Reviews
A primer in 21st-century spying. Matthews' former foes in Moscow will be choking on their blinis when they read how much has been revealed about their tradecraft... terrifically good ., Jason Matthews, who became an authority on the Kremlin during his 33 years as a CIA operations officer, has written an espionage novel, Red Sparrow, in which Putin makes a cameo -- read it and you too may conclude that no one on the planet knows the Russian president better. You too may also conclude that Red Sparrow is the best espionage novel you've ever read., The author, a veteran CIA field agent, liberally salts his thriller with realistic tradecraft, horrific villainy, and stunning plot twists as the opponents vie for control… An intense descent into a vortex of carnal passion, career brutality, and smart tradecraft, this thriller evokes the great Cold War era of espionage …Readers of bloodthirsty spy and suspense will welcome this debut from a writer who supersizes his spies., A great and dangerous spy-game is being played today between Russian intelligence and the CIA. Very few people know about it, including many of our politicians in Washington. But Jason Matthews does, and his thrilling Red Sparrow takes us deep inside this treacherous world. He's an insider's insider. He knows the secrets. And he is also a masterful story-teller. I loved this book and could not put it down. Neither will you., Veteran CIA operative-turned-novelist Matthews keeps the trouble popping in Red Sparrow , but relentless drama is just one of the high points of this sublime and sophisticated debut… Red Sparrow isn't just a fast-paced thriller - it's a first-rate novel as noteworthy for its superior style as for its gripping depiction of a secretive world. While many former CIA agents and MI6 operatives have turned to writing fiction in retirement, Matthews joins a select few who seem as strong at their second careers as at their first., Many spy novelists, including Ian Fleming and John le Carr, actually worked as intelligence agents. Add to that list Jason Matthews, whose 33 years as a CIA field operative enriches his first novel with startling verisimilitude …That sense of authenticity, along with vividly drawn characters, much detail about tradecraft, and an appropriately convoluted plot make this a compelling and propulsive tale of spy-versus-spy … Red Sparrow is greater than the sum of its fine parts. Espionage aficionados will love this one ., Matthews' first novel, a globe-trotting spy thriller, features enough action to satisfy even the most demanding of adrenaline junkies …The author's CIA background and the smart dialogue make this an entertaining tale for spy-novel enthusiasts., Matthews' first novel, a globe-trotting spy thriller, features enough action to satisfy even the most demanding of adrenaline junkies ...The author's CIA background and the smart dialogue make this an entertaining tale for spy-novel enthusiasts., The author, a veteran CIA field agent, liberally salts his thriller with realistic tradecraft, horrific villainy, and stunning plot twists as the opponents vie for control... An intense descent into a vortex of carnal passion, career brutality, and smart tradecraft, this thriller evokes the great Cold War era of espionage ...Readers of bloodthirsty spy and suspense will welcome this debut from a writer who supersizes his spies., Many spy novelists, including Ian Fleming and John le Carr, actually worked as intelligence agents. Add to that list Jason Matthews, whose 33 years as a CIA field operative enriches his first novel with startling verisimilitude ...That sense of authenticity, along with vividly drawn characters, much detail about tradecraft, and an appropriately convoluted plot make this a compelling and propulsive tale of spy-versus-spy ... Red Sparrow is greater than the sum of its fine parts. Espionage aficionados will love this one ., Matthews's exceptional first novel will please fans of classic spy fiction ...The author's 33-year career in the CIA allows him to showcase all the tradecraft and authenticity that readers in this genre demand...[a] complex, high-stakes plot., I read till eleven and woke up at five a.m. to finish this book. If it doesn't supplant The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as the next mammoth read, ad if it doesn't take its place alongside le Carr's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold , the love of literature and jaw-dropping thrills really is dead. I learned more about the former Soviets and the new Russians, and about our US of A, than I ever gleaned from the hardest-working journalists today. Halfway through, I was afraid Vladimir Putin would find out I was reading Red Sparrow and have me arrested. I have not read a more exciting, gripping novel in a long time., This Début Novel from a 33-Year Cia Veteran Delivers Action As Pulse-Pounding As It Is Authentic ., Jason Matthews, who became an authority on the Kremlin during his 33 years as a CIA operations officer, has written an espionage novel, Red Sparrow , in which Putin makes a cameo -- read it and you too may conclude that no one on the planet knows the Russian president better. You too may also conclude that Red Sparrow is the best espionage novel you've ever read ., I read till eleven and woke up at five a.m. to finish this book. If it doesn't supplant The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as the next mammoth read, ad if it doesn't take its place alongside le Carré's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold , the love of literature and jaw-dropping thrills really is dead. I learned more about the former Soviets and the new Russians, and about our US of A, than I ever gleaned from the hardest-working journalists today. Halfway through, I was afraid Vladimir Putin would find out I was reading Red Sparrow and have me arrested. I have not read a more exciting, gripping novel in a long time., Matthews's exceptional first novel will please fans of classic spy fiction …The author's 33-year career in the CIA allows him to showcase all the tradecraft and authenticity that readers in this genre demand…[a] complex, high-stakes plot., A smart, intriguing tale rooted in his own experience... Fans of the genre's masters including John Le Carre and Ian Fleming will happily embrace Matthews' central spy ., Many spy novelists, including Ian Fleming and John le Carré, actually worked as intelligence agents. Add to that list Jason Matthews, whose 33 years as a CIA field operative enriches his first novel with startling verisimilitude ...That sense of authenticity, along with vividly drawn characters, much detail about tradecraft, and an appropriately convoluted plot make this a compelling and propulsive tale of spy-versus-spy ... Red Sparrow is greater than the sum of its fine parts. Espionage aficionados will love this one ., Veteran CIA operative-turned-novelist Matthews keeps the trouble popping in Red Sparrow , but relentless drama is just one of the high points of this sublime and sophisticated debut... Red Sparrow isn't just a fast-paced thriller - it's a first-rate novel as noteworthy for its superior style as for its gripping depiction of a secretive world. While many former CIA agents and MI6 operatives have turned to writing fiction in retirement, Matthews joins a select few who seem as strong at their second careers as at their first., Not since the good old days of the Cold War has a classic spy thriller like Red Sparrow come along. Jason Matthews is not making it up; he has lived this life and this story, and it shows on every page. High-level espionage, pulse-pounding danger, sex, double agents and double crosses. What more can any reader want?, Many spy novelists, including Ian Fleming and John le Carré, actually worked as intelligence agents. Add to that list Jason Matthews, whose 33 years as a CIA field operative enriches his first novel with startling verisimilitude …That sense of authenticity, along with vividly drawn characters, much detail about tradecraft, and an appropriately convoluted plot make this a compelling and propulsive tale of spy-versus-spy … Red Sparrow is greater than the sum of its fine parts. Espionage aficionados will love this one ., Veteran CIA operative-turned-novelist Matthews keeps the trouble popping in Red Sparrow , but relentless drama is just one of the high points of this sublime and sophisticated debut... Red Sparrow isn't just a fast-paced thriller -- it's a first-rate novel as noteworthy for its superior style as for its gripping depiction of a secretive world. While many former CIA agents and MI6 operatives have turned to writing fiction in retirement, Matthews joins a select few who seem as strong at their second careers as at their first.
