I enjoyed the educational side of his story, learning about the Basque and different countries it’s in. I would definitely read more novels like this one from Terent. It is long but once you get into it’s really hard to put down!
May 18, 2018
A novel that covers themes of personal relationships, culture and mystery.
Gripping, educational and funny all at the same time.
Two federal agents, both from different agencies and in very different times in their life and put together to investigate the murder of a politician.
Filled with interesting facts and details about the Basque Country and Basque culture I found this to be not only a very gripping read but also quite educational for me. It taught me a lot about a people and place that before I was very naive about.
I love these types of books where they’re a joy to read and I come out of them knowing so much more about a topic than I did before.
As we follow the journey and investigation of the two federal agents we also watch them grow together. While at first their relationship seems strained they grow closer and closer.
This is a book about Basque culture, personal relationships, investigation and discovery.
Gripping, educational and funny all at the same time.
Two federal agents, both from different agencies and in very different times in their life and put together to investigate the murder of a politician.
Filled with interesting facts and details about the Basque Country and Basque culture I found this to be not only a very gripping read but also quite educational for me. It taught me a lot about a people and place that before I was very naive about.
I love these types of books where they’re a joy to read and I come out of them knowing so much more about a topic than I did before.
As we follow the journey and investigation of the two federal agents we also watch them grow together. While at first their relationship seems strained they grow closer and closer.
This is a book about Basque culture, personal relationships, investigation and discovery.
December 12, 2018
With a hint of humor woven within A Basque Story, M. Bryce Ternet uncovers the plot surrounding this international suspense. This novel centers on a unique group of people that can be proud of their heritage. They have not only a language that is not familiar to any other, they also have a distinctive bloodline different from other ancient races. CIA Agent John Gibson and Detective David Chiles work together to find the key between this group and the beloved Jose Aldarossa Arana’s murder.
I loved how well this seasoned author inter graded this exclusive culture into A Basque Story. M. Bryce Ternet adds mystique throughout this novel as it develops characters. The author maintains integrity with Gibson and Chiles, which is always pleasant to read when they are bonded to uphold the law. This story has a hint of IRA (Irish Republican Party) rebellion. Excellent political thriller, which will please readers who like a unique read.
I loved how well this seasoned author inter graded this exclusive culture into A Basque Story. M. Bryce Ternet adds mystique throughout this novel as it develops characters. The author maintains integrity with Gibson and Chiles, which is always pleasant to read when they are bonded to uphold the law. This story has a hint of IRA (Irish Republican Party) rebellion. Excellent political thriller, which will please readers who like a unique read.
March 22, 2018
A Basque Story by M. Bryce Ternet is certainly a book that is heavily influenced by the author's life. Having lived in a variety of places around the world, and traveling extensively, Ternet has the background and experience to write about a variety of subjects and distant places. These experiences have served him well in this book, as he takes on the Basque separatist group Euskadi ta Askatasuna, and creates a fictionalized story about the group. Not a commonly written about topic, the author has run with it, and using simple, direct language, has created a riveting story. With his protagonist, FBI agent, John Gibson, who is characterized as a simple man, the author weaves a story of intrigue and mystery that is highly appealing. If you like a mixture of historical perspective, mystery, and suspense, this is the perfect book to delve into for a substantial read. Strongly recommend.
April 21, 2018
This novel by M. Bryce Ternet tells the story of a Basque-American who is murdered in San Francisco due to a disagreement in politics. It’s up to an FBI and CIA agent, both polar opposites, to solve this case together and find out just what happened and who the murderer is. Along the way, they’ll learn more about their field and the intricate Basque culture. The book includes maps of the places where this culture is predominant to help you better understand what is happening.
At 394 pages, you’ll have to invest some time into reading it, but it’s well worth it. Ternet writes an intriguing story with an interesting setting, plot, and characters which will make putting the book down difficult. You’ll travel everywhere from Washington D.C. to Paris, France to find the solution to this mystery. If you’re a fan of suspense and thrillers, you’ll definitely want to give this book a try.
At 394 pages, you’ll have to invest some time into reading it, but it’s well worth it. Ternet writes an intriguing story with an interesting setting, plot, and characters which will make putting the book down difficult. You’ll travel everywhere from Washington D.C. to Paris, France to find the solution to this mystery. If you’re a fan of suspense and thrillers, you’ll definitely want to give this book a try.
December 4, 2021
The story kicks off with the murder of a prominent politician in the US - a politician with a Basque heritage. In the process of tracking down and catching the perpetrators we are acquainted with everything Basque - the culture, beauty of the area, food, traditions and the enigma of the Basque people. The two investigators are quite different - different ages, experiences, abilities and outlook. The reaction of the older investigator to Europe and specifically to the Basque region is quite funny - but heartwarming to see how he grows in to it (well, almost!). As the story progresses we see how the two grow in respect for each other's skills - even though they find each other quite irritating. A very enjoyable read for all sorts of reasons. I was more than happy to receive a free copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
April 22, 2019
The Basque Story is a murder mystery with a twist. The basic plot is concerned with the Basque race and we have two investigative agents with different personalities working on it. The story has many characters but, each one of them has been given sufficient space to grow and become familiar to the readers. I liked the sense of humor of the author who in different scenes introduced us to many realities of life, but, in a humorous manner so that we enjoyed and were engaged by these discoveries. The actual murder mystery was really interesting and had me guessing about the reality and the motive of the murder. The pace of the story is steady and the reader takes home much more than mere enjoyment.
June 12, 2018
FBI agent John Gibson has more than he bargained for in this action-packed, continent-hopping tale. John has to find out who murdered an American Basque politician. This book starts in the states and ends up overseas in multiple countries for an entertaining and intriguing mystery/thriller. I admit, I had no idea what Basque was, so the underlying educational aspect of the book added another layer to the plot. The writing was pretty good although there were some minor typos which seems common in most digital books. It is a LENGTHY book, and it took me a few chapters to get into it, but once I did, I was hooked! It was like reading a movie!
April 19, 2019
Thrill, Suspense and Knowledge!
There are many elements in this book that makes it a mystery fiction and an educational read. The story on one hand is rich in knowledge of Basque culture, history and life and on the other its unique tie of CIA analyst and FBI agent to solve a murder mystery. The book is little long, but writing is simple and deep. It is a suspense story but with lots of additional information, simple characters, unique culture and people and politics.
There are many elements in this book that makes it a mystery fiction and an educational read. The story on one hand is rich in knowledge of Basque culture, history and life and on the other its unique tie of CIA analyst and FBI agent to solve a murder mystery. The book is little long, but writing is simple and deep. It is a suspense story but with lots of additional information, simple characters, unique culture and people and politics.
April 19, 2024
Excellent Depiction of a Fascinating Culture/Wonderful Crime Story
The title says it succinctly, but the book is a good murder/police procedural story. I grew up with Basque people and the description of them and their culture was accurate.
The title says it succinctly, but the book is a good murder/police procedural story. I grew up with Basque people and the description of them and their culture was accurate.
October 13, 2020
Awful, excruciating, pretentious and juvenile writing!
December 24, 2022
The setting of the story provided a look into a unique culture. The setting was the best part of the book.
August 13, 2023
A bit hard to follow, but it was pretty good.
Thanks to Goodreads giveaway for the kindle copy.
Thanks to Goodreads giveaway for the kindle copy.
dnf
September 5, 2023DNF @ 1% I received a copy of this ebook in a Goodreads giveaway. Not the kind of story I would enjoy.
August 8, 2024
#Goodreads Giveaway. I entered the giveaway for this book out of curiosity. I know little about Basque culture or geography and thought that I could indulge in a bit of a mystery and learn a little something about Basque culture and Basque separatists in the process. I did, to some extent.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. Learning from the start that a seasoned FBI agent and a young CIA analyst were teamed together to track the murderers of a San Francisco councilman of Basque extraction, I knew I'd have to suspend disbelief to enjoy this story. Young Sebastian Parker, untrained in covert operations, was chosen solely by virtue of having been a student in Basque country and having somewhat of a fluency in the language. Okay. That he took the lead on the investigation and the seasoned FBI field agent went along with his impulsive rogue activities and frequent drunkenness (gotta fit in!) required far more disbelief suspension than I was prepared to employ. Never mind that neither agent appeared to report back to their superiors in the US and played it close to the vest sharing information with the French counter-terrorism captain.
Meanwhile...the Kindle copy of the book I read was rife with typos, weird syntax (I even checked to see if the author was not a native English speaker or if the book might have been a translation, but no), at least one supposedly English word that doesn't exist, and missing words. (I'll share wisdom from my own writing career: don't trust yourself to be your own editor and proofreader!) This was so frustrating and distracting, I might have been tempted to abandon the book, but I felt honor-bound to finish it and submit a review. About halfway through, I discovered the "report error" feature on my Kindle and started using it, as I sank into the story.
The pluses: The main characters were fairly well developed, rather likeable, if bumbling with firearms, alcohol & tobacco. And there were some vivid descriptions of cities, landmarks and countryside. But the action often halted for these descriptions, deadly for a thriller, which depends upon action to build suspense and carry the story. I scratched my head: was this book a travelogue or a thriller, or some weird hybrid of both?
Though I read the Author's Note at the beginning of the book, telling me that each chapter ended with snippets of actual news stories about terrorist acts by Basque separatists that had no connection to the main story of the novel, I forgot this admonition and was confused by the break in the action for the news bulletins and why they were there. I'm still not sure why they were there, except perhaps for trying to give the novel's plot a "ripped from the headlines" feel, which didn't work for me. I have no idea what the time span of the story was supposed to be (did the author mention of a time spanning 2 calendar years?)--time seemed to stand still as the characters traveled all over Basque country with a side trip to Paris, then back to their home base in Bayonne. (I started trying to imagine how they might report their time and expenses on this trip and how they might write their reports for the office. They were, after all, Federal employees!) I also lost track of the number of fetes they attended, but I think that was the point--the Basque people find a lot to celebrate, despite their yearnings to carve out a homeland separate from France and Spain.
Only now do I realize that Mr. Ternet has written a nonfiction book about the Basques & I wonder if I ought to have read that one first. I'll leave it to a reader to decide whether to read this book. Though I experienced some disappointment and frustration along the way, I don't think the book was a waste of time; I did enjoy good portions of the book, and I think there is some substance to the book that could have benefitted from the assistance of a good editor to make it stronger over all,
I wanted to like this book more than I did. Learning from the start that a seasoned FBI agent and a young CIA analyst were teamed together to track the murderers of a San Francisco councilman of Basque extraction, I knew I'd have to suspend disbelief to enjoy this story. Young Sebastian Parker, untrained in covert operations, was chosen solely by virtue of having been a student in Basque country and having somewhat of a fluency in the language. Okay. That he took the lead on the investigation and the seasoned FBI field agent went along with his impulsive rogue activities and frequent drunkenness (gotta fit in!) required far more disbelief suspension than I was prepared to employ. Never mind that neither agent appeared to report back to their superiors in the US and played it close to the vest sharing information with the French counter-terrorism captain.
Meanwhile...the Kindle copy of the book I read was rife with typos, weird syntax (I even checked to see if the author was not a native English speaker or if the book might have been a translation, but no), at least one supposedly English word that doesn't exist, and missing words. (I'll share wisdom from my own writing career: don't trust yourself to be your own editor and proofreader!) This was so frustrating and distracting, I might have been tempted to abandon the book, but I felt honor-bound to finish it and submit a review. About halfway through, I discovered the "report error" feature on my Kindle and started using it, as I sank into the story.
The pluses: The main characters were fairly well developed, rather likeable, if bumbling with firearms, alcohol & tobacco. And there were some vivid descriptions of cities, landmarks and countryside. But the action often halted for these descriptions, deadly for a thriller, which depends upon action to build suspense and carry the story. I scratched my head: was this book a travelogue or a thriller, or some weird hybrid of both?
Though I read the Author's Note at the beginning of the book, telling me that each chapter ended with snippets of actual news stories about terrorist acts by Basque separatists that had no connection to the main story of the novel, I forgot this admonition and was confused by the break in the action for the news bulletins and why they were there. I'm still not sure why they were there, except perhaps for trying to give the novel's plot a "ripped from the headlines" feel, which didn't work for me. I have no idea what the time span of the story was supposed to be (did the author mention of a time spanning 2 calendar years?)--time seemed to stand still as the characters traveled all over Basque country with a side trip to Paris, then back to their home base in Bayonne. (I started trying to imagine how they might report their time and expenses on this trip and how they might write their reports for the office. They were, after all, Federal employees!) I also lost track of the number of fetes they attended, but I think that was the point--the Basque people find a lot to celebrate, despite their yearnings to carve out a homeland separate from France and Spain.
Only now do I realize that Mr. Ternet has written a nonfiction book about the Basques & I wonder if I ought to have read that one first. I'll leave it to a reader to decide whether to read this book. Though I experienced some disappointment and frustration along the way, I don't think the book was a waste of time; I did enjoy good portions of the book, and I think there is some substance to the book that could have benefitted from the assistance of a good editor to make it stronger over all,
May 19, 2017
This book was terrible. characters were stereotypes, dialogue was childish, there were grammar mistkes and typos. The story ended abruptly, as if the author himself got bored writing it and just ended it.
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